Witch BOO't Update: Really Bad News

Do you ever feel that the more effort you put into something, the more hopeless it's outcome becomes?  I seem to have underestimated how busy I would be and how much time these would take to paint.  Even after starting in July, it's not looking like I will have any boots/shoes finished in time for Halloween.  And, I refuse to rush and sacrifice detail and quality.  I'm just not going to do that. However, I'm very disappointed.  I sincerely appreciate that some of you have been waiting so patiently.  And, I feel really bad letting you down.  I've been trying to fit them in between other projects.  But, I've just had very little time and too much distraction to sit down to enjoy painting.  I'm very close on a couple, but fear they won't be completely ready for sale until it is too close to Halloween.

That being said, here is where I'm at on a couple of them:



The 1st one I'v been working on is a high-heeled vampire shoe/boot.  Not sure if it's a shoe or boot?  But, it's been a fun one that has taken quite some time to create.  I've redone the toe a few times.

 

I still need to clean up some lines.  Also, I'd like to add some handles to the sides, but I might have to cut into the bottom to secure them.  I've got an idea for a poem about a vampire's shopping trip, but haven't started it.



This 2nd is a very long shoe with buckle.  I'm still working on the fence details and cleaning up some things.

 

I'd also like to play with the grass and pumpkin stem details a bit more.  I'm also halfway through a poem for it about a "Party in a Pumpkin Patch".

I have a few others in the works that are not as far along.  There are a pair of small boots with a scarecrow scene.  I may show some pics of them later, but I've got an event coming up that is going to keep me away from the blog for a bit.  With any luck, or a miracle, I may have at least one of these shoe available before the end of the month.  Again, I'm so sorry.  I'm going to be really busy this month with events.  On top of that, I'm starting to organize the daughter's 11th birthday for next month.  We're going all out on a small Harry Potter themed party.  After all, "It's not everyday your young man (daughter) turns eleven". I've got a ton of stuff to do for that I hope to post here.

New Halloween Painting Tutorial on Etsy.com

Ever wondered how I paint my Witch BOO'ts? Or, have you wanted to paint Halloween scenes on something, but too intimidated to try?  After many requests, I've put a tutorial together that is full to the brim with ideas and techniques to help you decorate your own projects.  And, these techniques can be used on a variety of projects and different surfaces.



This follows up on the Paper Mache Witch BOO't tutorial starts with the priming and preparation of the sculpted boot and continues through to sealing with varnish.  It includes tips at every step in the process, as well as 10 techniques for copying and transferring images with suggestions on which to use for different purposes.


Also included as a bonus are 4 complete Halloween scenes and some various elements to use in them.  I've included images of how they might work on one of my witch boots and recommendations for how to apply them.



Each scenes is separated out to make it easier to alter and apply to your project.  And, each are totally different, so you have a variety of inspiration to work with.

Plus, I've included 2 pages of elements including witches, cats, skeletons, tombstones, trees, JOL's, and much more.  These elements can be used with the scenes or on their own.

Hope you like the new tutorial.  You can find it here:  https://www.etsy.com/listing/159755866/halloween-painting-pdf-tutorial  If you try it, I'd love to hear how it works for you!

Hope your HALLOWEEN is Purrrfect!!!

Hope you're enjoying your Halloween. Thought I'd share this adorable witch cat that Hullabuoy sent me at the end of last year.  It's taken me SO long to post it, because I was still tweaking the witch hat we added to it.  I'd been delaying posting it, because I thought it would be a nice Halloween post.  Leave it to me to wait til the day of!  So, without further ado, here is Crookshanks, the witchy kitty. (Daughter named it, of course).

She hand painted this kitty on a styrafoam buoy with a decorated wooden wand and fabric ears attached!  The wand is removable.  Cathi (Hullabuoy) possesses mad painting skills!  I enjoy seeing all her work, especially the buoys.  You should definitely check out her facebook page at Hullabuoy and Mcathi Designs on Etsy.

The hat was made with the usualy cereal cardboard for the brim and newspaper cone top, all paper mached so that it is really stiff.  We had to cut slits to be able to place it on the kitty's head over the ears.  Best part, is Cathi had the forethought to supply the decorations that we added to the hat.



We love it!  It sits on top of our Harry Potter themed book case all year long.  Thanks so much, again, Cathi, for sending it to us!  So proud to have a piece of your talented work!

Here be Dragons!

Well, I was going to attempt some fairy wings for the daughter and I to wear to faire in a couple weekends.  But in my first experiments, I somehow managed tiny dragon wings instead...hmmm...it's all good, cuz I'm going to an event this coming weekend where the theme is "Here be Dragons".  Love those "happy accidents"!!  :)



And the coolest part is they GLOW IN THE DARK!  Neat, huh?!



Isn't that cool!!  It will be really great, if there are lots of blacklights around.  Glow-in-the-dark works best under the blacklights.  I also love how the light can pass through the membranes.



I used hangers for the main frame that fits into the back of my bodice/corset and thinner 19 gauge steel wire for the fingers.  The tape extends about a 1/2" past the tips, so I can nudge people with them and not take out an eye.  They're are a small set at about 14" long.  This will be a good size to practice traversing crowds in, if we plan to make larger wings for fairies. 



These were pretty easy to make and feel realy cool.  I started by wrapping masking tape around the wire frame, adding extra tape at the knuckles. I covered the tape in glow-in-the-dark fabric paint, which is rather translucent and gave a nice bone color.  I accented the joints with a brown marker. 

  

Then, I used Mod Podge to make the membranes. Who knew mod podge was so stretchy!  They turned out really flexible.  Won't be easy to tear these.  The trick is to paint the Mod Podge onto paper and when dry, rub off the paper with water.  The brush strokes add a kind of veiny effect close up.
Hope you've enjoyed this post.  I'll be away most of this month having fun.  Until I get back, keep bein' crafty!

Have you ever wondered?...

...Do you know?
Why a witch's' shoe has a curled up toe?

 

One day Miss Witch put on a shoe,
but there's one thing she failed to do.
She didn't peek inside that pump.
She didn't spy a creeping lump.

Instead she brushed upon her heel
a squishy feel that made her squeal.
For in her slipper, beneath her flipper,
she almost squashed a unseen nipper.

A spider with fangs and reflexes quick
and venom that makes one feel quite sick.
It's bite caused her a great surprise.
And, the toe it bit grew twice its size.

The toe, it turned five shades of blue,
and oozed with puss and smelly goo.
The spider faired no better, I'll say.
For two of its legs were sprained that day.

For weeks this pair of grumpy gimps,
Miss Witch and the spider, walked with limps.
But instead of arguing 'bout who's to blame,
Neither again would wind up lame.

Vowing her shoes would possess ample room
Miss Witch saved the future spiders from doom.
Because any witch will tell you clear,
it's not just your toes at stake, my dear.

And, now you, too, know why they chose
Those goofy shoes with the curled up toes.
But...What's up with those pointy hats?!
Think there's room in her belfry for bats?

by Mieljolie, ©2012




Finished painting a 2nd witch shoe from the batch I posted about way back here.  This spider themed one is for my sis.  I'm calling it "Spider Webs".  She had claimed it 2 years ago when I first posted about them.  But, even though the three shoes were almost finished then, I had set them aside for other projects.  It's taken a while, but I finally got around to putting the last touches on this one.  Well, maybe.  Just one last thing I'd like to do.  I want to find a spider to hang from the toe.  I will probably try to make one out of polymer clay.



This is one of my favorite shoe styles from what we've made so far.  I think I may make some more little loafers like this someday.



Just one more shoe from the set to finish.  It's the super tall one.  I probably won't have it finished for this Halloween, though.  But, the 9 year-old daughter also painted her first boot!  :) 



She helped us assemble a batch of the small boots, so I let her have one to paint however she wanted.  She was glad to shred paper strips and mix our paste, but I couldn't convince her to get her hands dirty sculpting.  Said she didn't like the feel of it.  Such a girly girl.  :)

 

And just so ya know, it says "Puka Ville", not "Puke Ville".  Tee hee.  She meant to write "pooka".  Those are little bunny-like pookas playing atop the heel.  The other side has some houses. I think it's going to be fun pulling this out when she's older. I should let her paint one each year. :)
 

These might be the last new witch shoes/boot you see for us this Halloween.  I may keep working on a larger boot, but I've got a lot on my plate right now.  Until next post, be craft-tastic!

Miss Witch's Ogrehide Witch BOO't available in time for Halloween

Miss Witch's Ogrehide Boots

Miss Witch met an ogre named Clyde,
who quite unexpectedly died.
He was useless in life.
Always caused others strife.
But, his hide made fine boots when dried.

Miss Witch then went for a ride
in her new boots of green ogrehide.
She blushed top to bottom
when asked where she got'em.
"Off an ogre named Clyde", she replied.

by mieljolie, ©2012



New Witch BOO't finished and available on Etsy!  This is a small sized one standing about 8" tall and 7.5" long and is painted to look like an ogre's hide all stitched up into a boot.  It has an eye peeking out on one side and a colorful spider on the other with a few flies landing everywhere on the sides and tongue. 


There are two more flies on the tongue in front.  I used a brown nylon cord for the lace. I had thought about using a color that would match the bright green stitches, but decided the brown would tie in the tree stump heel better.

Close up detail of the spider and a fly on the left side and of the eye on the right side. (Click images to see larger versions)  I think I've been inspired a lot by the many spiders we seem to be finding around our house these days.  We've seen orb weavers, wolf spiders, cob web or house spiders, and our family favorites the many colors of jumping spider, among others.  Jumping spiders are the only ones we allow to stay inside.  The are fairly harmless, secluded, and territorial.  So, they keep all the other creepy crawlies at bay. The rest get cupped up and sent back out to the "wild".

It was rather relaxing (and just a wee bit tedious) painting all the stitches.  I may revisit this theme again in the future.  But perhaps in a more deliberate symetrical fashion or just on portions of a boot. 

I'll be trying to finish up some larger BOO'ts next along with some costuming.  One boot may have a haunted house theme.  Hope to have at least one more completed by Halloween.  **Knocks on ogre-hide boot's faux wood heel**  ;)

Meet Verotica Lake, the Zombie Doll

...the newest member of the daughter's Monster doll collection.  She's decomposing a bit.  The fish must have been nibbling on her before they retrieved her from the water.  Bet you didn't know that your stuffies have stuffed bones in them, did ya?!    ;) 



Daughter and I just finished up the last joint project before she goes back to school next week.  Verotica's missing eye and a head injury are hidden behind her hair in a style sorta inspired by the actress/model from the 40's, Veronica Lake. The doll was made using Batsy's pattern like the other monster dolls, that we've been making using polar fleece remnants.

 

Daughter drew out the plan for her before we started.   She wrote what colors the pieces were to be.  And, even drew up her maggot pet way up in the top let corner.  She also helped sew the face with button eye.



After we were finished with Verotica, daughter then made her a dress with a scrap of glow-in-the-dark skull/crossbone fabric and the maggot pet out of yarn. 



Daughter has been really busy making other stuffies this summer.  I posted about some back when summer started.  Here are some more she came up with after reading her "Super Cute" book. From Top Left to Bottom Right:

1.  "Gothy", the Gothic Bat Fish inspired by Pet Soceity on Facebook
2.  "Flo", the pooka inspired by Totoro
3.  "Peppy", an egg warmer from her book, which is sewn shut on the bottom
4.  "Hoo Dude", the mini voodoo doll,
5.   UFO (Unidentified Fluffy Object), a long alien cushion inspired by book
6.  "Sally", the Septapuss inspired by book
7.  "Stinker" a skunk petling baby inspired by Pet Society
8.  "Peach", a mini mascot inspired by book

While I'm busy working on Halloween decorations and costumes, I just thought I'd share some of these sewing projects.  Hope you've enjoyed seeing them.  Next, I hope I'll be posting about another witch BOO't.  But, if not I'll most likely be posting about some of Mr Sam's projects and hopefully some further progress on more pixies.  (Yes, the whole family has been busy crafting! Isn't it great!?!)  Until then, keep up the crafting, too!

Free Felt Bat Pattern for Halloween

Sure wishing the weather would start cooling off here.  I'm so ready for fall and Halloween to get here.  Oh, but wait!  Then I'd have to have all these projects done!  Nevermind.  :) 

While the daughter was busy sewing her felt/polar fleece stuffies this summer, I sat down with her a few times to create this bat for her. 



He's about 10" wide and 3.5" tall and made with mostly felt scrap, a piece of chenille stem and some buttons. The chenille stem makes the wings slightly posable.  I have to say that, though I enjoyed myself, handsewing the entire thing has really made me appreciate my sewing machine.



If you'd like to make one of these, I've put together a free pattern with some brief instructions on Craftsy.com:



http://www.craftsy.com/pattern/sewing/toy/felt-button-bat/160384 - I'd really love to hear if you give it a try!

BTW, while I was making my bat, the daughter tried her hand at a baby bat, too. :)  Isn't it adorable?! It's pretty small at only 4" in length.  She gave it to me and it is now sitting on my computer speaker until I find it a better spot.  She's still at the stuffy making frenzie.  I'll post some more of her work, soon.



Hope you're having a crafty time! 

The "Pointy Kitty"

We came across an adorable and fairly simple free sewing pattern for what is referred to as the "Pointy Kitty" from Hillary Lang with WeeWonderfuls.  Grandma gave it a try with some Halloween "BOO" printed fabric we had.  And, the daughter helped sew on the orange button eyes.    
   

She had a bit of trouble getting it to stand up because she didn't use enough stuffing in the legs.  If you try this pattern, be sure to stuff the body as tightly as you can, unless you want a lazy kitty. The head can get really heavy, so I'd go much lighter in the stuffing on it.

 

The daughter, bless her heart, decided to help it stand better.  She CUT it open and restuffed it better.  :o  This is why the legs are a bit knock-knee'd.  But, I'm proud of her for taking the initiative to fix it.



After the black one was finished, the daughter decided to give it a try with polar fleece.  She chose some bright red scrap and said it was much easier to work with.  She hand-sewed the entire thing, which, to me, is pretty impressive.  This cat is about 8" long, which isn't as small as the stuffies she has been making.  That is a lot of stitched! 

 

I believe this is actually the first pattern she has followed, too.  Her sewing book more or less just explains how to make things and you have to draw up the pieces yourself.  But, she did a great job reading it though this pattern to understand it before cutting/sewing.  Her red kitty stood up purrrfectly the first attempt.  ;)



In other news, Grandma is back to working on Pixies and House Elves by request.  She's busy assembling pieces.  We've got to get busy doing some eye experiements since we're having difficulty finding the ones we'd like to use.  But, I think I've got a solution that should work.  Wish me luck.!  I'll be posting more about some other sewing projects the daughter and I have been working on this summer in my next post.

BURN BABY BURN (A Boogie Bogie) - Paper Mache Pumpkin Pump available on Etsy

When the rays of the day were all gone,
Miss Witch let loose on the lawn.
In her new pumpkin pumps,
she jumped on a stump,
and boogied 'til the break of dawn.

But, her hell-raising romp was through,
when she had kicked off her left boogie shoe.
It flew to the east
hundreds of miles, at least.
Where it went, she never knew.

It was spotted on NASA's radar,
as it burned by the shining North star
An unexplained blip,
on a short little trip,
nearly causing a 3rd World War.

by mieljolie, © 2012



Getting jazzed up and into the Halloween spirit again!  Check out my new Witch Shoe on Etsy!  This one's kind a has a retro rockabilly meets disco flare to it.  It was a lot of fun.  I enjoyed the challenge of a new shape to work with.  I did something a bit different by opting not to put the moon on the toe this time.  Haven't abandoned the moons completely or anything, though.  Just trying new things.




So proud of myself for getting it done and listed in time for Halloween. It's only taken two years.  (Ack, so long!  Really sorry about how few I finished last year.)  But, honestly, I definitely find listing them to be the most stressful part. So many details to figure out. I hope I've done an adequate job, especially in displaying and describing it.  I'd rather play in the paper mache paste and paint.  :)

Anyhow, I'm working on a small boot with an unusual theme that will probably be done next.  Then, I hope to put some finishng touches on another shoe for my sis and then on to a medium or large boot that may or may not be up in time for Halloween 2012.  Wish me luck, inspiration...and a steady hand!