Create Clay Hats and Crowns!

Create  Clay Hats and Crowns!

Sunday, May 23, 2010

Making Leopard Canes with Amber Dawn





Well, last week was another "mini" class at the Purple Petals Studio in New York!  Myself, Tery and Heather took the trip into the city to learn more Claying Techniques from Amber Dawn.  Amber was ready to teach us whatever our little hearts desired!!! 



I forgot that I mentioned to her that I would love to learn creating Leopard Print in clay.....As Amber took out her clay and samples of work...Something "UNBELIEVABLE" caught my Eye!  O M G!  TEENY TINY Leopard print made from polymer!!!~  I didnt believe that that was possible...How did she make it look like Leopard...How did she get it so tiny??? The possiblities of using this in my doll making was making my heart race...Crowns, shoes, ...blah blah blah...So she is asking us...so what do you want to do?  and I'm looking at everyone like..."Nah I dont want to do leopard...Right!!!!!!!???   Every one loved it...and they all agreed...We had the best day learning this designing/reducing technique!  I was High when I left there...It felt like I received a very "Cool" Gift!














This is how the Design started...and these tiny pieces are what we ended up with!  We all worked on this print together..Wow!  I love it! 

We all created Beads in class, and Amber gave me the two samples she made....see the picture .  I made the tiny pocketbook charm when I got home after Amber showed us her pocketbook making technique....it is very small...like a Penny!

We will be getting together with Amber Dawn to learn more techniques next month!



Saturday, May 15, 2010

Tiny Polymer Mixed Media Doll Class...More Milo Files!



















This Tuesday,  Our  "Secret" group met and created new "Milo files"......I had the pleasure of teaching the group my TINY Fairy Mixed Media dolls, but in Polymer  (most of my tiny dolls are paperclay).    Heather has sculpted, but never this tiny...and Doreen and Sue have never sculpted with polymer., both of them are new to dolls!    Everyone felt that they would do better in polymer.  I agreed that polymer takes detail easier, but PAPERCLAY CAN ALSO BE EASY IF YOU USE LESS DETAIL IN SCULPTING, AND USE MORE "PAINTERLY" DETAIL.   IN THE END, WHICH EVER MEDIUM YOU ARE WORKING IN.. IT IS EASY  AND FUN TO CREATE  A TINY MIXED MEDIA DOLL!!!!!
 These are the two dolls that I am working on with the class.  The larger one was the first doll created..and it literally "Crackled when I baked it.  I had such a hard time with the first batch of clay...after this happened ..I threw out the clay...maybe it was old!? I never ran into this before...so I started on the second one (to the left) and I like her much better, she is tinier and has nicer detail.  Maybe I will try and crackle that first doll as suggested by Heather! hmmm!  maybe she will work out after all! 


The crown was created for the second tinier doll...I 'll try and incorporate the vintage black and white Diamond design into her outfit. This picture doesnt show the correct color of the diamond design...It is worn out black and pearl white!
 I arrived at Sues with some sample dolls as a guide for size, and also a kit for each Person!  The kit contained the conditioned clay .... (I used Prosculpt with  Bisque Cernit mixed in for a soft yet blendable clay.), pre made foil head/bodice armatures, "SKIN" fabric, Prepared Silky Mohair, Eyelashes and Triple thick for glossing the eyes and lips, shoes...

Of course we had a little bit of "Christmas" first!!   Doreen made beautiful beaded bracelets for everyone...gifts of "Crafting items" were flying around  and Sues daughter Carol even stopped by and gave each of us a beautiful handmade Beaded ring!  What  an "INSPIRING" day!












Anyway,  after much Chattering about Techniques and Products  the class really went great!...and in a few hours everyone was able to bake their fairy head and bodice.  I showed them how, after baking...small changes can be made by carefully smoothing on a little clay and rebaking!  I usually use this technique to change the lips ,nose, or an uneven cheek  without it being visible.

Next Week we will create the arms, legs and soft body, and put the doll together.  Woohoo!  cant wait!

There are also some Pictures of the First part of this class, Tiny hats and crowns.  See the picture of everyones completed creations! WOW!

 


Sunday, May 9, 2010

Make and Take a SUCCESS!! haha!!!

So , Here we are at the Shephard valley Creamery doing the BIG  FREE Make and Take!!!  WOW   LOTTA WORK!!!!  I created the two different sheep for kids to create at the shearing festival on Saturday!  All week long I sewed a hundred tiny felt Sheep bodies, got my supplies together..and made my PLAN!!   
My friend Heather said that she would come and help, ..I was doing this on my own, so I welcomed her.  WELL!!!!  THANK GOD!!!!   All the plannung I did, could never have prepared me for the Day!!!



When we arrived, the creamery offered us a wonderful talented helper, she is a  12 year old "Sprouting" artist..we could not have done it with out her!



 " WOW....tons of kids...every kid that walked by wanted to make the "Tiny Lamb dolls"  Oh, and so did their PARENTS!!!   Once the ball got rolling there was no turning back...Heather was on her game...and she Quickly made new rules!!!   I dont remember even seeing faces or bodies after a while..just tiny hands...with glue and sheep hair flocking stuck to them!!!






All in all it was a fantastic experience and it was a thrill to introduce ART to childeren..

NY wow

NY wow
dIANE kEELER CLASS

Diane Keeler Class

Diane Keeler Class
Diane Teaching

Diane Keeler class

Diane Keeler class
Class Picture

Sculpting a Childs face

Sculpting a Childs face
My face ..Day 2 ..ready for EARS!

Working on a new face now!!!

Working on a new face now!!!
Completed face and breastplate

Attached head to breastplate

Attached head to breastplate
The clay is very dirty..the cleanest i can get it!

After Face Make up

After Face Make up
WOW...it gives a translucent glow...hid the dirt!

Removable wig...not styled or cut yet

Removable wig...not styled or cut yet
Goat mohair that was dyed and combed

Now she's styled!

Now she's styled!
But it is a wig...it will be glued when i'm ready!!!

Painted Face...still needs brows and lashes!

Painted Face...still needs brows and lashes!
She will be sealed with Duncan flat mat as soon as it comes in the mail!

Cloth Pixie body fit under breast plate...

Cloth Pixie body fit under breast plate...
After drawing and sewing a million body parts....

Girly girl "21" charms

Girly girl "21" charms
Angelica's 21st birthday charms

Devon with his creation

Devon with his creation
Devon and his monkey boy

Devons Doll that he made from a pattern

Devons Doll that he made from a pattern
Monkey Boy

another charm group

another charm group
Debbies Charm

Leapord tube charm

Leapord  tube charm
The diamond shape is a soldered glass bead.

Wax medium melted over polymer clay face....

Wax medium melted over polymer clay face....
She's getting there..i think this hair suits her better..she needs eyelashes and ears

Odd Vintage bug- like Fairy

Odd Vintage bug- like Fairy
Just the idea

Clay Window glazed with Utee

Clay Window glazed with Utee
Stamped Utee glazed "Charms"

Clay Charms

Clay Charms
Making a mold from a charm to make more charms!

Charming

Charming
Clear tubing and stamped Utee

Charming!!! ....REALLY!!!

Charming!!! ....REALLY!!!
Soldered Vintage photos

Charming!!! ....REALLY!!!

Charming!!! ....REALLY!!!
Soldered Charms

Journal Day with Tery and Stephanie

Journal Day with Tery and Stephanie
Creating an Art Journal

Stephanies journal

Stephanies journal
of course..completed first!!

New Art Journal

New Art Journal
Journal made from SCRATCH!!!

Art journal EMBELLISHMENTS

Art journal EMBELLISHMENTS
Clay, Stamps, Utee

Inside cover

Inside cover
Material and free motion stiching

Celeste

Celeste

Celeste up close

Celeste up close
Celestes shirt is made from gessoed and tinted lace with free motion embroidery

EVA

EVA
She is with her new mom Evelyn