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Gypsy |
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I'm not going to kid myself that I can make my wagon detailing look exactly like the real thing. Basically, I'm way too lazy to do those intricate carvings. Oh--that, and the fact that I don't know how to carve. On top of that, I actually want to keep it simple because vardos aren't period and the carvings are very Victorian. But, I am going to personalize it as much as I can. The door arch has now been re-cut (I really did do a lousy job the first time) and painted the correct color. I'm working on little plaque things to decorate it. Quill pens for Craig and a goat for me. Turns out, quill pen carvings are really hard to find. I wanted a three dimensional piece, so I bought a couple of those commercially carved wooden filigree thingies at a home improvement store and chopped off matching pieces in approximately the shape I needed for the feather. Then I cut the quill point out of balsa and covered the whole thing with faux gold leaf. I think people will know what it's supposed to be. I'll be doing some background painting on the plaque, and the yellow trim will be receiving extensive detailing. Still just a bit too cold to get outside and do this part, but spring is on the way. |
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Here's the finished centerpiece in place. Carved goat heads are not as tough to find as quills it turns out, but unfortunately the ones I liked tended to be expensive. They're not nearly so easy to cobble together as a pen, either. I eventually took a brass goat hook that I had, molded it in clay (Had to make a version without the hook and alter the shape a bit) and cast it in resin. I waited until it was hard enough and pushed a screw into the back so that I'd have a way to mount it to the wood. A little gold leaf and voila! This one has a bit of painting surrounding it. It should be a nice focal point when everything is done, right above our painted horseshoe. |
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Unfortunately I can't back up enough to show all three finished pieces, but this shows two of them in place. You'll just have to picture the trim all painted. I really am going absolutely nuts right now. I know in a few more weeks I can haul the whole shebang out into the spring sunshine and start painting detail onto everything. But, for now the paint is very flat and uninspired and I can barely stand the wait. C'mon SPRING!! |
