How to make your own - easy! several loops of wire (I used 24 gauge and 17 gauge) tied up together, inserted into a handle (metal handle from a ball pen would do great) and epoxied dead. The diameter of the loops can be changed by inserting a handle into the loop and pulling on it.

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January 19, 2008
More pictures here: http://www.morezmore.com/MistressOfCopperMountain.html

Finally, I had some time to take pictures and write here

She was completely sculpted a few days ago.

She Face and hands are blushed/painted with Genesis paints and heat set by now.

The boot are finished:

And the dress is well on its way. Here is what I have now:

All I have left to do is: 
- make hair and exhuberant kokoshnik - Russian head dress, something like this:

Kokoshnik - Traditional Russian head-dress, known since the 14th century (maybe earlier). It has a great number of versions. From 1698-1700, because of the reforms of Peter the Great, traditional Russian costumes (including the kokoshnik) were replaced by European fashions. In 1836, the kokoshnik was reborn (in the reforms of another Tsar - Nikolas I) as part of court ceremonial women's costume. 

Next, I will decorate her entire outfit with blue and green and silver microbeads which will cover up seams and edges on the dress and give her a tall necklace which will be covering most of her neck, finally large long earrings

Finally, I still need to put a few finishing touches to the base - name plaque and brown oil paint to tie it all together and bring out manzanita wood, felt on the bottom.

- and she will be done.

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January 20, 2008
More pictures here: http://www.morezmore.com/MistressOfCopperMountain.html

Mistress got hair and kokoshnik. The hair is wet at the picture and will be styled later, kokoshnik will decorated with microbeads. The dress will be decorated with microbeads as well. Getting there - almost done.

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January 21, 2008
More pictures here: http://www.morezmore.com/MistressOfCopperMountain.html

I started the beadwork, it is a simple and relaxing but very long process. Here is the result of this morning:

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January 22, 2008
More pictures here: http://www.morezmore.com/MistressOfCopperMountain.html

More beadwork this morning:

Here is what I have now:

HOW TO DO THIS BEADING:

You will need:

-- microbeads - the beadwork you see on the picture above was done with 1 tiny 10 gm "gift" baggie of silver beads (0.5 mm) and a few larger metallic green and clear green microbeads (1.2 mm).
-- crystal lacquer
-- brush liner
-- toothpicks
-- steady hand and lots of time

1) if you are not sure of design - trace it with a pencil or a needle - or just go for it and be just creative, that is what I like to do.
2) with a liner brush paint a thin line of crystal lacquer about 0.25" long.
3) wet a toothpick and pickup a few microbeads
4) plop the microbeads onto the line
5) with a toothpick navigate them to their proper location one at a time (they will slide and float on crystal lacquer).
6) repeat as many times as needed

Keep your brush in water and have a napkin for wiping it. Crystal lacquer dries on it otherwise.


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March 8, 2008

Mistress of Copper Mountain is done!
Here is the auction link:
http://www.morezmore.com/MistressOfCopperMountain.html


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March 18, 2008

I promised to post pictures of packing a sculpt.

Mistress is sewn to a "bed" - piece of cardboard, wrapped in soft foam. There is a "cushion" under her back so that the hands are in the air. The string goes around her waist and ankles.

The "bed" fits tightly into the box and can be removed with the help of two string loops on top and bottom.

A tight fitting lid - the same as the "bed" - goes on top. The strings have instructions stickers - no need to make a challenge out of unpacking the sculpture. The person who will be unpacking will see the instructions in this order:

This box is bundled up in bubble wrap. The base is wrapped in foam and then in bubble wrap as well and placed into boxes.

The boxes are closed and placed in the third, final outer box (I forgot to take a picture of that one, so you have to imagine it. The final box is filled with peanuts.


Before closing it, print and include the Certificate of Authenticy. I got the decent-looking certificate paper with matching folders and golden seal stickers at Staples and printed the certificate on my printer. I wrote the text myself, as I couldn't find any sample text. You are welcome to use the text, please modify it so that it is not a carbon copy of mine:

Certificate of Authenticity
Mistress of Copper Mountain
Norezmore Art Doll # 19

This certifies that this sculpture is an authentic One Of A Kind (OOAK) Morezmore Art Doll, hand sculpted by artist Natasha Landerer. This doll is an original creation and will never be reproduced or duplicated.  This is to certify that the statements contained herein are true and correct.
This 18th day of March, 2008                Natasha Landerer _____________

These are unpacking instructions:

http://www.morezmore.com/galleries/PackingTut/xl_Unpacking_instructions.jpg