Santa

I have been working on this for quite some time....a good 5 months or so.  Santa and friend are a wedding gift for my hubby niece.  IMHP!  Which stands for...I made...he paid.  When Julie and Dwayne got married, they didn't want any gifts...big bummer for me.  After the wedding I decided I didn't like that....I wanted to make them something that they couldn't get anywhere else.  So I got thinking...poo on that, I'm going to ask her what she would like and if she doesn't tell me....I'll make her what I want to.  So the next time we saw Julie I asked her...."What would you like as a wedding gift from Jerry and I?"  She hesitated a little....then I said, "if you don't tell me, then I'll make you want I want to make you."  That did it...."I'd like one of your Santa's....in traditional colors."  So I started in on her Santa the next day and this is the finished product.  After seeing the finished project I decided I needed one for myself....So I guess I'll start another one!  Santa stands 26 inches tall, I used red upholstery fabric for the main portion of his suit, trimmed it in white beaver.  The inset fabric down the sides of the pants, the sleeves of his jacket and above the fur trim on his hat, is a beaded moss green ribbon anchor a wider golden ribbon.  Three large leather buttons down the front of his jacket.  His hair and bread are white mohair.  His bag of toys is a coordinating upholstery fabric.  The tops of his shoes are painted with poinsettias and the bottom of each shoe is painted with a Christmas Tree.  Little Smiling Jenny is wearing a red outfit and matching hat made by SassySusie, she also has on red leather lace-up boots. 

"Laying his finger aside of his nose......"

A story of a dirty girl..............

This little composition baby doll came to me from her original Mama.  A few months ago a lady from Wayne, NE stopped by my studio.  She had a doll trunk with three dolls from the early 30's.  They were all in pretty good condition, especially the baby doll.  We talk about the work they would need.  I mentioned that I was working on a new program on doll restoration.  She left with the dolls and was going to discuss what to do with the dolls with her mother and she would be in touch.  Last week I received a call from her...she wanted to show her mom my studio.  So we set a time and she and mom arrived as planned.  When they walked in, I recognizes the doll truck and thought they had decided to have these dolls fixed up and looking pretty once again.  They had indeed talked things over and what they decided to do was to give me these dolls to me because I would take care of them and could use them when I did my new program.  I feel very honored that her mother would entrust me to care for her three childhood dolls. 

It's been a long time since I worked on a project strictly for my enjoyment and pleasure and when I saw that little baby doll again,  I knew I wanted to bring her back to life right away.  She needed to be re-strung (as you can see by the photos) so that's where I started.  I took her about and got out my doll cleaner and went to town.  I thought I was going to need to repaint her since she was so scratch up, but once I started cleaning her, I realized, those weren't scratches at all.....it was dirt.  This little girl was really dirty.  Once she was cleaned up, I touch up her lips and lightly blushed her cheeks so the two matched.  Then I lightly re-sealed her and put her back together.  I also washed her original dress and did a little mending on it.  She's as cute as can be and will make a wonderful addition to the dolls I'll be sharing in my program.

 Here she is before her cleaning.....

 If you look closely you see the areas on her face I thought were  scratches.

 He body was is really good shape....dirty, but the composition is in great condition.

 Here she is, all clean and looking purdy again....

Frustration and New Girls.

I don't know how many of you are signed up with the Yahoo Groups, but what is going on at the moment is a right pain in the ol' behind!  For those of you who are not on the Yahoo Groups...thank your lucky stars.  Yahoo has decided that the Groups need an update.  You must understand...none of the members of these groups (and there is a lot of them) didn't want things to change, we were all quite happy with the way things were going.  We could chat with other people....post photos, edit photos....delete photos, find files, all that stuff.  It was simply and enjoyable experience.  Now this so-called "New and Improved" version has brought 90% of all that to a halt.  Yahoo hasn't finished loading the changes and not all groups are switched over as yet.....Yahoo has left all the groups in limbo and we have limited abilities at the moment and it's not fun.  The chatter has also dropped because people can't figure out how to even post.  This is total incompetence at it's best.  I keep telling myself....patience...but I have to admit, I'm beginning to run out of it.  Finish the job Yahoo or put the old format back!

Now for some happiness.....I have finished several new dolls lately, many have already been adopted, but I thought I'd show them to you anyway, because it's fun to look at dolls...they make you smile and feel good.....everything has been listed in my online store and many on Ebay.   Unfortunately I can't post any photos to the Yahoo Groups....because...read the first paragraph again.....;-)

 The Long Face Jumeau

 Aiko....She is so cute!

 Bru 13

 Bru Shandele

 Daisyette

 EJ Jumeau

 Rosette

 Rosette

Tete Jumeau

A trip to Ashfall

Sunday Jerry and I hopped into the car and drove out to the Ashfall Fossil Beds.  It's a fascinating place to visit.  Out there in the middle of nowhere is 350 acres where you'll fine the Ashfall Fossil Beds.  My Mother would have been in 7th heaven, she loved stuff like this.  They are still uncovering fossils today and who knows how long into the future....Jerry and I both wondered why it was called Ashfall Fossil Beds instead of Orchard Fossil Beds....the near by town.  One step into the Visitor's Center answered that question.  10 million years ago a volcano erupted in Idaho.....the ash travel as far east as the what is now New York.  The animals lived in area were the fossils beds are now.   The terrain looked as if this area could have been their watering hole.  Here's some photos, they really don't do this place justice.  It's so massive and there are so many different specimens, it was impossible to capture the scope of Ashfall....

 As I stated...out in the middle of nowhere....It was beautiful there, 360 degree view of the countryside.  This alone was worth the trip. 

 Above are some of the fossil beds.  A bit difficult to see in the photos.  These fossil are still being uncovered.  They are under a giant building to protect them.

And then on the way home we were stop by a bunch of turkeys....There must of be 20 of them.  They just kept coming.......Fun day!

The story of Shirley....

Once upon a time in the land of Crane, a lady stopped by The Doll Lady's store.  In her arms was a large box of old dolls.  As she walk in the door she greeted me with a "Hello.......I have all these old dolls and I don't want them, so here,"  as she put the box down on my floor.  "You may have them, if you don't want them, you can throw them away."  "Thanks," I said.  "Don't thank me," was her response..."they are in really bad shape."  "OK, I'll see what can be saved."  She walked out the door and I never saw her again.  So I went to see what was in the box.....WOW!.....the dolls really stunk!  I took the box outside, because the smell was awful and I did want my store to smell like these dolls.  All of the dolls were shot.  They had evidently gotten wet and stayed that way....wet composition is awful.  In the middle of the box some arms and legs were dry, just in bad shape.....but look....look here....oh my....it's a little orange 13 inch Shirley Temple doll.  So I grab the Shirley Temple and set her back, she needed to air out and once she was smelling sweet again, I placed her in my "when-I-get-to-it" box.  In meantime, Jerry and I moved to NE -- two years past.  I have several composition dolls waiting in the mold room that I need to work on.  I grabbed a couple of a customer's dolls and I happened to look over at my "when-I-get-to-it" box and there was this bright orange leg sticking up.  I pulled it out of the box....Shirley Temple, I had forgotten about her.  As I worked on my customer's dolls I also worked on Shirley.  Unfortunately I didn't take a before picture, so I'll describe her to you -- you'll have to use your imagination.  First....she was orange; second, she has a rather large hole in her head and someone tried to fix it....badly...very badly and; third, for some reason that I do not understand...took putty or something and attempted to cover up her marks on her neck and back.  Oh yeah....did I mention -- she was ORANGE!  She did have her teeth and her eyelashes are there.  One eye is perfect, the other has that shattered look.  She was taken completely apart and I carefully removed the putty from her markings...which now can be seen and read.   Next I had to fix that quarter size hole in her head, I also repaired the cracks around her eyes.  Shirley was completely repainted.  I bought a little reproduction dress and a very pretty reproduction Shirley Temple wig.  I had some shoes and socks in stock that work well.  This morning I strung her together, dressed her and put her new 'do' on.  She came out darling and she's not orange.

Benjamine

I do believe I'm in big-big trouble.  Recently I've 'birthed' some little girls that I'd like to add my my little family.  Rosette is one and I just started the process of making her.  Aiko...I now have my own...I'll include a photo or two of her.....and then there is Benjamine....I've only recently starting making this little girl....she's Bleuette's baby sister.  She wasn't around very long for reasons that don't matter (to me) any longer.  I'm just glad she's back in Miss Bleu's life....

Rosette -- Akio and Aiko

Good Evening....It's been really hot around here this summer.  I find myself watering the outside plants more than I normally do.  We've had very little rain lately.  I always worry about the farmers when it doesn't rain.  I thought I post some photos of a new Rosette and my brother and sister team, Akio and Aiko.  Two really sweet kids!  I'll be listing them tomorrow on my website www.Thedollladyince.com  when my mind is fresh and is proper working order.  Long day....tired brain, but not too tired to show you these some New Kids.....Night all.....

 Akio and Aiko....They are so sweet....quiet and well mannered.

 This is lovely Rosette.  This girl was made from the Byron mold.