Update and The Witches of Giggleswick

Since I was here last, a lot has been going on in the studio.  Not the production of new whimsical, one of a kind art dolls, but a complete remodel!  I have emptied everything out of the room, painted walls and ceiling, built new shelving in the newly-opened closet, tore up old carpet and laid new vinyl plank flooring, added some new storage pieces, sorted EVERY SINGLE THING in the studio, purged what I will never use, organized what I will.  It's all gone fairly well, with one big hiccup.  I ordered a really cool desk online at Wayfair.  I was deeply disappointed when it arrived with a damaged top.  I contacted the manufacturer, per the instructions in the box, and basically never heard from them!  NOT HAPPY!  So I then contacted Wayfair to let them know I had a damaged part, and boy oh boy did they get RIGHT on it!  I had an immediate response and within hours I had a notice saying a new part had been ordered and would be shipped on January 30.  YAY!!  I do hope it arrives unscathed!  I'm so excited to reveal my new studio to you all, but I don't want to share anything until it's complete.  And since the new desktop won't arrive until next week, and I will be on a little trip to visit my friend when it arrives, it will be a couple more weeks before I can unveil! 

In the meantime, there is other news I need to share with you.  Remember the fun blog hop I participated in last fall?  The Witches of Giggleswick?  Well, LeeAnn and Carly with the help of another person, have set up a fun new website that stems from our blog hop.  It is a place where holiday artists and holiday art enthusiasts can meet and mingle and share.  There are forums to discuss all things related to art and to just chat.  There is a marketplace where you can purchase wonderful one of kind works of art.  There will be giveaways and lots of fun.  There are different levels of membership depending on how involved you want to be, but the basic level is free, of course!  It will allow you to get in on the forums and shop the marketplace.  If you love Halloween art, this is the place for you to go! 

Here is the link:  http://www.witchesofgiggleswick.com/

 

Currently in the marketplace I am offering my adorable little witch, Katrina.  There will be more to come.....once I get that studio up and running!

 

 

Have a great day, and try to stay warm!  (That's a real trick in my part of the world today!)

Lisa





Into the New Year!

Oh my, how time flies! 

I intended to get here and wish you all a very Merry Christmas.  Oops!  That didn't happen because I was swamped with custom order work, and then I left to spend time with my family over the holidays.

I intended to get here and wish you all a very Happy New Year.  Oops!  That didn't happen because I sort of crashed when I got home.  I mean, I did NOTHING for the first week back! 

Now we are already 11 days into 2014 and I am finally here!  So, HAPPY NEW YEAR!

I'm starting the new year off with some exciting news.  I was selected to be the Featured Artist over on the PFATT Marketplace site.  YAY!!  I'm still so honored to be represented on that website with so many fabulous folk artists.  And to be chosen as featured artist for the month is really icing on the cupcake! 

 

So head on over there and check it out!  http://www.pfattmarketplace.com/

 I also am offering three pieces on my Marketplace selling page that are exclusive to PFATT Marketplace this month.  Two snowmen (well, one is really a girl!) and an adorable Valentine Bee. 
http://www.pfattmarketplace.com/apieceoflisa.html

 

 

In other news....I'm remodeling my studio!  I've had thoughts of doing it for a while, but this week I WENT FOR IT!  I emptied the whole room out and put it all in the next bedroom.  It looks like an episode of Hoarders should be filmed!  OH MY!  There will be some purging happening before the studio is reloaded.  No more details for now!  But I will keep you posted! 

 

I'm off to Home Depot!

Lisa



Into the Woods Again...

I told you I have had this 'Northwoods' concept in my head this year.  A few weeks ago I showed you a collection of snowmen I created with that theme.  Today, let's look at some Santas.

WHITE CHRISTMAS

 

I love the idea of a white Santa.  There is something very old world about them.  I sculpted this one from a pearly white polymer clay, and gave him a brown belt and boots and green mittens, all sculpted from clay.  I used an assortment of brads for his buttons, belt buckle and the buttons on his boots.  His face is sculpted from clay, with hand-painted green eyes.  I used a super soft and wonderful bit of natural kid mohair for his hair and beard.  The cloak and hood are cut from luscious ivory wool and trimmed with real rabbit fur.  The cloak seemed a little plain at first, so I dug around in my extensive stash of 'stuff' and found that ivory flower trim. It was the PERFECT color and it gives the illusion of hand embroidery on the cloak.  LOVE IT!  A sisal tree and a little sprig of enamel holly finish off this lovely St. Nick.  Oh, the clay base is covered in vintage mica flakes. 

 

(White Christmas is no longer available.)

SNOWFLAKE SANTA

 

This is Santa on a more casual day.  He is wearing pine green pants and mittens and a red sweater with a snowflake on the front.  Who doesn't love a snowflake sweater on a cold winter's day?  I cut tiny bits of clay to create the snowflake pattern.  His brown clay boots are trimmed with tiny brads and natural cotton chenille.  His face is hand-sculpted, of course, with hand-painted green eyes.  I used more of the kid mohair for his hair and beard, and topped his head with a little pine green houndstooth wool hat, trimmed with a bronze bell and a little bit of greenery.  Santa has gathered a bunch of pine cones, berries and greenery to decorate his holiday table.  This piece is dusted with a bit of vintage mica flakes.  I had 'finished' this Santa, but thought he needed a little something more.  The turtleneck sweater made it seem like his head was sort of floating too much, so a cut a scarf from ivory wool.  I think it fixed the problem nicely.

 

(Snowflake Santa is available in my etsy shop.)

GATHERING CHRISTMAS

 

This Santa sort of straddles the line between the traditional red-dressed Santa and an old-world style Santa.  He has a bit of vintage quality to him, I think.  I sculpted his red toggle coat, green pants and mittens and tall brown boots from clay.  Once again, I used tiny brads for buttons on his coat and boots.  His hand-sculpted face is covered in a kid mohair beard.  (I just love how these mohair beards look so real!)  I sewed a little hat out of deep red houndstooth wool, and used a few scraps of the same wool for his boot toppers.  Genuine rabbit fur trims his coat and hat.  He is carrying a bundle of cinnamon stick 'logs', a bit of greenery, some pine cones and berries.  A tiny sprig of greenery adorns his hat.  I gave him a dusting of vintage mica flakes and a bit of fine Japanese glass glitter for sparkle. 

 

(Gathering Christmas is no longer available either!)

 

NORTHWOODS NICK

 

Here is the St. Nick that started this whole series!  He is similarly dressed in a red toggle coat and green pants, a houndstooth cap and socks and rabbit fur trim.  (For the record, rabbit fur is very tricky to work with, and it makes a HUGE mess, but I think it is worth it.  It really adds a nice touch to these outdoorsy Santas.)  The same mohair is used for his beard.  Nick carries a miniature Christmas tree in one arm, and a bouquet of greenery, berries and pine cones in the other.  A little white bird is nestled among the pine cones.  More mica flakes give the illusion he is walking through the snowy woods. 

 

(I actually am keeping this piece.  I made another very similar one, but it is also sold.)

 

 

I have really enjoyed creating these Northwoods Santas, so I am sure there will be more coming in the future.  Not this year, however, because I still have a ton of orders to get finished!  Better get after it. 

 

Oh, and I'm sorry that I'm showing things that are not available.  I'm not trying to tease you, honest!  I just want to show you the best of the best of my work, and these are certainly in that category.  I am honored that they have found themselves new homes with people who love them as much as I do!

 

Have a wonderful day!

Lisa

 





Peppermint and Pfatt

Pfatt Marketplace will be updating today, so I thought I would give you at peek at what I have available over there for this month.  Each of these pieces is only available on Pfatt Marketplace.  None will be listed in my etsy shop this year.

I have sort of a peppermint theme happening here:

PEPPERMINT NICK

 

I wanted to do a few Santas that were not what you expect Santa to look like.  He doesn't wear that fur-trimmed red suit every day!  This time he is wearing a red and white striped shirt with bright green pants.  (I know they don't look that bright in the picture, which is a little dark.)  His black clay boots are trimmed in red chenille and little gold brads.  A red stud buckles his belt and his collar is made from crepe paper.  I sculpted his face with a trim white beard.  His traditional hat is hand-sewn from red wool felt and trimmed with white fluffy chenille and a little holly button.  He is holding a large peppermint candy tied with a green organza ribbon.  Glass glitter covers his base.  It sort of looks like sugar, doesn't it?

KRINGLE CANE

 

This Kris Kringle is wearing a white shirt and green pants, striped stockings and black boots, all sculpted from clay.  I made a vest and matching hat from deep red velvet and trimmed the hat with white chenille and a little gold bell.  A green crepe paper collar finishes the look.  He is holding a big acrylic candy cane that is as tall as he is!  Either that's one big candy cane, or he's one tiny elf, I'm not sure which!

 

HAVE A COOKIE

 

I love making elves!  They always look so fun!  She is dressed in a green polka dot body suit and a little red pleated fabric skirt.  Hidden from view is her black ribbon belt.  Her little black boots have pointy toes and are trimmed with white chenille.  Her collar is crepe paper.  I love her quirky little smile and her pointed elf ears!  She has a lot of unruly light brown curls made from curly wool roving.  I hand-sewed her hat from green felt and trimmed it with tiny pompom fringe, a little red bow and a silver bell.  She is carrying a tray of freshly baked gingerbread cookies. 

 

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This elf is no longer available, but I thought I would show it to you because he is the companion piece to the girl.  He wears a similar outfit, and is carrying two chenille candy canes and little holly-trimmed gingerbread man.

 

 

 

I hope you will all head over to Pfatt Marketplace this afternoon (it updates at about 11:00 Central time) and check out all the wonderful, original art offered by all of the very talented artists represented there.  I still feel very honored to have my work shown on the same website as many of them! 

 

Off to work....(I wish I had those two elves up there busily finishing my orders!)

Lisa

 

 

More Ornaments

December is upon us, and it's about three weeks to Christmas!  Time is zipping by and I am beginning to panic!  I don't know why.  Things always tend to get done, somehow, but when your to-do list is as long as your arm it gets a little bit stressful!  How, exactly, does Santa manage? 

I thought I better show you a couple more of the 2013 Limited Edition Ornaments today.  I'm sure you all have your trees up and decorated by now, but these ornaments also make wonderful gifts!  I still have these designs available in my etsy shop.

JOY

 

Some people like Santa.  Some people like snowmen.  Some people like both!  This ornament has a little bit of everything!  Candy cane-striped letters, a snowflake with a Frosty face in the middle, bows and holly, and a tiny Santa hanging from the side of the Y.  Christmas Joy for everyone! 

DECK THE HALLS

 

This jolly Santa is set against a glittered bright blue background.  Holly and a classic ball ornament complete the scene.  I used teeny-tiny pieces of clay to create the holly garland trim on his hat and coat.  It adds just a little 'something' to the design. 

 

 

I hope you all had a blessed Thanksgiving and are greeting the Christmas season with hope and joy!  I love this time of year, even if my to-do list makes my head spin!  Speaking of which.....I better go get a few things crossed off!

 

Lisa



Woodland Winter

It seems winter is going to start here today, with snow in the forecast.  Not a big snow, but snow nonetheless.  So in the spirit of our first snowfall, I think I will introduce you to a few of my newest snowmen.

I've had this 'woodland' theme in my head this year, and I'm really pleased with the direction it is taking me.  These three winter friends are all dressed up in toggle coats, pants, boots, warm wool hats and scarves.  My sister once told me that she liked the snowmen with clothes better than the 'naked ones', and I always think of her when I am putting clothes on a snowman! 

All three Woodland Snowmen are available at A Piece of Lisa on etsy

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Woodland Wreath

 

A red coat, dark pine green houndstooth wool scarf and hat, a bottle-brush wreath trimmed with a red bow.  A tiny felt poinsettia trims his hat. 

 

Woodland Garland

 

An olive green coat and brown pants, with a lovely red houndstooth wool hat and scarf.  He holds a garland with red berries.  A tiny sprig of greenery is tucked in his hat.

 

Woodland Tree

 

A navy coat and moss green houndstooth scarf and hat.  He holds a tiny snow-dusted tree.  A burgundy felt flower trims his hat.

 

 

I love the hats and scarves.  I buy these beautiful hand-dyed felted wools from two different shops on etsy.  They are so soft and pretty and the colors are just lovely.  You can find them here, at Three Sheep Studio, and here, at Quilting Acres.  Both shops have lots of gorgeous wools.  Some of them are just too big of a scale for my work, but I would love to have a swatch of EVERY ONE!  Mostly I stick to the houndstooth because the pattern works so well for my dolls.

 

Do you have a favorite shop on etsy that sells wonderful supplies?  I would love to hear about it!  I'm always on the hunt for interesting things to use on my dolls, and I love to support small business when I can!

 

Have a great day!

Lisa

 

 

 



Santa and Elves

Time to show you a few more of my 2013 Limited Edition Christmas Ornaments.  How about Santa and a couple of elves?

Ho! Ho! Ho!

 

This is actually one of my more simple designs.  I feel I need to have a wide range of ornament designs in my collection.  While I love the ones I make that have lots of tiny pieces and minute details, those are more labor intensive, and therefore more expensive.  Buyers might appreciate them, but they might not be within their budget.  So each year I design a few ornaments that I can produce more quickly and sell for a little less money.  This Santa fits that bill.

 

He is dressed in his bright red suit and green mittens, holding a sign with his classic holiday greeting.  The "Ho!Ho!Ho!" is cut from very thin coils of clay.  "Merry Christmas" is handwritten in bright green ink.  A sprig of holly and the year 2013 trim his hat.  He is simple, but cute!! 

 

Ho!Ho!Ho! is still available in my etsy shop and also at Pfatt Marketplace.

 

Elvin

 

This adorable little elf is another example of one of my more simple designs.  He is dressed in a green and red elf suit, trimmed with white.  I used red striped baker's twine to tie a little silver jingle bell to the tip of his hat.  I love his pointy ears and his big, mischievous grin!  Has he been naughty or nice?

 

You can find Elvin in my etsy shop.

 

Peppermint Patty

 

One of my favorites this season!  She has quite a bit more detail than the Santa and the first elf.  She is dressed in classic red and green, with striped stockings and holly on her hat.  She is holding a big candy cane and a disc edged in candy-cane stripes.  Nothing is painted on this ornament except for the tiny white dots in her eyes. 

 

Peppermint Patty has been sold out already, but I wanted to show her to you anyway.  I think she is really adorable!

 

 

I  actually finished up the remainder of the 2013 collection last week!  YAY!!  Normally it's a scramble right before Christmas to finish up and have enough ornaments to give to my family.  This year it's done early!  YAY!!  (did I already say YAY! ??)  Unless I have a huge selling run at A Piece of Lisa on etsy, or at my final show, I should be OK for the year and not have to add another design or two.  (My family would NOT be happy if they missed out on their ornaments this year!)

 

The ornaments may be finished, but there is still a lot of other work to do in the studio, so I best be off to do it!!  Have a great day!

Lisa