En Avant!!!!!!!

It's been a long process and there were times I thought I'd never complete this project! But here we are finished at last!  

The next step is the delivery to the National Museum of Dance in Saratoga Springs, NY.  There it will be photographed along with the other 24 pointe shoes and set up for the Unveiling on May 31st. This event is open to the public.

En Avant

This will be displayed this summer and fall at the

Saratoga Performing Arts Center

Saratoga Springs, NY

Finishing Touches....

I can't believe I am almost finished!!! All of the mosaic work is complete so now I am painting the details.

Here I have painted the foot beige, I will also paint a coat of and iridescent finish on this.

Here is some details on the dancer's face. I still have to touch up a little more...the details seem to be taking forever. Also I have to really clean the glass so it sparkles to the max!!!

Getting down to the details...

Here is the dancer's little slipper. I used beads to mosaic this. It was rather awkward because it was a difficult positions to reach. But it did work out nicely!

I am so excited about the way this shoe sparkles when the sun shines on it.  It acts like a disco ball splashing the room with pretty dots of light!

Here I am in the reflected light...the whole room is full of sparkles!!

Today I worked on the dancers hair...I'm using beads and gold paint.

Here, I have started putting on the beads with Apoxy Sculpt...

These beads will really ad sparkle to her hair.

Her hair is painted with a gold tone paint, I've added a head piece, that compliments the straps on the big shoe. I have a lot of cleaning up and touching up to do...that's never ending.

Stay tuned...its almost complete!!!!!!

Tutu time!

The dancer's tutu will be red stained glass and under is gold seed beads 

Here you can see where I've started applying the glass. I like the way it compliments the seed beads. I am using GE II silicone to apply the glass and I have sprinkled it with some glitter to give it some sparkle...can't really see it in the photos.

For the top part of the skirt, I used Apoxy Sculpt and beads to make a petal detail, this covers the uneven edges of the glass.

I use the same method to create the bodice. I really love the beadwork and it works so well, pressing the beads into the Apoxy Sculpt.

I just have to clean it up and them move on to finishing the edges of glass on the skirt.

Stay Tuned!!!

Grouting!!!!!

I now have most if this grouted...I still need to do the base.

This is the heel of the shoe all grouted.

I love the way the black grout brings out the ball chain details!

This was a ton of work!!

But I love the black grout and this whole piece really sparkles!!

The ribbon is my favorite part...I love the richness....

I still have to grout the base....that will be later this week...my fingers are worn to the bone from grouting.....so the next step will be the dancer's tutu.

Stay tuned!!!