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A Twirl if You Will!

April 19, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Today I’ll show you Pandora in her little skirt!

The first time I went to Ottawa’s Doll Club “All Dolled Up” the artist Liz Ciesluk was showing us some of her work and she was praising this product called “Paverpol”.

Now, I had never head of this before, but I managed to find a place here in Ottawa that sells it and finally yesterday I got to play.

Marilyn did tell me that it would be messy – oh boy, was she ever right … this stuff gets everywhere!

I have played a lot with papier-mache and I love it – this paverpol kind of does the same – though I have to say that personally I’d rather have wall paper paste on my hands than this paverpol stuff.

It is basically a really heavy white glue and it feels like that and it smells like that – and the result is a piece that sets very hard!

I managed to get a piece of paper that had french postcards all over it – and even better it had a bit of brown and green in it which is (obviously!) the colour scheme I’ve chosen for Pandora!

I didn’t particularly like the green but I knew that Marilyn would ask me to crackle and age it so I figured the green would be toned down a bit!

I put the skirt on her with the help of foil and I kept going back and forth – this morning it was set and rock hard … I must say – I think she’s ready for a twirl!

Here’s a picture of her with her skirt – before I “aged” it.

And then I crackled and I aged and I sponged it with some gold paint.

Once that was done the green had indeed toned down a bit – and then I put on some trim.

I have to say, I really REALLY like when trim is put on things. Anything. Because I hate rough edges, I am a very impatient girl and I struggle until I can see that it is actually going to be a beautiful piece. I am lucky because I have seen the whole lesson for this piece and I have a pretty good idea of what she’ll look like at the end, however, there are moments when I worry that I won’t like her as much as I should!

… and then I put on the trim … and then I feel like I should be the one twirling with joy!

Filed Under: Chit Chat

I really DID make him do that …

March 8, 2012 By 2 Comments

” All Dolled Up” … that is the name of the Ottawa Doll Group – full of very talented doll makers – they always send out an electronic monthly news letter.

I was asked if I’d like to be the profile for April – and if I could kindly write it by March 15th? …  I jumped on the chance and said “yes – thank you and please”.

Well, have you ever done that?

Written a profile about yourself?

I find it hard – I find it hard when I have to write three sentences about myself on Facebook – let alone a whole piece to be read by all these amazing artists.

So I procrastinated – again!

But Sunday morning, I woke up and thought – today is the day (let me just point out – well within the time-limit!)

So I sat down – pen in hand (read: computer in lap) and within a fairly short amount of time I had written a pretty long piece.

And I got an email back saying it was a really nice piece – fun, cheerful and happy.

Which in turn made me happy!

Which then made me think  ”maybe I should share some of it with my readers” – like this funny little tidbit!

“For some strange reason – I still haven’t found a way to relay this story without a bit of embarrassment sneaking in – one weekend way before we were parents I said to my husband “let’s make some salt dough – just in case we have children one day. We must know how to do salt dough” … now, granted I have a very kind and supportive husband but it only took about an hour before he threw in the towel. “

 Seriously I made Mr. Hubby do that – we had a West Highland White terrier at the time and he tried to make her on a magnet for our fridge … bless … let’s just say – it never made it to the fridge.

Another little tidbit …

“ …  when I had my twins – and they turned three years old, we were living in the UK.  Cake decoration using Fondant is big over there. I was intrigued and loved the idea of colorful fun cakes. 

So I made their third birthday cake and I’m not going to lie -  it was a disaster.”

I’m telling you … it was a boat – the one there in the right hand upper corner.

I mean – first of – look at the title “50 EASY Party Cakes” – so how hard could it be?

It was a disaster – it really really was!

and I’m happy to say that there is only on photo in existence – and it is only showing half the cake, sort of hidden behind the presents on the birthday table …

But I persevered and made some fantastic cakes – like this one – I mean this one is not bad … right?

What else did I put in my profile?

Oh yes – there was this bit about how I have been doing the lessons on Jolie and this particular sentence …

“I finished her yesterday – but the blog readers don’t know that and won’t for a few weeks – but I thought you should have a look-see”

This means that there are people out there who has seen her before you …

- sorry about that :)

Filed Under: Chit Chat