Witch with Hedgehog: Bad hair day

To complete the wig I made about 20 curls and glued them to the head with Tacky glue.  When the glue was completely dry I styled the wig.  These  two photos show the part being constructed.  The second image is from my book, Coiffures, on wig making and historic hair styles.

Witch with Hedgehog: Draping

I'm having fun making another Witch.   This one will hold a hedgehog.  I used a manikin  to drape the outer skirt layers (top photo). The fabric was pinned in place and sprayed with fabric relaxer, ( rubbing alcohol works also but may make the dyes run or you can steam the fabric).  Once dry and set the fabric is stitched to the doll (bottom photo). The manikin carved from balsa wood and covered with fabric was designed and made by Judee Williamson and Nicole Marble.

Pillow Pet: Beagle

This tiny ceramic Beagle is a pillow pet. Nell Corkin occasionally includes one in her 1:144 scale houses.
To make one I start with a small plaster batt as a platform.  Using a paintbrush I build up the pillow and the animal on top one drop of ceramic slip at a time.  After the bisque fire the figure is painted with under-glaze colors and then glazed.  The fine details are added with china paints.

Witch - Young Witch trying out her powers

This young witch has gone out into the forest to practice turning a mouse into something. The screech owl and the bat are waiting to see what happens.  So is the mouse!
The tree is wire covered with Sculpy and painted with acrylics.  The leaves are real dried leaves from my Chinese Elm bonsai tree. I painted a thin wash of green over the leaves to give them some life.

Puss in Boots

Puss in Boots, the trickster,  with his sack full of rabbits is distracted by a butterfly. Some things are just too much fun not to do. I enjoyed making his bit of landscape as well.  He lives in a little dome on my desk. My inspiration was an order for a dancing cat.  Once I'd figured out how to do that my love of fairy and folk tails took over. Enjoy!

The Flying Cat

Every once in a while someone orders something I never thought to make.  This flying cat is one of those orders.  It took me a little while to figure out how to do it.  When it was done I just couldn't resist setting it up in a scene to see how it would look before shipping it out.  Enjoy!

Ballerina: Princess Aurora in-progress, part 4

Aurora's costume and wig are finished and trimmed in beads and painted metal leaves.  I use acrylic interference paints to create the iridescent finish on the leaves.  Aleene's Jewel-It Embellishing Glue seems to work best for attaching the jewels.

Ballerina: Princess Aurora in-progress, part 3

I used antique black silk lace to cover the cream silk of Aurora's tutu. Usually I sew my doll's clothes but I have had to use Tacky glue to construct this costume.  The pins ( very fine insect pins are being used here) hold the skirt in place while that section of glue dries. I will stitch the back seam of the skirt when the pins are removed.

Ballerina: Princess Aurora in-progress, part 2

Aurora stands in an old coffee mug stuffed with foam.  It keeps her steady while I apply the tule and silk of her tutu.  Her wig is only partly made.  The bun has been formed separately and will be attached with Tacky glue after the costume is complete and before the trim is applied.
    

Ballerina: Princess Aurora in-progress, part 1

Princess Aurora is a solid porcelain figure made in several parts attached to a wire armature.  The white areas at the attachment joints are sculpted over the wire armature using Milliput superfine white two part epoxy putty (available from Micro-Mark). Her hands are wrapped in wool batting to protect the delicate fingers.  The toe shoes are silk and she is being wigged with mohair fiber.

Santa and Friends

This is a group of my miniature (1/12 scale) figures. My dolls are often dressed in peasant costumes. My animals are naturalistic in style.