TOODLESOCKS STUDIO~ooak polymer clay art dolls & artisan jewelry by Sue Anne Bartocci McConnell

a cottage bunny

2012-01-27T21:27:00.000-08:00

I have listed another shabby sweetie on Ebay. It's a shy little OOAK cottage bunny! I used printed paper to accent the ears and I made a simple little fan out of a page from an old school book to send with him for display.....just because I thought it would be cute! Here is the link to my bunny auction:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/170772698940?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649

2012-01-24T18:07:00.000-08:00

My little shabby sweet cottage bear is listed on Ebay! Here is the auction link:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/170770218244?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649

I have to go work on that bunny now.

string jointed cottage teddy bear

2012-01-24T14:14:00.000-08:00

I haven't sculpted a teddy bear for a long time, but I was inspired to make this string jointed bear because I love the white cottage look so much! I am going to list him/her on Ebay a little later today. I used tiny onyx beads for eyes, and I made a little bauble to hang under the ruffle around the neck. This is a miniature bear. It sits at only 2¼ inches tall and stands at 3 inches.

My next piece might be a cottage bunny!

lace jar candle holder~off topic

2012-01-04T20:53:00.000-08:00

This has nothing to do with sculpting or making jewelry but I wanted to share this with you since it goes along with my love for vintage things.

I got the idea from pinterest.com and here is my own version. It's super simple to make and so pretty at night. You can get the doilies at JoAnn Fabrics, and Michael's sells individual canning jars. A vintage ball or mason jar would give even more character to the piece. I glued an old fashioned button to the "center" of the doily. If you have anymore questions about how I made mine, please write me at ginnybug8@aol.com. I'll be happy to share!

Pintrest.com

2012-01-04T11:33:00.001-08:00

If you haven't joined pintrest.com,you are missing out on a fun site where you can find lots of ideas for your house,crafts,style,etc. It's rather addictive. If you look under my name, you will see that I have shown some of my sculpts and jewelry on my board. It's a great site to get some free exposure for your work.

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-22T14:50:00.000-08:00

I hope you are having a beautiful holiday season. We are blessed that Alan is still in remission from lymphoma and I am making good recovery from my spinal fusion surgery.
I was looking at the Christmas tree lights as I was lying on the couch one evening this past week. I remembered how I cried and pleaded with my family to take me home when I was in rehab after my surgery. As I looked around my family room that evening, I took a moment to thank God that I am able to be here in my cozy home this Christmas season. The simple things in life, the things we take for granted, are the most important.

When the holidays are over, I plan to start sculpting again, work on new sculpts, and design some new jewelry. I also want to work on my website and perhaps have my youngest son, Grant, who is a graphic artist and website designer, create a professional website for me.

I will see you in January 2012! Have a peaceful and meaningful Christmas and holiday.

Sue Anne

Altered artisan necklaces special pricing and free shipping!

2011-12-03T00:57:00.000-08:00

I am offering $10 off on my altered, or collage necklaces in addition to free shipping until December 18, 2011. If you see one you like, grab it now because I won't any of them exactly the same. No one else will ever have your necklace!

I am working on a new human baby sculpt, but am very busy putting up Christmas decorations and getting ready for relatives coming in from out of town so she is patiently waiting for me to finish her. I might get back to her in a few days, but then there is wrapping, baking, etc. I wish there were more hours in a day, or that I could get by with just a couple of hours of sleep.

I'll post here a couple more times before Christmas. In the meantime, enjoy the season!

Here they are! One of a kind necklaces!

2011-11-18T12:21:00.000-08:00

Here are photos of my collage or altered necklaces that are available on my website. Please don't refrain from purchasing because you don't have a PayPal account. Write me at am803@aol.com for another payment option.
I love assembling these one of a kind necklaces. If you want something very unique to wear to the holiday office party or just to wear all year, these are for you! They are eye-catching. Believe me, when I wear one, I always get compliments and questions.

New Collage Necklaces!

2011-11-17T23:50:00.000-08:00

I listed my new collage or altered necklaces on my website! I'll post photos of them here on my blog tomorrow, but if you would like to take a look at them on my website, here is the link:

http://toodlesocks.com/collagenecklaces.html

Please contact me at am803@aol.com if you are interested in them or would like another method of payment besides PayPal.

Just a reminder that each necklace is unique and one of a kind. I will never repeat a necklace, although I will be using some of the same elements, but always in different ways. Some of necklaces have focal pieces that were found in antique shops or vintage shops and some are embellished with various findings I have had for years. I enjoy working some of my own memorabilia into my jewelry. Not all of them have recycled embellishments, but my favorites are the ones that do!

New Collage Necklaces!

2011-11-16T22:48:00.000-08:00

I will be photographing and listing several new necklaces on my website, hopefully tomorrow if all goes well. Each is one of a kind, so no need to worry someone having on the same necklace you are are wearing. Each is styled differently using various antique and vintage findings, including hardware. I call them collage necklaces because I use whatever I can find or have on hand. To see some of the necklaces that have already sold, please use this link:

http://toodlesocks.com/collagenecklaces.html

2011-11-07T00:40:00.000-08:00

I have listed a charity doll on Ebay. The entire profit from this auction will go to the Susan G. Komen foundation to fight breast cancer.

"Hope" is a sweet little jointed doll who stands at about 6 inches. She is dressed in a pretty pink dress, of course! I made it just for her. It's removable and she has matching undies. You can read more about her if you go to her auction link here:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/170724629720?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649

Please help her raise money to fight this awful disease so that our little girls don't have to grow up and fear it.

Thank you for your participation!

baby fairy, Aspen, available for purchase

2011-10-31T21:27:00.000-07:00

I am offering baby Aspen for only $29.00 here on my blog. If you are interested, please email me at am803@aol.com with "Aspen" in the subject box. Can he spend the rest of fall at your house?

Sculpting tutorials baby face and hands

2011-10-28T09:53:00.000-07:00

It has been brought to my attention that my tutorials are not easily found on my blog. I will post the links here today and try to find a way to make them more accessable.

You will have to copy and paste them into your browser because I can never seem to make the link icon work.

Hand part I

http://toodlesocks.blogspot.com/2010/11/hand-tutorial-part-1.html

Hand part II

http://toodlesocks.blogspot.com/2010/11/hand-tutorial-part-2.html

Face tutorial:

http://toodlesocks.blogspot.com/2010/06/my-new-ooak-doll-baby-tutorial.html

Aspen Listing On Ebay!

2011-10-23T18:39:00.000-07:00

Aspen is now listed on Ebay. Here is the auction link, which you have to copy and paste into your browser because I can't ever seem to be able to hyperlink it with the blog tool.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/170716975570?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649

2011-10-22T13:16:00.000-07:00

This is my first sculpt since my surgery. I am finally able to sit long enough to sculpt. This baby is 4 3/4 inches long to the tip of his/her hat( this one is not anatomically correct). The baby lies on a pretty fall clay leaf, which I imprinted with a real sweetgum leaf and stained so that the veins would be more noticeable.

I plan to list this little one on Ebay tomorrow. I'll let you know the link shortly after I list!

Two new layered artisan necklaces

2011-10-20T22:58:00.003-07:00

Sorry I'm so late to post the pics of my new necklaces. I used parts of antique drawer pulls in the layering of these two pieces. I couldn't re-create them if I wanted to, so they are definitely one of a kind creations. We needed to replace a broken hinge on an antique secretary, so we went to a store that carries old hardware. Since I am always looking for unusual findings for my jewelry, a lightbulb went off in my head when I saw the display of old drawer pulls. I was more than happy with the added interest they give to my collage necklaces.

I have a hold on the one with the onyx center. The other one is available, though I don't have it listed on my site. I am asking $49.00.

I have also finished a new baby fairy. I had started her face before my surgery. Following her, will be a new jointed baby, which should be finished in two or three days, so stay tuned!

2011-10-13T23:39:00.000-07:00

You may be wondering if I am ever going to get back to work with my sculpting and artisan jewelry. I have to be honest and say that the Parkinson's in my left hand was agitated by the stress of the spine surgery I had last spring and I have been procrastinating for fear that I can't hold my hand steady enough to sculpt tiny faces. I have, however, created a couple of new collage necklaces using old drawer pulls that I found in an antique store that carries old hardware. They are very unusual and eye-catching. I will try to get photos posted tomorrow.

I am recovering very well. My physical therapist is amazed at my progress. I am driving, shopping,cooking, etc. I hope to add sculpting to that list real soon!

Please look back in the archives of my blog to see several sculpting tutorials.

wigging tip

2011-08-13T12:56:00.000-07:00

To make part in my dolls' hair, I sometimes find it looks more natural to indent a line into the doll's head, while it is still unbaked, rather than just tucking the hair under and gluing it directly onto the head. After baking, you can tuck the weft of hair into the indentation. Just make sure you have cut a clean straight edge on the weft before inserting it into the indented line. The edge of the hair should have a thin line of glue on it. My favorite glue for wigging is FabriTac. It's a bit difficult to use because it gets stringy, but once you get used to it, you will find that it adheres almost immediately and bonds with the clay.
You can indent a "T" shape into the head for inserting bangs with a center part.

I would love to show you photos of this technique but I haven't sculpted since my surgery. Between physical therapy and doctor appointments I haven't been able to get into my sculpting mode. Soon, though, I hope!

A sculpting tip for blushing and painting face

2011-07-27T14:42:00.000-07:00

If you don't want to invest in Genesis heat-set paints, you can use water based oils for blushing and painting your dolls' faces. Never use regular oil paints because they will eat into the hardened polymer clay over a period of time. Fingernail polish on the nails will also eat at the clay. Remember that polymer clay is oil based, so you can use only water soluable paints on it. Acrylics are fine to paint clothing, but they will not blend for a smooth finish on the face.

I hope to start sculpting again next week! I have a partially sculpted doll that I started before my surgery so I will finish her before I start on a new one.

I am now 8 weeks post-op, and am not using a cane anymore! Yay! Slowly, I am feeling normal again. For the first 6 weeks, I thought I would never feel good, but I am getting there. I

My recovery and a sculpting tip for you!

2011-07-14T17:25:00.000-07:00

I am still using a cane and brace when I out in public, but I am slowly making progress. I have walked at the Mall of Orange, which is a small mall near our house. A large mall would overwhelm me at this point. I walked through Target today. It feels so good to get out and about. I feel like I am part of the world again! I started aquatic therapy last week. I felt like I weighed a ton when I got out of the pool! It was a strange experience. I have a great therapist who reminds me that I didn't have just one or two fusions, but 8! He said that is "major major" surgery. So, I can't expect to bounce back too quickly. In fact, he said it could take up to a year. I am normally on the go a lot, so I have had to learn patience. I will no longer have mobility in my waist, however the therapist said that a minimal amount will come back, eventually. That's a fair trade-off for being able to walk without that terrible....no, unbearable pain going down my left leg. I will be able to live a productive and good life with a couple of adjustments.

Since I can't sit long enough to sculpt right now, I thought I would leave you some sculpting tips as I think of them.

For my dolls, which are usually about 4 inches long, I use the eye a large tapestry needle to imprint the fingernails and toenails. You can buy the needles in several sizes to fit the proportions of your doll.

spinal fusion update

2011-06-26T16:23:00.000-07:00

I am 5 weeks post-op and have to say my recovery has been much harder than I ever thought it would be. I have advanced from a walker to a cane, but I still struggle with a lot of deep aching, mostly in my hips and am trying to get off of pain meds. The good news is the sword-like pain going down my left leg is gone. I am very impatient and want to get well and be normal again. My lumbar spine was fused and I also had a second laminectomy. Some of my mobility will be lost, but I feel I am getting a second chance. My surgeon is said to be the best in the western US.
Thanks to all of you who have written comments and emailed me. I have a long way to go and appreciate hearing from you.
I won't be sculpting for a while because I can't sit for long periods of time, but please stick with me.

On the mend!

2011-06-13T07:43:00.000-07:00

I have not been creating dolls lately, and for a very good reason. I had spinal surgery.....8 fusions (L5 up to T10), a laminectomy, and 2 twelve inch titanium rods in my back for support. I feel like a doll with a metal armature!
It was a huge surgery so healing is at the top of my priority list right now. Things are going well so far, but I can't say that I have not been afraid. The physical therapist comes to the house 3 times a week to help me strengthen my core and to give me pep talks. I am slowly weaning myself off of medication. It is beyond my understanding out anyone could use those drugs for recreational purposes. Thank God we have them, but playing around with them is just so unsafe.
I will keep you updated on my progress. In the meantime, please appreciate being able to take a shower alone, put on your clothing without help, and mostly, going to the bathroom alone. Don't take any of your independence for granted.
Sue Anne

Gone for a while

2011-05-18T09:51:00.001-07:00

My surgery date has been rescheduled for this coming Monday. I simply could not deal with the pain and wish tomorrow were Monday. So you probably won't see me here for a while, but please don't leave! I will get back as soon as I can.

My summer

2011-05-16T21:41:00.000-07:00

My sculpting will be slowing down for the next couple of months, although I am going to try my best to keep going. I am having a spinal fusion, currently scheduled for June 20, but due to intense pain in my left leg, I am going to try to reschedule for an earlier date. I have collapsing discs in my back and the nerve to my leg is impinged. They say that this is a huge surgery and yes, I am scared but have no choice but to go for it. I have congenital scoliosis which has finally caught up with me. I would love to hear from anyone who has had this surgery. I really don't know what my back will feel like with part of it in a fixed position.
I will continue to post helpful tips and hope that my followers will hang in there with me.
I will keep you posted.
Sue Anne

OOAK doll sculpting tip

2011-05-10T17:49:00.000-07:00

You know you can bake your doll on polyfil fiber, right? It does not melt or change the fiber if you keep your oven at 275 degrees. It will keep the doll from having flat places. I use the same fiber over and over. It's like putting your doll on a little pillow while it cures.

Happy Mother's Day!

2011-05-08T13:59:00.000-07:00

Happy Mother's Day! My day began with my husband making breakfast, then I spent some time sculpting, my favorite thing to do! Tonight, Yang Ming's, our favorite Chinese food. It doesn't look like a very good day for the pool. The marine layer has not burned off yet. It's a cozy day in the house, though. Netflix movies will be entertainment later tonight.

Christine and Grant came in from Redlands to celebrate Mother's Day yesterday. Christine cut and colored my hair for my present. That's pretty wonderful considering she is an Aveda stylist. Looks like she will be doing makeup for an indie movie at the end of the summer! That girl is going places!

Eric and Lora sent me PJs. I collect PJs, you know! You can never have too many! Paul painted a picture for me and I am going to frame it for the guest room! Mark is doing some work around the house for me today.

What more could a girl ask for? Great kids, grandkids, a loving and generous husband, and a passion for sculpting!I am blessed!

I miss you Mom!

Why do I share sculpting tips?

2011-05-06T17:13:00.000-07:00

My son,a graphic artist, asked "Mom! Why do you tell people your sculpting secrets?" Well, I have always been a generous person and I also love to teach. Additionally, I have Parkinson's Disease and I don't know how much longer I will be able to sculpt, so I feel that by sharing tips, I can leave a piece of myself behind...pardon the poor grammar.

When I started sculpting, I had to buy books, search the internet, and learn by trial and error. I know a lot of artists think that everyone should start out that way. I believe that what you give out to the world comes back to you somehow, some way. It' better known as Karma, or the "law of reciprocity." I am not saying that I share only for that reason. I enjoy sharing for the sake of sharing. Grandpa Morgan said "We were all put here to help each other out." I believe that. The world has too much anger and hatred. If I can give people a bit of joy, then I will do that.

OOAK art doll sculpting tip!

2011-05-04T10:32:00.000-07:00

This is for new sculptors:
If you are serious about sculpting, you need to learn about sculpting and smoothing with a brush. Often, just the pressure or push of a brush will give you a subtle indentation that creates the right shadowing on a face. A brush is also what you need to smooth out a face or other body part. A filbert with natural bristles is what I use, along with a touch of mineral oil. Don't use too much oil, or you will end up with gooey clay. I use my brush a lot! It is the only way to blend and finish your doll faces.

Hope this helps you on your art doll journey!

OOAK Baby Fairy In Pink Tutu!

2011-05-03T17:45:00.000-07:00

This is my new baby fairy listing on Ebay! Pink Dreams seemed like the perfect name for this piece. She comes in the beautiful black and white satin box that you see in the photos. I always ship my dolls in pretty inner boxes, in case you didn't know that! This baby is anatomically correct, she is 4 3/8 inches long and is simply sweet! She just sleeps away the day in her pretty box. She will fit so perfectly in your hand! I love the serenity of this piece and hope you like her too! She is much more delicate in person. She's very girly!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170636487383&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT

Follow me on Twitter!

2011-04-27T20:17:00.000-07:00

Please follow me on Twitter. Read more about what makes me tick!
My Twitter name is SueAnneArtDolls.

OOAK Baby Orangutan

2011-04-25T15:16:00.000-07:00

Here is another one of my orangutans, a baby with eyes that plead for you to pick him up! His name is Toby. He has just bits of fur on his arms and legs because he is such a young one. He is 2 1/2 inches long and lies on his back, although you can have him sit if you want. I really do think he is the most pitifully cute creature I have ever sculpted! Here is his auction, started at a very low price!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170632194250&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT

OOAK little girl orangutan sculpt!

2011-04-22T16:57:00.000-07:00

I have had a couple of people ask me when I am ever going to sculpt an orangutan, so here she is! Meet Bessie Lou. She is only 2 1/2 inches high not including her top knot. I had fun sculpting an orangutan face for a change, and I liked doing the long fingers and toes. She has cute little glossy eyes. I am going to be working on an infant orangutan next. I also have some commissioned pieces to work on in between my sculpts that I sell on Ebay. Here is her listing link:

http://cgi.ebay.com/OOAK-little-girl-toddler-orangutan-monkey-Toodlesocks-/170631875725?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item27ba73cc8d

New OOAK art dolls on Ebay!

2011-04-19T20:39:00.003-07:00

I'd like to tell you about my new listings. I sculpted the teeny PJ babies last year and, finally, painted their PJs yesterday. At this point, I don't know that I can still sculpt so tiny because of the tremor in my hand. For those of you who don't know, I am in stage one of Parkinson's and I hope it stays in stage one! According to the neurologists, there is a possiblity that it won't advance quickly, if at all. I am keeping a positive attitude about it and have not let it stop me from doing anything I want to do.
I sculpted the other two, larger fairies, during the last couple of weeks. They are both peacefully sleeping and having fairy dreams. They are approximately 4 inches....the size where I am most comfortable.
Next, I will be sculpting a baby orangutan, as I promised to a couple of my followers. I haven't created one of those for a long time, so it will be fun! You know, my dream is to hold a baby orangutan or chimp, but it looks like holding my sculpted ones is as close as I will get to doing that!

delay in ook fairy listing

2011-04-15T16:10:00.000-07:00

My day didn't go as planned so it looks like my new poseable fairy won't be listed on Ebay until tomorrow. I also apologize for not getting my peeps tutorial on here. I will try to do it tomorrow.

OOAK fairy doll coming tomorrow!

2011-04-14T16:04:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow, I will be listing a wonderful fairy! She is poseable and comes with a antique looking book box that holds all of her treasures that she has stolen from my house! The treasures will not be revealed in the auction, but I can assure you that she picked up some really nice things! Two of them you can wear, and two of them are my own works of art! How can I be upset with her. She is so cute and sweet.

Remember my blog about Grandma Bartocci's junk jar? Well, this book box holds similar things...random things that older kids would love to go through when they visit their own grandma's house!

So tune in tomorrow when I will show photos of my listing here!

Polymer clay sculpting tip fior OOAK dolls

2011-04-13T21:51:00.000-07:00

This is a tip for beginners. Please don't ever use nail polish or any oil based paint on your dolls (except for water based oils) because they will eat into the clay which, itself, is oil based. Over time, you will end up with a sticky mess,or, at the least, the clay will deteriorate. If you want to add a slight gloss to lips, use Future Floor wax! Really! Also, it's not an attractive or realistic to look to put a finish on your dolls. Skin isn't shiny so you don't want your dolls to be shiny.

New OOAK sculpted baby on Ebay...Pink!

2011-04-12T22:17:00.000-07:00

Pink is my new baby up for auction on Ebay. When I was applying her hair, a wisp of it stood up on its own and it looked so cute that I tied a bow around it to match the one around her body! She is softly painted and blushed with heat set paints. In her curled up position, she is 3 inches long. She is detailed dimples in her hands and baby creases. She is a little sleeping sweetheart who would love to come and sleep at your house!

artisan vintage style jewelry on Ebay

2011-04-11T17:12:00.000-07:00

I have listed some of my artisan jewelry on Ebay. I have worn a couple of these pieces just to see what reaction I get from people and they love the collage or altered necklaces that I make from new,vintage,and antique jewelry findings. They would make really lovely gifts for the "lady who has everything," because they will never be repeated exactly the same! You can shop at Nordstrom's or Bloomingdale's but you won't find anything like these pieces there!

http://shop.ebay.com/toodlesocks/m.html?_trksid=p4340.l2562

OOAK polymer clay art dolls listed on Ebay!

2011-04-10T15:20:00.001-07:00

I have listed my two newest dolls on Ebay! The garden fairy is lying in a silk flower that is secured to a candlestick. She is very peaceful as she naps among my flowers out on the back patio (although I would not leave her outside permanently. The bunny baby is so shy and sweet as she looks up at you from her big blue eyes. Here are the links to these two auctions:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170626945864&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170626986800&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT

OOAK doll sculpting tips

2011-04-04T20:01:00.000-07:00

On my smaller babies, I don't use an armature, especially when the baby's position has the arms and legs tight against the body. To make the joints extra secure, I add just a touch of liquid Sculpey or liquid Fimo. Use too much and the clay will just slide around when you try to put it together.

Don't just make a line with a tool on the baby's "skin." Push on the clay after indentation to make it look like a real baby crease.

If you sculpt your baby's face and the back of the head looks too small, bake it and add on more clay, then bake again. A baby's head is pretty full. Leaving it too small makes it look like an alien. I just want to remind you again that a baby's features start in the lower third of the head. That's what makes it look so "baby!"

I am working on my three new baby sculpts. Actually, one will be a jointed toddler. So, keep watch!

Beautiful new jewelry!

2011-03-30T16:28:00.000-07:00

I promise I am getting back to my ooak dolls. In fact, I have three baby heads sculpted and am going to work on the bodies starting this evening. But, I just had to take time to list my new jewelry. I am especially fond of my new bracelet. I found a vintage Oneida bracelet and embellished it with silver metal stampings and an onyx center. The new Wedgewood pendant is really striking too! I love embellishing my broken china pieces. I think the embellishments really raise the bar on this popular trend. The collage necklace with the chain is really unique. The chain gives it a lot of dimension.
Please check them out on my website. Click on the collage box or the broken china box on my home page.
www.toodlesocks.com

New collage necklaces!

2011-03-22T18:50:00.000-07:00

I love these necklaces! I never make two exactly alike,so just like my dolls, they are OOAK, or one of a kind. I use vintage looking stampings and antique findings on a brass base to create these "statement" pieces of jewelry. They are each 16 1/2 inches long, but I can lengthen or shorten them. To purchase, please contact me here, or buy with PayPal directly from my website:
www.toodlesocks.com

The Junk Jar

2011-03-22T12:35:00.000-07:00

Soon, I will be posting some photos of my new collage jewelry, but, in the meantime, I thought I would tell you about one of my childhood memories. In the 50s and 60s we were easily entertained with simple things, very simple things. We had two stations to choose from on our black and white TV, so we had little technology to keep us busy. My sister and I spent our time playing with paper dolls, board games, playing school, and making tents out of old blankets, but one of our favorite past times was going to Grandma Bartocci's house and asking if we could get out "The Junk Jar." This special jar held an assortment of random odds and ends that Grandma had collected over the years. It was a Mason or Ball jar that held wonderful things like a few marbles, buttons, little animal figures , pieces of hardware, jacks, coins,Cracker Jacks prizes, and other "magical" items. I don't know why we were so intrigued with the jar, but I thought it would be interesting to make my own collection of junk for children to dump out on the floor when they come to my house to visit. Sure enough, I found that they immediately were drawn to it and the junk was the first thing they wanted when they came through the door! Of course, you can't let very small children play with junk jar because of choking danger, but you just might want to start collecting your own odds and ends for your very own junk jar! I think that part of the fascination with Grandma's jar was that we had to ask permission to play with it. So, you might keep that in mind.

I don't know what happened to that jar, but I sure would like to look through it one more time.

New! Baby Garden Fairy!

2011-03-18T17:26:00.000-07:00

My new baby fairy sleeps in a flower that is attached to a brass candlestick. She is only 4 inches long. The candlestick, including the flower is about 8 inches long. She is anatomically correct and she is removable from her flower. The piece looked so cute sitting with my pots of flowers while I was taking photographs. She fit right in! I have her for sale on my website:

www.toodlesocks.com

The shipping is included with the cost of this baby! Also, I do take PayPal.

Decorating on a shoestring!

2011-03-16T13:26:00.000-07:00

As promised, here is a photo of my $12.90 night stand! In the photo of the finished guest bedroom, you can see the matching one on the other side of the bed. In case you didn't see original post about this room, let me fill you in on some of my thrift store finds. The triple dresser is by Stanley and I paid $19 for it. The hutch on top of the dresser was free! My son and daughter-in-law pulled it out of a trash bin at their apartment complex. Unbelieveable, huh? I made the pictures over the bed. For those, I simply used scrapbook paper and watercolor paper. The frames were inexpensive ones from WalMart($3 each if I remember correctly). They were brown so they got a couple of coats of white paint. The chest on the left, the one with three drawers, was only $29.00 and the mirror over it was $11.00. The vintage lamps were $10 a piece with new shades. I just want to show you that you don't have to put a lot of money into a room, any room, to make it attractive and inviting. BTW, my dad made the shelf over the bed many years ago. I painted it white to match the rest of the room. All of the bedding and pillows are new and were found at Kohl's and TJMaxx.

So get some paint and get to it!

Foot Stool Idea!

2011-03-15T22:52:00.000-07:00

I really must start remembering to take "before" photos so you can see some of the "ugly" things I turn into treasures.
For example, I have had this small foot stool for years. It had some very dated fabric on it, so I decided to recover it in a neutral tone. When I finished with the fabric, it just didn't look very interesting. The idea of a doily came to me. Although I often use antique and vintage doilies for my dolls, the one I used for this stool is new and came from JoAnn Fabrics. I will do anything to avoid a thread and needle, so I used FabriTac (gotta love it!) to secure it to the new fabric on the stool. I am thinking that I just might add a button to the center of the doily.

Coming soon:
I will show you my $12.90 end tables that I painted to go in my white guestroom. Honestly, they are super sturdy and well made, but they were an ugly blonde color. At only $12.90 each, I had to give them a try! I just need to put the knobs on them and then I will click some pics!

Sue Anne's diet tip!

2011-03-09T19:56:00.001-08:00

Ok, this has nothing to do with sculpting or soldering, but I want to share one of my diet tips that gets me through the day.

Sometimes, I just have to have something fizzy! I pour selzer water over ice and top it off with juice....maybe just an 1/8 of a cup to give it a little flavor. The selzer water has no calories (don't use club soda as it has salt in it) and the juice is so sparse that it must have no more than 20 calories or so. I am not a fan of diet drinks and they just aren't good for you! This way, I get the fizz, a bit of flavor, and not many calories. My daughter-in-law, Christine, calls it my "refreshing drink!" If I am out of selzer water, I do the same thing with filtered water. Just top off a glass of ice water or selzer water with pomegranate juice,orange juice, pineapple juice....whatever you have in the fridge! Of course you can do something similar with lemon or lime, but I prefer juice!

2011-03-09T18:13:00.000-08:00

I have this baby in a bunny suit up for sale on my website for only $59. That is a great price for a doll that is one of a kind. Her face will never be repeated because I never use molds.
If you would rather buy her from my blog, please write me at am803@aol.com. I have her set up on the website for paypal, but other payment methods are not out of the question.
About her:
She is 4 inches high to the tip of her bunny ears. She has hand painted eyes which were glossed for realism. I sprinkled a light layer of fairy dust on her because I simply love sparkles! She has detailed bunny feet pads. Her face was painted with fine acrylics and Genesis heat set paints, then sealed.
She is eagerly waiting to help you celebrate spring at your house!

Soldered ephemera collage memory or jewelry boxes

2011-03-08T19:25:00.001-08:00

I don't think I have shown you my jewelery boxes! Using purchased boxes, I soldered a collage under glass to embellish the top of the boxes. They are simply beautiful, unique, and one of a kind boxes where you can keep your memories, trinkets, or jewelry. The one with the little girl, vintage doily, and key is sold, but the fairy one is available on my website:

www.toodlesocks.com

I can customize boxes if you forward any old photos or other memorabilia to me. Please contact me at am803@aol.com if you are interested. These boxes would be an unexpected and fanstastic gift! Ideas for your collage would be old tickets, meaningful fabric, photos, labels, buttons, lace,old keys, jewlery, etc. I will forward a photo of the collage to you for your approval before I solder.

OOAK fairy baby WIP

2011-03-06T19:09:00.000-08:00

While I have been working on my baby bunny, I have also been working on this baby fairy (I make use of the time that I have one curing in the oven). Here is my baby fairy, which I think I will finish with a Victorian look. I know she looks pretty shocking without arms, but I will "transplant" her forearms and hands tomorrow. If you want to see how I sculpt hands, go to my hand tutorial here on my blog. I sculpt each finger individually. Cutting them into the hand just doesn't work for me, so I figured out my own technique.
You can also look at my thread showing you my technique for sculpting OOAK faces.
Happy collecting!

Bunnies made using my tutorial

2011-03-06T17:38:00.000-08:00

Think you can't make a bunny for this spring? Look at the ones these Arizona ladies made using my tutorial. I am so proud of them!

OOAK doll ~ bunny baby WIP

2011-03-05T19:38:00.000-08:00

Here is my work in progress, a baby in a bunny suit! I still have to refine, paint, and detail her. Wait until you see how much personality will come from the eyes!
The ears have a wire armature for extra strength. I really hate working with armatures, but every sculptor has to learn this discipline.
No she doesn't have her own ears showing because they will be "under" the bunny hat part of her costume. You'll see.
Watch for photos of the finished bunny. Coming soon!

Aveda! 50% off (Christine McConnell services only)

2011-02-27T11:16:00.001-08:00

If you live in Southern California, you won't want to miss out on using this coupon offered by Christine McConnell, stylist in the Aveda salon in Riverside. Please visit her website here:

www.christinehmcconnell.com

She isn't merely a trained stylist. She is a gifted artist who was born to bring out the best in you!
Print off the coupon and get ready for a real treat!

Pretty mailing label idea!

2011-02-18T15:11:00.000-08:00

I was out of mailing labels the other day, and an idea came to me that I thought you might like. I saw some paper doilies in my desk and decided to use one of those to dress up my package. I got a compliment from the person I sent it to, so I am mailing out another package with a doily label today!
You can either apply it with a glue stick, or put clear tape over it to make it really secure.

OOAK Baby Fairy in Antique Teacup

2011-02-18T11:32:00.000-08:00

I posted a baby in an antique teacup on my website last night for a very reasonable price of $40. The teacup itself is worth more than half of that amount. I found the teacup in an antique shop in the city of Orange. It was made in Czechoslovkia. The baby is nestled in "fairy fibers" which sparkle like magic. The baby is tiny, only 2 inches long (not counting the tip of her hat), yet very detailed. Here's the link to my site:
www.toodlesocks.com

Bunny Contest Winners!

2011-02-15T22:14:00.000-08:00

Congratulations to Jessica Perry on winning her pick of the two bunnies in the contest! Gina Gill came in second and will get the remaining bunny. Congratulations to her! Thanks to all who participated!

Bunny tutorial add ons

2011-02-12T18:55:00.000-08:00

Here are 3 photos I forgot to add. You can do these steps after the bunny is completely finished. Just apply the Future Floor wax and then lightly sprinkle the Glamour dust on it. It really adds a lot of sparkle to the bunny! You can use any other type of glitter you might have if you don't want to buy a bottle of Glamour Dust.

Also, I used some old powder blush to blush my bunny's cheeks. This was before I realized that I had his nose the "Y" upside down, which I later corrected.

I think I have covered all of the nuances of making this bunny now! Please write if you have any questions!

Free polymer clay bunny tutorial!

2011-02-12T13:54:00.000-08:00

Are you ready? I have finished my bunny tutorial. It's rather long, but I tried to show you each step. And, don't forget to enter the contest! It's all free and you could win! Here are a few additional things that I would like to tell you about making the bunny. If you want to keep the bunny white, and not antique it, wash your hands really well and make sure your working surface is very clean. Polymer clay picks up any debris or dust like a magnet. I like to work on a piece of white paper just to keep my area extra clean. If you don't want to antique your bunny,just stop skip that part and continue on to the painting. I used a filed down toothpick to show you how to dot the eyes if you don't have a stylus. I missed showing the photos where I applied Future Floor wax to the egg, and sprinkled Glamour Dust on it. I can't seem to be able to insert them where they should be, so just do it like you were in kindergarten playing with glitter!

Bunnies and contest!

2011-02-11T20:14:00.000-08:00

The first bunny is the one that I made for the tutorial that I plan to post within the next couple of days. I kept it very basic so that even a beginner can make a similar one. Bunny 2 is just a different version of the same bunny, with a longer and more obliging face, just like I like them!

Now, if you sign up as a follower and send me your home address, I will put your name in the hat for the contest I am having to win your choice of one of these bunnies as well as 3 "Peeps," or chicks that I am going to show you how to make. First, I have to get the bunny tutorial finished. I worked on it all day today!

If the aged look is not your style, just skip the part where I apply the antique medium. Your bunny will look more contemporary.

How often do you find anyone, especially a Made In America site giving anything away?

I should mention that these are miniature bunnies...a little over two inches high.

Don't worry, if you don't have your supplies yet, the tutorial will be here when you are ready!

Thanks for following me and my art.

Supplies and a contest!

2011-02-10T20:32:00.000-08:00

First, I just want to make sure you have what you need to make the bunny and peeps. If you want your bunny to look vintage, you should buy a bottle of antique medium.....any kind will do. Mine is Folk Art and the bottle has lasted me for years! You should have a bottle of black paint for the face and if you want to put some sparkle on your peeps (for a sugar look), get a bottle of Glamour Dust at Michael's. I use Future Floor wax and then sprinkle on the dust. Just don't use clear finger nail polish because it eats polymer clay! I am going to tie a ribbon around the neck of my bunny. So look around your house for a piece of ribbon or you can usually get a spool of it at Michael's for 50 cents.
Here's a list:

1 bar Sculpey white or ivory
1 bar Sculpey yellow
black acrylic paint (Apple Barrel is cheap and will work fine)
Glamour Dust (use a 40% off coupon to buy this at Michael's)
Future Floor Wax or Sculpey matt glaze
2 toothpicks
a liner brush for the bunny face
An Oven!

I am going to have a drawing for my bunny that I make for the tutorial.......ok, and the chicks too! All you have to do is sign up as a follower of my blog (if you aren't already signed up) and send your name and address to mailto:SABartocci@gmail.com I will put all of the names in a box and have my husband draw a name. I promise I will be honest. I am going to start on my tutorial tomorrow, so you can make your bunny and chicks this weekend! Think Spring!

Bunny tutorial? Peeps too?

2011-02-09T21:37:00.000-08:00

I'm thinking I would like to do a simple bunny tutorial here on my blog. How about a bunny holding an egg? I will keep it simple for those of you who haven't tried sculpting. So, go get a bar of Sculpey and let's do it! We have plenty of time before Easter! We might even have enough time to make some peeps! Michael's has their own brand of clay bars, so you might want to try that. If I need Sculpey, I try to get it when it's on sale at Michael's, but you can use one of their 40% off coupons to get a bar if they are not on sale. You can sign up for Michaels or JoAnn fabrics coupons online and print them off. If you want to make peeps, you will need some light yellow.

This will be fun! I love to teach. If you are more advanced than a simple bunny, you can always print off my tutorial for a beginner.

I am working on a new fairy and have listed some jewelry on my website. So much to do!

New OOAK necklaces and pendants listed

2011-02-08T17:11:00.001-08:00

Yesterday, I started out sculpting a new fairy, but I got side tracked and worked on listing some of my new necklaces on my website. Working on a website is tedious work and I still have a long way to go, but if you would like to take a peek at some more of my necklaces please go to:

http://toodlesocks.com

More new ones to come!

Home made Pancake recipes

2011-02-05T13:17:00.000-08:00

In these tough economic times, there are some ways to cut your grocery bill. You can cook the way my mom, Ginny Bell Bartocci cooked....from scratch!

Don't have BisQuick or store-bought pancake mix? No problem! Go to your pantry and use your staples.

Here is Mom's pancake recipes. One is made with regular milk and the other one (my favorite) is made with buttermilk.

Pancakes (regular milk)

1 cup flour
4 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tbsp vegetable oil
1 egg
1 cup milk

You know how to do the rest! Just spoon onto hot griddle or pan with a little oil on it so they won't stick!

Buttermilk Pancakes (love em!)

1 cup flour
1/4 tsp. baking soda
4 tsp. baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 cup buttermilk
1 egg

Same thing...heat griddle with a little oil and spoon on!

You can add cinnamon (I did that last time I made them). I even added chocolate chips for my daughter-in-law.
Have some left over? Freeze them and nuke them later!

OT Happy Birthday To Gina, my little sister! Button bows!!

2011-02-04T14:40:00.000-08:00

Even though my blog is basically about sculpting and soldering, I like to pass on some of my other lifestyle tips and techniques.
My sister's birthday is just around the corner! I wrapped her presents today. She send me such beautifully wrapped presents for my birthday so I wanted to make my wrapping special for her! The idea of buttons came to me. I used buttons with shanks to dress up the bows on her presents. Simply run one strand of the ribbon through the shank, then tie your bow! You may have to cut the tip of the ribbon to a narrow point just to get it to slide through the shank.
The white box is one of those "origami-like" tops that you fold inwards. I added a button to the top of that one too.
I really like the look. The buttons gave them a pretty feminine touch. Oh! Don't buy expensive buttons. These were some that came in one of those discount variety containers.
Martha Stewart, I am sorry if you have already thought of this idea. It's new to me!

"Tranquility" my first OOAK for 2011

2011-02-04T14:29:00.001-08:00

"Tranquility" is finished! She is very aged looking,and intentionally primitive,especially her hands. I wanted her to look like a relic. She is removable from her base which is highlighted with an Austrian crystal chain. I often use these chains for my jewelry and decided that they would look perfect as an embellishment on this base.

My big decision is where to list her. I will list her either on Ebay, on the Fairy Society website, or on my own website. Since I make only one piece at a time and don't have my work reproduced, I can't keep a lot of inventory going on my website. So, I will think about it and let you know where to find her!

Watch for my next post about my birthday presents I wrapped for Gina, my sister, today!

"Tranquility" is coming soon!

2011-02-03T19:53:00.000-08:00

If all goes as planned, I should have photographs of my new doll ready to show you tomorrow! She is one of my antiqued, white faced fairies.....very different. I think you will like her. Her title or name will be "Tranquility." Lord knows we could use a little of that right now! So, please watch for her and let me know if you like her! I look forward to your comments.

Back to my OOAKs and soldering for 2011

2011-01-18T14:00:00.000-08:00

After a very fun and very busy Christmas (two trips back to Ohio in December), I am nearly ready to start on new pieces for 2011! I have some new ideas in the works and can't wait to share them with you!

I am really into dolls and fairies with extremely white faces right now, so that will be one of my first projects. I plan to make some larger soldered pieces for wall hangings. As always, I probably have more ideas than time.

Alan is officially retired right now so he will be helping me rep my work to various local shops, particularly in the quaint city of Orange. I am also going to work on pumping up my website, which I have had to put on the back burner for a while.

See you soon!

Merry Christmas to all!

2010-12-24T16:39:00.000-08:00

Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and healthy and peaceful New Year!
I look forward to soldering and sculpting again at the end of January. On Dec. 29th, I will be making a trip back to Ohio to spoil my first granddaughter, Jillian. She was born Dec. 15th. I have been buying lots of pink!

See you in 2011!

Heavenly Dessert Morsels

2010-12-22T20:52:00.000-08:00

If you are like Iam, running out of time but would still like to bake for Christmas, here is a wonderful and simple recipe for toffee-like bites. People will think you worked for hours on them and only 5 ingredients!

Heavenly Dessert Morsels

1 1/2 cup butter
1 cup light brown sugar, packed
12 ounces chocolate chips
1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans
1/4 package buttery rectangular crackers

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a 13x9 in. baking dish with foil, cover with layer of crackers (I use Keebler butter crackers). In small pan over med. heat melt butter and sugar. Bring to boil. Boil 3 min, stirring constantly. Pour over crackers. Sprinkle choc. chips over butter mixture. Bake one to two min. to soften chips. Smooth over gently. Sprinkle with nuts. Chill. Cut to bite size pieces.
(don't crush crackers when you make this. Layer them whole!)

These are tried and true. I am going to make mine tomorrow!

New OOAK sculptures now available!

2010-11-29T20:04:00.000-08:00

Just in time for Christmas, I have listed several new pieces on Ebay AND on my website! I listed at rock bottom prices on Ebay so I hope you will place a bid if you like them! As you can see, I have sculpted more than one Snow Girl. I started doing these several years ago, but each one has her own face because I do not use molds.
The nativities are another of my original designs. I have created several of these, also, but no two are alike. I stain them heavily to give them a very aged, almost relic look.
The pink tea cup baby is one of my sweetest. She comes in an Englis tea cup that is so girly, just like she is. Her antique lace hat gives her a Victorian look.
I know times are hard right now, so I started as low as I could go just to recover some of my supply expenses.
Thanks for your support! I will write more soon!

hand tutorial part 2

2010-11-14T13:11:00.001-08:00

If I were going to actually use this hand for a sculpt, I would do more finishing, but these photos will give you the basic idea.

Please let me know if they help you create realistic hands. I appreciate your imput.

hand tutorial part 1

2010-11-14T11:41:00.000-08:00

Here is part one of my hand tutorial that I keep promising you. I am sorry about the debris in the clay. I usually sculpt much cleaner than this, but I had used my desk for soldering and didn't get it cleaned well enough. I wanted to get this done for you, however, so please overlook the specks of dust.

I have struggled with hands ever since I started sculpting and could not make a decent hand with round fingers until I came up with this method. If anyone else is using this method, I have not seen their version. I tried the usual technique where you cut in the fingers, but they always ended up flat! I work so tiny that it was impossible to roll them into round shapes after cutting.

I will post part 2 later today.

hang in there!

2010-11-13T11:06:00.000-08:00

I apologize immensely for not posting my hand tutorial yet. It was a busy busy week. I promise to post it soon.

that hand tutorial

2010-11-08T22:27:00.000-08:00

I am still under the weather but I won't forget my promise. I will post photos of how I create hands!

hand tutorial postponed

2010-11-07T18:54:00.000-08:00

I'm so sorry I didn't get the hand tutorial posted this weekend. To be honest, I did not feel very well today. When I don't sculpt or solder, you know I am having a bad day. I will try to post it this week if all goes well.

Coming soon! Hand tutorial

2010-11-05T07:31:00.000-07:00

I'm sorry I haven't been around much lately. I have been working on jewelry and sculpts for our neighborhood boutique as well as keeping up with my soldered accessories for "Flatter Me....Again," a local clothing store.

As a gift to you, I am going to share my way of sculpting hands. I will be photographing the steps and posting them to my blog soon, hopefully by the end of this weekend, so please watch. This method has worked best for me. I have not seen anyone else use this technique, or, if they do, I am not aware.

Keep watch!

more boutique peeks!

2010-10-16T12:38:00.001-07:00

Here is a mix of some of my purse mirrors and pendants. I have many more and am continuing to work everyday. Most of these will be one of a kind, or OOAKs.
Soon, I will be working on some of my Christmas babies, primitive Holy Family sculptures, and snowmen! I just need about twice as much time as I have before November 20th!

sneak peek!

2010-10-16T10:41:00.001-07:00

I need to retake photos of my soldered items for our Big Sky holiday boutique, but here is a sneak peek. It is one of my Christmas pocket mirrors. Gina, always by my side, is making custom pockets for them. The one I am showing here is a vintage Santa with a rhinestone chain inside the glass. I have soldered it and put a dark patina on it to keep with that antique look. I love this one and I hope you do too! More to come later.
The boutique, by the way, is November 20th. I am posting a flyer along with my Santa.

Back to work!

My birthday suprises!

2010-10-11T12:20:00.000-07:00

My sister has magic in her fingers! Everyone should have a sister like Gina Maria. She made my birthday extra special with her ability to create, wrap better than any pro, and find the most amazing bargains. Yes, I said "bargains." She and I take great pride in our talent for finding fantastic items without spending a lot of money. We brag about how little we paid, rather than how much.
So, I want to share photos of some of the gifts she sent me.

OT.........some general news

2010-10-01T23:11:00.000-07:00

I am still working hard on soldered jewelry, purse mirrors, and sculpts for the Big Sky holiday boutique on November 20th! However, I am taking a much needed break starting tomorrow. I am going to Tucson to visit my dear girlfriend, Judy Roads Pickrell,a fellow respiratory therapist from many years ago from my days at Good Samaritan hospital in Dayton, Ohio. We will be going on an all girl trip to her cabin in Flagstaff where I will be teaching some simple sculpting classes. The girlfriends will learn to make glitter pumpkins and snowmen...simple, but magical little sculps.
Also, I just have to announce that my very talented daughter-in-law passed her California state boards for cosmetology today. I was her model and let me tell you that I saw first hand what those candidates have to go through to get licensed and it isn't easy!
Christine is a phenomenal artist in her own right. She is not only an excellent photographer, but she also does hair, make up and her own costume designs. Please visit her magical website here:

http://www.christinehmcconnell.com/

See the clothing in the opening photo (in the antique clock)? She designed and made each piece including Grant's hat! She is getting non stop bookings and she also does wedding shoots including hair and make up for the bride and bride's maids.
If you live in the Orange County or LA area, you might want to schedule your own special photo shoot with Christine. It will be like no other you have ever experienced.

I am posting a few of her other photos. She designed and sewed the blue dress with the matching blue gloves...fit for the red carpet! She also designed and created the swimsuit, the red dress, and the Roman clothing. Amazing! And yes, that is her own real rooster sitting in that pan!

Holiday Boutique!

2010-09-27T21:48:00.000-07:00

I have been keeping busy creating fun and unique items for the Big Sky holiday boutique! Right now, I am working on the most wonderful vintage purse mirrors. As soon as I put the finish on the solder, I will post photos.

I will be selling a few sets of my hand sculpted and very antique/primitive looking Holy Family sets. They almost look like they were found during an archeological dig.

I also have some Christmas babies planned for the boutique. They will wear only lovely red bows.

Pictures will come soon, so please be patient! I am working as fast as I can!

Sculpting on hold for home redecorating...on a shoestring!

2010-09-15T23:29:00.000-07:00

I had to take some time out to work on my house and do some updating. I love to decorate on a shoestring! So, let me explain. I painted my kitchen table and chairs black as well as my vanity in the upstairs bathroom. Thank you Martha Stewart for the wonderful paint in the color "Silouette!" I got it at Home Depot and it goes on smoothly and with very little odor. The paint totally transformed some things in my house that I really didn't like!
Now I have to tell you about the hutch? It was nearly brand new, but my son pulled it from a dumpster at his apartment building!!! It was free. Can you believe that? It sits on a white dresser that I got at the local thrift store for $29. It's a nearly perfect match.
You really don't have to go out and spend a lot of money to make your house look charming and inviting. You can do so much with paint and a brush! Beat the system and spend your money on other things that you enjoy. I want to travel, not sink my money into a household items that will just become dated in 5 years or so.
I hope you are inspired by my work and ideas.
See the three pictures? I made them from scrapbook paper, torn water color paper, and inexpensive frames that I painted white. My dad made the shelf for me many years ago. I painted it white to match the other pieces in the room.
So, this house is mine....not an interior decorator's. I put myself into and, better yet, I did it spending very little money!

Holiday boutique in Anaheim Hills!

2010-09-09T20:39:00.000-07:00

I am going to be busy making my soldered jewelry and OOAK dolls for a holiday boutique in our neighborhood. So far we have 30 vendors, so it should be a really fun event!

As you probably can guess, I will be putting Ebay on the back burner because my work sells much better when a collector can pick it up, play with it, and see the details and quality.

My husband is retiring after the first of the year. He plans to be my rep and will be showing my work to owners of boutiques in Laguna Beach, Newport Beach, Manhattan Beach, etc. I can't wait! I love to keep my hands busy and with Alan's sales background we should have some success!

I go back and forth from sculpting to soldering. Today, I put my clay away and got out my soldering iron. It's been a fun change for me.

If you are artistic and haven't soldered yet, you should give it a try. I used to think it was something that only men did when they worked on a copper plumbing pipe, but it's much more than that. Just make sure you use lead free solder. You don't want leaded solder on your skin. Lead free solder can be found at Radio Shack, Ace Hardware, etc. However, if you want the higher end solder for jewelry (it has silver in it), you should go on line and order.

Happy soldering or sculpting!

real deal

2010-09-04T12:47:00.000-07:00

At least you can tell from my past few auctions that I am honest! I have no family or friends who bid up my work. That's called shilling and it's dishonest and against Ebay's rules. I don't do that! Many sellers do, but, with the coded names, they are not easy to spot like they used to be.

It's funny, people are like sheep. If they see a bid on an Ebay item, they think that is an endorsement of value. That's not necessarily true because shilling is rampant on Ebay.

Soooo, my OOAKs that didn't sell will be going to a holiday show and, hopefully, when people can actually pick them up, hold them, move the arms and legs on the jointed ones, and see the details and quality, they will want to take them home!

Ebay can be a very uneven playing field for honest sellers and artists. In spite of that fact, I am proud to say that my work can be found in homes all over the world. I get nice fan mail and that keeps me going!

I just had to talk about this today.

A fall OOAK baby fairy, Tula

2010-08-31T15:57:00.000-07:00

Tula is a tiny fall baby fairy. She comes in a lovely round box (like a small hat box) with some fantasy film fiber for a soft bed. Her hat was hand made from mulberry paper.

She is currently on Ebay at this link:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170533546394&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT

Her opening price is a low $25. Compare my price to a similar OOAK baby that just sold over the weekend for an opening price of $259 and you will see how generous my price is! (I think mine is much cuter, more realistic, and more "baby" too!).

Here is a tip for the day:
To make sure that your sculpt does not get dark while in the oven, tent it with aluminum foil. And, if you are series baking, cover the hands with tiny pieces of wet paper towels to keep them from getting darker than the rest of the body.

Thanks for stopping by and happy sculpting to you!

Lulu, my new fall child fairy art doll

2010-08-25T19:26:00.000-07:00

This is Lulu. She is my second "poseable" doll *not jointed, but poseable). Well, her arms are poseable but her legs are in a fixed position. I learned how to make poseable dolls several years ago but haven't concentrated on them as much as jointed ones. A wire runs from the shoulder to the wrist, so you can put Lulu's arms in endless postions. It's amazing how moving her hands can add so much expression!

I used to start my auctions at $9.95 on Ebay. I got lots of bids and it was a win/win situation for me and the bidders. However, in this economy, I simply cannot risk starting my work out at such a low price. I tried it and ended up crying all the way to the post office!

I spend many many hours on each doll. There are so many steps. I start tediously sculpting with the face, then move to the body, limbs, hands, feet and detail with little fingernails and creases. Eyes are hand painted. Eyelashes are applied one at a time. This little girl's hair applied and spiral curled on lock at a time. I designed and created her wings from mulberry paper and wire. So, I hope you understand why price is where it is. After all, there will never be another Lulu like this one! She is one of a kind, just like you!

I love to sculpt and will continue with my passion for years to come. What doesn't sell will go to my children and my grandchildren.

I received a very reassuring email today. It was from a lady who won my baby carriage fairy and she said that, in person, my work is far more detailed than the photos show.

Here is Lulu's auction link:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170532398264&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT

Thanks for visiting my blog!

Pixie Pink~OOAK baby fairy

2010-08-17T00:08:00.000-07:00

This is my new jointed fairy doll that I listed on Ebay Monday evening. Her name is Pixie Pink! I used soft pink chiffon to make her dress. I love this shade of pink with brown. You can read more about her here at her auction site:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=170528386505&ssPageName=STRK%3AMESE%3AIT

new OOAK fairy

2010-08-12T11:06:00.003-07:00

Here is my new fairy, Breeze. She is currently up for auction on Ebay. I really like the lighting in the some my photos of her. They have a very ethereal look, don't you think?
As most of you know, I struggle with my Parkinson's shake in my left hand, so I am always coming up with new ways to make sculpting easier. I figured out a new way to sculpt hands. Not only is it easier, but they look much better and more realistic. I sandwich the fingers into the palm. Anyone interested in a tutorial? You may be satisfied with your current way of sculpting hands, but I have never been pleased with any of the most popular methods. The cutting method is just lousy, at least for me. I suppose it would work with bigger sculpts like Nicole West's whose are about 9inches tall, but my beings are very small and to cut the fingers and then shape them is next to impossible. Actually, I sculpt much smaller than the "big girl" artists like FITA.
I was planning for this new one to be a little older than she is, but sometimes the clay leads you down its own path.
Off to the gym, and then more sculpting this afternoon! I have a jointed fairy baby that I am just dying to finish!

Lula and her pet mushroom

2010-08-10T08:27:00.000-07:00

I listed Lula on Ebay last night and she sold almost immediately. I used Living Doll clay to sculpt this one. It was fun to use a different clay, but I am going back to ProSculpt. I think it's easier to smooth and is more seamless, but Lula turned out pretty cute!
I do have another doll to list later today. She is another Living Doll piece. I don't have photos yet, but will post them later today. She is a child fairy on a pedestal. My dolls are usually free standing or sitting and don't come with an elaborate setting. That's just my preference. I like to sit them on books, nestle them in crooks and crannies...just like any regular house fairy would do!
More later!

Don't miss "Interview With A Doll"

2010-08-03T11:08:00.001-07:00

It's so difficult to come up with new ways to add interest to doll listings on Ebay. I am so proud of the idea that came to me last week. I did my first "Interview With A Doll." It's pretty cute and makes the description reading a lot more fun than just the usual "no molds used, made from polymer clay, hand painted eyes" etc. So, I may do other interviews with dolls who are old enough to "talk."

I hope you enjoy reading it!

See you soon with more dolls!

two new human OOAK dolls!

2010-08-01T21:45:00.000-07:00

I've been busy! I listed the two dolls that you see in the photos in this post. The older doll is jointed at the arms and legs. Please read her auction. It includes "Interview With A Doll." I hope you enjoy it. The idea came to me out of the blue one day last week.
I think my dolls are much cuter and more endearing in person. My kids tell me I need a better camera. I can tell you one thing. I do not photo-shop my pictures. What you see is what you get!
I am working on an adult fairy. Every once in a while, I have to try my hand at a grown up. Babies and toddlers are deefinitely my niche, however.
I am still toying around with the idea of doing a tutorial showing my jointing technique. I just need to discipline myself to do it!

New Ebay store listings! The Little Prince and more!

2010-07-25T21:56:00.001-07:00

I have been busy filling my Ebay store with both jewelry and dolls! I have listed a new baby fairy sleeping in a flower. Her name is "Summer Bug" and she is delightfully soft looking and very pastel in her cabbage rose bed. My other doll is jointed, using my own technique. Her name is Hannah and she comes with a cute little doggie, Huggles, and an inspirational book, "Hugs." She is jointed at the arms and legs so you can pose her in a variety of positions. I made her dress so that it is removable. You might want to make more clothes for her!

I also listed some fabulous "Memory Box" jewelry. The Little Prince coin box pendant is a special piece that is sure to touch the hearts of those who love the sweet story written by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. I was very tempted to keep it for myself, but sometimes you have to let go.

Then, there is the antique key pendant, which I think is very striking. The rectangular glass pendant, "Somewhere In Time," would make a style statement on any lady looking for a unique piece of jewelry.
I hope you enjoy my new work. My passions are sculpting and soldering and I am so very blessed to wake up every morning with enthusiasm to create art!

Back to work~jointed doll nearly finished!

2010-07-21T20:55:00.001-07:00

I can't believe how fast this summer is going! I was in Michael's the other day and was blown away to see fall decorations on the shelves. Didn't we just have fall? Like my parents told me, time speeds up as you get older. Christmas used to take an eternity to come around. Now, I think it comes about twice a year!

We had a wonderful fishing trip vacation in Michigan with our kids, but last week, I got back to work on my dolls and jewelry. I am almost finished with a jointed toddler doll. I think she is going to be really cute! She is blond with a black bow in her hair. Tomorrow I will work on her clothing. I use my own jointing technique on my full sculpt dolls.

I also have some really awesome jewelry finished and plan to list some pieces on Ebay. I opened an Ebay store last week. I haven't figured it all out, but little by little I hope to fill it with my work and keep it interesting.

I know it's been a little slow here in the blog, but please don't give up on me! I am working and will post photos really soon!

Higgns Lake here I come!

2010-07-02T14:40:00.000-07:00

I was hoping to get my new jointed doll ready to show you before I leave for a week long fishing trip in Michigan, but I ran out of time.

Higgins Lake is where we took the boys for summer vacations when they were growing up. We will meet our middle son, his wife, and our grandson, Paul, there. We will get to see him fish for the first time! He is going on two years old. As you can see from the photo, Higgins is Caribbean blue, spring fed, and has a sandy bottom.

My California kids will be holding down the fort here at home and looking after Millie, our 13 year old Wire Haired Fox Terrier. She will be depressed the entire time we are gone because she is in love with Alan and will probably lie by the front door waiting for him to come home.

Anyway, I won't be posting until I get home on the 11th. I will finish my doll and post her as soon as I can, so please stay tuned!

Look out rock bass at Point Detroit! We are coming after you!

find my jewelry in these shops

2010-06-30T09:53:00.000-07:00

If you live in the Tucson, Arizona area, you can find my jewelry at "The Grey House" on N.Country Club Road. If you are in Orange County California, you can find it at "Flatter Me Again" on Santa Anna Canyon Road next to LA Fitness. Please stop by and see my creations! I will be adding inventory to other stores when I return from vacation on July 11th. I am also going to be doing a line of branding jewelry for a new company based here in Orange County.

OOAK baby fairy in magical baby buggy!

2010-06-29T17:10:00.000-07:00

Here's another wee one! I named her Gracie. I didn't make the buggy, but as soon as I saw it I thought "I have to make a baby fairy to sleep in that!"

She is only 3 inches long. She has a green sparkly hat and shoes. She is very cutely anatomically correct.

She will be up for auction on Ebay until July 18,2010.

Here is the auction link:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170506517589&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT

OOAK Pod baby named Bitty Bug!

2010-06-23T19:06:00.000-07:00

Bitty Bug is my new pod baby listing on Ebay. She is not really a fairy (no wings) but not really human with her little sprout of maribou hair!
She really is tiny and cute, though.

I tried photographing the ear process to continue with my tutorial, but I just couldn't show you how to do it without someone else to hold the camera. So, maybe I can grab a family member to help me take photos with the next one. I hope you have been somewhat enlightened from my tutorials.

I am working on two new babies right now. One will have open eyes. I haven't done one of those for a while. I really like the position of the other one. You'll see!

June Bug! A baby OOAK fairy

2010-06-20T20:34:00.001-07:00

This is June Bug. I really think she has the sweetest face of all of my babies. She is only 3 inches long and has transparency wings that have been sprinkled with magical fairy dust.

She is getting ready to celebrate the summer season.

She is not the baby that I show in the tutorial, but she was created with the same method. The baby in the tutorial will be finished soon, so watch for her! I will try to show you how I do ears if you stay tuned!

My new OOAK doll baby tutorial!

2010-06-20T11:47:00.000-07:00

This is my gift to you. I spent a lot of time last night trying to capture images as I create my next doll. She will probably be about a 4 inch doll when she is completed.
I could not photograph everything that I did, only because I don't have a third hand to hold the camera while I am working. So, this is not a complete tutorial as would be possible with a video camera. But, I have tried to give you the highlights of how I go about creating one of my little ones. I could not show all of the tweaking and smoothing I do for my dolls because I sometimes spend hours working on a piece until I get it the way I want.
I hope you enjoy looking at the process and please check out all of my new work as it appears here on my blog, on Ebay, and on my web site at www.toodlesocks.com
I appreciate your support and hope you appreciate my effort to teach you how to sculpt like I do.

Little Riley is listed on Ebay!

2010-06-19T18:43:00.000-07:00

I named her Riley, a name that can be either girl or boy since "she" is neither. I think of her as a girl baby, though.

Here is her auction link.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170502639268&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT