Hidden Treasure *1*

Daily Report: 06-02-2012

I awoke to find that the Sickening Sprawl had spread overnight - or at least while I had been distracted by far more pleasant things during the weekend. Ugh, it had it's tendrils absolutely everywhere - there was no chance of clocking up hours of free-flowing creativity because I had a battle on my hands. There was barely a second to lose, although I did pause for a marmalade interlude. Just to complicate matters it was clear to me that Madame Adminia also needed urgent attention as there had been a small avalanche on the Paper Mountain.

After my sustained battling with the Sickening Sprawl this is what it yielded forth:

I can't tell you when I made it, because I no longer know, it was probably between spring 2009 and winter 2011. I used boiling hot water to soften a food colouring bottle and then squished it up. I painted on the detail using nail varnish, tipp-ex and other such substances. This bottle was intended for a hairclip - it actually still functions as a bottle so, of course, I filled it with a potion. However it doesn't function so well as a hairclip because it turned out to be too deep and too heavy. It makes a great ornament though. 

Will I make more that are more effectively squished? Perhaps.

Will I drink the contents? Maybe . . . and maybe not!

Creativity Clock: 1h 20

Journal Content 1h
Puppet Project 20m

The peach fleece arrived, I arranged a meeting with the clients and now the puppet project waits upon their choice.

Cinderella Scores:
Bubble Room *4*
Perfumed Secrets *3*
Loquacious Lounge *3*
Entrancio *4*
Kitchenette *3*
Ballgown Fashionista *0*

Other News:
Cherry Scream is in a deep slumber and I can't wake her up.

My First Polymer Clay Doll (Part II)

Daily Report: 05-02-2012

Creative Journal:

I wandered over to Mama and Papa's house in the snow. We chattered merrily and drank frothy coffee. It was so lovely to see them. I love my Mama and Papa! As I was leaving, Mama gave me some cords to use in my doll-making. Aha, clever Mama! When I came to wondering what to use for my little doll's hair,  I remembered the cords. Tease out the threads and they make the perfect luscious locks. (For this doll I am only allowing myself to use materials that I already have at home so there was no purchasing specialised doll parts for me.) Luckily I had some rocailles that made the perfect eyes. After much glooping of glue and a touch of acrylic paint, my sweet little doll has hair and a face!

I am so pleased with how her face has come together. She is kind and cute. YAY!

Here's a secret snap I took of her when she was trying on outfits in the dressmaker's shop:

Creativity clock: 3h30[e]

*Spookypie Style*
Carpet: snow
Shoes: black wellingtons with while polka dots
Tights: black fishnets of course!
Skirt: velvet and lace

Other news:
The puppet peeped out of my bat-case and watched me.
I didn't shut the lid . . .
Nor did I let him out . . .

A Monster in Paris

*Happy Times in the Memory Box*
I have just returned from a trip to the cinema with my best friend Fluffball. What an enchanting film 'A Monster in Paris' (directed by Bibo Bergeron) turned out to be. I was so hoping that it would not disappoint. I put on my new satin dress and my lace gloves - I dressed my very best for the occasion. Fluffball and I really enjoyed the film - it had just the right mix of drama, comedy and romance, all wrapped up in a beautiful animation about music and monsters and Paris. How wonderfully lucky to find this film.  

Ah it made me dream of Paris so. The sweeping shot of Paris at dusk reminded me of that wonderful time that I watched the sunset over Paris from the Eiffel Tower with my true love Monsieur Antonio Deelight. I almost shed a tear of happiness.

It was also so lovely to spend time with Fluffball - she is such a great companion for cinema visits.  My heart is a happy butterfly!

The singing voice of the character Francoeur, sung by Sean Lennon, reminded me of a sweetened version of the voice of Martyn Jacques from The Tiger Lillies, it was very distinctive and I am always a sucker for that counter-tenor range beauty. In one of the most magical sequences of the film Lucille and Francoeur were transported by their music and flew through Paris together. I think I must indeed buy myself a pair of Lolita wings - the question is black or white? Now if I had a million shells then I would buy both!

Fluffball and I watched to the very end of the credits and it again reminded me that to create something truly great I need to master the art of collaboration. Hmmm.

Fluffball wondered aloud why people are always in such a hurry to re-join the real world. I do not know - perhaps the world of dreams and imagination and its web of illusion does not hold them in the same way that it grips me.

Other news:
In the evening I was visited by Monsieur Antonio Deelight, The Parsnip King, who shared my pasta:

She's the Pasta Princess,
She's the Pasta Princess,
He wants parsnips!
Don't digress,
She's the Pasta Princess.

On Monday Tortellini
On Tuesday Farfalloni
For Wednesday Lumache
And Thursday Ravioli
On Friday Spaghetti
On Saturday Macaroni
For Sunday Fusilli, Conchiglie, Canneloni!

She's the Pasta Princess,
She's the Pasta Princess,
He wants parsnips!
Don't digress,
She's the Pasta Princess.

My First Polymer Clay Doll

Dear Dr. Deleter,

I do eXiSt!

Daily Report: 03-02-2012

Creative Journal:

I have been greatly inspired by the many beautiful art dolls that I have seen on the internet. In the past I always thought that I would not have the delicacy of style to create these dolls. However, spurred on by my recent success in puppet making, I decided that it was only something that I couldn't do yet! One of the best ways to learn is by doing so here is my first attempt using white Fimo.

The doll pieces after modelling:

I found modelling difficult - I guess that it is something that improves with practise. After roughly an hour and a half or so of sculpting I decided to bake due to time constraints.

My frustrations and difficulties in adding the armature are clearly remembered by the clay - however, these areas will be covered by clothing. This was a first attempt, not an attempt at perfection!

The assembled doll after baking:

She already has character and internal life -  a success :)

Most important to learn: 

- how to keep fluff and fabric fibres off my fingers and out of the clay

- how to build and insert armatures without damaging the sculpting

- how to build limbs that move

- how to stop the clay from cracking during baking - which clay to use?

Also achieved today:

I built a new title section for my blog from photographic layers of shell and lace.

I made new layout and design choices in Blogger.

I put much thought into how best to harness the powers of Blogger; it's function for my artwork and creativity and it's role in my survival.

Note to self:

Standardise labelling, saving, and storing of images.

Transfer from Roxio to Photoshop as, much as I love Roxio, it keeps crashing out on my machine. :(

   

Creativity Clock: 8h [e]

Polymer Doll 2h 

Journal Design and Content 6h [e]

Cinderella Scores:
Bubble Room *4*
Perfumed Secrets *2*

Loquacious Lounge *2*
Entrancio *4*
Kitchenette *2*
Ballgown Fashionista *4*

Did you visit and care for Madame Adminia?

No - aaaaargh and I know I really should have done.

Did you reduce your Sickening Sprawl and feed the Junk Machine?

No - aaaaargh and I know I really should have done.

Did you spend time with Mama and Papa or Lucille & co?

No, and I really miss them.

Did you spend time with Monsieur Antonio Deelight?

No, and I miss him too.

How is Fluffball?

Generally healthy and happy. A little naughty in the afternoon but well behaved and bouncing around happily by tea-time. I love my Fluffball :)

Experience-ometer Reading : *2*

I made my first polymer clay doll - Anything I put my mind to, I can achieve. Yes, there is much to learn and improve upon but one is more than none!

I tried Chocolate Chilli Cookies - a normal chocolate cookie with a hidden surprise - I liked them - they are very moreish . . .

Other News:

I bought a glue gun . . .

Yours (only until I escape your scrutiny)

Spookypie Strangedoll

Inspirational Doll Artist: Michele Lynch

I spent my day working at Madame Katerina's Habadashery & Fabric Emporium. Apart from my lunchtime visit from Monsieur Antonio Deelight, (I am so lucky - he visits me EvErY lunchtime), the highlight of my day was a customer who referred to me by lots of lovely names - my favourite being poppet! It made me feel like a little girl again. I liked it very much. Thank you to that kind lady. 

I spent the evening gazing at beautiful art dolls and in particular I was inspired by the Steampunk Souls of Michele Lynch Art which can be found on Etsy: Michele Lynch Art on Etsy

You can read the story of their creation here on Blogger: Michele Lynch Art on Blogger

She has made so many beautiful and  unusual dolls it is difficult to choose a favourite but I am particularly drawn to her conjoined twins as she sets up such interesting relationships between them.

Here are Izzy and Lizzy:

And another beautiful pair Lexi and Maya:

Thank you to Michele for allowing me to use her images and write about her dolls in my journal :)

I am in a SULK!

I am sulking, sulking, sulking,
I am sulking,
I am in A SULK!
I am sulking, sulking, sulking,
I am sulking,
I am in A SULK!

I'm SULKING! *CrOsS mY aRmS*
I'm SULKING! *sTaMp My FoOt*
I'm SULKING! *PeTuLaNt PoUt*
I'm SULKING
I am in a SULK!
I'm SULKING! *CrOsS mY aRmS*
I'm SULKING! *sTaMp My FoOt*
I'm SULKING! *PeTuLaNt PoUt*
I'm SULKING
I am in a SULK!

Well, Mademoiselle Spookypie Strangedoll it seems clear to me that you have an attitude problem.

Oh yes I DO! And that is why I went to Attitude Clothing for some retail therapy!
So there!!!!! *sTiCk oUt My ToNgUe*

Appointment with Dr Ambiguit Deleter

"Ah Mademoiselle Spookypie Strangedoll, do sit down."

I sat rather awkwardly in the musty smelling room, trying to avoid the piercing eyes of Doctor Ambiguit Deleter. He began speaking:

"So, I hear that your clients were not entirely happy with your work, upon which you spent hours and hours, after injecting your own funds, and for which you received no pay?

May I make a suggestion? Perhaps you should learn to communicate? If you had shared your progress instead of wandering in your own introverted mindspace you would have avoided the situation that you currently find yourself in. Oh yes, your work is of high quality but if no-one is willing to pay you for it and you are not able to put a baguette on the picnic table, so to speak, then one wonders what exactly is the point of your existence?"

I watched the dust particles drifting freely in the singular shaft of sunlight brave enough to enter the room, but I held my lips closed tight and awaited the inevitable continuation of Dr Deleter's tirade:

"I have inspected your dismal attempt at a tax return, at being a business - pah! What ridiculous self-serving fantasy.

You begin projects but do not finish them, never realising your true potential or making any tangible progress. You lose interest in the all-important decent slog to be bewitched by the twinkle of novelty and ensnared by the challenge of mastering new skills. Skills and learning are no good without a purpose young lady. What exactly is your purpose?

What, exactly, are you here for?"

I squirmed uncomfortably in the leather seat and my petticoats rustled in the still silent air.

"All of your creative endeavours amount to nothing.

Where is the solid evidence of what you have achieved?

Do you have any real proof of who you are?

Do you have anything to show for what you have learnt?

Your pathetic attempts at being a rock starlet are laughable - how on earth do you suppose that you can run a band if you cannot even entice a guitarist to play a few notes for you? Hmph - it seems to me that you can only keep band members interested in the project if you are dating them!"

I bit my tongue. Very hard.

"You are a drain on the state, a disappointment to your family and most especially to your poor parents. In order to avoid immediate deletion you must report to me daily."

Doctor Ambiguit Deleter lent forwards across his desk and fixed me with his cold unwavering gaze:

"You are a stubborn stain of individuality in a wonderfully homogeneous world of conforming and unquestioning wage slaves.

Frankly, my dear, you barely exist . . ."

His words echoed in my mind like the whispers of a seashell:

    you barely exist . . .

                         

                     you barely exist . . .

                                                               

                                    you barely exist . . .