Last month I created the Crafty Bug Lady business to explore insects, bugs and other mini-beasts using felt sculpture. After a month, I wanted to review the bugs I have created and how I have thought about using these creations.
Firstly to the rogues gallery. So far I have created three Brown Ants, an Australian Huntsman Spider, an Australian Redback Spider, a Honey Bee and a Monarch Butterfly.
The challenges I am working to overcome with each iteration include: the trade-off between ultra thin and yet strong enough limbs, the creation of satisfactory faces, antennae and eyes, the choice of embroidery stitch to use in each form, the type and thickness of felt, whether to include needle felting, and pushing the boundaries of size.
As each iteration is developed and because they are all so new, I have been using the finished items in a couple of ways. I have photographed the works as well as my humble skills allow, I have used these photographs in creation of fabric design on Spoonflower, and on finished item design on Redbubble. I have also listed finished sculptures for sale on Madeit. I am tracking the views each of the designs gets in each location as a way of getting feedback on the development. I will report the results once I have a bit of meaningful data to work with.
I am a bit apprehensive (and always have been) about using social media to promote myself. I feel like I am being pushy when create things and ask for feedback, but equally, the feedback is wonderful to guide development.
From my own point of view, my favourite item to date has been the Redback Spider, but the butterflies wings just look so nice up close.
Today I wanted to get an idea of what I might be making so I decided to make a prototype of an ant in a small scale. Sometimes its nice to see the proportions of an idea and what you could do with it. That's where prototypes come in handy.
The little ant I made was using similar techniques as I used on my larger ant and mantis. It was nice to try out a few ideas and it helped me get an idea of both the look of an insect as well as point out issues. I am not super happy with the head but I really like the legs and body. The felt I used was not quite right, and I think playing with the colours to mix several. The strength of the skeleton I have constructed (I know its ironic in an insect) supports the weight well and allows lots of posing.
The prototype will be handy now for me to think about uses for the insects, how they will photograph, props needed, packaging, etc. So its a worthwhile exercise. But for now the prototype will leave me to research and sketching mode for idea development.
I am going in the near future to make a Phasmid (a leaf insect) so today I also took some photos of a lovely Phasmid we have been baby sitting for the school holidays. These photos will be super handy when I get to making this wonderful creature. They are endlessly fascinating.
