Fairy Godmother

The Fairy Godmother is an old sculpt that I have finally completed.

I have a few more completed dolls that haven't been posted yet.Working on creating separate pages for each completed work.

For now, my art doll gallery page houses all of my old WIPs and completed works. Hope to update soon!

 
The Fairy Godmother cradles your dreams in a heart of compassion and light, gently encouraging them to soar. Together with the hard work and steadfastness of the dreamer, hopes and creative inspirations are ferried from the realm of the possible to the real.



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Amalthea

First post back after a long while!  Here is a peek at Amalthea.  She started out as a goat-nymph, but she became a bit more sheep-like!

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On A Roll - Now Here's Gnome!

I really should be packing!  But this has turned out to be a productive week for other projects.  Just finished Gnome and had to post some pics!  He is a kind and rustic little soul. I imagine him living in a garden or traveling along the dusty roadways, making friends with the hedgehogs. 

Might "dirty" up his feet a little more -If he's supposed to be walking about in the dirt all day, they're just looking a little too clean :-)

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Rabbit Complete!

So excited!  I just, rather unexpectedly, finished my Rabbit figure!  Hurray!

I'm surprised because previously I had been working on the elf from my last post and hadn't picked up Rabbit in a while.  This past weekend I got inspired and in just a few days finished Rabbit.  I guess it was just the right time for her to be ready to go to a new home! The friend who inspired me to create this character came to mind again and before I knew it, she was almost done.   Rabbit really has to go to the friend who inspired her.  So, instead of selling her, I have given her as a Holiday gift to this person.  I can only imagine that is what Rabbit intended.

Feels like a great start to the Holidays!

Sorry, I went kind of picture happy!  I'm so glad with how she turned out and she is the first doll I've let go! :-)

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Fall Elf: Seasons Change

When I last posted, fall was in full swing.  Beautiful leaves and colors.  Since then, there have been busy times and some excitement.  I haven't finished the fall elf yet, but she is getting there!  Part of the reason is that work has been very busy and will be for the forseable future.  My husband and I also started looking at buying our first place right around the time of my last post.  Since then, every weekend has been filled with hunting for a place.  I think by Christmas we may be settled in to a new home! (fingers crossed) It is exciting, but also means that my work on dolls is at an even slower pace, at least for now.

I'm sorry to have missed the Hive's Autumn Challenge deadline.  Since that has passed, I am experimenting with some other colors.  She has been baked and her soft body completed.  Just working on her costume, hair and finishing touches. Seasons change and I think this "fall elf" will debut with a new name once she is completed.  I am still very determined and excited about finishing my projects.  I hope everyone can bear with me as I try to make time to keep up with blogging and working on my crafts.

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The First Elf of Fall

I would be so disappointed if I didn't make at least one post for September.  This month was busy and went by way too fast.  I'm really looking forward to October though - the color of the fall leaves, the cooler weather.  September may be over, I may not have completed any characters, but I have made progress on some old ones and started a new face!

Fall Elf, Work in Progress

Here she is!  Not complete yet.  I almost scrapped the face, but tonight I went back at it, made some big changes, and now I'm fairly happy with it.  Ears too big??  So hard to make them small - I love making big ears!  I'm trying to make something cheerful and thinking this character might be able to work for TheHive's fall challenge!  Maybe parading a brightly colored leaf!

I've also started working out clothing ideas for the Gnome and Faun!  A coat is in the works for Gnome and he already has a little scarf (a necessity for these New England winters!).  I picked a nice rich brown mohair out of a sampling batch I bought.  I think it will work nicely for both of them.  Now I'm just debating how much of the Faun's lower half to cover in this great mohair!

In the meantime, here's Gnome and Rabbit to give some encouragement!

Don't worry, Gnome, you won't be bald forever!

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Is This The Goose Girl?

The Art Dolls Only quarterly challenge is to create a doll inspired by one of the Grimm's fairy tales!  I'm so glad that I finally finished - in time even!  The Goose Girl is also the fist doll that I've now completely finished, through costuming and all.  This is also the first body I've created using Fimo Puppen, which I had been dying to try out and finally ordered a month or so ago.  I really like the Fimo Puppen, it was easy to work with and has a nice porcelain look, so I'll probably continue to incorporate that in the future. The little goose is made out of paper clay.  I considered making more geese and also Falada's head to put in the background, but haven't had the time to get to them.

I had been so worried about being able to create a good costume (hello Sewing for Dummies), that I just kept putting it off until now.  It's a real relief to have completed this, and the contest was a great incentive.  Now I feel ready to tackle costumes for the other characters who have been waiting so long! 

The story of the Goose Girl is actually pretty disturbing.  I remember when I was younger going through an anthology of Grimm's Fairy Tales my parents had and coming across the story.  I was intrigued by the title, and then got quite a surprise from the turn of events.  So, when the Grimm's challenge came up, that was one of the first that came to mind.  

She is dressed in peasant clothes, but I tried very hard to give her a delicate and proud air, with a bit of a far-away, mournful look.  If you saw her out in the country, you would know there is more to this girl. Of course, I believe any girl can carry themselves like a princess, regardless of their social status  :-)  She could be anyone - wandering, looking for something just out of reach.

Looking through some of the other fairy tales to choose from, I was reminded of one of probably the greatest influences from my childhood - Jim Henson's The Storyteller.  If you have somehow never seen this series and love fantasy and folklore, I would highly recommend it.  The two stories that have stuck with me all this time are Hans My Hedgehog and The Soldier and Death.  Looking at the finished Goose Girl now, she also looks how I'd imagine the princess from the Hedgehog tale.  Her red hair turned white while traveling across the world in search of her husband.

I really enjoyed this challenge and hope to create many more characters from fairy tales, myth and folklore in the future.

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Thank You! - Rojo's First Photo Shoot

Rojo - by Abi Monroe

I still cannot believe it!  First off, the lovely doll above is not mine, it is the fantastic work of Abi Monroe!  She held a fundraiser for Rescue The Animals which ended last week (correction two weeks ago).  She made two beautiful dolls, Azure and Amethyst, just for the occasion.  So many people participated, I count myself extremely lucky that I came in as a runner up and won one of her dolls!! 

Rojo arrived and I couldn't wait to take pictures and post!  I am working hard at improving m photography skills, so bear with me, these pictures really don't do her justice! 

Such a sweet lamb!

This is my first Art Doll and she is an absolute inspiration.  Many thanks to Abi for such a wonderful and generous event, all to help the animals!  See the contest results through the post below and please check out her site, it is really amazing!

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Abi Monroe: Giveaway Draw Results......

Abi Monroe: Giveaway Draw Results......

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A New Face - Rabbit

There are a lot of works in progress right now, but it's just too hard to resist making a new face!  This is one character that I actually intended to create from the start.  I had been thinking that I wanted to try making a rabbit.  While daydreaming, I had made a few rough sketches of my idea.  These were just on bits of scrap paper and post-it notes.  Finally, one day, I just went at it. 

The ears have been added just this week, so I figured Rabbit was ready to make its debut.  Up to this point, I haven't been using any rabbit photos for reference, so it won't be the most accurate interpretation.  Even so, I think it is already giving off the impression of what a "rabbit" would be.  

In my sketches, I imagined Rabbit would be very solemn, sweet and dainty.  Its paws would be outstretched, gently offering a patchwork heart.  Now that it's coming along, I think it may turn out to be a bit more playful.  

It doesn't even have feet yet, but it looks like it wants to dance! :-)

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Feet!

 This month everyone is getting feet! 

Have you seen the little Gnome on my gallery page?  He was probably the 3rd character I started, but I kept putting him aside to work on new ideas.  He still didn't have any arms or feet - until now! :-)

Now he is ready for cotton batting to be added to build up his body.  Then, just a layer of fabric glued and sewn over it as "skin" and he'll be ready to paint, dress and add hair! 

I love the way his little hands came out!

The Tree Spirit has gotten its feet as well.  Here they are, just coming out of the oven! 

You may think the Tree Spirit has an exceptionally long neck.  Well, it started when I was building the armature, before I had any idea what it would be.  I was working with the wire and, by accident, got this long shape.  At first, I didn't think it was very realistic, but I really liked the elegance of the long line.  So, I decided to give it a go and see what kind of character would come from this.  I'm glad I did! 

I will be updating the Gallery soon with these and more new pictures!

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