Okay, at last I am free again. This is Derketa, the Babylonian mermaid I have been working on flat out and to the exclusion of all else. She lived in my dreams and sometimes my nightmares for months. She is DONE. And remind me if I ever have another insane moment like that, never to go there again. My arms and hands will never be the same. It took a long time. I have learnt a lot. But she is beautiful, her facial expression is so serene and calm.
I measured my youngest daugher's dimensions for the arms, legs, head and height, she is about 5ft tall. I made a wire skeleton, or armature, I think it 's called. Then wrapped that in torn up wool jumpers and strips of left over thin quilt batting.
Then I needlefelted the whole thing, she is mainly corriedale with a small amount of tussah silk.
The head was made on a balloon and stuffed with alpaca, this was before I realised what a waste of alpaca that was. Oops.
THINGS I HAVE LEARNT
Never to make something that big with one felting needle again. I couldn't use one of those tools with a few needles in it because of the wire.
Plan ahead better. I had no idea how I was going to display her when I finished. Thanks, John (Grandpa) for the help with that.
Use slightly finer wire as what I used was hard to manipulate.
Projects like this metamophorsis by themselves as you work on them. That was weird.
Talk to someone who knows about creating life like faces. Thanks Mum your advice about the face and the armature was invaluable.
I also learnt how patient my husband and children are, as she lingered in the lounge room for months, even though I have a studio. Thanks all.
I entered this creature in the Lilly Pilly Art Show in Coffs Harbour, in the fibre section and was very excited, to win second prize. Yay, me.
Love to know what you all think.
Posts
What can I say except "oh my goodness"!! You have robbed me of the power of speech - such a huge undertaking and such a gorgeous result!! You must be thrilled but I can totally understand why you would not want to do it again!! Congrats too on the prize - very deserving!
ReplyDeleteDon't worry Krishna, there is no way we, your family, will let you do anything that big again.
ReplyDeleteThat is if you ever take any notice of us LOL.
Great job Sweetie, you rock
Mum
It is really amazing what you have made from wool and one needle. The hands are perfect and the face is very much alive!
ReplyDeleteBig compliments!
Annette
Thankyou to all who have sent me emails, and commented, much appreciated.
ReplyDeleteKrishna
krishna, now that you have made a mermaid you need to make a merman now and merchildren then meranimals. or would it be instant divorse??
ReplyDeleteI'm stunned by such a magnificent job you have done on the mermaid. The colours are exquisite and I agree that the facial expression is amazingly serene. Your family must be so proud. Over all I think you have done an AWESOME job.
ReplyDeleteto die for!
ReplyDeleteas a long-time collector of water goddesses i have to say she is spectacular. congrats!!
She is wonderful and the fact she's made with just one felting needle is incredible.
ReplyDeleteoh my - that is totally amazing! I can't imagine how long that has taken you! Brilliant! What will you do with her? not sell her, I hope.
ReplyDeleteFantastic work, don't ever try it again please, you know where I stand on this don't deny me my sanity, try smaller and easier, please for me and the rest of your family don't make us suffer.
ReplyDelete