STEAM PUNK GUY

Finally got him finished! I was calling him Clyde before, but now I'm thinking Pistol Pete since that was my reason for making him, that and I wanted to put goggles on someone. He was really a "hit & miss" project. Designing the hat: first one was too small & tried a couple of different ways to put it all together. His jacket is made of upholstery scraps. It was a little heavy, and frayed if not handled carefully. The worst problem tho was I had planned on him holding the pistol up in front. It was a bit too heavy for that. Next time I will put a heavier wire armature in.
When making the goggles I made one pair & put some "bumpy" wire across the top. It was too "girlie" looking....so now I guess I'm gonna have to make a female aviator type: Amelia could be her name. We shall see.

CLOSEUPS/TOP & BOTTOM

Thought I'd show the hat, goggles, boots, and pistol. Goggles are made with grommets removed from fabric samples: wired and gaps filled in with cold porcelain. Hat is made of velveteen with wired brim to shape. Tried to copy one I saw a guy wearing on the internet. Needed some tweaking for his boots...wanted them to have a flatter heal than the ones made for the ladies. His pistol is made with an old school locker key, with a bolo tie tip glued into the end. I then cut off a clothes pin, drilled hole through it and inserted the key and a washer to fill in the space. Later will probably get fancier, but for now this works. Finally the floor of the base he stands on is "paper" metal. Brown paper, with glue applied, then burned with a candle to give a metal look.This, and the goggles were some of the ideas I put in the article for DollStreet.

MORE STEAM PUNK! BRIDGET'S GADGETS

While designing Amber, as usual had extra parts. Plan was to make a guy, but then I came across this "scarf" I had made for myself, and the next thing I knew I was making it into a skirt for Bridget. The face was still too masculine, so "Clyde" (that's his name for now..it may change when he's all together) is still in the works, but once again the doll leads the way. I have already been working on goggles, and thought of putting some on Bridget, but after re-doing, liked her face too much...Clyde definitely will be wearing them. B is wearing shorter painted boots with an overlay of black leather, accented with sequin pins to look like nails. Making the boots and legs as one piece works great with these guys. Plan to put together a pattern for doing this, and I just completed designing a top hat for Clyde.
Meanwhile my new tech guys came by this week, and we're going to finally re-do my website. So am feverishly Steam Punkin' as I know once I get started on the web site it will devour my time for a while. It's the only way I can learn and remember.

AMBER STEAM PUNK DOLL

These past few weeks have been so aggravating...my new computer has been one problem after another. Finally found some great guys to help, but they had to take the thing off premises. Gave me the perfect opportunity to spend my energy working on Doll Street's Steam Punk challenge. What a great time I'm having! There's so many facets to explore. I have tables scattered with pieces of "junk" jewelry, chains, watches, remotes...all kinds of things broken apart to get to the parts. If you don't know what Steam Punk is...Google it.
Amber is my first, but there are more to come for several reasons. One being that as I experimented I had rejects. They were put into a little basket, and will be used...in fact I have another in progress as we speak. These first 2 are rather feminine, but I am very attracted to the leather/aviator goggled, gun slinging broads I see on the net, so hope to go there next. To think I used to love sweet little fairies..hahahaha!

STEAM PUNK DOLL STAND & BOOTS

My Art Thing group has a new challenge...trading a bag of "junk" with each other, and making it into a piece of art. I lucked out, 'cause I got some really cool stuff, some of which I confiscated for my dolls. Don't worry there's still lots to work with for that other project. When I started I planned to make the doll on my usual old disc & wire stand. But then I spied this groovy, metal thingy in my stuff, and decided that would be wonderful. Used a metal paper towel holder: top cut off top loop, and welded the gear thing on base. Perfect!
This picture also shows the boots I wound up with for Amber. Am working on another doll using another pair, along with extra body parts that I always seem to manage to have. Later when my tech guys come to help me re-do my website (sometime later this month) I'll see about adding a link to show others how to make the boots. Right now, however, I'm enjoying my Steam Punkin....a lot more fun than fighting with computers.

TILLIE IS ENROLLED

In her new classroom in Pensacola Florida. She's a very popular gal!

WHILE RECUPERATING FROM SURGERY

My little operation, turned out to be more than expected. Was a lot of stuff to fix in there, and a lot more pain than I expected! On the good side, while talking to daughter Rachel, we decided she needs a doll for the kids in her kindergarten class to tell their problems to...so although it was a slow go I made "TILLIE TELLME". It was a great way to occupy myself & do something creative. I made her head first, with big ears for listening. Gave her purple hair braided to stand up. Legs & arms are jointed with buttons so they can be posed, and fingers have wire to hold stuff. Already thinking of ways to incorporate her into classroom activities. Painted her shoes so they wouldn't get lost, and made yarn ties, which can be undone for kids to practice those skills. I made some wings for her to fly from Colorado to Florida, but they are just held on with a ribbon in back so can be removed.
So this is my first doll for 2011...HAPPY NEW YEAR!