My first mask sporran?

**JamieKerr** · 10th December 08, 08:23 PM

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** · 10th December 08, 08:32 PM

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** · 11th December 08, 09:03 AM

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** · 11th December 08, 12:44 PM

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** · 11th December 08, 01:23 PM

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** · 11th December 08, 02:09 PM

Originally Posted by JamieKerr

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** · 11th December 08, 04:46 PM

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** · 13th December 08, 03:16 PM

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!

**Squeaky McMurdo** · 14th December 08, 12:31 PM

I hope I don't get in trouble for this, and I certainly don't mean to hijack this thread, but my husband has a fur-bearer tag that's good until the end of next year.

If anyone were to show interest I'm sure he would be inspired to go out and set some snares for badgers.

**arrg-isle** · 14th December 08, 03:06 PM

Originally Posted by Squeaky McMurdo

I hope I don't get in trouble for this, and I certainly don't mean to hijack this thread, but my husband has a fur-bearer tag that's good until the end of next year.

If anyone were to show interest I'm sure he would be inspired to go out and set some snares for badgers.

The only downside I can imagine to this, that I have encountered, are the occasional UK visitors who, understanding neither the differences between American & British environmental laws, nor the interspecies distinction between American Badgers & their British cousins (often called "brocks"), sometimes feel compelled to challenge the appropriateness/legality of one's wearing of badgerhide.
But I must hasten to add, on both occasions when this did happen to me, I found that a brief explanation was suffice to have everyone smiling again, and even exchanging names & greetings. I even managed to get the woman from Birmingham to stop feeling embarrassed at her little faux pas but congratulating her government on empowering an eco-crusader like Prince Charles.
That even got a "Thank you so much, nice of you to say!" from her hubby.