Thursday, April 23, 2009

Peg Dolls

Over a month since my last post... I lost my camera for a whole month, I thought I knew where it had been but couldn't find it ... it was found inside a cardboard box, Monty had knocked it in there while trying to climb in. Why do cats love cardboard boxes so much?
I am part way though making some more peg dolls. It has been a long time since I have made any because I need a tiny drill to make their arm holes (in their kebab skewer arms and through their bodies, and holes in their heads for ears too), I don't have one so I borrow one from my brother - Thank you Andrew! Better add it to the wish list....
I'll take a picture when these are complete.

I keep my acrylic paints in a biscuit tin and use the lid as my pallet, I've used the same one for years and it is THICK with paints now. I like the unexpected colour combinations that seem to work together in any small section of it.

I have a new, white notice board - oh the luxury! I have just begun to pin some things onto it and realised that the first three of them are packets of treats, bought mainly for the packaging. We drink the Clipper fairtrade tea usually anyway.... umm and yes, ok, Millionaires Shortbreads are my favorite biscuit so perhaps it wasn't just the packaging!! The oat biscuits though? That was just for the box; packaging sells! There seem to be more beautifully illustrated packets on the shelves now than before, I've never kept boxes before.

Monty is now one year old and we thought he would grow out of his kitten ways and become more independent; he has a little bit, but only about 3%. This is still his favorite place to sleep and it is rare for me to sit at the computer without him running in, jumping onto my lap and pawing at my front until I lift him in, then he is happy curled upside down in my cardigan for hours, even if he really doesn't fit into my clothes and gets quite squashed. If he wants a bit of extra cuddling then he reaches his paw up and strokes my face. He's such a nice little friend - I'm very glad he hasn't grown out of this yet.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

monty is ace, he looks so cumfy.
toodles
joel

~KH_Dweeb~ said...

Hey! I was wondering how you did such neat details for the eyes? I am just getting into the process of making peg dolls with one of my friends and if at all possible would you be able to send us some tips?

bryfer95@gmail.com

Lucy Jane Batchelor said...

I use a really tiny paint brush with barely any hairs at all and I water down the acrylic paint I use a little so I can make very fine lines. I do it in bright light and hold it very close to me... I think I also stop breathing when I do it to keep extra steady but I'm not sure that is a good idea! It takes a bit of practice and patience but if you have a steady hand you should be able to do it too.

Mantha said...

These peg dolls are some of the best i have seen.What do you use for the ears? xx

Lucy Jane Batchelor said...

That's lovely! To make the ears I drill a tiny hole in the head and use a very sharp craft knife to cut tiny ear shapes out of thin card. Then I roll the end of the ear that will go in the hole to make it fit nice and snugly and to give the ear some shape. I put a dab of glue (PVA or UHU) onto the end and slot it in. I paint them once they are in place with acrylic paint to give them a slightly plasticised finish so the paper doesn't get too fluffy over time. Hope that makes sense, if not let me know. Lucy x