Love this...

Beautiful Ribbonwork

Why does everything take so long?
Well, I've been working on my regency costume doll for some time now. I thought she would be done for ebay last Sunday, but here I am still not finished on Tuesday. Of course I went crazy adding silk ribbonwork(which I have learned is not the same as silk ribbon embroidery) to the bonnet. Part of what has taken so long is sort of learning this ribbon technique as I go. I checked out a wonderful book from the library called, "Ribbonwork; The Complete Guide, by Helen Gibb." This book is wonderful, and I will have to add it to my library.
The stump body in the foreground of this picture is the body I am using for my costume doll. She will have a paperclay head and lower arms and will be fastened to a wood base. Her costume is of the Regency period, with a high waist and puffed upper sleeves. She will also have a straw bonnet with silk ribbon embellishments.
She is almost done, but you will have to wait until she is done to see her! Coming very soon, she only has to be attached to her base!

Paperclay work

Ready to go live....

And already sold! Isn't that one for the books! Hooray! Hope the cat wasn't too usual, I just couldn't think of anything else to give her to hold. I hate that about deadlines! Now that it's too late, of course, I can think of lots of things. Those darn accessories are so hard for me. I spend so much time on the doll and her costume I just can't wrap my mind around the little extras. I do think they can sometimes be so important to make or break the whole doll. Gotta work on that!

SPSG deadline

I can't believe how quickly this month has flown by! It is already time for the new issue of Simply Primitives to come out. It seems like yesterday I was working so hard to finish last months doll. Boy I wish I could get a lot more done in a months time.
Here is the doll I'm working on. She is a small 13 " version of an Izannah Walker style doll. I did her head and shoulderplate in paperclay just like Ivy. This doll has the same basic body with a few tweaks to it. I made her an Izannah style repro dress, with low neckline, center gathered bodice, and box pleated skirt. Here is a sneak peek, but you will have to wait until the new issue of SP comes out to see the dress!

Finished another doll!

It was hard to discipline myself to sit down and finish her, but I am glad she is done, and pretty pleased with the way she turned out. This is another sculpt from about a year ago. I'm glad to be moving these dolls out instead of continuing to let them languish around the studio. I love this liberty blue fabric, even if it doesn't show up so great in the pictures. It looks great with her eyes. She is on ebay now.

More work space!

As many of you know we live in a very small, very old house. When Isabel was born I always just had her crib in my room, and then when she got older we had to decide what to do about a bedroom. Her sister Chelsea's room is the smallest room in the house, and I always thought I would move my studio up there and give the larger room to the girls. But as time went on, my stash grew bigger, and my need for more work space grew as well. It soon became clear there was no way to fit all my stuff in that tiny room. So Chelsea stayed up there, and Isabel and I shared the larger room for a workroom/bedroom. Chelsea was already 16 when we decided this, so we knew it would only be temporary. ANYHOW, long story short, Chelsea has now moved into an apartment of her own, and Isabel is getting ready to take over her room. THIS MEANS FINALLY ADEQUATE WORKSPACE FOR ME!!! I am getting excited and beginning to think about what I need to do to finally really get myself organized.
I have decided to divide my space into 5 sections.
1. Sewing area
this will incororate my machines, ironing board and cutting table.
2. Painting area
this will be my drawing table, all my paints, glues and messy craft stuff that I need to keep away from the fabrics, etc.
3.Office area
this is for my pc, files, paperwork and research; all the things I need for running the business of dollmaking and pattern publishing.
4.Photo area
this will be a small permanent set up for photographing dolls
5.Storage area
this will encompass all my large cabinets and bookshelves. all of my stash will NOT fit in here, and it will still be necessary to have the overflow stored in the basement.

I really hope to accomplish this soon(and also throw in here the renovating of the tiny bedroom for Isabel, which needs new everything!), before the busy fall season begins! Wish me luck!

Just for fun here is picture of my immense stash as it looked when we decided to combine my workspace and Isabels bedroom. Gasp! What a load!!