For artists and collectors sponsored by Intercal...your mohair supplier and Johnna's Mohair Store
Hello,
I have been working on a needle felting project. It is a little "hip" chick. This is a pick from when I began working on her. I have her face completed excepct for her "eyelashes." Any ideas? Should I paint them on? Is it hard to paint on the wool?
Thanks
I'd probably felt them on..... pieces of black mohair or whisps of black wool.
Are you felting her eyes, drawing them or will they be glass? I guess that might make a difference.... if you draw her eyes then drawn eyelashes would be appropriate. Otherwise I'd go for fiber ones.
Thanks Daphne! Great idea. Yes, the eyes are glass with the white of the eye and the outline is black is felt.
If you have some black mohair that is long enough you might be able to cut a thin strip of it (still on the backing) and glue it down under the black felt outline. Just a thought. Might be too fiddly (tweezers are so helpful for little picky work like that!) or you may not want to use glue.
For my bear faces I use a couple strands of fiber for the mouth and nose area. Amazing the detail you can achieve with just a few strands of wool. Just a couple strands will highlight cheeks. I would use wool instead of paint if possible.
Roxanne,
I use wool for my eyelashes. However, several years ago I use to use false eyelashes - the ones you can buy in the make up section of the store. This might go nicely with your glass eyes. I have a photo somewhere I took a long time ago to show how to make them look nice I'll see if I can find it in my computer.
(Hugs),
~Patricia
Hi Roxanne,
I found the photo, now lets see if I can get it to post to the board. What I did was sew the eyelashes on with thread so I knew they were really secure. Then use straight pins to seperate the eyelashes nicely and place an itty bitty drop of clear glue in each seperation. This is tricky though because you have to be careful not to glue the straight pins into the eyes, lol. Not a good look - they look kinda scarey with straight pins stuck in their eyes, lol.
Good luck on your project, your duck is going to be beautiful I'm sure!
(Hugs),
~Patricia
OH WOW Patricia, how wonderfully clever of you. I can see the results are going tobe well worth the time and effort put into it. What wonderful eyes.
Wendy
I have bought some cosmetic eyelashes with intent to use them in this way. As up until now i have used embriodery to do eyelashes, it comes out well but i think the 3d effect of usng cosmetic eyelashes is fab.
Are you going to make eyelids for her? Even very, thin felt eyelids on a piece like this can help stop an eye looking to stare-y. Then you can felt some wisps of your fibre onto the eyelids ro, if you want really thick, bold looking ones (you said she was a hip-chick, *giggle*) try getting some wisps and rolling them between your hands to felt some small, thick fibre rolls. Two of these at the far ocrners of the eyes might work.
And that probably sounded as clear as mud