Lulu, an OOAK newborn puppy!

This is Lulu, a sweet, tiny newborn puppy!   By tiny, I mean that she is 1½ X ¾ inches! I sculpted her from ProSculpt polymer clay so that she would have the "skin" of a newborn puppy and then I painted her with Genesis heat set paints and used a stiff bristled brush so that the paint would go on like hair and let the skin show through just as it would on a real puppy.

People often say "I wish they could stay little like that" when referring to a baby animal. Well this one will stay that way! 

Lulu comes in a cute little box that I altered just for her. I used vintage dictionary pages for a shabby chic look.  You can store her inside or display her on it.

Here is the link to her auction:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/170928816123?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649

Alice sleeps in altered Morton salt box

You know how I love to alter everyday things! This baby sleeps in a cozy altered Morton salt box that I made into a cradle. She lies on a soft mattress that I finished with a blanket stitch. The box is embellished with one of my medallions that I make from old dictionary pages. It has an old bone underwear button in the center of it. The baby is wearing only a diaper and a sweet headband. It's summer, so she is staying cool! Read more about her here:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170884122044

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.

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

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

New! Baby Garden Fairy!

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.

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!

OOAK fairy baby WIP

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!

"Tranquility" my first OOAK for 2011

"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!

Lula and her pet mushroom

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!