Memory Bears, Memory Mouse

Here are three lovely big bears, who were gifted yesterday…

One pair of skinny size 8 jeans made one bear. As you can see, I also made 2 bears which are the reverse of each other. 

My mothers house-coat became three tiny mice. One can be found nestled in among my youngest child’s plush. I don’t know if they have a name yet, but one of my twins called her mouse Jenny, almost immediately! I was reminded of my 50 for 50 last year. I hadn’t made a mouse since then … well not one like these! 

Mouse number 4 #50forfifty

Wow mouse number 4? 

This one is really very cute. 

And yes, the first three mice are already adopted! 

A new rat softie pattern ....

Following on from the creation of pink mouse for a very special lady, it was time to recreate some awesome rats ...

A pink-eyed-white an agouti hooded-rat ...

This year we remember the rescue rats Smudge and Pepsi :-)

Wee pink mouse

This small pink mouse is for a very special lady, and is based on my hamster pattern with a few simple changes. 

I'm really pleased with her!

Lavender petite mouse!

another cute 3inch long pocket-pet made from tactile Sassy mini bear fabric and some hand-dyed wool-felt ears and tail!



Her Beady eyes are glass, and I twisted a strip of the wool felt to make a yarn-like tail!



She would like to meet Blue mouse, so is off to find him!

Little Blue mouse ...

a 3inch long pocket pet made from tactile Sassy mini bear fabric and some hand-dyed wool-felt ears and tail!



The eyes are lovely glass beads!



Blue mouse will soon be in my Etsy shop...

Cat on the bottom?

who is this with a cat on their bottom?



why, it's a rather cheeky button-wheeled mouse!



and there is only one way, well you can up your chances a bit of course - but sign up to the Plushteam, Raggy Rat, Mouse-Giveaway!!!



say that before your coffee!

button wheel mouse has new home ....

he was bought at Maker Faire, taken home, and photographed beautifully by his new owner Kurt, thank you Kurt xxxx

Something for you ... New Mouse Design GIVE-AWAY!

sometimes, when away from home, and my sewing machine, I take a small work-bag of bits and create something by hand ...



and here, based on an old wooden toy i have had for a few years, is Button Mouse, made from wool fabrics with glass-bead eyes and vintage buttons for faux wheels ... after a bit of tweeking, there will be more of these mice available! But for now, to thank you for your friendship and support i want to give this one to you ...


So what do you need to to to get your hands on this little fella?
Just visit the Raggy Rat Etsy Shop. and leave a comment on this post with your favorite item. Be sure to include an e-mail address so we can contact you if you win! Try looking in the sales section too, some old favourites of mine are in there ...

You can get even MORE chances to win!

Become a Raggy Rat blog follower. If you're a new follower, leave another comment and let us know that you joined. If you're already following us, you can let us know that too and score one extra entry!

Follow the RaggyRat on Facebook and/or Twitter. Again, let us know in your comment if you're a new follower or an old friend and you'll receive one extra entry for each follow. Leave me a link you your twitter as I might like to follow you ... http://twitter.com/raggyrat
(Raggy Rat's Facebook Page).

Tweet this giveaway. Make sure to give us a link to your tweet in the comments to get one extra entry.

Blog this giveaway. For an extra TWO entries, tell folks about this giveaway in your blog. Please make sure to use one or two of the New Button Mouse photos in your post and leave us a link to see your story.

Good Luck, and thanks again for voting for Ganesha - i will do the draw on my birthday, 12th May XXXXX

snippings ....

i recently managed to slip myself into the dorset echo magazine - i thought that a 6 foot mouse made in a weymouth home would be a good story!



i like this picture tho, that didnt make it into the magazine, they seem to go for the super-uber-wide angle pictures in their layouts ... Ruch Meech makes a lovely mouse doesn't she?



and here's a peep at the second issue of rat and mouse magazine, where i show you how to make a finger puppet mouse step by step ... i took all the photos while making at the same time :-)



here i am with Dorset For Singing, on the front row making mental notes for choir-blogging and generally giving cheek to Ed ...



and the choir performing at Preston Garden Party, i am inthe middle with my mouth open ... no comments please!



now, who is coming to hear us tonight? i am going to do two solos and have given my father-in-law permission to bring his camcorder ... usually i tell him to put it away!

he's cute and hes looking for his tea-pot ....

just who is he?

here is a better picture of the fursuit mouse head ...

he is almost smiling, but he wants me to sit and do him some whiskers ....

my first fursuit .... here he is!

although today it is snowing and slushy, and my todders are pressed to the windows, yesterday was fresh and sunny, just the right kind of weather for taking pics of the finished mouse fursuit... finished that is, apart fromt a set of whiskers ...but i did make the photo deadline and will also make the friday one for words and pictures sent to Rat and Mouse magazine ... phew !
does this make me an official fursuiter?
should i accept more commissions?
have you enjoyed following the proggress of this huge mouse?
i think i have, as a soft-toy maker i have certainly picked up lots of new skills and improved my sewing...
to see more of mr mouse, here modeled by a girl, click
http://www.flickr.com/photos/raggyrat/tags/femalemodel/ <--- here !

busy busy .....

creating a pattern for the muzzle and cheeks
laura ashley curtains for patterns making ....

i cut some tear ducts for improved ventilation, painted the insides blackand covered them with 2 layers of chiffon ...

a fur face on the book shelf ... the nose isn't the right shape yet but improves this photo !

getting furred ....

wow the head is looking rounder and fluffier and cuddlier and i am on the home straight with this now!
i may have to re-think the plastic dome 'eyes' if they dont fit my vision for the character - which really just changes as the thing grows and hopefully fits whats in mine and my clients heads !
now im off busy shaping the cheeks, building the pattern for the muzzle fur - 3 kinds of fur, and getting hot glue gun burns again !

vote, over on the etsy plush team blog !

vote vote vote, for mrs pack rat ...

that is, unless you find another softie there who floats your softie-boat ...

http://www.plushteam.com/2009/02/voting-for-janfeb-challenge.html

her new years resolution is to 'get on top' of her Mousework, and Clutter - just like me! i wonder if she has made a start yet ?

im a proud new member of the etsy plush team, and this is my first competition :-)

i have got plenty of glue-gun glue now ...

at least i hope so, i want the foam to stay glued together ...

WIP mouse head - sketch ...

after seeing character screen shots like this http://raggyrat.blogspot.com/2009/01/mouse-fursuit-commission.html i had a better idea of building the mouse head for the costume...
i made this drawing, sketched from the head i have build so far ...

the markings are based on deer mice and the little white eye markings that spiney mice have ...

i just need some information about how the back of the head should look ...

a peep inside Rat and Mouse magazine ...

my lovely half page add - makes me feel very grown up!
i made it myself to required size, dpi etc ...



and some hand made rat and mouse goodies including my rats and mice of course!



it wont be long before we can see issue 2 - i have been looking at an edit of my 'make-and-do' article for your copy of rat and mouse magazine, click here...

i AM in print ....

stay tuned for a peep inside ...

rat and mouse magazine, click here...

dont you just love it when real things land on your real doormat?