Sunday, April 19, 2015

Behind or A-head!

Hi there. I am feeling a bit behind with the schedule I had set myself for doing toad stall but I do have a head - a toad's head that is.
 
Actually toad also had a body earlier today but that has ended up in the bin so I only have a head to show you. I don't know if this head will belong to the final toad in my project. I may try some other techniques for making a toad yet. I consider the options to be polymer clay, paper mache or fabric sculpting. This one is made from polymer clay and has been painted.
 
He looks a little sad without a body. Maybe by next weekend. I travelled to see family yesterday so haven't achieved much this weekend. I really must get more disciplined and try to do some miniatures in the evenings during the week.
 
Toad also has a cart for his fungi collecting. He really would love to pull it along but unfortunately he needs a body for that! I will attempt to give the cart a worn and rusted look.


 
 
I had a lovely time at a second hand book sale with two of my sisters, my husband and daughter yesterday. I do love books. I picked up some great books but two I am really happy with are two old DMC embroidery booklets. I certainly think some of the alphabets, borders and little designs will come in handy in the future for miniatures.
 



 
 
Well I have neglected the housework all day trying to make a toad so I had better get some washing folded and put away and get my daughter ready for school tomorrow - she has just been on school holidays for two weeks and spent the last week away staying with family.
 
Update:
Well, the intention was there but my husband and daughter have just advised we are going to watch a movie - oh well, the housework will still be there tomorrow!

26 comments:

  1. Hola Sharee! Esa cabeza de sapo es estupenda! Anímate con el resto del cuerpo seguro que sale genial! Un abrazo

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  2. La cabeza de sapo está muy bien......y esos libritos de DMC una joya.
    Un abrazo
    Maite

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  3. Hi Sharee, love the books you bought. I can't embroider at all but I bet those borders will look amazing on a rug or blanket. Poor Toady looks quite happy despite losing his limbs =0)

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  4. Hi Sharee! Your Toad looks fantastic, but also happy and sweet :)! I like those dots/freckles on his head. I hope you can give him a body for pulling his little cart ;O!
    Those DMC booklets are real treasures, the patterns are so beautiful and will give you so much possibilities. But I also saw a pair of storks on one of the pages..........so please, take good care for your Toad LOL :D!!!!
    Hugs, Ilona

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    1. LOL. Yes you have to watch those storks. I wondered why Toad looked a little distracted when I was taking the photos!

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  5. Your Toad looks happy and the books are fantastic.

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  6. Hi Sharee! I agree with the others that Toad looks like a cheerful fellow even though he is still awaiting his body! I thought Toads were more brown than green... at least the varieties we have here are! LOL! But either way, he will be a great proprietor for your Toad Stall.... he already looks like he is ready to sell his fungi and bugs to the first visitor! LOL! Those DMC books are a wonderful find.... the patterns for making borders should come in very useful somewhere! Especially now that copying is so easy many of those patterns could be reproduced and used on mini walls! I know you have a great collection of old wall papers too! I can't wait to see how Toad develops!

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    1. You made me 'google' the colour of toads. I've never seen a real toad so I wasn't sure. It turns out the warty skin of toads can vary from olive greens to orange browns. It depends on the soil where they live as to what colour they are. I guess the soil in the woodland where Toad comes from has caused his skin to turn olive green.

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    2. Hi Sharee! That is Wonderful to know! Around here we have the brown kind and even the tiny ones are brown..... now I am curious to see more of the green type! I think your Mr. Toad is such a cheerful looking fellow already... I really look forward to seeing the "rest" of him!

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  7. I was thinking the same as Ilona - watch out to keep your wonderful stitching charts with the storks away from you toad. I really hope you're going to continue with this head - he looks wonderful, a true character head. And this cart for his toadstools is a very nice idea - speaking of nice... nice from your family to keep you away from your housework... ;O)

    Hugs
    Birgit

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    1. LOL, I don't need much encouragement to avoid housework Birgit!

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  8. Toad's head looks wonderful. I'm sure he'll get a body and limbs soon.
    I love treasure hunting for books. The embroidery DMC is a real find. Enjoy.
    Hugs, Drora

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  9. Your toad has a lot of character, Sharee! I'm sure his body will arrive soon. Until then, you're having fun, which is what really counts. I love books too. I'm salivating just thinking about your book sale! xo Jennifer

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  10. Tu sapo parece muy contento.Tendrá un bonito cuerpo dentro de poco.

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  11. Mr. Toad has very expressive eyes Sharee! And they seem to be expressing a desire to have the rest of him otherwise he is just another no-body! hahaha
    His little red wagon of fungi is real cute and I am sure that he is anxious to hop to it, and get his business off the ground because that is the way to get ahead in the forest. Well, I guess he already IS a-head, isn't he? :)
    Okay, enough with the puns.
    I love the embroidery books and hope that you will be able to put them to good use. I embroidered once when I was 17 and that was it! Two pillow case that took me
    FOREVER. I sure wish that I had stuck with it.
    I may have had four of them finished by now!

    elizabeth

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    1. I love your toad! I can almost hear him ribbit! It is cute he has a wagon load of fungi. The rug patterns are pretty enough to tear out of the page and put them on the floor just as they are!

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    2. I love your puns Elizabeth. I really love embroidered items but I have not done a lot of it. However, I do hope to experiment with some embroidery in the future, both in miniature and otherwise. If only I had more hours in the day!

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  12. He is a fantastic fellow already sharee! I love his warty face, its perfect for a boggy guy like him!

    You found some great books, which reminds me I need to get to the book fair soon and hunt for some additons to the skill set ;)

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  13. Oh yes... I am SURE the housework will be here tomorrow too... an the day after tomorrow, and the day after... and housework is fertile ... it s going to be more if you´ll wait long enough ;-)
    I love this face even without a body... it looks like it is a satisfied toad
    Hugs
    Melli

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  14. The toad looks incredible! This is going to be some magical fantastical scene!!
    hugs♥,
    Caroline

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  15. I love the Toad's eyes! The way you painted them almost looks as though they were glass. He has great expression too :)

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  16. Me encanta tu sapo, seguro que te queda perfecto.

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  17. ese sapo esta bastante bien , seguro que el resto te quedara bien , con la arcilla polimerica lo que funciona es la practica , mucha practica
    espero que lo pasaras bien con la familia

    besitos

    Mari

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    1. I agree Mari, polymer clay does require practise. I am slowly improving - a few less items are ending in the rubbish bin now. It is a great medium with a lot of potential for miniatures and worth persevering with.

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