My first mask sporran?

[JamieKerr]

Well I've decided that I would really like a mask sporran, but I'd rather try to make one than just outright buy it. I've been looking around at pelts on ebay, as there seems to be no shortage of them there. I'm really leaning towards coyote, simply because I rather like coyotes! So I'm working on a plan for how I'll do this, an would like some feedback if possible. Keep in mind I have no experience whatsoever with this, so please educate me in any way shape or form you feel appropriate.

I plan to make an inner pouch out of faux fur that I have. Next I'll sew the outer sporran out of coyote fur, and attach the outer sporan to the inner sporran. Lastly I'll take a skinned coyote head (from ebay of course) and form the flap.

My real question is regarding the head. Do you folks recommend stuffing the head with something, or leaving it empty?

[arrg-isle]

I've seen it done both ways; the stuffed finish, even when done well, always looks "toyish" to me, and a little over-top.
I feel the simpler, more primitive look of non-stuffed head-pelts come off better.

[turpin]

Another option, especially with larger heads like coyote, would be to minimally "reconstitute" the head to give it some body without going for the "snarling-gonna-bite-you-in-the-crotch" realism that some sporrans have. You can still choose whether to sew the eyes shut or buy some glass eyes from a taxidermy store to give it a bit of life. IMHO, without some taxidermy work and a minimal bit of work around the eyes and ears a face just looks crumply.

[JamieKerr]

Thanks for the input guys. I did some taxidermy when I was in highschool, a very long time ago...but I believe I recall using basically a cotton stuffing similar to what might be found in some pillows. I rather like your "minimal stuffing" idea. Do you have any suggestion on what I should use for the innards? I am trying to decide between sewing the eyes closed and putting glass eyes in, though I'm leaning towards sewn shut (I'm a tad creeped out by an animal eying up my crotch!)

[JS Sanders]

I've created two mask sporrans, raccoon & possum.

I used styrofoam and a rasp to shape the heads to fit. Neither are open-mouthed and the ears I simply pinned down and allowed to dry.

Glass eyes really give a bit of depth to the head. If you purchase 'flint eyes', you can paint them other colors than nature gave the creature.

I bought as tanned furs, so that saved a beau coup of work.

Slan,
steve

[arrg-isle]

I rather like your "minimal stuffing" idea. Do you have any suggestion on what I should use for the innards? I am trying to decide between sewing the eyes closed and putting glass eyes in, though I'm leaning towards sewn shut (I'm a tad creeped out by an animal eying up my crotch!)

If you were to use squares and/or rectangles of cheap leather, you can roll, or fold them over, and that way get exactly the dimension of internal "bulking" you desire, without fear of shifting around or lumping up in the future, and besides, I think you'll find that internal leather will give you the slightest, most natural movement while striding, with little or no bobbing.
As for eyes/no eyes, I personally feel that "eyes" give a sporran mask a sort of "hitch-hiker" effect, rather a more subtle display of "this is what I've done, this what I honor/identify with". But, granted, that's just me!

[Smayniac]

I used a head on fur stole bought online from Goodwill. It already has some eyes that someone described as being from a furby. I'm thinking of trying to replace them, but I'd like to reshape the head as well; it seems to be some sort of badger, but the head is quite vulpine and the nose turns up. I haven't been able to find any good advice on reshaping the head to my taste.

Bob

[JamieKerr]

I've been looking around at different furs, and I ran across something by accident that caught my attention.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...id=p2759.l1259

I can't quite tell if the face is intact, so I shot the guy a message and am waiting on a response!

[JamieKerr]

Well I have good news and bad news. The good news is that I received my coyote pelt yesterday. The bad news is that it is absolutely beautiful. Why is that bad news? Because I just cannot bring myself to cut it up! This particular coyote seemed to have a birth mark of sorts, a big red triangle surrounded by black fur on its back. Rather than cut it up I have decided to hang it on my wall. So now I must order another pelt lol.