Posted By Natasha Red October on August 26, 2008

Day 44 (August 26, 2008)

Continued from Part 2: http://morezmore.com/myblog/2008/07/24/rusalka-2/

Moving along – baked and sanded. One of the arms needs to be redone as clay was not packed well enough – there were voids in the clay which became apparent after baking – so I carved that part out and will redo.

I got a couple of emails about seams – how do I avoid the seams. Well, first of all, Rusalka is not that perfect – there are some areas which differ in coloring from the rest. Some are the result of the color shift – she was in and out of the oven so many times. One time the temperature was too high. The reason for this was that I had dusted the oven before that and the temperature handle got turned into a high temperature setting! Because I am so used to the oven handle sitting at the same setting all the time, I did not check the setting before I started that baking session. I noticed it about 10 minutes into the baking – 275 degrees! That is for fimo (230 degrees, not to exceed 265). I saved the sculpt, but some minor color shift occured. Well, I sanded some down and made peace with the rest.

The seams are result of two things – either color shift or not blending raw clay into the baked clay well enough.

Color shift occurs in all clays, some are more forgiving than others. In my limited experience with 3 types of clays, prosculpt is the least forgiving, kato is better and fimo is the most forgiving. To minimize color shift, it is a good idea to bake at recomended temperature and not exceed time/temp. Some ovens produce temp spikes and it is good to know if your oven is prone to that. A oven thermometer is a must to figure it out. An oven thermometer can be obtained from a grocery store or a gourmet food store. Metal spring thermometers are most common, inexpensive and are ok to use, provided it is not your grandma’s and it was not dropped on the floor or something like that which affects the precision of the readings. Liquid-style thermometers are harder to find, more expensive and precise. I sell a commercial kitchen oven testing thermometer (liquid-style) on morezmore dot com, which was designed to test ovens in restaurants, etc, for the sake of consistency of food offered in a restaurants. Liquid style thermometer responds quicker to the temperature change and will register a spike in the temperature better than a metal spring thermometer.

Metal spring thermometer looks something like this:

Liquid style thermometer looks something like this:

Anyway, here are some tips on how to avoid seams:

- Wash and DRY your hands prior to handling clay (no sweaty palms)

- Wash the sculpt with soap and toothbrush so that dirt does not get trapped in between the layers.

- Dry the sculpt completely before adding clay. If you have a convection oven, setting it on a cycle without any heat (just turbo air blast) will dry the sculpt thoroughly in about 15 minutes

- Brush oil on baked clay – lightly, no dripping, but covering the area completely. I have prosculpt smoothing oil which is most suitable as it has the same ingredients as the polymer clay. I heard that other oils (baby oil, mineral oils) also work, although I would be concerned about other ingredients interfering with polymers. Liquid clays also work for that, although baked TLS might slightly differ in color from baked clay and that might create a seam. I used to use TLS for adding new layers and stopped doing that. I still love TLS for the final top coat – after it is all sculpted and sanded. I will use it on Rusalka at due time and take pics.

- Push and pack the new raw clay into the baked clay tightly, seam and blend with the baked clay to the best of your ability, avoid leaving cavities and voids inside the clay

- use oven thermometer

- do not exceed recommended temperature and time

- AFTER the sculpt has a chance to cool off completely to room temperature – that might take an hour – sand the connection. If all went well, it will be seamless.

Having said all that, I am still learning and this is a WIP and not a gospel. The purpose is to share what I have learned, not to tell you what to do. Your results might vary!

Meanwhile, here is what I have:

Day 45 (August 27, 2008)

A question came today:

Dear morezmore,

I was just curious as to how/where you get your ideas? Do they just pop into your head or do you have handy reference books to use? Maybe the internet? I personally create 1/12th scale dolls, mostly from kits, and would like to get away from using someone else’s designs and do my own thing now that I have the hang of costuming. Plus, I’m getting a little tired of the same old same old Victorian dolls that I have been doing! <G>

Thank you for taking the time to read this. I am a former customer, unfortunately not one who can afford your beautiful sculpts. Maybe one day.

Answer: well, all of it – my childhood books, paintings, pictures. I thought about it after you asked – I think it helps if the artist is given one strict parameter and the rest of the parameters are open free. That chanells the creativity, instead of it being all over the place. You make Victorian dolls. How about I give you one strict parameter – see what you can come up with. The parameter is “Venetian carnaval mask”. Now go to internet, type those words, click on Images (instead of Web) and let your creativity rip.

Thank you for your kind words about my sculpts – you are giving me a big head.

Response:

Dear morezmore,You are more than welcome to post my question and your answer. Thank you so much for answering me. You’ve given me the direction I need!!!!

Day 46 (August 28, 2008)

Well, folks, believe it or not, she is sculpted! And sanded! And coated with TLS and baked! And ready for painting/wigging/dressing! That’s about time – 46th day! At the rate it is going, it might be done by Christmas! Just kidding… I would say another few days, provided everything goes smoothly.

Here is what I have – Rusalka is not perfect, I can see that, but she is the PERFECTEST I have ever made, so I am thrilled!

Thank you for hanging around and here are the pictures:

About that TLS coat (Translucent Liquid Sculpey) – I don’t know if you see it – TLS coat gave the sculpt a nice soft sheen all over. TLS recommended temperature is 275 which is too high for Fimo. But in actuality, TLS hardens nicely at 240-250 for about 10-15 minutes. Translucency of TLS increases at higher temperatures – according to the instructions on the bottle, but I don’t need the translucency right now – quite the opposite! – the slightly opaque matte coat that TLS has after baking at a lower temperature is much better for my purposes – it hides some imperfections. It is almost like a semi-transparent veil and creates really a nice effect over the fimo puppen. It also fills and levels out the ridges created by sanding and occasional tiny pits and other minor imperfections.

Day 53 (September 4, 2008)

Good morning!

Blushing is on my plate today. I think the key words for success with blushing is SUBTLE. And that is usually a challenging – for me at least. So this time around I decided to go about it with as light a hand as I can.

Here is step by step:

1. Locate and prepare my sculpt, genesis paints, prosculpt smoothing oil, a clean plate, brushes.

2. Get some of genesis paints out of the jar and plop a dab of each on the plate – that is more than enough:

3. Put a drop or two of prosculpt on the plate as well. Get a mop brush out, dip into prosculpt oil and mop the entire sculpt with oil – covering completely, but not dripping! I was holding her by her waist while moping the whole thing with oil, then sat her down and mopped those areas where my fingers were.

4. Make mixture of red and brown – pick some of it with the same same mop brush (A LITTLE) and paint some areas that should be, in your opinion, shaded. Add more brown to your brush or more red (for pink) depending on the location.

Make some darker and some lighter – it is not an exact science. Some places to consider – ears, cheeks, chin and forehead, neck, chest, tummy, buttocks, elbows, knees, hands and feet, palms of the hands and soles of the feet – they might be shaded, some darker than others and some pinkier than others.

Keep another mop brush with clean oil – for blending if it helps, or just wipe the same brush on a napkin and blend. Don’t forget about being subtle. Blend well – it will be easy as the whole sculpt is oily to start with.

Sometimes the paint and oil mixture just sinks into crevices and does the shading/blushing job for you. I just brushed over the face and I saw that the paint went into the corners of the eyes, ears, nostrils and mouth. I happily let it stay there.

5. Carefully pick the plate and stick it into the oven. 10-15 minutes at 250 degrees will set the Genesis paint.

6. The mishaps in shading can be cleaned up and blended further (even after baking) by rubbing with some oil on q-tip.

Here is what I have now, I have to stop – makeup is tomorrow.

Day 55 (September 6, 2008)

Makeup, including eyelashes, is done and I think I overdid it again. I always tend to put on heavy makeup on my sculpts. I bet, that’s the 80s in me. I am considering removing it all and starting fresh. The thing is eyelashes are done and if I remove makeup, I will need to remove them as well – all of it. Another consideration – it is all heat set and I am a bit afraid that the face is get damaged in the process.

- remove all and start from scratch (results unpredictable, as paints and crystal lacquer are heat set by now)
- leave her alone and move on and learn from my mistakes for the future sculps.

what to do, what to do – she is rather lovely right now…

Here are my considerations:

I don’t want to redo it, but maybe I am being lazy. If I redo it – it is possible that I succumb to my perfectionism, as I was diagnosed recently with a rather severe case of perfectionism by Winslow Research Personality Assessment.  Well, we’ll see

Another thing – I already did a step-by-step on how to make eyelashes on an OOAK, so I am not going to repeat myself, but that step-by-step can be found here (scroll down to eyelashes part):

http://morezmore.com/myblog/2008/03/23/fortuna-2/

By the way, if you are not yet a member of ODA forum, please come and register – it is free. ODA (OOAKDollart) forum is a GREAT place to learn and share and my favorite place to hang out (other than Morezmore blog). Here is the link:

http://www.ooakdollart.com/forums/

Same day, 9 pm. This makeup dilemma was killing me, so I put the hair on her to see what happens. I don’t know about you guys, but I like her! Actually, A LOT!! A rather respectable #22, in my opinion

A friend of mine, Eneida made a good point – Rusalka is 100% Morezmore and I should stop fighting my style. Well, she has a point – my girls are juicy, with full red lips, arched eyebrows and striking eyes. Anyway, Rusalka stays the way she is and we will try subtle next time!

Here she is – dripping wet – straight out of the kitchen sink.

Day 56 (September 7, 2008)

I woke up this morning, went to look at Rusalka – I still like her! So I am going to stop torturing myself and poor Rusalka and move on.

What is next:

- the outfit/decorations. She will have traces of weeds barely covering some parts of her body. I have a product here that I am going to try and post step-by-step. Nipples need to be painted.

- hair will need to get the final styling, green highlights and something to create/preserve a wet look. I have an idea, will try on a spare piece of fur and post the results.

- water lilies – for her hair. Again, I think I have an idea how to make them, will post.

- the base needs clear spray all over, felt on the bottom and a name plaque

As I did not do much work on my store yesterday, I have to do that today and will continue working on Rusalka, hopefully, tomorrow.

That’s all for today! I need to start my working day, talk to you soon!  Many thanks for watching!

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This post first appeared on Ebay Blogs. As Ebay is not supporting blogs anymore, I am moving all archives here, including all the comments – Thank you!

Back to top morezmore ( 15781) View seller’s items | View Blog We ran out of the comments space on the previous post! Hey, Pam, I know those tree mushrooms – I think they will work great for the base. They probably need to be sealed, but the texture is so wonderful. The faux water is clear to start with, I am going to use dark moss to give it depth -look at the latest pics. Thank you for your excited interest – so good to know I have company in this! Diana, thank you! Yes, I think the second armature will work much better thank you for the warm comments and thank you for watching! Gloria, thank you for stopping by! As of now – I am still on the old-fashioned way of setting the eyes – raw clay. Hi, Lace – glad you found this blog! I have never tried porcelain, but I am in love with this medium – does it show? Thank you for shopping – I am committed to make this store really wonderful for OOAK artists. I know it is coming thank you, ladies and gentlemen! talk to you later. Jul-23-08 09:36:19 PDT Delete | Report this comment

morezmore ( 15781) View seller’s items | View Blog reposting the comment from the previous section – only 60 comments will show, so this one got hidden fairy-frolic ( 102) View seller’s items | View Blog Another gorgeous piece, Natasha. Thanks for sharing with us. I’ll def. be watching her progress. Sharon Jul-23-08 11:50:34 PDT Delete | Report this comment Jul-24-08 04:20:53 PDT Delete | Report this comment

morezmore ( 15781) View seller’s items | View Blog reposting the comment from the previous section – only 60 comments will show, so this one got hidden palaphaz ( 152) View seller’s items | View Blog Nat, Love the base, and you can see the mossy bottom in your picture. The faux water may have soaked into the moss and wood. I think it worked quite well. Also I love the tri colors of the mosses and the faux grass is a perfect touch. She will have a perfect setting when she is done. Another proof of your talent. Thank you Lace, no I never laugh about help for pain. Fibromyalgia is also part of the disease. I haven’t tried that combination and while it may be helpful to me, I am taking at least one if not two meds that specify that I cannot take St. John’s Wort. Thanks for the info though. I am currently on Fentanyl Patch and Methadone. As they are taking me off the pain patch and switching me to Methadone for the pain. The pains like having Charlie horses in various muscles either in 1/4, 1/2, 3/4, or all of my body at once, except the knotted muscle of the Charlie horse and the pain from it don’t go away for any where from a day to several months at a time. Usually it is weeks to months. Thanks again. Nat, I just remembered, her green hair, is it going to match one of your moss colors or are you going to go more vibrant with it. If you are going to go kind of with the colors of the mosses, the light or medium, or a mixture would look great. Or a mixture of all of them, but even something similar would work, or the grass color. Then you could use wet looking mosses for the water weeds as you have them in the faux water. If she is a preteen or teen vibrant green would work too, but probably the greens from around the base would suit her best. You always pick just the right settings for your sculpts and the sculpts are always just right for their settings. So, whatever you pick for her hair and body coverings will be just the perfect fit. I just got excited when I saw the base and then remembered her green ha Jul-24-08 04:22:38 PDT Delete | Report this comment

brokenheartsmend ( 3073) View seller’s items | View Blog How lovly, I cant wait to see the finished one, it looks so so real. cece Jul-24-08 06:04:59 PDT Delete | Report this comment

morezmore ( 15781) View seller’s items | View Blog Thank you, Cece! It does look very realistic! Pam, thank you for being excited with me – I don’t know what exactly I will use to partially cover her up and what I will use for hair, but one thing certain – she will have those natural mossy green colors about her – in her hair and in her “outfit”. Looking forward to that stage – it is always my very favorite! thanks again! n Jul-24-08 06:36:25 PDT Delete | Report this comment

Back to top chamoklimatize ( 16) View seller’s items | View Blog hey Natasha this water looks so realistic thanks for sharing thank for the link for the ooakdollart forum !! It’ s very helpfull!! I register myself to the forum and I have made my presentation hugs céline from france Jul-24-08 07:22:38 PDT Delete | Report this comment

morezmore ( 15781) View seller’s items | View Blog reposting the comment from the previous section – only 60 comments will show, so this one got hidden heavensawaitingdolls ( 2505) View seller’s items | View BlogLove the idea of the lake with the wood, I cant wait to see it beautiful work so far hugs cece Jul-24-08 08:53:21 PDT Delete | Report this comment

morezmore ( 15781) View seller’s items | View Blog reposting the comment from the previous section – only 60 comments will show, so this one got hidden 518bigmama62 ( 9 ) View seller’s items | View BlogThanks so much for sharing! Can’t wait to see her finished. Jul-24-08 08:56:38 PDT Delete | Report this comment

palaphaz ( 152) View seller’s items | View Blog Hey Nat, I think the faux water may be absorbing into the wood, unless you have found it leaking out under neath. It will also follow any little openings it can, but I am pretty sure that it gets absorbed by the dry stuff as much as flows into cracks. Everything looks great. She looks good so far and so does her base. It is hard to wait and gets harder the closer you get to the end, because I know she will be beautiful. Pam Jul-24-08 11:51:15 PDT Delete | Report this comment

elfenmaker ( 234) View seller’s items | View Blog Hi Natasha nice…. love how she is coming along ….your base the water hole is so wonderful I am sure your really pleased and now you know how the product works its a shame you have a leak making you keep pouring more into the hole and your right about the color would add to the effect in a good way …very nice and I am loving this Diana Jul-24-08 13:12:07 PDT Delete | Report this comment

Back to top morezmore ( 15781) View seller’s items | View Blog Yep, Pam, it was leaking underneath – surrounding the base in the thin outline of resin. That is fine, I can see that it has built up by now and naturally stopped the leak. The first time all the liquid illusions from the hole was gone, the second time I have it half-full. I think the third time will fill it up and stay that way. I agree, it is going well overall, I am pleased with it! Thank you, Diana! glad you are watching and you like it! ttyl natasha Jul-25-08 08:28:29 PDT Delete | Report this comment

mutley1970 ( 717) View seller’s items | View Blog d’ya know natasha, she looks real, can see all the bones and muscles under her skin ‘n’ everything, clever!!! Jul-25-08 12:35:43 PDT Delete | Report this comment

palaphaz ( 152) View seller’s items | View Blog Hey Nat, I can see what you mean about needing to add to the upper back from the back shots, the little concave area, but from the side she looks good. It took me a minute to see what you were talking about, because I was looking at the side view and it looked good. I finally saw what you were talking about needing to add to the back after looking at the back shots. You perfectly right about how much it is, it isn’t a very thick piece at all. She will be gorgeous. Excitement continues to build.-fubar/Pam Jul-25-08 14:47:50 PDT Delete | Report this comment

palaphaz ( 152) View seller’s items | View Blog Nat, when you said 120lbs, of mircobeads had arrived, and seventy more on the way, I realized you probably wouldn’t be sculpting for several days or more. Now that you have all that you just listed I don’t expect you to be sculpting for a week. Hope you manage to make short work of all of the stocking, sorting, cutting, etc. Will wait as patiently as I possibly can until you get all your work done and get to play again.-Pam/fubar Jul-28-08 15:18:36 PDT Delete | Report this comment

morezmore ( 15781) View seller’s items | View Blog yes, Pam, got totally boggled down – the magic sculpt in buckets, microbeads and tibetan lamb all arrived at once. I am putting them on ebay as soon as I can – because I am broke – those orders were heavy and all at same time. Need to get clay too – will there be a time when I have all my inventory ducks in a row? Trying to get there – right now it is so feverish and flaky! lol Jul-30-08 09:52:22 PDT Delete | Report this comment

Back to top palaphaz ( 152) View seller’s items | View Blog Nat, after reading your comment I distinctly got a picture of you, that made me think of those cartoons where a character is tar and feathered, only you were looking out of a covering of Magic Sculpt, Tibetan lamb, and a billion multicolored micro beads, looking very harried and saying, “It all came at once, it wasn’t supposed to all come at once.” I could see it as plain as day, though I doubt that you have gotten that harried yet. It would have made a great idea for a sculpture, as you were surrounded by buckets and buckets of Magic sculpt and micro beads and stacks of the Tibetan lambs wool and it all looked like a hurricane hit you once completely clean and organized store room. It was quite a funny picture, and I think you would have thought so too. Well, maybe after you are all done with the Wool and the beads and the magic sculpt. Are the micro beads full of static electricity when they arrive? I hope you get it all on ebay how you want it and everyone buys it so you can get some more clay, and then you can sit back and get back to what really matters playing with clay. I think it was the feverish and flaky! line that popped the image of you in my head.Too bad I can’t just plug my head into the computer and send you the picture I saw, maybe some day. I am sure you will have all your ducks in a row following your every command very soon now. Pam Jul-31-08 15:06:05 PDT Delete | Report this comment

morezmore ( 15781) View seller’s items | View Blog LOL, Pam! You are very close! That is the thing – I got to use the same room for fur cutting, magic sculpt re-packaging and microbeads measuring. And they cannot mix! So I have clean, wipe and vacuum everything before I start another project! Inevitably, in the middle of the fur-cutting session, some poor soul will send me an Ask Seller a Question: you seem to be out of Magic Smooth samples, can I get one? LOL. Anyway, I am back to sculpting today – posting pics in a minute. thank you, sweetheart, for watching and being patient with me. Aug-01-08 07:40:20 PDT Delete | Report this comment

jnjkempf ( 90) Not a registered user View seller’s items | View Blog She is coming out beautifully Natasha. I absolutely adore the base. LOL, I was planning to circle those small burls with the faux water I got from you too!! Great minds MUST think alike!! Gosh I wish I lived closer so I could be more of a help to you…sounds like you could use an extra two or more arms. My husband, Joe, has been on methadone for pain (degenerative disc disease) for about 3 years now. It is the best pain management medication he has ever been on. Every other type he would end up having to increase the dosage within a couple of months. He still is on the same dosage of methadone as in the beginning. Of course, his (as is yours) is a life-long pain management future, so we pray that the methadone will continue to work for him. Well its off to bed for me….Have to pick up my load in Dallas in the morning, need to be in Oregon on Tuesday. BTW, Joe started a travels blog with pictures. www.jnjkempf.blogspot.com in case you want to keep track of us. Luv Jane Aug-01-08 20:00:31 PDT Delete | Report this comment

palaphaz ( 152) View seller’s items | View Blog Nat, I think the turn of the head and the way she looks in the face are perfect and when she is set where she looks like she is gazing into the water, it will fit perfectly. She already looks like she is contemplating just by the turn of her head and the expression on her face. So, you have decided about what age she is, mid teen or so? I think she looks great so far and am so glad you got to get back to the fun part. I thought you would get the picture I had in my head at Methadone is working for your husband, I just hope it can help me even during the flare ups. That is the wost time. The lining of my muscles gets inflamed and swells. It is that kind of filmy membrane you see on a cut up chicken, it surrounds all the muscle and somewhat the fibers of the muscles. So, when it gets to swelling, that fine thin membrane makes the muscles feel like hard knots to the touch. It travels in quadrants, so imagine the body divided down the middle in half and across the waist line. Each quad can flare up individually, but they will often set off another area. It started on the upper left, to the lower left, to the upper right, and has finally managed to head down the lower right. So, now I can have anything from a quad to the entire body swell. When it is just on one side you can clearly see the dividing line right down the middle of my face, head, back, and chest. It is quite odd too, because I can be sitting with my back touching a chair or whatever, with the same amount of pressure on both sides, but I look like I am sitting turned away from the swelled side, because of how much bigger one side will be than the other. Well, I could use the doc increasing the med for pain at this time, but I don’t go back until the 11th and go back to see if I need more sots in my spine to continue walking on the 7th. Nat, I can’t wait for the next installment. fubar/Pam Aug-02-08 04:09:18 PDT Delete | Report this comment

palaphaz ( 152) View seller’s items | View Blog Well something went awry in my previous comment as there was a separation between the picture I had of you, Nat, and the Methadone. It was supposed to say that I thought you would be able to see the picture I had in my head when I read the words “feverish and flaky.” Then there was a new part that said Jane I am glad to know that Methadone is working for your husband. So when you read my previous comment and it confuses you, then you read this one you can go back and put the two parts separating the sixth line that starts as “I thought…” and when you get to the word ‘at,’ just know that the word ends one thought and the word ‘Methadone’ is part of the way through the next thought. Now that you are completely confused I will stop and hope some how something makes sense. fubar / Pam Aug-02-08 04:21:49 PDT Delete | Report this comment

Back to top cindykaye0918 ( 180) View seller’s items | View Blog Hi, I’m Cindy I buy alot of your msde. I love all your “Creations”. I Think you are so talented ! Everytime you list something new I Hve to show my whole family. You are a great inspiration to me I had back surgery 4 years ago and long story short I waited so long to have the surgery it made it worse. So I’m home 24 – 7 and I love crafts but when I saw your work it has inspired me I have been at it for a year now and have really made and improvement on my work. I bout som molds and now I am trying it free handed. There are so many talented people that do this art but by far you are my favorite. I want to thank you (and all Crafters). My oldest son is a Sgt at a prison and my baby is in the Airforce and has alreafy been to Irag and he also builds bombs, so I would truely say that I think you are my gaurdian angel when I try to scuplt I keep my mine busy and that is a light in a dark mind so from the bottom of my heart “Thank You” and May you and yours be blessed.Keep this Beautiful Work coming. You Fan Forever Cindy Aug-02-08 08:27:59 PDT Delete | Report this comment

palaphaz ( 152) View seller’s items | View Blog Nat, What might be throwing you off about the head is that as you and a couple others said something similar, but it is that the head is of a slim youthful girl and the body seems to be more for a mature woman. I’m not talking mature as in older just in more developed, more curvy, or bulky as you said. It may be you need to look for a younger looking model. That is why I think you say the head looks small. She may just need to have her body slimmer and more youthful to fit her face. The body does look like the model you picked, but I think her face is too young and innocent looking for the more developed body. I think the body shape/symmetry fit her face in the photos where you said she had the hole in the upper back. That lithe slim look is what seems to set off her face. I may be completely off base, but it is just the image I see when looking at her face. I hope any of this makes sense to anyone, but me. I just can’t seem to find the words I want to explain what I see in her face versus her body. Well, I hope that makes sense and/or helps. I just adore her face and the way she seems to be almost daydreaming like you see with young teens. I don’t know what do you think, does this make any sense, do you see what I am trying to say? I hope it makes sense to someone who may be able to explain it better. For now that is as close as I can get to what I am trying to express. I hope you can find some sense in it. fubar/Pam Aug-02-08 21:35:40 PDT Delete | Report this comment

elfenmaker ( 234) View seller’s items | View Blog Hi there this one is giving you a bit of a fight but it will be worth it in the end if she has decided to be a tad heavy that is fine personally I like her look she isn’t really overweight to me just very healthy and I like it really… Diana Aug-03-08 11:20:18 PDT Delete | Report this comment

fairy-frolic ( 173) View seller’s items | View Blog hi Natasha, Are you having problems with the puppen fimo being very soft? The most recent batch I ordered from you is very soft. Can it be leached? I also noticed how beautifully your seams blend. Do you use something to aid in the smoothing and blending? Thanks for any help. BTW, she is coming along beautifully. Sharon Aug-04-08 06:23:06 PDT Delete | Report this comment

morezmore ( 15781) View seller’s items | View Blog Thank you for watching, dear friends! Looks like I am behind on all the questions. Jane, went to your blog – great views! That is one thing on my list – TRAVEL! I have not been anywhere! Is that you, sitting on the bed? Saw some tiny doggies – are they yours? looks like you travel with the whole family. get that book! you will be forever grateful you got it… and wishing Joe to feel better Aug-04-08 07:19:26 PDT Delete | Report this comment

Back to top morezmore ( 15781) View seller’s items | View Blog Pam, dear, wishing you more pain-free days – my heart goes to you… Thank you for watching and for the comments! Looks like everybody’s consensus is that she is too fat… LOL I already shaved quite a bit off her entire body and will be sanding… Diana, that is what I kept telling to myself – so what if we are a bit full-bodied… but it looks like it contradicts the general idea of the sculpt of young beautiful rusalk – a romantic nebulous spiritual being. So we have to leave full-bodiness for goddesses. Rusalka will have to be slender Pam, the model on my picture is perfect, it is the sculptor, lol – user error… Will slim her down… Sharon, thanks! I have not tried the latest batch – I have my old pack of Puppen Fimo which I am still using. That batch of puppen fimo you bought was probably too fresh. I always sell it out practically within 2-3 weeks from the order – and I am out of it again. So it does not have a chance to age here. Yes, of course, it can be leached – just like all clays. Aug-04-08 07:27:54 PDT Delete | Report this comment

palaphaz ( 152) View seller’s items | View Blog Nat, The Model was perfect for her head, but you were not using her head, the body you had was not too fat it was simply too mature for the face and head. From what I could tell the body you made looked like the model’s body, she just is more mature than tour face and head. The slimmed down version is looking well. I hoped I was making sense when I was trying to explain the way her face and head look less mature than the body, but I don’t know. That body was a fine body, just too curvy for her face. It had nothing to do with being too fat, just too mature. Her face looks like a younger teen when they are still growing into their bodies and haven’t really filled out yet, I’m not talking breasts I’m talking the hourglass curves that a teen will grow into, once they have stopped growing so fast. You should be able to relate to what I mean as a 6 footer, you most likely went through that growth spurt, I am trying to depict, where you didn’t have your curves yet, but you were developing and out growing your ability to keep much weight on. That is the type of body I see fitting with her face. Almost the gawky stage, but really just coming out of that stage and not yet filled out. Please tell me if this or the other post makes any sense to you, as I am trying to figure out how to describe what I see, but my ability to use the correct words was botched by a closed head injury in 95, and my word retrieval still suffers, to my irritation. Just know that there was nothing wrong with the body you made it just was made from a model that you picked after you had decided that the head was a keeper. That body looked like your model from what I could tell. The body was not fat, it was older more mature than her face. I saw no artist error in the body you made, just a more mature model than the face you are working with. Your Rusalka’s body works fine, but not for the face you are using. Don’t be so hard on yourself. If you look at the picture you had on the part 1 there are Aug-04-08 16:34:24 PDT Delete | Report this comment

morezmore ( 15781) View seller’s items | View Blog yep, Pam, you make perfect sense – I know what you talking about. It would be a good body for, say, a greek goddess, but not for this one No, I am not being hard on myself at all – I was rather pleased with it, just wrong sculpt, lol That’s ok, I might continue with this one, or just start from scratch. There is something you don’t know – most of my sculpts have several heads and several bodies and quite a few pairs of hands and feet! that is just how it goes… thank you for watching – it is like watching paint dry, lol but it is what it is – it is still very very hard for me. I celebrate the times when it is all sculpted and I am in a decorating/detailing stage – that part is always so easy for me, but sculpting is a fight. will continue fondly n Aug-04-08 18:50:06 PDT Delete | Report this comment

palaphaz ( 152) View seller’s items | View Blog Nat, Sculpting is always the hardest part, that is why the detailing is so much fun. You are finally nearing completion. Have you ever tried to mix and match body parts of former sculpts to see what you can come up with, could be interesting. I know you are not hard on yourself all the time, but even though you consider it a struggle or fight to get the sculpt the way you want it, you have to realize that this is what the 22nd and all are quite different and quite good, so you are doing something right. The fact that you keep at it is part of the reason that your sculpts turn out so well. Yes, I figured you had multiple bodies and parts of several if not all of the sculpts, it is almost a must when working in the clays that have to be baked to get them to a firm consistency. It is only like watching paint dry when you have to go to work and can’t sculpt, the rest of the time it is pure excitement. – Pam Aug-05-08 12:47:24 PDT Delete | Report this comment

elfenmaker ( 234) View seller’s items | View Blog Hi Natasha I didn’t think of that your right the full bodied sculpts belong to the goddess ladies…she is really coming along nicely and so glad your sticking with her I really like how she is developing Diana Aug-06-08 12:15:13 PDT Delete | Report this comment

Back to top palaphaz ( 152) View seller’s items | View Blog Holey Rusakla is what you have Nat, Glad the patching went ell and you didn’t have trouble with color matching, that can make things tricky if you start on one pack of clay and find that you have to go back to do fill in as you did, and you open a new pack that after all the work and baking is done it looks piebald or splotchy. She is coming along well and it is nice that in going back a bit you discovered flaws that may not have showed up until near the end which would have been awful. She is going well and so are you. It really is horrible to be almost done, either last firing or don after packing or worse being sold and unpacking when the flaws in the clay baking come to light. Will be watching your continuing progress.- Pam Aug-06-08 18:39:49 PDT Delete | Report this comment

jnjkempf ( 90) Not a registered user View seller’s items | View Blog LOL…I have been away too long. I would have liked the mature body to stay, just because it is more “natural”. But I see what you are saying about the face not matching Pam. Yes, that is me on the bunk sculpting, and those are my beloved puppies that go with us everywhere. Right now we have been up in Oregon, and are headed to Santa Ana, CA for a Friday delivery. We should be back home in TX on the 18th as that is my last doctor’s appt with my surgeon. I have been having heightened pain levels since I returned to work, so am not sure he is going to allow me to continue driving a truck, and if I am to be honest, I am ready to give it up. I will always miss the travelling, but not the being tired all of the time. My biggest fear is being unemployed in our dire economic times. I don’t think our finances could take another setback. Rusalka is coming along lovely Natasha…I only wish I could sculpt as well as you do. Maybe we should collaborate LOL — you do the sculpts, I will do the costuming! Anyway, love to you my dear friend, as always. Talk to you soon. Jane Aug-06-08 23:53:47 PDT Delete | Report this comment

morezmore ( 15781) View seller’s items | View Blog Oh, Pam, yes, that is what I keep telling myself – don’t forget, it is only 22! the best is still to come – what do you expect of yourself, give yourself some time to learn. Thank you for reminding me about – it is something that I need to keep in mind when my sculpt looks so different from the image in my head. Those rejected parts of former sculpts – oh, no, they are not around, they were either resculpted if they were raw or trashed if baked. I am keeping one old head with melted eyes (some pair of eyes I bought on ebay early on). I am keeping it just for size reference – that head has perfect 8″ size, but other than that there are no parts around here. Thank you for watching, I am about to put some progress photos! Aug-07-08 04:48:16 PDT Delete | Report this comment

morezmore ( 15781) View seller’s items | View Blog Pam, that is right – all those spots could have come out/highlighted during the final bake and that would be upsetting. The thing is I really thought that I am packing clay well – that just shows you that it needs to packed even tighter and new pieces need to be really worked in with the rest of the sculpt. I am quite proud of the refilling/patching up work – will post pics in a minute. Aug-07-08 04:51:12 PDT Delete | Report this comment

morezmore ( 15781) View seller’s items | View Blog Thank you, Diana! At least I know how to go about a greek goddess – I have plans for that as well! Aug-07-08 05:14:32 PDT Delete | Report this comment

Back to top morezmore ( 15781) View seller’s items | View Blog Hey, Jane, sounds like you are in a transition point as well – the time of uncertainty, just like myself. I did my personal coach homework – including the original questions – look at it, perhaps you might do this exercise yourself. and you might consider getting that book on ebay – you can get a used copy for a few dollars I love the book. There is no way I will give you the costuming, LOL – it is my candy at the end of all this grueling frustrating sculpting sessions!!! OH, NO, sculpt your own, LOL! Aug-07-08 05:19:26 PDT Delete | Report this comment

palaphaz ( 152) View seller’s items | View Blog Nat, I am glad to remind you any time,LOL. I go back and look at them now and then to see what you do differently, and even though I didn’t see the first works as you posted them, I can see how well made and how much you put into each of them as you progressed and took on more difficult sculpts, as well as dressing the bases. You have improved quite a bit, but you still have to remember you are quite talented and you have a good eye for what you want the sculpt to be. Your persistence is admirable as is your talent. Just the fact that this is your 22nd sculpt, when complete, you have sculpted at least double that number of everything from bodies to heads, yet each one is unique. even those no longer around. If you gave all of the supplies to someone with lesser or no talent, you would not have anything close to compare to the sculpts you have presented. So, what don’t you like about her feet? They look like feet, is she supposed to have special feet or something? Well they are your feet so I suppose if you don’t like them you can change them. Her body looks great and the head angle is better too. She is perfect for someone with only upper arms and thighs, oh yeah and as you said the wrong feet.LOL Right, and a detatched head:) She is definately a keeper. -Pam Aug-07-08 19:39:46 PDT Delete | Report this comment

brokenheartsmend ( 3073) View seller’s items | View Blog LOOKING SO VERY NICE!! Aug-08-08 05:02:17 PDT Delete | Report this comment

elfenmaker ( 234) View seller’s items | View Blog Hi I sure agree all that work has paid off she is looking really good …can’t see what you not happy with the feet but your in charge this is fun thanks Diana Aug-08-08 19:07:51 PDT Delete | Report this comment

tigre255 ( 136) View seller’s items | View Blog Thank you so much Natasha for your WIPs, they are so helpful for me. And they are always so lovely when finsihed. I was courious about how you were able to prebake the head before you put it on the body. But this WIP kind of showed me how. I think I might give that a try as usually I miss up my heads when they are raw and trying to put them on the body. Ok I’m rambling on now. Not even sure I made sence…..LOL Anyways thank you so much for these WIPs. I love them and they are so helpful. Aug-12-08 06:18:32 PDT Delete | Report this comment

Back to top morezmore ( 15781) View seller’s items | View Blog Pam, thank you, my dear! Yes, actually, she is shaping up as a most successful, thought-through sculpt of mine, despite of setbacks. I am talking about body posture, anatomy and engineering part. Yes, I am definitely growing with Rusalka! I have more pics, will post in a minute. thank you for watching, we are getting there. heavensawaitingdolls, thank you! welcome to my blog! Dear Diana, thank you! the feet were half-made when I took the picture. they were also sort of dirty and in general messed up. So I just took a fresh piece of clay and redid them. Barbara, thank you, sweety – good to see a note from you here. Yes, you are making perfect sense and yes, that is the reason I am making my dolls in installments. To make a full entire sculpt in raw clay is beyond my current level of skill. To make parts gives me more control and allows to “eat the elephant little bite at a time”, having an option to “chew” each bite to my satisfaction. My pleasure – I love those WIPs. I wish I had more time or better yet do nothing but sculpt and put WIPs online, but that is coming, I know it. Aug-12-08 06:28:34 PDT Delete | Report this comment

elfenmaker ( 234) View seller’s items | View Blog Hi Natasha how exciting your life comming together like that I am so very happy for you the two of you are going to go a long way together …again fantastic I truly am happy …now your sculpting is comming along so well too… the feet are wonderful yep this wonderful piece of art will be comming alive soon love it Diana Aug-12-08 13:12:19 PDT Delete | Report this comment

palaphaz ( 152) View seller’s items | View Blog Nat, That is absolutely great news, I was hoping something would change so you would not need to move and what happened is the best case scenario. I just couldn’t see you moving. Those are an awesome pair of feet. One question, is the hole in the bottom of the foot that lies on it’s side staying or going? I know it is from the tubing, but wasn’t sure how easy it would be to cover with out mucking up the foot then I remembered that the foot had already been baked. I have often thought it would be easier to carve in the features, for like feet and hands especially, after baking then to try and sculpt them in the raw. So now I know it works just fine. Like I think I said before, sometime, when I was sculpting I did the entire sculpt without an armature and all in one. well sort of I would use tooth picks for the head and as any strength areas, but that was also when there was only white and maybe terracotta color clay. It was like trying to sculpt mashed potatoes most of the time. But by the time I could get one sculpt to look even remotely like I wanted I had to sculpt about a dozen raw bodies and parts. Then I had to paint them. I can’t hardly wait to have the pain controlled where I can do some sculpting. It will be soon. She is growing into a very beautiful young Rusalka. -Pam Aug-12-08 18:12:49 PDT Delete | Report this comment

brokenheartsmend ( 3073) View seller’s items | View Blog Hi Natasha, Angelsare watching over you hugs cece Aug-13-08 10:21:42 PDT Delete | Report this comment

morezmore ( 15781) View seller’s items | View Blog Diana, thank you, my sweet! Pam, thank you, dearest! yep, patched up that hole on the bottom. I love that I can do it – cut, sand, add, bake again, cut again, sand again, lol – thank you, Fimo! yes, that has been my trouble with every sculpt – it is not that I don’t know what to do – it is just while I am correcting one thing, I am ruining something else. Sculpting in series gives me more control over the clay, me being a controling freak, it is greatly appreciated and I can do better. Cece, thank you, sweetheart! Aug-14-08 07:08:42 PDT Delete | Report this comment

Back to top palaphaz ( 152) View seller’s items | View Blog Hey Nat, Have you tried to bake, sand, fill, bake, sand with other clays where they turned out mottled, if so which kinds have you had the most problems with the colors not matching? I just think I would rather use something with a better record with series working, as I too am a control freak and want to control everything I intend to sculpt. I am getting closer to having pain relief at least some of the time. So, I am also preparing to start working in clay again. I will be hitting the store soon to get some of my supplies. Also, your young Rusalka is looking just they way I imagined when I saw her head, beautiful. – Pam Aug-14-08 22:50:31 PDT Delete | Report this comment

morezmore ( 15781) View seller’s items | View Blog reposting a hidden comment from Part 1 (only 60 comments are visible) fairy-frolic ( 103) View seller’s items | View Blog Hi Natasha, Are you considering doing a face tutorial using the modular method. I think the faces of your sculpts are lovely but I have a difficult time sculpting an adult looking face. I would love to see the process you use for this. Sharon Aug-18-08 07:18:41 PDT Delete | Report this comment Aug-18-08 07:32:50 PDT Delete | Report this comment

morezmore ( 15781) View seller’s items | View Blog Hi, Pam, Puppen Fimo is the most successful color matching. I always did series baking and Prosculpt usually gave me trouble. Glad you are gearing up to sculpt! Thank you – glad you like Rusalka Hey, Sharon, I would love to write a tutorial on the face – it is just I make about 10 faces myself every time on every sculpt – it is not at all easy for me, thus – no tutorial yet. I will try to take pictures next time – not a tutorial, but at least the idea of the process – like you say. Thank you, dear friends, for watching! Aug-18-08 07:37:13 PDT Delete | Report this comment

kldavis12kji ( 142) View seller’s items | View Blog Hi, Natasha. Just read how you had made the repair to Rusalka’s arm. It appears you and I figured it out together! Last week I broke the leg armature on the piece I’m currently working on and mulled over the break for some time and finally figured out how to make a strong repair. I did exactly the same thing, except used the regular Magic Sculpt (I hadn’t received the Magic Smooth from you yet ) and the technique works great. Wish I had waited for the Magic Smooth, though. Anyway, after letting it set undisturbed for a couple of days, she’s standing strong! It was her weight-bearing leg wire that I broke off at the knee, so carved and carved up into the thigh area and repaired in that area. Rusalka is beautiful. You should be very proud of her. I love her sweet face. The Artless Face Map you published is a wonderful tool. Would love to see your face tutorial if you do one! You must have been an engineer in your previous life! Karen Aug-19-08 04:36:02 PDT Delete | Report this comment

elfenmaker ( 234) View seller’s items | View Blog Hi Natasha I was wondering how the arms would hold up to the sculpting of the legs now we have more information thanks again she is looking ever so lovely I really like this one a lot… Diana Aug-19-08 07:52:39 PDT Delete | Report this comment

Back to top palaphaz ( 152) View seller’s items | View Blog Hey Nat, Have you thought of doing the hands kind of like you did her feet? Where you bake and carve them? I was wondering how you imagine the hands to look? Have you determined whether they will be linked, sort of locked around her knee, or separated in some other position? I was just trying to visualize which way you you might place her hands. She sort of looks like she might have them locked around her knee as she looks like she might be daydreaming, but I can also see her holding something with one hand and fiddling with it with the other as she daydreams. Kind of like holding a flower and pulling off the petals one at a time, in the ‘He loves me, he loves me not’ kind of dreamy state. I have just been trying to think of how you might do her hands, and was curious as to how you imagine them to look. That and how the one’s you folded down were set up? I was admiring the dreamy or day dream look she has and was trying to imagine how her hands might look, but I wasn’t sure which way they would look best and how easy or difficult they would be to sculpt. – Pam Aug-20-08 00:08:25 PDT Delete | Report this comment

palaphaz ( 152) View seller’s items | View Blog Nat, while that arm may have an elongated upper arm, you could always claim she could be related to one of those Alien’s from Close Encounters of the third kind. Or if you ever decide to make one of them you already have experience in making their arms,:) Isn’t that the arm you fixed? maybe that was what threw you off.She is coming along nicely – Pam Aug-22-08 18:08:55 PDT Delete | Report this comment

elfenmaker ( 234) View seller’s items | View Blog Hi Natasha isn’t it wonderful to be able to take pictures as we go along? …I really like how she is coming along very nice Diana Aug-22-08 19:23:55 PDT Delete | Report this comment

morezmore ( 15781) View seller’s items | View Blog Hey, Pam, yep, sort of linked under the knee – well, you will be able to see it now – I am posting pictures in a minute Close Encounters – lol yep, she will have long arms – I hope it will not look too ugly. I don’t know what happened, somewhere I lost the proportions of the arms She does look dreamy and overall I am happy with her. Diana – thank you for watching and hanging on with me – it is taking an eternity, but I am moving along. Aug-24-08 11:34:13 PDT Delete | Report this comment

elfenmaker ( 234) View seller’s items | View Blog Hi Natasha oh my she is really coming along now and it doesn’t feel like an eternity to me your the one that is working so intensly steady but sure I like the way your doing her it may take longer but the results are wonderful Diana Aug-25-08 17:24:31 PDT Delete | Report this comment

Back to top palaphaz ( 152) View seller’s items | View Blog Nat, I really think the arms fit her, they give her a willowy look, and sort of ethereal. An otherworldliness, she is quite beautiful. She fits her face, I mean her body fits her face. Lithe, ethereal, dreamlike, willow, wispy of a young woman/girl. All together she fits and I believe you have captured yourself a Rusalka. I can’t wait to see her with hair and her outfit. She almost looks like she should have wings, but I didn’t see any wings on the ones in the picture, not even on the ones ascending into the clouds. Plus water would make her wings wet and then she could use them to fly anyway. She’s perfect. Yes, I see what you meant about the position of the hands = Pam Aug-25-08 20:03:02 PDT Delete | Report this comment

twistedfreak11788 ( 79) View seller’s items | View Blog Again another beauty!!She looks great!!!!You were definetly blessed with talent!!I love your store and your sculpts!!One day Ill finish mine and let you look at them lol.Im currently working on two of them and need to finish my first ever one lol.You were a real inspiration to me.I dont think I will ever be as good as you but you inspired me to try it out.Thanks for your posts..they give tips as well as let us know that even you are not perfect in what you do.You make mistakes but you fix them!When are you going to work on the other one some more?You might have and I might not have seen it yet lol.Guess Ill go check it out right now and see if there are any updates! Sep-05-08 18:09:46 PDT Delete | Report this comment

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