Santa for Sale!

Here is the first Gourd Santa that I completed. He is created from a "bowling pin" shaped gourd. I sculpted his face from air dry clay and meticulously created each of the toys in the basket on his back. The pop gun is carved from wood with a frail little string. The cork is created from a tiny piece of wood. The drum was constructed from cardboard and laced with string. The other items in his basket are each hand sculpted from clay. His beard is Lambs Wool. I spent a lot of time on this guy and I will be sad to see him go. I have put this Santa up for sale on Etsy. If I charged for my labor and love I put into him, nobody could afford him. Be that as it may, he is for sale at a very reasonable price. Please head over to Etsy and check him out. He's ready for the perfect place in your home or would make an awesome gift for that special person. He truly is One of a Kind!! Thanks for checking him out! My seller name on Etsy is "TomsHolidayTreasures".

Santa Finds a New Home

Well, I finally got this guy done and he found a new home. I especially love the way the little dog pull toy turned out. He has so many little details that were fun for me to sculpt. I sculpted his face, the doll, teddy bear, dog pull toy, apples and oranges all from clay. The tiny ship in his basket was done from wood, and I spent a lot of time painting everything. I added a touch of irredescent glitter to give him that magical look. Of course, not all little boys and girls are good, so for good measure, he is packing switches for the parents to keep them in line. Hope you enjoy seeing him as much as I enjoyed sculpting him.

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Hanging Out.

I finally completed these two projects.  They were my first two holiday ornaments and have become sort of a labor of love.  I will hate to see the Valentine guy go, but everything IS FOR SALE.  I think he has a cool vintage feel to him and came together well.  I always love the vintage man in the moon stuff too.  Stay tuned...lots of new ideas coming to the table.  I will attempt to do some sculpting with gourds next.  They really are a cool media to use with the clay.  Thanks always for stopping by. 

One off the Paint Table

Well, I finally finished painting my first project.  I am really pleased with how this guy turned out.  He really reminds me of those vintage "man in the moon" images from way back when.  This is my first time using the German Glass Glitter and learned a little more about how to apply it.  Hopefully it is uphill from this one.  I was challanged a little bit making him.  I finished the little moon and star that will come in to play on a later project.  Looking forward to this weekend to get some more stuff painted.  Thanks for stopping by my blog. 

Cigars get lit

Well I finished up some details with the sculpting of my pieces and finally started painting some items.  The only two things I got completely done were the two little cigars.  They appear to be lit and they were lots of fun to make.  I think they look pretty convincing.  Just one more coat of sealer and they can find a home.

Finishing Touches

Okay, so I got to work on my firecracker guy and sculpted him some hands and positoned them with wires to be holding his ears.  Still playing with doing some sort of base for him or possibly extending his body to be taller.  I will add clay to his arms tomorrow.

A friend at work has been admiring my clay sculpted cigar that I keep on my computer.  Everyone tries to pick it up because they think someone left a lit cigar sitting there.  I did two with remnants of clay.

As promised, I gave my "man in the moon" guy a nice top hat.  He seems to like it a lot.

The little "chicken basket" gets a handle too with hanging easter egg like the vintage one that inspired the work.  It is gonna be neat.  Now to tackle something that will be holding it.

Here's the whole gang waiting to meet the paintbrush.  I need to quit my job.  Haha.

So much sculpting...so little time.

Well I have been very busy sculpting.  I hope this weekend to start doing some painting but I have been loving the creation of so many new things.  Ideas are bouncing around in my head.  I decided I wasn't happy with the flower for the valentine project and started over.  Here is the result. 

I also started a "man in the moon" project.  I was really please with how he turned out.  I started on the hat for him, but have decided I will probably give him a top hat.  He looks like a top hat kinda guy. 

I also sculpted a couple small additions to be added to the man in the moon or other pieces as ornaments on their hats or hanging from something on a later piece.  Here they are:

Finally, I have been thinking something for the Fourth of July would be fun.  I decided to sculpt a firecracker about to explode.  I plan on adding a braided fuse with fire burning on the end of the fuse.  Thanks for stopping by.  Hope you enjoyed seeing them as much as I enjoyed making them!

Not feeling really great today, but was bored and decided to sculpt a little to pass some time.  I decided to try to make a face in the center of the flower for my Valentine project and set about sculpting the tiny face.  It didn't really come out just as I was imagining it, but I think once I paint it up will long eyelashes and more feminine features, I will be satisfied.  Still not absolutely sure that I will use it on this project. 

I was also thinking that I should try to start something for easter, just as a change of pace.  I found this 1940's to 1950's yellow chick basket that I tried to replicate in miniature. I will wait for the clay to harden and then hollow him out with my dremel tool.

I hope to try my hand at doing a rabbit that will be carrying it or something along those lines.   Thanks for checking it out. 

Time to Sculpt.

I was off work today and decided to give this guy some arms.  I plan on having him hold a garland strand and it will be embellished with some of his friends hanging out.  I figured since he has hands, he .should have a hat to tip to the ladies.  No doubt he's romatic...after all he's a heart!  He will be sporting a bowler hat.  This was my brother's idea and a good one.  It seems to add the vintage style to him that I am aiming for.  Now if I can perch it on his head somewhere where it looks good, he will be in business.  I still don't know if I will use the flower, but if I do, it will have a funny face in the center.  Thanks for viewing my art
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So now I find myself with lots of time on my hands.  For months I have been depressed and trying to find something to do with myself.  I have been browsing the internet trying to get inspired to do something.  I have always been interested in making ornaments for the holidays, but without the proper woodworking tools, that is something more frustrating than fun. 

I started noticing that some of the people making custom ornaments were making them using paper clay and paper mache'.  I really like the detail that they were able to capture, and the nostalgic look is undeniable.  I was at our local hobby store and purchased a paper mache heart and some paper clay.  Here are my results.  Don't judge me too harshly, as this is my first one! 

This little guy will have arms and be holding something when completed.  I'll probably give him a funky hat too.  I like the old fashioned face he has like the man in the moon you see on vintage postcards and stuff. 

I'm stopping for the day.I am surprised how much I got sculpted today!   Thanks for checking it out.  I'm anxious to see how he turns out.  He sure is happy isn't he?