I am a
Nigella
What Flower
Are You?
I also posted another team pink back in the fall, that team came closer to the "big" game though.
The inside hadn't completely dried must to my surprise!?!! But I could see light spots in her head where the paper mache got thin, I also needed to mache underneath the breast plate. Even though it's not going to be seen I feel the more the reinforcement, the better. Before I dragged out my torn newspaper and paste, I might as well as scale the size and prepare the limbs.
This is my materials for my arms and legs, much to my delight I found sheet rock tape kicking around, just waiting for me to grab it!
I fashioned a set of fingers out of cardboard, glued it to my wire, wrapped with batting and secured with the sheet rock tape. It sticks soooo well to the batting! My other alternative was thread, but I'd been forever wrapping, this was much easier. I forgot to say, put your paste in a air tight container, this way it will last.
How time consuming these are! As a matter of fact....dare I say they are harder to do then the head!?! Most of my time was spent spinning the limb in a tight grip so to "skinny" up the long bones. Then what a horrible time I had trying to match the foot size, which BTW is going to be clad in shoes. Jack of all trades made fun of me by calling it club foot. Har! Har! Har!.....Hard, hard, hard!
I applied small bits of paper to the areas I needed to complete on the head and then finger applied the paste as thick as I could, all over.
I added a surprise to the head. C&G Design.
Iris folding is aptly named so for the center of the design, it's said to resemble a iris when done. Originally invented in Holland it's used for scrap booking and card making. I watched a tutorial on YouTube, it's pretty easy when you see it. The patterns are written with the order of placement, ie: 1 first, 2 second, etc. The pattern has each number listed with a color
You cut your outline from the card stock, place it on the pattern and tape strips above the #'s with the right color and in the right order. Your color strips are 1 inch with one side folded 1/3 of the way in. Enlarge the pattern and print off! The center is mostly holographic paper but not necessary. Origami paper is recommended but other paper is welcomed.
I did research on paper mache dolls and the information indicated to use natural material for the head AND I had started with a pine cone. (the book suggested wool roving or straw, I have neither.) I figured the air pockets would allow my piece to dry quicker. Well, madame involved herself again, she reminded me they did a globe in third grade to which they used a balloon then popped it when the project was done. Genius girl I tell ya!
The drying and humidity is a concern of mine, information on the Internet recommended substituting the traditional flour mix with wallpaper glue due to eventual molding from a moist atmosphere. Zinsser is what we used on the house, good product.
Except I mixed it to thick forgetting it needed 10 minutes to set up. Forget it, I had my paste, just stir quickly to avoid lumps.
A stiff brush to wet each layer and work the folds together, I guess. Sounds good.
My first layer. I found it to be very difficult and hoped that from what I read it would become easier, after all....this is sanded. The liter soda bottle made the perfect holder and I wanted a doll about that scale.
By the second layer, I'd added stuffing in strategic places to build my profile and hair.
The third layer produced a bun and tissue added to the face, my hope was to fill little lines and cracks. More on the chin and cheeks to round out the appearance.
Papier Mache originally invented in China as helmets and ultimately the beautiful lacquered furnishing we see. It has become a dieing art. 
It's mostly applied in theoretical or parade floats of today. Meant to be a temporary structure although it's been know to be a room divider and is fairly strong when dried.
The above picture shows the pig molded as paper pulp, today we have what's called paper clay. It's layers of paper which when mixed with water becomes a pliable mold able texture. It's pressed to form objects and can be sanded to a pleasing smooth like appearance.
The more transitional papier mache (sometimes called paper) is done with torn strips of paper laid in a criss cross fashion to form whatever piece is being made. The layers need to air dry unlike paper clay that is frozen in the mold, removed and baked to harden.
I've got a project coming up with traditional papier mache, my first. C&G Design.
It's way cute. Here is the introduction page just behind the cover page.
The graphics are just......something else! Guess now-a-days it's an attraction to everyone.
A toadstool apartment...wonder what that sounds like.....like my first apartment!
" The stars are bright", I'm assuming is Twinkle, twinkle, little star....
The book concludes with "Gateway to Elf land."
Isn't the vase gorgeous? Such texture.
One of the guideline to your choices is to be aware there is food already available. I have to say....eating ran through my mind first! Medicine came second. I've divided my choices by benefit of what each offers. For me....there wasn't a hesitation of what I'd need. 
2. St John's Wart-A interesting little wildflower weed. St John's Wart has many uses as a tea, one being a treatment for mild clinical depression and two....it has antibacterial properties to ward off staph infections. I would need it for it's oil though (by-product of boiling), when rubbed on sore muscles it acts as a anti-inflammatory, and when applied to the skin it acts as a astringent cleanser. We all know that would double as a anti-itch oil, great huh? St John's Wart is my choice for tactile softness and a cushion like grass.
Ah, I've saved the best for last, I've loved many trees from afar but the one I've desired all my life is the....
The oil used as a waterproof glue. The tea, a diuretic (and aspirin!) The sap, a refreshing beer! It's indicated to favor the flavor of root beer for all you excited readers! What I didn't know is it's the tree of the country of Russia, hummmm. Besides, there is something so majestic about a white tree, the paper birch tree is my choice for shade and fragrance as it has a light airy scent when blooming.
and again at the whistle blow......we are a busy set of parents in the winter time, and these basketball games take up our weekends.
My son as his good friend shoveled off the trailer's roof for some pocket cha ching! It hadn't been done yet this year, they did a great job! I can't wait til it's pulled outta here.
Today was a little melodically for me, I spent the day with Madame who played mostly wii while I worked on my newest project.
Madame originally selected a sign for my sign collection, (more on that later) but when she spied this beautiful doll, she decided the sign would go to her brother!
It's a gorgeous porcelain doll, she came with her own stand, markings and a tag that states "Limited collection" on both side, one writing in french. Her marking is on her neck, it's "Den Dee Dolls" collection. I've not been able to find any information on the company so I suspect it's a rather current doll.
Very pretty. C&G Design
It secures the batting to the top and bottom of a quilt, it can be repositioned for up to two months.I hope it works! Wonder why I hadn't heard of this!?!! C&G Design
My contribution this week is several pink stamps, located in a stamp collecting book I've given to Madame. Some were collected by me, some were given to me and some are baggies full I've purchased at flea markets. Madame's project now!
Air mail...Is there such a thing now a days?
Pretty graphic from Peru
Did you ever believe the Army & Navy would have a pink stamp, yep, for defense.
