Making kilts is fun so I had to do it again.
Is it all right that my man in a kilt has George Washington on his chest?
I made him a scarf because it is just too cold to go outside (for picture taking) without one.
Tag Archives: tattooed man
Pirate in Stripy pants
I might have to take some more pics tomorrow because you can not see the print design on the fabric of his beard or his embroidered mouth. I am still getting used to my new camera.
His belt buckle is made from an antique hook of a hook and eye set. It looks handmade to me, with a hammered flat edge.
new fellow for 2014
He looked pretty chilly when I took him outside for his photos. I almost wanted to make him a sweater but that would cover up all his lovely tats.
I can spend way too much time picking out a button for a doll. It is so hard to pick just the right one.
Close-up of the hair fabric-
arg- it’s Pirate time!
Yes, I did have too much fun figuring out how to make a felt cutlass!
And I knew I had some buckles somewhere so I started searching my bookcase and found a cigar box full of buttons I’d forgotten about- like a surprise gift to me from the past!
I’m not sure if it is obvious over here in my sweet corner of the internet but my life has been a bit CRAZY lately- and mostly in a good way. I thought that things were going to slow down for me after mid-October which was when I needed to have everything submitted for the sale at One Kings Lane. Instead, every day seems to bring more exciting opportunities into my email box. I was hoping to have my Etsy shop chock full of goodies for the start of the Holiday season, but instead I have been selling like gangbusters (Hurray!) and it is pretty bare. I’m sewing as fast as I can, but I’ve also said yes to a number of (fun, amazing, fantastic!) things that mean my focus is elsewhere. I am so behind on emails and if I told you I would make you something… well, hopefully? It might still be a while though. It is exciting and very busy times around here!
movember
I haven’t made a mustache man for a while. I’ve been focusing on beards.
It’s fun to do this kind of face again.
tattooed lumberjack
It is time for a new camera. I’m getting cloudy spots in my photos. Bummer. I’m not a fan of upgrading my technology. I like it when I actually know how to use my tools. But really, it’s time.
I liked the bright leaves reflected in the window of the porch door.
I will be posting this fellow and his friend into my Etsy shop soon- hopefully tonight.
Pirate Man
This is the last of my pre-Washington DC output. This pirate was finished up at 9pm on the evening before we left. Again, no formal portrait.
He also found a new home in Washington DC.
I am working on lots of new stuff and have other news to tell you about. So, I’ll be back soon!
#101
It is a bit complicated.
This was supposed to be #101. I was rephotographing her after the trip to Washington when I noticed that she was damaged. She is torn at the crotch. That is unfixable and probably a result of all the handling involved with doing a show- the packing, hanging, and manhandling by shoppers. So instead, this is #101-
He was one of the last dolls I finished right before I left and he found a new home in Washington DC. I never took an official “portrait”, just these booth photos.
And here he is on display.
Lumberjack 3- with tattoos
Remember this fine fellow? I wanted to try a slimmer version. Well actually maybe 5 or so was how many I cut out and sewed up before I was all done. I’ll get to them all eventually.
The thing is, I had a pile of dyed toile scraps that were not enough for a tattooed man or woman but just right for the smaller amount this design needs. And I’d saved them because I liked them enough that I couldn’t just throw them away. Perfect!
I had fun with this beard too. It is made of an alpaca sweater bit- they get shaggy-edged when I wash them.
Cashmere hat, felt axe, Pendleton wool shirt, high lace-up boots, suspenders.
The toile I used had scenes from Robinson Crusoe on it- he has a very odd furry man on his chest. The rest of that fabric got used on this guy.
a terrible week in Boston
Oh man, what a week. After teaching last week-end, I had plans to get things finished up this week. That hasn’t happened.
We are having Spring and here is the proof- my always blooming on Patriots’ Day daffodils.
Once the news of the bombing in Boston was everywhere, I found it almost impossible to pry myself away from the computer. Finally by Tuesday evening I was able to settle down enough to spend some time in the studio. But all week has been about obsessively checking Twitter and all the news streams. Today has been very strange. The town where I live is not “locked down”, but most of the surrounding towns are. The streets, the sidewalks and the sky are all eerily quiet unless a really loud helicopter flies overhead. Public transportation is cancelled so no bus noise on Mass Ave. And so so much crazy news and no real news at all. I tore myself away from the computer at midday and went out to the garden and turned the compost pile- phew! It was a relief to be out in the sun and doing something physical.
So, here is the studio today.
You know I got about 90% done on 3 lumberjacks (last post) and then I got distracted by the idea of making more of this model of lumberjack. I’d cut out and dyed fabric for 3 more “Big Men” tattooed lumberjacks last fall, but never cut out the rest of their necessary pieces. I did that. And sewed them up and stuffed them. And then thought I’d like to make the thinner guy as a tattooed lumberjack. I’ve got 5 mostly cut out now, 2 sewed, 1 stuffed. And one more thing- I want to cut out some big men lumberjacks, no tattoos. Yes, I have been distracted.
Piles and piles of wool, stuffing, pattern pieces, misc. other fabric piled up over every surface. The studio is not exactly in the state that would lead my brain to calm relaxation. Oh well, that really isn’t my way.
In other news, I am going to be off for a little vacation, leaving mid next week and gone for a week. I’ll be deactivating most of my Etsy shop on Tuesday but thankfully I can still sell my patterns because Etsy has just rolled out instant downloads for pdf patterns- Hurray! If I get any of the fellows finished, I’ll post them before I leave. Otherwise it might be quiet around here for a while.
Fingers crossed that everything will be feeling back to normal soon.