Meet Millie – she may have a few more naps under her belt than the average kitten, but this senior black cat was my daring first attempt at feline realism.
Before fur and features, every pet replica begins with a hidden world of wire, shaping proportions and hinting at playful adjustments to come.
A meticulously felted spherical head, crafted from core wool, was settled into place. Then, two carefully chosen plastic eyes, shimmering with an emerald hue, were secured. It was then that Mini Millie truly started to come alive.
Next I began wrapping black merino wool around the pipe cleaner armature and felting it into place to create a base for her legs. This is my least favourite part of creating a pet replica because I find it to be long winded and causes a few too many pricks for my liking! But it is essential to do this to create a base to felt the top coat onto.
Black canvas complete! Mini Millie awaited her signature features: perky ears and a curious nose.
The fun begins: meticulously applying the bamboo fibre coat, mimicking Millie’s luxurious fur texture. This step, my personal favourite, allows me to refine the form and bring her unique characteristics to life.
From chaos to charm! Millie’s face began to blossom with pointy ears and playful whiskers. Yet, a tiny imperfection whispered – the nose, a mismatch to her true spirit. It was time to refine, to sculpt a nose that truly captured her lifelike essence.
Nose complete, Millie was finished. Although there are tweaks I would make if I were to start again, I am very happy with how Mini Millie turned out. My first attempt at a lifelike cat was a success and I am looking forward to the next furry feat!
Mini Millie was purchased as a Valentine’s gift, so she was carefully wrapped in layers of pink and a small felted heart was added before sending her off to her forever home!
Proudly powered by WordPress