I'm back from my retreat and it was great! It was a great learning experience, it was fun, and even exhausting. We sculpted a head, created the molds for it, and cast it in just three days. We also had a wonderful airbrush painting demonstration. I was very busy but I did manage to snap a few pictures. So here they are!
This is what I came home with--my original sculpt and the casted head. We used ball barings for eyes so the original looks quite creepy. I had wanted to sculpt a girl, but my head decided to be a boy! We only had four hours or so to sculpt the head, so I thought it came out pretty good considering.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJpgumSkUngV5dGtLsiOeMls7dzJOhimtcyoJncFdMtqFS5kQSNQbhzmJHayesL60xb5r8obYoSEtbAtrNyw3SEyVtPB8gAZXv2_j0B5yIx1dushH9DI6N5-nx7pravIFT7Mq3rQx4cjU/s400/BJD+Retreat+2008+002.jpg)
Making the clay bed for the molding process...
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE2JGWWSg3AmzO47Eeci7UOSPm2TxcESNV-7sTNIHoruNrHI3GFFIEsOIL7wSPeChjUjX5WYdEJ5cUmfPoP6WotH-h5AyKr_KyGFsWovS7nKJnLzgHtlSXBmvhj0EXYWu-TjZA70klUns/s400/BJD+Retreat+2008+006.jpg)
Making the mold box...
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioNNNGC8oZwUnK_8pCsDyjsD5tbNkF7bw1tQqvxicjH4qsPrMox55F2LK3R35bWJ5SO1L7d-bmiyjEkAXAwhNDdN-xPsFWyonGdKbktvC2kl2OPfhwITqFsFHqMUOcyne0gJIL-LrlfC0/s400/BJD+Retreat+2008+009.jpg)
Our classroom. (The lovely and talented Lori Metcalf, seated in front, was my roommate for the weekend! Thanks for everything, Lori!)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsGgccCZcDRCqVKPyaacucLVy9JQQP1X2Xibl5QQs_YpWmgFBagR9zt1so61SbMRVMRBe5JmIXiDxUQ4wEINxqGBGuCyAQOdv9aU307ySu6FR9n2aNEf3V5W1ZJhwjxM01DESYrxAXqss/s400/BJD+Retreat+2008+008.jpg)
Our wonderful sculpting instructor, NIADA artist, Pat Lilich talks with Lori.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6z3n7Q0LXrp9x9OOplr_waFD0bLOcBFa10Fs7h4gAnqBxqUwxc6maUXkkBUlUodAqlj6TriT5iktYuNZceqwCCsH2p8BgyVLCN0GC2KSWWCUy4mMWf6Q9yRLc3QBBkDo2DKI8hi-NsKo/s400/BJD+Retreat+2008+012.jpg)
This is Donn Kinney of Bishonen House, our mold making instructor.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0CWAGuWWNVMsVwHbI7ZYMED1OBSK2Tt0ACgQUEZu4WjpwpLGrV6faMpNXsABqBpiyji1BbKnfy0l4SKOL4dnk4sjzq-b_FVSsJmUDHOBfCE0WEj428GKlMRPlHE7eQV4gR7vGoHx_7DQ/s400/BJD+Retreat+2008+034.jpg)
Here are two of Donn's amazing dolls...
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEfEab7dsOjiv7sIv6wgnnM5MJ5AWcuLcwwTkXZ7mWZzkX8aLWz76PBWLvu2gumtm-u9UaM3qHZlOVtILb8eQjCNCUplugO2ro5PG7934Cnp5G2ZS0XMSEZVUVjDDJJ2AFekd5i5B-wXs/s400/BJD+Retreat+2008+027.jpg)
And some alternate face plates for them.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFdIfT8_HyX1PZOU9NOtcbBmUbtL9Q2owI19-EBXNTJ_yjHtAMfJ6ydacHC-2dW6e0Dpge6OGmHvrpsJuQPsslHPdKd1_SrykPD3w2TrA0KahicoggPVW10Si4iGjxlVCb1iKLVhCHhRI/s400/BJD+Retreat+2008+028.jpg)
I met so many wonderful (and talented) people, I really wish I were better at remembering names.
On the left is Yia Putman. She sat right in front of me and was a delight to talk to.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5r2brleUn9vGEAGJ9Hv7pQ6jSQyiyf5k_tBwL6cwOcopYpV_BF6zvtLMe1h0i8M68OOJPUe55gMjRS6ZJ-iG3_0A5h0grNjETnlYtJ4asUr6m4la_-gWzaB6jJnxPenFPgoBhPlobb64/s400/BJD+Retreat+2008+031.jpg)
Lori and I pose with Yia's doll.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Jjq3oMoBH0iwHemaKb8oYfuyr8w3PrzU4Pz-fa6mPtomNmYg7fWswur5nTrMEedh8IToFHFQL8hYzhg1wbFK7ugREmzJODTM1N4oTXpPxBeUcv0nsDnTG9-4_f4NA08R8vDwYo1HaCk/s400/BJD+Retreat+2008+033.jpg)
Sarah, AKA Batchix, with her incredible Machina dolls.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlRDBq-h8C4aDHA2M-Xj5JirFyHUPHs8hqlatgeVU9yh-LNffRdcgwaGxYrCQCaT_tBbXPrw-U2l4ii3z8pkq7hymgPcRpF2wrvgimNZdKYLNMKRJhEpG_bbxp2mvNztGe2TtgqDz-eRs/s400/BJD+Retreat+2008+037.jpg)
One person's trash is another person's treasure! The mohair scraps I brought were a hit with the dollmakers.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj-bxN8xEnRT3IQIUV-CwTSBlFa3-6o0griaDyCyOO9_p0qT-90jF4XpsCE-69KHjH3wzKQwQrH-dXlCXGbhvnuOlWjBWcJHZ0qM7DCA9xwpKCiHC02bXj6paIyJTve-_4yorbfnxhyphenhyphen4o/s400/BJD+Retreat+2008+041.jpg)
One tiny doll gets a new look from an unused mohair Teddy ear!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL6QgvEbj5_fzY-tHNa-grpedHwCus7akgf6aGtTRQgR29aucvZ2XcVQi1Tmm3bLpGezy9WVSA22VH31RhvqjOqzu-8oJ37ocgabjlA5OCtcGKRfntyz_rkELw3JX9fDhonXIFS9E4t1M/s400/BJD+Retreat+2008+043.jpg)
And look who I found at the BJD Artists' Retreat! Famous fellow Teddy Bear Artist, Art Rogers of Chatham Village Bears!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivmHEi0kK7hgSIVryMbmFt3TsQV-_k5MJ2SMe7caANVwG8ono-WJoYt9Od6a1xB9avvW8u7uCOptU0nLTuJUsZGuuQMgaCUMvyIMKKMPFSa7ls5v63R8DH90lJ6DI5jhGkYLrdIm6jWUI/s400/BJD+Retreat+2008+044.jpg)
Saturday evening there was a Steampunk Ball and I took some pictures there too, but I'll have to post them later. I want to spend some time in my studio today...the bears are calling!