Art Doll Round Robin 2

You may have read my post about an art doll round robin which finished in march this year. As I really enjoyed joining in and making different parts for everyone's dolls I thought I would join in on the next round.  I was intending to blog regularly and show each part I made for the dolls but life and time got involved so I was unable to do that.
I do want to share one doll which I was lucky enough to add the clothes to, he had a pirate feel to him and I had lots of ideas running in my head. But while watching the last episode of the TV program of Versailles inspiration struck. So he ended up with dark green trousers that I gathered below the knee and a white shirt with lace on the cuffs. I topped this with a grey shot satin waistcoat which I embroidered and topped with a shot burgundy satin coat edged with ribbon. To finish off  his clothing I added a white lace edged cravat tied with a velvet ribbon and faux leather shoes with pearl buckles. After I finished him I posted the doll on to the next participant who added hair and a tricorn hat before posting it back to his owner.

All the dolls have now returned to their owners and I received mine back this weekend. This is the head I sent off on her travels to be added to. 

Every month I would see a photo of her with a new part added and it was fascinating seeing what the other participants would do with her. I was so pleased when I had her back as the photos really didn't do her justice.

It's quite interesting that she turned into a pixie complete with her own toadstool to sit on and I received her back the day before the reveal of the Art Elements Fairy Challenge.  As you can see from the photo she is sat next to the doll from the last round robin and they look good together.

This month we are starting the next round robin and its going to be a male doll this time. I'm really looking forward to joining in as I had recently brought a pattern for a male mermaid doll.
Until next time

Vic xx

Fae Design Challenge

Well as I mentioned in my last post I've joined in a Challenge run by Art Elements, this months theme was Fairy and as you all know I like Fae. Not only do I paint the Cornish Pixies or bring them to life really. I also make the odd Fae doll, and of course I've written about them with my Sidhe books set in alternate England where Fae exist.
As to Fae in general I like the dark dangerous side of them and I want to try and express that through my dolls. But my dolls being what they are tend to evolve by themselves and turn out completely different to what I imagined. As it was for the three dolls I've made for the challenge, I made a mermaid, a Fae and a witch. Now why a witch in a Fae challenge, well I like witches they are magical and some work with Fae. Like Fae they can also walk the line between light and dark.

Rue the Witch Art Doll

Rue

 Rue was supposed to be a bit darker especially with the skulls on her dress but she ended up a bit sweet. And she does have a rather adorable familiar which is a bat called Norman, who she keeps on a chain as he nibbled through his original leather leash and collar.

Norman the Bat

Next we have Genny a mermaid, mermaids are a water sprite or elemental, and have their dark side of luring sailors to their deaths. Genny was fun to make as I bought myself an inspiration pack and used the materials in it to make her.

Genny the mermaid

Genny has freshwater pearls on her tail and she's carrying a net of shells that she has just collected to decorate her sea cave.

Net of Shells

Now the last doll is Fae and her name is Nyra, her body is made from silk as well as her tunic. She's a more simply dressed doll and she did nearly have wings but they didn't suit her. 

Nyra the Fae

Nyra is carrying something special we aren't sure what is as she won't say only that it can be found in Fae, in a dark enchanted forest. I think I'd like to visit the enchanted forest but I might need a sword and a few fellow travellers to help, like a wizard, an elf and maybe a dwarf.

Nyra the Fae

I hope enjoyed a very short foray into Fae, maybe next time I can introduce you to some Slaugh, UnSeelie or maybe Elves. I'm off now to see what the other contributors have done for the challenge and I'll leave the links here for you to explore and enjoy.

Guest Artists

Divya

Alysen  

Kathy  

Tammy  

Hope  

Alison  

Cat  

Sarah  

Art Elements Team

Jen 

Jenny   

Niky  

Laney 

Claire 

Cathy 

Marsha  

Caroline 

Until next time Vic x

Quick Update and getting back to the blog.

Its been a while since I last blogged and a lot of things have happened since then.
The lad has finished his exams and is now at college studying animal care, and trying to persuade us that him having ferrets would be a good thing. Hmm well it would if we didn't have the fish, chickens and the cockatiels.
And me, I'm now working part time in a card shop as well as still making the pixies, dolls and finding time to write. The writing blog has moved to word press and also needs and update, which I'll do later if I have the time.
So to kick start the blog again I've joined in a blog hop / challenge run by Art Elements. Their website is full of interesting posts tutorials and more as well as the monthly blog challenges. This months challenge happens to Fairies, or Fae as I prefer to use. Of course that works perfectly with the dolls and I've been busy, between working, trying to finish three dolls and two witch brooches. The dolls are complete but the brooches aren't quiet finished.
I have shared some sneaky peeks of the work in the dolls on Instagram but here are a few of them.

I will reveal the three dolls on Sunday the 30th September and there will be a list of the other blogs who will be joining in. 

I'll see you then

Vic x

New Art Dolls

Last week I mentioned in my last blog post about some new small Art Dolls I had made. They took a couple of weeks to make as I was busy with other things. I made a fairy, a hare / bunny and also a steampunk witch.

First we have Florence the Fairy with her basket of enchanted acorns and silver bells on her shoes. She also has a pair of glittery wings that also go with the glittery threads in her hair. 

Florence

Next we have Thyme a Steampunk Witch, she specialises in time spells and has cogs and gears on her hat and carries a bottle of copper. 

Thyme

And lastly we have Harriet a Hare / Bunny Art Doll who has a fluffy tail, pompoms on her shoes and a bucket of flowering plants.

Harriet

The three dolls will be in my Etsy Shop over the next few days.
I shall be back to creating soon but I may be busy writing for a little bit before hand.

Until next time.
Vic. x

Cornish Pixie News and Cornish Gnomes.

Firstly I have some news regarding the Cornish Pixies, some of you may know that I get the wooden bodies from a company in Sweden. They have supplied the UK for many years with craft items but sadly this year they took the decision to stop supplying to the UK. I luckily still have a few of the bodies in stock and also a few will be retiring so will be sanded down and repainted. The Cornish Pixies will be around for a little while yet, unfortunately I can't find another supplier that makes that shape, but I will keep looking and maybe even make my own. Because of this I revisited an idea I had a few years ago to make Gnomes. I made a couple of prototypes which helped with a few problems and then the Cornish Gnomes were born.

The Cornish Gnomes are possibly related to the Tomtes, Nisse and Scandinavian Gnomes, the pixies aren't sure when or how they arrived in Cornwall. But here are the first four Cornish Gnomes , they are made from felt with a bead nose and merino wool beards.

Frieda & Siguard Cornish Gnomes

Frieda

Siguard

Ralph & Margaret Cornish Gnomes

Margaret 

Ralph

The Cornish Gnomes will be in my Etsy shop over the next few days along with some new small Art Dolls, which you will find more about in my next blog post.

Until next time

Vic xxx

New Art Dolls and Cornish Pixies

Last year I admit I was struggling with both my muse / mojo and family life. Which meant it was easier for me to write as it was difficult to keep getting out all my crafting items for just an hour here and there. The start of this year was the same and along with a bad cold I couldn't shake, which made things a challenge but a show was looming so I need something new.  So first I painted four new Cornish Pixies which I really enjoyed painting especially the Frog Prince.

Frog Prince

Feather Cornish Pixie

Gecko Cornish Pixie

Orca Cornish Pixie

Recently I made two Art Dolls ready for another show. They are from a Sharon Mitchell pattern I bought as I wanted to try these types of doll. The pattern does require craft velour for the face and body, but I used the last of mine on Edgar the Troll, so I used cotton instead. Finding a candlestick base for them was harder but I did find two and they have worked well. So here are Cecille and Odette a bust statue art doll.

Cecille

Cecille

Odette

Odette

The dolls will be in my Etsy shop and hopefully they will have some company as I need to make some more of my smaller dolls.

Until next time

Vic xx

Art Doll Round Robin

Last year I joined an Art Doll Facebook Group, it was set up so we could create a Round Robin Doll. Which basically meant that you create part of a doll each time then post off to the next person. As I like a challenge I thought I'd give it a try especially after seeing the first set of dolls they made. So I joined a small group of them and my first part to make was the head.

hand painted doll head

As always I like to challenge myself and I've always wanted to see if I could paint it instead of using pencils. So I got out my Acrylic paints and painted her face, it took a little time but I was pleased with how she turned out.  She then got posted off to another member and I received a head from some one else, so a body could be made and attached. These were then sent off and I added arms to the next doll, after that it was legs, clothes and finally hair.  It was lovely seeing each of the stages in the group as we added photos of what we had done. The finished dolls look amazing and I loved mine when I saw her picture, but I she was even more amazing when I got her back.

completed doll

She's a beautiful doll and she will be placed in my bedroom when I get decorated. There will be another round robin soon but I'm busy with writing and other things that need to take priority so maybe I'll join if there is another.

completed doll with hair and flower

I leave you for now and there are some more photos of the doll below.

Until next time

Vic xx

Completed Doll

knitted bag and flowers

cute shoes