Thursday, October 31, 2013

HAPPY HALLOWEEN from Hagatha Crow

It's Halloween already!  This month FLEW by more quickly than a witch on a broomstick! 

Of course, in some ways, it's seemed like Halloween for months at my house, because I have been working on my Halloween art dolls since the 4th of July.

I've saved my very favorite witch for last.  I know I mentioned that Clara was my favorite and that I might have to keep her.  Well, a few days later I made Hagatha Crow and SHE became my new favorite.  In the end, I did offer Clara for sale at my shows, but I kept 'forgetting' to put Hagatha out on display.  Now she is proudly sitting on the end table in my living room. 

 
I went all out creating Hagatha Crow.  The top of her dress is sculpted from black clay and she has grey speckled stockings and black boots.  I had lots of fun dressing her up!  I sewed a skirt from black satin fabric, raveling the edge a little bit.  I used a gathered velvet and organza stretchy ribbon for her belt.  I added a crepe paper collar, but I wanted something really special for her cape.  I'll get to that in a minute.

 
I love this view!  It shows how hunch-backed she is and also gives a great look at her long, pointy nose.

 
Here you see her cape.  It's made from real feathers!  Now that I use all sorts of 'stuff' on my art dolls, part of the fun is shopping in EVERY department at the craft stores!  I found this wonderful black feathered trim in the upholstery department at Hobby Lobby.  The feathers were already set into a black satin ribbon binding, and they happen to be the perfect length for a cape!  I love it when the details fall into place nicely like that!

 
Get a good look at her green hand-sculpted face!  She has lightly blushed cheeks and lips, hand-painted grey eyes lined with black.  I even added dark shadows on her face.  And yes, that is a wart on her chin!  She wears a skull and crossbones necklace, Swarovski crystal earrings, and carries a little black bird.  (This bird was actually white. I painted it black and added an extra feather for a longer tail.  At the time I couldn't find a CROW or a real BLACKBIRD anywhere in the stores and everything I found online was way too big.  Since then I've found some at Michaels.  They are much bigger than this one, but will work great in the future.  I stocked up for next year!)
 
Hagatha has grey wool roving hair twisted up in a bun beneath her tall witch's hat.  It's covered in the same satin as her skirt, edged with chenille, and adorned with a big black feather and another Swarovski crystal.  (There are also crystals on her shoes.)
 
Hagatha Crow is a very fancy old witch.  She looks pretty wicked, but I think, actually, old age has tamed her a little bit.  Good or Evil, I love her no matter which!!
 
Well, I think I've shown you nearly all of the Halloween spooks I created this year.  There are a few that didn't get featured.  Some of them are listed in my etsy shop, if you want to go browse around there. 
 
A Piece of Lisa is also beginning to look a lot like Christmas!  Ornaments, Santas and Snowmen are trickling into my etsy shop almost daily.  You won't want to miss out!  I'll begin to feature those on the blog next week.  Until then.....
 
HAPPY HAUNTING!
Lisa
 



Tuesday, October 22, 2013

For the Love of Candy Corn

I didn't get here all last week!  What's up with that?  Well, it's 'crunch time' as we like to call it at our house---that time of year when fall show season is in full swing, and I spend 90% of my waking hours in the studio.  Sometimes even things I love to do get kicked to the curb.

I also traveled out to western Nebraska to do a little craft show that benefits the community rest home and assisted living center.  When my Dad was alive, he was very involved with the rest home, serving as President of its board for many years, and serving as interim Administrator for a couple of years. He also established a non-profit foundation to help with funding projects that are not in the meager budget.  Dad quite truthfully gave new life to a place that was in danger of being shut down.  Sadly, it is in trouble again.  I know he's looking down on it and is NOT PLEASED!  Anyway.  They have a craft show each year to raise a little money for projects, and I set my booth up in honor of my father and his great work with the place.  The show is NOT worth doing from a financial standpoint for me, but it's for a worthy cause.  I also got to spend the weekend with my Mom, which was very nice, and I got to see my brother and one of my sisters.  So it was not a total waste of time! LOL! 

So that's where I've been.  Now I'm back and ready to show you another ADORABLE Halloween witch.  Meet Candys Cornwall.


 
Candys Cornwall was inspired, obviously, by candy corn.  I love candy corn, but only in the fall around Halloween, when I know it is perfect and fresh.  (My Dad loved candy corn, too!)  I wanted to make a witch that is as sweet as this favorite holiday treat.  

 
The top of her dress is sculpted from white clay.  I found a fun orange print for her skirt and trimmed it with some yellow crocheted lace and rick-rack.  I added a ribbon belt to ease the edge between the fabric and the clay.  I finished the dress with Swarovski crystals and a crepe paper collar.

 
I love her hat!  It looks very much like a piece of candy corn!  I pieced it together from wool felt and trimmed it with a band of white chenille.  It needed a little 'something' so I made a tiny black cat face pin and tucked it into the hat band. 
 
I think Candys Cornwall has one of the sweetest faces I have sculpted!  Every time I look at her I smile!  She has soft green eyes and lightly blushed cheeks.  I used a pretty auburn curly wool roving for her hair.  I think it sets off nicely from her dress.  The finishing touch on this adorable witch is her little black cat, Licorice, that I sculpted from clay. 
 
Candys Cornwall is still available, and you can find her in my etsy shop, A Piece of Lisa
 
I've nearly wrapped up showing you my Halloween characters for the year.  I have a few more, but soon we will move on to Christmas!  (I hope you don't think it's too early for that!)
 
Have a sweet day!
Lisa


Thursday, October 10, 2013

Another Skelly

For those of you who enjoyed Mr. and Mrs. Bones, here is a look at another, more casual, skeleton.  He is still available and will be showing up later today on my PFATT Marketplace page. 

Skelly Boo

 
Skelly Boo is wearing an orange and white striped shirt trimmed with chenille cuffs and a crepe paper collar.  He has on short black pants with an orange stud belt buckle.  I used a wash of black paint to accent the details of his bones.  He has a ghost tethered to his hand, so it won't float away in the breezy Halloween night.  The ghost is made from clay and wrapped in cheesecloth tied with baker's twine. 
 
Be sure to go to PFATT Marketplace and check out my newest listings there, along with the fabulous work of all the other talented artists featured on that site. 
 
Have a great day!
Lisa
 
OH--one other thing...My friend LeeAnn Kress of Charmed Confections has entered one of her wonderful ghosts in a contest on the Creative Paperclay website.  She needs votes!!  If she is chosen a winner she will have the wonderful opportunity of becoming a designer for the Creative Paperclay Team!  How awesome is that? 
 
 
Here is a link to the Creative Paperclay website where you can vote:
You must scroll down to the bottom of the post, and find the 'comments' button.  Click there and leave a comment saying you want to vote for LeeAnn Kress (#21).  She will sure appreciate your vote!!  





Tuesday, October 8, 2013

Saying Goodbye...

My first show of the season wrapped up over the weekend and I declared it a success.  But the hardest part, of course, is saying goodbye to these little characters that have worked themselves into my heart.  I'm talking about my art dolls, of course!  They are my babies, and sometimes it's tough to let them go.  Dear David keeps reminding me that I make them to sell them, not to keep them all, but it is a little bit like selling off a piece of my soul.  I take heart in the fact that they will be going to loving homes. 

Some of my favorites left me over the weekend.  (Well, we all know I tend to have a lot of favorites!)  But there are certain ones that are just a little extra special to me.  Like Trick-or-Troll, who will be joining three of my other Halloween spooks at his new home with Melissa.  And Clarice the gypsy, who I will actually get to visit from time to time, because David's sister bought her! 

Here are a few that found new homes that I hadn't shown you yet.  I never allow any of my babies to leave home before they have had a photo shoot!  I need to be able to remember all of these one-of-a-kind darlings!

Witchy Bones

 
Witchy Bones is all dressed up for a very fancy Halloween party.  I love her dotted tulle skirt and the glittered pumpkin head wand.  I thought for a long time about how to make a skeleton without having to make very delicate bones that would end up being very fragile.  It suddenly occurred to me that I could dress them up and just make a skull and put marks in the hands and legs to give the illusion of bones.  I used a wash of black paint over the white clay to bring out the details.
 
Mr. Bones Goes Haunting

 
It wouldn't be much fun to go to a party alone, so here is Witchy Bone's companion.  I actually made Mr. Bones first, then thought it would be really cute to make a female version of a skeleton to go with him.  Mr. Bones is wearing a fancy black suit trimmed with glitter and Swarovski crystals.  He is carrying a jack-o-lantern and a Halloween greeting.  A little spider charm is hanging on the edge. 
 
I really love these two skellys and I know they have found a wonderful new home with Pat, who is an avid collector of my art.
 
My little jack-o-lantern guys were pretty popular.  I don't have any left!  Here is my very favorite of the group:
 
Punky and Spook

 
I thought this one ended up looking more like a girl.  Maybe it was the purple eyes or the flowers on the hat.  I think she is pretty adorable!  I love her little ghost friend.  It's made from clay and draped with cheesecloth tied with a bit of baker's twine.  It is floating on a wire twisted to Punky's arm.  I know she found a good home too. 
 
While these three and many other found new homes over the weekend, I still have plenty of Halloween spooks available over in my etsy shop, A Piece of LisaPfatt Marketplace will be updating in a couple days as well.  I still have one piece left on the current offering, so hurry over there to check that out.
 
I try not to get too attached to my creations, but it's hard.  But it also warms my heart to no end knowing that others love them enough to pay for them!  I am so blessed to be able to have a job that I LOVE and to be able to bring a bit of whimsy into the lives of others. 
 
Thanks to all my wonderful customers who welcomed A Piece of Lisa into their lives!! 
Lisa
 
 
 







Wednesday, October 2, 2013

Another Spooky Spirit

A few weeks ago I showed you Spooky Time Spirit.  Today I am presenting his younger sister, The Keeper of the Keys.

 


 
Keeper of the Keys is sculpted from polymer clay, wearing a grey body suit and white stocking under her ethereal cloak.  Her face is sculpted from pearly-grey clay and detailed with hand-painted grey eyes and dark shadows.  She has long, wispy grey wool roving hair flowing out behind her.  Her cloak is made from strips of shimmery white tulle and silver organza ribbon.  She is holding a ring of keys in her right hand, and another set of keys is pinned to her bow.
 
You can find The Keeper of the Keys here, in my etsy shop.  Or if you are in the Omaha, Nebraska/Council Bluff, Iowa area this weekend, come visit my booth at the Fall Arts and Crafts Fair at the Mid-America Center in Council Bluffs!
 
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This week I have been working on Santas and Snowmen.  I will have those available at my show as well as all my frightfully delightful Halloween characters.  Another artist is working on snowmen as well.  Brenda, from The Rusty Thimble, is hosting a giveaway over on her blog.  She makes adorable primitive folk art.  Those of you who participated in the blog hop will recognize her work.  Those of you who didn't should pop on over to check it out!
 
 
Here is a picture of one of her snowmen.  Cute, huh?
 
 
Talk to you soon!
Lisa



Tuesday, October 1, 2013

Which Witch?

Here are two versions of one of my favorite and most popular witches, the pumpkin head witch.  These two lovely ladies are off to a fancy Halloween party for a frightful night of haunting!  Come along!!

I'd like to introduce you to Jackie Batwitch. 

 
Jackie Batwitch is wearing a black dress with a sparkled tulle skirt and a crepe paper collar.  It is trimmed with black glittered buttons and glitter.  She has green and purple striped stocking under her glittered boots.

 
Her hat is made from paper covered in black velvet and trimmed with chenille and a glittered foam star.  Two glittered bats soar on thin black wire around her head.  Her pumpkin head features a rather large nose and hand-painted green eyes accented with black. 
 
 
This is her cousin, Jackie Stardust.

 
Jackie Stardust is made in much the same way, but with slightly different materials.  Her dress is sculpted from black clay glittered with gold.  I've accented it with three gold star buttons, a crepe paper collar and gold tinsel.  The skirt is hand-tied from dozens of pieces of glittered-dot tulle.  Her boots are covered in black glitter and trimmed with more gold tinsel.

 
A black velvet witch's hat sits atop her pumpkin head.  It is trimmed with more tinsel and a glittered foam star.  She has pretty grey eyes. 
 
 
I can't decide which one I like better.  Any thoughts??
 
The countdown is on....BIG show this weekend, and my to-do list is exceptionally long today!  I better get crackin'!
 
Have a great day!
Lisa