Delia does this adorable dog thing where she rolls around on her back flinging all four of her legs all around and making this snorfling pant-snort that we call “schmawzling” and so one of Delia’s nicknames is “Schmawz.”
Approx Feb 23 Delia was really having a nice long schmawz sesh on the bed and I said to her in that puppy-talk voice, “What are you doin’ in there Schmawzalotl?”
Sometime not long after, I got the notion that Delia might need an axolotl disguise so I started looking at pictures online. It turns out the a black axolotl is a real thing and also the most common morph of axolotls!
It’s made with some inexpensive black felt and hot pink polar fleece - both from stash. I cut the fringe-y bits with pinking sheers to give them an extra frilly look. There is also a small piece of caulk backer rod in each one to stuff them, but keep them lightweight. That is also from stash! Then they’re all sewn to a felt strip, that I folded to create a sleeve that slips over her collar. Delia will only wear a disquise or costume if we trick her into thinking it’s a collar or jacket. It also helps if I’m holding treats while trying to get her to model, but it doesn’t help much for getting her to model.
I realize there are some slight Demogorgon vibes going on, but luckily this is just a fun April Fool’s costume and she’s super laid back/doesn’t have access to a mirror.
Fun Fact: Mudpuppies and axolotls are both salamanders that have those fancy external gills.
Our dearly departed Betty loved a costume or outfit! With Delia, she has come around a bit in her dotage, but she won’t go for sleeves or legs and there is no way she’d tolerate a hat or hood!
Awwwww look at Delia, she’s absolutely adooooooorable!!!
I have to say I did think that she was being a demogorgon at first (especially having just watched Stranger Things for like the 3rd or 4th time), but a Schmawzalotl is even better!! I just love that you cut the fringe with the pinking sheers, it really does make them look super axolotl frilly
It also helps if I’m holding treats while trying to get her to model, but it doesn’t help much for getting her to model. 
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Schmawzalotl is way better!
