Mini BenJi

I started working on my first clay/wool dog awhile ago. And wanted to make mums dog in miniature, to give her on her birthday. I have been thinking of making a miniature of him for years now, but always end up thinking it was too hard. But then I finally started and the real dog got to see the unfinished one before he passed away. When he died (about a month ago) I felt like I had to make the best mini dog ever.. hard to live up to =(
"Funny" how I think of doing a miniature for years, and when I finally do, the real dog dies.. Not the best time to work on this, I was about to cry every time I tried finish him.. But I got done, a few hours before the birthday party..
He was a mixed breed, shih tzu, lhasa apso and tibetan spaniel and a few more breeds further back too. A unique dog that is =)

Here is BenJi wondering what I was working on while we was "babysitting" one day. (Last time he was here..) My daughter took her role as a babysitter very serious, she took good care of him and wanted him to have a nice stay at our place =)

This very unfinished picture just reminded me of one day he and I was out, the wind blew really hard that day, and he was just a little puppy and the fur stood up, all over =) He looked kinda like this =)

 Finished?!

I had to stop sometime, it was hard, I thought I could do better all the time, and added and remade things all the time, then I just had to put a stop to myself and say that I was done! Which I did (but look at the last picture, I did add some more white fur on the nose one last time before wrapping the gift..)

Visiting my dollhouse

I added a bit more white to the nose and tail, and then I decided I was done =)
I wasn't totally satisfied, but this is my first dog, I might get better at this in a few years, and maybe I'll do another one then.. But I have to say he is kinda cute, even do he might not look just like the "original".

Take care

Hannah