Welcome to a new week, dear friends!

On Saturday we had a workshop to make the new panda, Lun Lun.  It was a lovely day, made all the better by the wonderful ladies in class.  I have been so busy lately that I haven't even shown you what Lun Lun looks like.  Here she is.

Lun Lun will be available as a pattern/kit shortly.  There will also be another workshop on 3 May.  At this time it is fully booked.

In class on Saturday we encountered a polymer clay glitch.  Some of the clay we baked turned out fine, other pieces were brittle after baking.  Since we all used the same batch of clay, and everything went into the oven together and baked for a good long while this has me scratching my head and feeling quite frustrated.  

Two obvious reasons could be clay that was not conditioned properly, and oven temperature that is not consistent.  I've just ordered an oven thermometer online, as soon as it arrives I will do some thorough oven testing.

In the meantime I need to take my frustration out on something.  This doll head has been standing on my worktable for months.  I can't stand its silly face.  

I'm going to take a blade, carve off his nose, and start over. Sure to make me feel better.

What to look forward to this week - another installment of Project 52, and if I have time, a photo journey of my polymer clay Easter bunny making project.

Update 10pm.  Mud man had his nose and upper lip removed by scalpel.  Then I reshaped his head and started over.  Four hours later we are back where we started, but this time I'm much happier with my efforts!

 

Little dolls in my attic workroom

As the end of the year approaches, time seems to run faster and faster. Right now I would like to start slowing down, spend time with family and friends, and browse through all the delectable Christmas goodies on offer in the shops. Instead I’m trying to meet the demand for workshops, trying to fill orders, trying to get the calendar out for the first weeks of next year before all my customers disappear away on holiday. Sometimes in the evening I feel as though all I’ve been doing is trying to get things done all day! Such is the lot of the self-employed.

One can also see the state of ‘business’ when you look at my attic work room. Right now there’s no space for a new project on my painting table, and little dolls are scattered as though it’s Santa’s workshop. All I need is a few elves to help. What will help is that a friend is coming to visit for a few days next week. Nothing like an important visitor to encourage frantic activity, putting things back in their places and tidying away the late night sweetie wrappers!

Wishing you a creative and productive weekend.

 

 

Cloth over clay doll - progress

Over the weekend I spent a bit of time with Viola Ruth.

The next stage with this doll is to get the clay face covered with cloth. Needed: one doll, white glue, stretch fabric, and a stiff dry brush.  The instructions said nothing about ten sticky fingers and hours of patience...

Ah, gooey facial. 

After liberally applying glue, I used a wet finger to smooth the glue evenly over the face before applying the fabric.

This should be called the Pharaoh stage.  It took a lot of patience to smooth the fabric over the face without getting any bubbles or wrinkles. 

In the final stages of covering the head, the excess fabric needs to be cut off and seams hidden in the hairline.  I'm very proud of my efforts here!

Viola Ruth is drying in the weak winter afternoon sun.  She and Colani would both like to know what I am doing inside all on my own...

Doll Sculpting

I have been working on this doll face since December.  The eyes keep getting the better of me, don't know how many times I've taken them off and done it over.  When I had a look at it this morning I discovered the head is covered in mould.  I need to work a little faster... or get back to teddy bears, they don't go mouldy... another reason why I love them so much!