Machine and Dragon

My Garage hound hubby found this for me last week. It's an old Singer treadle machine head, with a shuttle type bobbin. I doubt it works and the throat plate is missing, but it will be a fine prop in my studio! Now it needs a little table to sit on... Off you go, hubby! He loves a reason to hunt garage sales. Any idea how old it is?

The dragon had a little more work done this week. Body work, plus I shaped up his head and added eyes. I also began detailing his claws. The bum has a stone in it now, for weight, so he should hold his roaring pose.

I may take the lower jaw off, as I need to add a tongue first. You have to see a dragon's tongue when he's roaring! The head needs more skull, which I'll add along with horns. What colour should they be? I have decided on a green dragon, with red highlights. The Harry Potter dragon was grey and colorless, from being kept underground. This guys is wild and free!

Wisdom

I had to pass this along, which came into my inbox this morning: 

Written by Regina Brett, 90 years old, of the Plain Dealer, Cleveland , Ohio .
    "To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me. It is the most requested column I've ever written.
    My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once more:

    1 Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
    2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
    3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
    4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends
    and parents will. Stay in touch.
    5. Pay off your credit cards every month.
    6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
    7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.
    8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.
    9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.
    10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
    11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
    12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.
    13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their
    journey is all about.
    14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.
    15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry;
    God never blinks.
    16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
    17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
    18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.
    19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second
    one is up to you and no one else.
    20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take
    no for an answer.
    21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie.
    Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
    22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.
    23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.
    24. The most important sex organ is the brain.
    25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.
    26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five years,
    will this matter?'
    27. Always choose life.
    28. Forgive everyone everything.
    29. What other people think of you is none of your business.
    30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.
    31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
    32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
    33. Believe in miracles.
    34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you
    did or didn't do.
    35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
    36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.
    37. Your children get only one childhood.
    38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
    39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
    40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's,
    we'd grab ours back.
    41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
    42. The best is yet to come...
    43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
    44. Yield.
    45. Life isn't tied with a bow,  but it's still a gift.

Wordless Wednesday

Works in progress

It's when inspiration strikes, that you have to get to work. No matter that there are other works left undone, strike while the iron is hot! In this case, I thought of a way to create the dragon's claws.

I'm into dragons just now. It could be the coming Harry Potter movie, which has me all excited, or just that dragons are cool, in a hot kind of way. I wanted this one to have a decent wire armature. We learn as we go. I took Kate Church's class in May and she showed us how to wrap a wire joint with hockey tape, to make it stable. I was using floral tape and that seems to have worked just as well. Especially considering that felt work is light weight and the wire used not to heavy.

So that was step one. Then I wound the wool fibre around each wired toe to get my claws. I built them up , so that I can add the other colour later. Success. Last night I added basic fiber to the body and neck and added a stump for his head. Just the beginning.

It looks a bit duck-billed right now, but I wanted to have a decent open mouth roaring at me when it's done. I've added flaps for  lower jaws before and don't find them a satisfactory as a wired jaw. This morning I concluded that the pose will be one of rearing up, with his front legs in the air. So it will probably need a weight to help the pose. Out into the yard to find a stone...

Inspiration also struck while on a road trip. needle felting is great to do in the car. I made this head while away over the Canada Day weekend (July 1st for those non-Canadians!)

His eyes need the highlights, but I am pleased with his look. I picture this guy in 18th century costume, breeches and tail coat, perhaps looking down his nose at something. He may get a bit steam punk, but we'll see.

Here's the beginnings of his body -

I didn't have the right colours with me when I was away, so I'm just getting back to his creation now. I also must decide if he'll stand or sit. Standing requires planning...

Do you like dolls on stands or not? I'm in two minds myself.



It's official!

Stargazing

It's official - I now have a "Collector" of my work. He dropped by my studio on Thursday to see what I had been creating lately. I showed him "Stargazer," a new paverpol piece. He loved it and bought it! I was so delighted! This fellow now has 3 of my figures.

Stargazing was inspired by the lovely ceramic "wood" that she rests on. I got it from my friend Liz Ciesluk, who first introduced me to Paverpol. I immediately saw the figure lying, draped over the shape.

For those of you who aren't familiar with the product, Paverpol comes from Holland and is a textile hardening medium. It's a versatile product, which can created draped figures or anything really. It can even be set outside!

Photos don't do it justice. The position of the figures makes it hard to photograph, plus black is a challenge. I used my light box, I tried the window lighting, to much helped. I hope these tow shots give a sense of the work.

All in all, a good week for me!



Stargazing



Wordless Wednesday

Patriots