off to Rhode Island . . .

I made this doll awhile back . . . and she was purchased yesterday through my ETSY shop.  I had actually  let my listings expire . . . but someone contacted me regarding this little blonde voodoo doll.

I was a little surprised since my shop hadn't been active in awhile . . . but excited because I love when I get to ship my dolls off to a new home.  

Now I just need to take the time to make some new dolls . . . maybe this sale was just what I needed to get myself going in that direction . . . because I am now feeling very inspired to create dolls.  I am thinking about a new line of  "little old lady" dolls . . . more on that later. 

* * * 

Ghislaine

Ghislaine is a very clever little voodoo doll

and made with hopefully enough magic that she brings a smile to your face. 

She is nearly always happy, somewhat sarcastic, and also very determined. 

When given a job to do . . . she doesn’t quit until it is finished.  Loyal to the end . . . Ghislaine will do whatever she has to do to help the people she cares about. 
 Keep this little doll around to 
remind you that life is too short to let anything or anyone bother you . . .

full of hope . . .

I have to take better photos of her for the giveaway, but I 

wanted to share a picture of my little earthy flower child doll.

Hello Spring!

made with love . . .

I was invited to be part of a doll giveaway on Instagram.

The theme is "floral fantasy".  I actually had a doll started that I could make work for that.  

That not only saved me some time as far as getting a doll finished by the deadline . . . 

but it also worked to get myself busy finishing a doll that I started awhile ago,

but had never finished.   (What that is all about - I don't know.)  

Anyway . . . I am glad I finally had the motivation to get her done.  

I think she has more of an Earth Day look to her . . . so I am working on the "floral fantasy" part.  

Either way . . . she will be part of the giveaway.

I will have complete pictures of her soon. 

hey doll face . . .

I ended up spending more time reading this weekend than making dolls - which was not my plan, 

but I did get a little bit done on these two. 

The doll on the left is another doll that I started awhile back and am finally getting around to finishing.  The doll on the right is new and my original idea just wasn't working for me . . . so finally decided to just throw that idea out, not think so much about it, and go with something else.  I now am excited about working on them again.   

I think they are going to be fun when they are finished. 

enjoy the little things . . .

Another doll that was stuck away before it was finished.  

This little doll is very special to me.  It was created with the help of my granddaughter Charlotte.  Charlotte asked me if she could help . . . so she drew the face and picked out all the fabrics and yarns to use for this doll.  She was three years old at the time. Original post here.

It really only needed a few small touches in order to be finished.  I am not sure why it got stuck away . . . but glad she is finished now.  

If my grandchildren have taught me anything, it is to take the time to enjoy the little things.  

Believe . . .

"When is a monster not a monster?

Oh, when you love it."

                                               ~ Caitlyn Siehl

These two are finished and I love how they turned out.

I especially like the little one.

Slowly but surely I am getting some unfinished projects completed.

That always feels good! 
I started these dolls at Christmas time, but got busy with things and didn't get them listed in time for the holidays.  Christmas is a long way off . . . but it is always a good time to "believe" . . . so this little set will be for sale soon.
Have a wonderful day!

Lil' Rose Monster - Halloween Bride

 OOAK Lil' Rose Monster Doll - Halloween Bride

This little Halloween bride may be a bit unconventional . . . but she still believes in tradition - (something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue). She knows that no matter what - her wedding day will be something special.

 She loves being a monster . . . and she loves being in love!

I have posted pictures of her before . . . but this time she is finished and for sale

in my ETSY shop.  I know it is way past Halloween . . . but I think she is an adorable little Halloween bride and like any bride needs plenty of time to plan before her big day.  

feeling motivated . . .

Oh, hello week . . . let's do this!

Once again my time is getting spent doing things other than making dolls . . . but on a positive note I am heading back in that direction.  Sometimes life just gets in the way.  Sometimes I simply need to regroup and get organized again.  Sometimes I get doing other things.  (Lately I have been writing and that seems to have filled up my head and time more than enough.)  

Doll making is pulling me back in though . . .  and these dolls all need something.  It doesn't help that one of them was made for Halloween and another for Christmas . . . so with those holiday behind me I just set them aside.  Charlotte and I made the one with pink hair a couple of years ago . . . she also got set aside.  I guess I need to try to break that habit.

 I also don't like to start any new dolls without finishing any that I may have started . . . so let's see what happens this week.

Happy Monday!

little shabby charlotte doll . . .

“The doll making journey begins 

decades before you even know it, by 
gathering a lifetime of seemingly unrelated skills, 

which one day collide, 

causing complete and total harmony!” 
― Gayle Wray

I'm finally posting pictures of  the latest doll that I finished.  She was created from a drawing that Lily made.  She is only about 7 inches tall and has the skinniest little legs . . . 

. . . and the cutest little bloomers under her skirt.  

Not exactly like her drawing . . . but close enough to make Lily smile.

Fun little doll for a special little girl in my life!

new little Shabby Charlotte doll . . .

 I finished this doll yesterday.  There is just something about her that makes me smile.

Maybe it's her skinny little legs . . . or her crazy red hair . . . or her simple smile . . .

Whatever it is - I just like how she turned out.

I made this doll for a little girl who asked if I could make a doll that looked like her drawing.  It isn't exact, but close enough.  Her mother had bought a couple of dolls from me a few years ago for her and her sister . . . so she was aware that I make dolls and since she has been asking me about it for two weeks,  I couldn't wait to give it to her this morning.  I wish I had a picture of the smile on her face when she opened the package.  This was fun to do.  Lily also drew a picture that I am turning into another little doll . . . she wants brown and blue hair????  I can't wait to get started. 

Happy Friday . . .

Be you.

The world will adjust.     

 This week has been busy with birthdays and appointments . . . and it seemed to fly by.  

I'm trying to get five doll bodies ready to go, but this is far as I got.  I am hoping to make a little  more progress this weekend.  I really need more hours in each day. 

I think these dolls are going to be cute . . . I love their skinny little legs. 

I am making them for a couple of little girls.  They each drew me a picture of what they wanted their doll to look like. 

 It's going to be fun to get into the details and see if I can make them look like their drawings.  

Happy Friday!

Instagram Giveaway

 I am so excited to be part of this Halloween doll giveaway on Instagram.

Check it out!

Here's a closer look at the doll I made. 

 I had posted pictures of her earlier, but added a hat and a "Trick or Treat" bag.

I love making these little Halloween dolls . . . and can't wait to see where I ship this one off to.

Shabby Charlotte doll . . . Claudia

I finished this Shabby Charlotte doll this afternoon.  

Just a simple little doll that I made for the owner of one of the Bed & Breakfasts 

we stayed at this summer.  She will be packed up and shipped to the coast tomorrow. 

I am finishing up another Halloween doll and I still need to post pictures of the doll I made for the Zombie Doll Swap on Yarnigras' Swapper Spot.  So more Halloween doll photos later on in the week. 

HAPPY OCTOBER!

Lil Rose Monster doll . . . . ready for Halloween

I finished another doll last night.  

This little monster doesn't have a name yet, but she is more than ready for Halloween.  

She will have a name soon . . . and be listed in my ETSY shop. 

Lil' Rose Monster Doll . . . #23 - Turn Two

"Love is the most important thing in the world,

but baseball is pretty good too." 

~ Yogi Berra

I wasn't sure if I was going to like this doll while I was working on it . . . and I kept changing my mind as I was adding detail to him.  Now that it is finished - I like it better than I thought it would.  

#23 - I am naming him "Turn Two".

I have my little hippie monster listed in my ETSY shop -  clarehelen and will list this little monster soon.  

A new little monster . . .

She started out with wearing a beanie . . . but ended up with a headband.  

She has feathers in her hair . . . a button on her butt . . . and lots of monster magic.

Lil Rose Monster . . .

I've been thinking about making some monster dolls for sometime.  I started selling my Shabby Charlotte dolls after my granddaughter Charlotte was born.  I made her a Halloween doll . . . and people who saw it suggested that I sell them.  

We have a new granddaughter - Avery Rose.  So I decided it was time to start a new line of my dolls and name these little monsters after her . . . "Lil Rose Monsters".  

These are going to be fun to make!

new shabby charlotte doll . . .

This doll was so much fun to make . . . and I love how she turned out.
When I stain my doll bodies . . . I brush them with coffee and put them in the oven on low heat and let the coffee do what it's going to do.  I am not sure what happened to her face . . . I guess she was just meant to be a creepy little doll.  I have a few little things to do with her yet . . . and I will get her listed in my ESTY shop.  

If you like silly . . . and sometimes creepy little dolls take a look. 

She would make a wonderful decoration for Halloween.