Safari base

Safari base

21 Mar

My thoughts on how to mount the giraffe stemmed from the original idea of it looking like a safari trophy mount. I was going to cut a flat board or piece of nice plywood, then sand it and finish it to look like the taxidermy mounts we’re all so used to seeing. Then I got to thinking, what would make a unique piece look even more unique? I posted before about how I began the process of cleaning up the drawer and painting the inside to look like the African Savannah, so now I show the outside and what the finished giraffe looks like mounted in it.

“Suitcase” exterior detail

I used scrap paper around the edges to simulate the leather trim on a real old fashioned suitcase, but how to pull off the stitching? I thought about actually using a large needle and thick cotton string as the stitching and actually STITCHING the trim. I then thought, “Are you crazy? That will take forever and not look right…” I finally decided to paint a darker tone “trench” to look like a dirty shadow, then I bought some ivory colored 3D puffy paint and using a ruler to guide my hand, I squeezed a 3D dashed line to simulate stitches!

Stitches close-up

The effect is quite convincing…

Next, I had to create the hardware and handle. I could have found an old suitcase at a garage sale, but it was winter in the Great Lakes area…no sales. I guess I could have looked at a resale or thrift shop, but as ling as I was hand-making everything else….

So, I cut the handle out of scrap plywood and painted it to match the stitching, then attached it using some little brass hooks that looked like handle bracket hardware.

The suitcase handle

But what about the hinges and locks, you ask? Handmade as well, from cut paper, re-purposed medicine vial pop-off tops and wooden sticks, with a little paint for effect…

So, here is the finished piece, in all it’s weird glory.

Walter in his finished glory!

Sorry it’s take so long to chart the progress!

Your comments are welcomed and encouraged…I’d love to hear what you have to say!

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