Betty Boop Up Close

It seems like ages since I've felt like blogging. I have no idea why I keep putting off writing anything here. It is not like I'm in a creative desert. On the contrary, I've been busy with all kinds of projects at hand. I'm trying making robots like my spouse does. I've been spending hours carving foam, using Mod Podge to decoupage items, pounding metal sheets with my chasing hammer, sewing with HAL trying to reconcile our difference, and of course beading. I taught two classes this Winter. The one on Valentine's Day was a disaster with only one student and her not wanting to pay attention so I finally just gave up & gave her the class sample as I couldn't get through to her. The second was fun as two of my favorite students joined & we had a catch up. I also took two classes myself. One was using PMC. The jury is still out on that if I want to do more. The second was metal working & I loved it. MOF, I loved it so much, I'm going out to the Puget Bead Sound Festival & taking three metal classes.

But back to blogging silence. I guess some of it is Facebook. I spend time there socializing & meeting new artist. Then I've been trying to get thing together for my Guild. Oh and work is always there too. I signed up to be on the Emergency Room Turn around time study. Humm...nothing like shadowing in another department to make you realize you are exactly where you are suppose to be...a nice quiet laboratory.




Okay so back to Betty Boop. I earlier this month posted a picture of her for the Betty Boop challenge on Facebook. I wanted to take a moment and let you know about the beads I used for this doll. Almost every single bead was from ARTBEADS.COM. It all started out with the great bead mixes they offer. This time I tried their mixture of reds and golds. They all just practically placed themselves. Then the rhinestone crystal just became the perfect focal point on the lower left of Betty's dress. On the graphic of Betty that is where a heart was, but I took one look at that luscious ruby type sew down crystal & knew that was where it was suppose to be. When I got my package of goodies from ARTBEADS.COM, I opened the package of lovely buttons and knew the red button with metallic gold overlays had to be breast for my Betty doll. Combined with the golds from the bead mix, it just pulled the whole piece together. But I had difficulty with Betty's huge head & the transition into the lovely beading. So once again, ARTBEADS.COM to the rescue...pearls! I chose some lovely organic looking dyed red pearls to make Betty's necklace. All in all, she is a nice piece, but not really my style of doll. But I so enjoyed the challenge of using products from ARTBEADS.COM to make one doll. I don't think I'd make another Betty Boop again. Anyone want a pattern???



Disclosure...As a reviewer of products at Artbeads.com, I receive the seed beads, pearls, buttons, and crystals mentioned above free of charge. I have been asked to review these products and give my honest opinion of the products...positive or negative. I am not being compensated by Artbeads.com for my endorsement as it pertains to the products received and reviewed.

Betty Boop-Boop-a-Doop

Chris has come up with a new piece that can be seen here on his blog MacRadioBot.



Also, here is the completed Betty Boop for a challenge on Facebook. She's not very attractive, but the challenge was to dress up Betty. We bought a copy of a vintage pattern, and naturally I had to reduce the pattern as I don't like big dolls. So I dressed Betty Boop in beads complete with a fur cape. I beaded her face but wanted to keep some of the fabric showing. I think if I had to do it again, I'd do a completely beaded face as the nose looks a little weak to me. Oh, and I also used some of Chris' stash of google eyes. The beads were mostly from Artbeads.com. I'll post more about those this weekend with pictures of the great stash they sent me. So here she is...straight from the comics. dot

BIG ANNOUNCEMENT

I've been pretty slack on posting here on my blog. Chris reminded me that I haven't blogged in almost over a month. Winter has been pretty severe here with record amounts of snow in February. Don't know if it was the constant gloomy weather, or just feeling tired all the time at work helping our two new techs get the hang of things, but I just didn't have the energy to whip my brain into posting. I was telling Cynthia that since I finished up Rachel last Summer, I've been feeling a little out of sorts. I think I need a big project to keep my Muse working. So I think from now on, I'll always have some big piece to work on at least once every couple of years just to keep the creative juices flowing.

Chris & I have a big announcement to make. Remember I wrote that we both entered the Ohio Designer Craftsman showcase "Best of 2010"? Well, last Friday we both got letters. We were afraid to open them. I went first & when I saw the word "Congratulations" I was dancing around. They took Rachel's Dream for the show. Then it was Chris' turn. He was very nervous as this is the first time for him. He opened the letter saw the word "congratulations" and beamed all over. They took Mr. Transistor for the show. So, BOTH of us are going to be in this traveling show which will be here in Columbus, Toledo & then Lima. We both have to come up with an artist statement. BLAH! I hate doing that and a biography for the show's publicity.

I've also been working on a Betty Boop doll. I have her almost done. She's hanging on the wall with the other dolls & I'll be posting her soon. Also, Chris has another wild robot type creation. I've also been trying to get some jewelry done for the Scottish Terrier Club of Greater Dayton's show next month. I have a few things to send. Can't actually attend as that is my weekend to work & I'll have to work Friday through Monday.

Got my Beading for a Cure kit last week too. Interesting colors. It really took me some time to figure out what would work with them. I'm pretty sure I'm going to make a doll of some sort for 2011 competition & auction, but have to get the sewing machine out. Did I tell you I call him Hal?

Well, gotta get another cup of coffee & later will post those pictures I promised.
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