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Hello! I started this post two days ago, and then sort of drifted off back to work, because I just couldn't leave the britches alone, that I was making for a Hare.
This sort of thing has been my world for a long time now, because if it's not britches or a shirt I'm sewing by hand for a Hare, I'm drawing animals on their hind legs walking around and acting like humans, for the childrens books I do. And the thing is, I can see exactly how unusual all this might look to many people, it's not as if I think it's normal.................. Hugo returns from working in an office, dealing with people's problems all day, to Hares, Mice, Pigs, and Dogs being fitted for aprons or slippers or whatever. It must seem like I'm living in a strange world. But when I open the invisible door into that world, stepping from reality into fantasy, it all seems completely normal, absorbing and real to me.
My friend Bob has just left with baby Nancy, (Nancy of the strawberry outfit featured in this post), they came over for a cup of tea. Nancy's nine months old now, and crawling. She has the biggest grin, which she flashes charmingly. She's ever so petite. A little bundle of smiles and joy. Very cuddleable. Babies are so sweet, but because they can't talk, a bit of a mystery, I always want to know what they're thinking. I really like it when they start to talk, and voice their opinions.
Which brings me to the very grown-up Millie, (who isn't quite into double figures age-wise yet), but is very much a tremendous character. This isn't Millie my Niece, but Millie who belongs to Lisa of beautiful blog Bobo Bun. Lisa commissioned me to create a piece of work, capturing Millie before she walks into her teens. Millie loves sheep, and all sheep are Beautiful Betty's to her.
By very kind permission of Lisa, I'm showing you the piece I made for her.
When I started this piece, I asked what Millie is like, does she have any favourite clothes, is there anything significant and meaningful Lisa would want me to incude in the piece. The striped t-shirt with the picture of the sheep on the front is one of Millie's favourite tops, and she adores the colour purple. Lisa sent me photos of Millie, and was keen I capture a certain smiley expression of Millie's.
Lisa has given me permission to feature a couple of photos of Millie, so that you can contrast and compare the real Millie with the sculpture of her.
So here are the photographs I used as reference, above, and below we have Millie's face, showing my endeavor to recreate something of her lovely expression.
And then we have Betty the Sheep. Beautiful Betty.
Betty has a bit of a blue rinse.
Millie has a jar beside her bed, it's for the fund she's building up, so she can buy a sheep, or rather, a Beautiful Betty.
I loved making this piece. Whilst I had a brief, I still put something of myself into it.
And whilst the figure of Millie is not an exact replica of the real Millie, I hope I've captured a little of her magical spirit.
Thankfully Lisa is thrilled with the piece, absolutely delighted. Always a relief!
Well, Hugo and I have been invited out for supper tonight, so I'd better get going. Have a good weekend! Cheerio! Love Vanessa xxx
Vanessa, I bet she is absolutely tickled pink. I know I should be.
It's simply wonderful you clever girl!
Have a lovely weekend.
Hx
Posted by: Heather | March 04, 2011 at 07:11 PM
Hope you had a lovely evening. I'm back in the technical world again (hooray) so I stopped by here straight away. Just shown Mike, he was speechless with delight and then he said with awe 'simply stunning' and how thrilled Millie will be on her birthday.
Only a bit longer that I have to keep this secret.
Have a great weekend Vanessa you super talented creator of creatures and mischievious little Millie's.
Lisa x
Posted by: Bobo Bun | March 04, 2011 at 07:17 PM
Just crazy go-go-GORGEOUS! :-)
Posted by: tinajo | March 04, 2011 at 07:34 PM
Hello
I'm very impressed! Beautiful, wonderful, loved!
Kisses!
with love
Marcia
Posted by: Márcia | March 04, 2011 at 07:37 PM
Very impressive. You always inspire me to want to have a go at papier mache!
Posted by: Amy | March 04, 2011 at 07:55 PM
Beautiful girl and a beautiful figurine. No wonder Lisa is delighted, what a treasure.
Carol xx
Posted by: Carol | March 04, 2011 at 07:59 PM
Oh Vanessa that is absolutely brilliant!! What a wonderful likeness of Millie it is.
Beautiful. :)
Vivienne x
Posted by: greenrabbitdesigns | March 04, 2011 at 08:04 PM
Hello Vanessa! You have made Millie and Betty so beautiful! Millie looks very alike and both of them have so sweet smile! Your small, qute animals are so sweet and alive that I would like to hug and kiss them! You are an unique talent and I wish I could open that invisible door, too!
I wish you sunny and happy weekend! Teje
Posted by: Teje | March 04, 2011 at 08:19 PM
Smashing - your little sculptures are the best Vanessa.I yearn for a smiley amenable sheep just like that one to keep my grass short and fertilised.
Posted by: Kate | March 04, 2011 at 09:39 PM
Hi Vanessa,
Millie & Betty are beautiful, just beautiful. I love the wide smile on Betty`s face.
You`re brilliant.
Love Carole from Rossendale xxx
Posted by: Carole | March 04, 2011 at 09:40 PM
Amazing likeness - you are sooooo very clever!!! Cannot wait to see your next papier mache!!
Jane x
Posted by: jane smallcombe | March 04, 2011 at 09:49 PM
Vanessa, you are AMAZING! And you're obviously having a wonderful time! Carry on papier macheing darling girl!
Posted by: mlleparadis | March 04, 2011 at 10:16 PM
I just want to walk up to that gorgeous sheep and tickle it behind the ears! Your work is amazing, Vanessa.
Posted by: Vintage Squirrel | March 04, 2011 at 10:59 PM
I am AMAZED at the face you painted for the little Millie! So adorable and life-like. Wonderful! You really captured her smile.
Posted by: Jen | March 04, 2011 at 11:02 PM
Vanessa, this is just wonderful! Having had a go at papier mache, I know how damned hard it is, so for you to be able to create to this standard leaves me speechless (well, almost). How you actually get a papier mache figure to really look like a real person, I just don't know. The whole work is beautiful sheep, stand, everything. Lucky lucky Lisa and Millie (what a lovely little girl she is too). I hope you might create something in papier mache with a sewing bias (ha ha) one day? Hope you had a good supper and have a lovely weekend.
Hen x
Posted by: Hen | March 04, 2011 at 11:16 PM
Wow, wow and wow. You are one talented gal.
Posted by: Crochet Galore | March 04, 2011 at 11:35 PM
Vanessa, what a wonderful job you have done. Portraiture is so difficult, never mind 3D, and you've 'got' her so well. Luck girl whose Mum commissions such a piece. I do hope she gets her sheep.
Posted by: Rattling On | March 04, 2011 at 11:46 PM
Vanessa, you are a true artist. Your talent is so special and unique. I would be so honored to have a piece of your work. Maybe someday! The little girl looks just like her, I wouldn't think that possible but you did it!!! Congratulation on your masterpiece! xoRobin❤
Posted by: Robin | March 05, 2011 at 12:10 AM
Dear Vanessa, thank you for sharing this delightful paper mache sculpture with us! I was the 4-H Dairy Goat leader for my 3 children and this takes me back to them showing their goats in the County Fair. Fun memories. I could only dream of having such a beautiful piece of art like this to mark those lovely memories.
Hugs from Teresa in Oregon
Posted by: Teresa Kasner | March 05, 2011 at 12:14 AM
Wow! I think you have captured her beautifully!!
Posted by: Jaki | March 05, 2011 at 12:29 AM
Absolutely incredible!! Millie looks just like Millie - but her socks make me think of you. Love, love LOVE it! I would love to be able to live in your creative world for a week. What bliss!
Posted by: Laura | March 05, 2011 at 03:28 AM
Absolutely think you have captured her spirit. What a lucky little girl to have a mum who thinks of these things, and you to translate!
Posted by: Karen Barrett | March 05, 2011 at 06:22 AM
Amazing. Absolutely incredible how you managed to make the little figure look so alike!
Posted by: Elena | March 05, 2011 at 06:35 AM
Your papier maché figures are truly wonderful Vanessa. So charming. I love all the things you create but these are my favourites. Millie and Betty are gorgeous. I would be thrilled to death to have something like that for my daughter.
Posted by: Sue | March 05, 2011 at 08:54 AM
your work just seems to be getting more and more amazing - you are really clever
Posted by: Janice Perkin | March 05, 2011 at 09:43 AM
Amazing, it looks just like her, you are very talented.
Posted by: Catriona | March 05, 2011 at 11:46 AM
Vanessa you are a marvel!! So lovely and I love Betty's blue rinse....I agree with Millie there would be nothing better to save your pennys for :-) Gorgeous as always and I am sure it will be treasured :-)
Posted by: Jenni at Baa-me Kniits | March 05, 2011 at 11:55 AM
She is perfect!
Have a beautiful day,
Meredith
Posted by: Meredith | March 05, 2011 at 02:02 PM
Oh, I LOVE your stuff!
BTW - just bought a copy of the pig book!
Posted by: Penny Peberdy | March 05, 2011 at 03:11 PM
Oh Vanessa, this is beautiful!! And what a great idea from Lisa. I will remember to ask you to do something similar in 8 years time!! :))
Posted by: Veronika | March 05, 2011 at 06:13 PM
Stunning!
June.
Posted by: June | March 05, 2011 at 07:43 PM
Double WOW. It's your best piece yet. Lucky Millie.
Posted by: Catriona | March 05, 2011 at 08:35 PM
Oh my word this is just AMAZING!!!!!!! you are so clever Vanessa!!!
Absolutely love it!!!!
Posted by: Jo Harratt | March 06, 2011 at 12:04 AM
This really is amazing, you are so talented every mother would want to own one of these works of art. just wonderful.
Posted by: Jeanette | March 06, 2011 at 12:13 AM
Oh, it's wonderful...
I wish you could make one for my granddaughter...maybe when she's older, bit difficult to convey a 8 month old's character??
Take care
Posted by: Jude | March 06, 2011 at 10:17 AM
Vanessa this is gorgeous! and your little girl is uncannily like Millie! Lisa will be thrilled!
Posted by: Gill | March 06, 2011 at 04:43 PM
Miss Millie is a very lucky little girl and in for a big treat come her birthday. You absolutely caught her little imp of a smile - and I'm loving the fact that you are sending her a pair of fairisle socks. Beautiful Betty should be very happy too, that she is going to a home that will love her so much.
I adore your world Vanessa! It's quite magical.
Posted by: Liz in Missouri | March 06, 2011 at 05:02 PM
This is incredible! You really captured the that smile of Millie. Oh, I love this so much. You truly have a gift.
Posted by: K Blue | March 06, 2011 at 06:19 PM
How incredibly talented you are, this is just so so beautiful. I love it so much and it captures Millie so wonderfully. You are so wonderful! Best wishes Anne
Posted by: Anne | March 06, 2011 at 08:37 PM
Amazing work, Vanessa! To capture a likeness as well as making something so decorative is sooo clever - you really are incredibly talented. I do love the figures of pretty little Millie and the adorable Betty and the delicious colours you have used too...marvellous!
Helen x
Posted by: Helen | March 06, 2011 at 09:02 PM
Just amazingly gorgeous! You are so, so, so talented!:-)
Posted by: ilsa-fay | March 07, 2011 at 12:15 AM
And there you go again...knocking my socks off with your amazing talent... wow...
Posted by: The Curious Cat | March 07, 2011 at 11:43 AM
I have met Millie and this is uncanny Vanessa. What truly wonderful, joyful work.
Posted by: Emma | March 07, 2011 at 02:10 PM
With the first picture my thought was, "How does she get the faces so perfect?!" Scrolling down, my thoughts in exclamations, were "How does she do that?!!" You are an amazingly talented gal!
Posted by: Judi A. | March 07, 2011 at 03:40 PM
This piece has literally just brought tears to my eyes Vanessa. You are amazing, Tam xxxx
Posted by: Tam | March 07, 2011 at 09:33 PM
that's amazing you are so talented - I'm so in awe of your talent I've never been able to do papier mache not even able to cover a balloon so to create such lovely sculptures is wonderful.
x
Posted by: Janette | March 07, 2011 at 10:30 PM
What a lovely thing to have! You've done an excellent job!
Dawn x
Posted by: Dawn Nelson | March 09, 2011 at 11:42 AM
Wow, papier mache Millie and the real Millie are very alike. She's beautiful! I like the sheep as well, she has such a nice expression on her face.
Posted by: Jacqueline | March 09, 2011 at 07:58 PM
Hopefully my internet connection is steady again now and not going to keep falling off (I lost a couple of comments over the last week since I first saw this post). I can't get over this one Vanessa, I was staggered by it to be honest. You are so clever! If I was Millie's Mum I would be carting this piece around and showing anyone and everyone and then when I had finished showing it off I would lock it a way in a harm-proofed cabinet to protect it forever! I would have adored a piece of art like this based on my daughter, it would be so special. You have got Millie's smile perfectly and encapsulated the two photos into the models likeness beautifully. It is a really stunning piece of work - amazing to see her immortalised in this way. I love the sheep too - definitely deserving of being no 1 in the show, such a dear little face. All the details are just wonderful - like the little sheep on Millie's jumper. What a fabulous commission. I bet Millie adores it too. A big favourite with me!
Posted by: Siobhan | March 11, 2011 at 05:37 PM
What a magical peice. Lisa told me today that she'd commissioned a piece from you. Its absolutely lovely. Such wonderful talent. I'm sure she'll be thrilled.
Have a lovely week.
Stephx
Posted by: Steph | March 14, 2011 at 09:04 PM
These are lovely ... I'm sure you say how they're made (papier mache, I'm guessing) but the way you capture expression in the faces (human and animal) is exquisite ... do you do workshops?
Thanks!
Posted by: S King | March 19, 2011 at 03:20 PM