jointed miniature dachshund!

I'm so happy you all like my jointed doggies! Heinz, a sweet little dachshund, is my latest offering on Ebay. I am really learning about the features of these different breeds and all of the little nuances that sets one breed apart from the other. Still, they all have cute little pads on their paws, eyes that beg for love, and ears that listen for their master's voice.
Anyone who knows me knows that I love dogs. I love all animals, for that matter. Interestingly enough, I didn't have a dog when I grew up. In fact, I was afraid of them, for the most part. As a little girl, I would often climb up the nearest adult as though she/he were a tree if a dog came towards me. I just didn't understand them because we had never had one in the house. My husband, on the other hand, is "one with the dogs," having grown up with a wire haired fox terrier. I wanted our boys to know the love of a dog and along the way, I fell in love with these amazing creatures. I have loved them, lost them, and cried over them.
So, I sculpt these little miniature dogs with lots of love. I hope I capture the love that they bring with them when you adopt them into your home.

The dogs that I am sculpting right now are thread jointed. I put a hole through the body and then make two holes in the top of each limb so that I can tie a knot with the thread that joints them. This gives them an old fashioned "teddy bear" style. My work is not completely realistic. Rather it is "folk art" in that I do not adhere to specific proportions. I work from instinct and that gives them my look.

To visit my dachshund's auction, please use this link:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/170903514524?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649

Betty Bluebird

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I was really happy with the innocent baby bird expression that I was going for with this sculpt! I had to push in, then pull out the clay with my stylus to get that right look in the corners of her mouth. She's up for bids on Ebay at a very low starting price. Ialtered a little round box for her. She can stand on it for display. I'm thinking it's time to start on fall and Halloween! I never start soon enough. Maybe this year I'll be smart and get an early start!



http://www.ebay.com/itm/170885350127?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649

A baby flamingo!

It was time to sculpt another animal! I had seen a photo of a baby flamingo on Pinterest a couple of weeks ago and just had to do my sculpted version. I noticed that baby flamingos have chubby legs compared to the adults, in case you are wondering why they are kind of thick.

I used white Fimo for this piece. She's standing on a piece of driftwood that I got from a lady in Oregon. Flossie's eyes are onyx. I painted her with Genesis heat set paints. Her legs are reinforced with wire armatures.

Generally, I don't repeat my animals (except for my teddy bears and bunnies), so if you like Flossie, you had better grab her!

Here's the link to her auction:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170884805361

New! Matchbox baby, Eloise

I just listed this sweet matchbox baby this afternoon. She's about 4¼" long. I used an antique doily to make her hat and then I coffee stained her diaper to keep with the vintage look. I also used some old buttons in this piece of work. The pull on the matchbox is an old shoe button and there is a sweet little antique button on the back of her hat as well as one on the paper medallion on the matchbox.
I have a blond baby finished, but she is too big for a matchbox, so I will have to come up with some other clever presentation for her. Shipping on the matchbox baby is only $3 because she is under 1 pound and can be shipped first class. I never gouge people on shipping. I am not one of those Ebay sellers who make money from shipping fees. I don't like that practice.
Here is her auction link:


http://www.ebay.com/itm/170881185192?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649

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

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

Commisisoned orangutan complete!

I just finished my most recent commissioned piece, a toddler orangutan. One of my collectors saw the orangutan on my Ebay banner and wanted me to try to repeat it. Well, as you know, I don't use molds, so no two of my sculptures can be exactly the same, but I came close. She has hand painted eyes, which was a nice change for me after using onyx beads for my last several orangutans.

I am ready to get to work on an old fashioned bathing suit doll. If plans go correctly, she will be wire jointed and she'll be wearing a large brimmed sunhat, which will also be made from clay.

To the drawing board!