TO THE RIGHT is my first commissioned sculpt. It sprang off a fun piece I made and gave to a friend last summer: Dobby the House Elf's great uncle, "Flobby" (his new owner renamed him "Seebo"). Since it's a descendant of Uncle Flobby, it's Dobby's first-cousin-once-removed, "Dibbly". They're all inspired by the Harry Potter books and the movie, but the ones I make are not mentioned in those works. They are strictly from my own imagination.

He was intended as a Christmas gift, but I haven't heard yet how he was received. Anyway, he was fun to make -- hee hee... they ALL are!

The Harry Potter Christmas Swap

The person I sent the Harry Potter swap items to has received them, so now I can post a photo or two of each.
The theme was anything Harry Potter Christmas. So, I made two more tree ornaments -- since ornaments are so much fun! I scoured through all seven movies (DH2 took place after Christmas, remember?) to find images I could work with. Originally, I thought about doing one for each year, but as it was, doing only 2 ornaments was plenty of work. I went with first and last: one from HP and the Sorcerer's Stone (Harry's first C'mas at Hogwarts, and the first in his life when he actually received real presents) to HP and the Deathly Hallows, part 1. That's where Harry and Hermione visited his parents' grave on C'mas Eve.





The first ornament shows Harry trying on his new Invisibility Cloak, and saying, "My body's gone!" as only his head still shows. There was an unsigned note with the gift, so I included that under Harry's head. It says, "Your father left this in my possession before he died. It is time it was returned to you. Use it Well."

The second ornament I made was the Wreath of Christmas Roses, which Hermione conjured to lay upon the grave of James and Lily Potter, in the graveyard at Godric's Hollow. It's not a precise replica, but gives a good idea. The wreath in the movie is lovely, but rather dark in every photo I could get of it.





So, that is the extent of my holiday ornies for now. I am currently working on a House Elf, and it's a commissioned work! My first one for sculpting!!! It's just a head, like the ones I did last summer as gifts for friends, but one of those friends wants to give one as a Christmas Gift to someone she knows! Hence, the commission! :)

Group Ornament Swap, 2011

Well, this year I was in an elf-head mode, I think... These are the two ornies I made for the group ornament swap. Can't post the Harry Potter Group swap yet, as those have not yet been received, that I know of. Later, I guess....

Holiday projects

I have some new projects upcoming for the holidays... and SO many ideas for other sculpts that will have to wait until next year. The holiday projects are ornaments for the holiday swap in my sculpting group, and ornaments or other ??? for the Harry Potter Crafts group. I haven't decided yet; it's early, but I won't put it off! These things take time, and I don't want to be late mailing them out, early next month. And I want them to be GOOD. I'll post more, later.

Eowyn

I do intend to make two of these, the second one probably next year, though I have the armature done for it. It's Eowyn, Shieldmaiden of Rohan, and niece to King Theoden, in Lord of the Rings. She looks more or less like Miranda Otto, who played Eowyn in the movies. I have taken a few liberties with her dress and accessories, since I can't possibly duplicate, but I'm fairly close.
When we first meet her, Eowyn is a rather sad Lady of the Court of Rohan, though quite lovely. There is a scene in the movie where the court villain and Eowyn's brother are discussing her. She turns to face them, perhaps aware they're talking about her, but not knowing exactly what. That is the moment that inspired this sculpt. It's a posable art doll, so I could put her in other positions, such as seated, or holding a sword, as she does in another scene.

This doll is about 18" tall, not counting the base. The base needs a bit more work, but I needed to show completed photos of the doll itself, by today. So these are a few of the pics I took last night.

My swap partner received her package later in the same day I posted the previous entry. I've been posting pics in other places, but forgot to put any here!

The theme of the swap (for the Harry Potter Crafts group) was simply, "Hogwarts". My swap partner considers herself a Ravenclaw, so to me, what better says both Hogwarts and Ravenclaw, but The Gray Lady? She's the ghost of Ravenclaw Tower!

She hangs by a cord, replacing the worse-for-wear wire seen in the photos... so, she actually flies! (OK, well... sort of flies!) The photos are not in the same order I uploaded them in, hmph! She is wearing pantaloons (what I love to call koochie undies) that are made from real silk chiffon. Her overdress is the same fabric I used for Swiff's overdress (see below, bottom of page) also the bit of ribbon trim down her bodice. Her hair is mohair that I dyed in the same solution as the silk.

OK... the art show didn't happen, at least not for me. I've been sick for two and a half weeks, and was being seen by a doctor as the show was opening. Getting better now, but the first two weeks were rough; I even lost time from work. Won't go into the gory details, but it was nasty. Almost gone now. I'll make a point of volunteering for the next art show, though. I was getting psyched about this one. It was a small show, great for taking a first step and "getting my feet wet." Next time, for sure!

I did manage to finish an HPC swap item, and mail it out. For some reason, she doesn't seem to have gotten it yet, and I'm getting concerned. I won't post it here, since it wouldn't be fair for you to see it before she does, right?

Progressing slowly on the current posable doll project. She's all constructed, and now needs to have her costume finished (close!) and some accessories, before I wig her. She's human, not a fairy, so there'll be no wings on this one. What I'm dreading is finishing her shoes. I formed her feet to accommodate a bit of a heel to her shoe, and now I'm sorry I did! Well, I'll just do the best I can, and we'll see where that takes me! She'll be Eowyn, from LOTR, The Two Towers. This is the scene where she's in her uncle's castle, being watched by Wormtongue. I have a lovely green fabric that will suffice for her green dress. Her hair will be Tibetan lamb, which I've already dyed, but cannot apply to her head yet. I want to do another of her, in my favorite scene of the movie: Eowyn's slaying of the Witch King of Angmar, in Return of the King. LOVE that scene! But for now, this one will have to suffice. I still tire quickly.