She is here!

I am so thrilled at the moment! My finished doll Violetta arrived finally yesterday! She had been lost in the mail, took forever to get here from TX, but she arrived in perfect condition and she looks so pretty! Thanks Jenna and Jan for your beautiful work! I am very, very happy to have her, and this team was fun! But  it went just too fast!

Photo by Jan Conwell

And here with Tshilaba, before she went back home to Ohio:

As for other projects, for the past few days I have been too busy with some "easy" reorganizing of my kid's room. What was a half a day project ended up in a full week expedition to the past, along with a new piece of furniture and digging in the closet and a serious Spring cleaning. I got rid of tons of stuff, some was plain trash (how kids manage to keep wrappers for one solid year after they "vacuum" is a mystery to me) And tons of donation items (She grew up like a foot in the past months and nothing fits her anymore. Literally!) And I had been using one of the drawers in her dresser for all my babies' memorabilia. Well, no more. A teen's gotta have her space, so I had to go to memory lane, edit my baby mementos to a very basic little box, and re pack in my own closet LOL

I also went to open a new blog, just for paintings. Dolls are taking over everything :oD And by that I mean, virtually (in the blog) and locally as in kitchen, craft room, desk.... my goodness do they reproduce fast! :oP
So you are welcome to go visit, even if it is still an empty house. Soon it will have images and all the nice things that make a blog fun... like readers! :oD

I think I will start it with a bang: A giveaway! I will post details soon.

Traveling doll from the BBQs (how to add eyes)

 

Little Madga is such a funny girl! The first thing she said when she came to visit me was “Are the lights out?” I thought she was kidding, but then I realized she still didn’t have eyes! So I told her it was a sunny day, and she was soon to see it. We found a nice pair of glass eyes and after getting Emily’s OK, we removed her eyelashes and started to work on her face. To see this is the tutorial please visit my doll blog HERE 
Thanks!

So many things to do...

.... And so little time! I need at least an extra hour, I'm sure you guys feel the same way some days :o)
Well, I can't wait for the coming exciting events! The One World One Heart is coming and promises to be the best ever, only it is the last time too... But it's starting in 3 days, so keep your eyes open and don't miss my giveaways (I can't post a preview, but it is cute! Plus, I am participating in the ADO Blog Group giveaway too, and also in the Touring Babies blog group giveaway as well! What does that mean? it means a whole group will be offering several gifts in one blog, more chances to win, yaay!!

Also the Traveling Doll Project is coming in March... awesome! I will be posting all the cool dolls visiting me, this time I am in 2 groups... crazy, I know! But lots of fun! so you'll get to see 9 dolls featured in the coming months. The team names are funny! One of my teams is The Eager Eagles and the other The Bee-Bee-Q’s

I have a polymer baby elf listed on ebay, visit him to cheer him up! I am starting my doll auctions in 99 cents! as a PIF and to find them their new forever homes.  And in my Etsy Shop I have a 20% off coupon for all art! So if you like something this is the time to get it. I have also a bunch of "free shipping" listings. Just click to buy, and type JANSALE at the checkout, it is valid till the January 30th... hurry up! :oD

Also I have been painting in a larger format again..... I am loving it! I will post tomorrow some of the WIP of my work..... for now, I hear the muses calling (more like screaming!) in the kitchen, where I moved all my painting stuff, to a better light in this gray days....

Now tell me about your projects!! What's on your easel? art desk? sewing machine??! :o*

ADO Jack Frost challenge

I finished my little Jack Frost but I misplaced my thingy to see pictures in the computer, so I couldn't upload, or even see them... I was so frustrated! But it appeared all ofa sudden on the table. hmmm I think it was an elf, maybe? they love pranks....

So well, here is my ADO paper doll. It was a lot of fun to make!

Pencil sketch

Ink on watercolor paper

Acrylic selection used to paint the doll

WIP half painted

All done!

Oh! By the way, I changed my blog "share" button for the "like" button. So please if you like it, click it, don't be shy :oP  But I think it only works if you are in facebook, so let's see if I keep it or not...

More winter ACEO and a WIP doll

First of all... Thanks you!! almost all the girls I listed in my shop were gone the same day!! :oD
I listed one on ebay today, and have more listed in my Etsy, I'm on a roll!

Here is a picture of the new cuties and Jack frost. He is my ADO doll for the Jack Frost challenge:

Jack is going to be an articulated paper doll, very naughty and frozen cold. I don't think the picture shows well the pencil lines, but I will post more on him soon. Oh! And keep an eye open for the new video Slide show on beautiful ADO dolls! I'm working on it, slowly but surely...

I love the little avatar Xo)

Victoria's story

Victoria is a doll made by DellaRae Dezigns, in Florida. She traveled to the UK to get painted by jasmoon-butterfly, and also got fabulous hair and fancy shoes. Then she came to visit me in California, and now is donning a cute dress and an even cuter hat. Oh, and she has a new friend... read all about it, this is the story I made for her:

VICTORIA
After all her new mystical experiences, and learning about her gift back in England, she couldn’t wait to tell the whole world, and share all the magic she had in her… climbed up in a boat to cross the oceans and went the long way to far away lands…. The boat was old, creaky and a bit lonely. To pass the time Victoria started to whistle. Then she whistled some more.
After days became weeks of being on the boat alone and whistling she pretty much forgot how to talk, and all she could do was to whistle, so whistle she did. She whistled in the morning and she whistled in the evenings. She whistled when she was bored, happy or sad.
Finally after a long time, her boat arrived in California and she walked until she found a crowded place.
Once she found where tons of people would gather, Victoria decided to have a seat and share her gift.
So, she whistled.

People would come from far away to see the intriguing red haired whistling-beauty, and amongst the crowd was a rabid, ill tempered, little pooch, who people avoided at all costs. Even the dog catchers!
But the moment the dog heard that captivating whistling she was smitten.

The doggy wanted to be friends with Victoria, thus she began to dance and clap her muddy paws at the bit of the whistling. Unfortunately, no matter the amount of cuteness or sweetness this dog showed, people would not forgive her past actions (stealing pies, candy, even dentures!) However Victoria could see the beauty behind the teeth; plus she wanted a new show for her circus act. She called her Priscilla and gave her big red bows.

Not a single person would walk away without a smile after listening to Victoria and her new dog Priscilla. After a while she was a bit homesick so she took a plane to visit her folks back in Florida. She was changed, she was famous and she had a mission. She wanted to make her friends back in Florida happy.
Plus she wanted to show off her dancing puppy and her new dress.

The End

Frida Celebration -part Two

Here are more inspired Fridas creations, for the ADO mini challenge of July.
See the first post for more ADO Frida dolls HERE

My doll is finished and I am particularly proud, because seems like I can't ever finish a challenge in time!
Here are some pictures:

Click on the links at each picture to see more of each doll maker!
Some cool costumes:

http://stitchywoowoo.blogspot.com

http://freakylittledolls.blogspot.com

 A pretty sculpted bust:

 http://joannathomasdolls.blogspot.com/

A little deer by Evelyn:

 http://www.evelynswonderland.com

Frida Celebration

This is so far what we have from our ADO July Frida challenge. Link to artist under each picture.

darcyarts.wordpress.com

 piecakeprimitives.blogspot.com

Spiritmama-Art.blogspot.com

Here is my Work In Progress picture, still no hair and no dress.. that zarape is just for the picture but the color is not so bad huh? :o)

The pretty roses are from my anniversary Xo)

I will post the finished doll as soon as she is done.
UPDATE to see here finished click HERE

Alice in Wonderland ADO challenge

My tiny Alice for the challenge in ADO Blog.
She started like this: Polymer clay with a soft body, fabric, mohair...

Creating this sweet little Alice was a lot of fun! She is less than 3 inches tall.

Her friend the bunny rabbit is also polymer and about 1 inch tall.

Thanks for visiting!

To see more WIP pictures of this little doll click HERE

Frida Kahlo Doll challenge

Do I have fun news! I am running the ADO mini monthly challenge of July from the 1st till the 31st, and my theme is Frida Kahlo! You don't have to be part of ADO to participate, just make a Frida doll -any size, any style or materials- and post her in your blog! Send me a link and I will post them all here, and we can have them in the ADO blog as well.

Pretty Banner made by Dorote from Lithuania

July is Frida's birth month, and she is a great source of inspiration for women, people dealing with chronic pain, artists that like Folk, or Latin styles, and more than anything, she inspires to keep going even if life goes weird on you.

Yes, she has a lot of drippy red paintings, sometimes uses gross details, I do not agree with her political views :oP her life was very hard most of the time... but her intricate self portraits, the smaller size format she preferred, and the subject of her art, so local and unusual for the time, is what made her popular and famous.

It is always interesting to me, to see that the artists are the reflection of their time, country, era... not only of their own self and their own individual needs/ideas, but of their whole generation.

I can't wait to see what dolls you all can come up with! :oD

And while I'm at it, why don't we make some paintings as well?

Alice in Wonderland challenge WIP

Well, I have been busy finishing projects and starting other new projects. So much fun!
The one I just finished is my tiny Alice for the challenge in ADO Blog.
Here are WIP pictures, and I still have to take the very last one, but have to wait for the best light outside.

She started like this:

Then we moved along fast, as she herself was helping me to sew!

The skirt is ready:

Adding sleeves and trimming:

Now we work on the hair!

 

Creating this sweet little Alice was a lot of fun!

Thanks for visiting!

Victoria's hat and tutorial

I finished a fun story for Victoria (Raedell's doll from the TDP in ADO); I made her a pretty dress, gave her a companion (to be shown later on) and a fabulous hat!
 I can only give you a little peek today. Just her hat.... but I made a tutorial too so here are the pictures!
Click on it to see it in a big size:

Victoria is having a lot of fun here, and if you have read her story in the Traveling doll blog, you know she was feeling a bit lonely... but not anymore!  We are going to wait for Luna to get here, have a party and the she will go to Florida.

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Victoria is here!

What a cool surprise last night to get Victoria in the mail! She has a bit of a pillow head, which is expected, coming from England in a long flight.... in a box. LoL
Her journal is so pretty!  Originally created by Raedell in Florida, then pampered and wigged by Trace. They have done such a wonderful job!

I will fluff her hair, select some colors that match her shoes for a nice dress, write her a fun story and will give her a little companion when the time comes for her to leave.

Talk to you soon!

New baby listing

Just listed Little Annie on ebay. She is up from her nap and has very puffy hair hehehe
You can see her auction is HERE

Traveling Doll Project Update

Dear readers: Sometimes I make a post but never get to finish it, so it stays as a draft in the unpublished part of the blog... This is one of them. It's been in a draft for over a month, so i think I will publish it now in June anyway.

Victoria is here!
And you know, poor Luna got stuck in her trip from Florida to the UK, due to the volcano named Eyjafjallajokull, right? So after almost a month she finally showed up there, ash clod and all, but, I still had no clue on HOW to say that word and blessedly I bumped into a blog that had the answer HERE.
I know, by now it is old news, but I do believe it is never too late to learn something :o)

So anyway, here is Victoria, and soon you'll get more pictures after I work on her!

ADO event

If you are into dolls, you will enjoy clicking on ebay and check out the great selection ADO is offering all this week. CLICK HERE

The day Luna ran

For the ADO "Traveling doll project" I made a paperclay doll, sculpted over aluminum foil, and painted with acrylics. She will travel to Florida to Raedell and then shipped to the UK to Tracey. After their hands are done creating and modifying her, she will come back to me.... I made a story for her:

The day Luna ran ....and ran

For centuries, every month on a full moon, there had been some little green figures that come to dance in the moonlight, giggling at their shadows, singing and stripping off layer after layer of their fanciful clothing as they get too warm from frolicking around. Their attire is made of nice petals, twigs and shimmery fabric delicate like bug wings.

One night in particular, they were so distracted romping and dancing, they didn’t see a human getting close until he trapped poor Luna, the youngest of them all, who was sitting on a rock. She had danced since dusk and was enjoying the full moon, thinking of climbing on sunflowers and catching rain drops.

The mean human stole her clothes; he took her crown away, her shoes and also her long shiny hair! He knew they liked to dress up and gather treasures and would do anything to keep their things.
With a very unpleasant voice he told them the only way he would give the stuff back, was if she could find him the best tea in the world... or something just as good. He was tired of boiling old dusty, dried California desert leaves. He threw every item he had stolen from her and tossed it far, far away into the East blowing wind... And stomped away.

Luna never was one to lose her temper, so she sat and closed her eyes to think. The little green people gathered around and decided to give Luna a nice bag to bring back whatever she could find and told her to run… to run East.

Luna ran and ran all through the continent, but only at night. She was a bit wary to travel without a single stitch on in all her green splendor and no hair on her head. Every time she could, she would sit and close her eyes, thinking of sunflowers and clouds, pretty dresses and flowing hair…
She kept running passing rivers, hills, valleys, rocky roads and swamps, until she arrived to Florida, where she found something special.

After a while she kept running until she clear ran out of land, so she swam and swam heading East as she was told,’ till she found land again on a big island next to the continent in the other side of the world. Which was a good thing since the water was a bit too chilly.

Will she get her possessions again? Will she be able to find her way home?
Follow her progress here, and also the adventures of Victoria and Selene, my team partners Art Dolls.

wow... what a trip!

I have spent the most enjoyable hours, visiting blogs for the OWOH blog event... Meeting new people, discovering awesome artists/crafters, drooling on their giveaways... I hope I can win something! :oD
There's still like another 600 to go, but there is time.
I found more Frida fellow fans, wonderful painters, all kinds of crafts... yummy colors.... A true feast for the eyes!

Thanks to all the people that have visited! New people and the ol'friends as well, it means a lot to me and fills my little heart with joy:o)

News about my ADO project... My dolls now has been all sanded up, added some extra plumpness LoL she was a bit too skinny, and if she's going to go in such a longs trip back and forth, she needs extra padding ;o) I will take a new picture, this is how she looked before. Now she has more curves and toes.
Poor thing she'll go almost naked to Florida, hopefully she'll have some clothes on by the time she goes to the UK.

February is coming...

... and with it comes St. Valentine's day, love cards, hugs and elves eating cup cakes. What, you never heard that?
Well, around here we all know that the best way to catch a fairy or an elf is with sweets, so I made tiny cupcakes and a bunch of them showed up.

Click the picture to see the auction.

SOLD



The best part is that these are not fattening ;o)

Sunday afternoon...

My ADO doll is currently waiting to finish drying so I can put her together and paint. I need to work on my journal too, but at least now I know how to do it, because even when I love the journals, my little hands have never made one so it's all new to me.
... Should I post a picture? Or leave you chewing on your nails, guessing?
hee hee hee XoD

Also, want to share 2 videos today, they are awesome!
One of them is all about dolls, so well done and a bit spooky:
Seems like the format is too wide, hopefully it will show ok.





The next one is funny about clay armatures, it's so cute and creative!




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