Once Upon A Time, The Video Tour

The "Once Upon A Time" video is here for your enjoyment.

 

And a companion piece.

6-17-17 Official Finish Date!

 

It is official, the casket is complete! 

6-17-17, yesterday, I finished the key tassels.

 

I wrapped the wooden forms with gilt and silver plated Elizabethan Twist.

 

Now I plan to put 4 years of drawings and photos into some kind of cohesive order. 

Then the big finish reveal! 

Casket Progress....It's Getting Close!

 

After posting images of the back panel I decided it wasn't done to my satisfaction.

 

So, using some of the techniques I used for the Casket Toys, I created some swags for the two sides and the top center of the panel.

 

These are the side swags.

 

These are the top arch segments in pieces....

 

...and here is the top arch ready to be added to the casket panel.

 

I also completed the frieze above the Enchanted Forest panel. In the image above, the Golden Rule Mountains projected above the frieze edge just as the do on the side friezes of the casket.

Didn't like it. 

 

Then I tried using Italian wire mesh for the mountains.

Didn't like that either.

 

I decided everything should fit within the frieze area. Images from left to right;

Golden Rule Mountains, Forest, Castle of the Princely Dragon,  Enchanted Forest, Castle of the Dragon Prince, Forest, and more Golden Rule Mountains were added to the right side.

 

Everything in place.

 

Hard at work in my sunny studio!

Forest or Trees......Garden or Flowers.....?

 

Ruthie bids farewell to the Bluebird as she and Joseph head into the Enchanted Forest.

 

The lower back panel is complete. Here are lots of details.

 

A big step in the process never got recorded. What eventually became flowers on the right hand side started out being the trees in the center. I thought for sure I had a photo of it before I took it all apart.

There I go thinking again. 

 

As I start to couch the hills between the trees I realize stitching would be much easier in a frame

 

Many of the hillocks are in place. 

 

Here is a glimpse of my secret weapons for stuffing my tiny figures. I snipped the top of the eye off of large, long darning needles. (Wear safety goggles!) I wrapped the pointed end in masking tape to provide a handle. 

The best mini stuffing tool.

 

Here you can see where the hinges will go.

 

Thanks for visiting!

 

 

 

Panel In Place

 

In Place!

I almost gave up on this piece. So many mistakes in measuring, placement, gluing....... 

 

I'm glad I didn't give up. Yes my name is hard to read but I love the graphic punch of the design.

 

Signature Piece

 

Inside the casket is a panel that slides over the top drawers.

It is the only piece I hadn't covered yet.

 

Here is the embroidery for that panel.

My name is pretty easy to read but graphically I don't like it.

 

Not as easy to read but much nicer to look at.

 

 

 

Casket Back Progress

 

I do have a plan when I start. It is really more of a guide, an inspiration or just an idea.

 

It is rarely followed line by line.

 

But I do have great fun inventing ways to make my vision real.

 

The left hand side of the entry to the Enchanted Forest is pretty much complete.

 

The right hand side has a long way to go.

And yes I have a plan for what happens in the archway. I just haven't been able to make it real yet. 

 

Make America Smart Again*

 

Making Creative Children

 

I think creativity is one of the most powerful human traits we possess.

 

When we deprive children of arts programs, we aren't taking away busywork. 

 

We are taking away a chance to learn problem-solving skills.

 

Life is nothing but full-time problem solving, so why not learn to do it creatively?

 

* Make America Smart Again is a twitter campaign launched by Neil deGrasse Tyson.

Support the NEA.

The artwork and text is from my book, "Making Things A Book of Days for the Creative Spirit." 

(out-of-print) 

Make

Knot In My Backyard

 

This knot garden is stitched with a foundation of silk braided lacet trim basted to a pattern on a fabric base. Those are the red stitches. I always try to use a contrasting color, so much easier, and safer, to remove at the end.

 

Here all of the spaces between the lacet have been filled in with buttonhole stitches.

 

This is how it looks removed from the base and pattern and ready to be stitched into the background of the Enchanted Forest.