Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Lost and Found.....

....or, more accurately, found and lost.



Did some thrifting on Saturday and found some amazing antique and vintage lace, including a vintage tiered lace skirt from the 70s. The old cigar box was crammed with old lace and the very cool lace doilies were found at the same sale.




(click pic if you want to see larger)


My finds shown above....vintage skirt, crochet dresser/vanity set, antique buttons (these were in the cigar box with the lace pieces), wall parrot, lace doilies, antique tart/pastry tins. I've got an idea to use a couple of the pastry tins in a project and hope to try it out this week.



That was Saturday. On Sunday I decided to start work on a couple of Kindreds for my Etsy shop. Next to making the body armatures for these pieces, covering the body with clay is almost as boring and tedious





To speed up the process and also give a smoother finish, the ole pasta maker comes in handy. I set the thickness, plunked the clay in and got ready to 'roll' - literally.





In order to 'roll', I needed the arm (which has an annoying habit of
falling out of the side hole in my machine). Checked the floor where I often find it resting - no arm. (notice the proximity of the m/c to the edge of my table). I then spent almost two hours moving small plastic cabinets, bins, materials and assorted other debris searching for my machine's handle. Made a huge mess, but no sign of the arm.




I've come to the conclusion that when my hubby emptied the waste basket in my room while I was away in Vancouver, the missing arm had probably fallen into the basket and is now residing at the town dump. I usually gather the garbage from this room and automatically watch as the basket contents enter the large green plastic bag. Forgot to mention this to hubby. :(





(apologize for poor lighting, but was too frustrated by this point to retake the pic)

Hopefully I will find another pasta maker at a yard sale or thrift shop but in the meantime I will be rolling out the clay the old way (brute strength).



I don't know about the rest of you, but when something throws a glitch in my creative working plans, I quickly lose interest in tackling that project for awhile (usually a day). I did want to accomplish something though and sculpted this face. I'm thinking I will make a jointed doll with it.






Yesterday I returned to my Kindred bodies and worked on them until my wrist started to hurt (another plus of the pasta maker, not only is it faster, it saves my wrist). I hope to continue with them today but first I have to go downtown and run some errands.



Wishing everyone a creative and wonderful day!





15 comments:

Julia @ Vintage with Laces said...

Hi Sue, You found some great things! The laces are very yummy :-)!
I'm sorry that you lost that arm of the pasta maker. My pasta maker looks pretty much the same and I always have to pick up the arm from the floor at least 2 times when I make pasta. It goes off so easily. They should think of a more practical solution to connect it. Hopefully your arm doesn't get too stressed out from rolling the clay by hand.
Hugs to you,
Julia

Abi said...

Thanks for visiting Sue! Hoe annoying not having the handle - wonder if there is a way of making something to fit in as a make shift handle?....can't wait to see the new K spirits.. they are my fav.

julie said...

yes, glitches...looking for things I know I have somewhere...slow the process...change the mood...let the practical side of things slip, making me wish I was more organized...but I'm pretty sure that isn't going to happen in this lifetime...lol..love, love

Deena said...

Hello Sue! You certainly did find a lot. I especially like the pastry tins, so many things you can do with it. Good luck on the handle situation - perhaps a large dowel? If you suspect hubby for the missing handle, I am sure he will make something else for you to use.

Healing Woman said...

I am constantly looking for just the kind of lace you found at the thrift store for my newly created angels. It is not as easy as you might think here in the States.

Glad you are on a roll with some new pieces despite the disappointment of the pasta machine. I also get way-layed when one of my tools malfunctions. It's so much easier to keep going when the spirit moves you isn't it?

Pearl said...

I can't wait to see the clay creations, so fun to shop for goodies. Have a fruitful week, Pearl

Colleen - the AmAzINg Mrs. B said...

I wish i could be a little fly on the wall and see exactally how you turn clumpy clay into your magnificent creations..you afre amazing!
Love the lace..you did good ;-D

ps- my word verification is "Babine"..sound like a great name for a new fairy!

yoborobo said...

Hi Sue! Well, from one lace addict to another - good one!!! :) I am so sorry about the pasta machine. I think the same thing happened to my favorite ring. I set it on a counter in our kitchen, and it is getting repainted, and I am afraid one of my kids might have swept it into the trash with all the newspapers. My bad completely! Still kicking myself...! xox - Pam

Ingrid Mida said...

Hi Sue,
How fascinating to see your work in progress. I thought I'd try making a doll this summer out of muslin and got so frustrated trying to turn the arms that I gave up! I have a new respect for the craft of doll-making!! Please show me more...

Dianie said...

Hi Sue!
Oh, I love your treasures!!!! A dolly maker can never have to much lace ;)
We must have the same pasta machine. I love mine however, the handle falls out very easily, and it can be very annoying. I hope you can find you a handle....
Love your doll WIP she is a cutie.

~Diane

Lynn Stevens said...

Sue,
I have the same problem with my pasta maker. When I'm finished rolling I usually set it on top of the machine.I'm surprized I haven't lost mine yet. It is frustrating when things don't go right. your doll face looks beautiful already.
great find with your lace and vintage goodies! I'll be looking forward to seeing your finished pieces!
hugs Lynn

Jdee said...

I totally can relate to your post! I keep one of my roll carts by the trash and on it my white paint.. which turned up missing when I needed it most. Like you I sluethed that it fell off into the garbage that sits right by my cart and was long gone... and of course in the process of that sluething I tore my room apart looking for it and then lost interest in what I had started..LOL
At least you got back to your adorable figures! Check eBay for a Pasta machine or even just the hand crank.. that's where I got mine. xoxo

Leslie said...

Lots of goodies!! Great finds Sue. I adore the little guy a few posts back!

Nun of a Kind! said...

Oh, that is too bad about the pasta maker handle! Of course, most of us can relate to having something accidently "hit the bin", never to be found again. Too bad it had to be something that you needed to be creative!
Love seeing your process....can't imagine doing this, and continue to marvel at your talent!

Marcie Hart - A Work Of Hart said...

What a bummer Sue about that handle. Anxious to see your new pieces. I hope to do some wips someday...just never remember to take pictures along the way. Love the lace too!!! Have a great day!!! ;-)