Harold's Halloween ~ a Shabby Sweetie bear and his pumpkins!

Here is my first sculpt for the Fall 2013 season!  Harold is jointed with heavy duty thread.  He wears a hat made from a vintage dictionary page. The black ruffle is silk and he wears an orange bell around his neck. He comes with 3 sparkly pumpkins! Not only that, but he comes in a box that I altered just for him!

I sculpt with Parkinson's Disease.  I used to think about how lucky I was to have a passion for sculpting and how I would be doing it until my nineties.  Then, the tremor in my left hand started.  It began with a twitch in my thumb.  I thought it was just one of those twitches that everyone gets from time to time. But, it got worse. I was eventually diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease.  I had to learn new ways to do my work.  Often, I have to lay my work on my desk, rather than hold it in my left hand. Paint must be applied quickly...in between shakes!  I started out with primitive pieces and have found some peace and happiness going back to them, although I might just try a realistic baby one of these days!

I don't know how much longer I can do this, but I will continue until it's no longer possible.  I hope that you won't let obstacles get in the way of your life, your loves.  Please don't let the elephant in the room make you quit!  Work around it.  Never give up!

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!

Altered key pendant

I am back into making one of a kind jewelry again! This time, I'm altering vintage keys.  It gives these keys a purpose again. They won't go into a land fill anytime soon!  I do love salvaging old things and finding new uses for them.  I know others are doing the same, but each of us puts our own slant on our repurposing.  I used new and old jewelry findings on my pieces. 

If you want to see the pendants I have available, please go to to this Ebay account. I don't list them under my toodlesocks account. That is strictly for my sculptures. I will be listing two new sculpts soon!  For now, here is that link to my other listings:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/251233693908?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649


http://www.ebay.com/itm/251233638085?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649

Primitive Hand Sculpted nativity Holy Family

For the past few holiday seasons, I have sculpted my own version of the nativity, or The Holy Family.
I used to use Sculpey in ivory, but it seems that the company has discontinued that color. So, since I love all things white, right now, I decided to sculpt them in all white, including their faces.  I like my version because they are not cutesy or cartoon-ish like many hand made nativities....just my preference.  My intention is to make them look like a relics that have been found on an archeological dig.  Baby Jesus is simply wrapped in a clay swaddling blanket. Each is faceless.  I stained them to make them look very very old and primitive.  They would work well in a shabby chic setting.

I sculpted Mary and Joseph over an aluminum foil armature.  Each piece is very sturdy. This set would make a wonderful heirloom to pass down to children and grandchildren.

Here is the link to their auction:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170955048079

Oliver is my new jointed beagle puppy!  I was afraid I couldn't capture the worried look I was going for, but I think I did it!  He is a miniature, only 2½ inches sitting and 3 inches with his legs extended.  I hope he finds a good home because he sure is a sweetie!  As I mentioned in his auction, he doesn't bark or shed!

Here is the link to his auction:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/170941560005?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

A shabby chic dictionary bird, Harmony

Birds are really popular right now and I have so much fun sculpting them! If you are new to sculpting, a simple bird might be a great place for you to start since they have no joints and are a fairly simple sculpt. Alter them or add your own embellishments to make them OOAK. Altering and dressing are often the most fun stages of creating or sculpting for me. Start keeping bits of lace, ribbon, extra buttons that come on clothing, and even books you don't want to read or have already read. Use the pages to make medallions or to cover a box.

Spring has sprung, indeed, and Harmony would be such a perfect and one of a kind gift for anyone who loves gardening or the outdoors. Or, you just might want to keep her for yourself!

Here is her auction link:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/170840086495?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649

Shabby white elephant is listed!

I have listed little Stellaphant! Here is her Ebay link:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/170781263614?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649

Stellaphant the elephant! Shabby Sweet!

Her name started as a joke. My sister, Gina, and I were trying to think of a name for her and I said "Stellaphant!" Surprisingly, Gina liked it, so I went with it!

I am going to list this little elephant on Ebay this afternoon and will post the link here for you. She will come to you in the adorable altered box that I made for her. She looks cute either sitting on the box, sitting in front of it...or, you can use the top of the box as a background for her. She is my latest shabby sweet OOAK dolls. She is jointed at the arms and legs. Her head is tilted a little to give her a shy, obliging look.

Her head piece is a flower taken from an antique doily. Her eyes are onyx and her ears and feet are embellished with lovely words taken from a reprint of an old label.

I won't make another one just like this one! Isn't this the white elephant you've been looking for???

New collage necklaces!

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