The figurative drawings of the Inuit inspired Ann Bouffard to design a charming collection of bakers clay ornaments for her tree.

You need:
&#8226 Toothpicks
&#8226 Black peppercorns
&#8226 Paper clip
&#8226 Wire or hairpins
&#8226 Small pointed knife
&#8226 Foil
&#8226 Spatula
&#8226 Baking sheet
&#8226 Polyurethane varnish (optional)
&#8226 Baker's clay (recipe below)

Baker's clay (Makes 12 to 14 pieces)
1 cup (250 mL) all-purpose flour
1/2 cup (125 mL) salt
1/2 cup (125 mL) water

To make:
Mix together ingredients for clay to form a soft dough. Working on a floured board, knead until smooth, about 8 to 10 minutes. Clay is very workable and can be easily bent, pinched or moulded into desired shapes. All pieces are flattened to between 6 mm (1/4-in) and 13 mm (1/2-in) thickness. To attach pieces, moisten with a little water.

Lift finished figures onto foil with spatula and place on baking sheet. Bake in 250F (120C) oven for 4 to hours or until thoroughly dry. Finish with varnish if desired.

TO SHAPE FIGURES:

Bird
1. Body: Roll a ball of clay 4 cm (1-1/2 in) in diameter. Roll this out into a 10 cm (4-in) teardrop shape with points at both ends. Pinch ends to finer points for tail and beak. Lift head up and push slightly toward back to give bird a chest. Press in peppercorn for eye.

2. Wing: Roll a ball of clay 2 cm (3/4 in) in diameter. Roll this out into a 7.5 cm (3-in) teardrop shape. Attach to body. Curve wing and tail up slightly toward back. With knife, mark feathers on wing.

3. Claws: Roll 2 tiny balls into short lengths. Attach to underside of body and bend tips downward (see photo).

4. Make a small U-shaped loop from wire or hairpin. Moisten and insert into top of bird, slightly forward on body for balance.

Owl
1. Body: Roll a 4 cm ball into a 7.5 cm teardrop shape. Flatten with heel of hand to approx 13 mm thickness.

2. Head: Roll a 2 cm ball. Flatten and attach to wide end of body. Pinch front of head to form owl face (see photo). Press in peppercorns for eyes. Blend head into body by rubbing area with moistened finger.

3. Wing: Roll a 2 cm ball into a 6.5 cm (2-1/2-in) teardrop shape. Flatten and attach to body. With knife, mark feathers on wing and body.

4. Claws: Roll 2 pea-size balls into short lengths. Attach to underside of body and bend tips downward.

5. Moisten and insert wire loop into top of head.

Walrus
1. Body: Roll a 4 cm ball into a 10 cm teardrop shape. Flatten slightly. Pinch at wide end for neck and at pointed end for base of tail. With knife, slit tail in half and mark in dentations.

2. Head: Raise head and push slightly toward back (see photo). If head will not stay up, clay is too moist - add flour and try again. Poke holes for snout with toothpick. Press in peppercorns for eyes.

3. Tusks: Roll 2 very tiny teardrop shapes and attach to head on either side of snout.

4. Fin: Roll a pea-size ball into a teardrop shape. Attach to lower body; mark indentations with knife.

5. Moisten and insert wire loop into top of body.

Bear
1. Body: Roll a 4 cm ball into a 10 cm teardrop shape. Flatten. Pinch pointed end slightly to a finer point for nose. Make cut for mouth.

2. Legs: Roll 2 pea-size balls into 13 mm lengths. Do not flatten. Attach to underside of body for bottom legs. Roll two 2.5 cm (1-in) balls into 5 cm (2-in) teardrop shapes for top legs. Flatten slightly and attach to body so they are supported by bottom legs. Bend tips of all legs forward to form paws.

3. Head: Press in peppercorns for eye and nose. Make a tiny teardrop shape for ear and attach to head.

4. Moisten and insert wire loop into top of body.

Sundial face
Flatten a 5 cm ball. Roll seven 6 mm balls; flatten and attach these around face. Roll out a long, thin length and attach around sundial face inside circles. Attach tiny pieces of clay for mouth and nose. Mark eyes with knife.

Girl
1. Parka: Roll a 4 cm ball into a 6.5 cm length, slightly smaller at one end. Flatten slightly.

2. Head: Roll a 13 mm ball, flatten slightly and attach to top of parka (smaller end). Mark eyes with knife. Make a curved mouth by pressing in with small end of paper clip. Attach a tiny ball for nose and 2 slightly larger balls, flattened, for cheeks.

3. Hood: Roll a 2.5 cm ball into a 7.5 cm length; attach around head.

4. Skirt: Roll a 2 cm ball into a 5 cm length and attach to bottom of parka. Press with little finger to create ruffle effect.

5. Boots: Roll 2 balls the size of large peas into 2.5 cm lengths. Attach to bottom of skirt and bend tips up to form feet.

6. Arms: Roll two 2.5 cm balls into 6.5 cm lengths, each slightly smaller at one end. Flatten slightly. Attach larger ends to shoulders. Bend arms forward across parka.

7. Hands: Roll 2 pea-size balls, flatten and attach to arms. Make tiny slashes for thumbs.

8. Trim: Roll out lengths 3 to 6 mm (1/8 to 1/4 in) wide and attach at collar, cuffs and bottom of parka and at top of boots. Mark trim and hood with knife for fur texture effect. With end of paper clip, poke holes down front of boots (see photo).

Press in peppercorns for buttons.

9. Moisten and insert wire loop into top of head.

Boy
1. Make parka, head and hood as for girl.

2. Legs: Roll two 2 cm balls into 4 cm lengths, each slightly smaller at one end. Flatten slightly and attach larger ends to bottom of parka. Bend tips up to form feet.

3. Arms: Roll two 2 cm balls into 4 cm lengths, each slightly smaller at one end. Flatten slightly and attach larger ends to shoulders so arms are raised.

4. Make holes down boots, hands and trim as for girl, adding extra trim down front of parka instead of buttons. Mark trim and hood with knife for fur texture effect.

5. Moisten and insert wire loop into top of head.