Life is Good!

It has become a tradition in this family to spend the last few days of summer break before Labor Day at the beach in Lincoln City. There is an outlet mall there, so we also do some back-to-school shopping, but the main purpose is to goof off before the mad rush of September begins.

We all agree that it's a Very Good Idea.

Although the girls did drag us through 5 consecutive hours of "Project Runway" one night, we spent most of our time on the beach. The water was way too cold for swimming, but the tide pools are always fun to explore. We never disturb anything beyond teasing the sea anemones a little bit, although Lydia has been known to try to feed things to the crabs.

I had my best trip ever for beach combing. I have loved sea shells since I was very little, and this year I found a bunch of intact shells of species I have never collected before, which was pretty exciting. I kept a bunch of broken ones too -- they "broke pretty" into lovely spiral designs. Very idea stimulating!



The sun decided to show off in a major way on Wednesday evening. We took advantage of the incredible light conditions to play with some portrait photography. Lydia snapped this shot of Jake and I after I decided it had gotten too dark for photography. What do I know???


Time to get back to Real Life now!

I have set the white/white doll aside in disgust... I began the work on her so long ago and my tastes have changed SO much (not to mention my skills!) that I don't even like it anymore. Maybe once I finish her and achieve some distance I might learn to like her again, but for now... ick!

So, what to do???

This little amulet bag is a project I started very enthusiastically ages ago when I was heavily into beading. It is a free pattern available on the 'net by Cheryl Assemi .

So, I ran out of the black Delicas for the background. I went to town and bought some more black "Japanese seed beads", but didn't notice until I got them home that they were 15's rather than 11's -- waaaayyyyy too small. Arghhhhh! That pretty much took the oomph out of my motivation to work on it for... um... several years at least.

"She Who Has the Attention Span of a Grasshopper" is my real name I think...

Anyway, in the fit of disgust the followed the last work session on the white/white doll, I decided to tidy up my bead table to prepare for work on the domino necklaces and I found her again. (I have long since aquired the necessary black beads for other projects...) It only took 2 days of beading to finish her, including the fringe. I was SO CLOSE -- WHY do I do this to myself???

I am happy to have redeemed all those hours and hours of work and taken the project this far. I wish I had the eyesight to keep up with the beadwork, but alas, even with my bifocals, it just isn't happening anymore. Sigh... it's a good thing I have so many hobbies!

Anyway, all she needs now is her strap and she's ready to wear. She is so NOT for sale!

Back to Doll Making

Jake is at a meeting in Corvallis all day today, so after getting a little housework done, I took the opportunity to gorge my brain on a bunch of "Lord of the Rings" extras and get some work done on some real dolls. I especially wanted to complete the work on a round robin piece that will need to hit the mail soon. I won't post photos of her because I don't want her "Mom" to see her.

I was on a roll (and only about half way through the DVD I was watching,) so I grabbed my white-on-white doll and attacked her clothes. I have found over and over again when working with other designers' patterns that the doll I make doesn't fit the clothes patterns. This was the case with this doll as well. All her lovely dresses looked like ill-fitting pajamas on her. I used some rather expensive fabric on them though, so no way was I going to start over!

Here she is so far. First I gave her a petticoat to hold out the silk of her undergown, which is very fluid but hung like a limp rag from her body -- not attractive. Then I took in the undergown by wrapping a shape into the bodice with some satin cord. She has such a beautiful figure and it was nearly completely hidden under those shapeless clothes.

I added some of the same cord to the sleeves to add a little more color and texture. I am discovering that adding some darker shades of white really wakes up the monochromatic color scheme. I haven't trimmed the ends yet because I haven't decided exactly what to do with them. Now that I see the photos, I think I will cut them off. They just look messy to me now.

From the back she is looking pretty good! I have pinned in a HUGE pleat at the waist of the overgown -- now I just need to make up some kind of accent to hold it in place. Probably beads to match her head piece.


I have no idea whatsoever why Blogger decided to rotate this photo... Anyway, this is a closeup of her headpiece. It looks beautiful in her hair. If I had somewhere appropriate to go I would wear it myself!


By adding a handle to the mask instead of attaching it to her face, I have convinced her that yes, it does too look good with her outfit. Unfortunately, she is one of the few dolls I have ever made without wired fingers, so I will have to work out a way to make it stay in her hands.

This pattern is the most bizarre blend of engineering technicalities and utterly simple "rag doll" parts. Odd...

The handle of the mask is just wire with Apoxie Sculpt wrapped around it, then painted Champagne metallic. I want to try a little watered down burnt umber on a small corner to see if it brings out the details or just ruins it, but I am done for today.

I had an idea...

I have been wondering just how I was going to set all the dominoes I have been stamping. Necklaces? Key rings? Parachute clips? Just as a pendant that customers could hang themselves? I may do a few of each yet, BUT ...

... while looking for something else, I found Chinese Knots for Beaded Jewellery, (sic) a book I had nearly forgotten I owned. It contains instructions for a bunch of decorative knots. The diagrams are extremely easy to read, and once my fingers got the hang of what they were doing, I found even the more complicated knots are easier than they look, as long as I pay attention.

The red knot was the most fun to tie. The little blue one... well, it looks like the picture in the book, but I am still not quite sure how exactly that one works! The 2 colored one on the right was only a little more difficult because it involved working with more ends. It's my favorite so far.

I practiced using some of my not-so-favorite dominoes. Now I wish I had been brave enough to use my favorites. I really like this look. If I can find a source of nice rattail cord that doesn't cost an arm and a leg, I am going to play around with this some more.

Once I get dinner started, I will be eager to try a few more new knots!

I am too easily distracted...!

While working on the second paper doll I need for the Doll Street swap, I came to a point where I had to let some glue dry.

I am having fun with this one -- she was a bit of an engineering challenge, but now all her pieces fit together and move properly. I am quite satisfied. I need to finish her hair style yet, and add some clothing by way of embellishments. I have some interesting fibers in my stash that should work well.

OK, so... while waiting for the glue to dry, I decided to clean my studio a bit. I came across a box of dominoes I bought intending to make pendants out of them. I stalled out working on them because drilling the holes for the bails was annoying.

Hmmmmm... how to drill those holes without drilling any holes in ME... A drill press maybe? Do we have one out in the shop? No, darn it. Back to cleaning...

Later that day we went to town. We just happened (honest!) to be walking through the Sears store so I thought I would just *look* at the drill presses. Gads -- those monsters would need a whole room of their own! A salesman happened by and asked if there was anything in particular we were looking for, so I asked if they had drill presses in a bench top size. Well, yes they did, but did I have a Dremel tool? There is a press attachment available for the Dremel tool! How cool is that???

I didn't actually buy the press attachment, but it did give me the idea to try the Dremel instead of my power drill to make the holes. HUGE improvement. The dremel goes through the acrylic like butter. I am happy now!

I drilled holes to my heart's content. There is something very satisfying at an elemental level in operating power tools.

By now the glue on my paper doll was long dry, but I was on a roll with the dominoes. I got out my inks and started stamping. Then embossing. Stamping some more. More embossing. (Heat guns aren't *quite* as much fun as drills, but they come close.) These are turning out pretty cool.

I am going to make these into pendants to sell at our church's Holiday Bazaar in November. I have been doing jewelry the last few years, but a bunch of others have sort of jumped on that bandwagon as well, so I am looking to add something new and a little different.

I also want something I can sell cheap to impulse shoppers. My friend Judi Wellnitz wrote a tutorial a while back for doing Altered Business Card magnets and posted it to her blog here . I think they might sell pretty well in a bazaar setting. Hope so anyway... I'll try a few this year to see how they do.

These are what I have so far. The colors aren't very true in this picture -- my camera didn't capture the "halo" effect of the paint I used. Can't wait for the paint to dry!

I have one last photo to share. This is the view from my back door the other evening. It has taken me a while to figure out how to load a panoramic photo to Blogger. But can you believe that sky? I wish I could paint like that!

One down!

Here is my Green Man paper doll, finished at last. I spent all day on this guy. He sort of just kept WANTING stuff, and a little more inking, and then more stuff. For a nature spirit, he has a consumerist attitude!

I wish I had used heavier cardstock for him. He is a little flimsier than I would like, which is why I made the support card for his torso. I like the way it looks, and it also provides some protection for his crown of leaves. These leaves were punched from a soft hand made paper and are not up to much wear.

He also sports a beaded belt, but that doesn't show up so well in this scan.

One down, 2 more to go...

Playing Paper Dolls

I am comitted to making 3 paper dolls for a swap on the Doll Street Journal this month, so I thought I had better get them done and get them out of the way. I gave myself an afternoon to do it, but here I am, 4 days later, still far from finished. Sigh...

Will it *always* be this way?


This little mermaid is based on a drawing I did last winter. I still haven't decided what to do with her head, but at least the rest of her pieces fit together.

Patti Culea has some rubber stamps out for making paper dolls, they are so cute and so evocative of her marvelous style... Mine must be my own and not look anything like hers. Hence, no head yet.



The doll at left has been so much fun to design. I think I am going to print out another copy of her pieces, as I have learned that it is easier to color the pieces before cutting them out, as long as the lines are dark enough to see through the color.

She is based on the Hindu goddess Shiva, the one with four arms. She will be jointed, but is intended to be posed sitting in lotus posture. I am saving her embellishments for last. I don't want to ruin her and I need more practice at this!


This guy on the right is colored, partially embellished, and ready to cut out. He is a paper doll version of a Green Man. I have some very neat hand made papers to make his leafy crown and accessories from. I even found a little oak leaf punch so I don't have to cut them all out by hand, thank goodness!

I just wish I had made his outlines a little darker -- he is going to be a challenge to cut out in a few places.

Now I just need to hunt down my paper punch and assemble the pieces before I forget which is supposed to go where.

Just a Beautiful Day

Unlike much of the rest of the country, we are having a perfect summer here in Oregon. Can you believe how beautiful these photos are?

Thursday was our 22nd wedding anniversary. To celebrate, we packed up a picnic and hiked "The Trail of Ten Falls" at Silver Creek Falls State Park. It's a 7 mile hike that goes up and down and around some of the most beautiful landscape I have ever seen .

This is Lower South Falls, one of the prettier and easier to photograph falls.






The path goes behind the Fall -- you can actually put your hand in the cascade. The mist is also very refreshing, especially on a warm day.







While crossing the river, I couldn't help but be struck by the lucious color of the reflected sky in the water. Of course, I HAD to snap a photo. Who knew it would turn out so well?


This is North Falls, probably the most visible of the Falls on the Trail. You can see it from half a mile a way, as well as from each side and from behind. Not many are so accessible. It's not the tallest, the widest, the laciest, or anything-else-ist, but it is still my favorite. The energy there is so peaceful. Ahhhhh...







If you want to visit Meditation Falls (also known as Upper North Falls -- who thinks of these horrible boring names??!) you need to count on adding at least another half mile to your hiking distance. Not a small consideration on this trail, especially if your feet hurt already. I wouldn't miss it though.



22 years ago, I married my very best friend. I can't imagine what my life would be like without him.

And, Lastly...

I had fully intended to do a lot more embellishment. I even made wings and some beaded strands, but everything I added took away from what was already there. So...

...she is finished. Her colors aren't anything like the "Peace" rose I began with as inspiration, but I LOVE them.

Now if only I could figure out what is causing that annoying little shadow on her upper lip. It is simply NOT THERE in real life.

I don't remember the last time I have been so completely caught up on a project. OR had one with so few snags! I need to get back to my dressing project now. Good! I am actually looking forward to have a project that is something more "cut and dried"!

Toning it down

Yes, now we're getting somewhere! Remember I said not to worry if you don't like something because you can just add more layers. Let's see... today she got a layer of champagne metallic acrylic paint, some pearl metallic paint, and then Pearl-Ex/Varnish mix in layers of Interference Gold, Antique Gold, and Interference Blue. I think I want to add another layer yet of the mix in a rose color, but maybe not. I need to sleep on that one.

Now, if I can just remember what I did so I can make wings that look as if they belong with her. What color???

THEN I get to start with the embellishments. Can't wait to get out the beads!

More layers

She just keeps going and going...

The photo at left shows her with yet another coat of paint (4 colors for highlighting) and varnish mixed with several different colors of Pearl-Ex powder. There is no way to pick up the glow the powders give her with my camera. A very subtle and beautiful effect.

Had to wait for the paint to dry.

Then had to wait for the varnish to dry.


Then it was time to begin layering on some clothing. The lowest layer of her skirt is made of petal shapes of green silk dipped in Paverpol and attached at the hip line. The headpiece and the colored layers of the skirt are made of a piece of knit cotton stockinette. Oooooh, this stuff almost made me say some bad words. Very difficult to control.

Ok... you know what comes next don't you? Wait for the Paverpol to dry. This is getting annoying!



A third layers of stockinette soaked in Paverpol and she is beginning to look properly clothed for a fairy.

I had intended to dress her in colors to make her resemble the colors of a "Peace" rose. Too much fuschia, too much green, not enough yellow, and EVERYTHING is just too vivid. (The whitish color on the skirt is the wet Paverpol. Have to let that dry now. Sigh...)

Will I EVER be able to make something turn out the way I plan in the beginning?? Nevertheless, I am still pleased with the way she is progressing. She still needs wings, another coat of Paverpol, and some embellishments. If I have learned anything at all beyond how to play with some new techniques, it is that I mustn't worry so much if something isn't looking as good as I'd like. I can just keep adding more and more layers of "stuff" and it will look totally different in the end anyway!

Ohhhhhhh, I really REALLY want to add her wings, but no -- they aren't dry yet either!

More Progress

If only paint dried instantly...! I could have gotten so much more done on her today if I hadn't had to wait for paint to dry. As it is, she is now ready for embellishment.

After 2 coats of gold paint she looked like this.

Then I added a layer of texturizing medium. Cool stuff! I will have to play with that some more.

Another layer of gold paint to blend it all together...

...followed by a wash of watered down black paint. I am REALLY likeing how she looks right now. The next step in the class calls for working her over with some sand paper, but I'm not sure I want to do that. I'll just let the idea percolate a bit. The teacher's sample looked great after the sanding, but I don't want to ruin what I have started!.

Uhuh... I confess. I'm a chicken.

Gessoed and ready for texture

Doesn't she look better all one color? What a relief!

It's a good thing she's going to be coated with texture medium. I had no idea she was so rough.

I am continually amazed by how much detail these photos pick up that I just *don't see* when the piece is right there in front of me.


Her "inny" belly button turned into an "outy" due to an air bubble that didn't show itself to me until she was baked. Grrrrr.....


And, I still love her little bottom. This photo also clearly shows the break where the torso joins the candlestick. Can you see the line at the base of the ribs?

Whew! It's a GOOD thing she will be clothed!

A Magical Sculpt

Yes, Magical I say. This body practically sculpted itself.

This photo was taken outside in later afternoon sunshine. I thought I would get truer color this way, but it didn't work out that way. The clay did darken a bit in baking, but not nearly this much!

I had a little trouble with the candlestick base. It was too wide for the torso so I had to sand it down with the Dremel. You can still see a hint of an outline of the top of the candlestick under the clay, but it's all going to be covered with other things so I won't worry about it too much. I would have peeled off the clay and resculpted if I had intended to leave her nude.

I really need to get a photo reference of anatomy. There is still something not quite exactly right with her neck tendons.

This is the back view. She actually has a much cuter little bottom than this photo shows. It will be a little bit of a shame to cover it up.

True confessions time... I find I enjoy sculpting little butts.

I have to gather my courage and get working on a full body sculpt soon.

Anyway, she's cool enough now for a layer of gesso. Off to find the paintbrush!

Stealing Time

I should be at the gym -- pilates class is half over as I type. But today I rebel as I simply *must* make something with my hands besides dinner.

This little head is the beginning of a bust sculpture I am making in Jean Bernard's class at Class Heaven.

I tried very hard not to take this class, but I caved in when I saw what Judi W was doing with her class piece on her Art Doll blog . She is also the one who has been enticing me into the world of paper art. If you check out her blog, you will see why. She is a very talented lady whom I would LOVE to know personally.


Anyway, I managed to get this little head sculpted. The class calls for a press mold for the face, but I don't have one the proper size, and I'd rather make my own anyway. I learned that, even though the color of the clay won't show in the finished piece, it is not a good idea to scuplt a single piece in multiple colors. I should have started over when I began having difficulties seeing details, but I was was too stubborn. Leave it to me t do things the hard way... ;-)


Here is the same head with 2 coats of gesso. As soon as the gesso is dry I can begin to put it together with its pedestal. I am so excited! I love to sculpt! This is my first "eyes closed" head. I'm not crazy about the look -- I like to see a soul behind the eyes -- but I finally managed to sculpt a pretty mouth. It will be interesting to see this character evolve.

Off playing instead of creating

We finally got a chance this past weekend to visit my son and his wife in their new home in Bremerton, WA. Oh my, was it every hot there, but we had a nice visit -- I am so happy to see *them* so happy in a house of their own.

On Friday evening they took us on a picnic at a little cove park near their home. I love picnics! Alice took this photo of Jake and I together. It's one of the few I have of the 2 of us in the same picture, so I will treasure it. I think I will have the girls take more of the photos on our trips... it's nice to be actually IN the photos instead of the one who takes them all the time.

Well, it looks as if I had better count my blessings and be glad that I got this one photo to load. Blogger is being tempermental this morning and won't let me put up anything else.

sigh...

I am creating still, but nothing is really worth photographing at the moment. It has been SO hot that I can't work upstairs this week. I will get back to my painting when it cools off. I am still working on "Eustacia" but the clothing patterns didn't fit the body I created, so it's back to the drawing board for some redrafting. Ugh. But, unless I want yet another naked doll on the unfinished pile under my work table, it has to be done. I hope to have at least her gown finished this afternoon...

Flat Stanley on the move

This little guy is Shashi's Flat Stanley doll from our round robin. He is even more adorable in real life than he is in these scans, and the little charmer knows it, too!

My contribution to him is the crocheted muscle shirt. He says now he wants to be a body builder like Jake when he grows up. (I *told* you he was a charmer. )






Here's another scan of him, this time from the back. I am crazy about the embroidery on his
shirt! I would never have thought of that.

I have finished his journal too and will pop him into the mail to Linda in Canada tomorrow.

I will miss the little guy. I couldn't help but smile every time I saw him sitting there on my work table. I hope Shashi loves him as much as I do when he finally gets home!

I've been busy these days, too busy to post. That, and I have to fight the girls for my share of time at the computer!! I am still creating though, in the minutes I have between other things. I'd go crazy if I couldn't...

These are bodies made from the same piece of doe suede using exactly the same pattern pieces ("Eustacia" by Mary Tressler). The only difference is that the pieces for the doll on the left were cut with the stretch going around her body. The doll on the right has the stretch running lengthwise. I am amazed by the differences in their shaping!

My family agrees that the doll on the left has a more attractive and realistic shape. She was also much easier to stuff, by the way. Her head looks deformed at the crown where the seams join, but that will be covered eventually so I won't worry too much about it. This doll will be travelling next week -- she is my beginning contribution to a round robin exchange. I am so excited to be a part of this RR. I can't wait to see what everyone else does!

I prefer the head on the tall doll. I will be giving her limbs and a costume this week. It will be so interesting to compare these 2 when the Traveller returns home...

I started a painting this week too. This is the underlayer of what will be a collage of rice papers and watercolor paints. I learned this technique from a video I bought off eBay -- I am just waiting for the rice papers I ordered to be delivered.

I am kind of glad for this break in the action though, because I notice in the photo that the waterfall isn't falling straight (oh my!) Not a big problem, as it will be covered and repainted in the collage process. It will be interesting to see how much if any of this first layer of color will be visible in the final painting.

The photo has been *heavily* edited to crop out the rest of my painting room -- gads, what a mess! I didn't notice that until I looked at the photo either (oops!) Time to get in there and put some stuff away!

Second Post -- Family photos this time

One of these days, I will learn HTML and figure out how to get these photos uploaded right the first time I try. ARGHHHHH!

Anyway...

I took a series of photos of the family that I wanted to share, especially for the sake of you on dial-up who won't get the e-mail versions.

This is Lydia and Sailor the dachshund leading the way on a family hike one evening on our recent camping trip. Those 2 are so compatible with each other -- Sailor is quite a lot like having a 3rd teenager in the house.

Jake and Alice were the clowns of the trip. It's a good thing these 2 love each other -- their senses of humor can leave me speechless sometimes...












Here is a sample of what I mean... Lydia is just a little afraid of heights, so OF COURSE these 2 had to freak her out by pretending to dive off the top of South Falls, a drop of "only" 177 feet.

Um, yeah... right...




On the other hand, she's sort of cute...










...and he's pretty darned photogenic as well...




...and Lydia and Sailor are none the worse for wear after all... (if Sailor looks a little weird in this photo, it is because he was jumping about 6 inches into the air as I snapped the shot)









... AND he's pretty nice to me too. I think I'll keep him.