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.  

skeleton thoughts . . .

Yes . . . . Halloween items are already in stores.  Yes . . . . it is way to early for that.

. . . and Yes . . . I had to buy this skeleton.

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!

faces by avery . . .

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.

Shabby Charlotte Doll - Maurita

 She’s a little dark . . . a little creepy . . . 
. . . and completely lovable.
For sale in my ETSY shop - Clarehelen

Shabby Charlotte doll - Nova

Meet Nova - I just listed her in my ETSY shop . . . clarehelen 

I like how she looks sitting by the turquoise bottle and planter.

Nova is a simple little doll that makes every day special.

She believes in magic . . . the kind of magic that surrounds all of us if we simply take the time to notice it and to practice it.  The magic of a smile . . . the magic of kindness . . . the magic that you find when you look for the joy in the journey.  She tries to laugh as much as she can, she likes to eat lemon cake for breakfast, and believes in love . . . always.

Summer . . .

Summer means fresh tomatoes from the garden . . . stacks of books to read . . . 

. . . and sunglasses.  

Life is just better when you are wearing sparkly sunglasses.

How to make a four year old smile . . .

. . . throw Grandpa in the pool with her.  

Paint Night

Jennifer and I were sitting at my table one night . . . and she informed me that she had just signed us up for a paint night.  When she showed me the painting that we would be doing I understood why she decided we needed to go.  This is a busy time of year for me with the school year ending and getting ready for next year.  Also - once school is out we work four 10 hour days, which usually turn into 11 or 12 hour days for me . . . so by the time this night came around I was exhausted and the idea of going someplace at the end of a long work day seemed like more than I wanted to do . . . but how could I pass up painting?  Of course - I ended up having a great time and I am so glad that I went. 

This paint night was by no means instructional . . . in fact we had to hold our hands on our canvases and vow to not say things like,  "I messed up." . . . or "Mine is awful."

We were there to have fun and relax . . . and paint.  I love to paint - so of course I was going to have fun!  As much as I love skeletons . . . I am really not so sure what I am going to do with this painting, but I do have some ideas to turn it into something fun to hang up on Halloween.

A couple hours of painting . . . and a couple of Corona's with salt and lime . . . and the thoughts and any stress that I had from that 10 hour work day were gone. 

Now Jennifer wants to sign us up for another paint night.  

Shabby Charlotte dolls for sale . . .

 . . . because everyone needs a little blonde voodoo doll!

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 . . .

 I have posted photos of these dolls before - but never got them listed on ETSY shop.

I am trying to get back to doll making . . . so hopefully will have more new dolls listed soon. 

If you interested . . . take a look at my shop - clarehelen

I have fun making these crazy little dolls.

Finn

Finn is a high spirited little zombie who loves people way too much to ever think about hurting them.  She tends to get excited very easily and loves to try new things.  She loves sushi and hot coffee with whipped cream and red sprinkles.  She loves to dance . . . pick flowers . . . and simply wander around town seeing what kind of shenanigans she can get into.  Her favorite color is pink, but she loves dressing in red just because it puts her in a good mood. 

You can’t go wrong having this little zombie around . . . she is loyal to the end and loves to include her friends whenever she is out having a good time. 

good things today . . .

More origami cranes today . . . this time with Mr. Ford's 4th graders.

I wish I could post a picture of all of the their faces . . . so instead I will go with some of their t-shirts.  I love all the t-shirts I see everyday at school.  I am thinking there may be a photo project there . . . I will have to give that some more thought. 

This group really caught on . . . and were finishing cranes in record time.  

PEACE ~ LOVE ~ CRANES

GOOD THINGS TODAY . . . 

1. Folding paper cranes with Room 11

2. Making smoothies with our Ninja (I love this thing)

3. Fresh zucchini from the garden

4. Someone doing me a big favor . . . going above and beyond

5. My work family - they really are amazing!

6. Coctel de Camarones . . . thank you Jessica!

7. Sleeping baby photo . . . our dear little Avery Rose

8. Coming home . . . 

9. Making some time to paint

10. Finding a boysenberry cobbler on my desk this morning . . . made by my boss

Let her sleep, for when she wakes up

she will move mountains.