The Blackberry Briar

For Sale ~ Sally The Beautiful Composition Doll

My Humble Arts Offering for July.  Please be sure to Log Into The Humble Arts tomorrow to see all the wonderful offerings that the artists will have!  There are some REALLY nice things this month!

Today I am offering you this beautiful Antique Composition Doll.   She was a treasure find at an Antique Shop.  Sitting so quietly on the shelf, naked and dirty.   I saw through all that though.  I whisked her up into my arms and took her home with me.   When we first arrived home she was placed immediately with another Large Composition Doll that I have in a special Buggy.  She was warm and comforted by her company. 

Recently, I dressed this beauty.   I used no patterns and started from scratch.    Her dress is made of Muslin and trimmed with all Antique Trims.  The one is a tulip pattern and has baby blue and green along with White.   The other Ribbon is Vintage Seam Binding.   I have used both in making the dress and her beautiful little bonnet.  I also cleaned her up a bit.  She was quite dirty.  She is so proud of how far she has come and can't wait to go to her new home.Her eyes open and close very easily.  They are a striking blue color.  Her Hair is a beautiful brown.  Light rubbing towards the back of her head.  The only flaw that I can see on her is that her right leg has some chipping.  Nothing to bad and not noticeable with her dress on.   (Please email me if you would like to see a picture)  Her mouth  and lips look to be in perfect condition and her teeth are made of porcelain.  She does have a crier in her mid section, but it no longer works.  Her body looks a bit discolored, but there are no odors.Sally is $125.00 which includes Shipping ( USPS Priority Mail)

Angels Guide Me

Today and Always.........

Bunny Swap!

Well, the Bunny Swap is coming to a close!   I was luck to get Cathy from Treasured Heirlooms as a partner!  Cathy LOVES pink and Roses.  She has the most ADORABLE Pink Gingerbread Cottage in her yard that is pretty enough to host a Wedding at!  Check out her Blog when you get a chance! 

Cathy sent me my Bunny Swap last week!  I was out of town for a couple days, so this is my first chance to post about it!  I am SPOILED!!  THANK YOU so much Cathy!!!  Here are some shots as I was opening and of my goodies!  Look at all those PINK Peanuts!!!  Everything was so beautifully wrapped in tissue complete with a pink ribbon and CANDY NECKLACES!

She even was sweet enough to include my Babies!  Cathy makes the YUMMIEST chocolate.  She sent along 4 Chocolate Bunnies!!  One for everyone!  My Kids were sooo thrilled Cathy!!!

Here is what was inside all those beautifully wrapped packages that she sent!

The Mosaic Bunny couldn't wait to hop outdoors.  She is in my front flower beds at the moment.  I will take a pic another day of her enjoying herself out there.   The little roly poly has been adopted by my daughter...and the white bunny is my favorite!  He is in my newly re-decorated dining room right now.  THANK YOU AGAIN CATHY!!!  You were sooo sweet to send SOOOO much!   I hope that you like what I will be sending you!  If you don't want to ruin the surprise DON'T SCROLL DOWN!!!

Remember this Bunny "Growing"???

Well, with all the rain followed by Sunshiney Days, she has finished.   I hope that Cathy will LOVE her!   I tried my best to use Pink and Roses....The Bunny is made from Paperclay and Cloth.  I painted her and added some frills and of course a sparkly Rose.....

She is fairly Tiny, only about 6 inches tall.  The Mug was a PERFECT find at a Thrift store.  Along with the Pink, it says "Present".  It is stamped Germany on the bottom.  I filled it with some beautiful pink roses and made a Pom Pom Bunny to keep her company.....

Cathy, I hope that you will enjoy her and that she is to your taste.....I will be sending her off today.....Hippety....Hoppety.

Angels....................

Angels have always fascinated me.  I truly believe that we are surrounded by them.

Some of you may know of Brianna.  She was a Vibrant, Young, Beautiful, Smart and Extremely Special Girl.   She recently lost her fight with Leukemia.   It is such a tragic story.  She will be greatly missed by all whose hearts that she touched.  If you would like to read about Brianna, please click Here .

Her Mother Iva, is an artist amongst our community.  Sylvia Anderson, Colleen Moody and Kitty Forseth have put together a benefit auction to raise money towards the Medical Costs the family has incurred.  I will be participating in this Charity auction and making an angel to donate.  There are several other artist that will also be donating.  I will post more about the auction when I have the information.   For now, it is scheduled to take place in about 2 weeks.

I hope to get started soon.....Any requests before I do??

Please remember to keep Iva and her family in your prayers in this difficult time.  Many Blessings to you and your families.

Dining Room Floor Project

Do most of you have pets?   If you do, then I'm sure at one point or another in their lives they have had accidents in the house......Well, here are my two beautiful Girls. 

Harley the Dachsund is 11 and she has Cushings Disease.  It is a disease that causes the thyroid to produce to much cortisol, which in turn affects the immune system and the kidneys.....need I say more.  She has had LOTS of accidents in the house recently, and her favorite place to have one was in my Dining Room.   

This is Phoebe, my Black Lab Puppy.  She just turned one.  So, I'm sure in her puppy training days that she had an accident or two, three..four...

Anyhow, we had to rip out the carpeting in the dining room because shampooing just wasn't working. (believe me, I tried everything and shampooed that rug about a thousand times....)  We decided to paint the plywood floor to achieve an old home look.  I am soooo excited about how this all turned out!  What a difference huh???  I still might stencil the floor with a Harlequin pattern, but in time.....

Here are some before and after pics of the room.

Tinkering To Much

Some of you who know me well, know me as Tink....

Well, this is the result of "tinkering" to much.  She was suppose to be a Photo Face Doll.  She started out that way.  Innocent, Sweet and Simple.   Something about it just didn't seem right to me......  So, out came the brushes and the paint and now she is, well,  ruined....

  Sometimes, I just can't leave good enough alone. 

May this Doll's Soul RIP.......

Bunnies are Growing

The lettuce is sprouting in the Garden......and the bunnies are Growing here at the Briar......To be continued.........

Gardening...Another one of my Passions

Busy digging in the dirt....I LOVE to Garden!  Flowers and Veggies!  I just can't wait for the Veggies to eat!

The viney plant growing up the trellis is my PRIZED Bittersweet plant!  I LOVE it!   I can't wait for fall to use the clipping to decorate!

Back to Dirt.   I have some weeding to do!

Blackberry Briar Handmade Wares Now Open!!

Good Morning!  I have exciting news!   I opened up a seperate Blog just for my Handmade Goodies that are for sale.   The Blackberry Briar Handmade Wares is a place that I will be selling things that I have made from time to time.  I also will be featuring art that my Sister and my Mom have made. 

My Sister makes the MOST incredible Penny Rugs around!  She is so meticulous about stitching that you cannot find one little mistake!

This is just ONE of her most incredible pieces!  I will photographing them in more detail soon. 

My Mom makes Needle Punch and other Goodies.  She made these beautiful wall hangings using Antique REAL Barnwood.  She then made the Flowers, Bees and Lady Bugs and mounted them to the wood!  Look, there is even a Rusty Little Nail to hang an old Key off of!!!

She also makes Needle Punch Pieces.......

This is just a sampling of what you might find for sale on my Wares Blog.   Please email ME if you would like to join my Mailing List to be notified when anything new is posted.

Back to the Garden and off to the Grocery Store.......Until Later my Friends.  Have a Glorious Day!

Corrine is Finished

Little Corrine is finished after many long hours!  listed onShe will be  ebay this evening unless I have someone that can't wait and would like to purchase her direct from my Blog.  If you are interested, please email ME.    I can send you more pics if you would like.    She is now Listed on Ebay.   Click HERE to see her on Auction.

Her boots turned out just the way that I imagined.  They are soft, worn looking and have that magical look of leather!  She is quite pleased to have such pretty shoes!

She is dressed in many beautiful layers, starting with bloomers, then a PettiCoat and her Dress.  All have been beautifully aged in an authentic manner.  There are even wear marks on the petticoat.  Her dress is a masterpiece for me.  It is one of the best that I have made so far.  I hand sewed on the antique laces at the top and bottom of the dress.

Did you peek at her little toes??!!!  Corrine measures 17 inches from top to bottom.  She is weighted ever so nicely and just loves to be held.  Her shoes are removeable in case she wants to relax.  :0)

Her hands are made in the Izannah Walker Style.   Her hair and features were all hand painted by me.  She is an original HandSculpt.  No molds were used to create her.   

Please email me if you are interested before this evening when she will go up for auction on Ebay.  Thank you for taking the time to view her.  She is really special to me.  If she doesn't get adopted soon, she will be living here permanantely.  :0)