I know ALL foxes ought to be woodland foxes but this one is especially so.
She has an embroidered felt vest. It closes with laces. I didn’t take it off and show the dress because the dress top is plain and the laces are fussy to get just right.
I love this spiderweb-by knit shawl. Perfect for her.
In her basket-
And without her shawl on-
This video was made at Gather Here to celebrate their 3rd birthday. It’s wonderful!
why we make from gather here on Vimeo.
So much going on and nothing getting finished- yet.
I posted here about first steps of tattooed people and fish, moving along with the foxes. That is still happening.
A week ago I spent a day dyeing.
I started out with some prints that I over-dye for hair.
Then ALL those tattooed bodies.
It was many pots worth. I was very tired by the end of the day. Then, next day I ironed them all and put them back in their bin. Soon I will start cutting out all the rest of their pieces.
I sewed faces on 9 foxes-
and started in on the clothes-
But I got a bit distracted trying to choose fabrics for dresses. I ended up spending a morning sorting through all my fabric drawers, pulling things out that called to me and in another pile, to get rid of.
Then, somehow, not really sure how this happens, I started sewing the fish mentioned in that link above. And now, 2 1/2 days later, all 29 are sewed up and waiting to be finished.
They will trickle out a few at a time over this year.
And lastly, Sweet Paul was in town last week and had a signing for his new book- so fun to meet up in my neck of the woods!
Of course I bought my very own copy of his new book- Sweet Paul Eat and Make: Charming Recipes and Kitchen Crafts You Will Love and had it signed. I need an occasion to make the World’s Best Cake! Anyway, I’m keeping very busy and soon lots of finished pieces will start to appear!
I got a little carried away once I started stitching.
Curly tails in the back.
This boy has pockets!
Her skirt is very fancy in the back.
Hurray for something getting finished! I am feeling very far behind right now so I checked how many dolls I’d made by this point last year- yep, I’m behind. Last year on this date I posted #29- 2013 doll. These pugs are #20 and #21- 2014. Not too bad but still need to do some catch up.
This fellow is made of black cashmere and a wool plaid shirt that I bought at the thrift store- my son got first dibs on it but he passed. Now, a new life! And a wool felt bow tie.
She is cashmere body, beige and black, vintage wool plaid shirt and cashmere knit skirt. I used some gorgeous wool felt from A Child’s Dream, recommended by Salley Mavor. I bought an assortment pack of hand dyed felt right after Christmas but this is the first time I’ve used any. I love it- it is softer to the touch than my standard felt and also softer color. Uh-oh, might have to buy some more!
If you are interested in either of these pugs, they are $100 ea + shipping. Email me at mimik@pobox.com. There will be more pugs tomorrow!
My etsy shop is bare and I am trying to get my inventory back up before show season. I’ve started working on many, many new pieces. Step one, cut out the parts. With the tattooed dolls this means the pieces that need to be dyed- the “skin” parts.
I cut and cut and kept cutting. I now have a LOT of bodies, ready for the next step- dyeing.
After I have these all dyed, then I cut out all the other pieces. Then construction starts.
Next I pulled out all my bins of wool and my fish pattern-
and now there are 29 fish cut out and ready to move forward.
And I am moving forward on foxes, already sewn. I’m stuffing them and next come the faces.
And I’m sewing up some pugs. Yep, I’m all over the place. That’s why nothing is getting finished but things are moving forward all over the place. Hopefully something will get done this week.
You’d think I’d be done with owls for a while, wouldn’t you. This one was waiting on my desk when I got back to the studio. I just had to finish him up.
Do you know what he is sitting next to in this pic? Snowdrops! Hurray! Spring might actually be on the way!
And here is my pile-o-owls on the sofa.
It was amazing. Here is where I set up my teaching space-
It was so bright and sunny and lots of elbow room. Everyone; teachers, students, organizers, was full of positive energy and enthusiasm. Everyone just jumped right in and got to work. It was so much fun to see what everyone came up with and the ways they made each owls their own.
I had great plans to take tons of photos and document everyone’s owls but… I was crazy busy and as usual started out taking some photos and then… not a single pic from day 2. Oh well, luckily some other people did better- there is a Flickr photo set with some wonderful pics here.
I have never been around so many people who “get” what I do and it will take me a few days more to settle back down to earth and real life. Besides all the amazing creative energy, we were fed delicious meals for the entire weekend. Can you say SPOILED?? Oh yeah. I wish I could have been 2 people- I loved teaching but wish I could have also taken all the classes and had time to sit back and talk to more of the participants. It was fun to figure out who was there- I met a number of people who came with friends or daughters- meeting up in NYC from other parts of the country or traveling as a group. I did get to take one class- cookie decorating with Patti Page. I’m all ready to up my Christmas cookie game now!
And here is Sweet Paul himself, giving my guys a hug-
(photo by Studio BC)
Thanks Sweet Paul and The Makerie! I had SO MUCH FUN!!!
See you next week!