This 10cm full-body felt figurine is a heartfelt tribute to （Augustus）Gus, a precious Exotic Shorthair who lived only two years but left an everlasting impact on his family. Gus’s story is one of love, strength, and the delicate balance of life, and through this tiny felted creation, his spirit lives on.

Gus: A Life Full of Love

Gus was born with a congenital heart condition, and from the start, time wasn’t kind to him. Despite the health challenges, his family chose hospice care, pouring so much time, patience, and love into him to make sure his short life was filled with warmth and comfort. Every moment with Gus was precious, and the care his family gave him truly shaped his life.

To make Gus as comfortable as possible, his dad told me that they set up litter boxes on every floor of the house. They also carefully prepared every meal, adding medications to control his symptoms. They constantly monitored his breathing rate, used an oxygen tent, and took him to the vet whenever needed.

It was this kind of care and attention that allowed Gus to keep going. His family said, “He didn’t even seem to realize how serious his condition was.” I think it was this level of care that made Gus’s life so comfortable. Even with his illness, he loved life. Whether he was soaking up the sun, napping on his dad, or simply enjoying the moment, Gus found joy in the little things. He never let his illness define him. Instead, he embraced each day with the same gentle, sweet nature that will forever be remembered by his family.

Gus in Wool: Bringing a Memory to Life

When I started working on Gus’s felted portrait, I talked a lot with his family and we all agreed on one thing: this piece needed to capture more than just how he looked. I wanted to preserve his spirit — especially his sweet expression and the unique patterns in his fur.

I began with his face, which was the most important part. It needed to reflect Gus’s gentle, calm nature. His face was naturally round and soft, and getting that right took time. At first, the proportions didn’t feel quite right , his face wasn’t round enough, and his expression felt a little too sharp. The softness and relaxed feeling I saw so clearly in the photos just wasn’t there yet, and his eyes didn’t look gentle enough.

   So I kept adjusting. I added more wool to his cheeks to build up that soft, rounded look, slowly shaping his face until it felt calm and peaceful. I used pink wool to form his little mouth, and carefully trimmed the wool around his eyes so the glass eyes looked brighter and more alive.

During this process, every layer of wool felt like more than just a technical adjustment. It felt like I was slowly bringing Gus’s presence back into the world, one tiny detail at a time. When the face was finally finished, there was a quiet sense of peace — almost as if Gus himself was there, calmly watching.

Beyond the face, I paid close attention to his body posture as well. Gus always looked relaxed, usually lounging comfortably, and I wanted to capture that easy, laid-back feeling. Building his body layer by layer felt almost meditative, like a gentle way of honoring his memory. In the end, this tiny version of Gus became a reflection of how he lived — calm, content, and quietly enjoying life.

A Tribute to the Moments We Hold Close

While Gus’s time on this earth was far too short, his impact was immense. For his family, every day was filled with love and care, making those two years irreplaceable. The memories they shared with Gus — the moments he curled up with them on the couch, the way he loved to bask in the sun — were more than just fleeting moments. They were pieces of a life well-lived, even in its brevity.

Through this wool-felted tribute, I hope to have captured just a small piece of what Gus meant to his family. As much as Gus was defined by his illness, he was equally defined by the love and joy he brought to those around him. The figurine serves as a reminder that no matter how short a life may be, the love we give and receive is what makes it truly meaningful.

Gus’s family chose to cherish him every single day, and in return, Gus gave them a love that will forever remain in their hearts. This wool portrait may be small, but it carries with it the weight of a life lived fully, no matter how brief.

Final Thoughts

Gus’s story is a testament to the power of love and the special bond we share with our pets. Even though he was with us for such a short time, his family’s devotion turned every moment into a precious memory. Through the felted figurine, I hope to have given them a lasting tribute, something that will continue to reflect Gus’s sweetness and the peace he found in every moment, no matter how fleeting.

   May this little wool Gus continue to bring warmth and comfort, just as the real Gus did in life.

Thank you to Gus’s family for so generously sharing their story and the love they shared with him. 🤍

More pics of Gus:https://www.instagram.com/p/DQm-pVikzIc/?img_index=1