Whats happening?

[Donna]

;D Hi all ;D It's gone deathly silent on the boards lately, so I thought I'd start a thread so we can all say "Hi" and have a quick 'catch-up'. Life sure takes over some times, doesn't it..

So, what's everyone been up to then? Anyone been able to get any clay time in?
I haven't been able to get into much lately, I finished the steampunk pressie I mentioned and one other small thing for the challenge, but the main piece I hoped to do- I don't think I'm going to get done in time I'm trying to work out how to do it, I really wish I'd be content to stick to more simple pieces until I get more experience, LOL.
Talk soon....

[fantail]

Hi poly people, What ya doing?

I think you do difficult challenges quite well, Donna, in fact you make it look effortless

I work on the arms of my show piece but not happy with it, will try to sand it a bit

There use to be a Midwinter doll and bear show but I have not heard a hint of it this year.
Probably a good thing, I don’t need to spend any money

[Donna]

Morning.

Best of luck with your competition piece fantail, I know you'll get it perfect in the end ;D. My Sister & family will be over from Queensland when the doll show is on so I'll hopefully drag her along to it. I don't want to miss it...
The visit means I've had to get back to the house painting, inside and out. With building and renovations going on, the place is a nightmare, I need to get it sorted before they arrive. the downside is I haven't been able to get to sculpting much. the plus side is that it'll be closer to being finished, then I'll be able to put heaps of time into creating. Yay, I have a million things I want to try Lol lol.

[fantail]

Thanks, I need a bit of luck with this piece ;D It already loosing its appeal
Hope you can finish the renovation work soon so you can make a start on the billions of ideas
and I hope you can take your sister too. It's so much nicer to attend the show with someone.
Can't wait to see all the steampunk challenge pieces

[BLL]

busy week. reports and assessments at school, lots of birthday baking - 1st batch for childcare party friday and then another for the party yesterday. Quite pleased with the spiderman cake the young man 'commissioned'. 4 already, I can't believe it. Time for another baby (since they won't let me have a puppy!)
Half finished beads on my table, sposed to have them a couple of weeks ago, ended up making a quickie necklace out of some others, to wear to Mum and Dad's 50th that was on the 5th.

[BLL]

P.s. some b**tard stole our letterbox on friday night, along with three others in the street and 'uprooted' another. So right now I'm trying to figure out how to attach the new one we bought yesterday.

[Donna]

Hiya!
You've been really busy bll, I remember the themed cakes that young boys love so much.. Had many years of late nights trying to construct racing cars or Ninja turtle grotto's or Mach trucks etc out of flimsy, crumbly cake and runny icing hahaha. Another babe?? Are you serious??
* shaking head at the mentality of bored, destructive youth* What a frustrating thing to happen, you must be furious..!!
fantail, I hope you re-connect with your competition piece, I can't wait to see it..

Had a chance to do some sculpt last night...I bought HEAPS of Fimo coz it was going cheap...well, it took me the whole evening just to condition it, never got to make anything! It's as hard as a rock (how come I never read that anywhere) I have aching palms lol. I think I'll break out the food processor for the next lot..

Oh Right...Steampunk challenge Ahem.. I hope bll and anubis have done better than me at getting something finished... Where is Anubis anyway?

[Donna]

;D Didn't log in for long enuff, again. Hehe.
Have a fantastic day everyone.. ;D

[fantail]

I'm going away for a few days possibly a week to help out with family
postbox thieves! erg
there is a product called fimo mix quick that is on sale at zigzag that might help you Donna
I want some of it - suppose to help make other clays stronger too
can't stick around have to go pack

[Donna]

If you get a chance to call back in fantail.....thanks for the tip, I will look into that. Don't have much clay time at the mo' so don't want to spend all that time conditioning clay.. thanks again and I hope you have a safe journey...

[fantail]

No problem Donna - I just hope it works
I've not left yet maybe later this afternoon

You are very busy Bll, hope you can make your postbox burglar proof or else make it so that its so sticky that you catch the thief - and not accidentally the postman

[BLL]

heheh, no, babies are too expensive!! but its a good dig for a dog, if you get my meaning.
Our box was found in Masterton, the police got in touch 'cos it had mail in it. Hope we get it back soon. The new one isn't going anywhere in a hurry: its metal so not tempting as firewood (someone thought that might have been why) and we have screwed brackets onto the post. It is bolted to the brackets and liquid nails on top of the post and then screws (about 6) into the post through the glue.
STill haven't touched those beads. Maybe this weekend?

[Donna]

Hey Bll ;D Well that mailbox aint going anywhere in a hurry LOL
You should get a dog..wonderful creatures..my house isn't a home without a dog (or 4) and my cats..love my animal friends

Taking a break to have a chat..I'm bored with housepainting, painting heeeaaaps of railings for front veranda grrrr BORING... at least it was a gorgeous day out, gazing at the Waitakere ranges and dreaming of all the cute little creatures I can sculpt when I've finished..ahhhh!!!
Reality is I've spread my clay stuff all over the house again but haven't had a chance to get anything done yet

[fantail]

I love dogs too
wow four dogs Linda are they big or small?
Those repressed dreams fuels the creative juices, hopefully you can remember them when you are done with the house.

I'm back for a couple of days at least, don't know if I'll get time to sculpt either.

[Donna]

;D It's sooo good to hear from you..glad you're back. I just talked to myself while you were gone lol lol...
I did have 4 dogs at one time (all BIG dogs) a bit much really tho', now I have one..Maddison (Maddi) she's a Staffy/Bull Terrier.

I have ordered the Fimo quickmix (?) from Petra, it was $6 at the moment, I ordered 3.
I started sculpting two little sprite girls using glow in the dark clay, I mixed in a small amount of super sculpey. I've baked the base armature. It's cool stuff.. it glows hard-out fluro, I like it...
I haven't done any steampunk tho' and only a few days to go..

speaking of... I wonder where anubis is...

[fantail]

Anubis? probably working hard to get ready for her show, hope it's all going well
It was nice to come back to one of Lindiloo's faerie godmothers, wonder what Blue is doing

I can't imagine having four big dogs.Big as in Labrador or large as in wolfhound?
We had an English Bull Terrier, he was truely a best friend and a real softy
Bll what type of doggy do you wish to have big or small?

[Donna]

Yep big dogs, Riki - a Collie/labrador, Shanna - a Shepherd/huntaway, Bruno - Bull Terrier/Chowchow/Ridgeback and Zane-Staffy/Rottweiler, Best dogs ever

Youre probably right, Blue will be busy for the doll show too maybe, hope they come and say hello soon. I should spend more time sculpting and less time chatting too, hahaha. I like the contact of others with the same interests, keeps me motivated...
Off now to add another layer to the sprite girls, I have to wear gloves to condition it 'cause the first lot got FILTHY, can't wait to get the quick mix-it takes ages that fimo

[anubis4]

Im still here even if it is stuck in my room making cloth fairys then more fairies on swings then an order thrown in for good measure.

Yep market on the 17th 18th and still have not got near the clay yet...
but it wall all come together it always do

So my challenge piece will be late as have not had time.

As for four big dogs at once at the moment 1 dribble faced old rottie is enough poor old fool hes 10 years old and getting a bit stiff and slow ( not that he was ever fast to start with.)

Its been almost 12 years since I had to get my bullie put down. he had 4 ops on his bowl over 3 weeks and lasted 6 months nothing more could be done and I still miss him. Would love another one.

[Donna]

;D Hey Anubis, great to hear from you, I think I posted at the same time...
it's so sad when the dogs get older, thats the worst part. But the love they give you..

I would love to see some of the cloth fairies if any are finished , it's great they are going well. I hope you get heaps of things finished for the show.

[fantail]

Unconditional its been decades since we had a dog too
don't have the yard for one and its too wet here

The challenge is in your hands, why not extend the due date?
I love talking to fellow polymer sculptors too Donna
It would be way to quiet if you stopped chatting here and now that lindiloo is back to keep us on our toes, I hope we will have more pieces to share

[Donna]

Hi all... ;D
Don't talk to me about dogs and the wet weather today... my darling girl has been running around in the mud and wet grass, then up and down the steps, all over the decks and inside on lino and carpet ...I'm ignoring it coz I'm sneaking in a quiet sculpting, and I should be doing HEAPS of other things really

Well I've gotta say it's much, much harder to do perfect and pretty , the troll boy was easier for sure..It's taking ages and I keep re-doing everything, especially the faces, I WANT PERFECT AND PRETTY.. LOL.. it's giving me a good challenge anyway.

About challenges, Anubis I don't mind when the challenge ends, your orders and market are more important really..I haven't done much and wouldn't mind making something else for it

[fantail]

I look forward to seeing these pretty sprite girls can't wait

[BLL]

hi. I can't wait to see all these projects I'm hearing about. Still no clay for me.
Really feeling the stress. This week can't be over fast enough.
I'm trying to read Cesar Millans 3rd book. We had a couple of foxy crosses years ago and I'm alost certain we did EVERYTHING wrong. From the breed we chose to how many and how we treated them. We were so clueless. We ended up having to pass them on to farmers. Put hubby right off dogs altogether. I, on the other had, see it as a challenge to try again and do it right! I had been thinking of cavaliers or cavoodles, but since starting the book I'm leaning more towards getting one from the SPCA and just making sure it has a good temperament. Of course, it will take me more years to turn hubby around. The family isn't in the right state yet anyway. ah well.

[Donna]

;D 'Morning ;D

Change of plan with the sprite girls..they are not going to be pretty or perfect now...hahaha..unless I work on them for the next year or so... hehe.

Yes it's excellent that Lindiloo is posting again.. it's exciting to see new projects. When I see how quickly she works I really want to get something finished too.. I need to learn to work a bit quicker.

Bll, foxies are a temperamental breed to start with, hyper and so noisy. I agree with SPCA and I love the mixed breeds too. My hand goes up for Staffies tho', excellent family dogs, or labrador. Females are scatty and need more attention I think, but make better family pets.
Unfortunately I'm house painting and moving big piles of wet wood and ripped out plants that were in the way of hubbies building yesterday.. but will sneak in some clay-work in between.
Have a great day..

[fantail]

I love watching the dog whisperer program and do want to read Melan's books
Its fascinating how what we think and feel dictates how they react
I'm sure in each litter you will find one that is not dominant or nervous
having a laid-back male dog was great and he would play softer with me then my brothers.
I wished we had known about the techniques during walks
It wasn't bad, but would have been great to have him walk at heel

When your family is in the right place, it will be great, use this time to do your research