NorCal looking beautiful

Red and green for Christmas.  Totally cheating in terms of making this a post of something "from my hand," but resist I did not. My brother took this shot on 22 December.

2012 Gingergirls, blotto gingerbread men

The little one began with careful placement -- two splinters in the gingergirls foot, then "an egg that she hatched that she put above her eye."  Sometimes it is best just to listen without asking too many questions.  Then I believe the decorating became "How much candy can I put on this?" in hopes that perhaps she could have a "treasure chest" (pun not intended, but...) to enjoy for later.  The 6 year old took the suggestion of not  covering with frosting, instead a dip and place.  Sprinkle need dictated some frosting areas develop.

Let's see if we can keep this decorating thing up for another 14 or so years. Gallery showing of how their decorating styles change over the years. This is year 3.

Below are some co-joined gingerbread men....fat and happy. 

My Pony -- Making Bronze Pony Necklace

Bronze Balls

Container for  bronze.

Pouring the bronze balls

Bronze pony emerging.

Thing that spins the melted metal into the "mold."  

Casting a small piece was a new experience...different than the sculpture process, yet same idea.

Shaped the pony in wax. Invested (surrounded by liquid compound). Burned out (wax pony figure melted), leaving negative space (where wax pony was).  Little bronze balls poured into a ceramic container, melted by torch (held in my hand).  Once it melts, the thing spins around, throwing the melted metal into mold. Dip it in water, the composition dissolves, leaving the bronze pony.

Saw off spurs, file, polish, voila. 

(Certainly would be nice if Picasa would let me line up the photos)

Silver Ring -- 2 layers

One layer with texture, the upper layer with holes.  Texture on the band layer came from getting the silver too hot while soldering the top layer....but ended up making it more interesting than doing it the "right way."

Stitched Card for Holiday 2012

 

Let it be re-affirmed that no two stars are alike. Stitched with machine on paper.

Pony -- wax

Used pink wax (thin sheet, pre-made) with x-acto knife to cut image outline out. Used microcrystalline wax for forming the pony on top of the basic pink wax outline. Will see how hair and tail make it through casting. Know it could be finer in some details, but for now, he rests until I can get my eyes with some natural light....so much rain and grey outside... artificial light a bit tricky, at least how I was using. Will remain a bit crude, nevertheless...combination of my skill set, patience, and aesthetic for this type of thing...bronze ponies are not gold ponies.

Croque en bouche -- Cream Puff Tree - with kids

Think we were working on this for 20 minutes or so....have to work fast with the hot sugar and chocolate.  This year, the kids helped...and I know it looks better to me because of the love behind those chocolate smudge chocolate "balls" and the "flowers" cut out by the 3 year old, and the wacky candle placement.  Let's not forget the licked gingerbread boys (extra chocolate...who could resist? (yes, they have the "wash hands" part down, but the licking part...not so much)) that gave themselves...hopefully before they got onto the tree..to this project.

Once again...Costco cream puffs.  Melted sugar (1/4 cup  water, 1 cup sugar...lots left unused). Melted chocolate. Decorations: (think these chocolate "balls" came from some Scandinavian country), Gingerboys, flowers (raining, so we used paper), and candles.

The sugar is way too hot for the kids to be near, so I dealt with that, and had the 6 year old place some (holding at top), but mainly had her use the spoon to put chocolate on the top of most.  The "balls" were "glued" with the hot sugar mix, with extra sticking support given by the chocolate which was tepid at this point, ok for little fingers. Since it was for a birthday, the candles. Oh..and the 6 year old took the picture....

Clothespin Dolls -- Acorn Hats, hand painted faces

Yes, it did take a long time to make these.  Each clothespin has hand painted face, legs/ shoes.  All have acorn top hat, old favorite corduroy scraps from dresses "way back," ribbons, and ties.  Made to resemble nieces...with the brunette painted with white face because the little one really likes snowmen. Oh, and I didn't make them, my sister did....but I am taking credit for standing them all up (they are Christmas tree ornaments)...including one troublemaker that did domino effect a few times....I was going to have her do a solo, or fall in the snow....but instead she took the picture a few times.