Taking Shape

After a little more research on doll making & some trial & error with the paper mache, I believe my Alice is starting to take the form of a doll!

I decided to make 2 heads - one with sculpted features (to the left) & one with no features (above) because I have this image in my head of painting the face in a little bit of an avatar/Japanese style, but I don't know if I can pull it off with out having to resurface the head to paint over what I screwed up! Ugh! It's always the first try at something that makes you so timid!!

Either way, working with Activa's CelluClay is fabulous! So much better than the strips of paper in the glue mess! AND it can be sped-dry in the oven! So instead of days, it only takes hours (depending on the thickness of the layers). Simply fab when you're on a deadline!

As the heads are "cooking," I am forming the lower half of the legs & trying to figure out how to do the hands. I don't think I can do the fingers that small in the CelluClay, but I might try it anyway. I desperately wish I had a doll push mold, but in some ways I think that's cheating!

Well, off to enjoy a glass of vino, brainstorm a little on the shadow box & then cook dinner with the hubby!

Project: 5% completed
Deadline : Still 10/1 to ship out!
Days remaining: 40

Alice is in the Building!

It's 11 pm & in an effort to avoid another sleepless night, I have been brainstorming all day & well into the evening on the "Alice Project," as I have affectionately come to call it today!

After running an idea past my mom this morning, I think that I have the basics figured out on the external structure of "The Project" & spent all my free time today researching how to make a papier mache art doll for my Alice.

First of all, it's hard to find any online help on making these art dolls! It would appear that artists who specialize in this rather odd area don't divulge their secrets too willingly!
And! Who knew that papier mache could be so complicated! There's the original "French" way of making pulp first & then sculpting with it. But it takes a day or two to make the pulp! Then there's the way we did it in grade school with the balloon & strips of newspaper, but apparently, that way is outdated & probably wouldn't work for this anyway! So off to the library I went with Maggie in tow!

Once there, the meager selection of doll books depressed me & the papier mache titles were slim pickins too! The only book I found was "Make Something Ugly for a Change," by Dan Reeder. He describes an altogether different way of using paper, paste & cloth than what I'm used to! But, I'm game! I'll give it the 'ol college try! At least he has talent & wonderful instructions!! His collection of "merry" monsters is outstanding! Check it out at www.monster-man.com.

Later, after a little more research online for a back-up plan, I began to sketch my Alice's face this evening & think that in honor of Tim Burton's macabre style & upcoming version of Alice in Wonderland, MY Alice will have a little dark side to her. I found inspiration in several drawings of Alice, as well as some Japanese Anime images. We'll see if I can replicate my Alice-face onto the form once I have the doll done!

I think I can safely say that I am on my way to being 10% done with the concept! I am hoping that once the doll is done, the rest will just fall into place!

See you tomorrow, when I will be ass-over tea kettle in goo & newspaper!

Come with Me Through the Looking Glass!

I went to bed last night, picked up the 3rd book in the Twilight series, read my obligatory 5 pages before my eyes began to shut. Off went the lights! I was out cold in 10 minutes when Nick decided to snuggle up to me & wake me up! Grrrr! It's so rare that I fall asleep that fast! After that, I was unable to get back to sleep because visions of Alice were running around in my head!

You see, my mom & I have decided to enter Stampington Publications call for projects that center around Tim Burton's upcoming rendition of Alice in Wonderland.

(Don't you just LOVE Johnny Depp!)

I had all these ideas of how to accomplish my project going through my head that I just couldn't get back to sleep! Ideas of art dolls, painting & glass kept blasting past my mind's eye & figured it was a sign for me to get to work on this crazy challenge! My only hope is that my brain-candy can be transferred into a workable piece of art!!!


Project started: .05%
Deadline: October 15th, 2009
Days left: technically 51 (but will be gone 1 week in Oct., so really only 44!)

Wish me luck!

Validation Feels Good!

I've won a little contest on "A Peek into Yesterday's" website. It was a tiny little challenge to create a layout using photos of your parents as children. I say "little," because there were only 4 entries, but it still feels good to be the winner. And it's always nice to have your talent validated, right! So now, I have a little $20 GC to spend in their store! A nice little bonus for doing what I love!

I've been busy these past few weeks - been up to the family cabin with my fabulous sister & great BFF for a little R&R & crafting. We had a wonderful time hanging out, enjoying the views, the weather, the crafting, the girl talk & a little too much food & drink!

After finishing another travel journal for Scrap-a-Teeny Girls (that makes 3!), I decided to work on some of my personal stuff. I had a fun time trying to fit 3x5 photos onto a 7 Gypsies "city scape" album! I am still in the process now! Ugh! I think I need to reprint them into a smaller format & re-think my layouts. Either way, I covered the album w/some vintage-style papers & postcard images & now just need to fit my picts in. It'll be great when its done!

On a more personal note, I am in the lovely process of trying to lose weight before October 3rd. That's when my hubby & I are heading to LA to board a ship for a little anniversary cruise to Mexico! I hate exercising & dieting, but I feel poopie after gaining 15-20lbs over the last 5 months & really need to get back on track! So I am off to exercise right now! Have some chocolate for me everyone!