Christmas Gifts- Ode to the Woodcock

 I drew Dad's name for Christmas-- one of the hardest guys to shop for. He's the nature guy that has everything he wants, and if he doesn't, it isn't something you can just go buy... at least not with my budget. So I asked him what I could give him. An ornament? Socks? A pin or something he could put on his hat? He suggested maybe a creative T-Shirt.

It didn't take me long to figure out what he would get: a technical "T" featuring one of his passions: The American Woodcock.  It's a bird he's spent much of his life hunting, banding, counting, discussing... He even gets together with people from across the country to celebrate the bird, where everyone brings as many wings as they can get, and they all sit down and count feathers. Sounds pretty boring, but by counting feathers they can learn how old the birds are, what sex they are, and ultimately what the population is doing and how we can keep the birds around.

When I looked for info on the sexing an aging the woodcock, the only source I could find was a guide written by the man I was doing this for, as well as a few of his friends. Serendipity.

My parents' Christmas card this year also mentioned Dad's woodcock banding fun, including a picture of a hen, and a nest of snowshoe hares the dogs pointed out. Oops. I couldn't resist- I added the bunnies to the shirt too. That way no one will get confused as to who the shirt belongs to!

Polymer Clay Bulb Elf Tutorial

I've started working on my Christmas gifts. Last year, my bell ornaments were a hit, and I wanted to make more, but when I saw the teeny tiny Christmas balls for sale, I bought a few boxes to experiment with. I think I've hit the jackpot. I have finally figured out how to make an original face in about 20 minutes. YAY! Here's How:

What you need:

• A few colors of clay: a skin color, and something for the scarf. I use Sculpey brand clay, and I've found that the best skin color is the plain clay you can purchase in a one-pound box. I use multicolored scraps of clay for the scarf.
• Tiny dark colored beads.
• A bulb ornament.
• Wire
• Tools- anything works, so dig through your junk drawer and find things with a ball tip, a chisel tip, a scalpel-shaped tip (doesn't need to be sharp), a hook, and a pointy tip. 
• A clay conditioning machine, pasta machine, or a rolling dowel and a pile of patience.

1. Take a small ball of clay for the head, and make three indents for the eyes and a mouth. 
2. Take the chisel tip and press on either side of where his nose should be. You'll be making a moat between one eye socket and the mouth on each side. 
3. Using the same tool, press the bottom of the nose flat, creating a straight line under it and cheek lines on either side.
4. Use your fingers and any other tools to shape the nose. 
5. To make the mouth, press your scalpel tool in at an angle toward the nose. Round the sides in to meet the cheek lines.
6. Add a slight indent under the mouth to suggest a lower lip. 
7. Place the beads in the eye sockets, positioning both beads before pressing them in. Use the hooked tool to press wrinkles around the eyes.
8. Finish your face by adding two little nostroids, and dimples or other details.
9. Take the top off the bulb ornament, and wrap the chimney with a little clay.
10. Attach the head to the clay-topped bulb, being careful not to smush your work (if you need to, you can bake the face before starting this part). Pinching the two pieces of clay together below the mouth is a great way to connect them while giving your little guy a fashionable chin. Don't worry too much about the attachment-- the scarf will hold his head on, too, and if nothing else, super glue works wonderfully.
11. Now we make the scarf. I take whatever ball of left-overs I have and send it through the conditioning machine at a level 5 or 6. If you don't have a conditioning machine, this part's going to be hard-- the clay has to be a uniform thickness and has to be thin enough that it will wrinkle like fabric. I'd suggest trying to roll it out on waxed paper so it's easier to peel off your rolling surface.
12. Once you have a scarf-like piece (not necessarily squared in the corners, but a longish strip and colors to your liking), begin wrapping your elf. 
13. Attach one end to your bulb
14. Wrinkle and wrap until you're satisfied with its scarfishness. 
15. Bend a small piece of wire, push it into the top of your elf, and smooth around it. 
16. Bake according to the clay package's instructions, and hang him on your tree, attach him to a gift, or show him off to the world in some other way! You're done!

Congrats Sarah Leschinsky

Sarah Leschinsky, winner of the 10/31/10 contest, chose a hand-drawn portrait for her prize. I just finished it, and I must say, I'm pleased with the result. The photos she gave me to use were absolutely beautiful (she's a photographer-- just look at how awesome she is!) and while I can usually draw from any picture, these were a DREAM to work with. I'm all smiles about it. 

I would be congratulating the winner of the most recent contest, 11/7/10, but sadly, I didn't get any entries. Such is life, I suppose. I'll try again, but with the holidays coming up, I don't know how much time I'll have to make prizes, so for the time being, we're just going to have to deal with pictures and ideas. 

Best of the holidays to all of you, and keep in touch!