Okay Then

I refuse to allow this year to be like last year. Nope, not gonna happen. But I tell you, the past couple of months and this week has been testing me something fierce. I am a human lightning rod and weather forecaster. Because of a childhood injury, I can tell when a storm is coming. So the body was not feeling it Saturday, Sunday, or Monday. Yes, I knew two storms were coming our way. One skirted a little to the south of where I am, the next one was a hit. Okay fine. But I didn't feel any better. Then I woke up Wednesday and heard about that horrible land hurricane. Yes, it looked like a hurricane over land. Slammed the West and it was heading my way. It lost some of the power by the time it got here but the winds were wicked and the thunder and lightning... wow. If this is a sign of future spring storms, we're in for it.

So that went by and I was still feeling miserable. I know Mercury in Retrograde likes to mess things up and I was doing quite well as to see certain triggers and work around them. This was something different. Got online and read about the massive solar storms we were having and were to end today. Seriously? A huge celestial and earthly trifecta of 'LET'S MESS STUFF UP'.

I survived. I'm so glad I wasn't at work, because I probably would've done something very stupid. We still have rain, Mercury is still around, the solar flares are expected to stop today, and I managed to get something worked on. I started my new projects. Making things suck. And I got one apron for the church lady's cut out and wrote in my journal. Not bad for the morning and I'm closing tonight. Co-worker is sick. Whatever.

Here's the first step. I covered Styrofoam halves with Creative Paperclay. They should be dry by tomorrow and I'll do the second step. Not counting on them being anything but I've got to learn how to work with this new medium.

A Slow Start

I'm pushing myself this year to learn some new techniques for making dolls and figures.  I have some crazy ideas on the drawing board and have started to do some research. Here's my first batch of frog info and sketches.

My new work won't be so realistic but I need to know how frogs are put together so I can unput them together. It's going to be an interesting year. I have also started to look for different shows to attend. That's an interesting process too.

Muah ha ha!

Well, well, when it rains it hails. Right when I'm staring to get into a groove, life happens. Found out I have Lyme Disease. And my truck is in the shop. Not one or the other but both one right after the other. In two days. Whatever, I've got stuff to do. I nabbed a spot in another doll show in November so I will be sewing like a mad woman. And I still haven't made my Halloween costume. Yeah, I know, I was supposed to start it way back in February but I got in my way.

Part two of running around the wilds of Michigan. Two weekends ago I went to The Bewitching Peddlers of Halloween show in Marshall, MI. Marshall is a very quaint town and a house there has been featured in the film, 'The House with the Clock in the Walls.' Or something like that. I didn't get a chance to see the house and I haven't seen the film yet.

This is me at the entrance of the show. I didn't get the huge figures on either side of me. Next year. there were so many wonderful artists there. The figures below were by Dustin Poche.

Mr. E. A. Poe is by Joyce Stahl. As you can see, he sold. Actually a lot of her things sold.

These gourd critters are by Kevin Buntin. He's amazing too. I've got to get one of these.

Allen Cunningham did the Halloween dolls below. So cute. He's amazing too. Everyone was amazing. He also did the dollhouse. I've got to make myself a dollhouse. At least I know who to go to if I need help.

And these wonderful and whimsical pieces are by Laurie Hardin.

This was my second time being a visitor at this show. So much creative energy and very cool people. It will be in Marshall, MI again next year at the end of September. it's gonna be a long night tonight. Have some things to cut out. See ya!

Day of the Dead Mariachi Band

I did get them done before Christmas and I almost teared up because I liked how they came out. The person who ordered them, really liked them too. This is my third project completed using a combination of Rigid Wrap and Creative Paper Clay over wire armature. I want to get better at using the Paper Clay and that is on my list for 2015.

A friend helped me out and made the horn. #dayofthedead #paperclay #mariachi band

Mariachi Band Continued

Yep, the last few days before Christmas were spent finishing up the band. It was a gift and I couldn't really post much for fear of giftee seeing things. Here are more steps involved.

Mariachi Band Taking Shape

This is my last commission for the year. A Day of the Dead Mariachi Band. I finally started getting some skin on them. Once this layer hardens, I can add more and pose their arms. Their instruments will be made too. Stay tuned!

Little Mariachi Band

I got a request to make a Day of the Dead Mariachi Band. I finally got started. One will have a horn, one a guitar, and one a drum.

Hello February!

Where did January go? It was a bit sad, so maybe it's a good thing it has been put into the archives. I got really sick towards the end and now I'm a bit behind my schedule. The good thing about schedules is that they can be changed. I did manage to get some new work done, yesterday and they are ready for the Small Art/Big Heart show and sale at Hampton House Art & Framing. The artwork has to be 12" or smaller and they rarely have 3D pieces, so I had to do something. I'm sure you might remember these guys, or at least two of them.

Larz and Juno.

Mixed media, polymer clay, cloth, wire armature, felt and self standing. That's the part I really like.

This is what they looked like before the paint job. Now I've got to finish the other two and get to some Halloween things. Have a great month.

Soft Sculpture Workshop Pics

I was going to do this post yesterday but friends invited me over for a bonfire and snacks.  So I went.  It was wonderful being with friends, making new friends, and hanging out with my soon-to-be eight month old niece.  She's a stitch.  It was a little warm for October in North Carolina but the evening sky was clear and the stars were amazing.

Lisa allowed us to take pics of her work.  The pics are mine, the figures are hers.  She does fantabulous work and is continuing her soft sculpture classes the rest of the year and scheduling for next year.

A close up of a head Lisa was working on to show the stitches of the eyebrows.

Jump.  She's so cute and playful.

The hands have plastic mittens on them because Lisa said the finger tips get dirty fast and the dirt shows up when covered with the panty hose.  A good tip to know.

You can just make out the stitches in the torso and thighs.

Some of Lisa's earlier characters.

This old gents eyes are painted to have cataracts.

Love this biker dude.  The hair on his chest is thread.

A cute little baby.  I'm going to have to learn how to make an open mouth.  We did get a quick tutorial.

Soft Sculpture Workshop 3

Day one of the workshop produced a nice face padded with foam and a layer of batting.  Day two was spent covering the face with panty hose and tacking it in place.  That was a long day and by the time it was over, my eyeballs were protesting.  A lot.  I think that was the toughest day.  Day three we worked with eyelashes, learning to mix paint for the lips, mixing pastels for the finishing.  Lisa likes to paint very light because she wants the modeling of the foam and batting to show through the hose.  I painted my miss (no longer a guy) and got her lashes on.  I will probably trim her lashes again and add a bit more pastel to her face.

Don't you just love those alien eyes?

The marble eyes have been turned around so as not to get glue or scratch the painted eyes.

The eyebrows are stitched on in layers and several different colors.  I want to add a bit more color to her face.

Me and her.  No name just yet.  I will add the back of her head and a very large body.  She'll be the only one.  I don't have much room in my apartment but she is bugging me to be finished.

Me and Lisa and our faces.  It was good to see Lisa make one along side of us so we knew what was going on.  Lisa also gave us a DVD of all the steps of what we did that weekend because we didn't have time to take notes.  Is that cool or what?

Marcia and her work.  Sorry about the pics because this one was a cutie.

Dawn and her piece.  Also wonderful.  She had wanted to make a male and hers did a change too.  Actually, her face still can go either way.

Patty and her cutie.  Patty was the one who asked some good questions that Lisa will add to her next class.

The gang.