Rugs and Felt Colors

[Michelle_Nelson]

This is a picture of my Felt Color Table.  I sewed it together so I wouldn't have to dig out all my felt when it came time for a customer to pick the colors of felt they wanted on their rug.



From Top to Bottom:

1. Black                                 12. Orange    
2. Charcoal                            13. Gold
3. Grey                                  14. Yellow
4. Navy Blue                          15. Hunter Green
5. Royal Blue                         16. Kelly Green
6. Crystal Blue                       17. Pirate Green
7. Baby Blue                          18. Coco Brown
8. Purple                                19. Walnut Brown
9. Baby Pink                           20. Tan
10. Ruby                                21. Ivory
11. Red                                  22. White

I have a few more colors that are not on the Table yet.  

23. Cranberry ( which is Ruby with a slight black marbling)
24. Antique Gold

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Here are a couple pictures of Rugs that I did the stretching and rug work on.  These are rugs for another Taxidermist so I did not mount the heads in them or am I going to do the finnish work.  None of the faces and heads on these rugs are finnished out.  Just keep in mind that not all taxidermists will carry the same colors or use the same names for the colors.  I'm posting the pic's so you can see what some of the colors together look like.

The 2 Bear and 2 Cougar Rugs were done with a Heavy ruffle!


First Bear (Black):  Top felt - Hunters Green
                             Bottom felt - Black

Second Bear (Chocolate):  Top felt - Gold
                                        Bottom felt - Coco Brown



Both Cougars:  Top felt - Tan
                       Bottom felt - Coco Brown

[Michelle_Nelson]

Here is a Bear Rug I did for one of my customers who is also a member on the sight. 

Top felt - Cranberry
Bottom felt - Black

Not sure what I would call this felt pattern.  Basicly it is flat with pleets around curves on the hide.  Such as the head, flanks, and paws.  This is the way I do all the felt on my customer rugs unless they request more of a ruffle.

[509er]

look good

[boneaddict]

Cranberry and black are one of my faves on blackbears.  I've never used the ruffle before though, just flat with scalloped edges.  It would have to grow on me.

[Skyvalhunter]

Nice work Michelle keep it up!!!

[bowhuntin]

Nice looking rugs. Good work.

[bucklucky]

That cranberry looks good, I also like the charcoal on black and the DARK green on black. Nice ruggin Mich.

[Michelle_Nelson]

For backing I normally use Black because it goes with everything. 



Though I did manage to come across some camouflage about 2 weeks ago.  The Camo is twice the price I can get the regular backing for.  It is something different and not all that much more to have changed out.  I havn't yet gone back to see if I can get any more varieties of Camo yet.  I hope they carry more.




Realtree apHD


Mossy Oak Break Up.


All my rugs come with hangers.  Usually one in each foot and the head. In the first picture you can see where each of my hangers are located.  The hanger at the base of the tail normally isn't thier but was requested by the individual wanting the rugs done. On grizzly I usually add a couple extra. 

The hangers are sewen through all layers and including the leather.  That way when they are hung up the hide is what supports the weight.  If I sewed them only to the backing it could tear the backing or the stiches holding the backing under the weight of the rug.

Some don't put hangers at all and tell you to staple it to the wall with the felt.  Felt is one of the weakest materals used on a rug.  You can pull it apart by hand.  Over time the nails or staples can pull out of the felt and do serius damage to the felt.

[mossback91]

Camo would be cool

[boneaddict]

nice that you sew your backing in.  I know a few that glue theirs.....not impressed.

[Michelle_Nelson]

If you want to see a glue job go look at that Bear Rug that is hanging by the front door at Cabelas.  That this is coming apart.

The only areas on my rugs that have glue is on the feet.  I sew all the way up the leg to each outside toe.  So the only thing being glued to the felt is the toes.  I leave the hair on the bottom of the foot on my rugs.  I work the glue in really well on both the felt and into the hair on the bottom of the foot before attaching them together. 

I have tried pulling the felt off the feet and the felt will tear well befor that glue comes apart. 

[LongTatLaw]

Looking good Mich!

Say...who's bear is that on the hot tub? Thats a damn dangerous man eating monster right there!

[Ray]

Nice rugs.  Good topic.

For a black colored bear --
I like the cranberry with black as well as the hunter green with black. I believe I have also seen cocoa brown on the inside with black on the outside before. If I recall it looked good.

[Michelle_Nelson]

Most of the time when you have a Black Bear the bottom layer of Felt chosen is normally Black with a different color as a break up between the hide and botton layer of felt. 

Sorta the same way on Color Phase Bear.  Most people pick a color close to that of the color of the Bear as the bottom layer.  Than pick a different color felt to put between the hide and bottom layer of felt. 

[Michelle_Nelson]

Here is another Cougar Rug that I did the stretching and rug work on.  None of the finnish work has been done on the face.  That is the Taxi's job once they get them back.

Top felt - Tan
Bottom felt - Antique Gold

The felt is a Heavy Ruffle!