Salamander Feltworks

Showing off almost three years of work and discovery since the last step-by-step photo essay: a young Fennec – the world’s smallest fox with (proportionately) the world’s largest ears – provides a new study of construction in detail. At 9" long (nose to base of tail) and 6" tall at the shoulder, this guy isn’t quite full-grown, but he’s pushing the limit of wearability. (The Genet is a lot longer – but his legs are a lot shorter, so he can curl around your neck like a scarf. Bre’r Fennec is happiest sprawled across the top of a hat.)

Rest your mouse pointer on each picture for more info. (Best viewed in full screen on a large monitor.)

Pic #1: Lanyard braiding the wire Pic #2: Armature Pic #3: Basic core, with eyes

1. Braiding the wire, February 23 2. Finished armature, February 26 3. Already a person, later on the 26th

Pic #4: Wool selection Pic #5: Wire for the feet Pic #6: Claw closeup

4. Wool gathering, March 2 5. Building foot bones, later on the 2nd 6. Claws in progress, March 3

Pic #7: Starting the wrap Pic #8: First face Pic #9: Ear cores

7. Initial wrap, still March 3 8. First face, later on the 3rd 9. Ear bases, a few minutes later

Pic #10: Second wrap Pic #11: Third wrap Pic #12
10. More core, March 4 11. Yet more core, later on the 4th 12. Wool prep, still later

Pic #13: Adding muscle Pic #14: Feet (basic construction) Pic #15: Applying a foot

13. More core, March 5 14. Building a foot cover, March 7 15. Installing a foot cover, a few minutes later

Pic #16: Urk. Something wrong Pic #17: Diagnosis Pic #18: Unhappy ex-donkey

16. First disaster spotted, March 9, around noon 17. Surgery, March 9, evening 18. Close-up, same stage as Pic #17

Pic #19: Post-op and condensed Pic #20: Padding the magnets Pic #21: Covering the belly and lower jaw

19. Back together, plus a lot of needle-work, March 12 20. Next stage, starting underneath, a few minutes later 21. Adding the belly hide and lower jaw, same afternoon

Pic #22: Covering the upper surface Pic #23: Back to the head Pic #24: More work on the eyes

22. Measuring the back and neck hide, March 12 23. Additions to the head, same day 24. Reinforcing the orbit, a few minutes later

Pic #25: Adding the back of an ear Pic #26: Adding the ear fronts Pic #27: Rough ears

25. Ears, part one, March 13 26. Ears, part two, same day 27. Ears, part three, a few minutes later

Pic #28: Ironing ears Pic #29: Adding fur inside ear Pic #30: “Finished” ears

28. Ears, part four, still March 13 29. Ears, part five, same day 30. Ears, part six: Done? Same day

Pic #31: Hide for the legs Pic #32: Shaping the hide for the back and head Pic #33: Opening the eyes

31. Clothing the legs, still March 13 32. Applying the hide, same day 33. Opening the eyes, a few minutes later

Pic #34: Remaking the hide Pic #35: New ear backs Pic #36: New linings

34. Re-covering from disaster, March 14 35. Ears, part five, still March 14 36. Ears, part six, a few minutes later

Pic #37: Assembled ears Pic #38: New coat Pic #39: Draping the face

37. Ears, part seven, still March 14 38. Adding the new coat, later on the 14th 39. Reopened eyes (and ears, part eight), March 15

Pic #40: Covered muzzle Pic #41: Felting down the hide Pic #42: I have a nose!

40. Muzzle and lips, still March 15 41. Settling the hide, still the 15th 42. Nose and eye-liner, a few minutes later

Pic #43: Brow ridge Pic #44: Sex Pic #45: Setting the tail 1

43. Early face work, March 16, morning 44. It’s a boy! March 16, afternoon 45. Tail fur, March 17

Pic #46: Tail fur cont’d Pic #47: Tail fur cont’d 2 Pic #48: Tail fur cont’d 3

46. More tail detail, March 17 45. Yet more on de tail, March 17 47. With a haircut, March 17

Pic #49: Tail fur cont’d 4 Pic #50: Face, with whiskers Pic #51: Trial portrait

49. Finished tail, March 17 50. Back to the face, still March 17 51. First trial portrait, same day

Pic #52: Slimming the legs Pic #53: Back to the face Pic #54: Getting drastic

52. Leg surgery, March 18 53. Rechecking the face, still March 18 54. Set fur, same day

Pic #55: New face Pic #56: Done! Pic #57: Loose in the world

55. After a haircut, still March 18 56. True at last, March 19 58. Loose in the world, same day


1. Braiding the wire, February 23	2. Finished armature, February 26	3. Already a person, later on the 26th

4. Wool gathering, March 2	5. Building foot bones, later on the 2nd	6. Claws in progress, March 3

7. Initial wrap, still March 3	8. First face, later on the 3rd	9. Ear bases, a few minutes later

10. More core, March 4	11. Yet more core, later on the 4th	12. Wool prep, still later

13. More core, March 5	14. Building a foot cover, March 7	15. Installing a foot cover, a few minutes later

16. First disaster spotted, March 9, around noon	17. Surgery, March 9, evening	18. Close-up, same stage as Pic #17

19. Back together, plus a lot of needle-work, March 12	20. Next stage, starting underneath, a few minutes later	21. Adding the belly hide and lower jaw, same afternoon

22. Measuring the back and neck hide, March 12	23. Additions to the head, same day	24. Reinforcing the orbit, a few minutes later

25. Ears, part one, March 13	26. Ears, part two, same day	27. Ears, part three, a few minutes later

28. Ears, part four, still March 13	29. Ears, part five, same day	30. Ears, part six: Done? Same day

31. Clothing the legs, still March 13	32. Applying the hide, same day	33. Opening the eyes, a few minutes later

34. Re-covering from disaster, March 14	35. Ears, part five, still March 14	36. Ears, part six, a few minutes later

37. Ears, part seven, still March 14	38. Adding the new coat, later on the 14th	39. Reopened eyes (and ears, part eight), March 15

40. Muzzle and lips, still March 15	41. Settling the hide, still the 15th	42. Nose and eye-liner, a few minutes later

43. Early face work, March 16, morning	44. It’s a boy! March 16, afternoon	45. Tail fur, March 17

46. More tail detail, March 17	45. Yet more on de tail, March 17	47. With a haircut, March 17

49. Finished tail, March 17	50. Back to the face, still March 17	51. First trial portrait, same day

52. Leg surgery, March 18	53. Rechecking the face, still March 18	54. Set fur, same day

55. After a haircut, still March 18	56. True at last, March 19	58. Loose in the world, same day