this week

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I’m working on some things that I can’t show and that is a bummer. But, look who came to visit me yesterday!

Salley! I was even able to uncover a chair for her to sit on. hmm, yes, the studio is a pretty big mess these days. I got to see her cover art for the January Horn Book magazine. There is no describing how amazing that piece is in real life. No matter how wonderful the photo turns out to be, it is not the same. I feel so lucky to have seen it!

And, here are some thrift goodies, all disassembled, washed and ready to go.

I believe it is a law of thrifting that if you are looking for something specific, you will never find it. Even if it is something perfectly ordinary- like the time I needed a plain white sweater. I could not find a single one in 5 different thrift stores. I am indeed looking for something specific- a gray wool fair isle sweater. I didn’t find one but found some other goodies. I’m not complaining. I now have a good excuse to do some more searching this weekend.

Lastly, I hope to have an update in the next few days about the Scotch and Soda copying/stealing situation. I appreciate all the support you have given me so far. Thank you.

Portland weekend

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We were up in Maine for the weekend. Having a son going to school in Portland has improved our life. It is a wonderful town with natural beauties and amazing food. And, only 2 hours north from home!

This group of dogs was waiting patiently next to the Scratch Baking Company, #1 bakery in Portland- and that is saying something!

And lastly, a perfect lighthouse- good inspiration for my next tiny world.

his lady friend

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The skirt is open in the back for her tail.

I love rick-rack. Everyone needs some.

And isn’t that Liberty fabric of her skirt beautiful! She has a cashmere sweater and a little felt purse , sewn with variegated thread.

I think her smaller mouth makes her look a bit shy.

The couple.

a professor fox

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He is definitely going to NYC.

I was waiting for an appointment and a young-ish man walked through the lobby. He was wearing an argyle vest. I thought, I have that same vest in my stash. I came home, unearthed it and made it fox size.

Santa on vacation 2

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Here is the one that needed his eyes adjusted. He looks much better to me now. It is the littlest things that can make the difference.

I really like his beard.

Yes, that is snow in the background.

The backdrop for the other Santa looks like this now-

This really has been the year of crazy weather in New England.

We put up the bird feeders on Saturday, before the storm hit. I taped a branch to the shepherd’s crook type holder we use. I got the idea from my neighbor friend Mim. It has been a huge success with the birds and me!

back to dolls

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this is what I want to be blogging about.

Santa on vacation.

I am getting ready to send some work off to gallery hanahou for their 5th (!) Luv-able & Hug-able Show.

I can’t seem to tell myself, I need 5 dolls, now go make them. I usually need to make 10 (or whatever) dolls and then choose 5. This is one that is in the running for a trip to NYC.

We’ve been having crazy weather, not very suitable for photography. On one nice day I brought out all that were finished. My photo studio-

There are 2 Santas in the pile. I decided that one needed some rework after I looked at the photos. He looked a bit maniacal. Maybe if the snow melts and things dry out a bit I will be able to take more photos today.

And about that other issue. Thank you for all your feedback. I am feeling horrible about it- on so many levels. The first being that I don’t have time for this cr*p. I don’t want to be spending my energy and focus on something so negative. And yet I feel I have to. At this point I am bracing myself every time a new comment comes in. I don’t want to argue with anyone about why I feel the way I am feeling. I don’t want to soothe hurt feelings of people who make my problem into their problem. I will not post comments from people who have never before engaged with me or my blog, arguing their thoughts in an aggressive style. Honestly, my comment thread is not the place to engage in the copying versus inspiration argument. I will let you know if there is any news moving forward. Hopefully it will be all dolls again for a while.

copying

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***UPDATE 11/18/2011- I am happy to report that with the help of a friend we were able to connect with someone at Scotch and Soda who helped us come to a settlement that I am happy with. I am grateful that this was able to be resolved quickly and cleanly. Thank you for all your support.***

 

I got an email from Alisa at Ink Caravan this morning with a link to this-

When she looked at this fabric she thought, Mimi Kirchner. Well no, I did not design this fabric nor did I give permission to someone else to use my images. The drawings of the tattooed men heads seem to be taken directly from photos on my flickr stream. Like this one-

The other one is probably here. Maybe the designer thought if they flipped the image that would make it their original art? Honestly, what are people thinking? If someone looks at the artwork you are selling and says that looks like *insert other artist name here* did it, then you are probably copying/stealing.  Or at least not original. Also, knowing that said designer stole my designs, I assume that the rest of the images are traced off other artists’ photos online.

As I am writing this an email arrived (in reply to a cry of distress on Twitter) with more shirts. Oh, this is making me sad. Honestly, I am not sure I can bear to poke around and look for more.

I am very grateful for the eyes of the internet. Over the years, I’ve been asked if I worry about posting artwork on the internet- won’t your designs be copied? I always figured that no one would know what I did or who I am if I didn’t share. Also, if the art was no good, people wouldn’t copy. And, I have since learned, if you are known in the crafty/ design online community, when someone does steal, someone else will let me know. And thank you for that.

I have no idea what to do at this point. I guess I need to send them an email or something. Do I just take a deep breathe and let it go?

school girl

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We had some snow last night. More is predicted for tomorrow. I am really not ready for winter yet.

The weather has been bad enough to keep me from taking photos so now I have a bit of a backlog. That is always nice. Here is the latest school girl. I got stuck on whether to make her a purse or a coat or … I decided on a backpack. She looks like a serious student kind of girl, not a girly-purse kind of girl. She needs a pack to carry all her books because she has a lot.

More Liberty fabric for the skirt. I got that fabric at the Liberty store in London back in 2008.

Autumn girl

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now this one is Northern Hemisphere October.

My favorite red/green combination. I want a corduroy jacket like this.

Her skirt has a ribbon that ties in the back with a bow. Unfortunately it is covered up by her jacket.

And Mango in the sun.

a new girl

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I started making a group of girls back in August before I went to Chicago. I actually thought 2 of them were finished- enough to take them to Chicago with me. But, really, they didn’t feel done. I brought them home and they’ve been sitting in my studio, waiting for a little love.

Finally a sweetie that I am calling Spring girl… even though I know it is October. Maybe she is Australian!

She looks like she is dressed for the first lovely day in Spring when it is so sunny but actually still pretty darn cold.

Her skirt is made from some of my favorite Liberty fabric.

She has a tiny blank sketchbook in her bag.