Lemmings from dog hair

[zara]

I guess it comes down to what we are used to, what our culture considers to be "normal". I heard someone say that they didn't like the idea because it was "dead hair" - but sheeps wool is just as "dead" when it has been cut. We are just used to the idea of making clothing from sheeps wool. Perhaps similar to our perception of what is edible? Most of us eat shrimps, but fewer like the idea of eating grasshoppers or larvae (eaten by some cultures today, and suggested to be a good source of protein in the future...). And others (such as my husbands mother) refuses to eat shrimps - she calls them insects too. ;-)

[koffipot]

Making art from human hair dates from about the 17th century. I find it creepy as it was often used as 'memento mori', where they used the hair of a deceased loved one to make pieces of mourning jewellery.

Dog hair, camel hair, sheep's wool.... what's the difference? I'd draw the line at Persian lamb which was discussed recently.

[zed]

Karakul wool is sheared as usual Judith, it's only the 'sheepskin' used for hats and collars which is from dead lambs/foetuses. I saw sheepskin rugs at Ikea recently, and thought how sad that was.

[koffipot]

Thanks zed. Good to know the karakul wool is just sheared! I can put some on my wish list now.

[Frances]

Horse hair: Crinoline was originally a stiff fabric with a weft of horse-hair and a warp of cotton or linen thread. The fabric first appeared around 1830, but by 1850, the word had come to mean a stiffened petticoat or rigid skirt-shaped structure of steel designed to support the skirts of a woman's dress into the required shape. In form and function it is very similar to the earlier farthingale.

Horse hair itchy but steel ridiculous thank goodness crinolines of that type are obsolete.

Since I do not have a dog, cat or horse to obtain hair from I will gladly skip trying to use it but wonder what I can do with ChooChoo our Conure's feathers :-)

[Shepherdess]

I made a braid for around my daughters hat from the hair from her pony's tail. I have seen it woven into bands for coats too.

[Frances]

Jan 14, 2015 22:36:07 GMT Shepherdess said:

I made a braid for around my daughters hat from the hair from her pony's tail. I have seen it woven into bands for coats too.

I read this too quickly the first time and thought you said you had used your daughter's pony tail not from her pony's tail for a braid for her hat.   laughing at myself

[koffipot]

I've only used horse hair in upholstery.

Frances - You could use the feathers to make or to embellish a brooch. I've used them on some of my organza flowers.

[Frances]

Judy I used some of Choo Choo's feathers in this design and got a 1st place - The category was Decorated Birdhouses. I was not felting then so I used this ceramic hat that was a gift in relation to my Mom's 'Celebration of Life Service'. Do not want to sound morose but everytime I use something connected to my Mom or was hers I get a 1st of 2nd place.  feltingandfiberstudio.files.wordpress.com/2016/09/wuttozo6ligyyheg7o46.jpg

[Deleted]

Hello Frances,

your decorative bird house is lovely and very creative...you are very talented in creation flower designs.

[koffipot]

Such a cute birdhouse and those birds are wonderful! A deserved 1st place.

[Pandagirl]

Congrats Frances! There's nothing morose in that. Moms watching over you.  BTW, the birds are adorable.

[Shepherdess]

Nothing morose about it. The connection with your mom seems to work.

[mrsplop]

Squeeeeeeeeeee!

[DamselflyStudio]

I felted a figure made from our Toy Poodle's fur for my husband Paul.  He had taken a job out of state and missed our dear little Abbie very much.  I began growing out Abbie's coat, starting in the fall because of Erie PA's rigorous winters.   When we moved to southern Indiana, we found that while the winters had 100" less snow, they were just as cold, so we kept on growing Abbie's coat over the winter months.  She has certainly appreciated having her own wooly fleece, as our windchill temps are colder than Erie!  We should be seeing spring soon, so I can have my little lamb shorn!  I have been saving her clippings for several years.  I would like to have them spun with merino or Alpaca some day.

Elizabeth
y.