Cassie's own book

Cassie, the MerryHill Faeire now has her very own story, done up in a 12 page handmade book. It has 11 pictures, too. I've had this story in mind for a while, but it took the making of Cassie, a special order, to inspire me to put it on paper. The book features this particular faerie, but includes all of them, so though the very first copy was done to accompany this doll, the book is a good companion piece for any of the faerie dolls, or will stand alone. It is on sale at Truly Bluegrass shop, or directly from me.

I have also made up an assortment of greeting cards, now at the shop. A couple of Christmas cards, a Halloween card, and a few 'everyday' greetings. Also a bunch of the whimsical Kentucky Yard-stick cards, that I had a few years ago.

What, another quilter?

(Vicky is Sold)
This is Vicky. She is 24 inches tall, and her long hair could be styled in an updo with a big 'clip'. Her enormous sewing basket contains all the usual quilter's stuff: magazines, bolts of muslin, 18 mini 'fat quarters', threads, needles, pins, tape measure. She also has a quilting hoop, scissors, wrist pin cushion, her current project that she's ready to hand-quilt, and she has not forgotten her rotary cutter or her glasses! She's definitely a happy camper.

I have another started; she will be different, but will have a skirt of this brown pieced 'fabric'.
But, first, some Santa ornaments for the shop. And a little fairy for a special order. All these and more, sandwiched in between the normal errands and some yard work, etc. Busy, busy!

Ok, Let's party!

In response to a special request, I have created these two charming ladies.
Ella was made using the Arley Berryhill pattern that I also used for Claudia and Lana. She is 21 inches tall. Felicia is my original, one-of-a-kind design, 19 inches tall. I love her mischievious, rather flirty expression. I never know how they will turn out when I "put the pen to the blank face". Sometimes I get a nice surprise. I'm very happy with these two. Both have wired arms and hands, and heads that turn, and their pose can be changed to suit your mood, or theirs.
Ella is already sold. Felicia will be available at the Truly Bluegrass shop .

The two dolls were made from the same fabric, a polyester faux suede, Ella using the reverse side of the fabric, which is darker than the right side, and darkened slightly more with the spray used to smooth the skin and control the slight nap. Ella's hair is lightweight wool fabric, fringed and stitched on in a continuous strip, controlled with hair spray. Felicia's hair is rabbit fir, glued on. Faux suede is difficult to hand sew, but has the right amount of 'give' to stuff and sculpt well. Features are hand drawn , painted, and needle sculpted.

More little ladies

Drew a dozen little faces, scanned and printed them on fabric. (You can print on fabric in your inkjet printer by ironing the fabric onto freezer paper, and cutting it to page size.) Painted the faces, sewed them to backing, inserted cardboard and stuffing. Then the hair and hat, etc, is sewed and/or glued on, and a pinback and label on the back. These tedious little ladies take more time than they should, but are fun to make. So this dozen was taken to the shop on Friday.

As usual, Sabrina got tired of being shoved out of the way, and took a nap close by. Here are some of the little heads I've worked on, too. Kind of eerie, them all watching me like that. Ha! They are supposed to be designing their own bodies for me.

The Sage

This fellow just looks like a rather wize old man. He could be an 'Old-World Santa', or a wizard, or one of the Wise Men. I did not want to take the time to make two more, for the three wise men, a set. He is about 14 inches tall. He is on display at the Truly Bluegrass shop. He will be joined soon by a 'Jolly Old St. Nick' style Santa, and small santa ornaments, as soon as I can get them made up.

I am also adding a little line of greeting cards made up with my own pictures. For a trial run, I have created a series of 8 different cards, featuring the 'old ladies' dolls, all with name beginning with 'M'.

Summer's Creations

This is Stella. Stella Werken, that is. And there she is a few years ago! My how time takes it's toll.

Shoes found at a yard sale seemed to spark my imagination. I'm working on several ideas. Shoes really make a statement, you know, and they 'make the outfit'. Stepping Out is one idea, not yet finished, or decided on.


I started working on a Santa, using a pattern for a rather pudgy fellow whose supposed to be headed to the beach for the basic body. He was not turning out to look any too 'jolly', and not necessarily old, the fabric I had for his coat looked more like a smoking jacket. Hence, the wording on the puzzling note he's found. He looks like he's just gotten up from a nap and needs that coffee.



For some smaller items for the shop, I made a whole litter of these little kitties and their mouse buddies. We take what we get for relatives, but we choose our friends. Allowing customers to exchange or choose the 'friend' has been a big hit. The Horsing Around pins are popular, too. I will have to be making more of them, soon.



Both quilting ladies have sold, now, as well as the Senior Couple-Juana Charleston and Shy Guy, and Tyece, the tall, dark lady, among others. Thanks to all my customers.



The Jockey in Team Valor's green and red 'silks' is enjoying some travel. He was part of a display at the Versailles Chamber of Commerce office for the month of July. Those folks requested his presence in the Woodford County display at the Kentucky State Fair in Louisville, later this month, along with some other items from the Truly Bluegrass shop.


I was invited to display four dolls in a special Woodford County Artists gallery at the Francisco's Farm Art Festival in Midway (KY) in late June. All these events are great free exposure, and have brought more sales to me, and the shop. Many thanks to all for those opportunities.

re: comments

I have changed the settings, so it should be possible for anyone to post comments, now. Your feedback is appreciated.

Double take....

Well, it seems everyone thought the doll in blue (Nina) looked very much like my customer, and she liked it, too, but really wanted the body of the other one, Bea. So I did a head transplant or swap. And actually, I like them both better new. I'm happy with both of them. This is not the kind of thing I would normally do, as one might have turned out ok, and the other not be right at all. Fortunately, these two were cut from the same pattern and material.

Quilting Bea

I have finished the two quilting ladies. Here's a snapshot I took of them as they were leaving for their quilting bee. I named them Nina Blox and Quilting Bea. The upper body and heads are cut from the same pattern, Bea's long quilted skirt covers her stump body. I like her best. Nina has a stand. I put tubes in her legs, a grommet at the foot, a hole in her removeable shoes, and brass rods in the base board. She slips over the rods for an invisible, rigid support. (I should patent that!) Nina stands 26 inches tall, including her base, and Bea is a full 30 inches. Their accessories include sewing basket, scissors, thread, pins and needles, tape measure, ruler, quilting hoop, a 'jelly roll' of fabric strips, quilting 'books', and a stash of a dozen 6x9" assorted fabrics. Plus a little quilt they are working on. Bea's is 14" sq., pieced and backed with muslin without batting to reduce bulk, pinned, and ready to start quilting. Nina's is a printed quilt-look fabric, basted together with batting and muslin backing.

These two are my adaptations of a free pattern I got online several years ago. I have enlarged and changed it many times, and it is my favorite basic body design.

If you'll pardon the nudity (and you thought this was a 'safe' site'!!), here's Bea in the dressing room.

School Days, report card

I received a packet of letters from the kids at the elementary school where I did the Arts Day thing in late February. (see posting: School Days, below). These are really priceless. You'll have to click each one for a large enough view to read them. My visitors were Kindergarten to 5th grade classes.

Finished

She's sewn, signed, and delivered today (to the BG shop). The lady I made her for will pick her up there, probably quite soon, as her response to the picture I sent her was enthusiastic. The doll is 24 inches tall, from the tip of her hat to her heels. She has button-jointed hips so she can be posed sitting, or running as she is in the original image. (Logo for customer's hair-bows and clips shop in Winchester, KY.-- http://www.fairybowmother.com/) She plans to have a contest, letting her customers choose a name for the doll, which will be the store 'mascot', and so will get lots of exposure, good advertisement for me, and also the Bluegrass shop.

Current project

Here is a 'head start' on one I'm working on. The challenge is to create a larger doll from a tiny cartoon image. More pictures of her, if she 'develops properly'. I might try again, making the nose larger and the hair blonde, as in the original drawing. But I do like this face, anyway. This is totally a no-pattern project.