To: <puptcrit-AT-puptcrit.org>
Date: Fri, 19 Dec 2008 01:40:15 -0500
Subject: Re: [Puptcrit] Coconut and apples


Hi Grego.

I learned about this Apple Doll Craft as a kid, from a series of craft books 
my mother had bought when she was a teenager. It boggles the mind how much 
she must have spent, and how patient she must have b een, to get the whole 
series in those days.  I wanted to, but I don't think I ever tried this 
method. Besides, my parents wouldn't have liked to have something risk 
getting moldy in the house...
I wasn't very disciplined back then.

I was reminded of it a few months ago from a fascinating blog called Skull a 
Day.
That guy made one skull per day, for 365 days straight!
He made a carved potato skull, which dried with a very nive looking finish, 
in a few months.
Here's the final post about it:
http://skulladay.blogspot.com/search/label/potato


You apple heads are cool.
But there is some major caving-in of the features, in each of them. Is it 
possible to prevent that?
Maybe by exagerating the nose shape, and not cutting so much around it? The 
shrinking will provide the crevices. Like watercolor, letting the material 
do some of the creating...

I wonder if potatoes distort less, being more dense than apples?
I wonder if we can varnish those pieces when they are perfectly dry, for 
extra strenght and protection.

I remember reading, in the aforementionned book, that in order to prevent 
mold, the apples must air-dry, protected from dust, without touching 
anything at all (except the stick they are on).

I wonder if dipping them in lemon juice was mentioned in the book.
I know it's a good way to slow down the browning of apples when making apple 
sauce.
I wonder if it would help or hinder for this kind of project.
I also wonder if dipping in hydrogen peroxyde could help prevent mold...

That's it, you've put me on yet another technical track I find hard to 
resist.
I happen to have some old apples I got to get rid of.
Maybe I'll try carving one tonight, when I'm finished with a polymer clay 
head I'm working on (Sancho Pansa, to go as a set with the Don Quichotte 
figurine I made last month).

I'll have to figure a way to protect the apple head from dust, but without 
contact. I'm thinking of a cardboard box with one side removed. maybe a mesh 
of some sort to replace the wall, once the head is in there.
Then a fan, pointed inwards. Or maybe I'll just forget the setup (without 
fan) in a warm corner.
Whenever I check it next, it might be ready. I'll write a date on the box, 
to know how much time it waited.

I'm fascinated with natural products one can carve, especially soft organic 
materials.
I'm only worried about sternght and durability, but maybe I won't have to, 
if I use those only for art dolls, and set them up properly.

I once was trying to dream up a new material that could be made from food 
elements, carved like foam, be non toxic, and be lightweight. I was thinking 
about so many ingredients, but then realized (or someone made me) that it 
already existed: dried bread. Some breads are rather hard and dense once 
dry.
Maybe once the carving is done and the dusts removed as much as possible, I 
could varnish it with some varnish or glue. The bread would absorb the 
coating and create a tough skin.
Old Bread must be bought (should be cheap)!
Tests must be made!

Grego, thanks for the inspiration!
I love Puptcrit!



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