The Blackberry Briar

Folk Art Mixed Media Mermaid Painting

Do you ever get something in your head, an idea that you want to try and for whatever reason, you just don't get around to it?   Yes...this is the story of my life.   The funny part about it, is that I will wake up one day or sometimes in the middle of the night with a burning desire to create that such idea and when that happens, the idea MUST come alive!  Well, here was my obsession of the day.....It is a Folk Art Mixed Media Mermaid Painting. 

I sculpted her face directly onto the canvas.  Yes, this has been in my head for almost a year, but it just came to life today, because this morning I decided that it was time.     I still have some added touches to make to the painting, but you get the idea.

Here is a profile to see the depth....

So, off to bed I go so that I can get some sleep, just in case a new idea strikes.   Hope you like her.

ATC Winners!!!

My Daughter picked the names out of a jar this morning and the winners are:

Jeannene from Love Conquers All

Mica from Garboodles Soup

             and

Lori from Faerie Window

Congrats to all of you!!!  I will be contacting you shortly for your mailing addresses!!!  Thanks to everyone who entered!  I had so much fun creating these that I am thinking of hosting another ATC giveaway soon!

Have a great Monday.  I am off to get my chores done.....and try to snap out of a "mood".....LOL

Please Allow Me to Introduce Bella The Bunny

Please meet the newest member of my family.  She is of course one of my furry children.   After years of begging (from my daughter) I finally caved in and we adopted this beautiful half dwarf, half lionhead bunny from our local humane shelter.   Her name is Bella Rina and she is a sweetheart!

Bella is white with gray ears, feet and tail.  She has a darker gray smudge on her cute little nose!  I just love her.  She is settling in nicely and doing bunny dances already for us.  Which I have learned in Bunny language is pretty good because it means that she is happy.   I also got my first bunny kiss last night.  I was soooo excited.   The lady at the shelter is shocked that she is settling in so wonderfully and quickly.

I have also really been working on my version of an Izannah Walker Doll.   Here she is in her rough, pre-painted state.  I still have some more sculpting to do, but I can't wait to paint her.  I will keep you updated.

ATC Giveaway!!!

I mentioned in my last post that I won an ATC Giveaway at Debbie Egizio's Blog.  I am super excited about it and one of the best parts of it all is that I get to meet her on Sunday and I will get my ATC from her in person!!!

One of the rules to the Giveaway, was that I would make 3 ATC's to giveaway on my blog.   So, here they are!!!   Please enter to win on THIS POST ONLY for the ATC's!    In keeping with the spirit, anyone who wins will agree to the same terms of hosting a giveaway for 3 ATC's on their Blog!  ***  Oops, I forgot to add that I will draw the names this Sunday Evening January 27th and post the winners on Monday.*****

   

Happy Tuesday

Wow, today is a day full of activity for me.  I worked my "real" job this morning while my babies were at school.  This afternoon I am home and am in the middle of creating.....I have been so inspired lately by The Izannah Walker Chronicles, that I feel the need to try my hand at an Izzy doll.  ******The above doll pictured is an REAL Izzy doll.******    I am using her as my model while creating my interpretation. 

I am also busy creating some swap dolls and my Giveaway Prize.  Hopefully, I will have some pictures to share with you soon.

I am sooo lucky!  I won an ATC Giveaway over at Debbie Egizio's Blog!  Part of the agreement if you won, was that you had to create 3 ATC's to giveaway!  I will hopefully be getting to that task this evening and posting the ATC drawing tomorrow.   Be on the look out.  Have a wonderful afternoon!

100th Post Giveaway to Come!

I can hardley belive that this is my 100th post!!!!  My blog anniversary is just shy of a year which will take place in February!!!  I can't believe how quickly time has gone by!

In honor of this event and to honor all the wonderful people that I have met and become friends with through "blogland".....I will be hosting a Giveaway!   Please sign up in THIS POST to be qualified to win A Blackberry Briar One of a Kind "SURPRISE" Creation, plus A Soy Candle and some other Goodies that will leave you and your home smelling yummy!   I will begin working on the "surprise" creation and will post pictures once it is complete.  I will then pull a name for the Winner!!!  Best of Luck to Everyone.   Come One Come All and help me celebrate!

Blessings to All!  Michelle

A China Doll in Blue

She is finished!  What a wonderful journey this doll took me on!  She began with me using a Susan Fosnot Doll pattern and then evolved into something so different and special.   I created her to look like a Royal Copenhagen doll.  Now, I didn't do her justice compared to "THE" Original, but she is my version and I am pleased!  Here is the doll that I originally used as my inspiration.

Here she is in the beginning stages...

Notice her cute little butt!  :0) 

Here she is slowly coming alive...

 

I wanted to use this beautiful print for her dress, but she had different ideas.   Isn't her bun beautiful?  Here is what she insisted on for a dress print.............

Oh my....Where are her arms?   Well, usually the dress is the last part that I create, but this time it was the arms.... Here are some in progress pics.....

Are you ready????  I am so pleased with how her hands turned out.

She is so pleased to finally have arms!

She is now beginning to get dressed.  I fashioned her Petticoat using an antique embroidered table runner.  It has beautiful baskets hand embroidered on it and the most delicate lace trim.  The petticoat is removeable by using a snap.

The petticoat is trimmed with intricate lace in the back.  I made it so that it is open in the front so that you can see her bloomers that were made from the same material as her dress.  These are also removeable by untying the vintage ribbon that they are gathered with.

Her boots are made from real leather and the bottom legs are made to look old using ticking fabric.  They are seperately sewn onto the top portion of the leg by hand.

I have a goal to really improve my seamstress/dress making skills this year.  I worked for several hours on the clothing ensemble for this doll.  I think that it was well worth it and I am so proud to show you the insde of this dolls dress.  Perfectly trimmed and hemmed.  The dress is removeable as well.  I used snaps as closure.

Here she finally is dressed and ready to go to her new home.

I have named this doll Mary in honor of a special doll maker who passed away before Christmas.  Although, I did not know her well, she has made an impact on many other doll makers that I know who have enriched my life and allowed me to grow creatively.   Mary was truly the type of woman who touched the lives of so many without even realizing it.

Mary the Doll measures 23 inches tall.  Her body and her dress were created using a Susan Fosnot pattern.   Her facial features and hands were sculpted in my loving hands using no molds.  She has a Royal Copenhagen China Doll Look to her.  Her hair is fashioned in a bun style.  She has several coats of paint and also has been sealed.  Her body is made from muslin and I have weighted her body to give her a hearty nice feel.   Her boots are made from real leather.    I hope that you enjoy her features and her dress.  Several hours of work and Love were poured into Mary.   If you are interested in purchasing her she is $425.00.   Please email me . 

She will premier on The Primitive Gathering Release on the 15th.  She will also be a part of another exciting adventure that I have joined called Folk Art and Friends.   I will update you more about this very soon.

I hope that you enjoyed this journey of how my dolls are created from start to finish. Please email me if you have any questions.

Izannah Walker Chronicles

My good friend Dixie Redmond has started a Blog dedicated to Izannah Walker dolls, called Izannah Walker Chronicles.  For those of you that love dolls, you know that she is a "treasure".  Any doll maker I know would Love to own one of these precious souls.   Dixie and so many of my other friends have worked on re-creating a modern day version to satisfy this craving for the original.  The picture above is of a doll that Dixie created.   Here are a couple of pictures of re-created Izannah Walker dolls that T of Dolls of Yore made:

Don't forget Cindi of CLC Dolls and one of my VERY OWN prized Izannah dolls:

A Little Red to Boot!

So please go check out the Izannah Walker Chronicles, unless of course, you don't care for Izannah Walker Dolls.....(as if :0)  )

Oh, and be on the look out for an Izzy doll from me soon......I am so inspired at the moment!

Thank You Mica!!!

Thank You Mica!!!   FINALLY, I have snapped a picture of the beautiful gifts that I won from Naming Mica's Gorgeous Doll on her Blog.   Look at all those goodies!!!  I am soooo very lucky.

This sweet China Head is probably my Favorite part of her generous gift.  I have such a thing for China's.   Mica said that she was dug out of the ground in Germany!!  I am so very blessed and lucky to have her for a friend!!!   Guess what else she has given me???

She has honored me the "You're and Amazing Blogger" Award!   Thanks so much Mica.  You warm my heart.  She has also awarded all the readers of Her blog with this beautiful award!

I am going to honor some of my friends with the "You're and Amazing Blogger" Award and the "Spread the Love" Award:

1~ T, from Dolls of Yore

2~ Dix, from Northdixie Designs

3~ Peanut, from CountryFolk Keepsakes

4~ Joee, from The Cart Before The Horse

5~Annie, from Chickadee Primitives

6~Lori, from Fairie Window

7~ Mandy, from Fiddlestix Studio

8~Jeannene, from Love Conquers All

9-Meggles, from The Magpie Nest

10~Lorraine, from PieCake Primitives

11~Lana, from Honeysuckle Lane's Simple Joys

12~ Melissa, from The Copper Mouse

13~Dawn, from The Feathered Nest

14~Cookie, from Rolling River Prims

15~Annie, from Anniebeezdoll

16~Brenda, from Backyard Garden

17~Jackie, from Plain*n*Simple

18~Pam, from Soft in the Head

19~Randi, from Tattered Saints

20~Blondie, from Vintage Primitives

21~Suzanne, from Painter of the Past

22~Sylvia, from Sylvia Anderson

23~ Nan, from AtticBabies

Whoa...that is just a few that I wanted to name.  There are so many more of you out there that bless my life with your Amazing Blogs. 

Thanks so much Mica for your Awards!  Right back at you! 

I am working on finishing up my China Doll.   She is slowly getting dressed.......Here is a little sneak peek at her dress...

This is my 97th post!!!......I am going to have to announce a giveaway soon to celebrate my 100th!   I better get cracking and make something for this giveaway.....Keep watchin for the details.

Swap and A New Doll

I have yet to snap a picture of the wonderful gifts that Mica sent me for winning the Doll naming prize.   I scattered them in different places in my home and everytime, I am ready to get them together to photograph, I lose track or one of the little people in my house is calling my name.  I promise to get a pic posted.  I really do appreciate and LOVE everything you sent me Mica! 

Did you know my Dear Friend Joee James is blogging now?   

The Cart Before The Horse is wonderful!!  Please take a minute to visit her site!   Joee sent me the above ORIGINAL painting a couple months back!  WHOA!!  I was just amazed and so touched.   Some of you may remember that this was a doll that she made and it was one of my favorite pieces ever!  I finally got a frame for it and I will treasure it forever!  Thanks Joee!  :0)

Friends, it is so wonderful to have friends.   My good friend Cindi from CLC Dolls and I took a Susan Fosnot Doll class last spring.   We decided to do a doll swap and of course both of us weren't ready for the swap by the time of the class, so we extended it a bit and shortly before Christmas, we both were finished with our dolls.   I received my BEAUTIFUL doll from Cindi before I sent the one I made for her out and was able to capture some photos of the dolls together!  Click here to view the beautiful doll that Cindi sent me.   I have included some pics of the dolls together.

I can't tell you just how beautiful this doll is.  She literally brought tears to my eyes when I opened the package.  Cindi, she is a treasure that I will keep forever.  Thank You!!

This is my newest doll.  She is an inspiration of an early China Doll.  A Royal Copenhagen doll.  I don't know that I did her justice, but she was an attempt.  I am going to try and go forward and dress her in the fabric that she is wrapped in and see how she turns out.

I will keep you posted with my results.