Mink Faux Taxidermy Workshop
Description
Mink Faux Taxidermy Workshop
Come and spend some time in the beautiful Sussex countryside at my Mink Faux Taxidermy Workshop. You will spend a few hours making your very own mink with my guidance. Everything you need will be supplied, other than fabric (which can be supplied if needs be).
PLEASE NOTE: This mink faux taxidermy workshop experience is not intended as a teaching course for moulding, casting or making faux taxidermy in order for you to start a faux taxidermy business. Due to health and safety considerations, I will provide a pre-cast form and a pre-made plaque.
Refreshments are included. There is easy parking available.
For more information, please see here.
Duration: 4-5 Hours (10am – 3pm) Duration is dependent on your crafting skills, and I am of course happy to continue until you are happy with your creation. BYO Lunch
Location: West Sussex, Ditchling Common.
What’s included:
- All materials required, except fabrics. Fabric Packs are available for £5. You may also bring your own fabrics. Please advise which you wish to do once your day has been booked.
- Use of any tools needed.
- Refreshments
Fabric Quantity and Type to bring for your Mink Faux Taxidermy Workshop:
You will need 4 different fabrics for your mink:
Fabric 1 – a small amount of a thin fabric. Yes, this can be a thin fabric like silk or a quilting cotton. 70mm x 50mm I can provide this if needs be. This is for the fronts of the ears. I like to use a thin and a regular fabric so they are easier to turn from inside to out after sewing.
Fabric 2 – This is for the throat and the face. Throat – 110mm W x 130mm H. Face 100mm H x 40mm W. If you are using a fabric with a symmetrical pattern, make sure you have made an allowance for that if you wish to keep the symmetry.
Fabric 3 – This is for the back, and is one option for the backs of the ears. Can be either 140mm W x 100 mm H.
Fabric 4 – This is for the cheeks, and is the other option for the backs of the ears. This can be 200mm W x 60 mm H or 100 mm W x 120mm H minimum.
Advice for picking suitable fabrics:
- It’s going to be much easier for you if you use a medium to heavy weight fabric. Dressmaking fabrics and stretchy fabrics aren’t suitable. We can use woven fabrics, but don’t use a courser grain fabric with a loose weave, or a finer grain fabric with an open weave. We don’t want glue to bleed through.
- Velvets (unless they are very stiff, or are printed with a white backing – both perfectly useable but can be tricky), chenille, tweeds or wool mixes tend to be the easiest fabrics to use. For minks I tend to use less heavy chenilles and velvets because otherwise they overwhelm the form.
- If it’s prone to fraying, don’t worry too much, there are things we can do to keep the edges neat. I have a selection of trim if needs be. Costs about a quid per mink – just to cover cost of purchasing the trim.
- When you are measuring, think about the nap of the fabric (if you are stroking velvet with the nap, for example, the nap would go from top to bottom of the fabric when you are laying it out to cut the pattern.
- If it has a symmetrical pattern, and you want to keep the symmetry, measure from the centre of the pattern to the closest edge and multiply it by two.
- I would recommend getting a little more fabric than you need if you can just in case of mistakes.
Things to Note:
It is helpful if you can use a sewing machine. If not, I can sew the ears for you.
You will also be using a hot glue gun and a battery powered driver / driver. If you are uncomfortable or unfamiliar with using any electrical or hot tools, please let me know.
One you have booked your workshop, I will be in touch with a very quick questionnaire to make sure all goes smoothly on your workshop day.
Cancellations:
Pre-scheduled group workshops:
You may cancel at anytime for a full refund if the cancellation date is 2 weeks prior to the workshop day.
If you cancel 1 – 2 weeks before the Mink Faux Taxidermy Workshop date, you will receive a refund less 10% of the total cost of the workshop as a cancellation fee.
If you cancel within a week on the workshop date, you will receive a 70% refund of the total cost of the workshop. I will retain a 30% cancellation fee because at this stage, I will be unable to find a replacement.
Group Party Mink Faux Taxidermy Workshops:
You may cancel for a full refund or reschedule a date if the cancellation date is 2 weeks prior to the workshop day.
If you cancel 1 – 2 weeks before the workshop date, you will receive a refund less 10% of the toal cost of the workshop as a cancellation fee.
Why is it pricier to build a mink myself when buying one pre-made is cheaper?
Good question. There are a few reasons for this:
1 – It takes me a significantly shorter amount of time to make a mink than it does for a workshop attendee to make one.
2 – I have much more preparation to do for workshops to accommodate everyone in such a way that they will have a comfortable and fun day.
3 – When you buy a pre-made mink, you don’t have the same experience as making one. It’s designed to be a fun day, at the end of which you get to take home your new buddy
4 – Though I am not offering workshops in order for people to start their own faux taxidermy business, I do impart knowledge gained from years of prop making experience to you during the workshop, which may come in handy in your future craft endeavors.
5 – I prepare forms, ear wires, noses, eyes and plaques in advance, all ready for your day, so I do the “boring” stuff for you.