Tour de Yorkshire was coming through Ripon, right past the stationery shop where I work on Saturdays. My boss asked me if I could make some little bikes for my dolls to ride as part of the Ripon 'tour de shops' in which visitors were challenged to complete a quiz around some fantastic independent Ripon shops (i.e. how many dolls on bikes are there in Stuff4Offices? What colour is the bike necklace in Tuttobello?)
I have never tried to make a bike before and it took me a really long time to work out how to make them sturdy enough. I started using wire but they were too weak so I used lollipop sticks. I also found some old super8 film reels in my camera collection and thought they'd be the perfect size for wheels. They worked well in the end and look like bikes! They stood up on their own, they were the right size for my dolls and they were definitely eye catching.
Issues: lack of time! Since I've been so busy with other modules, I really rushed this task and didn't get chance to make fresh dolls specifically for the tour de yorkshire these are all window dolls (ones that I make in advance to go in the shop window for people to walk past and see - they can buy them directly from the window or order a specific one to be made for a little more money).
I also got really frustrated trying to find yellow paint in Ripon the other day (we need a good arts supplies shop!!!!) when I had half-painted the bikes and completely ran out of yellow so I ended up buying some washable kids yellow paint from The Works and it was so bad. It didn't stick to the plastic film reels, it just moved around on the surface like oil.
It was a great day for Ripon and so good to have so many people out watching the race. I'm not hugely interested in the event or sports or cycling in general but there was a fantastic atmosphere on our street. It brought visitors and tourists into Ripon and into the small shops.
It brought people to see my dolls (people were coming in with their quiz sheets, looking for my dolls) and we also gave out my business cards.
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