sketches and new doll!

Here are some sketch book pages I promised a while ago they were the start of ideas for possible dolls or embroidered works I wanted to share now because I have finished the doll that developed from here! she dosent have a name yet and her owl isnt quite finished but her she is!

Dolls heads

I'm still working on some more dolls, really not sure about the heads of Imelda and Jill, they seem a bit to twee to me, by that I mean too doll like and I think the look  I'm after is kind of 3D drawings rather than the cute dolly look.
Above is a variation on Roberta's face, the doll from a while back, Ive just made the nose a bit more 3D and Im quite liking it.
I want to make a feather hat and maybe feather shawl/wings for this next doll. may just have to make a few more faces first to get it right.
Easter Holidays start tomorrow for my children so today is my last precious quite time, Im sure Ill find lots of slots to make over the hols but it certainly wont be quite! wish me luck xxx

upstairs downstairs dolls

So here they are, not quite finished but I wanted to share as a WIP with you all!
I started with these sketches and a wanted to try a new head shape for the doll pattern I like to use.

Ive still got to finish her legs, paint on some tights and shoes. I like the dress but next time will use a lighter fabric, it hasnt quite achieved the floaty feel i wanted, but still gives her the look I was after.

the maid is only a head so far but you get the idea, she will have a long black dress with white apron.

I have named them Miss Imelda and her maid (the maids name is Jill)
I imagine they are getting ready for afternoon tea, with some elderly lady reletives!
more to come soon, I will finish them over the next few days and try to get better photos when the light is good. a few more photos on my flickr page
Im not sure about the faces I think they are lacking something but not sure what, I will be making some more with different head style as well this week , keep playing till Im happy
xx

Gosford park drawing!

On the recommendation of my lovely blogging friends I brought a copy of Gosford park yesterday.
I loved it ! whilst watching I put pen to paper and let it flit about, above is the results.
Bearing in mind I want to make some dolls based around this era and style I think thats where my mind was going as I drew.
I have plans to make a lady and a maid as an experiment and see where it leads.
Their body parts are lying on my desk as I type and hopefully this evening will become whole!!!
Its been so lovely to discover Im not alone in my enjoyment of Upstairs Downstairs! more to come for me as it repeated every weekday on TV! maybe a DVD box set will have to be purchased as well!!
xx

she going to a new home

Do you remember Roberta? well shes going to a new home!
For a long time I  wasnt sure weather I wanted to sell her, I really liked her but also lacked confidence in whether anyone would want her.......but Im running out of room in my studio corner and during yet another reshuffle and with nowhere left to put her I decided she needed a better home than I could offer her.
I put her in my etsy shop not really sure if there would be any interest .........less than an hour later she was sold and is flying as we speak to her new home in Australia !!!!!!
I couldn't believe how fast she went!
I made a special box for her to travel in, to protect her and maybe for display in on arrival, wrapped her in tissue and tied the box shut. I wrapped the whole thing in loads of bubble wrap and parcel paper and she was ready to go! (my son took the photo fo the parcel ready to go!)
I really hope she gets there safely and her new family enjoy her !
xxx

Review of 2009

1. tweet, 2. basket of eggs - youngsters series, 3. basket of birds - youngsters series, 4. hunting owl - youngsters series, 5. huntsmens chorus, 6. wagtaills landscape, 7. bird on a wire, 8. bucket of eggs sketch, 9. New baby final, 10. Nesting, 11. Bird in hand, 12. Wren pages, 13. made up bird on text, 14. Drying prints, 15. girl bird kneeling, 16. newspaper sketch, 17. bird bath final, 18. dolls raw, 19. big bird, 20. crouching bird, 21. sketch, 22. Mother & Child 3, 23. Mother & Child 2, 24. painted piggy back, 25. Proud Mums, 26. Bird doll with dress, 27. Proud couple, 28. basket of birds, 29. nightingale head, 30. bride heads, 31. stiched bird brides, 32. bird in hand skectch, 33. drying prints, 34. test bird head, 35. Test bird heads, 36. birds on wire

Inspired by Cathy’s end of year mosaic I have compiled my own, I was feeling the need to reflect on my work ready to move forward into the New Year. Thanks to Cathy for great inspiration and a fantastic link into the wonderful world of Flickr.

Over the last few months I have been more productive than in 10 years, It has been exciting to explore ideas quickly for a change. I am still struggling to except that I work better on mixed media pieces and I need to let go my obsession with painting as an exclusive medium and develop ideas and techniques further.

New year plan

 2010 to be the year of direction.

Daily sketches, Focused on the figure and scenarios.

More sewing, developing ideas and small projects

Collaboration with Claire Pickles on a textiles project……watch this space.

Continue to do what ever takes my fancy!

Maybe try to sell a little more so as to fund my projects (but not get stressed about it!)

It has been a great year for me in many ways, but certainly creatively its been the best for a very long time, more of this please, roll on 2010 xxx

Dolly's

Nearly finished a doll for my nieces xmas present! she still has a coat and shoes to be made but I wanted to share now as I think shes very pretty. I have made waldolf style dolls before and I just love them for little girls , My daugther Jesse never liked dolls or any form of human representaion! she played with monsters and dinosaurs from day 1, I made her many monsters which she enjoyed,  since my mum made me some lovely rag dolls when I was a little girl Ive always loved them so any excuse to make one for a little girl! I only have one niece and shes 2 years old and very girly so far, so I intend to overload her with cuteness!!

Just remebered what I made her for her birthday.