Still Here Working Hard

Sorry for the long delay in posting. I'm pretty exhausted everyday after designing, creating, marketing, doing social media for my business and family obligations. This blog was one thing always in the back of my mind that I couldn't push myself to do.

I've created a editorial calendar for my blog which has a schedule for when and what to blog. I hope this will keep me more on track.

Still working on my product launch for next month. Time's growing short and I have so much to do! Being crazy busy, I of course decided to move my studio around. I have less floor space now but I was able to get more supplies in here with me from other parts of the house. I'll do a video once I get art hung up and it's tornado aftermath messy right now as I get ready to finish these products.

 Here's a promo I did for my upcoming launch.

 

 There's going to be some hoop art.

 

 Bunny orinies too.

 

 As many dols as I can get done in time.

 

The fun color palette I'm using.

 

Worktable Weekend.

This weekend I spent some time doing some more work on what seems to be a never ending project. This lady has been standing around bald headed for so long so I made some time and gave a big push to finishing her.

 Attaching her hair. Then I did braids and did those into a Frida hairstyle.

I made the little felt flowers for her headpiece. I think they came out so cute.

The light in here is horrible but here's the back with the veil.

A better shot of the front. She has little flowers on either side of her hair too.

I was happy to get this much done, but she's far from finished. Now I have to set her aside for now. Her dead lover IS finished and I haven't shown him completely yet. But here's a small peek.

When they are finally finished they will be up for sale together on my new website. I hope you enjoyed seeing my progress.
 

What's Going On In Sassyland?

I'm not doing the best job at keeping this blog updated. I do have good intentions though! Anyway so much has been going on I really could write a very long, very boring book about it, but who would want to read that? So I'll just pretend I haven't disappeared for a few months and post some art picks, ok?

I did finally get my product tag and business cards sent out to the printers and I freaking love how fabulous they turned out.

Not the best pic but these cards are so thick and luxurious. Double sided and oh so cute. I took advantage of a 25% off sale that only pops up once a year and got 200 beautiful cards. These were printed by MOO.com

My product tags are awesome! I decided since the image is so small to change the mouse to white so it's easier to see from a distance, but everywhere else the mouse is brown. I won't lie these were expensive since I only ordered the bare minimum of 100 pieces, but wow they did a great job and hopefully (fingers crossed) that I can order a larger amount next time.

Meanwhile I have been designing new dolls that will go up for sale on my new website. They are for gentle play and nursery decorations, also I'm sure adult collectors like myself might like them too. I thought I had the design set but then made further changes and now I'm super happy with them. Here are pics of the original design.

 Lovely ladies of many lovely skin colors. They still need hair, arms and clothes then I'll probably put these up for sale at a reduced price since I changed the design a bit. 

Left is the original design and right is the new design. Basically the head is bigger but it makes a huge difference to the look of the doll.

 I know I still need to post about my website research and I am working on that so stay tuned for that, plus I'll let you know what web company I chose and why.

Wow It's Been A Month...

since I lasted posted. Sorry about that! I really got caught up in the fantasy soft sculpture piece I showed the beginning of in my last post. This was the first piece in a long time that I really enjoyed making. I may make 2 more pieces for a series, if I have time.

Well it's done and shipped so I'll show it now and then move on to the other topics I planned to post about that some of you were probably waiting for ie. my research on a new selling platform etc.

 She's a winged Unicorn Fairy, a protector of the head. The new owner of this piece was kind enough to let me do whatever I wanted in the theme. I've had this in my head for some time but wasn't just going to make it, although I should have anyway.

Her wings are individually hand cut sewn and attached to a wing framework and sewn to her back. It's just an idea of wings, a representation of wings. The stump she sits on is part of the piece too.

Closeup of her face and top. She's made entirely from premium and wool blend felt, except for the hair.

She has articulated hands, which look really weird right here, that can curl around the baby unicorn on her lap.

Baby winged unicorn. I originally thought to give her some music instrument to hold before I decided on this. I'm not entirely happy with the baby, I didn't make a prototype first, I just winged it.

I hope you enjoyed seeing this piece.

I Will Be Posting On This Blog Soon...

I'm in the process of re-designing dolls, re-vamping my business and basically getting my shit together. All my time last summer and Fall was taken up with caring for my mother after she was released from the hospital and my own illness. I went to the ER twice in October and was finally admitted to the hospital where I had surgery. Thank goodness for my daughter who held down the fort at home and cared for my mom while I was unable to. I've been physically and emotionally exhausted all Winter and am just starting to feel normal (well normal for me) again.

Here are 2 little felt dolls that I was able to get done before Christmas. 

While I was in the hospital Red and Wolfie sold as did my Black Cat Witch. I'm so very grateful to those buyers! I was beginning to think there was no customer base for my work and was seriously thinking about quitting making dolls. Now I'm more energized and have so many fun things to post soon.

I'm now making patterns for sale. If you want a chance to preview them for FREE subscribe to my newsletter and get awesome member benefits!

Finally Ready For My Shop Update

I finally finished everything that I can get done right now for my shop. I have more in the works but I'm not going to stress myself out more than I need to. The 2 challenges I did recently really took massive amounts of time away from making these dolls. But hey choices..anyway glad I did do them. My listings with go live either tonight or Saturday morning but I thought I'd show here on my blog what I'm offering since a few people asked to see ahead of time.

 These 3 were made last year before I really figured out what I wanted do do with this pattern I designed. I think they are kind of adorable and I hope they find good homes.

Goldylocks.

Hansel and Gretel. These two started my fairy tale doll craze. I'm selling these 2 as a set.

Red and Wolfie. Selling these two as a set. Some friends said I should offer singles of these too so I made another set to sell as singles that are slightly different.

Single Red Riding hood.

Single Wolfie. Changed his head and made lederhosen.

Cat Witch is being listed too.

If you like these you'll really like my easy to make felt patterns. Did you know you can get FREE access to my newest patterns by subscribing to my newsletter? Click here to join!

Finally I Can Show My Finished Piece: Black Cat Witch

I really enjoyed working on this project and am very pleased with how she turned out.She's a pretty awesome Felt Black Cat Witch Soft Sculpture Piece. She'll go up for sale in my shop when I do my update probably at the end of the month. She's 19 inches tall, completely hand sewn from felt and designed by me.

So I Did It Again...

I joined another challenge even though I haven't finished the dolls for my shop update. It's so easy to talk me into creative things, I always take on too much. There was another challenge for a new group I belong to, but I only got as far as a sketch. Anyway here's what I been up to.

It's another Every Witch Way Lane challenge. This is a shorter time frame one due at the end of July. It's Witch's Hat, Black Cat and Broomstick challenge. You can make what ever you want as long as it has those elements. I'm doing a black cat witch, maybe it's too literal but that what I felt like doing.

A very basic beginning sketch.

Working out the face details.

Sculpting and stuffing the face.

I had so much fun embroidering these eyes and actually came up with a new way to do my eyes.

Here she is stuffed and legs attached. It's super hard to see the face details since they are black on black. I hope to get better pics of her face later cause I'm loving it.

 Here's the little 3D fireplace. This will be inset in the dress. There will be a little cauldron cooking away in there too.

Since she's all black cat I decided to do bright colorful clothing. I embroidered and appliqued the boots.

The start of the apron dress. It will be embroidered and appliqued. There will be a blouse, underwear and maybe an underskirt too. Oh yeah and a witch hat and broomstick.

The finished project can be found HERE.

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Wips

Got a lot done over the weekend. This doll came together fast.

Not entirely sure I like this dragon. Details this small are so hard to do.

I need to work out a cloak design that allows the front of the skirt to be shown. I may set her aside a few days and work on something else while I think about this. Other than that she's coming along pretty great. What do you think?