Winifred & B-Bub

Winifred has spent her life worrying about what other people thought, and listening to them say witches give off Negative Energy.  But she has finally begun to realize that the negative energy comes from them, not from her. 

 She is learning to recognize her inner beauty and goodness.

 B-Bub, on the other hand, definitely gives off some menacing vibes, despite his declaration of Peace.  But that is only because he is fiercely protective of his mistress.  If you have Goodness in your heart, you've nothing to fear from B-Bub.  But if you don't, if you don't have good intentions, or if your motives are not pure . . . well, then, you better watch out for B-bub! (He is hand sculpted of black polymer clay, with green, slighty irridescent eyes made of polymer clay as well.) 

Like most of my dolls, Winifred's face, hands and shoes are hand sculpted from polymer clay.  Her body is an old spindle, and her arms are made of copper wire.  

Her legs are wire that I found; I'm not sure what it is. 
Folks who don't know Winifred very well, often try to ingratiate themselves with her by using the nickname "Winnie," but she HATES that.  She loves her name.  Select friends, however, are permitted to call her Fredi.

Gerta's best friend, Priscilla

I've had several requests now for more Gertas, especially since I've refused to sell her.  So, I set to work on a new Dish Witch.  As always, the doll I was creating told me I was wrong.  She doesn't want to be a Dish Witch.  In fact, she's informed me that her sign instead of saying, "Dishes are CLEAN. I'm flying with the girls" will say, "FORGET the housework. I have a DATE!"  or something to that effect.  She hasn't decided yet whether she's got "A" date, or his heading out with 'the guys.'   But while she ponders which of her many suitors to spend some time with, she's looking lovely on my kitchen table. 

Dorian

I've been away from my dolling for a while, but finally cleared my plate enough to get back to my Nest and by work table.  First order of business was the ghost someone asked for.  I knew I wanted him to be fully clothed, but wasn't quite sure what kind of clothing I wanted for him.  But when I started tearing fabric to wrap the armature, I found his clothes!  --That's one of the things I love about dolling: the serendipity and the discovery.  And also the scavenger hunt of trying to find just the right thing to become something else entirely.  So, anyway, here's Dorian.  So far.  I've still got to dress up his base; I'm just waiting for my inspiration.  Hubby said to give him a rat or two; son says he needs "a gentleman's cane."  I'm still waiting for Dorian himself to tell me what he wants.

Works in Progress

Two new faces, not yet cured.

And experimentation with birch bark clothing:

Plus a new critter in the works.

Balancing

Sometimes life feels in balance; other times I feel like I've totally dropped over the edge.  Right now I'm over the edge.  I've not dolled in a week or more; my house is looking forlorn and ignored; and my journal is feeling forgotten, I'm sure.  BUT, I'm climbing back on top.  And, in all fairness, I have created a whole new flower bed that's just waiting for my husband to till so I can plant.  Even the plants are purchased and waiting on the back deck.  So maybe I haven't fallen too far off the tightwire.  --Is that one of those things like hand grenades and horseshoes, or being 'a little bit pregnant?'

As I was getting into the car yesterday, headed to an Artisan's Market, I nearly stepped on a sheet of river birch tree bark, about 5x8 inches.  It's beautiful, with a greenish patch in the center.  I've always loved the shaggy bark on our river birch trees, and have always wanted to do something with them.  Well, I immediately grabbed that piece and took it with me.  Throughout the Artisan Market, I had the sheet right in front of me.  Today I plan to see if I can make it into clothing, maybe for the head-on-a-stick that's been waiting for a decision!  This will be a fabulous shaman's robe! 

I've also got to create another Dish Witch and a ghost, by special request.  So we'll see what presents itself!

Gerta the Dish Witch

For ages, I've lived with my husband and son loading dirty dishes into the clean dishes.  Our dishwasher isn't magnetic so I couldn't use one of those "The Dishes Are Clean" magnets, and they seemed to have trouble with the concept of picking up a coffee cup to see if there were still signs of coffee in the bottom.  So when I made a little paper standing sign, half out of frustration, and half in jest, I started wondering if I could design a doll for the purpose. 
Initially, I was imagining something along the lines of a mortis board sign, but I wasn't quite sure what I wanted.  I'm really not even sure what the hold-up was; I guess Gerta just wasn't ready yet.  But finally one night as I lay in bed, I knew it was time to start.  The next day I looked around my Nest trying to decide what to use for her body, something besides wire, something stable enough to withstand being whacked by a cat's tail, or the sleeve of a shirt.  And then I spotted some miniature flower pots.  YEP!  That's it.

Now, at this point, Gerta hadn't given me her name, only that she was ready to be made.  Once I had the flower pot, an image began to form in my mind.  I decided she needed some big sagging bosoms, and used more of my cotton stash that I pilfered from the woods across the street.  Well, they don't really sag as much as I'd intended, and one boob is bigger than the other, which gives her a natural look, right? 

From there, I went to work on her head, and once that was finished, I had fallen in love.  It was the next morning, just as I was waking up, that she told me her name.  Gerta.  I like it, kind of German sounding, or Dutch? 

Somewhere along the line, I decided she needed feet as well.  Initially, I was thinking of big shoes, but for some reason that just didn't feel right, so i went for feet instead.  Where that came from I've no idea, since I've never tried to make feet or hands before.  That must have been Gerta whispering in my ear.  So, she got big feet.  And with big feet, she HAD to have some hands as well.  So much for my vow that I'd never attempt hands or feet!

Time to dress her.  Initially, I tried some fancy beautiful brown tafeta fabric with rouching for her dress.  But not only did I butcher the dress, but it was WAY too fancy for a barefoot dishwasher.  So, instead, I gave her a simple ecru dress with trim.  She loved that fabric choice.  And then I decided she needed a big rump to go with her big bosom.  Once that was finished, all that was left was her sign:  The DISHES ARE CLEAN. I'm flying with the girls!"  Today I'm going to give her a sign on the back side that says, "Don't bug me.  I've got DIRTY DISHES to wash!" 

Hope you enjoy!

The Standing One

A rainy weekend, so I've enjoyed working in my Nest.  I'm not sure why I love rainy days, but I've always suspected it has to do with my mom.  She's an artist, and when I was a kid, she used art projects to keep her three daughters occupied on rainy days.  I still have the rock paperweight I made once with a tiger decal on it.  And then there's the thunder and lightening that I LOVE.  I love to sit on the front porch and just enjoy the winds and the voices of the sky.

For the past week, maybe two, I've been honoring my physical spirit by working out every day, and my emotional spirit by reconnecting with my journal.  This has been good.  One day a couple of weeks ago, on a walk at the edge of the woods, I found a piece of bark that spoke to me.  I brought it home and gave it a place of honor on my wobbly work table.  Several times I picked it up thinking to use it, but could never figure out what to do with it.  And then today, it stepped forward and said, "it's time."  The result is The Standing One, pictured here.  I wish she had more of a Native American looking face, but I don't mean to question my Spirit Guide. Now I'm trying to figure out how to make her stand, or should she just hang on the wall?  I'm considering attaching her to a stone, combining the Standing One with one of the Stone People.  We'll see if one presents itself.