Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Commission Clay!

So yea, my first ever commission, very exciting.

So a friend of mine from work got married October 31st, her and her now hubby are both huge horror movie aficionados  (I spelled that seriously wrong the first time) and so are many of their friends so I made custom Michael Myers (from Halloween) for the Bridesmaids/Groomsmen to wear and a Slimer (Ghost Busters) and Freddy Krueger (Nightmare on Elm St.)

I can't find all my pictures for some reason so here is everything that I have! I will ask if I can use her wedding Photo's to show off at least the MM in use on their bouquets!

Here is my cat Doodles invading my work space because any surface is made for cats....





Freddy WIP, his head on a pike so I could apply his scars and red flesh tone.

Freddy no arms! Much less frightening!








Finished Freddy. This picture does not do him justice. He was by far my favorite even though he took about 8hrs to make start to finish. I think he turned out the best and he was surprisingly relaxing to make. He is made from Sculpy clay with wires in his claws for support (so they don't snap off), pastels on his face to add red to his skin tone and sealed with Sculpy brand glaze.

This is finished Slimer, I couldn't find and WIP pics of him. He was a little difficult to make because how do you make an oozy non corporeal ghost out of clay? Well I think I made him look pretty Oozy. He is 100% Sculpy clay with Sculpy brand glaze to seal him. He took about 4-5

Here are the MM without hair, knives, and masks, they still look creepy. One of my scouts said they look like Slendermen, I kind of agree. Short, squashy Slendermen.

Finished MM, they are also made out Sculpy with wire to support the knives and hooks on the top to attach them to the bouquets/boutineers/ect and sealed with Sculpy brand sealer. These guys took about an hour to make.

So overall I had lots of fun, she wants me to a Pyramid Head now, I have to figure out how to make him not tip over because he will be top heavy. I may have to anchor him to a stand if I can't figure it out otherwise. I think in my spare time I might make some clay people and list them on etsy or something because, well it was a lot of fun. :)





Friday, January 4, 2013

Iplehouse Asa... FayeFaye?

So I am lazy and haven't posted here in a million years (okay ten months) and I will try to post something more often including some nifty things I have made. Today's post is a box opening for my JID Asa, who is supposed to embody my long standing character Faye, or FayeFaye by those who love her most.

When I opened her box, I didn't feel any sort of immediate connection (not the first time that has happened) and in fact felt disappointment. Part of me wanted to sell her immediately but I went back and tried clothing on her, and if I decide to keep her I will probably get her a new face-up, some tatoo's and her ears modded into elvish ears. So right now she is on a...trial of sorts. Hopefully she will stay, if not she will have to go off to a new home.


Here is my box of dolly Goodness!

The audience

Weapon of choice
 
 Celebritory music via Pandora!
 I couldn't figure out how to open the box without cutting it so....
 Emegerd Eplehewse bex!

Stuff! (Postcard, certificate and restringing directions)
 I see a face! Sort of... I see a wig...
 Extras... High heel feet, sweater dress, shirt, and stockings.
 Why Hello there!
 Close-up of the face... Lovely!
 Out of the box.... Okay this wig is really big, don't think it is the right size... o0

At this point I stopped taking pictures and made my sad little Facebook post. I went back later and took pictures of FayeFaye in almost ever outfit that would fit her (she hated almost everything...) But she did decide to give me commentary, I will take that as a good thing...


 Faye: This dress doesn't even close in the back.
Me: Well it is because... you have gigantic boobs
Faye:...
Me: I mean it was meant for Midori so... in comparison...
Faye: Alright point taken
Midori: Should I be offended?
Faye & Me: No


 Faye: This cloak is nice...
Me: It is Veryes', you can't keep it...
Faye: Tease...

 Faye: Okay this hair is too big I give up on it.
Me: Okay, what about the clothes?
 Faye: Okay I don't think White is really my color...
Me: Well it is kind of elvish...
Faye: Still not my color...



 Faye: Really? Strawberries...
Me: Sorry...


 Faye: Okay, maybe I can do white, this isn't so bad
Me: You look really great Icelore would love it!
Faye: Where is Icelore?
Me:.... Moving on!


Faye: This is so bright it is blinding me!
Me: Ditto...

Faye: This looks nice on me
Me: You can't walk around in that, you don't even have the bottoms on
Faye: Then maybe you should stop taking pictures now.
Me... ><

Faye: Okay I would wear this top with some jeans, but the skirt is a no go.
Me: I will see what I can do...


Faye: This isn't so bad, a little odd in the shoulder...
Me: It was a pattern test, sorry!

Faye: Are we done yet?
Me: Almost... I will take that as a no...
Faye: Yea...

Faye: Why are the skulls upside down?
Me: No clue!


And when putting her in my dolly cabinet I remember she needed to try on the two pairs of faerie wings I have because she is half faerie!
Me: Okay here are two pair, try them on we can keep the ones you like the most.
Faye: Sounds fair
Pair number one... 

 
 And... pair number two!


 Me: Which one do you like the most? 
Faye: I don't know yet.
Me: Keeping them both it is!

Here is FayeFaye, chilling in my dolly cabinet. The final outfit she chose was the skull sweater over the pink dress (to look like a skirt), the pink and black stockings and some shoes she stole from Midori (it is okay they require high heel feet which Midori does not have). She also claimed the small plushie I have saved five years for her and a can of Moutain Dew to drink (it is okay, no one else drinks it).

Faye: If you want me to stay I need hair that fits
Me: Yes M'am
Faye: And the right color eyes, my eyes are blue
Me: Yes M'am
Faye: And you never told me where Icelore is...
Me: Look at the time, got to go!

Thanks for viewing! 

Monday, March 5, 2012

Art Lull and Hunger Games Nail Polish Giveaway!!!

So I am in an art lull, I have one project I am working on, sort of, my depression is really inhibiting me more them ever, but as soon as I can get the nerve to get over this phone anxiety I am having, I will make an appointment. And call AT&T about my phone.

On the bright side the Hunger Games Movie comes out this month, Suzzane Collins has given it her thumbs up, she says it gives a wider look on the games, more then the books could show, but still keeps true to the essence of the book, so... I am excited!

Also, this blog Holly and Polish that I discovered via Dark Heart Design. This lovely blogger lady is giving away the awesome new Hunger Games nail polish collection. Ironic because Katniss doesn't care for such things but I like my nails looking pretty when I kick butt so... I want it! I shouldn't be encouraging you to enter (less entries = a better chance for me) but that would be really mean not to share.

So... if you are interested go here, watch her blog, and fill out the survey, and share with me if you win (j/k unless you know you REALLY want to).

Thursday, February 2, 2012

Craft books and a BRAIN!

So I just bought a craft book for ATC's Artist Trading Card Workshop on sale today at AC Moore. It has some really great and creative ideas that would work for other things as well but they make GREAT little tiny ATC projects. Seriously some BOSS ATC's. After watched a very potter musical, I seem prone to be using the word 'boss'.


There is another book that I want Surface Treatment Workshop that has some AWESOME mixed media texniques in it. I am currently using my B&N gift card and free shipping for members to buy it as we speak.

Only down side? I don't have the money to go buy all of the supplies I need to try these awesome techniques. I am seriously thinking craft store gift cards for my birthday. Seriously.

On the bright side besides my books I will be oogling, I finished  my brain I was making for my best friend Jessie. It looks awesome, she loves it, and I think I will let the picture speak for itself.





See? Awesome.

I think I am going to make up a few projects I owe people and maybe do some simple cross-stitch.

I think depression is inhibiting me to the point I can't stand it anymore, I just want to stand up and scream, so I will be going back to the doctors very soon. I miss feeling enthused about everything I enjoy doing which is a lot.


Oh, and I am totally getting this book to Mini Cross-Stitch

Sunday, January 22, 2012

An experiment in control and perservernce

Okay, so me and my girlfriend have a comic together. Sort of. When we met in high school we meshed our ideas together to create one big story world that turned into stories, role plays and comics. It started as an accident, and other people got involved, friends had characters in there to. We had notebooks filled with letters and stories although I regretfully threw them away (so what if many were illegible, who cares).

Oh and in high school, they were filled with cliches, Mary Sues and Gary Stu's and many other cringe worthy story crimes, but it was our story. We decided to make it a comic. It went through many attempts and incarnations, I think five or six. Over the years the story grew and changed, characters were added, many were trimmed  (and good riddens) and all of the characters 'donated' by friends were almost all removed.

Every time we would start the comic it would be great. Excitement, joy, and teamwork. Untill it ended up being a story she wrote, and I edited, I felt like I was having to compromise the essence of my characters, she felt pressured and stressed. We always did things relatively the same way and I wanted to try a different approach, she never did.

Now she has apparently discovered the joy of what I have been saying all along, and wants to try planning my way, which means we both work together and build a story brick by brick. I lay one, she lays one. Sounds good? That means planning seesions, sketches, character bio's, story boarding, and yes, plotting! Ah that is the writers word for planning, my best friend and worst enemy, but I shall embrace you and we shall make sweet comic babies!

Right? I hope so because over the years this story meant a lot to a lot of people, but it meant a lot to me especially, and after crushing disappointment time and time again (I was never the first to call it quits or stop production ) I hope people can see why I was very, very hesitant to proceed this time. But everything looked good, clear sky, calm water. But no matter how much I want it and no matter how much I cry (and there would be crying) if this does not work, I will not, no matter what, try again.

I am all for trying again and again and again and again, but I cannot work with someone who is not being honest with what they want and what they are doing, with someone who constantly wants to quit or throw away good work because it's not 'good enough' or someone who won't work with me instead of against me. I may not be easy to work with all the times, but I am rarely the first one to try to throw in the towel, I am stubborn and will keep going to prove I can.

We have the story. We have the talent (she's the artist, we are both writers). But do we have the perserverence to make it work? Do we have the control to balance our ideas and make the story come to life?

I'll let you know, and hope the answer is yes.

((Note: I originally titled this 'An experiment in Control and Art, but then I saw this is what I was really talking about'))

Sunday, January 15, 2012

Lazy Blogger is Lazy...

It is true. So very, very true. I haven't been up to much, work, playing Harry Potter Lego's on the Wii, and Girl Scout stuff. I haven't made a lot of art, just a few Christmas presents, one of which the pictures mysteriously vanished of, when I find them, I will upload them. I also have a few things to make up, which I plan to do this month.

I am currently working on a really tough cross-stitch for my best friends birthday. It is a super pain in the butt but I know she will love it and appreciate it. I will upload pics when I am done.

This month my girl friend promised that we would make time do something we haven't done in a while, photograph the dollies, I am super excited! Yea, they want to come out and be FREE!

And since I feel like my blog is naked, without adding a picture, here is a photo I took at camp of the REALLY foggy morning.



Okay, goodnight!

*Edit* Oh yea, working on a semi-top secret project with my partner in crime. Oh yea!

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

The Hunger Games Swaps: Panem Info

I am making this post to compile all of the information I have gathered about Panem to help the members of my Hunger Game Swaps on Swap Bot. Feel free to use it for whatever you want. I took as much as possible directly from the books and official sources, as far as I know everything stated below is confirmed, unless otherwise noted.

I know I missed a few people from the districts, particularly people mentioned in Catching Fire and Mockingjay. If you know someone I missed, please let me know. Also, if you see something incorrect or missing, let me know. I am trying to keep up with information, and I know some knew stuff is being released with thecapitol.pn but I am not perfect, and want this to be as accurate as possible.

NOTE: Information I am covering goes across The Hunger Games, Catching Fire, and Mockingjay. THERE WILL BE SPOILERS. If you have not read all three books and do not want spoilers, then you may want to look elsewhere.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

History of Panem: Panem was formed at an undetermined time in the future out of the remains of North America after war and disaster destroyed it's countries but altered it's landscape. Panem originally consisted of the Capitol, surrounded by 13 Districts. Seventy-four years before the start of 'The Hunger Games' was the end of a period known as the 'Dark Days' where many of the districts rebelled against the capitol. The rebellion was ended when District 13 was 'destroyed'. In Catching Fire this was found out to be a lie based on an agreement that District 13 would not blow up the capitol in exchange for pretending to be destroyed.

I don't know if any specifics were giving for the rebellion, but If Panem 74 years ago is anything like Panem today, it is probably due to poor treatment and severe segregation of it's citizens. It is also mentioned many times that people feel war may reduce their numbers too greatly, so presumably the population of Panem is far less then current North America (current population is approximately 528,720,588 million).

As punishment for the rebellion, every year each district must send one boy and one girl between the ages of 12-18 to fight to the death until one remains, while the whole country watches.

As far as I know, no official map of Panem has ever been given. Many people have speculated based on details given in the books.  This map was made by a teacher who teaches these books to her kids, and she has pretty sound reasoning for each placement of districts, but again, this is NOT official. Just an educated guess.



Capitol: The capitol is the center of Panem. ONLY the capitol has contact with all districts as the districts have very minimal contact with each other and knowledge about each districts is vague. All of the wealthy live in the capitol, although it is revealed that many people are deep in debt, most likely due to their 'never wanting' life style. Many people in the capitol are ignorant of the goings on in the rest of Panem. They do not understand the starvation and suffering. To them the Hunger Games in entertainment (no on from the capitol must participate) and they watch with furver, bet on the games, and many spend absorbent amounts on their favorite tributes.

What we know about the capitols location is there is mountains protecting it from most or all of the districts (part of the reason the districts lost the first rebellion) and the capitol itself is fairly square. The capitol is completely dependent on the districts for everything, they do not produce any of their own food or energy.






District 1: District One is known as a 'career' district in the games, as tributes often train for years to compete in the games and will gladly volunteer to take another tributes place. The tributes from the three 'career' districts are often volunteers and make up most of the winners.

District One makes luxury items for the capitol, although I don't think it is ever expanded on what that means exactly.

Notable Persons: Glimmer and Marvel (Tributes from the 74th games)

District 2: District Two is known as a 'career' district in the games, as tributes often train for years to compete in the games and will gladly volunteer to take another tributes place. The tributes from the three 'career' districts are often volunteers and make up most of the winners. District Two is considered to have the closest relationship with the Capitol and was the last to join the rebellion.


Officially District two is known for stone quarries and masonry work, but unofficially they are the center of defense for the capitol (formerly the job of District 13) and supplies and trains Peace Keepers.

Notable Persons: Cato and Clove (74th games), Enobria (returning tribute for 75th games)





District 3: There is not much known about district three other then it's industry and a few small tidbits. District three is known for electronics. This is thought to include a variety of devices, everything from mines to holo projectors to everyday things like sewing machines. It is my theory that in order to do more complicated work, people in District Three are better educated, because when Beetee is explaining things, no else seems to understand, even though it seemed easy to me.

Notable Persons: Beetee and Wiress


District 4: District four is known as a 'career' district in the games, as tributes often train for years to compete in the games and will gladly volunteer to take another tributes place. The tributes from the three 'career' districts are often volunteers and make up most of the winners.

District four is known for fishing and providing seafood, so there for it must be on  the coast somewhere. Most people outside of District four, cannot swim, at least not well.

Notable Persons: Finnick and Annie





District 5: Next to nothing is known about District 5. Only recently it was confirmed that it's industry is power, but it is uncertain what kind of power. If one district produces power for the whole country, my thoughts are that it is fairly small.

Notable Persons: Foxface (74th Games)


District 6: Next to nothing is known about District six, although it was recently confirmed it's industry is transportation. Presumably it is in charge of manufacturing and maintaining cars, hovercrafts, and trains.




District 7:  District seven is known for lumber and paper goods. It is thought to be located either up north or Down south/south west where dense forests are located.

Notable Persons: Johanna Mason



District 8:  District eight is known for producing textiles and manufacturing clothing, or at least peacekeeper uniforms. Most people work in the factories, it is even revealed in Catching Fire that students (and teachers) go to work in factories after school.

Notable Persons: Bonnie and Twill (Refuges passing through the wilderness by District 12 in Catching Fire)





District 9: Very little is known about District Nine until recently when it was revealed that District Nine's industry is grain. It is believed most people work in factories that involve processing and refining grains for various uses (food, oil, fuel, textile).

Notable Persons:


District 10: It is revealed in (I believe) Mockingjay by a refugee from District 10 that it's industry is livestock. The person in question was in charge of impregnating cattle with frozen embryo's to keep genetic diversity. Presumably this district is in charge with the care, breeding, and possible slaughter and processing of livestock and their products (ie: eggs, milk, ect).



District 11: District Eleven in confirmed by Katniss in Catching Fire to be one of the largest districts. District Eleven is in charge of a large amount of food growing and production. During harvest season EVERYONE works, sometimes until after dark. It is also most likely towards the south or west because it was warm even thought it was winter. District eleven has the most information after twelve and thirteen. Much of the district including the majority of people and the district center are in disrepair. Most people live in shacks/poverty. The border is described as having a massive fence, constantly electrified with Barbed wire coils on top and guard posts along the fence. They are swift to punish, the use of corporol or even deadly punishment, even on children is not uncommon.

Notable Persons: Rue and Thresh





District 12: District twelve is where are main character, Katniss is from so we know a good bit. District twelve is sort of the 'forgotten' district. No on really pays it much attention and it does not get a lot of supervision. District twelve is responsibl for coal mining, and unlike many other districts, the citizens do not start work until they are 18. It is believed District twelve is somewhere in the region of the Appalachian in the Virginia/West Virginia/Kentucky region Most of District twelve lives in poverty.

Starvation and disease related to malnutrition are not uncommon.  People receive no regular health care as they can not afford it and must rely on home remedies and Katniss' mother (an apothecary's daughter). There is a black market called the Hob where people may sell, buy, and trade illegal goods including the illegally hunted meat that Katniss and Gale catch.

Punishment for lapses in the law are fairly lax as many of the Peacekeepers will buy things that they know to be illegal goods and some are even friendly. Corporal punishment is rare untill a new head peacekeeper is brought in during Catching Fire. District twelve is one of the smaller districts with only about 8000 people. After the bombing in Catching Fire, only 800-900 people survive and make it as refugees to District thirteen.

Notable Persons: Katniss, Peeta, Haymich, Prim, Madge, Darius, Greasy Sae...





District 13: Everyone in Panem accept a select few believe district thirteen was destroyed seventy-four years before 'Catching Fire'. However, there was a MASSIVE underground network of bunkers where a fairly decent population survived and continued to build a life and live. District thirteen becomes the center of the rebellion against the capitol. It harbors the displaced residents of District twelve and anyone else who shows up.

Things in District thirteen are VERY strict. Food and supplies and kept under strict control and you use ONLY what you need and nothing more. There is no waste. All of the districts people are well cared for and educated, but are severely lacking in fun and entertainment. At the age of 14, everyone is inducted into the military and refereed to as 'soldier' and are trained in combat.

The population of District thirteen has fluctuated over the years. In recent times, there was some sort of pox epidemic which killed many people and made others sterile so they NEED the District twelve people to help maintain a good population.

Notable Persons: President Coin