Facing Up To It - 11

So this is me. I've fitted my teeth together for you in this photo, and my neutral face looks pretty sad! 340 days ago when my braces were first fitted only sections of the back brackets would touch. We have come a long way! Prior to the braces being fitted, my lower teeth at the front had actually carved a dent for themselves in my palet. I spent most of the days of my life, since I was a teenager, holding my teeth apart to look less severe ...

On Thursday I had another adjustment, and my lower jaw was ready finally to receive an upgrade of wire, matching my upper arch wire at last! I chose navy blue bands, a new one for me, and here's my metal-filled smile. My bottom lip still falls back, unsupported by lower teeth. They might be a nice curve now, but they are still a long way back!

And this silly face is my attempt to show you all the gubbins! Seriously cannot wait for a decent set of gnashers and one day, taking the first proper bite out of an apple I will have ever taken in my life!

A new kid on the block ...

Lately a lot of over-made-up dolls are getting a younger, fresher look. I decided to have a go myself. I can paint, I just wasn't sure about having a steady enough hand! But I found this Alice Moxie Girlz doll for 50p and she came home with me ...

With a few pieces of magic eraser, and a lot of nail varnish remover her make up and fat lips disappeared! Well ok, those lips still looked pumped. Some careful painting would take care of that. 

With white acrylic I shaped new eyes. And with a gentle pink and some 12-year-olds front teeth those lips have changed!

After that point I was on a roll. I do believe she needs some hint at eye lashes, but I'm really pleased with my first attempt to create a doll that looks like a real person!

Simple clothes next, but in the meantime, I found a hat for her to wear. 

What do you think her name should be?

Facing up to it - 2

The one where I got wired! And here we see a face that hides a secret! The braces have been fitted and nothing will ever be the same again!

So off I went to DCH last Wednesday. I was given a groovy pair of safety goggles incase of flying hardware and lay back to enjoy the ride. 

Dr Ellis and cheerful assistant set about filling my face with metal and glues, various, and small silicone bands in a delightful shade of aqua. Which I chose. 

But Dr Ellis and cheerful assistant did not want to be photographed with me sporting these fetching lip retractors. Although they did suggest to Mike that it would make a good image for the blog. After seeing her fit this, I bet Dr Ellis is good at putting away pop-up tents! I'm not. 

In this picture, you can see everything ready to be joined with a very fine wire. 

The fine wires are held in place by tiny rubbers. After teaching Mike how to get a macro shot using his iPhone, he took this close-up. If you are a senseble grown-up who doesn't want to do colour you can have clear silicone bands. 

The first photo of me in my braces shows that my teeth need a lot of adjustments before that jaw surgery can take place! But I'm definitely excited!

Facing up to it - 1

There is a person behind the colourful creations that are The Raggy Rat. So this is me today. I'm pretty a-symmetrical seen from the cameras eye not the mirror!

If I look tired, I've a little one off school sick. A million things to do each day. But moslty because I'm taking an objective photograph for you today. 

The reason for sharing is because someone somewhere might like to look at my journey one day especially if they are facing the same thing. No pun intended. In the pic above my jaw is parted behind my closed mouth. My jaws have never fitted together nicely and I am excited and nervous that that is all going to change!

Here you can see what I look like with my teeth fitted together! If I allow those lips to close I look pretty grim and I was teased a lot in school because of the way I looked. How I longed to be pretty!

Maybe two years from now it will be time for Orthognathic Surgery on possibly both my jaws, but first a lot of work on that overjet and overbite with the addition of two fixed braces. 

These blue elastics pathe the way for the metal work next week! I will be sure to show you then!

Fun Fur!

got some new fur samples to consider - what will I make with lovely pink fur?

And worked on a furry face, too ...

My Kids are COOL!

Bear got a new face ...

He came from a loft, in a stash of crafting goodies, and he had no face, so i gave him one. We think it suits him, and he joins in our games!

face lift ...

i took the clock face from an old toy that was wearing out, and washed the face carefully. then i used an embroidery hoop to fix the face to some new fabirc, and give life to - douglas!



thats some vintage bias binding that i recived in a freecycling package, along with zips, poppers and even ric-rac... i also gave douglas some new eyes, as the rpinted ones looked a bit flat. he is already helping my girls with their numbers and the idea of 'time'...

i just wish i had more time ...

rawwwwwrrrr!

ok so it might have looked like a an angora show-rabbit for a time ...

but wow i had fun felting these eyes, first the balls, then linings and tear ducts, pupils, highlinghing and finally a white dot - ding !

lets face it ....

halloween is over, and it will soon be christmas ...
and nearly all the apples are gone from the tree ...



but never mind
i had my first stab at needle felting, making this animal face for that project i mentioned the other day ...