Spring is coming

5 Figures dancing with a garland

Some older figures which have been sitting looking at me for long enough. I have tidied them into a little vignette and they look quite merry...maybe I've been inspired watching Lark Rise, or perhaps it's the birds singing and the frogs returning to the pond, but spring seems finally to be in the air after a long cold winter.

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