The kids are out, the troll has hair and life is good.

This is a brief one! The kids are finally out of school so we are taking the opportunity to get to the beach before things get super busy.

Update: The troll guy has some sparse hair made from a scrap of Tibetan lamb's wool. I think it makes him look more vulnerable and soft. I didn't make a full wig, but just hand placed each hair. I think it works. I will post pictures on Monday. (I would promise to post them sooner, but I know myself. Now that the kids are out, things will just take a little longer to do.)

Did I mention he trolly guy has a companion now? One of an insect nature? I'll post that picture on Monday as well. Hopefully it will be more fully fleshed out by then.

Until Monday, happy summer vacation!

Theresa

Oh So Cocky!

Well, I have been officially humbled. I was fairly pleased (imperfections and all) with my first attempt at polymer clay, so I figured it would be very easy to crank out the legs for my little troll-esque guy and be done with the body and start the clothing. I can't wait to dress him!

I crafted two different sets of legs and feet and popped them into the toaster oven I purchased specifically for that purpose. Of course, not knowing if I would take to this craft or not, I purchased the cheapest toaster oven I could find. When I baked with head and hands, it was fine. When I baked the feet, it was definitely NOT.

I set the oven temperature to what I thought was the same as last time. I set the timer for less time than needed, so I would be back to check on it early...just in case.

Good thing! When I went to check on things, the legs and feet were black! They looked like obsidian. Or possum poop. I guess it depends upon your background experiences. And talk about stink! Whew! Gack!

Weeeiiird! Why would it do just fine with the first batch and botch the next one? Needless to say, I will be spending some time today being VERY careful and trying it again. And possibly again, if necessary. Never let it be said that I am not tenacious. (Though I do have laundry that needs to be done. Clothing the kids should probably take precedence...)

On a more positive note, look what I found in my yard! Darling!

Maybe I should make a little toadstool umbrella for my clay guy. That might translate well.

Oh! And many, many posts ago I showed a picture of my plum tree and I have been waiting and waiting for this moment. PLUM JAM TIME!!!!! The kids (and birds) have been eating them out of hand, but there are so many that I will have plenty with which to do my jam this year. Hooray!

Until next time, try and try again.

Theresa

My Day

First, there was this. Pretty good, huh?

Then there was this.

'Nuff said? A really good day all around.

PS I am still hoping for some polymer clay helpful hints! (see previous post) If you have any experience, any at all, please send me suggestions. Many thanks!

Until next time, happy nature!

Theresa

I DID IT! (and it is definitely not perfect)

I DID it! FINALLY! I have had that polymer clay forever and I just kept putting it off and putting it off.

Warning: The guy that I made is not meant to be "cute" per se, but I think he has a certain rudimentary charm. And I learned a lot making him.

First off, I blended two different colors of clay to get a less "beige" tone for the skin. I don't like an orange-y cast. It looked pretty good until I baked him. That was when it became evident that the fabulous blending that I did was not so fabulous. I guess I should have kneaded for a longer amount of time. Lesson: When you think you are done, go for five more minutes.

Next, I threw together a loose wire armature. I knew I was supposed to build it in such a way that the head would be up off of the pan when I was baking him. But, in my total novice wisdom, I decided that it wouldn't matter too much because I was going to do some color washes and a mohair wig, which would cover his flat spot anyway.

Well, his ears cooked more quickly than the rest of him, given their lack of bulk, and they are of a darker cast than the rest of his head. Lesson: If someone 'in the know' suggests something, it might be a good idea to listen. It saves headaches from "fixes" later on.

Once I had him done, I tossed him in the oven for the allotted time period.




That part was easy. What I noticed when he came out, however, were all of the slight imperfections where I didn't quite smooth out the joints where extra clay was added. Lesson: Smooth and smooth again.

Note to self: Get smaller tools. My regular clay tools weren't all that helpful due to the small size of the guy.

All that being said, I actually kind of like my little creature and can't wait to color wash, dress and wig him. I'll post final pictures when he feels done.

Thanks for popping in. PLEASE PLEASE, if you are a polymer clay person (not a person made of polymer clay, silly...one who WORKS with it), please feel free to leave me any helpful hints. I am a glutton at jumping in with both feet and reinventing the wheel. Very time consuming.

Any and all suggestions would be appreciated!

Until next time, happy imperfection!

Theresa

Baby steps..

I got out the Sculpey. And the glass eyes. I even opened the packages! No going back now. Today, folks, will be the day that I FINALLY try polymer clay.

I have had lots of ideas tripping over themselves for years, but I have always been hesitant to try to make them come to fruition. It's a perfection thing. Yeah, I'm getting over it, but it hasn't been easy.

Hopefully I'll have some pictures to post by tomorrow. Either that or I will have learned that clay is not for me. (But maybe, in the spirit of not trying to be perfect, I will post the lumpy pictures anyway.)

Time will tell.

Until next time, happy risk taking!

Theresa

Are You Happy?

I am a questionnaire fiend. I love to answer questions and learn things about myself and those around me. This is a good one, in my opinion. I like it because it can be taken year to year with different results.

Happiness over time. What could be more relevant?

Oxford Happiness Questionnaire Written by Dr. Steve Wright on October 17th, 2008

The Oxford Happiness Questionnaire was developed by psychologists Michael Argyle and Peter Hills at Oxford University. Take a few moments to take the survey. This is a good way to get a snapshot of your current level of happiness. You can even use your score to compare to your happiness level at some point in the future by taking the survey again.

Instructions:

Below are a number of statements about happiness. Please indicate how much you agree or disagree with each by entering a number in the blank after each statement, according to the following scale:
1 = strongly disagree2 = moderately disagree3 = slightly disagree4 = slightly agree5 = moderately agree6 = strongly agree

Please read the statements carefully, because some are phrased positively and others negatively. Don’t take too long over individual questions; there are no “right” or “wrong” answers (and no trick questions). The first answer that comes into your head is probably the right one for you. If you find some of the questions difficult, please give the answer that is true for you in general or for most of the time.

The Questionnaire

1. I don’t feel particularly pleased with the way I am. (R) _____
2. I am intensely interested in other people. _____
3. I feel that life is very rewarding. _____
4. I have very warm feelings towards almost everyone. _____
5. I rarely wake up feeling rested. (R) _____
6. I am not particularly optimistic about the future. (R) _____
7. I find most things amusing. _____
8. I am always committed and involved. _____
9. Life is good. _____
10. I do not think that the world is a good place. (R) _____
11. I laugh a lot. _____
12. I am well satisfied about everything in my life. _____
13. I don’t think I look attractive. (R) _____
14. There is a gap between what I would like to do and what I have done. (R) _____
15. I am very happy. _____
16. I find beauty in some things. _____
17. I always have a cheerful effect on others. _____
18. I can fit in (find time for) everything I want to. _____
19. I feel that I am not especially in control of my life. (R) _____
20. I feel able to take anything on. _____
21. I feel fully mentally alert. _____
22. I often experience joy and elation. _____
23. I don’t find it easy to make decisions. (R) _____
24. I don’t have a particular sense of meaning and purpose in my life. (R) _____
25. I feel I have a great deal of energy. _____
26. I usually have a good influence on events. _____
27. I don’t have fun with other people. (R) _____
28. I don’t feel particularly healthy. (R) _____
29. I don’t have particularly happy memories of the past. (R) _____

Calculate your score

Step 1. Items marked (R) should be scored in reverse:
If you gave yourself a “1,” cross it out and change it to a “6.”Change “2″ to a “5″Change “3″ to a “4″Change “4″ to a “3″Change “5″ to a “2″Change “6″ to a “1″

Step 2. Add the numbers for all 29 questions. (Use the converted numbers for the 12 items that are reverse scored.)

Step 3. Divide by 29. So your happiness score = the total (from step 2) divided by 29.
I recommend you record your score and the date. Then you’ll have the option to compare your score now with your score at a later date.

The results won't tell you if you are happier than your neighbor, if you will win the lottery or if you will live a good life. Some of the questions, however, may remind you of the kinds of choices you should be making to improve your "happy" scores.

Reference
Hills, P., & Argyle, M. (2002). The Oxford Happiness Questionnaire: a compact scale for the measurement of psychological well-being. Personality and Individual Differences, 33, 1073–1082.

I’ve used “don’t” rather than the more staid and formal “do not” in the phrasing of the questions above; I decided to give preference to my own sense of what is more natural and conversational in American English. (Remember that the questionnaire was developed in England.) I’ve also added the phrase “(find time for),” which psychology researcher Sonja Lyubomirsky uses for clarification in question 18.

Disney at Night

Disney at Night
Originally uploaded by etrusia_uk

Two blond bookends holding in waves of book free words. That about sums up our trip to Disney for my son's birthday.

We took a friend that D met during soccer season. He seemed like a nice boy, but I didn't realize just how perfect a match he would be as an amusement park buddy.

The two of them talked. And talked. And talked. And they totally "got" one another. My son was talking about negative G's and M not only failed to have his eyes glaze over, but he understood what was being said. AND he contributed some new ideas that D hadn't pondered before. Go figure!

They made up stories about each ride. They came up with code names for one another. They requested the same kinds of food. They negotiated using rock paper scissors. It was charming and heartwarming.

Let it be known that I am not a huge Disney fan. I don't love most of the characters and I DEFINITELY don't love the prices for...well, just about everything in the park. That being said, it was the best day I have had in a long time.

It is a beautiful thing to watch two young people using their manners, enjoying one another's company, and being absolutely and unapologetically silly.

And I also got to have a date with my husband on top of it.

Until next time, happy observing!

Theresa