You Should Always Wear A Flower

Two little Zombies and two little Vampires waiting for hair.

I often wonder at other people. I wonder how such pretty young girls can feel they need to wear such skimpy clothing for example. Blue with cold and shivering while thinking they look attractive. And I wonder at the cluelessness of the answers you can receive to a simple question. Like the price of an item at a fair that your then made to feel guilty about as the stall holder hadn't checked her pricing before putting an item out.
But most of all, the most irritating and annoying thing of all that makes me wonder, is why is it some people go through life being so mean?

Lucrizia Borgia - Just waiting on a lace delivery so I can carry on.

I'm not for a minute suggesting here that anyone has been really mean to me directly or about my art work. I'm a big girl and I can stick up for myself ;)
But you know the person that only has to walk into a room to get your back up. The one you avoid dealing with at all costs, and do your best never run into???  Them. What's up with them?

Aahhhh! Lollypop heads!!!!! Can you spot my littel devil?

I often think to myself that I'm anti-social. That I don't like people and want to be a hermit doing my own thing and being left alone by the world. But that isn't true. I'm very humbled to know and to have met many lovely people. I have wonderful friends and family and get to talk to amazingly creative and intelligent people all over the world. My recent birthday really showed my just how much I'm cared for. I was really spoilt rotten with wonderful cards and gift and messages and I felt like a princess.
Making my dolls has also led me to meet and talk to a huge range of lovely people that I find hugely inspiring and supportive. So No, I've decided I'm not anti-social. I like people, just not the rude ones.

I love these wonderful Orange eyes <3

I learnt something about myself a few years ago that many of you will understand and know about yourselves already. I'm just odd! And odd is good :)
Why would anyone want to be like someone else? How could we all manage here on earth if we all did and thought the same way? We'd be extinct in no time!
My husband jokes that I'm no longer able to look after myself but he's partly to blame :) I'm lucky to have the most supportive man as part of my life that puts up with me and my strange ideas and odd habits, and also dolls in all shapes and forms and in all various states of undress and states of completion. Even at this moment he has to put up with my mess as I dive into another huge sculpting session. I don't even notice it, but he's very good at ignoring the table tops covered in severed heads, and the rows and rows of limbs hanging from boards propped up on top of the radiators so that the cats can't get at them (the kitten likes to chew!). At least he doesn't mind for a little while and what more can anyone expect.

Limbs!

I'll just never understand why there are still some people in this world that feel they have to fight against everything and everyone around them. Why do they feel that asking nicely or cracking a smile now and then is such a bad thing? And Why, oh why do I have to put up with their crap?????????

Lady of The Lake to be at the top.

Bring back the days when general politeness was the norm. And while your at it make it acceptable for me to wear white gloves whenever I feel like it too :) (not that anything stops me).
Make it socially acceptable for us to turn round on these people and tell them what for or give them a taste of their own attitudes. I want to tell these idiots that my life is stressful enough without their shit on top of it so stop wining and demanding and talk to the rest of the world like an adult. You think you have crap? Well pull up a chair and me and my friends will tell you the proper tale of crap that we all deal with daily and don't go around bitching about like you!

Please excuse my rambling rant my lovely readers. None of you are included with these mad strange things that can't function in society as I know your all lovely :)
My photos have nothing to do with what I'm saying today I know, but I though as this is supposed to be a blog about my dolls I'd include some photos of what I've been making recently :)
Hope your all well and well loved :) Now go wear a flower for the rest of the day and see just how much it can make you smile :)
xxx

Lucrizia and a little seamstress.

Creepy Coffin Dolls - Zombie And Vampire Fun

Where does the time go?
I'm sitting here looking at the beautiful sunshine outside wishing my day away so I can get home to my sewing and dolls. As usual I'm a busy girl with lots to do, but I've given myself this week to work more on my Elizabeth I doll, sewing on more medallions and beads. She's getting heavier and heavier, and the more weight I add the more astounded I am these women could do anything at all. They must have had huge thigh and shoulder muscles!!!
I'm also waiting for something rather special to arrive from America. I was very naughty, but I'm sure you'll all understand how it is to fall in love with a doll. And the second I saw Loopy Boopy's wonderful Minny I knew she had to come live with me. I'm so excited to meet her in person :)

At the moment I'm waiting on delivery of new supplies so I can start my next big sculpting session, and as well as the usual wood and clay I'm getting some modellers strong strip wood to make up some coffins for a new series of peg dolls I'm planning. So I've been working on some quiet sewing of another 1500's doll in the meantime, but this one a very different lady.
If you've not heard of Lucretia Borgia I'd highly recommend a quick look at Wikipidia to read about this ambitious, murderous, scheming woman and her blood thirsty family.

I had the idea to make some cute creepy characters like vampires and zombies in their very own little coffins. And got myself some thicker wood to have a go first in a bigger size. A lady on Facebook was interested in a zombie for her daughter so I had a great excuse to get the tools out and start working on how to get all those angles right. It's amazing how the past can come up and give you a kick sometimes, and I found myself digging about looking for my old technical illustration tools to help me in my plans. It's been so long I was amazed I still remembered how to use them all, but I guess when you really want to make something then it'll get made one way or the other :)

This little doll to go inside is named Zoe (I know it's cheesy - Zoe the Zombie), and I dressed her in some drawers and a shift with a torn petticoat and corset under her bodice and torn skirts. Then I got to go to town tearing, staining and generally grunging her up to look like she'd crawled out of the ground.
I also took my sharp needles out and gave her some scars and nasty wounds which I painted with blood and thick gloss to get them all gooey and disgusting. I have to make more of these. They are so much fun :)

Once I'd finished Zoe I looked around my few unfinished dolls and it suddenly occurred to me that this was just the project I've needed to finish my doll Bound.
She's never looked quite right to me, although she was just as I set out to make her. But as soon as I saw her with a coffin I knew that I'd missed out on the fact that Bound was a vampire. An hour later there she was - New sharp shinny fangs gleaming, her rope exchanged for chains, laying in her coffin with a hand cut crucifix and a sharpened stake for just in case.
If your interested in Bound she'll be on offer to my Blog readers only until the 11th June priced at £45 instead of £65. Just get in touch so I can adjust her listing for you if your interested :)

I can't wait to get started on my next sculpting session, although my Hubby would rather not have to act as my vice holding tiny arms and legs still so I can drill through them to be jointed. And while I'm doing that I'll be able to make up some mini Vamps and Zombies to add to my shop.
Hope your all having fun :)
xxx

Ichabod Crane, Jack The Ripper, And A Box Of Treasure

You might remember that a while ago I made a Jack The Ripper doll and was very please to see him snapped up by someone within a few weeks of being listed. So I thought I'd make another one in my largest size so that I could include even more fine detail and make a really nicely weighted doll.

So, who was Jack The Ripper? And why are we fascinated by the Whitechapel Murders? Jack is an almost mythical character - no-one knows who he was, and there are thousands of theories out there. Was it one man, or a gang? A medical man or a knowledgeable maniac? A man or a woman?
The only certain thing is that whoever he or they were they were almost the sickest and most disturbed killer in British History. And defiantly the most mysterious and successful uncaught serial killers.

I didn't really know where I was going when I started my Jack. He's one of those dolls I've always wanted to make, but one that I've always been uncertain of. Trying to decide how I would portray him was a nightmare in itself, let alone the nightmares I've been getting from the research - And I'm not easily frightened. The facts of these killings are horrendous, and I avoided the one I knew will upset me most before I could face it - poor Mary Kelly.

As I started making my doll Jack took on a life of his own. I started out thinking I was making a scruffy, dishevelled dirty looking killer as for some reason when I think of him that's what I see. But he's had other ideas and has turned into very much the imagined Victorian image of himself.
It's a very interesting history. And I'd highly recommend it if you can stomach the gruesome facts.

Jack wears dark grey trousers and waistcoat over his white cotton underwear and shirt. His stiff white collar was attached separately, and he has a smart dark red satin cravat. His double breasted coat and waistcoat is black with shiny buttons and a watch chain. And over all he has a cape to keep off the rain. On his head is a very tall top hat in black, and in his hand he carries the knife with which he carried out his dreadful murders.
Please be aware that this knife, although small, is sharp as it's made from a saw blade and should be kept away from children and pets.

As well as finishing Jack this week I've been working on a commission doll of Ichabod Crane for a lady that shares my love of Johnny Depp films :)
My list of characters to make just keeps growing and growing and Ichabod is again one of those I've always wanted to make but never had. So I really enjoyed working on him and his mad glasses, sewing tiny detailed collar and waistcoat for him and researching (getting to watch the film again :) to make sure I got his clothes as close to the film costume as I could.

As usual i started with white cotton drawers and shirt, sewing the collar and cuffs separately and attaching them after the body and sleeves to make sure that had that nice starched look. I'd always though he had lacy dropping cuffs but I was wrong, and long straight ones that covered the back of his hands were what was needed. Think I might have been getting him mixed up with Barnabus, who I have to make at some point too :)

He has a fitted waistcoat with a high neck just below his cravat knot, with plain black buttons down the front, and his coat made to match with a high standing collar, buttons and pockets.
I made him a little Gladstone style back and used a pair of old china doll glasses, watch parts and new glass domed bubbles to make his glasses. They can be tied onto his head for display or folded up neatly beside him.

After days of worrying and wondering where my parcel from Lovely Linda could be it finally arrived on Wednesday and I had such a surprise.
From this neatly taped and labelled box there came an absolute wave of beautiful treasure. It just kept coming and coming and I've no idea how she managed to fit it all in there. I felt like a pirate with his treasure, or a king in his counting house. So much gold and silver shining, so many pearls and moonstones and pretty delicate beads. So many shapes and sizes and trims and flowers and .........

I started by sewing the intricate double layered two tone wire lace panels to the front of Beth's skirts. And she immediately began to look so wonderful I just couldn't take my eyes from her.

After that I added a beautiful delicate string of pearls and moonstones all around her hem, and started pinning things into place on the back and front sides of her train and skirts.
I'm just so lucky to have found such a wonderful woman, and true friend, in Linda. What she does is pure magic, and no matter what kind of bumbling ideas I came up with she turned them all into perfect priceless tiny pieces of treasure to adorn my Elizabeth I.
I'm not going to show pics of her here yet as this is just the first layer of beauty I get to add to her. After these main motifs I have hundreds of tiny, perfect, wire flowers to sew onto her gown with tiny beads at their centres. And I can't wait to get back to working on Linda's Cerridwen in the hope that I might just be able to thank her for helping me make my Beth so perfect.

Ichabod Crane and Waiting Patiently

I've been as busy as usual, and am always looking for more time to make dolls. Life just gets in the way and takes over, but I have been busy on two new dolls recently. The first is a custom Ichabod Crane doll for the lovely Michelle :)
Here he is almost complete. Just a little touch of gloss and a final drying period for his mad glasses :)

He's dressed quite simply in a white shirt and cravat, with black trousers, waistcoat and coat. But the tailoring was a bit of a challenge to make him look just right. And I have to admit to having a bit of fight with his first coat. I won of course, and that nasty piece got thrown away so I could start over. There was no saving it, and this second attempt looks much better I think.

To finish him off I also made a small black Gladstone shape bag like the one he carried in the film Sleepy Hollow, full of his tools and inventions. And I tried my hand at making his mad glasses too. As you can see I had to add a bridge piece to add strength, and I think they may need further strengthening before I can finish the fit of them so they sit neatly.

As well as working on Ichabod I've been making another Jack The Ripper. This one in my largest size.
He's almost done too, and only needs his long sharp knife and a few bits and pieces to see him become that terrible fiend.
He has a white shirt and dark red silk cravat under a black waistcoat and jacket, with a cloak over the top around his shoulders. I made him a tall top hat and added a watch chain to his waistcoat pockets.

It's been a wet dark week here in soggy South Wales so I've not been able to get any decent photos to show you all, but as soon as I see some sun I'll take some nice ones to share with you all.

My next project is a set of Alice in Wonderland Peg Dolls to fill up my quota of small dolls ready for the summer events that are approaching fast. And I'm hoping to have the first three or four added to my shop this coming weekend. I've started with Alice, The Queen and the Hatter, but there will be a version of the White Rabbit (with a twist) as well as the Tweedle boys and maybe a Mad March Hare :)

Did I show you my Charlotte Bronte?
I think I've forgotten to share her here so here she is :)

She's listed already and available from my shop - www.NatashaMorgan.etsy.com

And finally... I've had an idea to make some small size jointed dolls and peg dolls of some classic spooky characters in their own little coffins. So get ready for Vampires, Zombies and Ghouls coming soon :)

As you can see I just can't stop my brain working at the moment. And most of it is due to me knowing that Linda has sent to beautiful finished wire lace she's been making for my Elizabeth I.
It should be here any day and I'm on pins to see it all and see how it all looks against the doll herself.
Please bring me patients to wait just a little longer.
And hurry Mr Postman!!! My Beth needs her Bling!!!

The Queen of Hearts

A Lazy Post of photos this week I'm afraid. It's May Day, the sun is shining and the garden beckons. I hope you like my Queen of Hearts :) xxx

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Husbands Horror Doll Request

I always give full credit and much appreciation to my lovely husband. He gives me endless support, puts up with my tempers when things go wrong, complains very little when dollies spread out all over the house and pretty much puts up with my mad, creative, living in the past, off my head self.

For his birthday this year I asked him if he'd like me to make him a doll of his very own. And while his answer wasn't a massive surprise I have to admit that the character he chose had me worried.
Being a huge Batman fan my lovely geeky hubby asked me for a doll of The Joker.
Specifically the one played by Heath Ledger, with his purple suit and deeply scared face, green dirty hair and make-up on his collars. So that's what I set out to make him.

Taking my dibber thing (bradawl) to one of my dolls faces has to be one of the scariest things I think I've had to do to one of them. Give me tiny collars, corsets, mis-behaving fabrics and nightmare tailoring anytime over having to do that again. Especially in such an eye-catching area as their mouth. I sat there in a sweat gently scraping through paint, varnish and clay till I had a pretty impressive ear to ear smiling scar carved into his face. And as soon as I'd done it my once smart looking man turned instantly into the cold blooded psychotic killer I was making. Even before I'd added his face paint!

Next came that of course - the face-paint. And I applied scrubbed off layers of white to his face so that the skin tone showed through in places. More mad eye-liner and a deep red pained lip-stain across his mouth and scars. Finishing him off with gloss and varnish to seal him. He looked Nuts!!!!
This one even gave me the creeps. And I know, I know my dolls are considered creepy by many, but I don't normally find them creepy myself.
It was something in his eyes and expression after the paint was added that did it, but Husband was happy and that all that mattered to me.

Next came his undies, just a little pair of boxers and something around his arm joints to tighten them up a little. And a shirt in blue cotton that had to be painted with fine spidery lines (trust me you can go check. His shirt has a pattern on it :S).Then a black cravat style tie that needed tiny white embroidery added to it, and a green waistcoat.
Easy so far, right?
No. We had a disagreement on whether or not The Joker's long purple coat was the jacket of his suit or an overcoat. I said not and Hubby says yes, so we had a frantic hour searching through Goggle Images so I could prove myself right and find the pic that I'd originally seen that shows the lovely Mr Ledger's coat open and a blue suit jacket beneath his purple overcoat. That got made and his overcoat too, and all you can see of the blue is a tiny line around the edge that I've tried to arrange in the pics so you can see it at all :)

I scuffed him up a bit and added paint for dirt and white watercolour pencil around his collars to look like make-up worn off his chin. Then added his feather hair in beige, green and mossy colours to make it look like the die was wearing off, slicking it back with hairspray to make it appear greasy.
He's still waiting for the chair I'll be making him from some vintage playing cards (Jokers of course), but he's sitting happily on our mantle scaring our visitors as they come through the door. I don't make many dolls so specific to my customers wants, but I don't think I'll be scared of any proposals after this for a while :)
I love to make my Cris smile :)
xxx

The Beauty of White Cotton

What is it about a good piece of fine white cotton fabric, perfectly clean and fluff free, spread out in front of me waiting to be turned into all sorts of underwear for my Victorian ladies?

There's something so appealing about it. Something that just grabs my attention and holds my imagination as I think up all the different shapes and styles, trying to decide what each doll needs and how I'll be able to trim them in ribbon and lace.

I always start my dolls this way. Only sometimes changing to a different colour when the lady demands it. Only listening to her when it comes to frills and trimmings. Just that blank white expanse of fabric in front of me waiting for a mark, a pin, a fold, a cut...

Before I know it I have a pair of wide split drawers, a gathered of fitted shift or lacy chemise, a corset, a petticoat. All working together to build up the shape and design of the finished gown, building curves and shape onto my skinny little dolls bodies. Giving them hips and a waist, protecting joints and starting the support for all manner of dress shapes.

Working with so much of the stuff I always try to buy good quality, not too thick with a good tight weave, occasionally changing to white cotton lawn or silk, but always starting with that big clean piece of white fabric in front of me. Chasing away the cats so that not a hair will mare it's surface. Making sure my hands and needles are clean and dry so I won't spoil it with a mark of make-up or dust. Searching for the best way to cut it so as not to spoil and make sure I get as much use from the meterage as I can. Saving every little scrap so I know I always have a piece to make that tiny collar or cuff later on. Folding, cutting, gathering and pleating - Turning that sheet of white into small items of underwear for my dolls while I dream and imagine what her final gown will look like.

Maybe she'll need a Hoop Crinoline. Maybe a corded stiff petticoat or row after row of ruffles and frills, or something built up at the back to help support a bustle. Perhaps she should have embroidery, or lace. Maybe plain and simple. Whatever she needs I can change and form that whiteness into what I need.

It's the one fabric I can't do without. The one that I make sure to never run short of. And the one fabric I always go back to :)