There were so many great posts on this very day in years gone by that I just had to revisit some of them. Like the Archery Lesson back in 2014... Then back in 2016, February 8th on 'Kite Flying Day'. Yes, in the middle of winter? At least there was no snow that year. Then in 2019, we celebrated Winston's birthday. In 2022 the Forest Dweller menfolk were busy playing poker as their women were working hard in the kitchen preparing the holiday dinner. And last, but definitely not least, it was the wedding of Baron and Naomi last year....
I wanted to take a photo for 'Inspire your Heart with Art' day, but I wanted to go the easy route without having to set up an entire scene on the dining room table. Since I have most of my sister's small paintings hanging on the wall in the back hallway, I thought I'd just take advantage of it. But how to make the dolls stand at the right height, as if they were in an art gallery? It just took a bit of creative ingenuity, with the dolls balanced on their own, without their stands, on one of my nestling side tables, balanced on the top of a step-ladder. Then taking the photos close up, straight on at the doll's eye level...
I had just finished photographing St.Nicholas visiting the children at Court, and he was on his way to the next castle.. When I realized that he couldn't very well have the exact same toys in his sack at his next stop. What to do? I couldn't very well fill his sack with contemporary toys. They had to look at least a bit 'vintage'. Then I remembered the bag of small wooden ornaments that I'd picked up at Value Village a few years ago. I dug them out, but they seemed rather too crudely painted, especially if they were going to end up being photographed in close-ups. But I could see the possibilities, so cut their cords off with an exacto knife. Then I removed all their glued-on props, and spent the next three days repainting many of them. I wanted to turn therm into Medieval style characters, so the first one I tackled was one of the tall soldiers, turning it into a King. The painting may seem a bit crude when looking at them so close up, but it was a challenge considering they were just two and a half inches tall, and my eyesight isn't exactly the best.. Then I wanted to turn the second tall soldier into a knight. So I mixed up a bit of Apoxie and added a bit of tiny armour. After painting him, I glued on a tiny shield made from an oval 'Woodle' cut in half, and painted. Then I painted the smaller men, turning two of them into knights as well... I painted the two tiny (one and a quarter inch tall) ladies as a queen and princess... ...and had fun with several of the other ornaments... At that point I'd had enough. I figured I had painted enough new toys for St. Nicholas' next stop, and decided to leave the rest to be painted at some other time...
After visiting with the children at the King's castle, it was time for St. Nicholas to leave. After all, there were more castles to visit....
With Judith having gone off to show her mother her candy cane, Bonnie was next to sit on St. Nicholas' knee... Grace was so proud of her little girl... St. Nicholas had given her a small doll... But not everyone was happy. Ringo had received a small rocking horse toy, while his brother David had received a wooden soldier... He was jealous of David's toy soldier. His parents couldn't help but notice. "Oh Ringo..." sighed his mother. "At least all the other children are happy."added his father.
St. Nicholas sat down so he could visit with the children on their own level, and give them their gifts. Even though Lisa was currently living at Miho's castle, as a member of Bianca's family she been invited as well. Judith sat on his knee... Their parents watched as each of their children happily received a small gift... The girls loved their gifts... Then Judith went to show her mother. "Look what St. Nicholas gave me! A candy cane!'
It was St. Nicholas Eve and Lawrence and Monica had invited all their nephews and nieces, along with their parents, to the castle to welcome him... All the children were very excited... ..and gathered round him... While their parents watched... ...remembering just how exciting it had been for them when they were their children's age.
The Fantasy Fashions book was almost complete. There was a nice spread on the Wizard.... ...and another with him as Santa and the Elves... But we still needed a photo of him in his newly completed outfit as St. Nicholas, so I started taking photos of him... Until there was finally one just right for the book....
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AuthorMartha Boers is an award-winning Canadian doll maker and costumer specializing in fantasy and historical-style costumes. Archives
May 2024
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