Category: Craft
The Results!..
So this is our attempt at Tree Change Dolls..we were lucky that it was a gorgeous day (summer is on the way!) and we had Bella’s lovely friend Maya to help us. These were the dolls as they started (Charlie doll was given a reprieve as we thought he was rather pretty!)(Thankfully, we had a spare doll..)
First job was to take their faces off, which we did with the nail varnish remover – you let it soak for a bit and then wipe.
It takes off a fair bit, but does leave smudges (and avoid getting the remover anywhere else on the dolls as it starts peeling away the plastic..as we learnt to our detriment..)
For the rest and the harder marks, we used eucalyptus oil..and lots of elbow grease..you just have to keep rubbing hard! But I’ve now learnt the power of eucalyptus oil..my bin has never smelt so fragrant..
And we managed it!
Then they all had a wash..
(Although certain members of the party became more interested in the bubbles..)
After that it was time for the paint..the most exciting, but also the most nerve wracking bit. We used acrylic paints and Derwent watercolour pencils. What I would recommend is finding some really good, tiny paint brushes. Ours were kiddies ones which we then trimmed down with scissors..but it is precise work and the better your paint brush, the better the result. At this point, I will confess..we lost the majority of the children..they went off to play..
Not that it mattered..the mummies were more than happy to lose themselves over eyeballs! It was engrossing work..highly therapeutic we decided!
Big brother Alex was also game..so lovely to see..he just saw it as an Art project and was more than happy to get stuck in.
The finer details were done with the pencils – you dip them in water and then they work well on the plastic.
Bella with Bella..
This is Sophie’s doll (Maya’s mummy)
Who was then dressed at home!
I made a little dress for Bella..but we still have the feet to go..it all takes time!
Just doing it all for the first time was a learning curve. Time whizzes by..which is always a good sign. The painting is tough and particularly hard for the kids – but it was a great project to all do together. We intend to do another creative day soon to make the feet and more clothes. All in all, to be highly recommended! If you want to try yourself, there are loads of really good tutorials on Youtube..good luck!
Laters, Kate x
Meet..
Bella with Bratz doll Bella..
And Charlie with his doll Charlie, all ready for the tree-change experience we’re attempting today (I have one too!). Results tomorrow..but I have a feeling it’s not as easy as it looks!!
Laters, Kate x
Happy Easter!
As a child, Volker Kraft saw a beautiful paschal tree in his home town…and he wanted one.
In 1965 his dream came true – his own tree with 300 odd eggs on it. Since then it has grown every year..
2015 will be the last year of the Saalfeld Easter tree..and the total is now 10,000 decorated eggs. One man’s madness, one man’s passion..one man’s joy. I doff my flamboyant Easter bonnet to you sir…
Laters, Kate x
Inspiration..
It’s rapidly heading towards crunch time for our proposed building works – the builder is coming to quote on Tuesday which means all the big structural decisions have been made. Now thoughts can turn to the decorating..but rather than hoarding pictures of perfect rooms, I’m finding myself drawn to the opulence and layering of faraway cultures…
(All photos from Pinterest)
Whatever happens…it’s going to be a journey.
Laters, Kate x
Doll Face x
I saw this first on a friend’s Facebook page (thanks Sarah Dezille) and found it incredible on so many different levels. These are the Tree Change Dolls – face-overs given to unwanted Bratz dolls by the artist Sonia Singh from Australia. Using simple nail polish remover and eucalyptus oil, she removes the original paint..and re-paints new faces. The dolls are then re-dressed in outfits handmade by her mother, transformed from something ready to be thrown away..to a true Cinderella moment…it boggles the mind to think they once even shared the same gene-pool..
Sonia was just doing this for fun..then she uploaded a few pictures on her dolls to Tumblr..and the effect went viral..
It’s not surprising..she’s created something so simple, so innocent..and for me, captured something utterly nostalgic and precious. Inadvertently her dolls have opened up the debate on the sexualisation of children and the increasing speed with which they now grow up. For me it’s less about that – I wouldn’t tell Bella not to play with a Bratz doll. But I love how something so simple can radiate an even stronger power: After years of drink, drugs and bad hair extensions, these Bratz have a new lease of life away from their whirling, high-energy, high-pressure existence and are now embracing and thriving in the type of life I’d like for my kids..
And there’s nothing to stop anyone else from having a go – there’s various Youtube films made by Sonia showing how to do it yourself which I thoroughly recommend..but I rather like her first film, explaining how it all started:
I think they’re wonderful, and hope, over the Easter holidays to create some UK versions with Bella (although I ‘d be perfectly happy just to find a quiet corner and do it by myself…)
Part of the appeal is that the eyes and expressions remind me so much of Sasha dolls from the 60s and 70s. A doll I never had but coveted – my best bud Ella had two! Not only did they have such enigmatic faces, but their wardrobes were to-die-for too..
(I’m sure it was my first experience of the power of clothes..)
It always amazes me how life works in cycles…Tree Change is the old-fashioned calm at the heart of the modern life storm…and I love it!
Laters, Kate x
The Ride of Our Life!
The Top Secret Project?…
Started like this..as made by Mandy and Philip.
Went on to this..
Transformed to this..
Then multiplied..by eight..
We added legs.
Lots of legs..
(It was a shock every time we walked in the room!)
And then the top halves! And all for the School Quiz!!!!….
Go to Facebook for the vid!
It was a top, top night..such tables as ‘fifty shades of Farrow and Ball’..’Teachers Pets’ – dressed as animals with school ties and complete with squeakers..and a fabulous ‘my big fat gypsy wedding’ with dresses, cake, tent and fairy lights!
But we won!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It was really rather fabulous!
Laters, Kate x
General Mayhem..
This is what I normally do on a Thursday..an engrossing, soul-enhancing, spirit-lifting art class in the sanctuary of a wooden hut on the green, leafy, quiet Common..
Today, this is my reality…it’s half term…so I’m at home..with the kids..and we’re working (??)(*&^%^%$£@!..hindering??) on a Top Secret project..which always seems like such a good idea in the abstract…
A happy worker!
I’ve now learnt that black gloss, children and white, blind dogs really don’t mix…pray for me..and my floors..and possibly my sanity..
Laters, Kate x
Pretty in Pink x
Spotted: Fabulous piece of walking art on Rita Ora.
Tracked down: To House of Holland SS15
Dreaming: Of tropical paradises, sun, sea and..sand.
Thinking: Are they crochet flowers? And could I do this??
Laters, Kate x
Christmas Spirit..
The lead up to Christmas is gathering momentum like a shaken, very expensive bottle of vintage champagne ready to explode everywhere, with no-one actually getting to taste a drop. So starts the month of spending, drinking and ironic hair extensions: There’s so much emphasis on the extravagance of Christmas – the more you spend does equal the more you love don’t you know? – that the real joy of Christmas is suffocated like a candle without oxygen. There have been years when I’ve literally sobbed into my mulled wine on Christmas Eve as I’m still working my way through the pile of effing presents that still need to be wrapped…and missing out on all the bits I truly love – the making, the baking and the creating…I’m not religious, but I find my peace in austerity and gentleness away from the whining notion of entitlement and endlessly wanting it all..
So this year I’ve kept it simple..Bella’s stocking is everything to do with sewing with vintage bits I’ve collected from Ebay. Charlie’s is an Art box equivalent with paints, plasticine and the odd robot. The kids broke up from school yesterday, and I’ve managed to get everything done and out the way – the proverbial decks have been cleared (well..almost..cards not quite in the post yet..) but it’s been a long, hard term: The kids are on their knees, so am I..but now we can shut the shutters, close the door and concentrate on lazy days with moments of madness and doing all the things that make Christmas special for us…These lights made from photocopies and ordinary glass tumblers are up there at the top of the list…
I can’t wait!
Laters, Kate x
Marking Time..
Do you remember Clothkits? They’re a huge dollop of nostalgia for me as the first clothes I truly coveted and lusted over at school. They came in easy-sew kits to make up, including all sorts of wonderful, genius things like rag dolls as well..
There was always an extra touch..like her matching bag to add the final flourish and make them utterly desirable..
How cute?
The padded coats were particularly memorable…if this came in my size now, I would have it..
But there’s a light at the end of the tunnel..I googled them and Clothkits is still running, and many of these designs are still available plus a host more..
From old originals…
To their modern equivalents..
If you want to give something crafty for Christmas..so crafty you can put a tail on it and call it a fox?..check them out..their range is incredible..
Laters, kate x
Maison Bentley Style 