Hand Sculpted Polymer Clay Miniature Bulldogs And Doberman

This are my last three custom/commissioned pieces, a doberman, a mama  bulldog, and a brindle colored bulldog. I will not be taking anymore requests for a while so that I can feel free to sculpt whatever comes to my mind.  I'm really wanting to sculpt another ostrich, baby elephant, and an maybe an anteater! Whatever animal I sculpt, dog or other, I spend time researching that breed or species. I look at the way the eyes are set, the coloring, the length of its tail and whether or not it should be docked (although I hate that practice.).
Please watch for my work under my Ebay name, Toodlesocks. I will also post my work on here whenever I have something new.

Bunny Bella, jointed bunny

I have another new bunny finished! Her name is Bunny Bella and she is wearing her new spring hat! Of course, nothing about her looks new....I hope! My intention is to make my work look old and vintage or antique.

I jointed her at the arms and legs, but her right ear keeps the right arm from moving much.  I used plain old sculpey to make this lop eared bunny.  I like its matte finish. Pro Sculpt and Fimo have a shinier finish when cured.

Watch for more bunnies! I'm in a bunny kind of mood!

Here's her auction link:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=171274810950

My grandkids are crazy about the Disney movie,"Frozen," so I sculpted these cute "Olaf's" for both of them for Valentine's Day.  I used real twigs from my front yard for the arms and hair and sprinkled each snowman with some fairy dust, for my own special touch!  Each is holding a tiny hand sculpted heart. I plan to make an ornament for each holiday to hang on their arms. I'll make a shamrock, an Easter egg, a flag, etc. Snowmen like to celebrate the Fourth of July too!

Next up is a commissioned bunny and maybe one I can sell on Ebay!

I love this time of the year!  I am inspired to create creatures to help keep you company while you sit by a fire, eat popcorn, and watch Halloween movies!  Here are my current pieces of work, a pumpkin man with Beetle Juice stripes on his pants, and a creepy Goth kitty. Perry Pulp and Banshee would love to haunt your house!  Banshee comes with one of my little pumpkins and Perry is really fun to pose in various positions. He is quite a mischievous looking little guy.   I enjoy having him, and the cat, sit on my shelf until they go to their new homes!

If you would like to bring one or both of these creatures to live with you, here are the links:

Perry Pulp:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/171139332760?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649

Banshee and her pumpkin:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/171139362643?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649

"Poppy," a shabby sweet baby orangutan

Finally, after a few months, I have a new sculpture finished!  This baby orangutan's name is Poppy.  I haven't finished embellishing her box, yet, but as most of you know, my work always comes in a custom box. 

I work a lot slower than I used to because I have a tremor in my left hand caused by Parkinson's disease.  I'm too stubborn and determined to give up sculpting until my work all begins to look like little aliens.  I think it's still pretty good and pretty cute! I hope you do too!

Here is the link to Poppy's auction:

Poppy

Paulina, goth art doll....tight rope performer!

This is Paulina, my new goth doll. She was once a tight rope performer.  You can read her sad story here:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/171002501191?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649

I used a wonderful antique handkerchief to make the bodice of her dress. The umbrella, though very old and tattered looking, was quite challenging. I had to sculpt an opened umbrella and then collapse it to get it to look right.  I usually try to make at least one prop to go along with my doll and my story. 

Before you throw anything into the trash, ask yourself, "how can I use this in my work?"  Make art, not landfill!

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Clara Westerling, silent film star, is my first goth doll of the new year!  Her true love, on and off of the stage, was murdered on the studio's back lot and she mourns for him. His spirit haunts one set and she haunts another.....their souls never to meet again.  Tis sad.

She holds the movie camera containing his last images.

I sculpted her and her camera and have them listed on Ebay. I hope you'll visit her auction where you will find more of her photos.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170975399469

Priscilla, The Crazy Cat Lady

Yep, she's crazy!  She's obsessed with cats! Priscilla is my latest creation.  This is a 4 piece set, one black cat and three off white ones,and, of course, Priscilla.   You can arrange them however you like and Priscilla can be posed in several positions because she is wire jointed.  This doll has a clay ruffle around her neck, something I have not done before, but I like it!  I knocked off the edges with sandpaper before I stained her so that she would look old and worn.  She has polka dot legs, which area very whimsical.  I hope cat lovers can identify with this feline crazed woman!  I know she has more cats. I think she has then hidden somewhere in her house.  
I will alter a box just for her. Collectors who have my dolls know that they are quite lovely and artistic in themselves!  I use bits of lace, ephemera, photos, ribbons, etc......anything I can find to embellish the boxes.  You'll see! But you have to win her to find out!

Here is the link to her auction:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/170937254518?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649

Creeda, the mortician's daughter

Maybe I have some goth in me, even at my age.  I am drawn to this look and even dress in black a lot.  Perhaps my love for all things spooky showed up in me as a teen when I was glued to the old black and white horror movies every Friday night.  

I have, however, read about goth on the internet and it's not all about spooky and certainly not about evil. Rather, it is an open mindedness about death, darkness, and everything we have been thought to fear. Would death be scary if we weren't taught that it is?  

I, for one, don't want to be afraid to die. I don't want to fear that I don't have enough faith to be "saved."  I believe that death is as natural as being born, just like Creeda believes.  I believe in a loving God that will not send people of other religions to hell because they aren't Christian, even though I was raised to think that way.

So, I think that I can honestly present goth art to you, from my heart.  

This is Creeda. Please read her story. She is sweet and so is her rat!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/170926151403?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649

And finally, with the new format, my links are active! Yay!

Annamaria, an opera singer who lost her voice

Annamaria was an opera singer circa late 1800s. She lost her voice after she gave her heart to a low down tenor who left her for another soprano. She walks the world looking for it. That's her story, sad but true. She will not rest until she finds it. She carries with her a note (hand sculpted) and a page of music from an Italian opera. People say that they have caught a glimpse of her in various hotels and theaters around the world. She shows up a lot during this time of year....in the fall when shadows are tall and beings lurk in the shadows. Maybe you have seen her.... Here is the link to her auction: http://www.ebay.com/itm/170915214764?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649

Lillith, the forgotten bride doll

I feel like I have gone back to my roots with these primitive, folk art dolls. It's fun to be able to concentrate on creating a mood, a look, without having to concentrate so much on realism and perfection. In fact, the imperfections and flaws give these dolls the distressed look that is expected with an old piece.
I didn't really know where this doll would take me when I started with her. Along the way, I realized that she would be a sad bride. She waits for her groom that never showed, never to be seen again. I think you can feel her sorrow. Tear stains run down her cheeks. Her only friend and companion, an old pumpkin, sits by her side or on her lap. Her wait is neverending, an eternity.
She is jointed at the shoulders, hips, elbows, and knees so that she can be posed in many positions.

Currently, Lillith is sitting in front of a hinged black box on a black chest here in my home. You can see the box in the photos. I get to enjoy her for 3 days before she goes to her new home, where she will continue to wait, and wait, and wait.

Here is her auction link:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/170909987532?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649

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.

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

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!

Altered matchbox fairy baby

I won't be able to list her for a couple of days, but I was excited to show you a preview of my matchbox baby fairy! I had so much fun altering the matchbox and making it look magical. I used an antique shoe button for the pull (you can't see it in these photos, but it was perfect!), some French ribbon, a metal corner with a tiny lock and key hanging from it, various French and fairy ephemera, and, of course, one of my pinwheels made from a page from a vintage dictionary. I named this baby Dorian. She slumbers in her very feminine and shabby chic bed. Her wings are made from transparency film so they gently bend to fit in her box. I made this baby girl anatomically correct.

Please watch for her auction to begin, most likely on Friday.

Altering tip:
Don't use liquid glue to adhere paper or card stock. Use only glue sticks so you don't end up with a lot of lumps and bumps!

Louisa, a shabby wire jointed ooak doll

Louisa is my most recent listing. Louisa was sculpted from white clay that I aged for a shabby chic look. She is one of my wire jointed dolls. Jointing a doll's legs takes a little engineering. If the angles aren't right, she will not sit up. I cure the body before I finish sculpting the legs in order to get a good fit.

FYI, I will not be listing my dolls for under $49 from now on.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/170822827169?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649

Sanibel, a shabby cottage fairy

One thing about shipping a jointed doll is that I don't worry much about breakage. They are just not as likely to break at certain places like the shoulders and hips as with a non-jointed sculpture. In fact, although she is not a toy, an older child might enjoy playing with her, but gently.
I wanted this doll to look "long forgotten." Her eyes speak of an old soul that is from a different time. I like to capture the feeling that a doll has been cast aside by some little girl long ago....one who has moved on to more grown-up things. The doll sits and waits for someone to discover her again, wonder where she has been, and what she has seen in her "better times."
I let my husband name this doll. He didn't hesitate for a moment. The name just came to him.
Sanibel has an antiqued face, simple hands and fingers without a lot of detailing. She is one of my more primitive pieces. Her eyes are onyx, her dress is coffee stained silk, and she has hand made wings from a vintage butterfly print.
Her legs and arms are long and willowy. She has a delicate build.
To visit her auction please copy and paste this link into your browser.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/170818690556?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649

I finished a cottage style bunny girl today! After much thought, I decided not to sell her. She will go to my grandbabies. I just can't let go of some pieces.

I sculpted her face before Christmas and had no idea she would become a bunny! We are having some spring days here in southern California so I guess I have been hit by spring fever!

I will be working on another shabby sweet animal,and maybe another bunny child. I am thinking "flying pig!"