Machine and Dragon

My Garage hound hubby found this for me last week. It's an old Singer treadle machine head, with a shuttle type bobbin. I doubt it works and the throat plate is missing, but it will be a fine prop in my studio! Now it needs a little table to sit on... Off you go, hubby! He loves a reason to hunt garage sales. Any idea how old it is?

The dragon had a little more work done this week. Body work, plus I shaped up his head and added eyes. I also began detailing his claws. The bum has a stone in it now, for weight, so he should hold his roaring pose.

I may take the lower jaw off, as I need to add a tongue first. You have to see a dragon's tongue when he's roaring! The head needs more skull, which I'll add along with horns. What colour should they be? I have decided on a green dragon, with red highlights. The Harry Potter dragon was grey and colorless, from being kept underground. This guys is wild and free!

Works in progress

It's when inspiration strikes, that you have to get to work. No matter that there are other works left undone, strike while the iron is hot! In this case, I thought of a way to create the dragon's claws.

I'm into dragons just now. It could be the coming Harry Potter movie, which has me all excited, or just that dragons are cool, in a hot kind of way. I wanted this one to have a decent wire armature. We learn as we go. I took Kate Church's class in May and she showed us how to wrap a wire joint with hockey tape, to make it stable. I was using floral tape and that seems to have worked just as well. Especially considering that felt work is light weight and the wire used not to heavy.

So that was step one. Then I wound the wool fibre around each wired toe to get my claws. I built them up , so that I can add the other colour later. Success. Last night I added basic fiber to the body and neck and added a stump for his head. Just the beginning.

It looks a bit duck-billed right now, but I wanted to have a decent open mouth roaring at me when it's done. I've added flaps for  lower jaws before and don't find them a satisfactory as a wired jaw. This morning I concluded that the pose will be one of rearing up, with his front legs in the air. So it will probably need a weight to help the pose. Out into the yard to find a stone...

Inspiration also struck while on a road trip. needle felting is great to do in the car. I made this head while away over the Canada Day weekend (July 1st for those non-Canadians!)

His eyes need the highlights, but I am pleased with his look. I picture this guy in 18th century costume, breeches and tail coat, perhaps looking down his nose at something. He may get a bit steam punk, but we'll see.

Here's the beginnings of his body -

I didn't have the right colours with me when I was away, so I'm just getting back to his creation now. I also must decide if he'll stand or sit. Standing requires planning...

Do you like dolls on stands or not? I'm in two minds myself.