A passion for polymer clay and sculpting ....this time, a penguin with an egg!

Having a passion for something good......anything that fulfills you and is good for others, is much more important in life than making lots of money, buying expensive cars,etc. I have been so fortunate to have found my passion in sculpting.  Even though I fight a tremor from Parkinson's, I find joy in creating from clay.   I have had new cars and even new houses, only to find an empty feeling.  You know how you want to keep going into the garage and smelling that new car smell only to realize that it's not enough to fulfill you?  What I find fulfillment in is creating something new!  I find joy in knowing that my work is gracing the homes of people all over the world!  How lucky I am!

I guess I'm in a introspective state of mind this evening. 

I just sent one of my creations to Kentucky.  It was a penguin with an egg.  The egg was removable from the penguin....my own design and idea. At least, I have never seen another sculpt like that. For me, clay and art is what it's all about.  I'm going to be working on a vulture for my daughter-in-law and hope to show it to you soon!  Oh! I also have two goth dolls ready for fall and Halloween! I look forward to showing you soon!+

Oma The Ostrich

I'm back with some new animal sculptures! First up is a 6 inch ostrich named Oma.  She comes on a  base and will be shipped in her own altered box.  I used Pro Sculpt for this piece and then I painted her with Genesis paints.  Isn't she adorable?

Keep watching for my next two pieces!  Although I may repeat animals, no two will ever be just alike because I never mold my own work.  Each piece is individually sculpted.

Here is the link to Oma's Ebay auction:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/171705921663?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649

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.

"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

Brambles, Bunny Rabbit

Brambles is my first bunny for spring of 2013!  I will make similar ones, but none just like him!  He is jointed with wire, very old looking, and somewhat goth.  This miniature is 3 inches sitting and 3¾ inches long with his legs extended.  I  have detailed him with tiny "stitches"  and a hand dyed silk ruffle around his neck. He looks like he has come from the past and has lots of spring stories to tell! 

Here is the link to his auction:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/170997477078?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649

If you would like to sculpt your own bunny, look for my simple bunny tutorial here on my site!

Edgar is my first goth teddy bear.  I have him glossed gray eyes, which I think add a lot to his creepy look.  I used Premo for this little guy.  I painted the stripes on his legs, his hat, and the pads on his feet, with acrylic paint but used Genesis heat set pain on his eyes because I wanted a transparent look.   My intention is to make my goth characters loveable rather than sinister or evil looking. They simply want to be loved like everyone else.  I hope they find a place in your heart!

Here is the link to Edgar's auction:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/170983084738?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649

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

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

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.

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

Fifi, a miniature ooak orangutan!

This is Fifi, my new shabby sweetie that I have listed on Ebay. I hope you like her face as much as I do. I think it is sweet from all angles. She is 2½ inches high, perfect for someone who doesn't have a lot of room left for her doll collection. Here is the link to her auction:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/170827828724?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649

I am offering free shipping on this one (within the USA)!

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

A Baby Giraffe, sneak peek!

There will be better pics to come, but I wanted to show you my current pride and joy, a baby giraffe sculpt! I had seen a photo of a baby giraffe on pinterest and just knew I had to sculpt my version of this adorable creature. Sculpting him brought back memories of a giraffe that my dad had once carved from a piece of wood. It was a miniature that had rhinestone eyes, a quirky embellishment that stands out in my mind. My sister is the lucky keeper and guardian of that treasure. So much of what I do was inspired by my dad. He used to draw cartoon characters for me at the breakfast table. I think he would have devoted more of his time to art had he not been working so hard to provide for us.


I feel that I captured the bewildered look of a baby giraffe as he takes his first looks at the world around him. Once again, I was drawn to a pitifully cute and innocent creature.

If I can let go of him, I will be listing him on Ebay this Sunday at approximately 8:00 pm EST for 7 days. Some sculptures have a special place in my heart and he is one of them. But, I do find joy in knowing that my work is in collectors' homes around the world. I feel like I will leave a bit of myself behind when I am no longer here. That is the most awesome reward of being an artist.

I will give you an update on this piece tomorrow!

When pigs fly!

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Pigs do fly! Well, maybe not, but this little piggy soars over the clouds as he is help up by a wooden skewer! He (or she!) is my latest little shabby sweet animal that I have created go with your cottage white decor! I don't have the pig glued to the skewer so that it can be taken apart and shipped inside of the cute altered box I have made especially for this piece.

This link will take you to this cute little pig:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/170792023347?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649

An OOAK shabby white cottage baby owl!

I just listed a 2 inch baby owl! I think he's pretty cute and very "baby." I guess "innocent" would be a perfect word to describe him! The ruffle around his neck looks like little bird feathers, don't you think?

I altered a box with the owl theme for him. On the box is a medallion made from the print of an antique school book, vintage lace, owl ephemera, and an antique shoe button (in the middle of the medallion).

Here is the link to his Ebay auction:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/170784359548?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???

Bunnies made using my tutorial

Think you can't make a bunny for this spring? Look at the ones these Arizona ladies made using my tutorial. I am so proud of them!

OOAK doll ~ bunny baby WIP

Here is my work in progress, a baby in a bunny suit! I still have to refine, paint, and detail her. Wait until you see how much personality will come from the eyes!
The ears have a wire armature for extra strength. I really hate working with armatures, but every sculptor has to learn this discipline.
No she doesn't have her own ears showing because they will be "under" the bunny hat part of her costume. You'll see.
Watch for photos of the finished bunny. Coming soon!

June Bug! A baby OOAK fairy

This is June Bug. I really think she has the sweetest face of all of my babies. She is only 3 inches long and has transparency wings that have been sprinkled with magical fairy dust.

She is getting ready to celebrate the summer season.

She is not the baby that I show in the tutorial, but she was created with the same method. The baby in the tutorial will be finished soon, so watch for her! I will try to show you how I do ears if you stay tuned!