The gal who cuts my hair is a long time serious hunter and she can't talk about her hunts with all customers. But having been brought up in a hunting family, I actually enjoy hearing her stories, especially since she is an ethical hunter and nothing she kills goes to waste. Her husband is a taxidermist to boot (talk about a marriage made in heaven!) so many of her best he has mounted for her. The highlight of her hunting career was a safari trip to Africa a few years ago. The company she chose for her trip has what I think you would call a reserve; not a fenced in place where they are raising the animals for the hunt but more managing the area wildlife as it comes and goes off their private land. The meat from game taken is given to local villages and they do all the preparations for the "trophy" parts to return with the hunters. One animal she successfully hunted was a blue wildebeest, also known as a gnu, a native to Africa related to antelope, cattle and goats. Hers looked close to the size of a small cow or big elk, and after mounting, there was quite a bit of hide left over which she offered to me, thinking about how "crafty" I am. I've never worked with anything like this but sensing a challenge I couldn't refuse, I accepted. The hide is quite thick as leather goes and the hair surprisingly soft. I may just admire it for awhile while I'm pondering how to use it. Any ideas?
I had a doctor appointment down in the almost big city last week, and there's a Michaels craft store there which I hoped might have the kind of buttons I'd like for that orphan block pillow. I think the lack of the right buttons in my stash is partly responsible for my not getting on with the project. They didn't have a great selection but you don't need a lot of options if what you do see is just what you were looking for. Not sure what these are made of, possibly wood but could also be nut shell (made in Thailand) and struck me as a bit pricey ($5 a card but I had a 20% off coupon), but I decided worth it to be happy with the final look of the pillow. As for the larger single button, well, it was all alone, nothing else like it, and it spoke to me. It might be perfect for a book closure, who know? I just couldn't leave it there. 20% off!
2 comments:
How about a throw pillow to use the hide? You could use strips of the leather with silver conchos for embellishments. Your discounted buttons are pretty & I agree that the lone one needed to come home with you! Jan in WY
Yes Jan, another pillow is always an option. I had to look up conchos, didn't know what they were but you being a Wyoming girl certainly would be familiar with them. ;-) I did run into a lady in Walmart who had a big purse (kind of a tote with zipper closure) made from some kind of fur and had to ask her about it. It had come from a friend who knew she liked that sort of thing and although she didn't know what kind of animal it came from I'd guess a cow hide. So confirmed my thinking that some kind of bag was an option. I've also thought of mittens or trim on a hat but whatever I decide, I'll need a primer on how to work with leather.
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