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For artists and collectors sponsored by Intercal...your mohair supplier and Johnna's Mohair Store
Hi! I am working on a mohair bird that will have wire legs and feet. I don't really want the bare wire to show and am thinking of either wrapping the wire with a thin wool yarn or pearl cotton or needlefelting wool roving over the wire (I haven't done needlefelting before, so I don't know how that would work.) Do you know if the wrapped yarn or thread would be durable.
Has anyone tried these methods? :clap:
Thanks!
Ellen
Haven't tried the method...but am assuming the bird will not be used as a toy? so ... shoud be pretty durable. You could dab a bit of glu on the wire prior to the wrapping and it will hold on better than if you just wrap it.
Have you tried Aves Apoxie Sculpt at all? It is a 2 part clay that is air dry.... I use it for all sorts of things. You can paint it when it is wet or dry. It is easy to use and sticks to anything and everything.... (and I do mean anything..so be tidy with it..) but you could put some over the wires and make some nice feet. Shape the wire first and then add the AS .... Then add some texture .. paint them or stick on some feathers..or bits of mohair plucked from fabric...or yarn ..etc...
Here is a little walking staff that I did with Apoxie Sculpt... then painted with several colours of acrylics...and buffed on a bit of gold with a fingertip
Where do you get the Apoxie Sculpt Veronica, I have been looking for something like that for noses?
Hugs,
Krista
fribbles, ltd.Krista, I just ordered another pound of the stuff off eBay---if you like I can ship you some to try out. I've never used it for noses, never thought of it...it's soooooo sticky to work with. Would be interested to see how a nose would come out made of it, so let me know if you'd like some!
*waves*
Best,
Amelia
Krista .... I get mine locally from the taxidermy shop. The only supplier for Alberta from what I have seen. ... you could check under Aves and see if there is a supplier near you. If not..I can always get some and send it to you as well.
Amelia..... keep your fingers wet, or at least a bit damp... ..a little bowl of water right beside you and then just dab them a bit on a towel...and it should be fine. Moist...but not too wet.. I love this stuff. I use it for doll shoes too. It sticks perfectly right onto the cloth feet and then I just begin to build it up to what I want them to look like..
thanks guys, I would love to try some, I was actually getting ready to put in an order with Van Dyke's Taxidermy but had no idea what I was looking for, but what you guys are talking about I think is it....
Veronica I will try a little sample from Amelia, and then if it is what I am looking for I will see if I can find it, if not I will let you know and get you to order me some.
Hugs,
Krista
WisconsinEllen:
I was just looking under the needlefelting section and someone has given directions for needlefelting jewlery. The directions specifically shows felting a wire bracelet, thought this might help.
Lynn
Matilda Huggington-bearehttp://www.makinsclay.com/Netherlands/e … 12004.html
This is a link for MAKIN'S CLAY it is air dry. has all the same usablitiy as the one mentioned here but without the sticky.
It cleans up a treat. Wonderful stuff to use. It feels like leather when dried.
It also comes "glow in the dark' though I havent used mine yet.The glow one that is.
Thank you for the great ideas. 
I will check out the Apoxie Sculpt and the needlefelting section.
Would the Apoxie Sculpt make the legs so they couldn't bend?
Ellen
Yes Ellen ... they would be stiff with the Apoxie Sculpt....
Krista ...there are different colours of Apoxy Sculpt too.... not sure what colours you would use. I like a light colour so that I can paint it any colour I want. But there is black for sure ... gray... and not sure of others...perhaps they even have a pink, like noses. not sure what the taxidermists actually use it for.
ToadBriarYou could wrap the wire in colored fine yarn & then brush acrylic gel medium on it to seal it.
I'd do this if I wanted the legs to look a bit fabric-fiber-ish to match a wool or mohair body.
Apoxie sculpt is awesome. I've used a similar epoxy clay called Magic Sculpt. Great stuff to play with!
By the way, talc on your hands can work like flour with dough, to make it a little less sticky. A little talc
does not affect it hardening or anything.
I wanna see the birds & their feet when they're done!
Laurel, he is so beautiful!!! Thank you for the pics. :hug: Is it hard to needle felt over wire without breaking the needles?
Lynn, I requested the Jewelry felting book from the library. It looks good.
Yes, I think I want the legs to have a fabric-fiberish look, although it would be fun to experiment with the clays. I saw some Apoxie - Scupt on eBay. I couldn't find a resource for the Makin's Clay in the US, but did find Magic Sculpt. PaperClay could be another possibility for a clay. It is also air drying.
I'll post a pic when she's done (she's gonna be a mama, I think). She's not going too fast, though. I'm redoing the tummy gusset, as it turned out crooked the first time. 
Ellen
ToadBriarWhat a fun roadrunner! I miss seeing them, they're adorable and of course we haven't got them in
New England
Paperclay is AWESOME stuff, it is a joy to work with and gives such a smooth finish. I wouldn't use it
for something as slender and fine as bird feet, though, even with wire in them. Too many pointy small
ends that stick out and risk getting knocked against stuff! strips of paper dipped in a white glue/water
solution could be a sturdier alternative (and practically free) - TP, papertowel, newsprint, all of them get
pretty tough soaked with glue/water. Then if you have gesso you could do a couple coats to smooth
and prime the surface, and then they'd be sandable too.
I love the look of the needlefelted feet, the feet alone are really making me want to make an owl!
& I want to try wrapped glue-soaked fine thread for songbird feet....honestly you guys help me on
one hand & make me want to try new stuff on the other.....it's a win/win situation! 
Here's pics of the finished birdies -- momma and babies. I wrapped the feet and legs with pearl cotton and varnished them.
Awwww...they are so cute Ellen....and just in time for Easter too..... I was wondering which technique you used ............what a great job you did with them.!
WisconsinEllen
Your birdies are very cute, and the legs and feet look perfect. GREAT JOB!!!!!!
LYNN
Hi Ellen
Great job on the birds and the legs look wonderful. How did you attach the legs to the body?
Hugs
Gail
Those birdies are TERRIFIC!
ToadBriarADORABLE!
Sooo much character in those guys, I adore them! The hat with the dongly flower & the little scarf are killin me!! 
Elle where can I see more of your stuff??
Hi all,
I've been using the Apoxie Sculpt for years and just love it. You can color it too with pigments.
Hugs,
Denise
Thank you for the nice comments :hug: The legs were made from copper wire. I wrapped the wire first with floral tape (to give the thread something to grab onto) then with pearl cotton using dabs of glue when needed. Then I varnished them.
I bent the wire into an upside-down "u" shape (with a wire going up as armature for body) , bent the foot on one end, pushed the other end up through the mohair and then back down through the mohair in another spot. I wrapped the wire inside the body with batting to pad it and keep it in place.
Kim, I'm just starting out, but I hope to try selling soon. :rose:
Here's a baby by itself. The babies are mohair yarn.
Matilda Huggington-beareEllen those birds of yours are just terrific!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :dance: So much character!!! Like Kim I would love to be able to see more!!!!
What are you doing with these birdies?? and where can we see more???
Wendy
oh they are adorable Ellen!
