Debs Mini Mee's

What story of personal greatness, achievement or success would your co-workers or friends be surprised to learn about you?
Sponsored by Nature Made.I have had an astounding life singing with my 3 very talented sisters. We started off as teenagers in eastern Oregon singing together and learning to harmonize.  Paying so much attention to each others voices that they became a part of each of us.   We have entertained a thousand people at a time and had a blast.  One of my sisters is a song writer and has written over 1000 songs.  We have recorded a CD and made a music video which is shown in Hawaii often.  I have also sang for Hawaii Stars. My friends would be amazed if they knew I have learned how to make miniature dolls from polymer clay and love it!!!

Yes, I have lived an amazing life and what I have shared was just the tip of the iceburg, so to speak!

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Have you ever been so fired up to start a project and you figured it couldn't possibly be that hard.....Only to discover that maybe you should have done at least some homework?  If the answer is yes, then like me, you have probably found yourself wondering, WHAT WAS I THINKING?? To your right a case in point. 

My little Gypsy dancer here looks OK, but let me tell you she sat unassembled for an embarrassingly long time.  Yes, I was so Gun Ho on sculpting forearms and hands, legs and feet. Got lots of 'em made in fact and without the use of molds, good huh?  Only, it never occurred to me I might have a little problem with heads and faces in 1:12 scale.  Until I went to sculpt one.  There are no words to describe the incredible aggravation I felt trying to do something I was so sure would just a little require time and patience. Ha, yeah right. You still following me? 

Well, Gypsy girl is complete because I used a mold from Cynthia Howe for her head, which I also used on my busts.  Yes, she is painted, wigged and dressed by me as are the busts. Funny, I really like wigging!!

Which  brings me to my next venture, sculpting an acceptable, and I do put emphasis on what I consider an acceptable head.  I really need it to look human. I have finally completed one resembling a man and just need to cure and dress him then you will see how far I've gotten.  But for now, let me leave you with a tip I found, and you might need, if you also are having a bit of trouble with small heads.  Try sculpting a small armature out of poly clay first, and then cure it.  Make a few while your at it. It will save you time later.  Then, instead of foil, you have a solid and hard base to work from.  Size should equal that of a foil armature.  Maybe slightly larger. Now here's another hind sight, if you plan to insert eyes instead of painting them, please keep that in mind when sculpting the armatures. Uh, I forgot.  Anyway, here's a pic of my talking heads. I used toothpicks and a wooden base drilled w/ tiny holes to bake/cure the armatures. Before cooling completely pull the toothpicks out of the armatures/heads to make sure they don't get molded to the toothpicks. Not fun, trust me,been there, done that.

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Here are a few pictures of what I love doing. I truly wish my camera had cooperated!! Uh well...

Angela's accessories are a lovely lavender hat and shawl that my Mom, Dardie made. 

Quiet Feather seem to just come to me as I was painting her, I took feather binding, and wrapped her chest with it, then added a feather to her hair.  Doesn't she seem to stand so proud?

As I've mentioned before, I love working w/ polymer clay and once my family found out they have had lots of requests, granted I am a Newbie to this medium and genre. 

One of these requests were for mannequins and shown here is one of several I have made, without molds, etc...The saucy lavender dress (have you guessed Mom's favorite color?) is also of poly clay and the string of pearls are real seed pearls.  

Stay tuned!  More to come.... 

I know that's how I feel when I chance upon a piece of miniature art that seems to whisper, 'touch me, hold me, am I not perfect?'

And then, determined to create a piece of our own residing treasure, we painstakingly gather our tools and supplies and pray we can see that lovely piece, that perfect miniature, and actually pull and coax it

from a mound of clay or mould-poured porcelain.....This, my friends is my quest...what is yours?