I sit and watch her "sleep", my little girl, un-assmbled, barely painted, wrapped in a blanket. I look at her and where before I saw her imperfections, I only now see her beauty. What color of hair should I give her? Black maybe, like Cody had... her skin is fair so black will suit her well.
I went (unwillingly) shopping for her today... well not *for* her exactly, I just popped in the store to see if the Spring clothes were in (they were and I think I've decided on Little Wonder's Outfit!).
I've always loved this sculpt, ever since the summer when she was born. I begged Ruth to take her, as I really couldn't afford to keep her but I wanted one of her to keep. I am so happy she is home to mommy at last :)
I haven't even touched the preemie... don't get me wrong, I love her too and I am dying to put her together, but there is something so familiar and sweet about Romy... My little girl... a vinyl little girl.
I really hope I am allowed to post pictures, I don't want to step on the company's toes :)
So for now, I sit and look at her, half done, all pale and small and fragile with her hands open in sleep, what is she dreaming about? I can't wait to get to her, doing her up, dressing her and showing her around...
Oh what fun I will have photographing her!!
My little girl...
Friday, March 14, 2008
New Vinyls By Simply Reborn Dolls
Today I got my prototypes of the two new babies I sculpted for Simply Reborn Dolls.
This was a good month because I got my Mommy Loves You and now these two and I am over the moon :)
I just love this new vinyl, the Simply Skin II. The color is lovely and correct and it's soft and smooth BUT not THIN to the point it can't keep its shape like it happened with Ben.
I am happy with the sculpts although as expected some detail was lost when the sculpts were translated to vinyl but still very detailed both of them :)
Of course my first love is the newborn version which I've named Romy (after my favorite actress Romy Schneider).
I can't wait to start reborning them but I have orders to finish first so they will have to wait... patiently :)
It's odd to receive prototypes ... some companies take so long you've forgotten all about the sculpt details and the vinyl seems foreign to you. Or worse, it's been years and you have moved on, improved greatly, and suddenly you see your earlier work just released and you go "wow! was I BLIND back then?". I mean don't we all do that? Sculptors and reborners alike? Don't we all think we're much better now than two years ago and laugh when we see our earlier work? I do most of the time :)
It's not that I was "horrid" two years ago and I am a master now... but I am constantly trying to improve my work, I study and study and sketch and draw and sculpt the human baby form trying to achieve the ultimate realism and correct anatomy and this has SOME effect right? I mean I am improving sculpt by sculpt, even a tiny bit... so when I see older work, even if it's good work I go.. "yeah, I now do this feature much better".
Or as my boys grow so do my sculpts... I am about ready to take the plunge and sculpt OLDER babies... a few months old...a few years old...
But anyway... this post was about my little prototypes. Girls you won't be disappointed!
I hope I will be allowed to share pics :)
Hugs
Tina
This was a good month because I got my Mommy Loves You and now these two and I am over the moon :)
I just love this new vinyl, the Simply Skin II. The color is lovely and correct and it's soft and smooth BUT not THIN to the point it can't keep its shape like it happened with Ben.
I am happy with the sculpts although as expected some detail was lost when the sculpts were translated to vinyl but still very detailed both of them :)
Of course my first love is the newborn version which I've named Romy (after my favorite actress Romy Schneider).
I can't wait to start reborning them but I have orders to finish first so they will have to wait... patiently :)
It's odd to receive prototypes ... some companies take so long you've forgotten all about the sculpt details and the vinyl seems foreign to you. Or worse, it's been years and you have moved on, improved greatly, and suddenly you see your earlier work just released and you go "wow! was I BLIND back then?". I mean don't we all do that? Sculptors and reborners alike? Don't we all think we're much better now than two years ago and laugh when we see our earlier work? I do most of the time :)
It's not that I was "horrid" two years ago and I am a master now... but I am constantly trying to improve my work, I study and study and sketch and draw and sculpt the human baby form trying to achieve the ultimate realism and correct anatomy and this has SOME effect right? I mean I am improving sculpt by sculpt, even a tiny bit... so when I see older work, even if it's good work I go.. "yeah, I now do this feature much better".
Or as my boys grow so do my sculpts... I am about ready to take the plunge and sculpt OLDER babies... a few months old...a few years old...
But anyway... this post was about my little prototypes. Girls you won't be disappointed!
I hope I will be allowed to share pics :)
Hugs
Tina
Thursday, March 13, 2008
The new Babies :)
Here are some pictures of my 3 most recent babies...
This is Alyssa. She is around 12" long and a full sculpt.
Alyssa 1
Alyssa 2
This is James. He is life size newborn size and his upper body is totally sculpted with a jointed neck.
James 1
James 2
James 3
And this is Twin A for Denise. He is waiting on his awake brother :)
Twin A
Ugh, I hope I finish all my orders soon :) I really need a small break!!
T.
Wednesday, March 05, 2008
A ladybug for Spring...
Today was a weird and exhausting day!
It started in the wee hours of morning when my son decided he wanted to stay up... until 3am. Somehow I ended up with both of them in my bed until finally at 3.30am I gave up, picked them up carried them in bed and in a very stern voice I waved my finger in front of their noses and told them if they dared get out of bed again, so help me God I would spank them so hard they wouldn't be able to sit for a week. And guess what? It worked with no spanking involved... not that I have ever spanked them but the threat worked. I was child free until around 7am! Yay!
Then Cody started the day with a dreadful cough, runny nose and a temperature. John followed... I worked some during the day after I slept for a couple of hours from 8am when the nanny arrived until 10am. Sorry but I had missed half my sleep last night!
And then I got two wonderful parcels in the mail. One was from Brenda in the US. I got my ordered Pins from her. One reads "I love making babies out of clay" and the other says "Yes, I still play with dolls!" lol.
I put them on my handbag ;)
Then I got my outfit from Milly Me (Thea). Now I will be honest with you. At first I thought it was very pricey and had second thoughts about buying it... but when it arrived, OMG it is SO worth EVERY PENNY!! It's amazingly well made, like high end boutique well made. Thea did a marvelous job!
It's a complete ladybug set and I am saving it for an Asian 3 month old I am sculpting in between ordered work. Love love love this outfit!
Thank you Thea, you are incredible and your work is fantastic. I am so looking forward to getting more of your outfits for those "special" dolls ;)
On another note we've had two partial births today: Baby Alyssa, a 12" JUST BORN full sculpt baby was almost born today. She is only missing her arms and Nicole's first baby, the sleeping one, had her or his head baked today. I love this head and I think it's one of my best. Nicole, you won't be disappointed my friend with the twins, they are coming along SO nicely!!!
I hope to bake the awake baby in the weekend. I can do arms and legs fairly quickly... for the life size ones it takes me about two hours per limb... most of the time is taken by doing the detailing :O)
I love making hands the best though... feet being a close second lol.
And and on another note, our power company went on strike today... I had a baby with a 104 fever in the car after taking him to the ped, a prescription for antibiotics and what nots and because of the stupid strike all the over night pharmacies were closed because they had not power! And I got home to find our entire block was out too. I dragged my half asleep feverish pre-schooler 2 floors using the stairs, you idiots always wanting more money power company goons... and then I couldn't put him in the shower to lower his fever and I couldn't put on the humidifier for him to breathe because we had no power!!
Thankfully they had decided that each block will be without power for 3 hours so we got our power back at around 9pm and then the next block went black. I will fill the prescription for Cody tomorrow morning. Apparently his tonsils are SO infected he requires Claripen, an antibiotic used on AIDS patients for it's potency. And I am SOOOO loading everyone up on Vit C from tomorrow onwards. I had it with my family being sick ALL THE TIME for the past 4 months. If I see another runny nose on either child or adult so help me I will cork it ;)
T.
It started in the wee hours of morning when my son decided he wanted to stay up... until 3am. Somehow I ended up with both of them in my bed until finally at 3.30am I gave up, picked them up carried them in bed and in a very stern voice I waved my finger in front of their noses and told them if they dared get out of bed again, so help me God I would spank them so hard they wouldn't be able to sit for a week. And guess what? It worked with no spanking involved... not that I have ever spanked them but the threat worked. I was child free until around 7am! Yay!
Then Cody started the day with a dreadful cough, runny nose and a temperature. John followed... I worked some during the day after I slept for a couple of hours from 8am when the nanny arrived until 10am. Sorry but I had missed half my sleep last night!
And then I got two wonderful parcels in the mail. One was from Brenda in the US. I got my ordered Pins from her. One reads "I love making babies out of clay" and the other says "Yes, I still play with dolls!" lol.
I put them on my handbag ;)
Then I got my outfit from Milly Me (Thea). Now I will be honest with you. At first I thought it was very pricey and had second thoughts about buying it... but when it arrived, OMG it is SO worth EVERY PENNY!! It's amazingly well made, like high end boutique well made. Thea did a marvelous job!
It's a complete ladybug set and I am saving it for an Asian 3 month old I am sculpting in between ordered work. Love love love this outfit!
Thank you Thea, you are incredible and your work is fantastic. I am so looking forward to getting more of your outfits for those "special" dolls ;)
On another note we've had two partial births today: Baby Alyssa, a 12" JUST BORN full sculpt baby was almost born today. She is only missing her arms and Nicole's first baby, the sleeping one, had her or his head baked today. I love this head and I think it's one of my best. Nicole, you won't be disappointed my friend with the twins, they are coming along SO nicely!!!
I hope to bake the awake baby in the weekend. I can do arms and legs fairly quickly... for the life size ones it takes me about two hours per limb... most of the time is taken by doing the detailing :O)
I love making hands the best though... feet being a close second lol.
And and on another note, our power company went on strike today... I had a baby with a 104 fever in the car after taking him to the ped, a prescription for antibiotics and what nots and because of the stupid strike all the over night pharmacies were closed because they had not power! And I got home to find our entire block was out too. I dragged my half asleep feverish pre-schooler 2 floors using the stairs, you idiots always wanting more money power company goons... and then I couldn't put him in the shower to lower his fever and I couldn't put on the humidifier for him to breathe because we had no power!!
Thankfully they had decided that each block will be without power for 3 hours so we got our power back at around 9pm and then the next block went black. I will fill the prescription for Cody tomorrow morning. Apparently his tonsils are SO infected he requires Claripen, an antibiotic used on AIDS patients for it's potency. And I am SOOOO loading everyone up on Vit C from tomorrow onwards. I had it with my family being sick ALL THE TIME for the past 4 months. If I see another runny nose on either child or adult so help me I will cork it ;)
T.
Tuesday, March 04, 2008
On creating babies...
As many of you know, I am the mother of 27 month old twin boys... going through the terrible twos... or as I would call them "the horrible two's".
It's not that my boys are not pure joy, on their good days... or that I love them any less when they are being impossibly naughty or tantrum-y. Or even when they say "no no" to putting shoes on before we go out after an exasperated twenty minute struggle to slide tiny pants on tiny legs that won't stop moving... but there are days, most days in fact, that I feel simply drained by all the struggle. Sometimes I think "I just want them older... cooperative for the most part... I want them to play alone for 30 minutes while I do dishes ... " and it's true. I do want all of these things... but I do enjoy the here and now of raising them too.
A few weeks ago the bigger of the two, Cody, who at 27 months is nearly the size of a 5 year old (wears a 9 1/2 size shoe and is over 40" tall!!), dislocated my left wrist while at the dentist's. My wrist which was always "strained" then got a recurrent case of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome... and today, after my sons dutifully removed my splint calling it "boo boo gone bye bye" (as if the SPLINT is the actual boo boo) because I didn't want my little ones being afraid by it... and I couldn't wear a sweater to hide most of it because it was too darn hot... I somehow misplaced it.
So I spent the day not wearing my splint... I then very cleverly (Not) tried to lift my 35 lbs son and swing him over to his bed after his bath... unfortunately somewhere in the middle of this motion, I felt an incredible shooting pain from, un-splinted, wrist and I almost dropped my baby... however in a feat of motherly super-human-ness, I bit my lip, tightened my grip, and landed my baby safely on his bed.
I then proceeded to jump around the room, holding my wrist, yelping in pain.
After a vigorous application of some analgesic ointment, I sat down (still without having located my "boo boo" aka splint) as my angels sucked on their bottles of milk and tried to fall asleep. This is a new one... all their lives they had been put in bed wide awake and slept through the night. Then they turned two.. and now I have to sit in the room with them until the fall asleep. If I leave, chances are the will demolish their room, remove their diapers, jump on each other multiple times and generally take about two hours until they are asleep... in a havoc wrecked room.
So instead I sacrifice an hour of my time each night, sitting out of sight in the room, with the occasional "go to sleep NOW" gentle nudging to a too feisty but exhausted pre-schooler and then I back out, very slowly, very quietly all the while praying I don't make a sound and wake up a preciously sleeping angel...
So today, I was thinking of my "inspiration" baby lying on my work table waiting for an ear and arms... the newborn little girl with the disgruntled expression that has so captured my heart and on which I work on, on my breaks from ordered sculptures.
By the end of my probation, errr, time with the boys, I had decided she would be called Alyssa, that I would add a magnet to her skull for a magnetic bow and that I will indeed give her jointed arms for dressing because I had remembered I have a lovely dress just her size, stuffed in one of my clothes drawers.
So... an hour not entirely wasted ;)
Next step: order a Tina replica to sit quietly and intimidate the kids into falling to sleep with her "I kid you not mister go to bed NOW" look ;)
Hopefully I will finish Alyssa this week... along with all my other projects... sigh.
T.
It's not that my boys are not pure joy, on their good days... or that I love them any less when they are being impossibly naughty or tantrum-y. Or even when they say "no no" to putting shoes on before we go out after an exasperated twenty minute struggle to slide tiny pants on tiny legs that won't stop moving... but there are days, most days in fact, that I feel simply drained by all the struggle. Sometimes I think "I just want them older... cooperative for the most part... I want them to play alone for 30 minutes while I do dishes ... " and it's true. I do want all of these things... but I do enjoy the here and now of raising them too.
A few weeks ago the bigger of the two, Cody, who at 27 months is nearly the size of a 5 year old (wears a 9 1/2 size shoe and is over 40" tall!!), dislocated my left wrist while at the dentist's. My wrist which was always "strained" then got a recurrent case of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome... and today, after my sons dutifully removed my splint calling it "boo boo gone bye bye" (as if the SPLINT is the actual boo boo) because I didn't want my little ones being afraid by it... and I couldn't wear a sweater to hide most of it because it was too darn hot... I somehow misplaced it.
So I spent the day not wearing my splint... I then very cleverly (Not) tried to lift my 35 lbs son and swing him over to his bed after his bath... unfortunately somewhere in the middle of this motion, I felt an incredible shooting pain from, un-splinted, wrist and I almost dropped my baby... however in a feat of motherly super-human-ness, I bit my lip, tightened my grip, and landed my baby safely on his bed.
I then proceeded to jump around the room, holding my wrist, yelping in pain.
After a vigorous application of some analgesic ointment, I sat down (still without having located my "boo boo" aka splint) as my angels sucked on their bottles of milk and tried to fall asleep. This is a new one... all their lives they had been put in bed wide awake and slept through the night. Then they turned two.. and now I have to sit in the room with them until the fall asleep. If I leave, chances are the will demolish their room, remove their diapers, jump on each other multiple times and generally take about two hours until they are asleep... in a havoc wrecked room.
So instead I sacrifice an hour of my time each night, sitting out of sight in the room, with the occasional "go to sleep NOW" gentle nudging to a too feisty but exhausted pre-schooler and then I back out, very slowly, very quietly all the while praying I don't make a sound and wake up a preciously sleeping angel...
So today, I was thinking of my "inspiration" baby lying on my work table waiting for an ear and arms... the newborn little girl with the disgruntled expression that has so captured my heart and on which I work on, on my breaks from ordered sculptures.
By the end of my probation, errr, time with the boys, I had decided she would be called Alyssa, that I would add a magnet to her skull for a magnetic bow and that I will indeed give her jointed arms for dressing because I had remembered I have a lovely dress just her size, stuffed in one of my clothes drawers.
So... an hour not entirely wasted ;)
Next step: order a Tina replica to sit quietly and intimidate the kids into falling to sleep with her "I kid you not mister go to bed NOW" look ;)
Hopefully I will finish Alyssa this week... along with all my other projects... sigh.
T.
Monday, March 03, 2008
Inspired...
I stumbled upon a sculpting treasure the other day... a wonderful Greek magazine about pregnancy and birth.
Now, all parenting magazines are of use to a sculptor as we buy them (all) and cut away, saving out favorite baby pictures in an album. Pictures in magazine and the press are btw, free game and you can use them to sculpt even a portrait ;)
Now this magazine is unique for two reasons: it's Greek and it's about birth!
It's important that it's Greek because over here we are more "liberal" with nudity photos so I got some AMAZING HUGE photos of the baby as she was being born, step by step from start to finish.
And then it came with a DVD showing the birth unedited ;)
By the end of it, I felt so inspired! I really want to use the photos to make a "literally just born" baby. I realized that although mine are newborn and I do have the anatomy down, they are more in the stage of being a few hours old, all washed and cleaned, blood flow established (so no blue hands and feet), wrinkly, but less, all clean and fed and snuggled with mom.
I wanted to sculpt the "JUST-BORN-TWO-SECONDS-AGO"... blue feet and all.
Crying, puffy, less attractive ;)
So I forfeited last night's sleep to work on a new sculpt because I do have work to do (custom orders) and I didn't want to put that aside to work on something I was inspired to do.
It went unexpectedly well. In only 4 hours I had a completed head, crying expression and all, and half a torso. This is a 14" sculpt.
Can't wait for tonight so I can work a little more on her.
But for now, I've loaded up on coffee and I am back working on Denise's baby. I will have the head finished today. Boy, will she be surprised (in a good way) ;) lol
And a Little Wonder update: I got my COAs for her/him and they are AMAZING. Love this shop, they did an amazing job!! You will love them ;)
And Barbara sent me an update... she said she is "perfect" lol. (yeah I knew that already - being a biased expectant mommy myself lol)
Only roughly 1 month until I have the first few here!! YAY!!!!
Roll March, Roll!!
And a little not so happy update: my wrist's dislocation by my 2 year old a few weeks ago, has turned into a full fledged Carpal Tunnel Syndrome recurrence and I have been in a splint all this past week.
I remove the "glove" part of the splint to work and I CAN work (although I shouldn't according to the Dr but try telling the gas company that due to CTS I can't pay the bill this month :( or to the garage that I can't pay for my car repair this week). Then the day before yesterday I forgot to remove the splint while I slept and woke up with a very bad case of some sort of rash/allergy from the neopren. Ugh.
I can't even lift a cup of coffee reliably with my left hand without the splint. I think it's time to schedule that surgery... as soon as the boys have grown enough to not need me 23 hours a day, I have enough money saved up in the bank so I don't have to work EVERY day (aka take a vacation) and I am done with all my custom orders so I don't keep people waiting. Let's see... enter all the variables... hmm does the hospital have an opening for December of 2012??
Have a great week everyone!!
Hugs
Tina
Now, all parenting magazines are of use to a sculptor as we buy them (all) and cut away, saving out favorite baby pictures in an album. Pictures in magazine and the press are btw, free game and you can use them to sculpt even a portrait ;)
Now this magazine is unique for two reasons: it's Greek and it's about birth!
It's important that it's Greek because over here we are more "liberal" with nudity photos so I got some AMAZING HUGE photos of the baby as she was being born, step by step from start to finish.
And then it came with a DVD showing the birth unedited ;)
By the end of it, I felt so inspired! I really want to use the photos to make a "literally just born" baby. I realized that although mine are newborn and I do have the anatomy down, they are more in the stage of being a few hours old, all washed and cleaned, blood flow established (so no blue hands and feet), wrinkly, but less, all clean and fed and snuggled with mom.
I wanted to sculpt the "JUST-BORN-TWO-SECONDS-AGO"... blue feet and all.
Crying, puffy, less attractive ;)
So I forfeited last night's sleep to work on a new sculpt because I do have work to do (custom orders) and I didn't want to put that aside to work on something I was inspired to do.
It went unexpectedly well. In only 4 hours I had a completed head, crying expression and all, and half a torso. This is a 14" sculpt.
Can't wait for tonight so I can work a little more on her.
But for now, I've loaded up on coffee and I am back working on Denise's baby. I will have the head finished today. Boy, will she be surprised (in a good way) ;) lol
And a Little Wonder update: I got my COAs for her/him and they are AMAZING. Love this shop, they did an amazing job!! You will love them ;)
And Barbara sent me an update... she said she is "perfect" lol. (yeah I knew that already - being a biased expectant mommy myself lol)
Only roughly 1 month until I have the first few here!! YAY!!!!
Roll March, Roll!!
And a little not so happy update: my wrist's dislocation by my 2 year old a few weeks ago, has turned into a full fledged Carpal Tunnel Syndrome recurrence and I have been in a splint all this past week.
I remove the "glove" part of the splint to work and I CAN work (although I shouldn't according to the Dr but try telling the gas company that due to CTS I can't pay the bill this month :( or to the garage that I can't pay for my car repair this week). Then the day before yesterday I forgot to remove the splint while I slept and woke up with a very bad case of some sort of rash/allergy from the neopren. Ugh.
I can't even lift a cup of coffee reliably with my left hand without the splint. I think it's time to schedule that surgery... as soon as the boys have grown enough to not need me 23 hours a day, I have enough money saved up in the bank so I don't have to work EVERY day (aka take a vacation) and I am done with all my custom orders so I don't keep people waiting. Let's see... enter all the variables... hmm does the hospital have an opening for December of 2012??
Have a great week everyone!!
Hugs
Tina
Friday, February 29, 2008
A baby is born...
Upon seeing James for the first time, you will probably not believe he is not a real, live, breathing baby. He is sleeping peacefully in his crib, a head with very little hair, his eyes shut, with tiny little feathered eyebrows. Tiny veins and capillaries stain his delicate skin, and a little stork bite rests between his eyebrows.
His legs are tucked close to his body and his hands are in little fists as he dreams, content and warm in my boy's room. He is wearing a white onesie. "Baby James and his friendly dinosaurs" it reads with bright letters on his chest while cute dinosaurs litter the writing, hiding behind the letters.
His layette is in a neat folded pile in a box in my closet: a lime green velvet one piece with 3D cute dinosaurs by Pretty Baby. A green dinosaur toy, green dino pacifiers, socks and a matching blanket. His new mommy is jumping from foot to foot waiting for his arrival and I will miss him terribly too.
I want to lay him next to me as I work on Nicole's 2nd head but I am afraid he will distract me too much. So he waits patiently for Monday when he will be shipped off.
For now though, here is his birth announcement. Enjoy!
His legs are tucked close to his body and his hands are in little fists as he dreams, content and warm in my boy's room. He is wearing a white onesie. "Baby James and his friendly dinosaurs" it reads with bright letters on his chest while cute dinosaurs litter the writing, hiding behind the letters.
His layette is in a neat folded pile in a box in my closet: a lime green velvet one piece with 3D cute dinosaurs by Pretty Baby. A green dinosaur toy, green dino pacifiers, socks and a matching blanket. His new mommy is jumping from foot to foot waiting for his arrival and I will miss him terribly too.
I want to lay him next to me as I work on Nicole's 2nd head but I am afraid he will distract me too much. So he waits patiently for Monday when he will be shipped off.
For now though, here is his birth announcement. Enjoy!
Monday, February 25, 2008
Little James Alexander
Sometimes you just feel this *need* to create something very specific but I attribute this to me being broody ;) It's not a secret I am craving for another baby, which I know I can't afford to have (both physically and financially since the treatments and pregnancy and birth of our twins, drained our savings and we still haven't recovered - not that it wasn't worth it 110% of course!).
I have been walking around the house lately missing Little Wonder who is being casted as we speak, thinking I am craving a new little boy... a perfect little newborn. I have found myself many times in the last few weeks, drifting off course to the baby aisle at the supermarket or to the newborn section when I shop for my sons at our local Jumbo (like Toys R' Us).
So I stayed up and worked with my heart, not really even LOOKING at what I was sculpting. I just had this image in my head: a little boy, in a t-shirt and diaper, with his belly showing, socks on his wrinkly feet... And Yesterday half of James Alexander was born.
This name just popped into my head for him... James Alexander... it suits him!
But here is the big catch. He is a 6 way jointed, LIFE SIZE FULL SCULPT!!!
I love newborn bodies with their slightly enlarged breasts due to mommy's hormones, and their elongated heads and their puffy eyes and their large round bellies with the umbilical stump..and their slightly blue feet full of wrinkles and their mishapped, flat ears... I wanted THAT baby.. the few hours old baby who was crying his head off two hours earlier but is now sooooo content sleeping in your arms.
I gave James, a peach fuzz of hair. I have just gotten my mohair order in and I had to try this new one. It turned out a light brown with a little red in it which is exactly my hair color at birth. In fact until I entered puberty, when my hair darkened to the auburn it is today, I was called "carrot top" all the time.
And my sons, I have a red-blonde one and a carrot top one lol (although in indoor pics their hair looks a lot darker than it is).
I hope to work on James more this week but I have to put my orders first. I had my fun this weekend, now James must wait, all nice and swaddled until I can get to him again :)
Hopefully it won't be long... until then I can shop for him, right? lol
Pictures to follow!
T.
I have been walking around the house lately missing Little Wonder who is being casted as we speak, thinking I am craving a new little boy... a perfect little newborn. I have found myself many times in the last few weeks, drifting off course to the baby aisle at the supermarket or to the newborn section when I shop for my sons at our local Jumbo (like Toys R' Us).
So I stayed up and worked with my heart, not really even LOOKING at what I was sculpting. I just had this image in my head: a little boy, in a t-shirt and diaper, with his belly showing, socks on his wrinkly feet... And Yesterday half of James Alexander was born.
This name just popped into my head for him... James Alexander... it suits him!
But here is the big catch. He is a 6 way jointed, LIFE SIZE FULL SCULPT!!!
I love newborn bodies with their slightly enlarged breasts due to mommy's hormones, and their elongated heads and their puffy eyes and their large round bellies with the umbilical stump..and their slightly blue feet full of wrinkles and their mishapped, flat ears... I wanted THAT baby.. the few hours old baby who was crying his head off two hours earlier but is now sooooo content sleeping in your arms.
I gave James, a peach fuzz of hair. I have just gotten my mohair order in and I had to try this new one. It turned out a light brown with a little red in it which is exactly my hair color at birth. In fact until I entered puberty, when my hair darkened to the auburn it is today, I was called "carrot top" all the time.
And my sons, I have a red-blonde one and a carrot top one lol (although in indoor pics their hair looks a lot darker than it is).
I hope to work on James more this week but I have to put my orders first. I had my fun this weekend, now James must wait, all nice and swaddled until I can get to him again :)
Hopefully it won't be long... until then I can shop for him, right? lol
Pictures to follow!
T.
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Something a little fun...
60 Things You Possibly Didn't Know About Me
1. What is in the back seat of your car right now?
The boys' carseats take up all the space in our (tiny tiny 17 year old) car but I managed to squeeze a diaper bag and some extra clothes between the spaces. Just in case...
2. When was the last time you threw up
10 days ago I had a stomach flu!
3. What's your favorite curse word?
Uhm... uhm... I can't say... there are pre-school children around.
4. Name 3 people who made you smile today?
John and Cody... and Beau...
5. What were you doing at 8 am this morning?
Opened the door to let the nanny in, walked to the medicine cabinet, took a 400mg Bruffen pill and went back to sleep in hopes of stopping that wretched flu!!
6. What were you doing 30 minutes ago?
Tossing and turning trying to sleep... then I gave up.
7. What will you be doing 3 hours from now?
Either sleeping or comforting a crying child in hopes he will go back to bed so I can get some more sleep...
8. Have you ever been to a strip club?
Nope
9. What is the last thing you said aloud?
Good night
10. What is the best ice cream flavor?
Chocolate and sour cherry (it's a combination not two separate flavors)
11. What was the last thing you had to drink?
Water
12. What are you wearing right now?
PJ's in light blue!
13. What was the last thing you ate?
A Souvlaki ;)
14. Have you bought any new clothing items this week?
HA! Not in the last two years ;) but I did buy some for my boys!
15. When was the last time you ran?
High School
16. What's the last sporting event you watched?
Soccer...tonight...my team lost :(
18. Who is the last person you emailed?
Marina in Sweeden
19. Ever go camping?
No but I'd love to once the boys are older
20. Do you have a tan?
Only in the summer
24. Do you drink your soda from a straw?
Only in the movies
25. What did your last IM say?
See you later crocodile
26. Are you someone's best friend?
I'm pretty sure I can think of 2-3 people lol :)
27. What are you doing tomorrow?
Mailing out some dolls, sculpting, cooking lunch, trying to prevent the boys from demolishing the house and then trying to make go to bed early enough...
28. Where is your mom right now?
At home I guess..
29. Look to your left, what do you see?
A patio window
30. What color is your watch?
I don't wear one
31. What do you think of when you think of Australia ?
Sydney!
32. Would you consider plastic surgery?
I am actually having my belly fixed up after the pregnancy :)
33. What is your birthstone?
Granada
34. Do you go in at a fast food place or just hit thedrive thru?
Drive thru!
35.How many kids do you want?
I'd love to be able to afford one more!
36. Do you have a dog?
No but my cat seriously acts like one!
37. Last person you talked to on the phone?
Niki...
38. Have you met anyone famous?
I actually bumped into Sean Connery (literally) in Edinburgh a few years ago!
39. Any plans today?
It's 2am... I am planning on SLEEPING!
40. How many states have you lived in?
I will re-phrase that to countries since I live in Greece. I have lived in Greece, Italy, Scotland and the US.
41. Ever go to college?
Yes
42. Where are you right now?
Uhm... half asleep in front of the pc?
43. Biggest annoyance in your life right now?
The terrible two's!
44. Last song listened to?
Toto - Africa
46. Are you allergic to anything?
Sea food... and ironing.
47. Favorite pair of shoes you wear all the time?
Crocs/Nike Shox
48. Are you jealous of anyone?
My kids ;)
50. Is anyone jealous of you?
I have no idea...
51. What time is it?
2.10am
52. Do any of your friends have children?
Yes
53. Do you eat healthy?
I try to eat healthy every OTHER day.. does chocolate count as healthy?
54. What do you usually do during the day?
Work... work... cook, drive little people around, making sure they don't kill each other, hurt each other, shoot each other... and I also do a lot of yelling lately :(
55. Do you hate anyone right now?
Everybody-bloody-else in this house for sleeping!
56. Do you use the word 'hello' daily?
Yes
58. How old will you be turning on your next birthday?
31
59. Have you ever been to Six Flags?
I have no idea what this is. Is it like T.G.I. Friday?
60. How did you get one of your scars?
I got most of my scars when I learning to use my scalpel!
1. What is in the back seat of your car right now?
The boys' carseats take up all the space in our (tiny tiny 17 year old) car but I managed to squeeze a diaper bag and some extra clothes between the spaces. Just in case...
2. When was the last time you threw up
10 days ago I had a stomach flu!
3. What's your favorite curse word?
Uhm... uhm... I can't say... there are pre-school children around.
4. Name 3 people who made you smile today?
John and Cody... and Beau...
5. What were you doing at 8 am this morning?
Opened the door to let the nanny in, walked to the medicine cabinet, took a 400mg Bruffen pill and went back to sleep in hopes of stopping that wretched flu!!
6. What were you doing 30 minutes ago?
Tossing and turning trying to sleep... then I gave up.
7. What will you be doing 3 hours from now?
Either sleeping or comforting a crying child in hopes he will go back to bed so I can get some more sleep...
8. Have you ever been to a strip club?
Nope
9. What is the last thing you said aloud?
Good night
10. What is the best ice cream flavor?
Chocolate and sour cherry (it's a combination not two separate flavors)
11. What was the last thing you had to drink?
Water
12. What are you wearing right now?
PJ's in light blue!
13. What was the last thing you ate?
A Souvlaki ;)
14. Have you bought any new clothing items this week?
HA! Not in the last two years ;) but I did buy some for my boys!
15. When was the last time you ran?
High School
16. What's the last sporting event you watched?
Soccer...tonight...my team lost :(
18. Who is the last person you emailed?
Marina in Sweeden
19. Ever go camping?
No but I'd love to once the boys are older
20. Do you have a tan?
Only in the summer
24. Do you drink your soda from a straw?
Only in the movies
25. What did your last IM say?
See you later crocodile
26. Are you someone's best friend?
I'm pretty sure I can think of 2-3 people lol :)
27. What are you doing tomorrow?
Mailing out some dolls, sculpting, cooking lunch, trying to prevent the boys from demolishing the house and then trying to make go to bed early enough...
28. Where is your mom right now?
At home I guess..
29. Look to your left, what do you see?
A patio window
30. What color is your watch?
I don't wear one
31. What do you think of when you think of Australia ?
Sydney!
32. Would you consider plastic surgery?
I am actually having my belly fixed up after the pregnancy :)
33. What is your birthstone?
Granada
34. Do you go in at a fast food place or just hit thedrive thru?
Drive thru!
35.How many kids do you want?
I'd love to be able to afford one more!
36. Do you have a dog?
No but my cat seriously acts like one!
37. Last person you talked to on the phone?
Niki...
38. Have you met anyone famous?
I actually bumped into Sean Connery (literally) in Edinburgh a few years ago!
39. Any plans today?
It's 2am... I am planning on SLEEPING!
40. How many states have you lived in?
I will re-phrase that to countries since I live in Greece. I have lived in Greece, Italy, Scotland and the US.
41. Ever go to college?
Yes
42. Where are you right now?
Uhm... half asleep in front of the pc?
43. Biggest annoyance in your life right now?
The terrible two's!
44. Last song listened to?
Toto - Africa
46. Are you allergic to anything?
Sea food... and ironing.
47. Favorite pair of shoes you wear all the time?
Crocs/Nike Shox
48. Are you jealous of anyone?
My kids ;)
50. Is anyone jealous of you?
I have no idea...
51. What time is it?
2.10am
52. Do any of your friends have children?
Yes
53. Do you eat healthy?
I try to eat healthy every OTHER day.. does chocolate count as healthy?
54. What do you usually do during the day?
Work... work... cook, drive little people around, making sure they don't kill each other, hurt each other, shoot each other... and I also do a lot of yelling lately :(
55. Do you hate anyone right now?
Everybody-bloody-else in this house for sleeping!
56. Do you use the word 'hello' daily?
Yes
58. How old will you be turning on your next birthday?
31
59. Have you ever been to Six Flags?
I have no idea what this is. Is it like T.G.I. Friday?
60. How did you get one of your scars?
I got most of my scars when I learning to use my scalpel!
Sunday, January 27, 2008
The Easy Birth of Baby Owen
Every baby I sculpt is a labor... a hard one, filled with (finger and joint) ache and pain and agony and sweet moments when I fall in love with the little face in front of me and of hard moments when I want to smash it against a wall because the clay is not obeying my commands.
But every once in a while, quite rarely there is this one baby that is brought into this world with little effort. And one of these babies, is Owen.
I wasn't supposed to be making him at all... but then he came, on his own terms, he jumped out of my bar of clay and there he was, this little face right before me... and I didn't have the heart to smoosh him back in to sculpt my ordered baby...
And as silently as he came, he crept into my heart and became my favorite little micro preemie of all time...
He was born early at 27 weeks and measures about 12" long. His head is around 10" around and he weighs 1lbs 8oz.
He has black hair and he is soooo cute!!!
He is still in the "NICU" of course, for being so early but he is doing well. He needs a little help to breathe but otherwise he is good and will be looking for a new mommy soon on eBay.
I also made him some cool outfits ;) Enjoy his NICU pics...
It was night time when I took them... nice and quiet and he was resting comfortably. Even caught one while he was doing his phototherapy!!
Enjoy!
T.
Owen in NICU 1
Owen in NICU 2
Owen in NICU 3
Owen in NICU 4
Owen in NICU 5
Owen in NICU 6
Owen in NICU 7
Owen in NICU 8
Owen in NICU 9
Owen in NICU 10
But every once in a while, quite rarely there is this one baby that is brought into this world with little effort. And one of these babies, is Owen.
I wasn't supposed to be making him at all... but then he came, on his own terms, he jumped out of my bar of clay and there he was, this little face right before me... and I didn't have the heart to smoosh him back in to sculpt my ordered baby...
And as silently as he came, he crept into my heart and became my favorite little micro preemie of all time...
He was born early at 27 weeks and measures about 12" long. His head is around 10" around and he weighs 1lbs 8oz.
He has black hair and he is soooo cute!!!
He is still in the "NICU" of course, for being so early but he is doing well. He needs a little help to breathe but otherwise he is good and will be looking for a new mommy soon on eBay.
I also made him some cool outfits ;) Enjoy his NICU pics...
It was night time when I took them... nice and quiet and he was resting comfortably. Even caught one while he was doing his phototherapy!!
Enjoy!
T.
Owen in NICU 1
Owen in NICU 2
Owen in NICU 3
Owen in NICU 4
Owen in NICU 5
Owen in NICU 6
Owen in NICU 7
Owen in NICU 8
Owen in NICU 9
Owen in NICU 10
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Little Wonder... again
I am sitting here and my Little Wonder OOAK is lying next to me as I read through my mail. I can't help but bond with her even though it wasn't love at first sight while I was sculpting her to be honest.
Her wig is off so she is a little baldy and she is lying on a soft flannel pink blanket. Last night I put her wrist band on... Little Wonder it says, by Tina Kewy.
Her little arm is a little pudgy and full of wrinkles; her hand is in a loose fist with only her pinky finger not touching her palm.
I spent an hour invisibly closing little holes the resin could potentialy seep into during the moldmaking process but I am sure Barbara will find more and will seal them as well.
Now, don't freak out, I do not mean holes on the clay but little gaps where the fingers touch the palm :)
I love her little arm and hand... so detailed, so newborn wrinkly. Her legs are not here, I'd left them in my workshop and I am about to go there to work some more.
I also need to take photos of Nicole's baby. She has been waiting to patiently and I feel like an arse for taking so darn long but to my defense a lot of things have gone out of hand over here at the Kewy household so at least I can't feel guilty for NOT working.. because I haven't had a moment of peace... or sleep :)
Back to Little Wonder... I really love just how newborn she is. When I say newborn I mean just born... like... an hour ago. The term newborn actually applies to babies from birth to 30 days old but as we all know, at 30 days the baby looks less "newly born"... and like one dear friend and customer said: when I say newborn, I mean just born!
Her head is cone shaped and has a big skull. I worked that out by super imposing a photo of my sculpt onto the fetal skeleton model I have and kept working on my sculpt until it was a perfect match.
Her ears are delicate and low set, again I placed then according to the actual skull placement. She has small hands full of wrinkles and you feel she can only wrap one of your fingers in her palm, just like a real baby.
No buch in this sculpt at all. She is delicate, petite and fragile.
I am notorious for making big hands on my babies and then having to re-make them anew and save the first pair for a larger doll. But not this time. The head was hard and long to "birth" but the hands came effortlesly.
She is almost ready. Only one more arm to go and I can't decide on it. Will I do an open hand or a closed one? I am leaning towards open...
Her little legs are so cute and I especially love the feet. I love how the toes separate, my son does that even now. We call it his "fan toes" because he spreads them out like a little hand held fan.
It's going to be hard to send her away and then wait 6-8 weeks for her to come back but... it has to be done. It's the only way I can both share her with you and keep one for myself.
So cheer her on for me... this is so exciting!
Love,
Tina
Her wig is off so she is a little baldy and she is lying on a soft flannel pink blanket. Last night I put her wrist band on... Little Wonder it says, by Tina Kewy.
Her little arm is a little pudgy and full of wrinkles; her hand is in a loose fist with only her pinky finger not touching her palm.
I spent an hour invisibly closing little holes the resin could potentialy seep into during the moldmaking process but I am sure Barbara will find more and will seal them as well.
Now, don't freak out, I do not mean holes on the clay but little gaps where the fingers touch the palm :)
I love her little arm and hand... so detailed, so newborn wrinkly. Her legs are not here, I'd left them in my workshop and I am about to go there to work some more.
I also need to take photos of Nicole's baby. She has been waiting to patiently and I feel like an arse for taking so darn long but to my defense a lot of things have gone out of hand over here at the Kewy household so at least I can't feel guilty for NOT working.. because I haven't had a moment of peace... or sleep :)
Back to Little Wonder... I really love just how newborn she is. When I say newborn I mean just born... like... an hour ago. The term newborn actually applies to babies from birth to 30 days old but as we all know, at 30 days the baby looks less "newly born"... and like one dear friend and customer said: when I say newborn, I mean just born!
Her head is cone shaped and has a big skull. I worked that out by super imposing a photo of my sculpt onto the fetal skeleton model I have and kept working on my sculpt until it was a perfect match.
Her ears are delicate and low set, again I placed then according to the actual skull placement. She has small hands full of wrinkles and you feel she can only wrap one of your fingers in her palm, just like a real baby.
No buch in this sculpt at all. She is delicate, petite and fragile.
I am notorious for making big hands on my babies and then having to re-make them anew and save the first pair for a larger doll. But not this time. The head was hard and long to "birth" but the hands came effortlesly.
She is almost ready. Only one more arm to go and I can't decide on it. Will I do an open hand or a closed one? I am leaning towards open...
Her little legs are so cute and I especially love the feet. I love how the toes separate, my son does that even now. We call it his "fan toes" because he spreads them out like a little hand held fan.
It's going to be hard to send her away and then wait 6-8 weeks for her to come back but... it has to be done. It's the only way I can both share her with you and keep one for myself.
So cheer her on for me... this is so exciting!
Love,
Tina
Monday, January 14, 2008
Little Wonder Limited Edition Resin
This little baby took a while but finally I am done!
S/he is being reproduced in resin by the best resin studio out there, Multiplicity Studio.
I told a few people and inadvertly it seeped through the grapevine and now I have only 4 spaces left out of 20. Which is not bad I would say ;)
I am also making 5 Artist Proofs which I am taking to doll shows to be sold directly.
Here is a little info on Little Wonder:
S/he is a life size just born baby... we are taking not a day old yet. She is around 20" tall with a head circumference of almost 15".
I made her using my anatomical models for reference (meaning 3D infant skeleton repros) and my computer to check of symmetry and super-impose my model on the sculpt to check for anatomy matches.
Meaning I took photos of my sculpt and of my skeletons and super imposed on onto the other in Photoshop :)
Gotta love technology!
You can customize your baby according to your tastes by choosing the hair and skin color (light or tan) and the complexion of your baby. You can also request birthmarks or scratch marks etc. Of course you pick the name and gender as well.
The price is 800 Euros. I am quoting in Euros because I live in Europe and the dollar fluctuates too much but its around $1180 with today's exchange rate.
AS I've said I only have 4 left so if you might be interested drop me a line.
I will be posting pictures of her shortly!
Have a great day!
Tina
S/he is being reproduced in resin by the best resin studio out there, Multiplicity Studio.
I told a few people and inadvertly it seeped through the grapevine and now I have only 4 spaces left out of 20. Which is not bad I would say ;)
I am also making 5 Artist Proofs which I am taking to doll shows to be sold directly.
Here is a little info on Little Wonder:
S/he is a life size just born baby... we are taking not a day old yet. She is around 20" tall with a head circumference of almost 15".
I made her using my anatomical models for reference (meaning 3D infant skeleton repros) and my computer to check of symmetry and super-impose my model on the sculpt to check for anatomy matches.
Meaning I took photos of my sculpt and of my skeletons and super imposed on onto the other in Photoshop :)
Gotta love technology!
You can customize your baby according to your tastes by choosing the hair and skin color (light or tan) and the complexion of your baby. You can also request birthmarks or scratch marks etc. Of course you pick the name and gender as well.
The price is 800 Euros. I am quoting in Euros because I live in Europe and the dollar fluctuates too much but its around $1180 with today's exchange rate.
AS I've said I only have 4 left so if you might be interested drop me a line.
I will be posting pictures of her shortly!
Have a great day!
Tina
Long time no see!!
Hi my friends!
Ugh I haven't updated in a while, haven't I?
I had the doll show in the UK and the class to teach in November so I was in full throttle for that. Those went well :)
After that I was simply exhausted and needed a break... but I still had a ton of work to do so I couldn't take a break. I felt like a car with two of its tires punctured... I stumbled along as best I could.
Then the holiday season came and my nanny took a break. My hudband took a break... I didn't. But I SO needed one. The boys flipped a switch and entered the terrible two's full throttle and my routine was shot to H$ll :)
No napping, wild bed times, they started getting out of bed... tantrums gallore.. you name it.
Bottom line? Couldn't put in an hour of work during the holidays.
Now nanny is back and I am desperately trying to get back on track and catch up with work and I'd better soon because those dolls need finishing and fast!
So here are some photos of the dolls I have done since the last time I updated :)
All of these have been sold but enjoy their pics anyway!
This is my little Ball Jointed Girl, Padoa. I am having her reproduced in resin:
Then we have An XinXin (newborn life size):
Then we have "Ready to be Born" (8"):
Rodney (8"):
Ben (5"):
Princess Sasuki (Ball Jointed BJD 8"):
Well, apparently I have done more dolls than these but I think that's enough photos for now! I will post more later!
Hugs
Tina
Ugh I haven't updated in a while, haven't I?
I had the doll show in the UK and the class to teach in November so I was in full throttle for that. Those went well :)
After that I was simply exhausted and needed a break... but I still had a ton of work to do so I couldn't take a break. I felt like a car with two of its tires punctured... I stumbled along as best I could.
Then the holiday season came and my nanny took a break. My hudband took a break... I didn't. But I SO needed one. The boys flipped a switch and entered the terrible two's full throttle and my routine was shot to H$ll :)
No napping, wild bed times, they started getting out of bed... tantrums gallore.. you name it.
Bottom line? Couldn't put in an hour of work during the holidays.
Now nanny is back and I am desperately trying to get back on track and catch up with work and I'd better soon because those dolls need finishing and fast!
So here are some photos of the dolls I have done since the last time I updated :)
All of these have been sold but enjoy their pics anyway!
This is my little Ball Jointed Girl, Padoa. I am having her reproduced in resin:
Then we have An XinXin (newborn life size):
Then we have "Ready to be Born" (8"):
Rodney (8"):
Ben (5"):
Princess Sasuki (Ball Jointed BJD 8"):
Well, apparently I have done more dolls than these but I think that's enough photos for now! I will post more later!
Hugs
Tina
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