heart-felted friends for adventures near and far

Just as in our post about creating animal ornaments with needle felted wool, we began our hopeful emissary with a chenille stem armature wound with 100% wool roving. Once the form was fleshed out, we sewed on glass bead eyes, then felted on wool ears, paws, and pink nose. In order to replicate a true field mouse’s coat of browns and greys, it was necessary to comb together a blend of wool fibers.

Undermouse ready for felting on the details! Needle felting uses a special barbed needle to entangle the fibers together pretty permanently.

This entanglement allows for great details. The more the fiber is felted, the tighter the wool. Light felting allows for fuzzy fur etc.

We added nylon thread whiskers as a finishing touch! We were following the model of Augustine Mouse from the Instagram account story unfolding @augustineamouse, but this little one went as an encouraging pick-me-up to a good friend and Augustine fan working through chemotherapy in lieu of flowers or a card.

The original Augustine and her stunt double, Resilient Mouse hanging out between takes.

Resilient Mouse (above) in her duplicate gear heading out to bring some cheer.

Augustine rolling along in her story post.