Izannah Walker Doll Workshop!

Happy New Year to all my doll artists friends out there and collectors too!

I am so excited!! I found a doll workshop I want to join! I know .. I know ..*SIGH*... once again I am somewhat distracted from my fantasy dolls and polymer clay. However, this workshop caught my eye! I love all dolls and these dolls make me feel good when I look at them. I have been seeing them for quite some time now and I kept looking away due to lack of time. I just have so much on my plate already and I can't possibly add another type of artwork/doll to my studio work. Well.... I can no longer resist!

My mom gave me some $$ for the holiday and I have been trying to figure out what to do with the money other than pay my bills. Mom said "don't pay your bills with the money". Mom's know best right? Well, what do I need? I thought of some art supplies but nothing was exciting me. Until I saw this workshop!

With having said all that, I have joined The Izannah Doll Workshop being offered By Dixie Redmond. It is an on-line class. Dixie is giving the class and has studied the original dolls for years and she is offering her pattern along with the class.



Izannah Walker Chronicles

History of Izannah Walker

Izannah Walker Dolls Ning Forum

The class starts January 18th. I am hustling to gather up the supplies I need. I am currently seeking out the perfect dress fabric for my doll!



This is going to be so much fun! I can't wait to start! What a great way to start the New Year!

If you want to join, follow the badge icon on my blog! Hope you join me!

More Snowmen! And Handmade Gift Tags

Well, the last time I did many snowman we had a big snow storm. I think we are getting only slight amount of snow New Years eve. I don't think I will jinx us here in NJ with my snowmen this time! :-)

I realize Christmas is over .. um.... well.....officially we are still in the 12 days of Christmas :-) ... anyway .... I just can't seem to help myself. I have these two snowmen available in my Etsy Shop. I think there may only be one or two more to follow before I move back to fairies and fantasy sculptures.

This one is about 5" tall and is secured to a red wood base. He is so distinguished looking and I really like his expression.



His scarf is accented with beautiful fibers and so is his top hat.



Lots of yummy German glass glitters on him and his base.



View his Etsy Listing Here

My next one I had in mind was a sitting snowman. Frumpy, plumpy, round and happy! I started with foil armature with this guy and then added the clay.



He is holding a Christmas tree and a candy cane. He has lots of yummy glitter on him as well!



His hat his hand dyed cotton with white trim. He's a happy little fella and waiting for a new home!

Visit his Etsy Listing Here.



So what do I do while my air dry clay sculptures are in the drying phase? I found the art of handmade gift tags. I know .. I know ... *SIGH* ... I can't possibly handle more art work than I already have. However sometimes in between sculptures I need to do something besides eat! LOL. So i have been trying out a few of these. I will put them in my Etsy Shop as well this week. Just fun and more little goodies!









Happy New Year Everyone!

Vintage & Shabby OOAK Fairy Paper Clay

I have now been working with Paper Clay (Air Dry) for the month of December. I did quite a few holiday pieces and snowman. Now that I have a nice feel for air dry paper clay I decided to make a fairy using this clay. I thought a good idea to start small. I had in mind a vintage inspired petite fairy atop a gift box. I like decorating little boxes so this was a good plan. I wanted her to look vintage, shabby, and antique.

See her Etsy Listing Here.



I used a wire armature with some foil as my the foundation. Then I added the clay. I am getting somewhat spoiled with the air dry clay because I like how you can hold the piece when it is dry and keep adding clay and refining it.

I spent 2 or 3 days sanding her however I wanted that vintage look so I left some areas more rough than other areas. I am going for a shabby vintage piece here!!



I couldn't wait to paint her. I mostly colored her with chalks on the bare clay. I then painted her eyes and shoes and then sealed her. After sealing her paint I then antiqued her and sealed again. When I antiqued her I left some areas mottled so she looks aged/vintage.



The box is paper mache and then inked. Accented around the box and the lid is gold Dresden stickers. The top of the box has pretty tiny pink flowers around her feet. Her little pink shoes have just the right amount of German glass glitter to make her shoes sparkle. She is mounted permanently to the box. She comes with a handmade gift tag that is made just for her.






I am very enthusiastic about air dry clay and I really like it. I just placed and order for a different type of air dry clay that is supposed to have an even harder finish. Paper Clay is very strong and standing sculptures are fabulous and so lightweight. I hope to make more petite vintage fairies when my clay arrives this week.



I just love how she turned out! She looks like she was loved by a sweet little girl many many memories ago.

Snowman Couple Hearts

I have just finished another snowman paper clay holiday decoration. These two were very fun to make. I find it a challenge to make snowman look gender specific. I think it worked well on these two.

Etsy Listing Here



They are hand sculpted of paper clay, dried, sanded, hand painted and sealed.
They are both securely mounted on a wooden block. Antique tinsel adorns their neck and hats. Their hands of blue mittens are holding red hearts lightly dusted with sparkly glitter.



I am really enjoying paper clay and I am still feeling the desire to do a few more pieces. I realize the Christmas holiday is passing however snowmen are great for the whole winter! I have all my recent snowman sculptures on my mantle and they look so amazing.

Perfect Snow & a Snowman Ornie

Most of yesterday morning the snow fell slowly, tiny flakes and seemed to take forever to cover the grass. However, around 3pm or so it really started to kick it up and started snowing very heavily through the night.

As I went to bed last night I gave one last look out the front and the back and noticed my back porch that all 3 steps were covered up to the sliding door. When I opened the front door the screen door was blocked by snow. I went to bed and decided I will wake up early so I can be sure to get out and take some photos of the beautiful landscape and all the snow!

Here's a photo of my festive red Christmas lights outside as the snow started to pile up before I went to sleep Saturday night.



Here's a few photos. I love snowy drapes over pine trees and I love pristine everything looked before the sun came out, the shovels, and the snow plow disturbed the setting. It was absolutely beautiful. That is .. until we had to start digging ourselves out. It took about 2 hours to clear out the driveway and front walk.



This was truly a beautiful snow storm because there was no mixture of ice, sleet, or rain in the precipitation. Just pure sugary snow that sparkled everywhere.



Another reason it was perfect is because I did not have to drive or go anywhere. I just stayed inside where it was warm, had my coffee, and my art work to keep me busy.



I knew it was important to get the photos before the sun came out. Without any shadows from the sun it made the photos so easy to take.



This is my art room building. Ahhh. just kidding. Its our shed in the back yard. ;-)



Check myFlickR Slide Show Here with More Photos.

So how did I keep busy during the snow storm? Artwork of course! Here's my latest snowman ornament. Born on Dec 19th, 2009. She is currently available in my Etsy Shop.



Her colors are pink and aqua! She is real cute.

Snowman Couple On Gift Box

Oh boy, I think I jinxed us in NJ as far as wanting snow! Heck, all I wanted was little bit of snow .. not possibly a foot! Which we could possibly get with this storm. I finished all my errands today that needed to be done for the weekend. So if we are stuck inside this weekend its not a big deal. Have lots of food but even more important (LOL) I always have loads of art supplies to keep me busy - I won't be bored. However, we did have a holiday party to attend Saturday night which is now canceled.

Here is my latest paper clay piece. Such a happy couple -- Mr and Mrs Snowman on a gift box. These two are so content. It stands 7 1/2" high by 4 1/4" wide.

Etsy Listing Here



This was a really fun project. I started with the two snowman and before they were painted I sat and wondered .. what can I do with them. Then I glanced to the corner of my art room and saw a few of my paper mache boxes and grabbed a nice rectangle one. It was just perfect for them.



I hand decorated the box inside and out. On the outside along the rim of the lid is a beautiful cotton green lace and then over layed over that is another beautiful trim. I mounted 4 bolts to the bottom of the box to make the box have 'feet' and give it more weight. I also frosted the top of the box with lots of snow and glitter.



I added 3 bottle brush Christmas trees to the top of the box and accented the trees with glitter and little red and green decorations.



I think they look adorable! I have them underneath the Christmas tree in the corner of my art room. My tree sits atop a table and it is a 4foot white tree.



The inside of the gift box did not go unfinished! Have a peek!

Here comes the snow!

Hmmmm. I suppose it worked! In my last post I said I was not going to stop making snowmen until it snowed here in NJ. Tonights forecast is calling for a nor'easter heading up our way for Friday night into Saturday night. Woooot Wooooot!



Tonight I just finished another snowman. Actually two! Mr and Mrs Snowman on a beautiful box that is hand decorated by me in a lovely Christmas theme. This ranks with one of the nicest things I have ever made. I spent about 3-4 days on this piece and really took my time thinking about each step to take. I am pleased I had patience with this piece to ensure it would be finished perfectly.

The beautiful couple are sculpted of paper clay. They are so darling! I decided not to sculpt a child for the couple. I think they look so content together just the two of them. Ahhhh, how I see the love in their eyes.

They are so happy snow is coming! Check back tomorrow for photos!

Snowman Ornament

Etsy Listing For Snowman Ornament Here

I seem to be caught up with paper clay here. I swear .. I am not going to stop making snowman until it snows here in NJ!!! I want just a little bit of snow. It will make me feel like a kid again.



I just finished this ornament. Another Snowman in a chilly blue color theme again. With a bit of German glass glitter on his collar he has just the right amount of sparkle. The blue color is accented with pink.



I like this medium and especially for holiday artwork. Its very lightweight for ornaments as well standing sculptures. What I do find tedious is all the sanding that needs to be done for paper clay. Put on the mask and sand away! I am always anxious to get to the painting part but first must sand ... sand .. sand.



This ornament will be added to my Etsy Shop.

Folk Art Snowmen

Here in NJ we really have had no snow yet this December. One tiny little storm was about all we got. In hopes of getting some snow here, I have been creating snowmen.

Snowman (Female) Etsy Listing

Snowman (Male) Etsy Listing

FlickR Slide Show Here




These two snowman were made using paper clay, the kind that air dries (no baking needed). The female stands 8.5" and the male stands 9.5".



They are hand sculpted and painted by hand. I really enjoy painting on paper clay. So much technique that can be used for finishing them too -- which is always so much fun. Distressing, shabby, antiquing. Then all the good stuff like fibers and glitter.



These guys sure gave me a chance to dig into all my art supplies to find just the right accents for them.



Little bit of sterling silver is added to their hats. I sculpted the hats of clay as well and then accented with fibers.



They will be added to my Etsy shop so check back soon and I will post the Etsy Link here. I may try to take a few more photos for Etsy.

Art Day and a snowman project!

Etsy Listing Here
Yesterday I met with one of my artists friend for a relaxing day of art, a little bit of shopping and lunch.



The project was a Snowcone Snowman Ornie. I finished him last night and think he is so cute!




He was made with air dry paper clay. I love this clay because it is so lightweight considering I usually work with polymer which is much heavier finished piece. I think this holiday season I am going to try a few more projects. I really like snowmen too so will do a few more and perhaps try a standing snowman sculpture.



This is a picture of him but on a different tree in my house. The lighting was just better at this tree. But now he is on my big tree.



My Christmas Tree this year. I decided on blue and white bows on my tree this year. I am very pleased with it!