Going for broke (just a bit!)

Oh me, oh my! 
What have I gone done now? 
I've only gone and ordered 100 Twelvemo Figures, haven't I!
So I'm just the tiniest bit excited and the tiniest bit broke. For tiniest bit please read massive enormous amount!


I haven't taken any more photos of the factory sample though, as I've been too busy having massive enormous fun with lots lovely people in  Co. Wexford in S.E. Ireland! The occasion was the very first exhibition at the new Sweet Shop Gallery in Rosslare Strand, and I sold a piece of work at the private view which was an extra good start to my little holiday! 


This is the work that sold, called Dandelion Clock. It's an old clock and barometer housing from the 1920s, with a falling white Twelvemo figure in one side and a parchment rose, laser cut from three layers of high quality hand-made paper, in the other. Both the circles are glazed with magnifying glass lenses. 

So, that was rather pleasing. What I don't understand though, is that having taken this item out in my hand baggage  (it must have been taking up 75% of the space available) and left the work there, my bag was every bit as full and heavy when I packed to leave again! It's not as if I cought anything really while I was there, and a friend has brought my beach souvenirs (a few rocks) back in his car, so how come?

It's so sweet, it really is! And Serena is going get so fit serving up the sweeties (stretch and twist and lift and so on) proper old fashioned ones ones, while the grown-ups can look at the art work. 


Go visit the Sweet Shop Gallery's Facebook page and 'like' it if you like it, and visit it in real life if you really like it! 
The Sweet Shop Gallery (facebook)

Anyway, when my holiday got too exciting I went to sleep in a bed made up with silk filled duvets and pillows, imported from Thailand by my friend where I was staying. How luxury is that! I'd never heard of such a thing but they are really lovely to sleep in and very surprising prices! Surprising in a good way - I thought they'd be way more costly! Have a look if you fancy really pampering yourself. I will when I have sold enough Twelvemo Figures. And paid off the massive overdraft - that probably should come before silk bedding, to be honest.
The Silk Connection (website)

Baby Love!

Reasons to be cheerful (part one)

Yesterday was very frustrating. DHL tried to deliver the sample but it had been sent to my home address not my work address (as I'd actually requested) so I had difficult mobile phone chats and sent erroneous emails to undeliverable addresses trying to change the delivery address, and sending messages via websites and goodness know what.... Wrote a long note to put on the door saying 'Please try two sets of neighbours or come to my place of work in town. Practically begging, I was. (I couldn't stand the thought that the parcel had got all the way to my front door but that I might not get it till after the weekend!)

Bless 'em, the courier comoany, they came up with my goods and I picked them up from reception this afternoon! Worked my way through about 6 layers of packaging and inside a plastic bag, a card board box,  a layer of padded foam, a cardboard tube, another plastic bag, and loosely wrapped with two of those flimsy cloth gloves that you handle artwork with... were two Twelvemo figures. Two! Two is great because I can try out a finish on one of them and that makes the research and development slightly less scary. They had sent a photo and the neck looked too long so I think they adjusted and re-cast. Two is also good because I really do get the impression that this is going to be a consistent product. 

I can't tell you how pleased I am with them! The pieces are nice and clean, with a fine matt surface. The joints feel nice and tight (some of them almost squeak) which is really good for holding her poses, but they don't feel like they are straining and it was well worth the re-working that I did on one or two leg joints. 

Hope you like the photos... Please share them if you do! I'll add some more info and images tomorrow, but for now I'm too knackered and need to sleep. 

But, before I forget...

Reasons to be cheerful (part two)

This week I have also done the following: 

1. talked to a man about going to Japan later this year
2. bought a plane ticket for a long weekend in Southern Ireland where I will have art work in a new gallery that is opening in Rosslare: https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Sweet-Shop-Gallery/315135451893575
3. been sent some cool soundtracks to go with a short animation I have made: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Twelvemo/254363451283318   (soundtracks by http://www.lamsound.com/)
4. been given an almost completely intact shed skin of a five foot boa constrictor called Buddy 
5. nurtured my lawn which I have been sitting on in the sun, Friday evening, with a gin and tonic

OMG Sample from China!!!

The good news is that I've at last received the sample from the factory in China! That's right, folks - a factory in China! (Don't ask me how you go about finding a factory in China to do your bidding! You just have to be brave and work it out for yourself... That's what I'm doing... It may yet end in tears but I hope not.)

The bad news is that I really don't like the re-modelling I did on her face. You'll see what I mean if you look at the pics below. I knew I'd gone too far, but I hoped I was wrong. I could hardly seem to see her in the end and I HAD to get on with other things. Anyhow, I didn't have time to put it right. So things will be delayed a bit while I have another go... 

The good news is that  I don't care! Overall she's lookin' pretty good. She came assembled, but I'll have to do all the assembly myself with the ones I order. The pieces are nice and clean though. There are one or two little flaws which can be resolved pretty easily.

It's obvious isn't it, which one's nicest, by a long chalk? She kind of took on a weasel-faced, pointy look which isn't what I want. I had obviously gone slightly mad!

Am now going to get the box of little tools out again and plug in the digital microscope (*rubs hands gleefully). It's good to have had a break from focusing so closely on such a small thing for such a long time and it's really clear to me what I need to do now.

(Please follow and share the blog if you like the Twelvemo project. I don't know much about blogging, but I know I want to have a following... I think that's the general idea.  Not stalkers...

I'm sure I should be following other peoples blogs if I want them to follow mine. So far the only one I am following is this which has made me LOL more than once.

http://diaryofadolescrounger.blogspot.co.uk/

Can anyone recommend a blog that will blow me away? I don't know how to find them. The world is awash with blogs but there is so little time and I'd rather be trawling the junk-shops or remodeling a tiny nose. I want a hot fresh, funny blog or two served to me on a plate. Please.

Must go!

:-D

Once upon a time...

I just can't help it... I do lots of different things; illustration, sculpture, animation, model-making, book binding, photography, poetry and all sorts. I'd like to use this platform to record and share what I am making or doing with anyone that might be interested. 

So first of all here's the poster promoting the exhibition I have showing at the moment, in Norwich (UK). It's on till the 28th April. I worked like crazy to get 12 pieces of work done and am very happy with how they look and with the response the work has received, which has been warm and enthusiastic.  These are photos taken in the space, so not exactly studio shots, but I think you'll get the general idea...