New dolls, Old Movie

Ok, I just have to say The Tonner Doll Company surprised me this year with two dolls from my favorite Christmas Movie, White Christmas, I figured I would eventually purchase them for myself as I love the movie and the costume they were wearing, I could see making the clothing from the movie including the blue "Sisters" dresses. Well for Christmas I was surprised with them Yes both of them. Please welcome the Haynes Sisters, Betty and Judy to the house of Fancy Lad. And I have to say the attention to detail is amazing, they even have the right color eyes Betty has blue, and Judy has brown. The dresses are true to the movie as well, even down to the designs on the fabric. They move well and I can't wait for Betty to sing "Love You Did Me Wrong" I may even make the black dress from the movie, I think that would be awesome. Anyway enjoy the pics while I enjoy the dolls.

It's Been a while...

Greetings all, 2011 ended with many life changing events, first was a move across country, I am now a New Yorker. Yes I've given up life in the city by the bay for life in the big apple. It's a bit colder here and life is a bit different but so far it is working out.
I even have my first job in New York, I am working as a 1st hand in a costume shop, making costumes for different Broadway shows and dance companies all over the country, for example I'm helping to make costumes for the San Francisco Ballet, I had to move across country to work on San Francisco stuff go figure LOL.
I had two losses in 2011,
One my dear friend QC lost her beloved Roscoe, he was her dog, her four legged companion, he was my furry nephew and I miss him dearly. I was able to meet Roscoe the same day QC did, I held him in my arms that 1st weekend and a life long friendship was made. I always felt Roscoe's tail wagged just a bit more for me. I always felt that as long as Roscoe was around I didn't need a dog. He used to come and stay with us when QC was on a trip, he was always a welcome house guest, even when he needed a walk at 5:30 am on a Saturday. He always made me happy, cuz he was happiness and joy in physical form. Be at peace my dear friend, perhaps you are making my mom happy now too.
As many of my FB friends know my mom  passed away just before the end of the year, this came as quite a surprise to all of us as she was holding on pretty well. We lost a bright, talented lady that day. She was as my sister said the mom we needed. She allowed all of us to spread our wings and fly. And fly I did, she taught me to draw, to explore my talents and grow as a artist and as a person. I'm not sure if she ever knew this but it's because of her that I am the artist I am today. I think she always wanted me to be a actor, but as I got older I knew that my path lay in the fiber and doll arts. My mom also taught me to read, she gave me a love of books that I am so thankful for today. I remember she was always reading, I wanted to be able to do that too and she showed me how, because of this a whole world of adventure and imagination was given to me. Every time I pick up a book I think of her. I'm happy she knew I had moved to be closer, and that I was able to tell her that I was working in New York City.  I hope she has found all of her lost pets and I know she has found rest and peace.

So even though 2011 started a sad, 2012 is looking up, I hope to be working at the costume shop for a while, my sewing area will be up and going soon so that I can get back to sewing! I'm going to be having wonderful adventures in New York.

Happy 2012 everyone!


Go confidently in the direction of your dreams! Live the life you've imagined.
Henry David Thoreau

Mom and I at Macainac Island in Matching sweatshirts

 Mom and I looking fab in our 80's sunglasses

 Mom just looking beautiful, my favorite picture of her

 Me and Roscoe on a visit to the bay area 

Just Roscoe being cute. 

New addition

Well I have a new addition to my collection, this is Prudence made by Wilde Imagination, she comes with 2 wigs that you can change, she also can fit into previous wigs made by WI as well. She is like many dolls in one.

The Tonner Convention

Well everyone I've had time to rest and relax a bit, now I'm going to let you all know that I had a wonderful time at the Tonner Halloween Convention. I'm not going to do a full blog tonight but I do want to share with you all that I won 2nd place for one of my designs. This was my first con and my first entry. I think If I spend a bit more time on my next entry I may win 1st place. So I'm going to share some pics with you all. I had a lot of fun making this dress. It reminds me of what San Francisco looks like in the rain, a bit grey but it sparkles. Part of this dolls story is that she lives in San Francisco, in her grandmothers old Victorian. I always imagine that she is a bit like me, she loves this city and can find beauty here in the most interesting things. If you've seen San Francisco in the rain you know what I'm talking about. 

 Ellowyne at he competition, she looked good standing there I was just proud that I had accomplished this. 

One of the other entries, I thought this one was fun cuz she was wearing a duck tape dress, something Prudence would do. 

 The 1st place winners, I liked this one too, because it was a homage to San Francisco too, and the dresses were beautiful.

Ellowyne showing her ribbons in the hotel room

Some time ago

Greetings all,

Some time ago I posted a few pictures of a doll I made, I can now say that the doll was sent out to be shown in a DVD project. Patti Medaris Culea is doing, check out her site http://www.pmcdesigns.com/index.php

I'm working on another doll now more to come.

The Lady in blue

I Just wanted to share a few pics of one of my newest works, more to follow but here she is for now. 

Spirit dolls

Greetings everyone I just wanted to share this beauty with you, she is inspired by African Goddesses called Oshun and Yemaya, they are represented in the colors of the doll's dress, yellow for Oshun and Blue for Yemaya, each is a powerful and beautiful women in her own right, they are also considered sisters  and work together often. Oshun also represents the river and Yemaya the Ocean, this doll  represents where the ocean and the river meet.  

I made her for a dear friend of mine, at her request she asked me to combine these colors anyway I saw fit, and this is what I came up with. I call these types of dolls spirit dolls. I used the wonderful patterns from Patti Madaris Culea to create her,  ribbons were used to create the dress, I love using things like ribbons in this way. I had just enough to make the rows of her skirt. I had to improvise the last ruffle of the skirt with some white eyelet, and to be honest when I used I knew the dress was done.  I will also let you in on a little secret the lace on the dress came sewn to the ribbon, I had to remove it to make the sleeves and bodice. This has to be one of my favorite dolls,  she turned out beautiful. I think sometimes the doll will let you know what it wants to be and in this case she did. And in the Fancy Lad style she is very fancy, So take a look and enjoy.