Current projects
Over the last while, I have been working on something I’d like to keep a secret for now. Let me just say, it had me completely preoccupied. I could not put it down until I was able to finish the last stages of work possible to accomplish at the moment. Now, I have to take a break from it and let it breathe. I will continue that particular project and reveal it when it’s ready. I am really excited about it!
Aside from that, I have been experimenting with various little bits and pieces. Amongst them are the tiny white bowls you can see in the pictures. I made them with porcelain re-claimed from casting, which always produces some leftovers.
Recycled slip can be added to fresh porcelain, but I decided to use some of it in a different way. I removed excess water from the clay after soaking dry crumbs in it. I added a small amount of paper fibre pulp to the porcelain and dried it off on a plaster batt until it was ready for kneading. In other words, I used the pieces of porcelain cut off from doll parts and discarded during casting to create paper porcelain. It’s not a very good sculpting/modelling material as it lacks plasticity and dries quickly. However, the addition of paper meant I could use it for pinching and made a series of little bowls. They vary in size from about 1 to 4 inches across (2.5 – 10 cm) and can be stacked together. So far, they’ve been very popular with my friends and family as they can be used for food, display, tea-lights etc. And, of course, as doll props! I had fun making them, too. Their simplicity offered a nice break from the very complex and demanding doll-making techniques. I might make some more and consider selling them. But now it’s time to get back to my usual routine :)
