DIA DE LOS MUERTOS DOLLS

Was waiting to post pics of these as I had one more I wanted to make, however with Holidays, hand problems, and the fact I have moved on to another project, probably won't complete her until later. BTW cats were so popular at Bazaar, I wound up making more! Cat lovers know no restrictions or seasonal requirements. For these ladies I started with a head where the center seam had gone berserk at the forehead. (Never toss anything away!)As by the time I filled with gesso, and painted that little mistake was easily fixed. She is the one in black with purple ruffle. Naturally, I was inspired to make MORE! These are all stump dolls as their costumes are their main feature. That too is such fun to do, so am sure I'll be getting back to it next fall when it's closer to the Holiday.

DIA DE LOS MUERTOS GATOS

During our Art Thing show at the Museum a colleague talked about her fascination with Dia de los Muertos, a (mostly Hispanic) holiday honoring the dead, which takes place Nov. 2 right after Halloween. I knew the basics, however after checking into it I too am enamored. Faces are painted white with lots of decorations, and costumes are in a wild range of colors and styles. My friend also stated she is a cat lover, and I am also, so that is where I headed on this first plunge. It was challenging coming up with not only the designs, but the process of how to work on black fabric. Naturally this meant having to do more than one...as if I could not. And now that I have my litter of cats, am thinking about more dolls in this same genre, as again there are so many possibilities! BTW I do have written instructions for cats ready.

CLAMITY MERMAID

Garage Sales are such fun! Found a sea shell towel rack...perfect for a mermaid to sit on when turned up-side-down. Clamity is a bit different: She has a fuller figure than most; is constructed so she sits up (sometimes hard to do). She has cool hair made of homespun yarn,ultra long eyelashes, and looks real cute sitting on her shell if I do say so myself! Pattern is available.

PIRATES MADE COVER OF SD&A

It's always a thrill to see my efforts in print! Also love the way the Magazine takes my basic stuff, and make it into a real "work of art". Patterns this time are for Jack, and Sadie. Rosalee (with big hat will be in next issue).

SOMETHING FISHY

The Art Thing group chose "water" as the theme for this years show. Pirates will of course be part, and fellow artist John Patterson who does the most wonderful metal sculptures is making a pirate ship to display with them. With all the hype about "fish" movies I was moved to make some. In the 60's living in Puerto Rico I had a salt water aquarium populated with fish I caught while snorkeling.I loved my little menagerie and was heart broken to have to leave it when moving back Stateside. So with that in mind I proceeded to create a sea scenario in fabric. Original plan was a mobile, but instead used a box decorated to look like an underwater scene. By hanging the fish with invisible thread, any little breeze makes them bob and move, so it almost feels like a real aquarium! SD&A will feature them in spring 2017 issue.And I will have pattern available as well. Am also working on a "follow up" with some fancier fish, which could be used as pins. Later on that.

SADIE POSTER GIRL FOR ALMOSA ART WALK

Honored again to have one of my creations chosen for posters and pamphlets for annual Art Walk. This year son Greg & daughter Rachel were here too. Always fun showing & sharing doll making. I usually take unfinished pieces so others can try their hand at some painting a face for themselves. Young girl (9th birthday celebrating)has already made reservations for next year!

ROSALEE A VERY SPECIAL PIRATE LADY

While in Pirate mood, husband suggested a gal wearing a hat with a long feather. Brilliant idea! Found a picture to go by, and not only had the hat, but a super long coat. So got busy and designed Rosalee. Like my other dolls she is made to stand alone...balancing on her hi heel boots. She has wild, wind blown hair: Of course that's how it goes when you're on a ship. Like her pirate buddies she carries a sword and wears lotsa jewelry. Immediately got request for her pattern, so got busy & wrote. BTW these pirate patterns include making the sword. I'm thinking would be handy for characters like musketeers?

CARIBBEAN PIRATES HAVE INVADED!

Years ago when Pirates of Caribbean came out I made a doll, since the star is one of my favorites. I got a request to make another, so got busy...and as usual not satisfied with just one...had such fun with all the embellishments,& making that wild hair. Since I had an extra head I decided a female was needed.

so Sadie was born. Pattern for Jack is up...Sadie on the way.

ROCK STAR DAVID

David Bowie was"big" in our home when my kids were growing up. Since there were requests for more male dolls, I decided to design a rock star based on him. The big thing was that hair, and of course the fancy clothes. Often when trying to capture a certain look, I find it takes a couple of attempts, and this was no exception. So not only are there 2 Davids, but I had another head, so used left-over body, legs, etc. and with a new wardrobe came up with another Rock Star. For him I made a microphone and have instructions for making it on wordpress blog. The guitar I purchased. Pattern is done & will post along with some others in April. Health problems have slowed me down, but not stopped me!

FLYING STEAMPUNK FAIRIES!

Since my birthday was Friday the 27th, I was able to "milk it" and spent the whole week (except for Turkey day as I was busy cooking)working on writing up the patterns for my flying fairies! Pictures are of the 2 Steampunks: Flying Phoebe and Victorian Victoria. Also have Flutter Tooth Fairy. Weed Fairies named Anna Stasha. Like Tooth Fairy their heads are jointed so they move. They're flying high! So...happy to say these patterns are now available for others to have fun with. TA DA!

BUSY MAKING FLYING FAIRIES!

It all started with the Tooth Fairy (dressed In blue). Made with new technique that allows her head to sway, making her look like she actually moves as she flies. She was such fun decided to make another as a Weed Fairy. And she was so much fun I decided to make a Flying Steampunk Fairy, or 2. One aviator style with helmet & propeller on her head. The other, more Victorian with velvet & lace, and pretty umbrella. Then this hot pink fabric was crying to join in,and another piece of beautiful, colorful fabric, said, "me too, but I want to carry a bong". So here they all are. Or perhaps not all. We shall see. Patterns are in the works, and will also be appearing in SD&A!

MALE "PORTRAIT" DOLLS

Several Years ago I was asked to make a portrait doll of a gentleman & his wife dressed in costumes they had while serving in Korea. A while back he contacted me as he had decided he wanted to have dolls of the whole family. Great...until I found out there are 8 of them! 3 Are men, and men are the hardest to do, so I have done them first. Guys are a challenge since their hair doesn't cover threads for needle sculpting, so ya gotta make it all behind the ears. Whenever I can I try to put a hat on guys. Picture shows the three men holding the photo given me to work from. There are 4 in the picture because the gentleman in the center is the father.

MORE WEEDFAIRIES

Since the original Betty Bong Fairy sold at the crane festival, and have had so much good feedback, and wanted to have a BB for the Art Walk, thought I'd best make another. First off I gathered parts together from when I was designing my girls and made another with golden locks like the original. Then there was one not-so-nice person who posted a diatribe on my FB page (also complained to editor at SD&A) so I made her again without the wings,holding flowers and changed her name to Betty Bouquet. BUT she was not happy, and wanted to be like the others...so I fixed her up, and now we're all happy...and we don't even smoke. A side note: another little fairy flew off during art walk, and another will be going tomorrow. So again lots of positive feedback!

SALONI TRAVELS ON HER MAGIC CARPET

Since many of us can't make the trip, once again members of Dollstreet have been asked to send a display of dolls for AFICC, under the care of the lovely Judy Skeel. Theme this year is "Travelers". It's a long story, but it all started with the idea that Mary Poppins is celebrated this year, so the idea was to honor her. HOWEVER, as everyone knows ya don't mess with Disney & it seems they have the rights. So Travelers was chosen instead. After much consideration I decided to make an altered version of my doll Saloni, who rides on Tattu the elephant. Due to size limits she now rides on a magic carpet. BTW: at Crane Festival, the first thing sold was Betty Bong! TaDa! Betty & Mary Juana will be featured in Sept. SD&A and Connie Canibus in July.

3 NEW PAINTED PACHYDERMS

First off happy to say the Painted Pachyderms are featured in the current Soft Dolls & Animals Magazine. AND Connie will be in July then Betty & Mary in Sept. Meanwhile I only had one of the original elephant herd left, so decided to get busy and paint a couple more that I had sewn & stuffed but never finished embellishing. Such a fun project. So many choices to make, so again can't just make one!

3 MORE WEED FAIRIES

When designing a new doll, I often have extra parts while seeking the right one. With the Weed Fairies, I had several heads & liking this genre,(and since I have the patterns written and put up) decided to finish them trying different techniques & hair styles. Really like the look of the eyelash yarn! I'll probably put head shots of these on my wordpress blog for folks who get the pattern, to give them more ideas. Also it's fun to see how different each can look although it's the same basic pattern.

CONNIE CANIBUS WEED FAIRY

SD&A will be featuring the Weed Fairies! Decided to design another as a stump doll for 2 reasons: simpler for novice doll makers AND easier to wrap to pack and ship. So 14" Connie Canibus has been added to the mix...actually I have 3 more as I was experimenting with different efforts to make her. Very proud of myself as I got patterns for her as well as Betty & Mary written and ready to go, and put a post on my wordpress blog with directions for making bongs & pipes for the girls. Sometimes it's nice when it's snowing outside as it's perfect for doing this kinda stuff inside!

WEED FAIRIES

We've all heard of the Tooth Fairy...well here in Colorado we have Weed Fairies...they don't have cash, but carry a "stash". When designing a new idea,I'll often make a couple at a time to work on. Liked both of these, so finished both using a few different techniques on each. They both have marijuana leaf shaped wings. Betty Bong,is made to just sit on the ground. Mary Juana sits on a stool & holds a joint in one hand and her stash in the other. (it's really oregano) My intent was to make bongs for both, but her hands looked better with the joint and later changed to a pipe...even better! After a week of experimentation I finally figured out how to make a bong, using small light bulbs. Gonna do more now that I've perfected the idea, and sell. Also planning another Fairy

CHRISTMAS BEAR

As usual I'm running late with Holiday gifts...however my excuse is I still celebrate by sending gifts for Three Kings Day (Jan. 6) which is the tradition in Puerto Rico, where I lived for so many years. Now that all the local celebrations & bazaars are over I am concentrating on getting packages to be sent to family in Florida & Ga. Last summer when I met the father of my new great grandson, he was impressed with the fact that I am into Steampunk. He calls me Steampunk Gramma. Therefor I decided it would be appropriate to make a steampunk teddy bear for the great grandson. Of course it will be for decoration only. But it was fun to make, and plan to do a few more for Crane Festival this spring. I still love steampunk!!! My other family members are getting T-shirt necklaces of course. Other new grandson-in-law who is campaigning to legalize marijuana in Georgia getting cap embellished with leaves of the weed, and grand daughter's necklace & ear rings also feature that theme. Again will probably make more for Crane Fest for the tourists. lol

GUARDIAN ANGELS

Getting ready for Christmas bazaar, decided to make some nice little angels.Last summer visiting Pensacola, my step daughter gave me a carved angel from Thailand, with hand posed in prayer to greet and bless visitors, which I planned to make in cloth. I'll need to work on that later, but wanted to use the idea of the hands in that position. While digging through my stash for fancy fabric came across a "straw" skirt bought at thrift store and decided to make my girls into Guardian Angels, as angels are not just for Christmas. I liked the effect with these prints. They are 9" made to hang on the wall...faces are cold porcelain and wings are made of "paper metal" which I often use in my steampunk stuff. Will write up pattern after Holidays>