Posted on 20 Comments

Custom Family Portrait Christmas Ornaments

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Meet the Bald family.  OK, they’re not really bald, they just haven’t been wigged yet.  Confused?  I’ll back up a step or two..

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Ok, this is an arrangement of precisely-measured clay parts that, when assembled, will become a family of five.  See Dad in the left column, followed by Mom, then Big Brother, Little Sister, and Brand New Baby Sister?  Sure you can.

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Dad’s getting dressed up – first he puts on his tie, and then he puts on his head.  Just like you and me.

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See?  I told you they weren’t really bald.  Soon the whole family will  be in the chair at the salon getting haircuts, but first, they’re going to hang out in my oven for an hour or so.  What can I say?  They dig the heat.

When this family is all primped, polished, and put-together, they will be nestled into a cozy box and sent off to live with people that look an awful lot like they do.  Only bigger.

I’ll be making fifteen more families like this before Christmas, and one of them could be yours, if you’d like.  Ordering begins on Monday at Noon, Eastern Time, but you can wander over to the shop and get more information now, if you’re curious.

Custom-made family portraits from 2003/4

It’s been six years since I made custom ornaments – all of the babies in these families are first-graders now!  (That’s my own family in the bottom right corner.)

Several of you have already expressed an interest in getting your family on my clay table this season… I thank you in advance for the opportunity to dress you up in miniature clothes, rosy your little cheeks, and polish your tiny shoes!  This is as close as I get to playing with dolls…

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Posted on 20 Comments

20 thoughts on “Custom Family Portrait Christmas Ornaments

  1. Hi Lisa,

    They are just gorgeous. How clever you are to make these!

    Libby
    .-= See Libby’s latest blog post: Where we’ll be hangin’ out =-.

    1. Aw, thanks. They’re fun to make when I’ve set aside enough time to really do them right (which I finally have!)

  2. New blog post: Custom Family Portrait Christmas Ornaments http://bit.ly/3QHyZ1

  3. What a lovely service you provide! So I guess people send you their family photo and you work from that?
    Well done and thanks for showing how you make them.
    .-= See The Wonder of Christmas’s latest blog post: Simple Christmas Decoration Ideas =-.

    1. It’s a questionnaire, actually, but a photo is always a nice help as well. Thanks for the complement!

  4. OMG, Cute cute cute!! Love these 🙂
    .-= See MelissaS’s latest blog post: Mom, Cindy, Brenda, Kristin, Michelle – DON’T LOOK! =-.

    1. Thanks, Melissa 🙂

  5. How wonderful and what a treasure to keep. I must have a look at your shop next week. Thanks for sharing.
    .-= See Ann’s latest blog post: Cherry Iced CAkes =-.

  6. Your family tree ornaments are just adorable. I hope that you will make more ornaments.

  7. If I remember not to forget on Monday, I will so totally be ordering one –family of 5 + cat! These are lovely!
    .-= See Heather’s latest blog post: officially fall now =-.

  8. OMG! These are so cute, from their happy little faces to their neat outfits. What an awesome idea! 🙂
    .-= See Dina’s latest blog post: I Believe . . . =-.

  9. Those are so cute and funny!

  10. Very cute! What is the max number of people you can put on one orniment. Besically I want to know if I do the whole family for my parents is it better to have one orniment with 11 people or do each branch of the family with less than 5 people each. How do you feel about Kimonos on some? Stil contimplating what would be in my budget but this is an awsome unique gift idea.
    .-= See Renee Dey’s latest blog post: Bedtime Robe =-.

    1. Well, normally I would say 11 is too many for one ornament, but I do have an idea how to do it, but it depends on how many of the people are adults. If you’d like to chat about it further, you can drop me a line at polkadotcottage@lisaclarke.net and we can figure out what would work.

  11. Oh Lisa, those families are just way too cute! Love seeing your family in it’s infancy. Your kids have grown up so much since then! You’ll have to do another portrait of your own family to show how time has past. I bet these commissions are fun work for you. They are just so happy looking and creative, you must be having a blast when you’re making them!
    .-= See Cindy Lietz, Polymer Clay Tutor’s latest blog post: Polymer Clay Rose Wine Glass Charms for a Cowboy Theme Wedding =-.

  12. Hey great do they look, so much imagination and attention to detail, really awesome stuff.
    .-= See JC@GlassChristmasOrnaments’s latest blog post: Buy Glass Christmas Ornaments =-.

  13. Wow, I can’t belive it’s almost Christmas! Thanks for the post very Cool and keep them coming!

  14. […] I took six years off from doing this, but Family Portrait Ornaments are back this season. Blogged here. […]

  15. Hi I m really interested in having one of.these done as a x mass gift. Can u email me a cost for family of five please?

    1. Oh, I’m really sorry, Deirdre, but I’m not doing family portrait ornaments this year!

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