Harlow A Golden Witch

 

Harlow a Fancy Witch

   Tall               Wide              Deep                          (Sitting)

    29”               17”               15”

 

Harlow is a Fancy girl all costumed in black and gold.

Her pantaloons are a rich gold cotton fabric – edged with black beaded lace appliques. Her underslip is an offwhite soft tulle and she has an overslip of black spider web soft tulle.

Her blouse is an off white cotton accented at the cuffs with beaded appliques and black spider web tulle and is has a soft lacey black collar.  The sleeves are highlighted with criss crosses from black and gold metallic threading.  Her full skirt is a black cotton with a raised gold pattern (much like polka dots) of little diamond shapes, skirt is under hemmed with gold cotton fabric.  Her short overskirt is gold silky fabric with black polka dots and edged with black and clear beading.  Her belt is black velvet with an applique of black beads.

Her blackish/grey hair is a great wool blend that frames her face and is styled to a soft bun in the back. Her hat is fabricated from the same fabric as her skirt and is embellished with golden net ribbon, tulle, netting, fabric flowers, feathers and gold beads.

Her accenting jewelry includes gold and crystal drop earrings, a gold cuff bracelet and a spider and web brooch on her collar. She also has a sweet little black pumpkin with a knob for a stem and is studded with gold and accented with a touch of gold leaf paint.

Chef Bones

 

Chef Bones

 

            Tall                  Wide              Deep                          as shown sitting

Chef     24”                10”                  7”

Sign      7.5”                5”                  4”

 

Chef Bones is costumed in orange and black plaid cotton pants accented at the cuffs with black and orange polka dot cotton and embellished with a couple black skull buttons.

His shirt is a black cotton fabric accented with black and whited striped cotton, the buttons are silver look and he has a touch of aged cheesecloth at his neck.

His hat is made from a heavy off white cotton. He holds a small whisk that has a touch of aged cheesecloth on the handle.

His menu is a small easel style sign that I painted, added paper background and added the printed menu and black bat with glue and then double sealed with a matte varnish. A small black skelly leans against the sign.

The Witches and Dolls of Primville

 

The Witches of Primville

 

 

My witch creations start with a wooden dowel and wire armature under structure, the base or butt is wood and weighted, so they sit quite stable for display, the head, which is styrofoam is secured to the center wooden dowel. The arms and legs are constructed of armature wire which enables them to be carefully repositioned for various poses.  I wrap the under structure with strips of quilt batting and then cover the batting with hand sewn on form fitted muslin.

I sculpt the witches faces and feet with paper clay and sculpt the hands from air dry porcelain clay. The crow is created by sculpting paper clay over styrofoam. When clay dry, I gesso, paint and double seal with a matte varnish.  Using a combination of acrylics, oil paint, distress ink and glazes I am able to accomplish a very witchy look. 

I add hair using wool roving or unraveled homespun wool  by stitching hair to fabric fuse in strips and gluing on strip by strip.  Costuming the witch is such a fun step in my process, I use various fabrics, laces, ribbons and tulle to create a one of a kind look for every witch, adding some jewelry and trinkets to accent.  I really love making their hats, I fabricate the hat from paper or fabric over a paper cone and embellish with ribbon, tulle, netting, lace, feathers and various findings.

During the creation process of my witches, they always seem to take over and are quite witchy about picking just the right fabric or color, I am always amazed with how distinctive they each become.

 

Kathie Ruffner

Houston, TX

Primville

Etsy Shop: Primville

Email kathieprimville@gmail.com

Cell/Text 713 647 1264