Nutcracker Clara

Nutcracker Clara Ornament

ike many little girls and boys, I had my share of ballet dancing lessons. Along with my older sister Laura Maria, and my twin sister Claudia, we would go to ballet lessons three times a week. We wore the typical pink tights, black leotard, and pink ballet shoes. My sister Laura was more advanced than my twin sister and me. I vividly remember the day she got her pointe shoes. She was so proud of herself! And they looked beautiful on her, all laced up with pink silk ribbons. Our teacher’s name was Lidija, although we called her Ms. Franklin. She was a very tall woman who ran her ballet school with a lot of discipline. I never took much to ballet, so after a couple of years, my ballet dancing career ended. Although, I fondly remember one end of the school year performance. I was part of a large choreography where many flowers were leaping and bouncing around. Years later, I saw pictures my proud dad had taken that day. Every flower was holding a perfect fifth ballet position with their arms high above their heads. Whereas I was in a perfect first ballet position with my arms hugging the air in front of me. Boy, was I off in following the choreography! But I certainly looked very cute in my pink tutu. So, when it came time to design the Nutcracker Clara ornament, I leaned on these memories for inspiration.

Nutcracker Clara Ornament Design Process

The first thing I think when designing an ornament, is what are those elements that make the character unmistakable? For Clara Stahlbaum these things are the Nutcracker, and her nightgown. So, I designed Clara holding a nutcracker. This was the present she received from her uncle Drosselmeyer. Making this Nutcracker was challenging given its tiny scale. I used different sizes of macramé wooden beads for his body and a black button for his boots. I also used wooden dowels for the legs. Some of my friends are my suppliers of the materials I use. These macramé beads were given to me by my artsy friend Valerie who found them while thrifting at some of her favorite second-hand stores.

Since the magical events of the Nutcracker ballet are part of Clara’s dreams, I dressed her in a bedtime nightgown. I used a very delicately weaved white fabric. I trimmed the edge of the nightgown with blue lace. The material for Clara’s nightgown was left over fabric from a “faldón”— a traditional Venezuelan infant outfit—I made for my daughter Laura when she was born. I hardened the nightgown with fabric stiffener and gave it a final coat of clear acrylic gloss for protection. To complete her outfit, I added a silk blue sash with a bow at the waist.

Clara’s hair came from a real-hair wig that I found at a thrift store. The color of the hair is light brown, which I tied in two pigtails. I added a blue bow to each pigtail. Clara’s ballet shoes are laced up like my sister Laura’s pointe shoes. And her tights are white like her nightgown. I gave her big eyes that reflect her amazement as she sees the magical world that surrounds her.

Specifications

Year Designed

2017

Size

Actual size may vary, approximately 2.75” x 2.75” x 5.0”

Materials

Fabric, cardboard, ribbons, beads, sequins, paper flowers, lace, wooden beads, wood dowels, plastic gemstones, paint, wood pegs, wood knobs.

Note: Given the handmade nature of the ornament, all ornaments are different. The pictures depict just one sample of the ornament.