Forest Spirit

This is a project I began on my summer holidays. Each year I like to take a week off and do something creative. That's just for me. Usually it's a doll conference where I take a couple classes and learn something new. This year I signed up for an online doll class with Marilyn Radzat.

It was a wonderful hat class. And knowing me, you know I had to make the doll first. I started three dolls that week.

A witch.... where I used mirror tile on her head... the project... sadly didn't turn out and went file 13.

An this is the second doll I'm attempting.

I wanted to use something from nature. SO that's were this doll went. My Forest Spirit is kind of ent-like, kind of brownie-like.

I used both paper clay and apoxie sculpt on this one.

Once I've given him his base coat. I started wrapping him in quilt batting, and adding his fabric skin.
I then add some more paint washes to the fabric and clay. Adding more detail to the face and hands.
Now I used E6000 to set the pine cone pieces to his head. I carefully washed the old sap off and pulled the pine cones apart. Then I apply them to the head circular rows.

He's not finished yet. I've still got lots of work to do.

The Traveling Doll Project

I'm so excited to tell you about the project that I'm a part of. The Traveling Doll Project.

It's part story telling, part travel log, part journal, part pen pal, but mostly it's an artistic journey.

Each doll will take a journey...starting and ending in the same place with a whole new look and story. A journal will travel with each doll that will tell the story from the start to the end of the dolls adventure. This journal will include all kinds of things. Notes from it's construction, travel pics and friends.

I am part of Team Bambolina. The Bambolina team is the largest of the groups, with 6 doll artists from the US, Canada and the UK participating. My fellow Bambolettes and I are aiming for a finish date of September 2. When the doll we started with makes their journey back home to us.

This is the second year that the ADO team is doing this and while I didn't participate I have followed along last year and thought I want to be apart of this!

Here's the link: http://adotravelingdollproject.blogspot.com/ if you'd like to read about the wonderful artists who are participating. Bookmark it and keep following as each doll artist has to add a blog post about each doll they receive and the work they do to it.

I have begun my project and am posting my progress on each doll I receive here on my blog. As usual, I'm using a picture tutorial to show how I progress.

My doll is a Wizard and he is travelling with a companion.

I am using a wire armature, apoxie and wrapping with quilt batting. I have not used apoxie at the neck so that the head can be posed. The hands are done only to the wrist, and the feet to the ankles so that they can be posed as well. Afterall, I don't know what pose he'll be in when he is finished. I have put a rod in the foot of my Wizard and in the foot of his travelling companion. This will help them stand on a base if he picks one up in his travels.

I'll send him out bald, but I do hope he gets hair...

A peek at my traveling dolls' journal

Black Friday Cyber Monday Half Price Sale!!!

Black Friday Cyber Monday Half Price Sale!!!
See Sale section in my etsy shop - most items on sale for half price!

Including my Dragon Girl Amalia



I find inspiration everywhere so you'll find all kinds of dolls, accessories and fun little puppets popping up throughout the store.

Elvis has not quite left the building

While Elvis hasn't officially left the building yet... he is on his way.

My inspiration for the pose was the Song, "Walking In Memphis", so while he may not look exactly like the King, the impression is there.. enhanced by the Beale and Union Ave. St. signs.

I didn't want to do him all glammed up, but wanted to keep it subtle and everyday. Just a little glitz in the buttons and cuff links... and of course the Blue Suede Shoes.

I really love that song Walking in Memphis, the idea of following in the steps of the King... not that I'd want to follow the King exactly... I just love the hope and dream behind it. Kind of absorbing yourself in the moment as you travel, the sounds the smells, the taste... the energy. I hope I captured part of that here.

I worked all weekend trying to finish this piece, I hope my customer loves it! I'm happy with the way it turned out, I must admit I was terrified to take on the challenge of a well know personality.

Each time I do something like this I feel more confident in my abilities and in each case I learn something new about myself and my craft.

Hope you don't mind my sharing... and have enjoyed sharing a bit of the journey with me.

Elvis is retaining water...

Well, It sure looks like it. He's got some fat ankles there!
I finished giving him his muscle by wrapping him with poly batting and am just about finished skinning him.

All the while I'm sticking pins and sewing him up he's singin': "Don't be cruel to a heart that's true..." and I'm singing back: "I don't want to sew another, Baby it's just you I'm thinking of." Quite funny... but then I guess you gotta be me...

His ankles are a little heavy I think he's retaining water. I'm debating going back in there with some upholstery thread and really giving them a tug, but then they'll be covered with pants and socks anyways and there's always the chance his skin might break and run so I'd better not. I think it'll just be our little secret. I did give him a nice sized package and tight little buns though to make up for it... grin.

Elvis is still in the building

I've been continuing work on Elvis this week. I was really stuck with his hair until I came across Art Dolls by Nat's blog and her Cursalot with her paper ribbon twisted hair. I kept thinking about it and was almost out to look for some of that ribbon to try it out when I remembered I had some black twist pleated fabric. So along with my aha moment and some paverpol (powertex here in Canada)I started a wig for Elvis.

Here's a couple pictures.... still needs some refining.




Although the more I work on the doll the less he looks like Elvis.... I also found out today that Elvis's eyes were actually blue. All my reference photos showed brown eyes. Apparently he wore brown contacts that acted like sunglasses to keep down the glare on stage.... Who Knew?! Looks like he needs another paint job! Grin

Costuming Newsletter

For any of you follow me and haven't found it yet Adele's Fall 2010 Costuming Newsletter is ready for download. If you haven't you're in for a treat!!! Just sign up to receive it and you can download the file and back issues. It's wonderful, glorious, stupendous and all that!!