Sabrina....the year 1692

It was a cold snowy day in January, the year 1692. Several good friends had gathered to show off their new hats. They loved spending time together and they all loved making their hats. Some visits were spent sharing whatever new hat had been made but some were spent out in the forest gathering herbs and plants. On these gatherings you could hear them singing and dancing, enjoying their time together as a group.They were a very talented group that had learned to treat Mother Earth with respect and in return she had given them the gift of using her herbs and plants to heal and restore others. Village folks from miles around knew of the ladies and would come bringing them gifts if they would in return help them with whatever ailment they were experiencing at the time. The ladies gladly helped....they were pure at heart and extremely giving.

One of them suggested at the next weekly meeting that they should have a name for their group...something that reflected one of their loves. Hence....The Black Hat Sisterhood became into existence. Established in 1692 this sisterhood stood strong and is still in existence to this day. Just look around you....you might just know one of us them.

Little did these loving, caring women know that in the next month that terrible trials would begin. The famous Salem Witch hunts. How dare anyone think that things they did not understand make another a witch. If being able to do what they did for others and they were witches then so be it. They would continue to practice and help in whatever way they could but they knew from this day forward that it would have to be done quietly. Due to the witch hunts taking so many innocent lives as well as true witches, the ones that were able to go undetected were blessed with stronger powers. One of the original witches, Sabrina, of the sisterhood was blessed with time travel. And time travel she does!!

Sabrina is finally complete. If you have been following along then you see that something is missing. Yes, her goggles. I decided since she had the unique monocle that she would be quiet happy with that. I plan on doing several in this series, as the original was a group of ladies and will use the goggles with one of them. Have you been following along with the WIP post on Sabrina? If not then here are some past post to see just what went into designing and making her. Click here....here.....here.....here and here Enjoy!!

Welcome back from visiting those past post...hehe!! As you can see from reading that ideas can change on a whim. A muse's whim that is. Bahahahaha!! I start out with ideas and as I'm working on the design of the piece it will change. Most of the time, it's to improve it and some of the time I think it's just to irritate me. ^_^

Sabrina, as you know has a strong wire armature and recycled round light bulb as her base. Those were covered in clay and then her face, neck and shoulders were hand sculpted. Her face and eyes were painted using acrylic paints. Notice the clock pieces and numerals on Sabrina's face? That marks her as one of the time travelers. Her eyes and lips sealed with varnish. Her hair is wool dyed yarn....love the dreadlock look this yarn gives. Ya man...luv the dreads!! Her jewelry (necklace, earrings and monocle) are all some of my own designs. Steampunk is so much fun to do. Her hat was handmade and attached is a moon charm with watch pieces as well as a tiny glass potion bottle filled with.......magic!! (sand peoples sand) She sits on a pine wood base block that I washed in orange and black acrylic paints and then wood burned the letters into. This piece sits right at 11 inches from base bottom to the top of her black hat. I signed and dated the bottom.

Please keep in mind that these are collector items and not toys. They will keep for many many years if handled properly. My pieces are unique and truly one of a kind. I may do a series of some but never will two pieces be the same.

Until next time...............Hugs,
Regi

BAHAHA...ever made bra and panties for an ooaks?

Good Morning Peoples!! Well, well, well.....it seems my muse talked me into doing something I don't think I have even done before. Yeppers, she talked me into making Glenda some unmentionables...hehe!! I guess even witchie poos like to know they are dressed pretty underneath their clothing even when no one else gets to see. Of course, YOU get to see...bahahahahahahahaha!!!!

Black is definitely her color. 

She even wanted her matching black socks on. 

In showing you these you can see how I do any joints that I leave non clayed. I needed to be able to bend her elbows so that she can be holding her props. I wrapped them in thin yarn so that it gives the joints a bit more strength. 

I LOVE how her eyes POP out at you. Green is such a good eye color for that. (secretly wish I had green eyes) Is she giving her crooked smile look or grimace look or is she talking outa the side of her mouth? Hmm, talking to someone or something? We shall see......we shall see.

I'm going to work on her pantaloons and peasant top this morning and hopefully get to her skirt and under skirt this afternoon. (maybe even get to adding her dreadlocks too) More WIP images to come so plan on coming back to visit under the old Southern ooak tree, please. 

Until next time...........Hugs,

Regi

WOW.....my muse has even been a changing.....ME!!!!

Good morning peoples!! WOW....Mother Nature has been in a tezzie here lately, hasn't she? In the past month we have had TWO computer monitors zapped by one of her serious leaking sessions. (that's a thunderstorm peoples...in case ya didn't know) I have to admit that the first one was a bit of a dinosaur and we were blessed that it lasted as long as it did AND the second one was WELL found at a yard sale for $5 and ya really can't beat that. (even if it did only last about two weeks) The mister and the Chazman went out yesterday to try and find another $5 one and OMGOSH...they DID!!! This one came from the thrift store and *giggle giggle* is exactly like our old original dinosaur but HEY, it works and that makes me happy happy!! Happy that I can once again thrill ya'll with tales of my muse. Plus, I have missed YOU!!

She has been a busy lil thing too in more ways than one. (shaking head) First, the newest witch ooaks where the witch WAS going to be a sweet Glenda (like the one from the wizard of Oz) has turned into Glenda the Glitch. HEHE....that suggestion came from one of my human muses, Johanna. Thank you thank you!! I'm not going to give to much away just yet as I want to make sure you come back to read the final posting of their story. Come back everyday to keep following along with their WIP images too though, please!! I will show some WIP images now to catch you up to just where I am at the moment. (so much can happen in a week..geez)

Apparently LuLu wanted center stage for this shot. Lil Diva!! Glenda seems to be wondering why she's in the back ground herself.

Notice Glenda's hand behind her back? What's up with that??

 Candy corn, candy apple, popcorn ball, Abba-Zaba candy bar (vintage candy...ya'll are probably to young to remember it. HEY...even I'm to young to remember it. hehe) and some peanut butter taffy.

Purrrrfect goodie stash in purrrfect bucket.

 LuLu stands from the bottom of her foot to the tip of her bunny ear at 6 inches.

 

Bahaha..looks like she has her tongue stuck out in this one but it's a piece of fur from her hood. She does actually have her mouth a little open and if you look close (in person) you can see her teeth and tongue.

Now you know where little Miss LuLu got her cute bunny pj's from at Christmas time. It was her Halloween costume first. ^_^   I'm really happy with how she turned out. I must admit it was FUN making the candy and pumpkin too. I found this design looking through some links of vintage candy containers. It wasn't a trick or treaters carrier in the images but an actual candy container. I think it turned out just purrrfect for LuLu!!

Today, I'm going to be working on Glenda and even though she has (looking around) turned out to be more like the wicked witch of the west, she's still going to be dressed in style. HEY...I already had my material picked out for her costume when Ms Muse decided to change her from good to ummm not so good. Oh well, even bad girls like to look good. (no pun intended there) WIP images as she comes along in future post.

Now....as for what my title means....that my muse has even changed....ME!! Most that have been coming to visit under the old Southern ooak knows that for several years I have been just letting my hair turn it's natural grey. Most thought it was actually frosted which was a good thing for me but I KNEW it wasn't so back to the grey issues. HAHA!!  Several weeks ago I decided that I didn't want to be grey anymore (or rather my muse whispered in my ear I didn't) so I colored it. WOW...what a difference it made and WOW...what a shock looking in the mirror every morning at first forgetting that I wasn't grey. It's back to what my color was when I was younger and I do like it but "THE MUSE" thought I still needed something apparently and we went and got a haircut. WOW again.....I look like a completely different person and I must admit that I really do like it. I now match my whimsical, quirky inside self. Want to see the transformation? For once I'm glad my muse was pushy. Well...she and my friend, Ricki but she pushes in a loving way not the bossy way. ^_^

We have a new member of the family now too which is why this post has taken me about 3 hours to complete...haha....when it shouldn't have taken more than thirty minutes but ya gotta luv on them when they want it. You know how cats can be. ^_^  Yeppers, we have a new little kitten and when I say little I do mean L I T T L E. Her name is Piwacket Jinx Purrsalot. (the Chazman helped name her. Can ya tell?) She will be called Piwacket though and is already coming when she hears her name. She is a black tortoise shell and has these HUGE ears and six toes on her front feet. I have already been warned that since she does have those "thumbs" that she will be able to get into cabinets, drawers or just about anything we can get in to. What FUN!!! Thank goodness I have my big glass cabinet to keep all my ooaks in. Even I have a hard time opening that and the handles are high up on the doors. She's looking at me right now and I can just hear her thinking "Yeah. right mom, just keep on thinking that. hiss hiss hiss".

Well....the little Pi has gone to sleep so I think now's a good time to start working on my witch. I hope that ya'll will come again and soon. So happy to be back under the old Southern ooak!!

Until next time...........Hugs,
Regi

WARNING: Nekkid images..hehe

Happy Happy Saturday peoples!!! I'm very glad that you stopped by today but I do hope that you will not sit in that chair all day. It's the weekend...GET UP and do something FUN!! WAIT WAIT....not just yet. Didn't ya want to see the NEKKID images....hehehehe!!

I worked on the witchie yesterday and YES YES as much as I truly wanted to, I didn't change her face. *Looking around* I was kinda afraid what she would do to me if I did....I mean...she is a witch. BAHAHA!! I think the rest of her turned out to be the old hag person she was meant to be. The Chazman even commented "WOW Mom....great job...she even looks old and wrinkly...how'd ya do that?" I smiled (and giggled) and told him thank you and of course did NOT tell him that all I had to do was look in the mirror....perfect old model.

HAHA..told ya she had the perfect hag old person body. Although....now looking at her....those are kinda perky tata's for a woman of her age. Think she uses a spell to keep them UP? I need to learn it myself. ^_^

How bout them shoes peoples? I can not wait (ok ok yes I'll have to wait but ya know what I mean) to get them painted and detailed. HEY...even old witchie poos like to have some style.

I'm helping out at Beach Reflections today and will work on her hands tonight. I LOVE to make hands..especially old folks hands. Yes...I look at mine as a model then too..hehe  Thank goodness there is some benefit to getting old. Do you like to make hands? I did a tut a good while back if you're interested in seeing it. Just go HERE and if you have any questions.....just ask away. I'm going to leave the area in between her shoulders and hands free of any clay and just wrap it in thread. That way I can bend the arms at the elbow for any pose I need her in. (still playing with perhaps making this a dark witch in some way...just haven't fully decided or as we all know the real reason being.....my muse hasn't told me yet..hehe)

Until next time.......HUGS,
Regi

THE CLAY has spoken....hehe!!

Happy Friday peoples!! This has been a fast week...fast indeed. I'm happy that the weekend is almost upon us as I'm helping out at Beach Reflections tomorrow and am sooo excited to see all the changes they have made. If in the area.....YOU...should pop in to see all the new items available. Easy peasy to find, 1210 Gulf Shores Parkway....that's on Hwy 59 and the shop sits right in front of our Little Zoo that could and has MoJo's on one side and Zooland mini golf on the other. YEAH....you could just make it a day of FUN and shopping, don't forget the shopping!!

I worked on Glenda yesterday and this morning. My muse had some serious debates with me on how she was suppose to look. I at first wanted a cutie pie witch (I mean really...Glenda from the Wizard of Oz was a beauty) but it seems that my clay (and muse) had some very different ideas. I let it sit overnight so I could ponder on just what direction I wanted to go with this one and after sitting here this morning and being stared down by the piece....well....this is what I'm going with....hehe. (yeppers...the clay won out)

She may not be a pretty witch but at least she is a sweet, smiling old witch. At least for the lil trick or treater I hope she is....we will see, won't we?? She's a sweet old lady offering a HUGE lollipop, what's evil about that?

I hope that you have an awesome day and do something FUN or relaxing or creative. Just do something!!

Until next time......Hugs,
Regi

Now I hope my clay and muse let me keep my idea on the bunny costume....hummmmm!!!

A day for remembrance and quiet!!

It's hard to believe that 13 years have passed since time seemed to have stood still for so many. Disbelief that something of that magnitude could happen, so many innocent lives lost and for what? Today marks the day that we all stop and take time to remember all those that were lost, those that walked into danger to try and save their fellow man. To those that lost loved ones, neighbors, coworkers and are still mourning...I keep you in my heart, thoughts and prayers.......every single day!!

Since it is a quiet day today to reflect I'm going to sculpt. I know that I have said countless times before that I consider it "My therapy" and it truly is. It gives me time to just let my mind go....to lose all track of time and just let my inner peace come out. Of course, with my very vivid and over active imagination (my muse whispering in my ear) that peace doesn't last for long.

Yesterday I finished the armatures...all wrapped up like mummies they are. WAIT....I thought I was doing witchies. Oh yes, yes I am...whew...thought my muse had changed ideas on me. HAHA!! How do you make your armatures? I like to do a strong wire shape and then wrap it in floral tape and put a little umph here and there (that's boobies and tushies peoples) and then coat it in white glue and let dry.

While I was waiting on these two lovelies to dry,  I raided my fabric stash to pick out materials for their costumes. This witch is going to be quite fashionable....I mean....she is a candy witch which means she is a good witch....hopefully.....the muse is still whispering "I'll get you my pretty bahahaha".  For the little trick or treater I'm thinking of doing one of my ooaks from a time back. Do you remember Lil Miss LuLu? No...well click HERE and refresh those memories please. Now do you remember? Still need some refreshing...go HERE then. Isn't it fun traveling back in time? If only we could do it for real but that's another story or stories...hehe  Anyways, she first came about from my love of Ralphie and his Christmas present from the Movie A Christmas story. No no, not the "You'll put your eye out" BB gun but his bunny costume. LOVED it!! She came to mind this time though in thinking about my boys and past Halloween times. I always loved to make their costumes when they were little and normally tried to make them where they could wear them as pj's afterwards. NOOOO, I never made mine wear a bunny costume although any of them would have been adorable in it. Just sayin!!! This time though she won't be dragging her bunny around but a nice big old candy container......trying to decide between a vintage pumpkin look or a vintage cat. That's still being tossed around. What do you suggest?

Now, let me end this post so that I can start to sculpt. Come back tomorrow for some more WIP images and if you have any questions about how I do things....just ask....I love to share!!

Until next time........Hugs,
Regi