Monday, April 28, 2014

Good Fortune

Hi, I'm back!  I've been working like crazy, creating lots of fabulous new characters.  I finally got a big group of seventeen together on Saturday for a photo shoot, so now I can share them with you!  YAY!! 

You might remember a couple of my favorite pieces from last fall were gypsies....or fortune tellers.  There was Clara, the old woman with the wonky eyes, and Clarice, the younger version with the lively make-up.  I loved both of these dolls so much, and they inspired me to make more fortune tellers.  Tarot cards kept coming to mind, and I was wracking my brain on how to execute them. 

At first I thought I would just do some little drawings on card stock, but I don't really know much of anything about tarot cards...what pictures do they have on them?  So, of course, I googled them. (How did the world ever function before google?) I thought I would buy a pack of cards and then either make some little sketches based on the artwork, or I would try to reduce/photocopy some down to the proper size.  Never in a million years would I have thought I would find these:

 
YAY!  Amazon, you did it again!  I was searching through their listings and first I found one for mini tarot cards, and I thought "Cool!" and clicked it.  Then on that listing, it suggested I also have a look at TINY tarot cards, and I thought "OOH!  Even better!"  Still, I never thought they would be the right scale for my art dolls.  But it was worth a shot.  I read the listing and the reviews and they were described as being the size of a postage stamp and I thought, "Those just might work!"  So I put two sets in my cart and waited excitedly until they arrived two days later.

 
Aren't these the cutest thing ever?  I could not be more pleased.  They are the perfect size, the colors and graphics are wonderful.  SCORE!!  And since tarot cards come in a pack of 78, I have plenty of cards to last for several dolls.  I couldn't wait to get started sculpting a gypsy to use these amazing little works of art.
 
And here she is.....
 
 
I wanted her to be very colorful, and not typical Halloween colors.  I sculpted the bodice of her dress from a teal blue pearled clay.  I found this paisley fabric in my stash of things Marian gave me.  The colors are not an exact match (although this photo does make her top seem bluer than it really is).  I thought it was OK not to be too matchy-matchy with her.  I trimmed the skirt with lace and satin ribbon, and used a black velvet and organza gathered ribbon around her waist.  It helped to distract from the blues not matching quite right.  Red crepe paper for her collar, and red satin for her head scarf.  I used several Swarovski crystals to bring a little bling to her look---on her shoes, her shawl, her head scarf and even her ears. 
 
 
It was a real trick getting the slick cards to stick, but I managed to get there with a lot of patience and a few applications of glue.  I used ten of the cards, since a typical card reading is called a 'ten card spread'. 
 
 
I like the way the colors of the art play with the colors in the skirt.  Oh, I also gave her a crystal ball necklace.
 
 
A view from behind so you can see her long black fringe shawl.

 
 
No self-respecting gypsy would be seen without being in full make-up.  Rosy cheeks, ruby red lips, black eye liner and teal mica powder eye shadow.  I used curly wool roving for her jet-black hair. 
 
I struggled with naming her.  I just couldn't come up with something that seemed to suit her.  Sometimes I have a doll named before I even start, but not this time.  Finally, yesterday, I heard her say, "Hell-ooooo!  My name is Zelda!!"  So, there you have it....Zelda!  So lovely to meet you! 
 
I have a few other gypsy dolls running around in my head, and I can't wait to make them come to life.  I like the gypsy girls.  They aren't necessarily a Halloween doll, but they fit in with Halloween just the same.  Isn't fortune telling a type of witchcraft?
 
Well, this post got a little long-winded.  That happens when I am really crazy about a piece (and I also have more than a few minutes to put together a post!).  I am crazy about Zelda.  I hope you are, too!  I would love to hear from you!
 
Have a great day!  I'm off to the studio (which I am also crazy about!)
Lisa
 







Monday, April 21, 2014

A Final Spring Fling

I didn't get here to wish you all a Happy Easter.  I hope you had a joyous day.  I did! 

I thought I would show you one last bunny before I move on to Halloween.  (Yes, you read that right! HALLOWEEN!  I have SIX big shows planned for fall, so I need to start cranking out the spooks!)

Here is one of my favorite bunnies:

 
Isn't she lovely?  I have a thing about these fluffy tutu dresses!  This one is made from pale pink sparkle tulle and tied with a pink satin ribbon.  (I should have used a different colored background for my pictures, because it doesn't show up as well as I would like it to.)


I added pink Swarovski crystals to her clay bodice and crepe paper for her collar.  I just love the pink fabric flowers she is holding.  They are vintage flowers I got from my friend Marian.  (When I was visiting her in February, she let me 'shop' her stash for things I could use in my work! What a terrific friend!  She has an AWESOME stash!!)
 
 
I don't know about the rest of you, but I am SOOO ready for spring!  The grass is finally getting green.  The tulips are blooming.  Our lilac bush is full of buds and will be gorgeous very soon.  The trees are about ready to pop.  YAY!! 
 
It seems silly to be so excited about spring, but ready to move on to fall/Halloween, winter/Christmas art!  But that's the way it is in my biz....always a season or two ahead (or you are playing desperate catch-up in crunch time!)
 
Thanks for stopping by!
Lisa


Wednesday, April 9, 2014

Bunnies and Carrots

Seems like bunnies and carrots just go together. Every year the rabbits in our neighborhood manage to find our carrot patch and mow them off.  Frustrating, to say the least, but I suppose they have to eat, right? 

Today I have two different versions of a bunny with carrots to show you.  Both are newly listed in my etsy shop, A Piece of Lisa.  These are not really Easter specific bunnies....more of a spring thing.  I hope you like them.




 
I've had a thing for these sort of egg-shaped bunnies this year.  They are a different approach than I have taken before and I really like them.  On this one I added some big buck teeth....he's ready to get chomping on that carrot.  I used green tinsel rope for the carrot tops.  Isn't he cute?
 

 
This big white bunny has been out working in the garden all day.  He's wearing his work overalls and a white crepe paper collar and carrying his shovel.  He's gathered a nice bunch of carrots for his lunch.
 
 
I hope you are all enjoying your spring.  It's supposed to be lovely here today....nearly 80 degrees!  I think, perhaps, winter is finally over!  YAY! 
 
And hey, two blogs already this week!  Maybe I'm back on track....
 
Thanks for stopping by!
Lisa
 



Sunday, April 6, 2014

Spring Lambs

It's about time I get back to blogging!  I've been working on all sorts of new pieces, but haven't taken much time to photograph things until today.  Spring is here, and Easter is just around the corner, so it's about time I show you some of the adorable spring creations I have ready.

Spring isn't all about bunnies.  What about sweet little lambs?  I am IN LOVE with these two precious lambs, all dressed up in their pretty spring dresses.  And these girls are not just for Easter.  No, you can leave these out all spring....or all year if you are so inclined.  (Wouldn't they be adorable in a baby nursery?)

Baa-Baa Birdie

This sweet little lamb, Birdie,  is dressed in an adorable green gingham paper dress with a crepe paper collar.  She wears bobby socks and Mary Janes and a pretty lavender flower is tucked in her ear.  A little blue and white bird has landed on her wrist.  I used real kid mohair for her curls. 

Baa-Baa Blossom

Birdie's sister, Blossom, is dressed in a pretty lavender top and a flowered paper skirt trimmed with a blue satin ribbon and crepe paper collar.  She carries a bouquet of freshly-picked flowers and has another one tucked behind her ear.  I used kid mohair for her curls.
 
 
I had so much fun creating these little lambs.  I hope you enjoy them. They will soon be listed in my etsy shop.
 
Have a great spring day!
Lisa