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Archibald

7/2/2022

6 Comments

 
Next up is Archibald.  I've had him blank for over two years, and almost sold him a couple of times. But I finally got an inspiration for him and had him painted.

I had always envisioned him as a Wizard, and have decided to make his outfit a miniature version of the High Aldwin from Willow. My sister and I made a High Aldwin figure years ago, and unfortunately I had used carpenter's glue to attach his beard, and the glue has yellowed over the years. I have him standing in my work space for inspiration...
Picture
   I never liked Archibald's huge, over-size, magnetic hands (which kept falling off) so replaced them with a set of articulated ones that are hooked right into his stringing. Now his hands are the same size as everyone else's - and no longer fall off.  I didn't realize that his feet were magnetic as well, until I made him some tights and tried to get them on.  His feet kept falling off so they'd be dangling separately in the feet of the tights.  It drove me crazy, so I just glued the magnets closed. Problem solved!

At this tiny scale I needed fabrics that would drape (or crinkle) properly, so I ended up using a rough, knobby silk for his robe. His cloak is the same fabric I used years ago for the original, and I'm using ultra-suede instead of leather for his collar. ​His feet are currently wrapped in plastic so I can make his shoes.
Picture
 I had been stressing about how to make his white hair thin enough but not show the brown wig cap I'd made, then realized a white wig cap would have been better - duh -  so made one the other day.  The brown cap will get used as a base for his hat with just a bit of hair attached.  I figured that would keep bulk down, as opposed to making a hat that fit over his wig.  He already has a huge head, and that would make it even bigger, so I'm trying to minimize it.

I'd really like to get him done this weekend, but there's a LOT of tiny, fiddly work ahead, plus a wig and beard,  so we'll see. 

​Copyright © 2022  Martha Boers
All Rights Reserved
6 Comments
Dorothy
7/2/2022 10:52:29 am

It seems like Archibald's outfit will be done in no time. I love the fabric for his cloak.

He looks a bit like Phairby. I am wondering if they came from the same company.

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Martha
7/2/2022 03:57:52 pm

All eight of my elves are from Dreamhigh Studio in Indonesia. It's just that Willie and Phairby were the only ones done, so the only ones anyone has ever seen.

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kenaiqueen
7/2/2022 02:08:25 pm

I recognized High Aldwin immediately without even reading the text! Great work! Just think of the yellowing as Wizard Age-related LOL! Can't wait to see your finished product on Archibald.

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Martha
7/2/2022 04:01:07 pm

LOL I find the yellowing looks like he hasn't a bath in years, or he's a really messy eater. I wish I could fix it, but paint would just be way too obvious. I suspect the only option would be to redo all his hair and beard, but I hesitate to remove it.

Archibald is coming along nicely. I 'just' have to finish the fringe on the top of his cloak, and glue on his beard and moustache.

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Donna
7/3/2022 05:40:47 pm

I hadn't realized there were eight elves! You will be making itty bitty costumes for awhile yet. It's nice how your stories flow along, incorporating the elves as they are finished. Each elf is a cute little character with a unique personality.
It would be interesting to see your original Archibald standing next to his tiny namesake when he's done :o).

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Martha
7/4/2022 03:29:59 am

Yes, there's eight of them. Willie and Phairby were painted and dressed shortly after they arrived, but three ( Avery twins, and Archibald) of the next four arrived in the months leading up to Covid, and Nolan arrived at the beginning of lock-down, so none were able to be painted until now. Then Gino and Daisy arrived a few months ago, but I wasn't happy with their paint jobs, so had them redone. Daisy and the Avery twins have just been painted and I need to go pick them up.

Yes, I'm going to be working in the Tiny size for a while yet. I had hoped to do them all in June, but they took way more time than I had thought. I just got three done. Well, almost done. Archibald still needs a wig for when he's not wearing his hat with hair attached.

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    Martha Boers is an award-winning Canadian doll maker and costumer specializing in fantasy and historical-style costumes.
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