Steampunk Cage Doll

This is the second cage doll I have made, the first one, the traditional "Santos" cage doll, I will reveal later.

I made the "cage" using two pieces of wood (circular 5", square 4") from Michaels and some 12" wood "rulers" also from Michaels.  I cut the 12" rulers down to about 11" and glued and nailed the rulers to the bases.  I then used Arley's "candlestick diva" pattern to make the doll stump.

Finally, I could steampunk it up!  Steampunk is Victorian fashion with a futuristic, metal and spare parts assemblage to resemble something that you might see in a gentle "Mad Max" movie.

I love the result as you can embellish with unusual and found materials to your heart's content, and I did!

 I added some torn pages to the inside of the cage for interest and to age the piece.

 I added scrolls to her face and two "fancy" keys.  I painted her hair for the bare, strong look.

 I had fun with the arms and the joints using unusual joints that made it look more steampunk.

 The steampunk heart she is holding is made from polymer clay.

 The metal wings allows her imagination to fly!

 She keeps her scissors on the ready.

The hat is made from ultra suede with added keys, feathers and a tape measure hat band.

Cardinals Abound

Did I mention that I love to create cloth figures with steampunk?  Well this time I started with a design by "Frowning Francis".  I used cloth for the cardinal body and the wings are made of foam board.  The legs are wired and I added polymer clay for the beak and claws to make them stronger.  I then went to town on the steampunk additions (industrial revolution, science fiction fantasy and victorian fashion touches).  I titled this piece, "Time Flies at Cardinal Speed":

 I made the base by adding "Tim Holtz" fabric scraps and time pieces to a hardwood plank.  I had a lot of fun using upholstery tacks, wooden and metal gears, fabric tape measures, keys and watch faces:

As the cardinal tells us, "Encourage your hopes, not your fears"!

Steampunk Mechanic

A while ago (well many months ago) a good friend asked me to make him a Ferrari Mechanic in the "Steampunk" style.  I was up for the challenge.  My friend is a car aficionado and especially loves Ferrari.  He owns one and has a room that is dedicated to his love of this Italian jewel.

When he asked me to make him a doll that would compliment his collection of Ferrari memorabilia, I started thinking of steampunk and mechanical bits that could be used in a doll!  My biggest challenge was keeping the doll to under 14".  I spent a great deal of time looking at photos of Ferrari for inspiration.  As luck would have it, while in Toronto visiting my family, I found a Ferrari car model in red that would be perfect in my piece!

Once I returned to Victoria in May, I assembled my materials and forged ahead (well I did travel for a workshop before I actually started, but this doll was in my thoughts).

I am very happy with Francesco (the new Ferrari Steampunk Mechanic) and he stands only 12" tall!  He wears a medium blue mechanic's outfit that is complimented with steampunk fabric.  Under his jacket he has a fine Italian Merino sweater and an Italian wool vest.  He sports a brown leather pouch and a black felt cap that has the "Ferrari" prancing horse symbol, of course.  He also wears a steampunk magnifier to help him catch fine details in his work.  His boots are black and brown faux leather with steampunk gears:

A close up of his face (I used doe suede for the doll as it is easy to work with and has a natural "olive" tint that would be ideal for this Italian stallion):

A side view with a good look at his funky hair and his special steampunked eye piece magnifier.  His ball cap is felt with stitching in the Italian flag colours:

 The back of this piece shows the mechanics jacket with "Ferrari" spelled out on his back:

Notice that I covered the platform with "Tim Holtz" steampunk fabric.  I used "Sobo" glue to attach the fabric to the base.  I used "Scrabble" game tiles to spell out "FERRARI" on the base:

 Francesco has a leather pouch around his waist to carry additional tools of the trade.  He is holding gears and his boots are also festooned with metal gears!

 I found great metal tools and tool buttons to decorate his jacket.

I hope my friend enjoys his piece and I hope Francesco enjoys his new home among the Ferrari books and Ferrari models!

Steampunk Crows

As I promised a while ago, I have finished two more steampunk crows.  This time I made them a touch larger as they stand about 12" when finished on their stands.

I used a lovely black Italian wool (given to me by a lovely lady) for their bodies and some gray with a black lace overlay for their wings.  I think they turned out great.  As always, I used the Frowning Francis pattern as a template (a great resource that you can find on Dealmakers Journey site).  I also added some embroidery on his body and tail using the feather stitch and the fly stitch in grass and dark blue.

The first crow, I named "A Balanced Life" after the song "Bird on a Wire" as sung by L. Cohen:


                   Like a bird on a wire,... I have tried, in my way, to be free"

The next crow I used the same fabric but I found a great old hole puncher that I used for his stand.  The arms of the hole punch look like bird legs.
Here is "Luck be a Lady":

The two crows bid you farewell and may luck be on your side in a balanced, happy life!

Steampunk Crows

The crow is really a magical bird as is known in many cultures as a shape shifter.  Crows are highly intelligent, fascinating creatures and this is part of the reason that I love to use them in my creative process.

Since this is the beginning of 2016, I started my year with a set of three steampunk crows.  I used the basic pattern from Frowning Frances and then adapted, added, shifted, as we all do in the creative process.

My first crow is called "The Traveller".  He has travelled the world over and settled on the beautiful shores of Vancouver Island on a path full of shells and bits of ocean debris.

He carries a wee bird nest with his buddy on board and is ready to settle down.

Next, I decided that the crow is the ideal bird for Valentine's day as he has a great sense of family and co-operation.  This second piece is entitled "I Give you My Heart" and depicts the crow holding the key to his heart.  he carries many locks and keys and sports a felt top hat complete with side feather.  I decided that for his base he needed a "heart" themed stand.  I used a plain wooden faux spool (available at Michaels) and gessoed it before giving it a coat of paint. Next I built a heart on the top of the spool using my stash of red buttons.  I then decorated the spool with velvet wired ribbon, hand-crocheted flowers, silk and velvet flowers, and paper flowers.  I glued him to his stand and added a final large key at his feet.  I just love him.

He stands proudly offering his heart and the key to his heart.

A close up of the button heart and the spool decoration that I made.

This shows his chest with the assortment of locks and keys.

Another look at the spool decoration.

Finally, I made one last crow to represent the creative process.  This crow is all about the "journey of the imagination".  He is adorned with tape measures, fabric and a thimble on his back.  A zipper on his back, time pieces, keys and sports a leather cap with fine feathers.  Of course, when one creates, one stops for a tea break as represented by the tea caddy he holds!

I hope you enjoyed my January creative journey.  The crows will be for sale at the Coast Collective Art Centre (Wale Rd) in Victoria, BC.

Steampunk Fish II

I do love steampunk and I have made "Steampunked" fish before. For those who have not heard of the term "Steampunk" it is a sort of Victorian era meets Jules Verne scientist with clock work gears and brass bits that were the height of technology in the steam age.

Making steampunk using cloth forms is a lot of fun. First you gather all kinks of "stuff" such as metal beads, wind-up gears, chains, old keys pins and reproduction gears.  Finally you can gather household "stuff" to personalize the item such as old forks, spoons, knives, bottle caps, wine cords, pop cans, safety pins and the list goes on and on and on!  

Assembly:

I use a strong woven fabric for the fish shapes (google fish shapes for ideas).  Sew the fish, turn and stuff the form firmly.  Then gesso the form (I like to use Black Gesso) so that the paint does not soak into the fabric.  Once the gesso is dry, go to town with painting the fish using acrylic paints.  My fish are about 8" long and about 5-6" high but you can make them as large or small as you like.

Steampunk Addition:

I knew that I was making the three fish for three special young teenage boys so I gathered items to personalize each one.  I used inexpensive "Great Canadian Dollar Store" craft glue (called Premium Craft Glue) to glue on the pieces.  I also used pins, nails, safety pins, and brads to affix the items.  Once the glue dries, the pieces are very secure.  White craft glue will work as well.  I do not like to use the glue gun as it tends to come off easily once the glue dries.

Fish #1-Colourful Golfer:

For the first young lad I gathered golf tees, a small basketball charm, and a small golf-cart charm along with the bottle caps, gears chains and bright acrylic paints (he loves wearing bright colours).  "Neon, the Golfer Fish" turned out great:

 Fish #2 - Drummer/Sport Fish

For the second steampunked fish I needed eye glasses of some sort (I used one of the cheap collapsible scissors), soccer charm, tennis charm, and a drum along with the usual gears and chains:  I used a different fish shape (an Angler Fish)

Fish #3 - Computer Circuit Fish:

For the final fish the young man is into all things computer so I gathered my old computer board and cut it up!  I also used wires to reproduce his mohawk hairdo and finally a guitar charm: (Notice that I used an Angel Fish shape)

I love the final look of all three fish.  They are about 8" long by 5-6" high and can hang anywhere in the teenager's rooms.  

The fish eyes were fun to make:

1. I used wine cork which I sliced to about 1/8" thick; 
2. then use a photocopy of an eye, colour it with pencil crayons and/or markers
3. Cut out the eye to fit the cork and glue on
4. Let the glue dry and then use shiny mod-podge to add a sheen

 Below is one shape of a fabric fish that is sewn and ready to stuff (I used polyester stuffing)

Please do try to make some fish (or birds, or cats) and then steampunk them using your bits and pieces that you must have lying around the house-what fun!