A PUZZLE FOR YOU

What has two heads, four arms and two legs?  Stick around and maybe I'll show you.


I've been feeling out of it lately and have had very little energy. Not really ill but just lack luster. I have to push myself to get anything done but in spite of the lack lusterness I have given two more heads a reason to feel complete and good about themselves.

So instead of a big red white and blue post for the fourth of July I'm going to do a little one featuring Alice (dressed in blue and white) and the Red Queen. Dressed in red of course.

I'm still finishing up a few accessories for her (hint: eat me, drink me) but aside from that everything else is done.

When I began making all of the heads that are scattered around the house, I hadn't any plans for them other than using them for practicing my sculpting and trying out different formulas for making my paper mache clay. I usually just started sculpting with no set goal or idea of what I wanted to make. There have only been a few exceptions to this. One was Lula and one was my second old man that I created to keep the first one company and then of course the Santa heads.

When I started working on the head of the Red Queen I knew exactly who she was going to be.  I originally intended to make the Red Queen for an art doll challenge but changed my mind and for a long time she was nothing but a head on a stick that I wasn't sure I would even finish. A few weeks ago I decided to finish her instead of tossing her in the dust bin so here she is in all of her glory.

I lowered her collar so you could see her fancy do. Sorry about the glare. Her hair shines a whole lot more than mine. I must need more conditioner or something stronger.

I love her profile with that stuck-up nose and the puckered up mouth that looks like she's been sucking on a lemon.

Her gown is quite regal and what you'd expect the Red Queen to wear. It's made of heavy red satin brocade and is fully lined in white satin. She stands 13" tall from the top of her crown to the bottom of her hem. The reason I said to the bottom of her hem instead of to the tip of her toes is she has no toes. Or legs. Here's what's under her skirt.

Peek a boo!!! Were you expecting this?

Sorry about the poor quality of this photo. I was holding the doll at arm's length and it's so dark in this room the flash went off and this is what I ended up with.

So now you know what has two heads and four arms and two legs. It's my Alice and the Red Queen topsy turvy doll. I don't know if I'll ever do another one but this one was a real challenge.

We're going to be having a cookout for the 4th of July and I am keeping my fingers crossed that it doesn't rain. It's been fairly nice the past day or two so there's a good chance we'll have good weather for the cookout even though the forcast is for mostly cloudy. That's what I'm telling myself anyway.

I hope my Canadian friends had a happy Canada Day yesterday and for my friends in the states I want to wish you a happy 4th of July. As always, thanks for stopping by.

Hugs

Is it Wednesday?

I've been keeping busy inside while it's been gray and rainy outside. Here it is a week and a half into June and it still seems like spring here. Soon I hope to be spending more time doing summer like things like working in my garden and having cook outs in the back yard. Until then I'll keep working at making bodies for those heads on sticks.

Here is my latest. I know she's not the prettiest little thing but she does have a certain charm.

I've always had a warm spot for the members of the Addams family and when I started working on the head of this doll I knew right away she was to be Wednesday. I don't always know what a piece is going to be when it's completed. Sometimes I just start sculpting and wait to see what or who is going to emerge. My sister thinks I should make Pugsley to keep Wednesday company but for the moment she's going to have to make friends with some of the gang already living here.

It looks like Bellamine has made Wednesday feel right at home.

I've also been working on bodies for the three Santa heads I showed you a while back and hope to have at least one finished in the new week. So, I've cleaned up the sewing mess and will be moving to the sculpting work table where I'll concentrate of finishing a Santa or three. 

Have a wonderful week and as always, thanks for stopping by.

Hugs,
Maddy

THE LAST SANTA

Of my experiment that is.

I've finished the last of the four Santa figures that were a part of my experimenting with paper mache clay and am now working on getting the bodies finished for the three Santa heads that I showed you in a previous post. 

Santa has one little bear left to be delivered.

I painted this Santa red using the same technique as I used painting the last two but with a whole different outcome. On the last two Santas the paint appeared to be worn off and faded but on this Santa it looks deeper as if years of handling have left the piece with a grimy film sometimes referred to as a patina.

I'm happy with the way they turned out and wish my photography skills were better.



My four test subjects have been very helpful in my attempts to develop a paper mache clay recipe that is so far working very well for my needs. That was my goal  when I started this experiment so I would say it was a huge success. I'll be making another batch of PMC today to use on those three Santas I mentioned at the beginning of this post.

I'm also working on a few dolls one of which is for a challenge and another one that I got the idea for last March and hopefully will be finished within the next week.

As always, thanks for stopping by. Enjoy your day.

Hugs,

Maddy

Experimental Santa Numbers 2 & 3

It's been dreary and raining here so there's nothing for me to do in the yard and I haven't felt like going out much so I've had plenty of time for my experiment. As I mentioned in my last post I have been tweaking my paper mache recipe and experimenting with the way I paint my little sculpts. I'm not sure if I'm learning anything from these experiments but who knows, maybe I'll stumble onto something that really works for me. 

Here's Santa control subject #2

When picking a color palette for Santa I usually go with  warm colors but from time to time I like to try something a bit different just to keep things interesting for me. I'm one of those people who has a short attention span and I get bored unless I can stir things up a little.

With this Santa I went about giving him that antiqued look in a different way. Instead of using a gel stain I painted him in a way to present a worn appearence. I also thought it was high time I gave Santa something besides bears and dolls to be part of his delivery so here he is with a sweet little ellie. For those of you who are triditionalists, he also has a teddy and a doll in his bag.

I really do like the blues and grays. They have such a calming feel about them.

I did a close-up in hopes it would show more of the shading and colors and since I've used the same method of painting #3 I'm including him in the photo as well. 



Showing the two side by side you can see that even though I painted the cloak for #3 with red this is also a cool palette.

It's going to be another dreary rainy day again today so I'm planning on doing some more painting. I have one more Santa and then the four test subjects will be completed and I will have more time to concentrate on getting bodies made for some of these heads.

I'm sure many of you have plans for this weekend. Unless there's a change in the weather I plan on staying home and keeping warm and dry. Whatever your plans are, enjoy your weekend and as always, thanks for stopping by.

Hugs,
Maddy