Settling In!!

Well, my first blog in a very long time and first blog in our new home, in a new state!

My last blog was all about getting ready for the big move back to Sydney ............. which has happened.  We've moved to Leura in the Blue Mountains, which is approx 1hr and half hours west of Sydney.  It's a lovely place, surrounded by world heritage listed forests and olde worlde charm.  But it's not Tasmania ....... so I miss all of my wonderful friends down there, and Tassie's beauty, and wonderful way of life.

Our house is a 1920's cottage which has been renovated nicely, and the garden is full of old camelias, rhododendrens, azaleas, the odd rose and every garden bed on the 1200 sqm block covered in ivy, so we've got a lot of gardening to do!

Between bouts of ivy digging I've managed to get back into dolly making on a small scale. It's been such a long time since I did any sewing/painting/paperclaying that I've decided to warm up my fingers by working on small, easy designs.  I've started a couple of heads which will become Christmas presents for friends ............... they have a small amount of needle sculpting on their faces, and then painted using acrylics.



and a little white star I've made from vintage linens.  The face has been separately painted using acrylics and I've then sewn it onto the star.  The star is one of 6 I will be making to list in ebay/etsy (not sure yet), as Christmas ornaments.   I'll let you know what I decide. 

Sorry - It's Been a While.

My last post was on my birthday.  I can't believe 4 months have gone by that quickly.  So what have I been up to?  Well, not much dolly making I'm afraid. 

Some of you may be aware I'm leaving this wonderful green island and moving back to the mainland to be closer to my family.  In particular my mum, as dad passed away last year. During this time I have done a mini make over, sold the house and now packing ..... and packing ...... and packing .......  I haven't even started my tiny "studio". 

I'll be flying back to Sydney 4th December to look for a new house up in the Blue Mountains - something with character and a bit of age.  I'm not a modernist and would call my decorating style "ecclectic clutter".  The cottage we currently have is a lovely 1836 convict brick Georgian home, and unfortunately Sydney doesn't have many of these still around, so I'll be looking at Victorian age timber cottages - still gorgeous.

So as I don't have any dolly making photos to post I thought I'd give you all a look at a few photos of the house I'll be leaving, and hopefully in the next couple of weeks be able to share with you photos of my new home.

Suki's Off to England

This little sweetie is Suki, the Yorkshire Terrier, who's mum lives in England. She's been made into a brooch so that Suki's mum can wear her/take her wherever she goes.

Works In Progress

I'm working on two dolls at the moment ......... a small doll approx 8" high (his legs aren't on yet) which will have a horse pull toy ...........

and my version of a Pennsylvania Rag Doll (which I came across in the Maida site).  The Rag Doll is huge - I've used about 400gm of a block of paperclay just on the head and boy is she heavy!! 

I've Had Puppies

Well sort of .................. I've finished painting 3 more Pugs and a pair of Cavalier King Charles Spaniels. 

Ruth has been kind enough to pose with them, allowing them to sit all over her - she does look a little uncomfortable. They are listed on Etsy and I will also be making and taking orders for more types of dogs, cats, whatever people can think of. 

Ruth with her Pug

Well, here they are! Ruth with her Pug. I'm going to keep these two for my own collection as I made a bit of an oops when sealing Ruth's face with a slight smear between her eye brows. And as Pug is my first attempt at making this style of dog Ruth and he can stay together. I do plan to make more Pugs, and Cavaliers and Cats and just about anything that will look cute in a doll's hands, and all will be handpainted, original pieces............... so please watch this space.

Pug Phase 1

Well, here's the line drawing and first go at watercolouring for the Pug I plan to turn into tiny little stuffed toys for Izannahs. I scanned the images in and I can see I need deeper shadows for the tail where it meets the Pug's bottom and the rear foot.

My first watercolour attempt was too heavy, and I'm too embarrassed by the result to show you - My darling thinks it looks fine so I think I'll use that one to practice some crackle medium and if it comes out OK I'll show you. In the meantime, what do you think so far?