Steampunk Oddfae–next stage

My little guy is coming along nicely. Spent the afternoon yesterday with my friend Jeannine and we were having some silly time as we progressed to putting our dolls together. Haven’t quite figured out his name yet, and haven’t done the painting on the face. I’m leaving that for later until those moments come when you know exactly what you want for them.

Did you see that movie from a few years ( a remake of the original) The Secret Garden. This picture reminds me of the little girl standing like this while the servant dressed her, except in the movie, the girl looked so totally ticked off. This little guy seemed so pleased to be outfitted in his undies to keep him warm.. I swear his cheeky grin grew even bigger by the time I was done.

He’s obviously been indulging in Fae treats a little too much.

But his butt looks pretty toned I’d say….

Stay tuned, clothes come next…

Windy and Wild

Another windy and wild weekend has come and gone. We went for a walk around the waterfront, it’s always interesting what you’ll see. Some parts of the path we usually take were inaccessible, but I was able to take pictures of what we went to see, from a distance.

There is a little house that’s on the waterfront and abandoned, because I can’t imagine anyone living there. Not sure how the house can still be standing, but it is. Yesterday, winds registered gusts up to 120kms or 75 miles an hour. Apparently at that speed it’s just on the verge of a hurricane…so pretty wild. This is a picture I took from a distance because it was to dangerous to walk our usual route. We would have been swamped or worse been hit by the debris that was being washed right up to the top of the seawall.

In the distance of this picture you can see a cream coloured house with green trim about the center of the picture. You can see the water crashing up on the seawall and the overspray hitting the house. Check the next picture. 

I think if you click on the pictures you’ll get it in a new window and larger.

Easy to see why the house is abandoned, you can barely see it with that wall of water crashing over it. The house next to it, isn’t faring any better. I think the only saving grace for the house next door, is that the little house is breaking the impact that might have otherwise hit them. Crazy.

The people around here come out on these days to watch the event. Sadly, I think the poor house will give way one of these days and I can only imagine the sight that will be.

Poor little house, but to take all this abuse is quite something about how it was built….

Steampunk Oddfae first steps

My friend Jeannine and I decided to get busy and start working on some clay figures since we each have a number of online classes and DVD’s to work from. I chose this little guy from the online class I did with Dawn Schiller in the fall.

If you’ve never done any sculpting before, don’t be afraid to try it. Buy one of those small blocks of polymer clay for a couple of dollars and give it a try. It’s not as hard as you might think. This is only about the third time I’ve done it and each time it gets easier. Jack Johnston has some great things on his site, as well as Doll Street still has this particular class listed. Dawns instructions are very good and as long as you read the instructions and don’t just look at the pretty pictures, you will get this with no trouble. These are just a couple of examples, but there’s lots more out there to explore.

I’ve done the head and hands and I used Super Sculpey. I did leave the head in a bit longer and he did get a bit of a sunburn on the tips of his ears, but that’s okay. In real life it’s not really noticeable, it just shows more in the picture than what it really is. The left side shows it much darker, but it isn’t really, it’s just in shadow there.

We’re supposed to get a dump of snow for the next 2 or 3 days, so if that happens, Jeannine and I won’t be getting together until next week. Knowing me though, I most likely will keep moving along because I’m too impatient that way. I like to keep moving on a project or I lose my momentum…..hence the arrival of UFO’s from time to time.

Marionettes

As is always the case, I was looking for something online and got side tracked. I think this is just so beautiful. The Marioneta comes to life and is discovering the world around him until he realizes he’s existing on strings. He’s devastated.

This is just my interpretation, but it’s so real it just holds you until the end. It takes a true Artistan to bring life to a Marionette and evoke feelings in you that make you feel so badly for the little Marionette. Very well done.

And then there is this. You will probably find yourself immersed in this. This and other videos had my full attention for ages. The engineering alone is a major feat in itself. Fabulous.

 

Cats are very creative

Don’t you just love how cats make themselves right at home, even when it’s not technically their home. Max here decided to educate me on the fact that I hadn’t put water out for him, even though he does not live here but like all cats, they decide what the deal is regarding the sleeping arrangements and creature comforts. 

My hubby was going to go and flush while Max was still walking around and deciding how to approach, but while Max was still investigating I said we should wait and just see what he does. He didn’t disappoint….

I have been duly chastised and have noted the error and will work harder to make sure his highness has his needs met… I just love cats, such free spirits… ;o)

A second blog

I have created a second blog for my needlework projects and challenges. The link is in the right hand column and it’s called Northbrook Stitches. With all the ideas and projects whirling around in my head I thought it made sense to give them their own page.

The other thing is, I’ve been busy updating my website after that little rant the other day. So far so good. I gave up trying to figure out flickr and decided to put a slide show on My Art page, for each category on my flickr page. 

If you follow the link to the right to my Main Website, you’ll find your way to my Site Map. I’m still fixing pages up and that will take a little while but a little bit each day and it’ll be all done in no time.

My friend Maria in Australia, has been a great help. She’s been updating templates she made for me, in some cases more than a little while ago. She’s an amazing talent. She’s in the midst of looking for a new provider, but currently she can be found here. Click Here

A short post but I’ll have my first UFO done in the next few days, and it’ll be on my other blog, so be sure to subscribe to the feeds on Northbrook Stitches if you want to follow along my needlework path…

Saying goodbye to 2011

For me, saying goodbye to 2011 is a mixed bag. The year started off great. I was in the throws of organizing 5 days of workshops with Colleen Babcock and for a doll maker it doesn’t get much better than that. What a great experience it was for me and by all accounts for everyone who attended. A small glitch in the first minutes by someone with bad manners, but quickly erased by 5 days of intense but so satisfying doll making and chatter. The silly factor played a big role in class but we composed ourselves now and then, kept our heads on and got through it all…

Not long after Colleen left and for the next few months, things just went crazy. To sum it up, hubby had an opportunity to go to a new job. He retired from the military and prepared for the new job, but unfortunately that didn’t play out as planned. No matter, it obviously wasn’t meant to be.

Also during the time between June and September, not one, but both of his brothers passed away making for two trips home for funerals. While away for the second one, the reno’s got underway and that concluded a few short weeks ago. The house was upside down for many weeks, but the end result was all worth it and our guys were amazing and so is their work. In this day and age it’s very hard to find people to do work that well, so we feel very fortunate to have made this connection with Guy and Luc.

In October after Ute Vasina had been here, I decided to leave the doll club. Among other things I felt that I was losing myself as far as my creative journey. I could feel things piling up on me, and between dealing with “people” who are ill mannered and my duties with the club, I seemed to be out of focus where my doll making and other interests are concerned, so I pulled the plug and left.

I’m more than ever convinced that is was the right thing for me to do and that being a solitary crafter works far better for me. I can have my quiet time, my thoughts are more organized and I get so much more accomplished. I can get more done in 1/2 hr. of focused time, than if I plan a whole day. It’s finding or at least, realizing what it is that makes you your best, I have now gone back to that.

While cleaning up my computer (as one of my projects for getting back to being organized), I found some very funny moments in time. I made this doll years ago in an online class with Allison Marano and true to form I found a way to share the moment when I was working on Henley. He’s been living in Oz and from all accounts, very happy.

I will be carrying on with my finishing up of UFO’s and have already been organizing my schedule for the year. Not that it’s set in stone, but it’s working schedule and it’s open to change. My Hope to Do List is on the wall, I’ve been working on my website, and the Christmas decorations are put away for another year so that I can start off on a clean slate and clear mind.

So it’s been a crazy mixed up year, some very good moments to start off the year, and some very sad ones in between and ended on a happy note with the the house being brought closer to the year 2012 with the updates. Hopefully those will continue in the New Year with some updates to the kitchen and a new floor in our bedroom, but time (and money of course) will tell the tale.

We don’t  go out for New Years, but for those who do, be careful and be safe, but have fun. Apparently drinking a glass a water in between alcohol drinks helps ward off hangovers. Heard that on Dr. Oz.

2012 you’re just about here and I can’t wait for you. To all my followers and readers, I wish you nothing but the best for 2012. A clear mind, happy days and whatever you wish for that would make your life or someone’s close to you, that much better. All the best, Romona

A stitch closer

I’m busy working away on the needlework UFO I showed you a few days ago. I did start working with the Cashel linen, but found that I didn’t like the feel of it and I don’t like how this particular linen has such an uneven weave. I changed to Lugana and am enjoying it much more.

The Lugana is a combination of cotton/linen, and is a more even weave making it easier to stitch on. I’ve finished one band and have started the second one, so here’s hoping I can at least get that one done by the end of the week so I can put the whole project together and check off the first UFO for the New Year.

This is where I’m at…. First a little close up, then the full size. The finished band is approx. 12” long by about 1 1/2” wide. (the stitched area). The threads are #12 DMC cotton, and Kreinik #4 fine braid as well as small white bugle beads and gold petite seed beads.

Merry Christmas

Wishing all my followers and readers a very festive and happy season.  Did you remember to buy yourself something for Christmas??? I always do because I think it’s important to treat yourself to something for all the hard work you do all year, think of it as your own reward system.

I went to pick up the turkey yesterday and was about to leave. I was sitting in the car and had such a terrible headache I decided to stay where I was and just walk around the shops a little while to see if the fresh air would help before I got back in the car and on to the highway to go home.

It’s a nice little marketplace, Matticks Farm,  in a somewhat rural area and you can just walk around outside  and peek into all the store windows. Something caught my eye and I just had to go and see what it was. I love snow globes and have wanted one for ages. I also have an extreme love of Jesters. They are such complex characters. I now have the best of both worlds.

Here was this beautiful snow globe just waiting there for me to come and pick it up and it was half price, so I really got lucky. When you turn the musical part on, it causes glitter to swirl around while the mask rotates. The music piece is called Masquerade, how perfect.  It’s so beautiful. So perhaps the walk wasn’t just to try and walk off the headache, but to draw my attention to my Christmas present for this year…. Happy Holidays….

Reviving the past

I’ve been having the urge to get back to my needlework as it is my first love in my creative journey. I’m not sure where the urge is coming from, but perhaps this year has been so hectic in so many ways, I feel like I need some low key and quiet time. Needlework is so therapeutic, you kind of lose yourself in the stitching. It forces you to concentrate and count stitches and before you know it, you’re oblivious to what’s going on around you. I will still be playing with dolls to, but my needlework is definitely going to play a big role.

I also decided I was tired of UFO’s and some of those are my needlework projects. 2011 is almost out the door and 2012 is waiting to come in and I plan to welcome it in by working on unfinished things more than new ones. One of things that can slow down our creative leanings is to have half finished things laying around and this year is going to be spent fixing that. The first UFO is out and ready to be worked on. If you asked me when I started this, I wouldn’t be able to tell you, it’s really been years tucked away and begging to be finished. Can you guess what it’s going to be????

….and just for added measure, I’ve signed up on Sharon Boggon’s blog, to take the TAST (Take a Stitch Tuesday) challenge for 2012. The general idea is the starting Jan.3rd 2012, and Tuesday’s thereafter, a stitch will be posted and we are to stitch that into whatever form we like, be it a band sampler or fiber book or what have you. Probably just the motivation I’ve been looking for, so thank you Sharon for hosting this. Please follow both links on the sidebar to either the challenge itself for the full information, and to Sharon’s “stitchin fingers” site to see what’s going on there. This is one busy lady in the Needlework realm, very worthwhile spending some time exploring all that’s going on.

Let’s get started on the first UFO shall we…………..