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?

Why Not A Little Doggy Painting?

I can't believe it's been so long since my last post. Easter gone and now Mother's Day. I have been dolly making, but it's been a slow process I'm afraid. I'm making a bear to go with my Izzy style doll but having trouble getting small enough bear joints ...... so I thought I'd do a little portrait of my Cavalier Mr Darcy (every woman needs a Mr Darcy in their lives at some time).

My darling husband took these amazing shots of Darcy, making me wonder why can't I do that when photographing my dolls! Isn't he just the cutest??? What you can't see are his de-stuffed, eyeless or headless toys.

I thought a lovely watercolour but on what?? ...... fabric, canvas, ivorine. I'll keep you posted ...... regularly ........ promise.

In the meantime, to warm up my rusty portrait painting fingers I thought I'd try my hand at making small Pug dog cushions (approx 2 to 3" in size) to go with other Izzys for the future - I'm going to watercolour these onto fabric and then slightly age them.

I have no plans this weekend - the first since returning from Sydney just after Easter, so I plan to use it to paint the Pugs. I'll say a little prayer to the camera fairies that the photos look as great as Mr D.

Milly with her Doll

Well, this is my little angel for the ADO challenge all finished. I thoroughly enjoyed making her - especially her little 3 inch doll. I used a Japanese kimino remnant for Milly's dress and I'm pleased with the way the two tone colouring worked out. Little doll is all paperclay with arms and legs attached with fine beading wire so that they allow her to sit. I've listed her on Ebay along with dolls from some of the other talented ADO artists.
Click here to see how she looks http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Handmade-OOAK-Cloth-and-Paperclay-Doll-Milly-ADO-Doll_W0QQitemZ190380487504QQcmdZViewItemQQptZAU_Dolls?hash=item2c538fb350

She's an Angel In The Making

When finished she's going to be my contribution for the ADO Angels challenge. I've made her hair out of paperclay so I'm hoping it paints up well. I've put a hole through her hair for either a ribbon or halo - not sure yet.