Doll

Sometimes when I am working on a piece, I start to imagine a character. It usually happens when I am trying to figure out what they should be wearing. I didn’t want to make another professor-type fox, so who was this fellow going to be? I thought of a fox who goes on a walking tour of the English countryside. He has his sketchbook in his bag for when he sits down for a rest.

Here he is with all his stuff-

How do you like his V-neck sweater? I love it- it came from an old sweater of mine! My personal sweaters can be difficult to use because I really wear them out before I am ready to part with them and often there isn’t much usable fabric left.

I made him a red handkerchief for his pocket.

His jacket on and buttoned up. And his olive green cashmere scarf and wool felt satchel.

I finished this fellow up on Saturday evening, just in time to take him to the Bazaar.

I usually photograph my work before I tag them. You can see the tag on this fellow’s foot. It is shrink plastic with my signature and date. All my dolls have these tags.

His vest, which closes with hook and eyes, is lined with a green cotton with a fern kind of pattern on it.

I am trying to finish up a few more items before the show on Sunday.

Isn’t this hedgehog fabric adorable? It is by Lizzy House and part of her Outfoxed line.

I love when I can find a perfect button in my stash-

Here is the girlfriend, partner, sister, or who knows who exactly. I’m thinking they are in an acrobatic act together. I had fun figuring out her hair.

And here they are together-

or maybe man with star pants might be a better name.

He has a lady friend. I’ll show her tomorrow.

Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving- if you were celebrating. I think I made the best Brussells Sprouts ever using turkey drippings and cider. I’m sure I will forget how I did it by next fall. Every fall I get to experience the joy of re-discovery!

I love this toile. It is a Colonial Williamsburg reproduction.

I get great satisfaction when I finally finish up some of the poor neglected dolls that get set aside when I go off to the next thing. So, Hello again tattooed men!

I will be updating my etsy shop in the next few days. Not sure exactly when but soon.

and here is that other one I mentioned.

I think the golden/mustardy yellow is my new favorite color.

His hat is pinned in but I’m thinking I probably ought to sew it.

I’m liking his profile.

This is #100 doll in my 2011 flickr photostream. It is weird though- I’ve done several projects this year that I can’t be public about so the numbers don’t feel terribly meaningful. Ah well, it is still an exciting number!

I know. I just can’t help it with the lame jokes.

It is getting cold around here. I thought he needed a scarf.

I wasn’t satisfied with the edge between the sweater and the dog body parts. I had already put the ribbing at the neck, but that didn’t work with the scale at the wrist and the bottom edge. I added a couched edge, stitching down a layer of yarn- about 8 lengths of wool. I am happy with that finish. You can’t really notice it in the photo and but it softens, finishes and covers the seam- all good.

Next, dog #2-

His ears are made of a wool/angora blend. So soft. I did a blanket stitch around the bottom of his sweater.

Why do these dogs make me think of beatniks?

And, Miss Dog #3

I have one more finished but it is too dark to photograph today. I’ll show you tomorrow. My natural inclination would be to spend another week or so on these doggies- making thin ones, fat ones, all kinds of colors and textures, accessorizing with beatnik paraphernalia, all the fun stuff. But, that can’t happen right now unless I want to show up at the markets I’m doing in just a few short weeks with only dogs. Which wouldn’t be too terrible, except next year, when I end up with no dogs, people will wonder, eh? So, onward to try to have a decently rounded out inventory. The push of the holiday season!