2nd.DG Victorian Santa Workshop - Now the fun begins..#4

At this time while we are playing with styroballs, we may as well do the head...

Because you will have to glue the face to the ball we'll have to do some slicing...BECAUSE, can't glue a flat surface (santa) to a round surface (styroball) lol because it just wouldn't work now would it...

with a knife and the large ball you have, slice just enough - probably about 1/8th of the rounded portion in order to create a flat surface to which you will put a substantial amount of hot glue so that they adhere..you'll hear a little bit of crackling at the point..so don't panic..

when you put the Santa face on the ball, do put the top of his head at same level as the top of the ball

Should look like this, I used some of my gold glue sticks just to give you an idea of how much glue I used...

How are we doing, you probably want a break about now right????
I'd offer you a muffin but you know just how well I cook...don't mind if you pass on them

Maybe we should dress him right?

Again reminding you that in the photo's I've got batting, you will NOT!!!!

Sometimes at this point it's nice to have a 2nd pair of hands but not a must..you just have to work a little more tediously...

you've got your sleeve which has been gathered top and bottom right...one end of the sleeve has a hemline, this hemline it the end you will be attaching to the hand...the cut-rough edge will go at the top of the arm and hidden in the next process...

can you see why we gathered leaving the thread on the outside of the material just above your hemline...

SOMETHING TO WATCH FOR...when attaching the sleeves and robe, make sure that the seam in underneath to arms where it doesn't show and also in the robe, seam in the back...

Not trying to treat you all like little children, but I mention it because in a hurry I have done the opposite...hope you don't mind...

I gathered it tightly, wrapped the extra thread around the wrist area, secured tightly....then GENTLY pulled the material down over the hand so I could put a lot of hot glue inside, pull the sleeve back up, push gathered velvet tightly around the hand and it's secure when cool..

Now it's time to gather the upper part of the sleeve but BEFORE YOU DO, pull apart a few pieces (go lightly) of batting and insert in the sleeve..you don't want it thick, just enough to give the sleeve a little body...gather as tightly using the nail to secure the upper sleeve..wrap the thread around a few times and tie off, then I used a bit of hot glue in that area to tack the sleeve to the dowel...and just a bit where gathered so if the thread breaks it's secure...now be carefull you don't want glue all over your material...I kind of go in a circular motion with the glue gun to burn off any glue strands...

It's time now the do same with the 2nd sleeve...your santa (MINUS the batting on the body) should look like this..

Again at 6am and not realizing I would do this, some of the photo's won't be the best...but, these are basically for AnnMarie...I'll provide better photo's/more detail later for all of you...just wanting to try and save her postage...

OMG am I all alone in this craft room...it's ok..I'll turn the Christmas music on..don't you just love the Elvis duet music that is playing?

now I start adding the gown, remember my seam is behind and I carefully lift it up and rest it gently on the arms while I work on the piece...

You've gathered the back neckline haven't you...it's time to gather it as tightly as you can...secure the pulled thread around the nail several times and secure...I now take the glue gun and put a fairly good amount of hot glue just behind (bad side) the gathered section so that it glues the gathered area so if the thread breaks it will still be secure and I also press it into the dowel to secure....this happens just below the nail...

Now I do same with front part...gather, secure to nail, add glue for extra strength...when complete I take my gun and add glue where all the thread is on the nail, again just incase it was to break...when cool you can proceed with next step...

You will see how nicely at this point that the folded edges of the gown blend in the the sleeves...no cut edges right...


LOOKING good...

Betty, gardenglory can be found on the quilting thread.

I added more glue to the bottom of the nail at this point and pushed my head (styro part) into the nail to secure...at this point you can either have his face up a bit, looking up, or in a straight position or looking down slightly..it just depends on how you set the styroball on the nail...

Will go look for her Marion...tks...I was getting lonely, so glad you are here with me...

I am here too Betty...Watching very carefully...

I've a question!
Ok, the gathering on the hem of sleeve, I s that to be done very loose at first and then pulled tighter when arm is stuffed??

Now comes the fun part, but YOU CANNOT RUSH this step or the hair will not turn out...

The braid I sent you is amazing, that's why I waited until I could get an order..it's what makes the santa..does come a little darker and it's totally preference as to the shade...difficult to find...

So what we will do is take that braid, cut about 1", then fold what is left and cut again...you now have 2 equal pieces and a 1" piece...right?

Yes Judy, very loosely but at this point NO stuffing....the thread should be at the wrist part of the sleeve about 1/4 to 1/2" up from the edge....and...thread gathered should be on the good side of the material...

At the wrist you are pulling the thread so material gathers quite tightly, then the thread wrapped around in the crease so you don't see it, a couple times and secured...this is done so that when you pull the sleeve back down over the piece so you can add glue inside where it doesn't show, then pull up the sleeve again and squeeze the material into the wire as to secure when cool...

Add just a few little pieces of batting to the inside of the sleeve, now this is where we gather the top part, pull tightly, hope you don't break the thread (that's why we use good quality thread right, not the 2 for $1.00 thread..lol) wrap the excess thread around the nail Judy to secure and at this time add hot glue to give it just that little bit more stability...

Am I making sense???

If not, you'll have to wait till I get home later this aft. so I can take a proper photo...

Is Donna gapeahen? Deborah (Cordeledawg) might help you with that. If you have any left I will gladly send the money for some more. Just let me know. Off to finish errands I didn't do yesterday.

Can you imagine that this braid most likely will do your large santa and could pretty well if you do it correctly do the 2nd smaller face I sent you.

Same photo for you to take a good look at the cutting...

No Marion, Gapeahen kindly sent me her $$$ with a lovely note...., the other Donna I think I had to send the kit to Deborah (Cordele) which I did...just don't want some not to do the Santa after showing their interest...

Understand. You are so thoughtful. Now it is off and running.......

I'm here, Betty! SOOOOO excited!!

So this is where you show PATIENCE and take your TIME!!!!
Important that you do this...

let's start with the 1" piece...easier to learn on it...

holding it with my 2 hands (braid going up and down as per photo)
I gently start to pull ever so softly to start giving it width using my fingers...little area at a time re width...working from top of the braid to the bottom of the 1" braid...

Don't have a photo of me doing it with the 1" piece but what I'm doing with the longer one is the same...see, not much width but I have gently worked it out just slightly wider than the original braid...

Ok, back on track, I think! LOL

After I've unravelled it just a bit from top to bottom I go back and start to pull it gently again width wise to make it even wider...

NO RUSHING, ever so gently...work it wider from top to bottom...

See it's getting wider??? if you go tooooo quickly you'll end up just with a pile of fluff....ask me I know..lol

Remember you are on the 1" piece right?

I work it until I have it wide enough to cover the top part of the painted head, not behind or on the sides of the styroball just top part and enough hanging over the painted piece so we can glue to hide the painted hair...remember just light dobs of glue..you DON"T want glue seeping through the hair...


wonder why I went through so much trouble to paint the entire piece when you'll not see it.....just so you didn't panic when I sent it to you..lol

OHHHH BAD HAIR DAY!!!!

But that's ok at this point...it's just glued to the top of styro ball - hides where the ball and top of santa piece are glued together and down slightly just enough for the painted hair ridge...

Wish I had taken a closer photo, but you understand...6am, getting ready for work doesn't leave much time...BUT the good news is...this is a test run, I'll be able once home find out what is not clear, take photo's and post for you all...

Let the brave ones try it first I always say!

Now when you look at yours which is the same as in the photo, you will be very cautious not to add big gobs of glue, just a light dap enough to glue the hair to cover and hide the painted hair...

Is that confusing to you?

Now we take the 2 long pieces of hair braid and work them out as well, GENTLY girls, we want the wave left in...you will work the piece of wave hair until it's approx 1/2 of the painted beard width..

It is NOT glued there as yet, I just placed it there to show you the approximate width you are aiming for...

You will notice how long it is...MUCH MUCH too long but when we've finally got it all worked out we'll cut it to length and you'll already have your piece for the small santa... sound ok to you?

Now with the 2nd piece you will see that I've put 1/2 the width to the left and 1/2 the width to the right so that there will not be a visable division right in the front of the beard....

I started to pull the strand in 2 for each side and I was creating the fluff I didn't want you to have... so took my trusted scissors and carefully snipped down the length...

Here's what bad me was doing...see the fluff

Now we're ready to glue it to the face...

Don't know about you but sometimes those glue guns can be messy or rather me.. so I just took a plastic bag, draped it under the head so that if I made a mess with the glue, I'd not ruin the beautiful velvet...

Smart thing to do..

Just below his lip line I put a bead of hot glue to secure the main piece of wave hair ...then with the piece I divided, I went up to match the piece on top of his head and glued it, did same on the othe side...

At this point there is 2 distinct division lines in the beard, I'll have to wait until I get home around 4:00 to show you the few last steps, then it will be up to you as to how you decorate...

SORRY...but I did have to leave for WORK!!!!

Wow!!!! That is looking so neat!!! I can't wait to see them all completed!!!

still nead hair on mustache..lol

Newhobby, I'll be the most excited, to see how they turn out, all the creativity and ideas...so looking forward to it...

I've almost caught up with you all. Got everything sewn, just have to do the gathering on the material. Got the body and head done too.

Here is Cowboy, dressed up like a candy corn for Halloween.

and another one.

Great Therapy Betty!!

Um another question. OK I am now at the point to add robe, was I suppost to wrap it first with the polly or is it to be done after robe is on??

Judy dropping in for a visit I am..lol..

No poly yet...just attach it as per my instructions, then if you want just a touch of fullness, you could add a bit to the dowel, I'm finding I don't need it because it's velvet..perhaps those who are using a softer lighter weight might need some..but I'd wait until it's almost done...

Ok, gotchya...
LOL, might be gone a while when do face...

...hemnahemna I nervous about that one,
remember watching you so will be very careful and slow.

Must send a d-mail to everyone later tonight for those who have not been visiting the site for awhile just so as not to not include everyone...

bye for now

Betty, Donna (gapeahen) got her kit and she will sent hers for me to esemble and I also got mine as well.

oh oh, saw the name Donna, thought it was a different Donna so shipped her one and one to you to do for her....some days I can screw up the Lords Prayer...off to clean..

oh Betty! thank you so much for posting all this today!

unfortunately, there is no room in moms suitcase after all :( but I can do her santa and ship it and it should arrive just a few days after she does! lol!

I had no idea that the airlines charges $20 per bag to check luggage! she arrived with 2 bags, but for the ride home she is stuffing everything in just one bag so she can save money.

A friend of ours passed away last year, she was a doll maker and had many, many dolls that she made. mom and I visited with her husband today and he gave my mom the last three dolls that Flo made before she passed on. They are absolutely adorable! they are three child christmas carolers in lil knitted sweaters and hats. mom didnt have room for those in the suitcase either, so I will ship the dolls to her and put santa in there too.... she'll be just expecting the carollers! lolol!

I'll get working on mine tomorrow and post if I have any questions... it looks pretty simple so far :o)

AnjL