Crocheted Angel Wild Idea
Being Creative · General Update

Wild Idea

TJ Fox

Sorry for the not awesome photo. This was taken years ago and was only to ensure I had a photo of this. I made this angel as a gift so long ago I don’t even remember when. Based on what I see in the background, we were already in this house, so sometime in the last 15 years.

I have made 2 different versions of this. Both as gifts. One, I honestly thought I’d get back at some point because it was given to Hubby’s grandmother (it was also my best), but it disappeared along the way. No one could find it after she died.

I have since wanted to make other versions, maybe not even angels, but with a similar basis (really considered working on a fairy version). Sadly, after this last one, I haven’t been able to find the right head and hands set. Nothing I’ve run across is either the right size or the right look.

I have been really wanting to get creative lately, but haven’t come up with a project to work on. I’ve also really wanted to work with some clay, but it has to be a small enough project to fit in my small kiln. I just couldn’t come up with something I really wanted to make, so I never dug into it.

Sitting here this morning, my brain started thinking about the massive amounts of yarn I have, most left over from other projects and wondered if I could figure out something to do with it. Out of nowhere, I remembered these angels and started wondering if I could pull off making my own heads and hands. Specific ones that would fit the exact project plan for the modified crochet angels that I’ve been wanting to work on for years. Namely, a fairy head and hands.

The idea is so appealing that I think I’m going to attempt to tackle it. I don’t know how much, if any, time I’m going to have to work on it over the next few weeks, but I’m going to try. I have no clue how it will turn out as I’ll be working with clay and not the porcelain that these heads are normally made of, so it may not even work.

I think before I dig out the clay, I’m going to need to figure out a specific plan for the dress. The patterns I have probably won’t work quite right for a fairy, but I have ornaments that are in a similar style that could be fun to modify into a shorter skirt type of thing. I would also have to consider legs if I’m not going to do a full long skirt. I at least want a plan ready if the clay works as I hope.

Dang! The whole thing has me excited, but it is also massively ambitious (shock, I know!) I think I can handle the painting of the finished clay pieces, but I don’t know about a finished layer/glaze over the top because I wouldn’t want it to be glossy. That part may take some research. It also hinges heavily on whether or not the clay even turns out as I’m hoping it should.

The cool thing is that I really don’t need this to be Christmasy or to get it done in time for the holidays, so I don’t have a time frame it has to be done by. One thing is for sure. I’m intending on doing a lot more creative projects going into next year.

Published by TJ Fox

I am a slightly sane artist, amateur photographer, book addict, wife, mom and raging introvert. I have more hobbies than I can count, so it is beyond shocking that I manage to find time to do any of them, let alone most of them and still have time to do anything else. Of all the talents I claim, writing wasn’t one of them until my muse dropped the idea for a book on my head.

12 thoughts on “Wild Idea”

  1. What type of kiln do you have? I got a small one years ago when my daughter wanted to make her own clay beads. But it was nothing like my dad had in our basement when I was a kid that was the size of a 50 gallon barrel.

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    1. Sheesh! You expected me to remember that?! lol! I bought it years ago when I started playing with PMC (metal clay). It can handle clay, but I’ve yet to use it for that. I’d say capacity is close to that of a small microwave (to give you a size idea). I’d be in creative heaven if I had a full size kiln. I’d probably be broke as well!

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      1. Haha, well like I have no concept whatsoever of brand or technical names of them. I actually know so little that I thought some were for some materials and others for others! Ours is the size of a nuke machine too. Knowing my dad back in the day, he probably found his in a junkyard and refurbed it for pennies on the dollar 😂 I remember when we moved he had to leave it bwhind because it was so big and inordinately heavy.

        How did you like the PMC. I signed up for a class at our art center when I first found out about it but couldn’t end up attending in good conscience cause I had a new baby at home at the time, lol. It looked pretty amazing though.

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      2. I frickin’ LOVED it! I worked with the fine silver because I was doing silver jewelry at the time. It was so phenomenal to make something that would have otherwise required going through the full on casting process.

        It was a little frustrating initially as I had to figure out how to work with shrinkage and firing temp to make it as solid and strong as the regular silver I worked with. The end result was stunning. In case you want to see… https://tjfox.net/art/jewelry/#jp-carousel-2542

        I tossed around the idea of playing with other types, but some of them required you fire the piece in a bed of something like charcoal (I really don’t remember) which required additional equipment and materials. I was already sinking a ton of money into what I was doing, so I skipped it.

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      5. I remember silently crying myself out of a glass beads class in my attempts to learn something new and “fun”. Give the deaf guy a blowtorch and verbal instruction at the SAME time in an activity that involves listening for the “crackle” and NEVER taking your eyes off your hands! I’d be more successful doing a makeshift root canal on someone 😭😭😭

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  2. After reading your post, I’m excited for you! Your enthusiasm and creativity is contagious and I can’t wait to hear about the fairies! I loved the nutcrackers and the angel you showed…you really have so much talent! Good luck with the fairies…if anyone can figure it out, I know you can! 🙂

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