Welcome to my Giant Toy Post!I'm excited to announce....The 9″ Pirates of the Caribbean inspired
Vinylmation Release & Signing
Saturday, May 21, 2011
2pm – 5pm
D Street, Downtown Disney® District, Disneyland® Resort
Miss Mindy, Javier Soto and Scott Tolleson
will be on hand for a special appearance and signing of their custom Vinylmation™ figures themed to Pirates of the Caribbean. more info to come on the Vinylmation site! 
I hope you'll join me in unveiling this little original
Vinylmation -entitled 'Cutie Pirate'

My pal
Brandy Trigueros was kind enough to take some stellar shots
of the little lass...
Thank you Brandola!

As you can see, she LOVES her bubble gum- and is in mid-blow- ;)

I've had a lot of people ask me about my process lately,
and where my ideas come from...
I honestly adore circus motifs- and when I was asked to do my take on 'the Pirates of the
Carribean'- I rolled with my love for color, and
bizarro-fun
girliness to the extreme. Who said
stripes and dots don't mix?
Pleather? you bet. You should see her Pirate ship.
She maybe cute, this little firecracker...but she's one tough cookie!
(More stories on how she got that peg-leg later..;)----------------
OK Toys... Lets get going!
My first Toy was 'Dink' made by
Mindstyle toys
This little vinyl beauty sure was a sell out!

also on my 'toy plate of the past'.. was this 'Custom Stitch',
which was shown all over the world
....( one of my favorites)
Kokeshi Dolls also became a part of the
Miss Mindy steady diet of Toy making....
From Gallery Subtext, to The Japanese American museum in Los Angeles.
entitled: 'Chicken Boyfriend'
Commissions have always been a sweet treat, because you never know what form you
may be painting next.
(Keeps you nimble!)
______________________
PROCESSHow do you begin?
I'm always finding out about new ways to modify
and create..but this time around, here's how she came to be:
-------------------
Blank. - better get to work....sketch a tad on it-

These suckers get oily, so I scrub my down really well...

Little
bathtime and dry- & she's ready to go

Better look at my sketch and modify..Chop Chop!
Off goes the nose and foot. sorry pal.

Next up--Magic Sculpt till my hearts content- I sanded the figure to give it some grit -and
then added my shapes...
Poofy sleeves, little bird,
peg leg -
bubble, new arm to hold gum wrapper...etc.
( next time I'll get a clear bubble! - not enough time to figure that out- this time around)
Wet sanding takes forever! used about 10
different #'s of grit to smooth her out...

Once
sandings done-- It's time to prime.

And paint...(finally)

Figure 3D elements

She's coming along..Trying to make it look the concept sketch as much as possible..

Then, the box last minute..Painted white and gloss on flat black,
Cutie Pirate approved of her new home...


Her Mother is so Proud..

I hope you enjoyed seeing my process for this particular toy...
She now has her own personality and story- and is ready for her big Disney Debut.
Hope to see you Saturday!
-mm