Antique Lilac
  • Home
  • for Sale
  • Galleries
  • Favourite Photos
  • Tutorials
  • Blog
  • Links
  • Books

Making Progress

4/11/2022

5 Comments

 
Things are progressing slowly. I'd finished all the 'easy' things, like all the machine stitching, stuffing the main body, and finishing the wings. I'd cut a double length of wire for inside the body to go from inside the head, down to where the tail bends at the ground. I twisted the wires, then wrapped them with glue-covered seam binding, to create some 'tooth' for the stuffing to hold onto. Then I inserted the wire into the body and proceeded to stuff it, making sure the wire was always buried in the middle of the body. After it was stuffed, I applied some diluted purple paint along the outer edges of the striped belly.

Then I got out ALL my purple beads so I could decide which ones to use. I beaded the entire length on both sides of the under-belly. It was a serious challenge since I was often seeing double, and could barely make out the holes in the beads, but I persisted doing only a section at a time. That alone took three whole days.  But at least it was a simple repeat pattern, so no brain drain....
Picture
The wings are also finished, and ready to bead.  I'd stuffed the edge of the wings - one of the most difficult things to do on the entire dragon.  Getting tiny wisps of stuffing into the tiny points proved very challenging, especially with the wire already filling much of the space. Thankfully the opening at the top of the wings helped, since there were no bends to stuff around..

​I formed 'claws' out of Aves Apoxie, poked holes through near their base, so they could be sewn onto the bend in the top of the wings after they cured. Then I smoothed more Apoxie around the base of each claw. I used a 3-D paint to squirt raised lines along the stitched vein lines. Then I enhanced the wings with paint to help give them more definition. It took at least five layers - some of which were just diluted paint, which was allowed to seep into the wet fabric, but still allowing the salt dye pattern to show through....
Picture
Picture

​​The ears had to be redone several times.  The first set I cut out, I stitched all the way round, forgetting that I didn't want a nice turned outer edge. It was very neat, but not at all what I wanted. So into the garbage they went.

Then I cut out a second set, and just stitched the upper and lower edges. But then, like with the wings, I added glue between the layers of fabric before doing the top-stitching, and then I couldn't get the stuffing into the ends of the three points. So another set into the garbage.

Then I started over yet again, and the third time was the charm. I stuffed the points, top-stitched by hand, then glued the outer layers of fabric together, and cut out the ragged edges. After highlighting with a bit of paint, I beaded the stuffed spines....

5 Comments
Jitka
4/11/2022 07:01:00 am

The work in progress is amazing, thank you for sharing the birth of a dragon-lady 🙂. I am sure Winston will be completely smitten when he meets her 😍.

Reply
Dorothy
4/11/2022 03:19:31 pm

I am enjoying watching your create your next character. I can't wait to see what she will be come.

Reply
Nancy
4/11/2022 03:38:05 pm

Thank you for sharing your process and the steps. The amount of work is astounding, but your work is always exquisite so I’m not surprised. That gorgeousness doesn’t come without labor.

Reply
INKA link
4/12/2022 03:07:14 am

cudowne zjawisko się wyłania
naszym zdumionym a przecież
zachwyconym oczom <3 <3 <3

Reply
Donna
4/12/2022 05:11:27 pm

I love how you live out the saying that if something is worth doing, it's worth doing it right. Your attention to details and your willingness to share the process, trial and error and success, is really encouraging!

Winston's lady friend is going to be a dragon beauty :o)

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Author

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

    Archives

    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010
    November 2010
    October 2010

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.