Makes
"Makes" were a special feature of the GSOLFOT (Green Sock on Left Foot on Tuesdays) online miniatures group. The leader of the group, Noni, would announce that there was going to be a Make. She would hound us to sign up right away. After the sign up deadline, she would announce what we would be Making. We would Make for one person only, the one following us on the list when she published it. It was an invigorating and scary activity.
The Window
My first Make was for Yvonne. She was the Keeper of the Moat, she had a control room deep in the dungeons and would raise and lower the water levels and stir things around every so often. I used an disposable underwater camera housing. I attached a sort of egg-beater to the knob, which could actually be turned. Then I made a slimy weedy environment with a serpent winding through it. My biggest challenges were the mechanism attachment, and coming up with the right thickness of gluey stuff to create the weeds.
I received this window from Ivvie, Lady of the Laptop. She used my title of 'Message in a Bottle Finder" to make me a window looking out over the coastline. All kinds of nautical information was at hand- my name in ships message flags above the window. A chart of the world. A semaphore chart and two flags. A chart of the nautical flag alphabet. A time zone chart. A telephone where people could contact me about bottles on the beach. And last but not least a bottle of wine. I mounted this window in my "Office" roombox.
The Trunk
The Trunk Make was another interesting project. We were given a pattern, and were to Make a trunk that reflected the interests of the receiver. My trunk was for Callie. I covered it with flower-patterned
material and added some lace around the edge. Inside I put some more of the lace (a vintage hand-tatted edging I got at a friend's garage sale one year). I also added in some strips of BC cedar that my DH cut for me.
Callie sent me a picture of the trunk in its place in a house. It's at the front on the left.
I recieved the most wonderful trunk from Margaret Hutton, AKA "Margaret OT Bears" (Margaret of the Bears). She had made a limited number of these little green bears, so I was as lucky as could ever be to have her Making for me!
The box that arrived for me had this wonderful little suede trunk. Inside was an adorable little green bear, with a whole bunch of bottles. There was even a baby bottle for the bear! The others all had messages in them.
The box that arrived for me had this wonderful little suede trunk. Inside was an adorable little green bear, with a whole bunch of bottles. There was even a baby bottle for the bear! The others all had messages in them.
The little bear was the focus of a lot of fun.
First I had to wait for him to tell me his name. It finally came to be Orsen Olander, which had something to do with a Scandinavian name meaning "Bear". His nickname became "Ollie Oh-Oh" because he decided to be one of those mischievous character. I would find myself saying "Oh-Oh, what's Ollie up to now?" He became the core of the group of mascots who hung around in the play area on top of the Gazebo. (See my 1/12th scale pages to learn about this.) He tried out toys, he led the mascots into muddles, and he is loved mightily. Margaret's trunk is there on the right, containing the message bottles that she gave me.
First I had to wait for him to tell me his name. It finally came to be Orsen Olander, which had something to do with a Scandinavian name meaning "Bear". His nickname became "Ollie Oh-Oh" because he decided to be one of those mischievous character. I would find myself saying "Oh-Oh, what's Ollie up to now?" He became the core of the group of mascots who hung around in the play area on top of the Gazebo. (See my 1/12th scale pages to learn about this.) He tried out toys, he led the mascots into muddles, and he is loved mightily. Margaret's trunk is there on the right, containing the message bottles that she gave me.
Make for a Pet
We were to Make something pet related for our fellow Sockee. This is Baxter, a mascot. I made things that would be good for a nice doggie to have if he lived in a castle.
I made a basket with his picture on it, and a framed picture to hang on a wall. Then I found a friend for him, so I made them each felt dog coats- Baxter's is green with his initial on it.
There is a bright checkered mat to lie on, (matching the lining of the basket). And of course a pet needs lots of treats for being a good dog, so there are Greenies and MilkBones.
As a little extra, I put in a few irises that I had just learned how to make.
I made a basket with his picture on it, and a framed picture to hang on a wall. Then I found a friend for him, so I made them each felt dog coats- Baxter's is green with his initial on it.
There is a bright checkered mat to lie on, (matching the lining of the basket). And of course a pet needs lots of treats for being a good dog, so there are Greenies and MilkBones.
As a little extra, I put in a few irises that I had just learned how to make.
Peggy was calling herself "The Felting Fool" at the time of this swap. She did needle felting, and made wonderful things. She sent some neat items for Olly. A chair of his own, with his name on it. A mat that looks like a basketball. There is a lovely banner that hangs on the corner of the Playloft wonderful felted doggy friend! And a bowl of food.
Peggy sent me some felting supplies to try out. In the picture of the Playloft above these pix, you see Bluebeary holding Olly on his knee as they sit in the chair. And below them is a goofy yellow dog with a green coat and a green sock on his left front foot.
This is a good example of how miniatures can lead you to try many different crafts. I only made a few more things in felting, and later gave my needles and wool to a friend. But I enjoyed it (well except for the sore fingers when I poked myself with that reaaaaaalllly sharp barb)
Peggy sent me some felting supplies to try out. In the picture of the Playloft above these pix, you see Bluebeary holding Olly on his knee as they sit in the chair. And below them is a goofy yellow dog with a green coat and a green sock on his left front foot.
This is a good example of how miniatures can lead you to try many different crafts. I only made a few more things in felting, and later gave my needles and wool to a friend. But I enjoyed it (well except for the sore fingers when I poked myself with that reaaaaaalllly sharp barb)