Izzy dolls in the works.

Finally got over my nerves and began the Izannah Walker Workshop dolls.  Dixie Redmond (awesome lady and fabulous teacher) says "start with three."  Three dolls at the same time...it's supposed to help with the perfectionist fear factor, and it really does help.

My first day was the worst--just cutting out the templates and parts to sew together.  I know how much the foundation affects the outcome.  But I did press on, and have three little head/torsos sitting in cups in my work room.

Their clay is dry, and I've done the face sculpting, but don't have pics of the sculpted part yet.  Still need to sand and get ready for another scary step: applying the stockinette over the clay.  Baby steps...

EDITED to add: Blogger is messing up right now...I've tried for ten minutes to put pictures in this post.  I have to stop for a while...It's said that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over, expecting different results.

I'll be back to post pics when my sanity has returned.  :~\

EDITED to add: Yay!  Blogger is working again!!!  And I did post a sculpted Izzy...

Shifting Gears

Yesterday I finished up three more of the wooden jointed dolls.  I still have five or six more to go, but I really need to put them away.  Their heads/faces/torso's are done, ready to finish arms and legs and then dress them.  But right now I need to get going on the Izannah Walker doll class so I can take advantage of the expertise she offers and the creative synergy of that group.  The class is over in mid August!

So today I clean the work room, and okay, some of the rest of the house while I'm at it.  Then I'll have room to sew AND sculpt AND paint.

In the meantime, here are photos (click to zoom) of the wooden jointed dolls, which will all go on Etsy this week.  Um, is it Thursday already?  Time's fun when you're having flies...

Cowboy Jimmy...has outgrown his pony.

But he's got new chaps and a six-shooter, and still has his shiny silver star...

Mom said she'd make him a stick horse.  He's asked for a Painted Pinto...

Alice could swear she keeps seeing a white rabbit out of the corner of her eye...

Was it her imagination?

No, she knows she's been seeing SOMETHING.

The trick is to wait...and catch it by turning around really fast!

Leon loves cat-fish.

These are lake bass, but he'll take what he can get.

He plays with his food sometimes.

When he's not fishing, he dreams of fishing.

Do YOU have any catfish?

Amador refused to be the "horse"...and Leon just wants supper.

Cowboy Jimmy would eat eat his silver star before he admits Alice is pretty.

Two more dolls finished today.

I'm trying to wrap up the wooden jointed dolls, but it's going slower than I thought.  I will have finished five by bedtime tonight (fingers crossed) but only two of them are ready right now.  So, let me introduce:

Amador

Amador is Cuban for "lover" and Amador is a total flirt.  He had way too much fun at his photo shoot today.
 

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Next is Wimblie.  I really haven't been able to get a word out of Wimblie, even to the extent of determining gender.  It seemed rude to ask directly, since Wimblie was too shy to speak up.

I hope when I list this shy bunny, a kind-hearted person will be gentle and give Wimblie time to adapt to his or her new environment.