It's The Cat's Meow!

 

 

This Catwoman look first appeared in Batman # 210 (1969) and was designed Frank Robbins and the Catwoman during Selinas  admittedly infrequent early to mid 1970's appearances, after which DC returned to the classic purple evening dress in Batman # 266.

So this costume has been pretty much ignored by the toy companies except for a Mego in 1974.

So presenting my first Catwoman Barbie custom!!

She was created using mostly Games Workshop products. The paints are by citadel and the blue for her legs was mixed to create the correct shade.

Her mask, collar and claws were created using the two part epoxy Green Stuff.

To add some definition to the bodice and gloves I used a high sheen gloss by Windsor and Newton which could be painted over the top of the paint and layered to create the desired effect.

The boots, buckles and glove detail were made from milliput two part epoxy.

The stand is a classic Barbie stand painted black and the cats are by Schleich and again painted black and stuck onto the base with super glue.

Her tail was a little problematic as I needed to keep it in a position where the epoxy wouldn't drop; yet enough pressure against the body to stick.

But I got it to work.

Creating a fine start to my Catwoman custom collection, the question is now...

Which one should I make next?

Sugar Sugar!

Four days into a new diet...

 

My intention was to blog about this after my first week as I'm not looking at this as the many faddy diets I've been on over the past twenty years.

 

I want this to be a lifestyle change, I'm wanting to do this to better my LIFE, not just to fit into that bikini when summer rolls around.

 

To keep myself on track I've been keeping a diary of everything that passes my lips and planning my meals: this diet was recommended to me and it's the paleo diet.

After reading a book by paleo guru Robb Wolf, the science behind this diet sold me as to why this diet works and how I could benefit from it.

Saying goodbye to breads and dairy was not a big deal as we are a household of specialist dietary needs.

BUT there is one thing that I am seriously craving and writing this blog right now is stopping me sprinting to the supermarket and gorging myself in it's sheer beauty!!

One LARGE jar of Nutella sounds like heaven. Just give me a spoon! !

My god! the craving for that stuff is strong, to wash it down with a nice icy cold fizzy glass of Coke.

Nothing finer!!!!!

WRONG!!!! WRONG!!!! WRONG!!!!

I have to say this to myself as though I believe it, I'm not past that caving in to it's lure; but how in a blue moon have I got so dependent on this stuff?

Well the answer is simple, SUGAR is in EVERYTHING, and I mean everything.... even broccoli and other veg are grown providing sweeter varieties, and this is a very dangerous game in regards to our health.

We've grown up being told ''sugar is high in calories but it’s not addictive'' but research suggests the opposite may be true.

Scientists are saying the chemicals released when we eat sugar travel along the same brain pathways that heroin does.

So taking sugary foods out of our diet triggers powerful cravings, causing us to eat up to six times more than our normal intake.

Scientists also discovered that removing sugar from the diet of rats put them into a state of anxiety, experiencing symptoms similar morphine withdrawal.

So why do we like it so much!?

Sugar stimulates the release of endorphins, this makes us feel good.
Too much on a regular basis means we become reliant and our own natural endorphins no longer quite reach the mark, we ‘need’ sugar to feel good.

Keeping this firmly in mind...

I've kept away from hard drugs in my life as it's a very slippery route, so why would I want to take the legal equivalent?

The answer is simple, I don't, just that I have been doing and the seductive lure of sticky sweet products takes hold.

Mind Games work for me:

I WANT... MY GOD DO I WANT ONE OF THESE!!

But I combine it with something I HATE... Not just HATE but TERRIFIED of:

THOSE LEGS STUCK IN THAT CREME AS I BITE INTO THAT EGG!!!

yuck.

No thank you!....

It works for all other sugary treats too.

So whilst I have been typing this my craving has passed, and I can head to bed being happy with myself that I am one step closer to not being held hostage by the seduction of this saccharine sweet- talker.

Lois' Lost (and Looney!) Luvs!!!

Ah, Valentines day! The most loved up day of the year. When every lady sees their significant other as a Superman.

But there's only one lady who can actually claim that her beau is - and that's Lois Lane, comix' premiere ball-and-chain.

But it's not always been smooth sailing with the Kryptonian Kourtship; other silver-tongued devils have attempted to step in on the Big Red S's turf. In the Silver Age it seemed like every other week, some smoothie or big monster was laying on the love lyrics to Lois, and to celebrate this smoochy day, here are fifteen of the wildest:


15. Way to gloat Superman, you dick.

14. We all like a horny devil, a bad boy and they do say the devil has the best tunes; but....

13. ''Lois, my lung may be iron, but my heart is putty... in your hands!''

12. Last chance!? How old is she supposed to be???

11. He's either a gimp or a Mexican wrestler. Kinky!!

 

10. Why does Supes always wait 'til they're making wedding plans to reveal the terrible secret?

 

 

 

9. Spoiler: It am Bizarro - Flash.

 

 

 

8. To be fair he IS a beast...

 

 

7. He's so adorable every girl would contemplate a Herko loving!

 

6-4 A terrific trio of Dark Knight Dalliance!

 

 

 

 

And this one is a team effort!!!

 

3. If you think Lois is a jerk for marrying Lex Luthor, of all people, just read Superman's thought bubble:

 

 

 

 

2. It's like some screwed up Back To The Future.

 

 

1. .... But in the end, it always comes back to The Man Of Tomorrow, which is as it should be.

You can Look But You Better Not Touch....

Poison Ivy is arguably taking the silver position in Batmans female foes.
Created in the Silver Age and who was oddly skipped over for the 1960s Batman TV show, she achieved screen immortality with the well loved 1990s Batman Animated series; and it could be said, Uma Thurmans regrettable Mae West-lite take in the horrible Batman and Robin movie in 1997.

In studying her whole history from 1966 to present. It was decided to opt for an amalgam, picking the best features from every classic incarnation, as per my clients request.

She was created from a standard Ballerina Barbie with the accessories removed and painted green.

 

 

 

The leaves to form the bodice were sculpted from two part epoxy and built up one by one over consecutive days till completed.

 

 

 

Layering shades of green to build texture and individuality to each leaf.

 

 

The necklace and the head band were formed using a mixture of two part epoxy and wire to hold the leaves together and firmly in place. The colour for the eyes and lips was mixed using shades of citadel paints. I didn't want a shade too overpowering as I kept with a natural olive green for her eyes this links into the necklace and headband to place a continuity with the costume shades.

 

 

 

Using green craft wire that can easily hook around her leg, the same method for leaves was used and a vine was created.

 

 

It's rare with customising that the base of a figure is one of the most enjoyable parts of the creation, but for me this was certainly the case. I didn't want to distract overly much from the doll as this is going to a Barbie collector but I could see ways of taking this further into the realms of a foliage folly!

 

 

These leaves are created by bending wire into the desired shape and then either dipped or dragged into a liquid resin and left to dry.

The feet of the doll were placed into clay to give the base weight and super glued down. More clay was added to the surround to help balance and so the wire leaves could be placed and bent into the desired position.

 

 

The pattern on the base was created by cutting the edges from painted doilies and glued into place using a clear/green glitter glue.

 

 

 

Which then gives you the a Poison Ivy styled Barbie that's worth standing on any collectors shelf!