Some Previous Work

 Not much new dolly making at the moment as we have been madly working in the garden between small amounts of sunshine and large amounts of drenching rain.  For those of you who have been watching the weather in Australia we have not had a summer at all.  We have had constant and I mean constant) rain since November 2011 and we have had no summer.  My state of New South Wales has been covered in floods equalling the size of France so it's alot of flooded communities and dreadful loss of property and livestock, and thank God only a handful of lives lost. 

I know you're probably thinking that the rain would mean lots of time indoors dolly making BUT work takes up the rest of my time, soooooooo ..... dolly making is coming in third. 

I thought I would share with you some previous work made when I was still in Tasmania at Susie McMahon's studio.  Using her Moxy pattern I created these two sisters, the eldest on the back of the rocking horse.  The pattern is a lovely adaptable pattern, and they were both extremely enjoyable to make.  Hope you enjoy looking at them.

Goldilocks Finished

Well it took me a while but I finally finished little Goldilocks.  This is her just before her little adventure into the woods - looking very sure of herself and fearless!  It's been slow and steady with all my dolly making at the moment but at least this little lady is done and dusted!

My Family

Dolly making is a bit slow at the moment and it's been raining here in Sydney since October 2011 (hardly a full day of sunshine since then - seriously!! - and it's raining heavily now!), so ......... I thought I'd share with you pictures of my four legged "children".  Don't have any of my own 2 legged variety - just nieces and nephew.  Both were "adopted" when we were living in Tasmania and are just wonderful....... sometimes trying but always wonderful..... and as you can see they do get on.

Mr Darcy is my Cavalier - just turned 5 years old.  Real smoocher, very affectionate, snores like a lumberjack and LOVES his toys - this is Noddy Toy.  He also has Gingerbread Toy, Girlfriend, and Bert.

and Mouse is my Burmese cross cat - I think he's about 8 yrs.  Big beautiful boy!  Happy to sleep in the sun on the balcony.

Love 'em both.

Oh yeah - I'm also married to a Greg!  Wonderful and extremely patient (with me)!

Mary and Walter - First Offering for 2012

Mary and her beloved Fox Terrier, Walter, are now finished.  I just absolutely loved painting Walter - I must get my paint brushes out more often!  He has such a shy little face, and just loves snuggling into Mary as she makes him feel safe. 

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/15-Inch-Izannah-Walker-Inspired-Cloth-Doll-Mary-and-Walter-/330673540613?pt=AU_Dolls&hash=item4cfdadce05

Goldilocks

Christmas and New Year was a very busy family affair but I did manage to finish off a paperclay head using one of those foil armatures I blogged about earlier.  I have in mind a Goldilocks theme ......... but it all depends on what this little girl decides!

Very Happy 2012

Wishing you all a very happy 2012 and may all your resolutions be fun while you're achieving them.

My New Year's Resolution ................. regular blogging and more dolly making!!!!! 

Susie Heads

Kathleen Lynette Mack's beautiful paperclay head in her Maida blog inspired me to get the foil and paperclay out to practice Susie McMahon's technique.  The foil armature is so important and for me it's always the back of the head that lets me down - I keep forgetting that there is a skull behind the face and end up creating flat heads.  So following the saying "practice, practice, practice" I've created 5 armatures - all looking like silver Christmas baubles at the moment, with the intention of paperclaying over the weekend.  Will they be Izannah's or just little heads????? ........... only time and my fingers will tell. 

P.S. I'm using Susie's "Sculpting A Head In Air Dry Clay" booklet, which I think she still has for sale on her etsy, as my guide - it really is very good.