Lots of Feet

 Every year for the past few years I have made an ornament for my children for Christmas as a stocking stuffer. It started with the stars, last year I made mice, so I am now working on something new. Yesterday I actually had time to myself again (I'm not doing anything on the "to do" list) and decided to mess around with an idea... I ended up making these little feet. I drew a template for the sole and traced it onto cardboard 16 times. Cut dowels 3 inches long and adhered them to the soles using glue and a bit of apoxy sculpt. When that was somewhat dry I created the shoe using paper clay and let them dry overnight. This is what they looked like this morning.

 

                                                           

Step #1 Apoxy Dowels to Template

Step #2  Add Paper Clay

                                              

                                                       A Different Style

                                                                

Here are 8 of the dozen I made waiting for Step #3- Sanding, Painting, Finishing

Today I plan on sanding them, painting them, felting the soles, painting the legs, and adding socks and laces. I still haven't decided who's legs they actually are but that will come in time- I have a few ideas about that too. Nine have rounded toes and three have elf toes so there are options for different "people". Each little shoe is about 1 1/2  inches long. I hope this works out. 

My Tart's Ornament

I just finished my ornament- What do you think?
I ended up combining  essence of Sally Mavor with Waldorf style and created this little heart fairy.  She has a lot of reflective elements so she should really shine on a tree. Her legs are made from icicles that are very glittery, her dress is the metal cornucopia, her wings are tin, and the little heart is gold color metal so there is a lot of shiny stuff going on here. In contrast to that she has a plaid country bow, acorn hat, yarn hair and a needle felt featureless face. I used pipe cleaners for her arms with beads on her wrists. I think she is cute and I hope whoever picks my bag is happy with her as well.

Textitle Tart Ornament 2012

Today I am going to make the ornament that I need for our holiday party. The Tart's decided to make ornaments this year at our June pot-luck gathering. I have had months to do this but as usual I am now just a short two weeks away from the event and I haven't even started it yet. How does that happen? 

Fortunately, I have two ideas dancing around in my head. I think I can create an angel or fairy from this small mesh cornucopia. That will be my first attempt. If that bombs, I will needle felt some more polar bears and string them to a festive ribbon maybe add a bell or two.... 

I'm hoping the fairy/angel will work out. I was thinking of using Sally Mavor's dolls as inspiration for the design or if that doesn't work I will probably needle felt in a Waldorf style. It always amazes me how my initial idea seems to transform during construction to produce a surprise in the end.