A True Labor of Love

I absolutely love this doll!

Back in November I received a request to make one DEADutante doll with a long black gown holding some roses.

Thus began a journey into doll making that I didn't know I was going to embark on, but I'm so happy I did! 

Because the doll was to be taller than what I was used to creating, it changed EVERYTHING! All the little details were bigger now, and therefore more noticeable. I had to make everything BETTER.

The arms, the ribcage, and the head all had to grow....and I grew as a doll maker as well. 

I must have made 5 different heads before deciding on this one. Either the facial expression was wrong, or the size....but I think the one I settled on was the best choice.

I also put a tiny TINY little heart inside her rib cage. That alone took me a long time to accomplish! (Working with tiny things requires a steady hand!)

I really like her!

Please let me know what you think of my latest creation! :)

Valentine's Day is Coming!

https://www.etsy.com/listing/120216411/bluebird-of-happiness-with-valentine

I'm actually trying to get a head start on a holiday for once! Every item I'm putting in the shop has a heart on it somewhere!

Just listed this bird:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/120216411/bluebird-of-happiness-with-valentine

I took several pictures of 3 of the bluebirds together....thought they would look cute in a nest looking upwards...

Happy Friday, my friends! Hope all is well!

Finds From a Church Thrift Shop...

So I popped in to a thrift shop that, as a norm, doesn't yield much.  But I look for the stuff that no one else wants, so I found a few items that I may be able to reuse down the road.

I thought that little Caspar was cute. :)

I Think the Necklace Took Longer to Make than the Deer!

Just listed this pink deer, and I worked on the necklace it is wearing last night. It may have taken awhile, because it's just how I am. The way I work is not fast. But I like how it all turned out...

Photomatic! You learn something new everyday!

 I'm an avid flea market hunter. I'm not talking about the serious person who's trying to find that valuable treasure they can turn around and make a big profit on. No. I'm simply a hunter of cool stuff. Cute stuff. Things that just stick out to me and appeal to either my inner child or the love I have of all things vintage.
Also, I'm a flea market digger. Yes, that person digging through the junk boxes that are on the ground or under the table. So I do occasionally come upon what I think is pretty neat. This item was one of those finds.

When I first saw this item, I thought it was cool because it seemed to be sturdy and thick, and I noticed it had a tin frame. I had never seen one of these type of photos before. And the soldier's eyes seemed to look right at ME. I wonder, is he woeful, or just being a stoic soldier?

So I looked online and found that it's a photobooth picture from the late 1930's to 1940's, and this is more than likely a soldier during World War 2.

Printed on back:
Date:
Place Taken:
Taken by the Photomatic
Reg. US Pat. Off. Pat No 1665605
MADE IN U.S.A.
INTERNATIONAL MUTOSCOPE
Reel Co. Inc. New York City

Emerald - Pantone Color of the Year 2013!

I am always happy to hear what color Pantone has chosen for "Color of the Year!"

I'm a big fan of green, so Emerald is a wonderful choice!

For those of you that missed the past couple of years, here they are:

Emerald - Pantone Color of the Year 2013: - Color trends, color palettes , Pantone 17-5641 TCX..

Help Keep the Bells in Bell Town!

I'm a big supporter of purchasing products Made in the USA whenever possible. So when I heard about this bell manufacturer (Bevin Bell) that was the victim of a devastating fire that burned everything to the ground. This factory was established in 1836 and actually made the bell that rings at the end of "It's a Wonderful Life." ("Everytime a bell rings, an angel gets its wings!)

Please check out their website...it offers more insight in to their background and gives you a link to donate $12 and receive an actual bell that survived the fire! You're donating to help this company keep its employees jobs secure.

They also make the bells for the Salvation Army!

http://keepthebellsinbelltown.com/