I have been working on an owl for over a week and a half. He is a great-horned owl inspired by this drawing in Sibley’s.
Here is my initial sketch.
I drew the face mask first. I think that in all softie making, and perhaps especially in soft sculpture, the eyes either make or break the finished project. I also drew the owl in profile because the way my bird patterns are designed I have to have a good sense of what I want the finished bird to look like from the side before I can begin.
The prototype pattern had several structural flaws that I then corrected. Owls are narrower at the base and have broad shoulders which meant this pattern needed not only an under gusset, but a back gusset, too. And owls are cool because they can turn their heads all the way around. I cut the pattern into pieces to allow for as much head turning as I’d like. The finished owl has his head only slightly turned. Hopefully I’ll get a chance to make another one with a fully turned head.
I wanted the legs and feet to have some heft so I wrapped them in fabric strips that I then bound in black thread. Each talon is wrapped in floral tape and then painted black.
And just to prove to you that I do indeed have some sort of soft sculpture psychosis, here are the scraps from making the wing feathers.
I fused some body fabric to black Kona cotton with double sided fusible web (I love that stuff!) and then punched many many many petal-shaped pieces with my Sizzix paddle punch. This is the only part of the process that was loud. I sew when my children are sleeping so quiet is really imperative. Therefore I spent several evenings out in the garage hammering away, listening to Sister Diane on the iPod.
And several more evenings hand-sewing the feathers to the wings.
So here he is. My new owl.
Jennifer says
Incredible, I am amazed at your work once again!
laurie says
Love. Very much. He looks like my owls’ big daddy.
lucykatecrafts says
oh my goodness, he is a very handsome chap! wonderful : )
Rebecca says
He is beautiful! All your creatures look so intricate to make and also so time-consuming, but the results are always fantastic! 😉
Wendy says
Astounding.
fanja says
Beautiful work of art, well done !
Jen says
He’s really beautiful, Abby. What an amazingly intricate piece of work!
I hope you don’t think this is too weird, but I actually think he looks kind of like you. Maybe the eyes/glasses… In any case, he’s wonderful!
Tiffany says
His face is wonderful, and all of the tiny feathers ~ lovely!
Julie says
Wow! Absolutely wonderful looking owl!!
myra says
Whoa! He is so regal and simply stunning Abby! The feathers are incredible and using a punch was brilliant!
PS re: the head turning, have you ever considered trying a jointed head?
robyn says
As always love the attention to detail.
aija says
Amazing. I am so grateful to see your entire process, it is so interesting.
Sally says
wow! he’s gorgeous!
Wendy says
Very impressive – she or he is beautiful. It was great to see your whole creative process in this post – you are very patient to put all that work in.
Danielleorama says
Wow he is absolutely amazing. A very beautiful modern piece!
mamarox says
Dang!!!!!
Julie says
Oh, he’s stunning! I’d love to have one of those.
kim says
he needs a great name… like Theophilus. so studious and intricate.
Jen says
Holy. Cow.
shula says
Your best ever, I think.
Can’t take my eyes of him.
Anna Laura says
The owl is stunning, I loved all the pre pictures watching how it was made, but the final picture is so stunning! I love the face.
melissa Crowe says
I don’t think I’ve ever commented on your work, but I have watched you develop over months, and I truly find your growth inspiring. To me, you’re what this new arts and crafts movement is all about–a woman who was filled with the urge to create and kept doing so until her skills and vision matched her passion. Congratulations, and thanks so much for sharing your beautiful, beautiful work.
leslie says
wow! this is really impressive.
beautiful.
Eric Orchard says
This is amazing! I find your stuff so inspiring. The owl is one of my favorites so far. You have a Michaelangelo-like ability to find the personality in the medium, in your case fabric.
stephanie s says
spec-freaking-tacular abby! it is gorgeous….
sulu-design says
He looks like one of your most labor-intensive projects yet, and well worth it. His feathered back is gorgeous, and those eyes are just perfect. You’re quite right about the eyes making or breaking stuffed sculpture – and the eyes you made are really spot on perfection.
Nyx says
Stunning work as always! I love the colors and texture! Keep it up!
betsy says
Wow. Just wow. You have such talent.
Glaucia says
Your work is incredibly beautiful, but the best is being able to see the way you create and build it. Thanks for sharing, it’s amazing!
hugs from Brazil
joybucket says
Stunning and beautiful. Your work is very much an inspiration.
Holly says
Oh my goodness! Absolutely magnificent. I can almost imagine this owls’ hoot, which is as good a sign as any that a softie is a success! I think you could make museum dioramas. Have you ever considered this? Your softies are so incredibly beautiful, with such integrity, and structure. I can imagine this owl perched on a branch in my local Manitoba Museum. Simply fantastic!
Shannon says
He is absolutely gorgeous!
Belinda says
Your owl is amazing, amazing, amazing- I love it!
E says
Wow. That is an amazing piece of art!
elsie marley says
37 owls and a turkey
…Her owl is majestic and beautiful, just like the real bird, and somehow different from every other stuffed owl that came before it…
Maitreya says
wow wow wow
martha says
very very very cool. sort of reminds me of a halloween costume I made a few years ago:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/uniform-studio/1658057645/
13 tamarind says
Your owl is absolutely stunning! What beautiful intricate work. I have added you to my page, you are so inspiring.
Ravenhill says
Oh my, he is so gorgeous! What a magnificent owl. I love how you showed the process involved and your detailed description.
Shay says
I’m speechless!
melody says
So gorgeous… I just love your work… I am always amazed with the things that you create.
theresa says
That is simply amazing!
rhelynn says
Amazing!
shisomama says
fantastic. i was just studying pictures, looking at all the tiny feathers and admiring how perfect and identical they were, and marveling at the patience that you must have to hand-cut all those tiny pieces. now you’ve revealed one of your secrets! haha.