Instagram Giveaway Competition

Instagram Giveaway Competition – Win A Taxidermy Mouse Terrarium!

Instagram Giveaway Competition – Win a taxidermy mouse terrarium!


Want to win one of my taxidermy mouse terrariums? Head over to the @taxidermyco instagram page to find out more!

All you have to do is follow the page and repost the featured image with #TaxidermyCo to be in with a chance.

One lucky winner will be chosen at random on the 31st July at 7pm (GMT).

Don’t worry if you don’t have Instagram and you’re missing out this time, I’ll be running other competitions in the near future on other social media sites.

Sign up to the mailing list on the footer of this page to be informed of new contests and exclusive news!

Good Luck!

 

Taxidermy Mandarin Duck Commission

Taxidermy Mandarin Duck Commission

Mandarin Duck Taxidermy Commission


I recently had the pleasure of working with a very special specimen – a stunning Mandarin Duck. I’ve been wanting to work with one for a while now!

This beautiful ornamental species was introduced from China in the mid-18th Century but didn’t start breeding and flourishing in the UK until the 1930’s.

The crazy (but beautiful!) feather arrangements on this bird were definitely challenge and slightly intimidating at first, but I think that now I’ve completed a 7ft peacock I have the confidence to do just about anything!

I spent about 9 hours + feathering and preening this duck alone, but I am very happy with how he turned out.

A hand carved mannequin was made out of balsa wood for this duck after taking various measurements from the carcass.

The left over meat from the carcass was also donated to some local hungry tawny owl chicks that were rescued, so nothing goes to waste!

To finish this project off, he’s going to be placed in a custom made glass case with a habitat and resin water base.

I will post pictures once he’s fully complete, but in the mean time take a look at the ‘in progress’ pictures below;

Badger T-shirt

Don’t Badger Me!

‘Don’t Badger Me’ Charity Tees


I’ve just finished up another design for some upcoming T-shirts; one more design to go then I am going to get some printed up for you all!

10% of proceeds from each T-shirt will be donated to various wildlife and animal charities, including the Badger Trust, Suffolk Wildlife Trust and RSPB.

I think to some people, taxidermists are painted in a bad light with concerns over animal welfare, the art being of ‘bad taste’ etc.

I pride myself in being an ethical taxidermist, which means none of the specimens I work with are killed intentionally for the purpose of taxidermy and are sustainably sourced from frozen zoo food suppliers, the result of accidental road traffic collisions, humane pest control or natural deaths.

Being a keen naturalist and wildlife enthusiast, I want to go one step further by giving something back to wildlife and the wonderful world we live in by donating a percentage of what I earn from my taxidermy and other work to these great charities.


 

If you can’t wait for the T-shirts, I found a bunch of unisex tank tops from my old clothing brand that I have just added to the site, featuring my ‘Great Antlered Owl’ design for just £7.99!

Owl Tank Top

Some have gone already, but if you’re quick you may be able to pick one up in your size!

GET ONE NOW

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Taxidermy Stoat

Taxidermy Stoat Commission

Taxidermy Stoat Commission


Here’s one of the latest projects I have completed, a gorgeous little female stoat.

It unfortunately got attacked by a dog and my customer wanted her mounted up as a result of this.

I gave her a relaxed pose on a bit of driftwood I had and completed with some moss.

I am really in to casting heads at the minute, so as you can see from the progress pictures!

Taxidermy Cast Head

I cast the head in resin which means it’s an accurate representation of the original skull, giving it a perfect fit.

Taxidermy Process

The body form was handmade out of wood wool.

 

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Taxidermy Water Shrew

Taxidermy Water Shrew ‘Shrewbert’

Shrewbert the Eurasian Water Shrew


The tiny little Eurasian Water Shrew (Neomys fodiens) commissioned by Iain Webb at The Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire & Northamptonshire went off to his new home yesterday!

He is now aptly named ‘Shrewbert’ – love it! Iain thought it would be a good idea to have the specimen mounted up for educational purposes after he found it deceased.

Notable features that distinguish it from the other species of shrew include the line of hairs under the tail forming a keel, the fringe of hairs around its feet to help with swimming, and the whiskers on its snout, the vibrissae, to help it search for food.

Taxidermy Water Shrew Taxidermy Water Shrew

 

Tawny Owl Wildlife Photography Print

Wildlife Photography Prints

I’m back from my short break away now and feeling refreshed, ready and full of inspiration after being amongst so much wildlife!

I’ve just added some new products to the store, including these 5″ x 7″ Glossy Wildlife Photography prints.

I took these lovely pictures on a photography course at Suffolk Owl Sanctuary, it was a wonderful day out and I enjoyed seeing the birds of prey up close, gave me an excellent insight and reference images for future projects.

 

Tawny Owl Wildlife Photography Print

If they go down well, I may print some more of my wildlife photos in the future.

You can check out some of my photography adventures by clicking the button below, mostly taken in and around rural Suffolk & Norfolk in East Anglia.

Flickr Stream

£1 from each of the prints sold will be donated to the Suffolk Wildlife Trust.


 

Shop Prints

IMPORTANT NOTICE – I’m away…

I will be away on holiday from the 22-26th May, 2017.


Orders will still be taken but will not be processed or shipped out until the  29th May.
Sorry for any inconvenience and thank you for your patience!

-Krysten

Taxidermy Barn Owl

Taxidermy Barn Owl Installation

Taxidermy Barn Owl Installation


 

I recently completed a lovely Barn Owl Commission, you can read up about this project and what a nightmare I had with it in a previous blog post here

This morning, I went round to my customers house to install the Barn Owl on an incredible piece of oak branch they found and installed in their house!

I was SO pleased that she fit on there perfectly, because normally I would mount the taxidermy on to the piece of wood I intend to use for it’s permanent perch to make sure the feet are positioned nicely on it. So I was pleasantly surprised when it all worked out, especially with the addition of the little vole I added under her talons.

Taxidermy Barn Owl

But in this case I had to do a bit of guess work and temporarily perch her on an old piece of wood I had until I installed her on the oak branch. She looks right at you as you walk in the door, take a look!

Happy Customers=Happy Krysten!

Vulture Culture T-shirt Design

‘Vulture Culture’ inspired T-shirts

‘Vulture Culture’ T-shirts


A few years ago, I had my own T-shirt brand called ‘Awfully Good Apparel’ where I applied my own illustrations and designs onto various apparel. It was mostly an extension of a college project and I thought it could go somewhere, but as I had uni and other commitments, unfortunately didn’t have the time to pursue it.

I loved getting the T-shirts back from the printers and sending them off all over the world!

As the I intentionally set up the ‘Taxidermy Co.’ brand as a platform to sell all kinds of natural history related items, not just taxidermy, I am toying with the idea of illustrating a few designs to get printed on T-shirts in the near future.

The designs will be inspired by the natural world and will appeal (hopefully) to nature lovers that appreciate all things living (and dead!). You can expect designs that feature skeletal structures, botanical elements and all that is flora and fauna.

I’m working on a design right now, featuring a griffin vulture that I’m drawing by hand using a dot work technique – VERY tedious but the end result will be worth it. Depending on how things turn out, I may start a kickstarter campaign, I’ve never done one before so it should be exciting!

Let me know what you think so far, feel free to follow my progress on Instagram and other social media!

@taxidermyco

– Krysten

Taxidermy Peacock – Work In Progress

Taxidermy Peacock


I feel so honoured and very fortunate to work with such a majestic, beautiful bird! He’s a black shouldered peacock (male peafowl).

This project took an awful lot of work, but the end result is so worth it and I’m very happy with how he has turned out.

It’s the biggest bird I’ve worked on to date and whilst it’s much the same process as any other bird, the long train was what made this project different to anything I have done.

After I skinned the bird, I had to remove the train and under tail coverts in order to clean them properly as the many quills of the train are incredibly fatty and it just made the whole process a lot easier than having the rest of the skin attached, plus there’s less risk of spoiling the rest of the skin whilst cleaning it!

After I salted the train for 24 hours to train the moisture out, I thoroughly washed and cleaned in between each quill to remove all of the fat then layered on the preservation paste. I then cut out a chunk of my foam mannequin to set the train and tail coverts separately on it with fast setting car body filler.

Once that was all set, I mounted the rest of the skin like I would any other bird, attached him to the antique wooden base then re-attached the train and tail to complete – viola!

All in all, he’s taken approx. 20 hours so far. I have to spend another hour or so doing the final finishing touches to his face then he’s all done!

This magnificent specimen will be for sale once he’s complete, but if you want to get in early to make reservations please get in touch: [email protected]

Thanks!

-Krysten

P.S no part of this bird was wasted, the meat was donated to a local ferret keeper and hotel, it went down a treat apparently!

Taxidermy Barn Owl Commission

I started putting back together this little beauty today. A beautiful female Barn Owl (Tyto alba).

She was sadly recovered by the side of the road after getting tangled in some brambles. She was also covered in blow fly eggs and nearly aborted the project this morning but with a LOT of patience, cleaning and preening things are starting to come together again, and I’m so glad they are!

A little mouse is going to go under her talons to complete, then it’s going to be installed on a custom piece of wood in my clients house.

I will post pictures once she’s finished 🙂

-Krysten

 

 

Taxidermy Red Fox Soft Mount Commission Complete!

Taxidermy Red Fox Soft Mount


I’ve recently completed this lovely chap! A commission from a friend that found this poor boy by the side of the road. He had quite a lot of damage to one side of his face so I had to do some repairs using some scrap bits of fur I had.

A lot of work went in to him and it’s quite a labour intensive project, but I’m happy with how he turned out! I hope his new owner loves him just as much.

A ‘Soft Mount’ is a process where the head of the animal is traditionally mounted, but instead of mounting the skin to a crafted form, the skin is treated, tanned and broken so it’s flexible, armature is made and teddybear like material is used to fill the skin, making the fox flexible, posable and cuddly!

Soft Mount commissions are available upon request (Subject to stock availability) please get in touch if you’re interested.

CONTACT

Thanks!

– Krysten

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