First Angel Prototype

Here it is! The big step I've been so eager to make in my charity.

My very first angel!

This is just a prototype, it's not even baked hard yet. I'm still trying to figure out which positions I want the wings to be in, how big I want the wings, and where I want them to end.

The baby mold came early, it was supposed to get here today but instead arrived yesterday morning. I immediately tore it open and got to work. The kids loved watching it, and were obsessed with the little baby.

I packed the mold full of clay, then put it in the freezer for about two hours. It really wasn't very hard yet, but I was too eager to see so I did my best to pop it out. Getting the big head out of the little head section is akin to watching someone give birth! But even with it only being somewhat cold, it still finally came out.

There were a few bumps and scratches from this, but I was able to smooth out each one. Once that was done, I couldn't wait for the wings to freeze, and they were even less done than the baby. I started cutting them and placing them in all different ways, and the details got touched out by the end. When I do this professionally, I'll have to control myself and actually allow the correct times to pass on each mold.

While it's not perfect yet, and no little extra embellishments have been added, I am totally in love with this little baby. He's the absolute perfect size, he's exactly the length of my palm and looks so adorably cradled in it. It's exactly what I was dreaming of - a baby that would fit so comfortably and would have a light but noticable weight.

Most of the clay angel babies I've found being sold are half the size of this. They're so dinky. This is big and solid.

I nearly cheaped out and bought a lesser mold, one that most sellers use (only $9 instead of $30, just like the cheaper wings were only $3 but I had to get the $8.50 ones!), but I finally realized that it just wouldn't do. They were nice, but they weren't what I was envisioning. I wanted amazing, not just nice. I wanted the big size and the amazing detail.

I'm so happy with this baby. I can't wait to get more clay and start playing with designs! This is my basic angel and will probably end up being close to what my Jamie style will be. But I'm eager to try out the Elizabeth style, with little flowers and pearls and hairbands, and my Jesse style, with blue tipped wings and hats. Hopefully it won't take too much time to get enough money to buy some mohair and be able to give these babies super realistic newborn hair.

But for now, bald is obviously beautiful!