Making Ver (part II)

YUUPPPERS! She's done. Ver (short for universe) is finally done and ready Except I am going to insert wire in the tentacles. isn't she nice.

This is a drawing did when I thought of Ver.

   

 So we last left off at her head already made. After that was done I make the tentacles. I didn't get very good photos for this because I did it in my basement but I will explain.

   

 I used bubble rap and sushi mat. Then I would lay out the layers of roving (wool) in all different directions then rolled it in the sushi mat with the bubble rap in the inside. like you would make sushi but way tighter and smaller. Like making a worm from clay.

   

Then I let them dry. Here is a picture of my new needle felting tool I just got in the mail from a Shop on easy call myfelting. That link should take you right to it.

   

 I then needle felted the ends of the tentacles so that they have the nice round balls on them. The tentacles are then wet felted again. Really I just wiped them in some boiling water and shocked them in some cold  water right away.

   

 I made a ring for in side the head and attached the tentacles to it.

 

 

 I then sewed in boning (a stiff piece of plastic inside fabric) to make sure it had more stability.

   

 And because I am all about things looking nice inside and out, I covered the fabric and boning with roving, and needle felted it into place.

 

Her head is hollow so I had to work carefully to attach the head.

   

 There she is looking right at you.

 

lots a work and lots a fun! Oh and I should tell you that she is not miniature she is the 1/2 the length of my arm. 

Buster Keaton many different ways

I am also taking a illustration techniques course with Leif Peng. We had to choose a black and white photo from Life magazine archives. I choose a picture of Buster Keaton. 

Here is the link to that.

I first had to do a pencil scketch. I did this without tracing. The rest of the version we traced at first to save time.

This is a thatched version

Next we did an ink wash. 

This is acrylic wash. 

Next we did a mono-chromatic acrylic wash. I am not finished this one yet I think I will add to it. 

Today I finish this complementary colour acrylic wash.

I reallly LOve this one!! 

Full colour 

Making Ver (universe)

I am gonna take you through the final 3D version of Ver.

I drilled holes in with a skrew and put the eyes in.

I used the other set of eyes from the old plan of Ver and drilled holes all around the sides to pull the wool through and attach it into the sides of the main body.

This is another set of eyes but this is a good picture of what it looks like to pull the wool through the holes

Theses are the eyes all felted up. I also set them in a bowl of hot kool aid to felt them a bit and dye them deeper.

This is the needle felted round nose of Ver.

Then I placed in the eyes. 

He's not done but will be soon.

I got all the wool for this project from  Helga Hillyard's

Green Acres Alpacas

Intentions

My intentions? Some times think about them too much. But for right know my intentions are to finish my homework! To take it one day at a time, but in doing so make somethings that are fun, that make me happy. I don't like to be pointless about my actions. I like to plan.

So here is lots of planning that I will tell you later and 1/2 a Ver.

Well, I really have so much more to show you but the words aren't coming so I'll go get some pictures.

Oh colours!! There has been nice light for pictures this week! 

I do have to say that I am learning something in photography class. Something to say about experience of just doing something over and over.

Remember I told you that I bought a lot of Kool Aid well this is whats left of it. I've probably use 1/3 before I took the picture. 

Man my arm is sore. I need to learn to be ambidextrous. Someone gave me a charlie horse, right in the crook of my arm, from felting and carding. Thats it for this post. Leave me a comment if you like.

Ver is not yet capable...boo hoo

BUT COLOURS ARE ABOUNDING!

  

Helga Hillyard's

Green Acres Alpacas donated all this wool!

 I said I would post these and I will post again asap, cause I did some up grades to Ver. Which by the way is named by my husband, it's like... Ver ...UniVERse. heehee

Did I mention that dying is my favoret. I love the process and get absolutely gitty about the out come.

 Some great pics from a nice cloudly, having the kids home from school, kinda day.

Ver in fluid motion

This weeks Illustration Friday word is fluid. I am not going to be putting up a finished illustration. I am making the squid looking ship thing so thats fluid right? I am working on making the ship for my stop motion video. I am experimenting with wet felting. I have never done it before but, WOW, so much fun. It does take a lot of time so I will be spreading this project over the next two weeks.

I will put up my progress so far. This week I dyed and carded SO much wool!!  That was all donated by Helga Hillyard's
Green Acres Alpacas
Thank you so much Helga!
I would love to have a drum carder! My arms are tired! If anyone knows any one that wants to sell one, I would buy it. Message me! I am not going to put up pictures of the dying process because its on a previous blog. I will try to take so pictures this week in good light to show some of the great colours. The lady at the grocery store thought I was nuts, when I walked through and bought all the kool aid I bought. I was I think 70 or 80 packages.


I started out with pop bottles. cut them in half and duck taped them together.

I put a soccer ball in a bag and then duct taped that to the bottles.

Laying on layers of wool and getting them wet with soapy water.

When I had covered it all I put a couple of nylons over it and massage and work it for 10 or 15 min.
I was also shocking under cold and hot water

This is so far.

But I have finished the eyes and I am making it bait bigger too! The rest to come in the next couple of days.