Hidden Pockets for Hidden Treasures

Isn't it the cutest! I made this for a customer. She wanted a cross-the-body small bag with lots of pockets in shades of orange and earth tones. Hope she likes it!

Art Doll Show ~ DIMA

Simply...absolutely...sensational. Enjoy.

OK, What Was I Saying?

MY MUSE IS BACK!!

Just when I thought I wanted to quit dolls forever, I was inspired by the new challenge from ADO~Art Dolls Only Team at Etsy.com! I am creating a new Paperclay sculpt for the event. I am not going to say much now, but I will be posting work-in-progress pics as I go. I don't document my process enough, so I am going to try to do that with this project. Yessssss, the handbags are on hold. I know I keep changing my mind, but I'm an artist. I'm supposed to do that!

Has It Been THAT Long?

Wow. Talk about blog neglect. This is terrible! I may have been silent, but I have not been idle. Lots of changes going on.

First off, I have once again put my BJD on a shelf. I am starting a new venture. I have made dolls for a long time, and it has been fun, but I need to actually make some money now. So I have decided to open a new store on Etsy, one that I hope will be the beginning of a viable business. I have gotten very interested in furthering my sewing skills, and will be venturing into clothing design...for real people this time! I am planning on getting a Master Seamstress certificate, and will be starting out with accessories. Handbags, shoes, headbands, etc. Eventually I'll add clothing to the lineup. I am so looking forward to this. Sewing for people is a BREEZE compared to working with teeny, tiny little clothing. Everything is so big, lol! I plan on making it a fun, girly, store with lots of ruffles, bright and bold fabrics, and flattering shapes. I will also use luxurious fabrics for evening wear, or just to spoil yourself! I am hoping to launch the new store in a couple of months so I can get in on the Christmas season. I'm very, very excited!

I have made one more doll to offer at my current shop. Her name is Sabine, and she is a lovely, 18th century, Marie Antoinette type little girl with a gorgeous gown and upswept hair. If only she could hide her freckles...

I have also designed a handbag, and made some wrapped headbands for myself:

Just to give you a head's up, I will be creating a new blog for my new business, and will no longer be posting on this one. Once everything is up and running, I will post the new addresses for Etsy, Blogger, and Facebook on this blog, and if you care to, you can follow me as I start my new journey in creativity!

Redesign...again!

Yep, I'm a perfectionist...makes me crazy , but I really want a quality doll, so...I have redesigned the joints for my BJD. These work beautifully. There wasn't enough range of motion before. This is the sculpt for the mask. I will be casting it in Paperclay and covering it with fabric. Just finished the ears. I decided to sculpt them separately and add them to the mask once all the pieces are dry. I will be making the body over the next couple of days. It's been difficult to decide between the doll and the outdoors...it's been GORGEOUS! I hope everyone has an awesome summer!

Progress, Charity, and the Beauty of Women

It has been slow going, but progress IS being made on my ball jointed doll. The body is sewn, the pieces are starting to come together, and the head is sculpted. my next steps are to sand the head, and then make a mold of it, so I can make a cloth-covered mask. Meanwhile, I'll be building the body. I will take wip pics to post.

Last week, I read in the paper of a wonderful charity event that I just had to help with! A local Grange was making sun dresses for a charity to distribute to poor communities like Appalachia, Haiti, Guatamala, etc. The event was going to be just one day, but everyone was so excited to do it that we are getting together every Monday night to make more. We are getting quite a pile, and they are all so cute! It's a very simple pattern, so it sews up quick. I made three on Saturday and two more Monday night. They took pics for the paper, but I will get some of my own this Monday to post. I have a bunch of pics to take, don't I?

Finally, I have discovered this gorgeous video that I just keep replaying. Presenting: 500 Years of Women in Art...please remember to shut the music off at the bottom of my blog!

Japanese Doll Making

I came across this video on YouTube, and thought it was very cool. There are always different ways to do things, and this is yet another way to make a doll. I can't read Japanese, but it is still very informative. Enjoy! (Remember to turn off the music at the bottom of my blog so you can hear the music on the video!)