Persephone, Herman and Bob- Part 8 (Bob)

Bob, drying...

                                       ...with clips holding his goofy grin in place.

                                                 The pencil roving on his back...

                                            ...lends a 'garment like' appearance...

                             ...and his pupils are stitched on with embroidery floss...

                      ...so there are no small parts for a baby to pull off and swallow! 

                       I think his rakish moustache makes him look rather debonair..

                      ...but his textured tummy reminds us that he's 'all animal'!! ;)

                                                      The fully dried Bob (back)...

                                                              ...and front...

                                           ...and in use by one of my daughters.

                          A photo of the three rascals, Persephone, Herman and Bob...

                                       ...planning another of their crazy capers!! :)

Persephone, Herman and Bob- Part 7 (Bob)

Green wool circles create paw pads...

                                                    ...and green triangles...

                                                      ...and purple balls...

                                                ...are used to form Bob's eyes.

                                                      On the reverse side...

                                      ...pencil roving is used as an embellishment.

                                                    Mid-way through felting...

                                            ...the painter's plastic is removed...

                                             ...and a cut is made in the soft felt...

                                                   ...for easy resist removal.

                                                          A helpless Bob...

                            ...undergoes a rather painful whisker transplant surgery...

                                 ...and later convalesces in a soothing therapy pool.

                                        Next time: Bob in all of his hirsute glory! ;)

Persephone, Herman and Bob- Part 6 (Bob)

Preparing a paper pattern...

...and cutting it from foam floor underlayment.

    

                          Covering the resist with layers of wool from a bright blue batt. 
                          

                            Painter's plastic is used to help keep the mouth flange...

                                         ...from felting into the body of the puppet.
                                        

                                   Lighter blue wool is added to the resist surface...

                                                 ...the project is flipped over...

                       ...and the excess wool is wrapped up and around the resist.

                                                           Dyed wool nepps...

                                             ...are added to Bob's 'tummy area'...

                                       ...and covered with a Mawata silk hankie...

                   ...both for sheen and to help hold the nepps in place during felting.

                                             Next time: more embellishment!

Persephone, Herman and Bob- Part 5 (Persephone)

Mid-way through felting...

                     ...I begin to notice that some of the silk pieces are not felting in...

                                               ...so with a couple of quick tugs...

                                 ...Persephone is denuded of her problematic bits.

                                   (Too bad it doesn't work like that for humans!) ;)

                                                              During felting...

                                              ...the project is flipped inside-out...

                                                 ...and worked in all directions...

                                          ...until it's the desired shape and size.

                                                   While drying in the sunlight...

                                           ...I think she looks rather devilish!! ;)

                             Small circles are cut from a sheet of black, finished felt...

                                                              ...glued on...

                                           ...and then hand-stitched into place...

                                                               ...for eyes.

                                                   The finished puppet (front)...

                                                              ...and back...

                                                      ...and again in close-up.

                                                    Persephone is now ready...

                                                   ...for a game of 'peek-a-boo'!

                                                         Next time: Bob.

Persephone, Herman and Bob- Part 4 (Persephone)

Drafting a resist pattern...

                                                    ...for my next creature...

                             ...and tracing it on a sheet of foam floor underlayment.

              Covering the resist with wool from a batt (containing colored cotton dots)...

                                                           ...wetting it out...

                                                ...and flipping it to side two.

                                          Covering side two with layers of wool.

                            Adding small pieces of patterned silk, crocheted yarn...

                                      ...and pencil roving to each side of the resist.

                                               The 'beak' is kept from felting in...

                                             ...by a thin piece of painter's plastic.

                                                  Mid-way through felting...

               ...most of the fabric pieces are beginning to 'become one' with the felt...

                                          ...and a slit is made for resist removal.

                                             Next time: Persephone in all her glory!