I made the man first, or I should say I started him first. Originally I planned he would be alone on the bench feeding the squirrels or birds. But I had this idea for a netted pillbox hat (what is it with me and hats?) and she emerged from that. The hat is straight out of the fifties and completes her outfit perfectly. In the end, I finished her, right down to the buttons on her shoes, before completing him. The last stitches were his three coat buttons. Both figures are all wool. They have pipe cleaners in their arms and legs so I can pose them but they are not really meant to be manipulated out of their seated positions. Their clothes are made from partially felted wool sheets. This makes them a bit fragile (only I could make "fragile" wool figures!). Initially I wasn't sure if I could put it though a sewing machine to do the embroidery elements on her suit, but I managed. The clothes are needle felted together and onto the figures so they are not removable.
These figures are not large. From the bench seat to the top of their heads is 7 inches.The bench is just a bit over 12 inches high which includes the swirly top piece. It is a swing actually and it does work with them sitting on it which is fun. It is a lovely bench that I got at a Textile Tart's meeting a few years ago. People bring stuff to the meeting periodically when they are cleaning out their stash or studios. It is rod iron with a wooden seat- very cute. It has been sitting on the floor of my sewing room waiting for them.
I'm very pleased with this piece-especially as it is my first "people" needle felt if Humpty Dumpty is considered an egg and not a person! It was a challenge for me. I wanted the faces to be life-like with thinner features than I see on many needle felts. I wanted them to be realistic. I also wanted them to look different from each other but fit well together. I think they do.
Let me know what you think!
