And just like that, there were tiny angels.

I was working like crazy on little Halloween peeps, and just like that...I went another direction.  Not sure if these little angels are related to any holiday--one of them has Halloweenish colors, but that's about it.  I just got them in my head and couldn't get them out. 

So I'll get real photos and post them in my Etsy shop later, but right now, here are some little angels.  I hope your week is fabulous. 

I did it!

 For the last who-knows-how-long, I have let my Etsy store languish with very very few new listings.  It basically served as a shop for my patterns, and the occasional custom ordered Izannah.  I took all my dolls to the doll show, and that was pretty much it.

When I was an Air Force instructor, I used to tell my airmen: if you don't use the tools you have, then you might as well be sweeping the floor with your hands, while the broom is propped in the corner.

That's what I was doing.  Sweeping the floor with my hands.  But no longer.  I have listed them all on Etsy, and posted them on my Pinterest boards.  I'm sorry these aren't new to you guys--they've all been posted here at some time, but I never took the time to put them IN MY STORE.  Well, now I have listed them.  Woohooo!

Now to get started on dolls for the October doll show, and work on that Cherub Christmas Ornament commission.  Busy times. 

Sybil is ready.

The Izannah doll I've been working on over the last several weeks 

(thank you for your patience, Carolyn!) is ready to go to her Doll Mom.  

 

She's 18", with blue eyes and brownish/reddish hair.  I like this one and enjoyed sculpting her a lot.  The request was for an "almost smile" the way some Izannahs have.  She does look like she's about to smile.  The kicker was that she also got an entire wardrobe--a dress for each season!  I have never sewed so much for one doll, ever!  Top it off with a neutral colored bonnet, and she's ready for anything. 

I drafted a couple of dress patterns for Sybil, and stored them away--with notations this time, so the pattern drawer is not such a mess. 

Hope your weekend will be fabulous!

Navy is good on her, I think.

This most recent commissioned Izannah doll is the second for this collector.  The last was the little red-head in green, but this time she wanted brown hair, brown eyes, and a blue dress.  (On my Etsy listing, I have a menu of choices.)  I debated on what color blue--I have an insane amount of fabric to choose from, having collected it for years.  But this deep blue seemed to match her pensive expression.  I try not to make my Izannahs look sad, but it happens sometimes, given a head start with that downcast gaze.  This one, I can't tell if she's sad or just really thoughtful.  Eye of the beholder, I guess.  Anyway, I liked the deep blue, and it was fun dressing her.  Hope y'all have a fabulous weekend.

Noel Night

There's a lady in Chandler AZ (about 2 hours from me, south east of Phoenix) who has an antique store within an antique mall.  She actually has five booths, all put together to make one shop, so to stay she has a store is not overstating matters.  Carries the most fascinating mix of antiques, Victorian themed art and clothing, architectural scavenges, and folk art.  I could stand there all day and not see all of it, so much detail.

Well, she found me at a doll show and asked if we could talk...the result of which talk was that she'll now be carrying my dolls in her store.  (I think I already posted this news, but didn't go back to see.)  Each year, the antique mall has an event called Noel Night, during which all the merchants have a sale and stay open late.  There's a restaurant which has great food, and music, etc., and it's apparently a pretty busy night.  Patti asked if I would make a particular doll for Noel Night, and of course I did.  Her name is Victoria Noel, and she's 28" tall.  Cloth and clay, as usual, and wool hair.

I've got three more dolls in the works for this event, and hope to have them all finished in time!  I'll post them when they're done.  But in the meantime, here is Victoria (Patti wanted an "attic fairy").

Back to work!

I have no excuse for not blogging, except that I haven't taken photos lately and it always seems boring to post with no pictures.  Having joined the Iris Society in our area, I discovered that June and July are the busy time, with lots of volunteer hours getting ready for an iris sale this month.  So there is that.  Not sure it qualifies as an excuse, but I have enjoyed digging and playing in the iris.  :~)  Otherwise, it's just housework, appointments, square dancing, and general busy-ness.

But I have at least been working on dolls.  I went in there and started counting to see how many in-progress dolls I have going.  Embarrassing, but I have twenty!  I know I should finish the first ones before starting any more, but the most recent ones are mostly Izannah type dolls for the upcoming doll show.  There will be three sizes--22", 18", and 15".  So I have lots of tiny thumbs to sew in the next few weeks.

Maybe I'll take some hand sewing with me when we go to see my son get married in Oregon in August.  It always takes longer than I think it will, so it's best to plan ahead, right?

At any rate, I did get a couple of photos of these that I started in the last few weeks.  I work a few hours every day, adding clay to each of them and setting it aside to dry for the next day's additions.

I'm really hungry for autumn weather, so I have a feeling the fabric choices for these bitties will be fall colors.

Cheers!