Christmas Eve Day

We started a new tradition this year-visiting the "Habitat for Humanity" gingerbread houses and the Christmas tree display for a local Children's hospital.  The pictures speak for themselves.  I hope everyone in the Greater Victoria area gets a chance to visit the Inn at Laur'el Point (gingerbread houses) and the Empress Hotel (73 Christmas trees) this year.

Chef sketch for "Steampunk Cinderella" seen below

Happy Holidays

Well, this is the season for reflection over the events of the past year. I have much to be grateful for; good health, a family that I love and that loves me, a wonderful husband, many good friends, and a happy retirement life. 

I have been selling both my art dolls and my teddy bears at a local gallery, the Coast Collective and have sold and displayed my dolls at my local salon, R place in Vic West.  I have been approached by a home decor shop in Sidney, BC to display my dolls in their window, in the spring of 2014.  All in all, an exciting wonderful year. 

 My philosophy, regarding the selling of dolls, is that the more art dolls out in the world, the better.  There is room in Greater Victoria for more than one of us to sell our art dolls.  Dolls bring a smile to many faces and bring only joy to the world.  I say bring them on!

To all my family, followers and friends I wish you a very happy holiday season, Merry Christmas, and a healthy, prosperous New Year.

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!