A Year In Review

2012 wasn't the greatest year for me health-wise etc. I know for some people it was way worse so I'm not really going to complain about my little life. Looking forward to 2013 being much better and will work hard to achieve that for myself.

Going to show a photo review of the year. Some notable highlights of the year were: I was published for the first time in Soft Dolls and Animals Magazine. I was accepted into Art Dolls Only Group and I really did some of my best work so far. Pretty darn pleased with those. I also jumped out of my comfort zone kicking and screaming. Was one of the best things I've ever done for myself.

Custom Ornament

Paper Clay Valentine Bunny

 Paper Clay Snow Kids

Vintage Easter Swap

Vintage Circus Challenge

 300 Penguin Wedding Ornaments

Native American Doll

Elsa and Frank Topsy Turvy Doll

 Prim Doll Challenge

Day of The Dead Challenge

 Big Frank Plush

Vintage Halloween Swap

Halloween Ornament Swap

Christmas Ornament Swap

Fall Themed Swap Doll

When I have them all on one post like this I see how much time and energy I spent on these so I guess it was a good creative year even though it wasn't a quantity year. 

I wish you all a fantastic 2013!

Vintage Circus/Sideshow Challenge Piece Is Done

Saturday was the deadline for the Spring Challenge over at ADA Art Doll Artists so now I can show you my finished project.

While I have made smaller dolls than this before I'm not fond of working this small. She fits in my hand and both she and her horse were a huge challenge. I hope you enjoy seeing her. Introducing Matilda and Juniper.

Matilda Tillmann was born into a moderately wealthy family and was one of 9 daughters. Her 8 sisters were great beauties and were much sought after for marriage by handsome, rich and dashing young men. As sister after sister headed off to wedded bliss, poor Matilda became more and more depressed. Her parents were concerned yet practical people who decided to spend Matilda’s dowry on a horse since she loved to ride and honestly knew that they’d never be able to marry off this daughter with that face. “Now Matilda can take care of us in our old age and have a good horse to keep her company” was the thought of her parents. 

Matilda loved her horse and scandalized the village by riding about town in trousers and short riding skirts while standing on her head. Mr. Tillmann worried about ruining his business reputation told Matilda he would have to take her horse away if she didn’t ride like a proper lady. Matilda loved the freedom her horse gave her and decided somehow her life must change. 

A fortnight later a Circus arrived just outside the village. Matilda begged her parents for permission to go but decent people did not attend circus performances. So Matilda snuck out with the household staff and had the time of her life. She watched the trick rider who wasn’t very good and thought “this is for me!” She snuck out again the next afternoon with her horse and showed the Ringmaster what she could do and was hired right away. Matilda became very happy, famous, rich and had many dashing lovers despite her face.

Update on Sassyland

I haven't blogged in a bit because my mom had knee replacement surgery and all I was working on was those 300 penguin ornament wedding favors. Kind of boring stuff really. Well the good news is my mom is doing really well after her surgery and is back to doing most things again so my time of taking care of her was short. The other good news is that I finally finished those darn penguins! And on time too!

After this project I was feeling really burned out. I have a directionless feeling. Not sure if the path I set myself on is the right one. Should I continue making my felt dolls? Should I spend more time doing paper clay dolls? Should I go back to making plush dolls? So many questions and no answers yet. Do any of you ever feel this way?

After sitting around resting for a few days I felt the itch to start making something. Luckily I had a doll body pre-made weeks ago so I could just dive right in. I set myself a goal to try and have one of my creations published so I grabbed on to that idea to keep me motivated.

Here she is in her glory. Her face is done now but I'm not going to show that yet. But I'll show her shoes.

I'm not a great beader so I'm just trying to give the idea of a.....well it's a moccasin. I hope it looks like one. It took me 2 days to do just this one.

I am still working on my Vintage circus piece too after setting it aside for a month. I made the trick rider for the horse and discovered that the weight of the doll was too much for the horse's legs to support. ARRRGGGHHHH!!!! I re-did the joints and the problem is solved. The horse now has his costume finished too.

Here is the rider WIP. She now has a head but I rushed doing it and she's a very ugly girl. I'm trying to decide if I should re-do her head or just go with it.

Anyhoo just in case you were wondering what I've been up to...there it is.

What's Happening In Sassyland?

I know I haven't posted in a bit. I've been so busy but I don't have much to show. I'm working on a 300 mini penguin project for a client. I have 150 just about ready to sew together and stuff. It's taking up huge amounts of time and is bothering my carpel tunnel but I'm plowing along.

I am still working on my Circus challenge piece. After some initial proportion problems with my companion piece things are moving smoother. Here's the horse. I need to trim her mane it's too Unicorn and and she is a horse. I originally started a horse soft sculpture back in January or so POST HERE that I never finished. I used that pattern with some modifications for this project so although I never finished the first one I did finish it with this one. Does that make sense?

I have 2 other dolls in the works but they are still in my head. I'm still working out the basic details before starting. The Wonderland piece is still bumping around in there too. I plan to start that in the summer. I have such an urge to start Halloween pieces too!

My studio was featured on ADA's Blog so if you haven't already seen my creative space or are interested in my rambling on about it, you can check it out. It's not pretty but it works for me.

Let's see what else. My mom is going to have knee replacement surgery in 10 days so I'll be Nurse Jen again and will have less time for everything I've got going on. My brother again will be of little help during our mom's recovery so I'm sure there will be friction there. I probably won't be posting much for a while.

WIP Friday

I've gotten a jump start on the Vintage Circus Challenge at ADA, it doesn't officially start until April 1st. You don't have to be a member to join in this challenge. CLICK HERE for details. I'm such a terrible procrastinator that I knew I'd better force myself to get going. I'm sharing some WIPs.

Anyway I just finished the main most time consuming piece (the one above). It just needs details and that part is done. The companion piece is cut out and ready to sew. It's a lot less detailed construction but requires many more finishing details.

I'm not going to say what it is now, but you can guess if you like.

What's Going On in Sassyland.

Well now that the Vintage Easter Challenge is done I can move on the other things. I have to make 300 penguin ornaments for the wedding due at the end of May and my hands are a bit sore from cutting out all those little pieces. Not much to see there yet just lots of little un-stuffed bodies. Trying to track down the ribbon I need to hang them, my store is out.

The next challenge I'm going to tackle is The Vintage Circus Challenge over at Art Doll Artists.com. It sounds like a fun one but as usual I've planned a huge design thinking I have enough time to complete it and I probably don't. So I'll have to scale back and maybe do the other pieces at a later date. (knowing me those other piece will never get done....sigh!) Anyhoo we need more people for this so sign up and join in!

There are a couple of smaller swaps coming up at ADA too.

Soft Dolls & Animals Magazine is doing a Native American theme and I'd love to do a doll for that. My children's father is Native American and I have an ancestor who was too. If I can get this done it would make a great 20th birthday present for my daughter. (but again knowing me...we'll see)

I've almost finalize my design idea for the The "Once Upon A Time Alice's Adventures" Challenge at Cloth Doll Artistry. I'm down to 3 different ideas and hope to pick one soon cause it'll take me MONTHS to complete this! Good thing I have until December 31st!

I had to bow out of the Steampunk Challenge there cause I overextend myself. ;0(

As always I'm looking forward to whatever Patrick has in store for more challenges this year at The Hive.  

I also hope to have a chance to make some of MY dolls sometime this year too. And yes I'll probably have some Plush dolls again around the Holidays. I just can't seem to shake free of them.

Do I have enough on my plate yet?