Two friends, Shara Reiner and Jane Allen got together to play and before you knew it they were sculpting Shara’s whimsical characters using QuikWood. With a little more playing and brainstorming “Shara Jane” was born. Shara Jane will be a line of designs that will be a little bit Shara, a little bit Jane. These Sweet Pilgrams are just the beginning; we hope you enjoy creating Peter and Priscilla.
Below are the 15 step-by-step videos to create this project plus a Quikwood (QW) overview video.
Sculpting Instructions
Sculputing Tips: When working with QuikWood (QW): remove jewelry especially rings, work on parchment paper or a wax palette. Apply Avon Silicon Glove before starting and periodically when working. Use Extender for blending QW, but be careful to not use too much because it will make your surface gummy. Only mix up the amount needed for the next step. Always make sure your QW is thoroughly mixed or it will not cure.
Video of the Basics of Using Quikwood:
Getting Started
Insert Dowel into pointy end of 2.5” Styrofoam egg, and then place 1” ball on top of dowel leaving ¼” for the neck. Mix up sliver of QW and divide into 4. Roll ball into small coil about ¾” long. Wrap around bottom of neck and blend into egg and then dowel. Blend until smooth using extender if needed. Roll second ball of QW into coil and wrap under head, blend onto ball and down dowel. Shape making sure to keep neck thin and have QW blended onto the egg and ball. Allow to cure.
Mix up ¼” of QW and divide in two. Roll clay into a ball and then start pressing and pinching to make a flat pancake . Lay on front of face and begin pressing and blending over head using extender if needed. Keep blending until clay is evenly distributed and smooth. Repeat with second pilgrim.
Mix up a sliver of QW and pull off a small piece for the nose. Roll into a cone shape and attach to face. Nose should start just below center of head and go up to forehead. Use fingers to press and blend nose as needed. Use blade to flatten bottom of nose. Allow to cure.
Note: Any time of have extra QW wood I will flatten it and blend it on areas of the doll that are still Styrofoam. Be careful not to add the QW to an area that we are going to need to insert something like the legs and the head.
Video for getting Started:
Hats
To make the girls hat cut ¼” of QW and roll into a ball. Then begin making oval shape about 1” and press on top of head. Make a hook out of a 3” piece of wire. Fold over using Round nose pliers and twist together. Trim ends to about ¼” and place in hat. Let cure.
To make the brim of the girls hat cut 1/8” of QW and divide in 2. Roll one piece into a coil about 1 ½” long. Flatten slightly. Lift and lay on front of hat, pull and wrap around sides. To make hair buns divide remaining clay in two and roll into coils about 1” long. Begin wrapping bun until you get desired size and place on each side of head right below cap.
To make brim for boys hat cut 1/8” of QW. Place parchment paper over pattern. Roll clay into a ball and then press down on circle. Press and blend until you fill the circle. Let the clay sit about 1o to 15 minutes.
Cut an X in center of brim and place on boy’s head. Turn brim up in front. Cut 1/4” of QW and roll into ball shape, then a fat cone. Place on top of brim and shape if needed. Make a hook out of a 3” piece of wire. Fold over using Round nose pliers and twist together. Trim ends and place in hat. Placing the hook slightly front will make your boy hang better. Let cure.
Video for making Hats:
Creating and attaching Legs:
For girl legs cut off 1/4” QW and divide into 2. Roll each piece into a coil about 3” long. Slightly flatten top of leg and then using pencil or tip of tool make a hole in the top of the leg. Allow to cure. For the boy legs cut off 3/8” of QW and divide into 2. Roll each piece into a coil about 3” long. Slightly flatten top of leg and then using pencil or tip of tool make a hole in the top of the leg. Allow to cure.
Video for Creating Legs:
To make the shoes mix up a sliver of QW and divide into 4. Roll each piece into a ball and then shape into a triangle. Place triangle point down on top of each foot about 3/8” from bottom of leg. The top of the triangle should stand up creating the tongue of the shoe. When satisfied with placement blend into place. Allow to cure.
Cut sliver of QW for nickers and divide in 2. Roll each piece into a coil about ¾” long and lay on leg where you want the bottom of the knicker to be. Wrap around leg. Use finger to create cuff and then using extender blend and press clay up leg. Allow to cure
Video for Creating Shoes and Knickers:
To attach the legs for the girl pilgrim cut1/4” QW and divide in 2. Cut two pieces of wire about 3” long and use round nose pliers to fold in half. Slip wires into legs and insert into the bottom of the egg. Leave about ½” of the wire exposed. Also allow yourself enough room to work between the legs. Roll the clay into a coil about 1 ¼” and wrap around top of wire next to egg. Blend clay into egg and then shape top of leg with fingers, using extender if needed. Repeat with second leg. If needed use an old paint brush to blend the clay between the legs. Adjust length of wires if needed by pushing in or pulling out.
Attach the boy’s legs the same way as the girls using 3 ½” wires and 3/8” of QW.
Video for Attaching Legs:
Adding Boy’s Jacket
Cut ¾” QW and roll into a coil about 4” long. Lay on piece of parchment paper and begin flattening with the palm of your hand. To make it easier add extender to the palm of your hand. Keep the one edge and the ends straight since the jacket will be hanging open. Use blade to straighten. On opposite edge begin pulling on clay to make it thinner and easier to attach. Let lay for about 5 minutes so it is a little stiffer and easier to work with.
Lift jacket tails off of parchment paper using blade. Lay center in back and pull if needed to bring to the center front. Have tails hang open. Blend top of clay into body. Use tool if needed to keep the bottom of the coat from sticking to the legs. Hang to cure.
Video for Adding Boy’s Jacket:
Adding Girl’s Dress
Cut 1” QW and roll into a coil about 4” long. Lay on piece of parchment paper and begin flattening with the palm of your hand. To make it easier add extender to the palm of your hand. Keep the one edge straight since it will be the bottom of the dress. Use blade to straighten. On opposite edge begin pulling on clay to make it thinner and easier to attach. Let lay for about 5 minutes so it is a little stiffer and easier to work with.
Lift dress off of parchment paper using blade. Lay center on center front of doll and pull if needed to bring to the back. Have ends overlap in back to look like a pleat. Blend top of clay into body. Use one of your tools if needed to keep the bottom of the dress from sticking to the legs. Hang to cure.
Video for Adding Girl’s Dress:
Turkey
To make the feathers I used the leaf in the corner of the flower mold that is about 7/8” long. To keep the clay from sticking to the mold lightly spray area you are using with oil (vegetable or olive). You can use the mold a number of times after spraying. Using 1/4” of QW pull off a piece of clay about the size of a pea, roll into small coil about ¾” and then press into the mold. Remove from mold and place on parchment paper, repeat until you have 9 leaves. As you remove them from the mold place five together making a half circle. Place the other 4 leaves on top alternating them. Press with thumb in bottom center to blend. Allow to cure, keep watching the top leaves and lift the points if needed.
If you have any clay left you can use it to make your feet, if not cut a very small sliver of QW. Divide in two and then roll into a ball. Begin shaping the ball into a tall triangle about 3/8” tall. Press the pointed end of the toothpick into the top to the triangle. Blend clay onto toothpick. Pick it up and pinch each corner of bottom of triangle and then pinch to create point in center. Continue shaping until you get the feet the way you want them.
To make the neck and head cut 1/8” of QW. Roll cone about 2.5“ long with one end coming to a point. Lay on parchment paper. Have a slight bend in the bottom of the neck and then have the neck come up and loop back down. Allow to cure.
Tip: It would be easier to paint the tail feathers before assembling. Once everything has cured you can begin assembling your bird. Cut ½” of QW. Pull off a very small piece of clay and roll into a coil. Place the coil over the tip of the nose for the wattle. Roll remaining clay into a ball and press into bottom of tail feathers. Position neck and head on front of bird. Shorten toothpicks to desired length and then insert into body. Allow to cure.
Video for Making Turkey:
Collars
To make the collars for both the boy and girl I mixed up and 1/8” of QW. Divide in two, roll into a 1” coil. Flatten on piece of Parchment paper; it will now be about 2” long. Cut in center with blade or exacto knife. Pick up and position top edge at center of neck, then wrap clay around neck and press into place. Pick up and position other piece of clay starting at center of neck. Wrap clay around neck and press into place. Repeat for other pilgrim. Allow to cure.
Video for Adding Collars:
Her Apron and His Buttons
Mix up 1/8” QW and lay parchment paper over pattern. Begin pressing and flattening clay into a rectangle shape. Then lay on pattern and begin pressing to fill pattern. Wait about 5 minutes and then use blade to pick up apron and place on doll. Position as desired, I like the bottom of the apron to ruffle out a little. Cut a sliver of QW and roll into a coil about 5” long. Place middle of coil on top center of apron. Wrap around doll and press to slightly flatten. Allow to cure.
Mix up 1/8” of QW and pull off three small pieces for buttons on his jacket. Roll into balls and press in place on jacket, flatten slightly.
Pull off two balls of clay and roll into coils for apron strings. Starting at center back place string and press into place. Add second string starting at same point and press into place. Roll longer coil for bow and flatten slightly on piece of parchment paper. Place center over top of strings; fold each end in to form loops. Pull off any excess. Roll small coil about ½” and flatten, lay over center of loops. Cut off any excess. Keep checking to make sure loops are open while curing.
Video for Her Apron & His Jacket Buttons:
Attaching Turkey and Adding His Arms
Cut a 1/8” of QW and roll into a ball. Place on back of turkey. Position him on the Pilgrim, thinking about arm placement. Cut ¼” of QW for arms and divide in 2. Roll into a 3” coil. Position arms on body, and then press in place. Flatten top of arms.
Video for Finishing Peter:
Adding Pumpkins and Her Arms
Mix up an inch of QW to make pumpkins, dived in half. Divide the one half in half again making the one slightly bigger than the other. Roll the largest ball into an oval. Lay on a piece of parchment paper. Using an exacto knife or sculpting tool make sections in pumpkin. Press clove into top for stem. Roll remaining two pieces into balls. Lay on piece of parchment paper and make sections on them, add clove s in top for stems.
Position pumpkins on Pilgrim, with the larger pumpkin in the center. Place other pumpkins slightly higher on each side. If satisfied with placement, press lightly in place. Cut sliver of QW and roll into cone, flatten and place on middle pumpkin.
Cut ¼” of QW for arms and divide in 2. Roll into a 3” coil. Position arms on body, and then press in place. Flatten top of arms.
Video for Finishing Girl:
Adding Cuffs
Cut 1/8” of QW and divide in two. Roll into a coil about 1” long and press flat on a piece of parchment paper. Cut V in center of coil. Pick up one piece with point down and press in place on the arm. Use knife or blade to remove the excess clay. Use other piece of clay for the other cuff. Repeat for other pilgrim.
Video for Adding Cuffs:
Bird
Cut 3/8” of QW. Pull off ball and shape into a cone to make tail. Place parchment paper over pattern and lay QW on top. Blend and press until the clay fills the shape of the pattern. Allow to cure. Roll remaining clay into a ball. Using fingers begin shaping into a pear shape. Cut off the pointed end of a toothpick and press into the head for the beak. Reshape if needed. Insert 2-20 gauge wires about 1 ¼” long for legs. Allow to cure.
Cut sliver of QW and pull off two balls for wings. Use what is left and roll into a ball, place on lower back of bird and blend into place. Insert tail into ball and blend into place, position as desired. Roll remaining balls into cones and flatten slightly. Attach to sides of bird. Allow to cure.
Mix of sliver of QW and pull off small ball and blend into the back of the head.
Video for Bird:
Tree
Drill ¼” hole 1 ¼” down from top of the ½” dowel. Insert smaller dowel, if needed drill with slightly larger bit. Drill ½” hole in top of pedestal about ½” – ¾” deep.
If your cross dowel is tight you can skip this step. Cut sliver of QW and divide in two. Roll a small coil about ¾” and wrap around small dowel next to center dowel. Blend into place and repeat on other side.
Mix up 3/4” of QW and roll into a ball. Place clay on top of center pole, reshape if needed. Press bird into QW, remove and allow to cure.
Cut ¼” QW and divide into two. Roll each piece into a ball and place on ends of cross dowel stick, if needed use a little Super Glue Gel.
Video for creating Tree:
So that you can learn from my mistakes:
- Allow QW to cure between steps unless stated otherwise. Then you do not take the risk of damaging something you have already done while working on something else. I placed all the steps in order for each item, but you can skip around while waiting for things to cure.
- If you have time paint as much as you can between steps, it will make it so much easier in the end.
- On this project I put my hook in the center top of the guy’s hat, I was not thinking about how he would hang. Since the hat tilts back a little I should have put the hook a little closer to the front.
Visit their websites to see more of their work.
Shara:
https://www.angelthyme.com/index.html
Jane:
http://www.janeallencreates.com/
https://janeallencreates.blog/