My Christmas Tree

Well baby it is cold outside, for Victoria, BC, that is (0 degrees celcius) so a great day for baking and putting up the tree.

Angels on High

Well, tis the season so I thought I would share some of my latest angels.  This first angel, Archangel Ariel, is quite large (25" long).  The angel has a cloth over paper clay face and a body that is fully wired.  The outfit was a dream to create as I used some of my treasured fabrics all in a soft rose colour.  The sleeves and the hem of the garment has beaded fringe! The second angel is all in purples and gold (based on Arley Berryhill's pattern, about 18"long). "Harold the angel" blows the trumpet to announce the blessed holiday season.

The final angel was inspired by a painting in a book of angels.  "Gloria" is a classic angel with majestic wings and a soft ivory tunic in chiffon and a true red pop of colour.  Enjoy!

Ursula, Queen of the Trolls

The cloth doll group to which I belong, the Cloth-a-Dollics, had a challenge to make a doll with the theme "in the forest".  My mind immediately went to Arley Berryhill's "Troll Queen" doll.  I knew that I could turn her into a forest troll but Arley's pattern was not yet available!

What to do.  No problem I decided to forge ahead and use Arley's "Fairy Godmother" pattern and make adjustments.  I made the head using Akira Blount's technique.  The doll is fully wired and all cloth with lots and lots of fun beading.  Enjoy!

Her staff is made from aluminum foil wrapped in plaster cloth and painted.

Details on the from of her skirt

As of last week Arley now has a pattern for the troll queen!

Alice in Wonderland Teapot

In my previous post, I mentioned the "Alice in Wonderland" teapot that I made a year ago for a club challenge.  In the challenge we were given a fat quarter of brown printed fabric and the theme was to make a teapot.  I immediately thought of Alice in Wonderland and knew I would be using some of Karen Shifton's patterns for Alice and the Mad Hatter. 

The concept was mine: a teapot with Alice and friends on top.  Flowers and teacups. Somewhere nearby would be the Cheshire cat and the march hare of course.  The result was a lot of fun.  Here it is:  

 The brown fabric is in the middle of the teapot and forms the door for the march hare.

Wizard of Oz

A very special lady asked me to make her a tribute to the "Wizard of Oz" as a teapot ensemble similar to my "Alice in Wonderland" teapot.  I was happy to oblige and I am very pleased with the final result.

I started with the idea of the teapot: I wanted a green teapot with the yellow brick road and the field of poppies featured. I made the top of the teapot as the poppy field using my embellisher, crocheted and felted poppies and embroidery.  On the back of the teapot was Emerald city of course:

Toto is featured trying to enter the door of the emerald city.  Notice that the handle is the rainbow (made of felt).  You cannot see it in the picture but there is a metal door to enter the city and behind the door is the US postage stamp issued of "Dorothy and Toto". Dorothy's friends are all featured as is one member of the Lollipop Guild:  This is a pattern from the Cheswick Company.

Here are some closeups of the tin man, lion and scarecrow (all adaptations of patterns).  The teapot is my original idea and pattern as is Dorothy's house that fell on the wicked witch of the east.

Overall, the piece is full of colour and whimsy.  The flowers around the yellow brick road are all hand crocheted.  It was so much fun to make!

Go Figure II Show/Gift and Wishes

Well our cloth doll club's "Go Figure II" show just finished this past Sunday.  It was a great success.  We had a lot of positive comments about our art dolls.  A big thank you to all who participated and to all who visited!

Now I just finished helping with the set up for the next gallery show at the Coast Collective, the "Gift and Wishes" show.  This show features many artists that sell at the gallery with works including glass, pottery, art, jewellery, knitted items and of course my teddy bears.  The show will continue for two weeks (until Nov 10th) with the opening "meet the artists" this Saturday, November 2nd from 2-4pm.

Finally, as a tribute to Halloween, I am displaying some of my Halloween themed dolls, enjoy!  Have a fun, scary, safe halloween and enjoy the wee Trick or Treaters!

Ghost of Marie Antoniette

Glamour Witch

The Beast

He is searching for his Beauty

Wee Samantha is all ready for Trick or Treats

Little Kitty Witch Agatha with her familiar owl

Pirate Pete

Doll Show at the Coast Collective

The doll show at the Coast Collective in Victoria, BC opens tomorrow at noon.  Here is a peak at some of my Christmas dolls in the show:

Merri the Elf.

Close-up of his wee face.

Grumpy, the elf

Grumpy and Merri together (an Allison Marano design)

Party on Mrs Claus (inspired by Arley Berryhill)

Close-up of Mrs Claus face and funky hairdo