Greetings!

Bit quiet from me for a little while as computor has fried itself and I'm popping by from laptops etc. Hopefully I will be up and running again with new drives in the new year again ...meanwhile wishing everyone all the best for the new year! XXX

Pet Feeds and stock for Peacock's Pet Shop!

I have had great fun today creating some 'stock' for my daughter's little pet shop to go with the figures. I'm pleased with the dog leads, the hay bales and the fish holiday feeding blocks made from bits of eraser! I have been making some shelving and wall hanging 'hooks' etc to put it all on display so she can just stick them to the walls of the shop. I'm hoping this will inspire her to make some more things herself...those lovely little bone shaped chews in fimo for example I might just mention, and see what happens....

'Real' toys for a change!

A couple of figures...Mr and Mrs Peacock who will live above the shop and run Peacock's Pets...my daughter's doll house creation! They have (mostly) removable clothing which has been a new challenge, and so have got to be a bit broad about their middles with all that spare material in the extra seams, elastic etc...but never mind ;0)

They have aprons for the kitchen and shop, and some of their clothes come off so they look like they have nightwear for bedtime...just looking at him now his head looks a bit chilly so I think I will make him a nightcap too LOL

Well they are for Christmas so shhhhh!!

Happy Christmas everyone! XXXXX

Making an Exhibition of myself !

Hello....today 2 lovely things to announce!

Firstly the new AIM magazine for december is out, and I am thrilled to say that I have a doll on the cover, my Scrooge, and there is a feature on me inside and lots more pictures of my figures. I'm extremely honoured, and grateful to all the magazine team for this wonderful opportunity!

Link to the magazine: http://www.artisansinminiature.com/

AIM also have joined blogland so to follow there: http://artisansinminiature.blogspot.com/

The second thing is a little exhibition of my work in Brackley Library. This will be open throughout december, with closures around christmas, so if by some strange coincidence you happen to find yourself in South Northamptonshire this month, you could see some figures 'in the flesh' LOL

Old faces New settings

I have been resetting some of my older figures into new settings, today I've done the cluedo characters and my Red version of Marilyn Monroe into a couple of wooden box frames which I have collaged with images inside and out. I'm doing a little show in the town next month and I need some things which will hang on the wall spaces as well as things to fill the cabinets...no problem there LOL.

Remembrance

Almost complete, but posting anyway in time for Poppy Day

Other News: the new AIM magazine is out and can be read online here www.artisansinminiature.com it is the biggest we have had so far!

I also noticed one of my pictures on this beautiful site:

http://a-faerietale-of-inspiration.blogspot.com

Thanks very much for featuring me Ruthie!

It's a lovely place for ideas and inspiration and has a link to the 5 Beautiful things blog also!

Queenie

Queenie...

More work on the wreath...still need to do more on the medals

Harry is coming along....

Harry is sculpted and now I am trying to dress him...agh another shirt and tie and mansuit!! My favourite...NOT! Then there will be a wheelchair....oh my!

I have done the basic structure to build my wreath around and support the figure...collaged the backing and have found some red fabrics to start work on the poppies.

Costuming the Tudor characters

More to the Tudor Characters Group...I was pleased with the waistline fit on this lady figure...although now I've obscured it a bit with more strings of beads round her neck!! Silly me ;0) Temporarily ran out of beads yesterday, so started on the leading male figure...he will have mainly black clothing.

Several New Pieces Begun

Remembrance Wreath

As it comes closer to Poppy Day I've been thinking a lot about the piece I wanted to make last year. I was very sad when Harry Patch died as I started planning when he was still with us, and this week we have had some very sad family events as well, and it has just tipped me into making a start on my tribute. It will be a very simple idea really, and I have been working so far on the supporting work which will frame my central figure.

This week I have been mostly sculpting heads :0)

...the top 4 characters are to be part of a group, with possibly 2 other figures I've yet to model...the rather mournful face top left in the next picture is to be another version of the moustachioed guy...under mournful man is my first try at really mastering 24th scale...wow it's very small!! Not sure if it's right for me yet. The other 3 females in that line are destined to be historical characters I think, the middle one's another Elizabeth 1st, and maybe one might be another art-doll. The bottom ones are another witch who still needs finishing, and a lady with a gentle face with her hands who I have some ideas for but still not completely fixed yet.

The October Magazine is out here:

http://www.artisansinminiature.com/

This is a Halloween Special with things to make, things to amuse....and beautiful things just to look at...or inspire!

I have been resetting these figures too into a box frame this week. I made the Addams family in early 2008...they are based on the original TV series I loved when I was a little girl. They will also be on display at Miniatura at the NEC on the 3rd and 4th of October as part of a 'Spooky' themed display on the doll artists and miniature enthusiasts stand. They cannot be sold at the show but if anyone's interested they are available!

Back to work after the school summer break!
Getting back into it with firstly another pedlar doll similar to one I made a while ago, and then a traditional dollhouse figure from about 1907 in pink silk.
These two will be amongst some on display by me at the NEC at Miniatura this year, these are for sale on the British Toymaker's Guild stand...maybe with some others but I've not quite decided which yet!
Eileen

The new AIM magazine is out! Please click on the link below to go and read...it's our biggest ever and one of the best...lots of miniatures projects and features...I've managed to get in it twice...so very pleased! :0)
http://www.artisansinminiature.com/

Emilie Floge

Emilie Floge is finished! I haven't made the backdrop for the time being, going to think about that later maybe if I feel she still needs it. The dress has some long draping pieces at the back which I thought might add something extra to the rear view, and also help link her to the base, which is covered in the same material I made up for her dress. In the original painting she is so very tall, and the base helps give her more height and slenderness, and I've twisted the pose a little more to give a bit more movement.

Emilie Floge again now!

Been working on Emilie Floge again this week, although very short on free time at the moment so progress painfully slow! Really only the hair to go now and little final things like getting her to stand on the base. There was just enough material to cover the box in the bit I didn't need for the dress......I should have made more as it was literally cutting it fine. LOL.
In the original painting she is extremely tall and thin, so this will help create that effect whilst still having her have natural proportions underneath. I wasn't going to show her feet at all when I started but got a bit carried away with the shoes, so now there will be a little peep hole where you can look under the hem and see them with some twinkly bits too on the underskirt as a little hidden suprise :0)

Finally finished today...the rather irritated looking Waspies!

Made black underskirts, and now working on the backs of the dresses which will be their wasp bottoms! Doing 2 different techniques but still basically the same colour/shape. First one is using reverse applique which seemed like a good idea at the time, but has taken ages!! Embroidered round the openings and beaded here and there. Next one is a collage of mixed materials again embroidered and a few beads just up the middle line.

Red knickers now, and a bit more trim!

Working on underskirts next which will be black.

Waspies

Started some other figures based on drawings of wasps...they're half human half wasp and their faces have turned out a bit more scarey than I originally imagined but I'm still quite happy with the way they are looking so far...they will have big skirts based on the lovely waspish pattern of course which I'm looking forward to making.

Started some new pieces

Made a start of 3 new pieces...

2 fantasy creations based on wasps (!)

and another based on the work of Klimt...oh I love him!!

This is based on the one of Emilie Floge with the gorgeous blue swirling fabric which I've started to recreate on some pale blue silk. I also have the head and upper body sculpted this time as the dress is a bit cut away at the front. There's a huge patterned disc behind her in the painting which I think is part of the background rather than a bizarre collar! You can never be too sure...lol...so may have to do some sort of backdrop??

I have had this award a few times ( blush!)

Thank you VERY much to those who gave it to me!

I would like to say thankyou to some of the people who have inspired/supported and encouraged me over the last 6 years or so of doll-making by nominating them too, even if they're had one before, a big THANKYOU!! to my lovely dolly friends! All their websites are well worth a visit. EileenXXX

Julie at http://www.bellabelledolls.co.uk/

Debie at http://www.piskiesandpoppets.com/

Jacqui at http://www.ebrennelves.co.uk/

Jain at http://www.giddykipperdolls.com/

Julie at http://www.freewebs.com/jakdaws/

Margaret at http://www.treasuredpossessions.co.uk/

Roz at http://www.lilyelf.com/

Jane at http://www.freewebs.com/willowshimmer/

Joy at http://www.adora-bella-minis.co.uk/

Wendie at http://www.wendiesminiworld.webs.com//

and last but not least if she ever finds her way here to see it...JuneXXX

Henry VIII

Well he is 99% completed now...still want to work a little more on his necklace thing as it's not splendid enough, and looks a bit like a row of tiny jam tarts to me now!! Been really struggling with the faux fur...very bulky...it's been off twice as it was too bulky but I shaved the pile a bit and so he's not so bad now.

I wonder if maybe now his codpiece is too small...but with it being white it's already eye catching so will leave it. ;0)

Pleased with the gloves and sword and the way the hands are working, and his hat...it has the decorations but they're not showing too much in this picture.

EileenXXX

Henry VIII ....Start on the Costuming

Have made a start on the basic costuming for Henry VIII....

All is going quite well except for the alarmingly large codpiece which will need further attention...don't know how that happened LOL ;0)

Been trying out some other materials for the upper garments too. Bought a toy yesterday which I've chopped up as I liked the fur, although it's a little pale so may need to try to darken it if I can. Found some rather nice crispy gold silk which should go well for his big sleeves. Still a lot of jewellery to add too on the costume itself and the regalia/sword etc.

As it's half term next week don't expect any more for a while!

EileenXXX

Henry VIII

I've started a few different figures all at once this week as I was in a sculpting mood, but this one is furthest along. Henry VIII ...such a lot of programmes about him about at the moment, but he's been on my to do list for a long while as the costumes are so beautiful. I would love to do the wives too, but we'll see how I get on with Henry first....

Have done his basics...the legs now have kneecaps and are less wonky!...and he has shoes. I've also decided to sculpt the gloves he is holding in the portrait rather than try to make them in leather...trying to imagine how stiff they would have been had they been fabric, and so have gone with the textured clay...is it cheating?? They had to be quite small to get his hand to grip round them too so I squidged them underneath. Have added the rings too. Enjoyed working on the hands and quite pleased with them so far. There's quite a bit of jewellery on the costume itself...may make some of the beads...somewhere I've some gold clay I think....

The Kiss

Inspired by the beautiful painting by Gustav Klimt this has been a long time coming, but finally finished it this morning. It's twelfth scale, and completely one-of-a-kind, with hand painted silk fabric costumes, embroidered and beaded, and a base painted to compliment the costume of the man. I have chosen to have my figures stand, although I know they were kneeling before, but I liked the extra height, with the base too, which this gave as they are freestanding...unlike the original with the advantage of a background!

I have loved making this as it's been on my to do list for ages! EileenXXX

Details of The Kiss

Costumes for the new one

Started working on the costumes for my new figures...no prizes for guessing who this is based on now then LOL...lovely shiney things mmme!! Think I will just go with the painted surface on the man's costume as the lady has a lot of beads and stitches. There's a third design in the painting too, although not quite sure who is wearing that bit!

Started another new piece today with 2 figures in an embrace...no more clues as to what it's going to be yet! LOL...really looking forward to the costuming though ;o)

All my things arrived today from the British Toymaker's Guild...it's so exciting...got a special certificate and everything!! :o)

I have sent off my forms to join the British Toymaker's Guild today! I was able to be assessed at the Spring Miniatura and was delighted to be accepted. I'm looking forward to being part of the Guild, and to be alongside some wonderfully talented makers.

This is Bruce Wayne from Batman Begins...I've shown him at the end of the film standing in the ashes of his house with the stethascope at his feet which he is about to discover. He was made specially for a commission. I liked this part of the film, a little sad thinking of what had gone, yet hopeful too, planning a new future.

One of the figures I was asked to make was another one of Harry Hill from the award winning TV series TV Burp! I'd originally made him for my daughter who is his biggest fan....so I tried this time to have him in a slightly different pose to the first one...here he's doing the "FIGHT!" moment from the middle of the programme when he invites two unlikely characters to wrestle it out infront of the cameras as they go into the break. It's a point which always gets peels of giggles in our house and I hoped it would also amuse his new owner!

A bit of catching up with this year's news so far...

A little bit of looking back over my shoulder to get up to date!
Last year I joined AIM (artisans in miniature) and IGMA ( international guild of miniature artisans) and DAME ( doll artists and miniature enthusiasts) and also made pages on MySpace and Facebook and updated my own website. I am still also in several other miniature groups and forums.

Earlier this year I had my first figures published in the doll magazines, and had a few figures on display at smaller fairs, and then Dame Edna and the cast of Fawlty Towers at the spring Miniatura show at the NEC. I had an article on one of my Fine Art-inspired dolls in the February AIM magazine too.

At the NEC the British Toymaker's Guild had a stand and I asked to be assessed to join and was delighted to be accepted!

I also accepted my first commissioned figures from someone who wasn't 'friends and family' which was exciting and worrying in equal measure, and I was anxious to do my best!

New venture into blogging....

I've been persuaded by friends that it would be a good idea to start a blog...
My family already suspect I'm crazy as they think I sometimes talk to myself...
....well now with the written proof they will be left in no doubt!
A big "Helloooo!" to anyone who's listening!

EileenXXX