I am finding it difficult to find the time I need to work on my sculptures. I think it's a summer thing. Every time I have a plan, it changes. It seems everyone visits during the summer. Could be because I'm close to the Jersey shore.

Well, no visitors and no excuses today. My little Cairn Terrier needs more than the ears and eyes I've added since the last post. I'm hoping to get the body done today. I always make the head first. That way, if I don't like the way it came out I haven't wasted time on the body. See, a plan!!

I am currently working on doing a soft sculpture of my best friend. Well, one of them. I have wanted to create a sculpture of "Bailey" for some time but always seem involved in another project that needs to be finished.

No more excuses! Bailey, a Cairn Terrier, is taking shape and should be finished in a few days. Then it's on to my other "best friend", Jesse. A Westie with an attitude.

I've been saving Bailey's fur when I brush him so this sculpture will actually have his fur incorporated with the wool. I will have him with me always!

He is a red brindle with a black mask so I have had to do some serious color mixing to get his coat as accurate as possible. Not possible to use all dog fur but I should be able to create a nice mixture so this sculpture will have special meaning to me.

I'm grateful the Westie is all white!

After sticking your finger with a sharp needle for what is probably the hundredth time, you start looking for solutions. I get the most sticks when building a face. Mostly when I connect the bottom lip to the top lip. Here you are trying to connect two pieces with nothing under them but your fingers, hence the pucture wounds.

When I buy new needles they, on occasion, arrive embedded in a small piece of foam. it's the same type used as a work space for needle felting. Keep these pieces. They are the perfect size to put under your work when you try to connect two pieces that have nothing under them. They also work great when you are connecting two pieces together that are small, like a fore arm to an upper arm. My puncture would count is way down. As Martha would say, "It's a good thing."

Also keep your old, used foam work space when you buy a new one. Some felting activities are just harder on the foam than others. Like when you have to do a few really good stabs that will go through and into the base. This saves my new foam base from any abuse and it will last much longer. Yes, another Martha moment. Feel free to add any good ideas you have for needle felting.