Kim Fillio charity auction~a baby orangutan

I have listed an auction to help the family of Kim Fillio, a fellow artist, who died from cancer last month. She was a well known sculptor to many doll collectors and her income kept her family going. Currently, her husband is out of work, so several of us have sculpted dolls to help pay for her funeral expenses. She has 5 children, 3 of whom are still in school and are at home. Ebay will not permit me to list this auction as a charity one, since it is not on their approved list of charities, but I can assure you that every penny will go to Kim's family. Those of you who know me understand that I am honest and reliable.

Please visit Whimsey's auction here:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/170866340679?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649

Dollar Tree wall arrangement idea!

I try to steer clear of dollar store plastic junk that will just add to land fills, but this wall arrangement will last for years to come. The frames came from the Dollar Tree and they are made of wood. I used various photos and snapshots of family and changed them to black and white prints, a look I really love because it's clean and crisp. I need to tweak the arrangement a little, but I am thrilled with the general appearance. The photos are a warm reminder of how blessed I am so have so many loved ones in my life. I used cold pressed water color paper as a background behind the photos. I used double sided tape (also a Dollar Tree item) to mount the photos on the water color paper. Glue, even acid free, tends to make the photo curl slightly. The tape works much better. I'm showing views going up and down the staircase.

Don't forget to check out my new goth sculpt in the previous post!

Abbey Soot, my first goth child

Abbey Soot is my first goth child art doll. She has poseable arms (at the elbow) so she can hold her little teddy bear on either arm. She is 7 inches tall on her base and her bear is a wee 1¼ inches long. You can read the story about this little girl if you go to her auction:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/170865751383?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649

Tip:
Maybe I have mentioned this before, but I always paint the left eyebrow first. It's easier for me to duplicate the same shape on the right side, rather than the other way around.

I have not sculpted a sock monkey in about 9 years. I decided it was about time to do one, but this time I made him shabby chic with one of my silk ruffles around his neck and a dictionary hat. I also thread jointed his arms and legs, which I had not done to my earlier ones. "Louie" has shiny onyx bead eyes and a hand pleated paper medallion on his hat. He turned out just like I wanted him to! He's very aged and looks well loved.

Sock monkeys are collectibles that will never go out of style. You can't be too young or old for a sock monkey!

Please copy and paste this link to be taken to "Louie" the sock monkey's auction:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/170859536372?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649

Ciara, new photo

Here is another photo of Ciara. Her mouth isn't really crooked as it appears in the previous post.

Fair maiden, Ciara~ poseable

She is so much prettier in person. I really must make a light box to photograph my work.

Ciara is not a fairy, but a fair maiden. She has poseable arms and legs. Wires go from her shoulders into her "elbows" and they also go from her hips into her "knees." She can cross her legs, sit with her legs bent on the edge of a shelf and you can put her arms in endless postions...very fun! How do I do that? I put some Super Glue in the tiny holes I put in the limbs before I insert the wire. You can also use a glue called Loctite, but I find that Super Glue works just as well.

Her upper arms are wrapped in lace. The dress is made of lace for the bodice, and the gathered skirt has three layers of silk, with the top one being habotai silk (shinier). I lightly aged her clothing with coffee. Her hat is made of clay and, like her dress, is non-removable.

Most of my dolls are....dolls. In other words, my intent is not to create a "real" being like some of the fairy makers. I am usually striving to create a doll that looks like it came from another time, like it has a history, or keeps a story about a little girl who used to play with it. That is what I love to create.

To visit Ciara's auction please copy and paste this link into your browser:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/170856207186?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649

Jeffrey Giraffe, thread jointed

I don't repeat sculptures exactly the same so that I keep them truly OOAK, but I do variations of an animal or doll. I had sculpted Gerard, a giraffe, a couple of months ago. He was a full sculpt,rather realistic. Jeffrey, on the other hand is more of a toy type giraffe with his jointed arms and legs. He has the same innocent and pitiful look as the Gerard, but he has "stitches" to look like he is a hand made stuffed animal, like my bears. I am really happy with him! His eyes are onyx and he has one of my silk ruffles around his neck to keep with my shabby chic mode. I used heavy duty thread to joint him so he will be very durable for years to come. I used acrylic paint for his spots and then used an acrylic stain to give him a vintage or antique look. He looks like an old toy in an antique shop.

Here is the link to his auction, which I hope you will copy and paste into your browser.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/170854750767?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649