Grapevine Annies and Other Stuff

Here are the unique primitive Raggedy Ann type dolls I was thinking of making. I made them today and have listed them on ebay.
I named them Clairette and Madeleine after the grapes. Their hair is made from dried grapevine tendrils. I embroidered on their dresses too, grape leaves and grapes. I like them. I don't know why, they are just simple dolls. They have a country girl personality about them that is endearing.

Poor old Camel with Wrinkled knees will be heading out to his new home in Colorado tomorrow, the Raggedy Ann doll will be going with him. They fit so well together, I'm glad they are going to the same home.

Yankee Doodle Dandy will be heading for Texas. There seem to be quite a few patriotic doll collectors in Texas. I think maybe Texas is second only to Illinois in my patriotic doll sales.

I will be working on the dolls in the previous post this week.

The character doll has turned into a black doll. I think she may be a gardener. (maybe that is just me - wishing for spring to come. We are in the midst of a cold snap at the moment and may even get some snow again.)
Her personality is coming out and she is a funny ol' girl.

Hope everyone is having a good weekend!

Dollies in Progress 3/27

So far this week this is what has been accomplished. The Izannah Walker inspired doll is coming along. She will be 18 or 19 inches tall. I have needle sculpted her little old fashioned boots. I think she will turn out nicely. I imagine her (at this point) with brown spiral curls and brown eyes. Of course that could change as she comes out in the making. As to how she will be dressed I haven't decided yet, possibly - maybe something with tucks in the bodice and a sash that ties in the back.

She will have a dolly of her own. I needle sculpted little ears and fingers on her - she is about 7"-8" tall and will be button jointed at the shoulders and hips.

The character doll is funny, I still don't know who she is. I sculpted her shoes on her feet. And put a decoration on the shoe toes. I have made her so she will hold something cradled in one arm.

The Uncle Sam is sewn in red striped ticking, blue cotton and muslin fabric. I still have to sculpt his face and paint the face and hands. He also needs cuffs and collar added to the jacket and, of course I will have to make him a top hat.

I still want to make the primitive Annie that I have in mind. She will be a unique and unusual primitive doll, made of muslin and dyed with tea and coffee. Hopefully I will have time to do her up before next week starts.

I want to tell you all that the OPSG (Old Primitive Sisters Group) has their website up and running are selling their primitive creations. Please take a look there and see what this talented group of artist's have to offer. OLD PRIMITIVE SISTERS ONLINE MARKET PLACE

As of now, joining in this market place is still on my list of things to do.

Well, back to work for me. Have a great day!

This Weeks Auctions

I listed on ebay today the Raggedy Annie Doll, The Camel With Wrinkled Knees and the Yankee Doodle Dandy Boy.

I am already missing the poor old camel. LOL - he IS quite the character.

I have 4 more dolls int he making and a great idea for a primitive Raggedy Ann type doll that I want to do this week too.

The largest doll that I am currently working on will be similar to the Izannah Walker dolls. She is not made of stockinette like Izannah's were. She will be made of muslin. I have given her applied thumbs in true Izannah style though. And I will paint her face and hair similar to the old Izannah Walker dolls. She will be button jointed at the shoulders, elbows, hips and knees. She is kind of cool and I am a little excited to see her finished.

Another of the dolls I am working on is more of a character doll. I haven't yet decided what she will evolve into, but she has a very interesting needle sculpted face.

HAPPY EASTER EVERYONE!!!
and thanks for peeking in on my blog.

Happy Spring! - What's New

We are having a wonderful spring day!

I finished the Camel With Wrinkled Knees. What personality he has. I think I have become attached to the little guy, we have been conversing for several days now - LOL. I really will miss him when he is sold.

He has shiny black button eyes. He is made of a natural flannel and stained with coffee and has patches sewn here and there. I made his halter out of muslin and painted - sanded and stained it. Of course he can't stand up and is a bit floppy to pose but that only adds to his charm.

Although I didn't purposely design the camel to fit with the Raggedy Annie doll I made last week, she fits perfectly on his back. They make quite a pair.

I dressed the Raggedy Ann Primitive Doll in cotton gauze clothing. I sanded her clothing thin and made holes in it, added patches and stained them with coffee. On the front of her little apron I embroidered the words: Always and Forever, Annie.

My felting needles arrived and I was able to finish the Yankee Doodle Boy patriotic doll. He has blond mohair hair felted into place, and tied in a pony tail in the back. He has been painted in several layers - sanding between each layer and stained. I added a metal buckle to his belt and buttons to his shirt, and breeches. I made his flag out of cotton canvas, and painted, sanded and stained it. I attached the flag to a dowel and stitched it to his hand.

Yankee Doodle has been around since colonial times, so I had to make him a little tricorn hat and put a feather in it - of course.

What's new? I have started another doll this morning, making the pattern as I go - (that's what I usually do) I really haven't decided on a persona for it yet, we will have to see wait and see wh0 she ........... or he turns out to be. I have several ideas swimming around in my head for the up coming Mothers Day Holiday - I may have to get started on that while it is fresh in my mind.

Raggedy (Ann) Doll Update - She's a Cutie

Thought I had better give you all an updated photo of the Primitive Raggedy Ann Style Doll since in the photo I posted yesterday looked all wrinkled . I am sure there are those of you who thought I'd lost my mind thinking that ugly little face could be turned into a cute Raggedy doll.

I don't have her clothing done yet. I'll be working on that tomorrow. She has mohair roving hair. I wanted to give her string hair but I am out of the rusty orange dye that I use. The mohair seems to suit her very well.

She is approximately 14" tall. Her knees are bent so that she can sit nicely on a shelf or little chair. She is made of muslin then painted in layers, sanding between each layer, and lastly stain is applied. This gives her an aged - antique look.

She is jointed at the shoulders and hips with vintage metal buttons. Her eyes are vintage buttons also.

Well, I just thought I'd let you know she is past the ugly stage and is turning into a real cutie.


The Yankee Doodle Dandy boy is coming along. I am going to have to wait until my new felting needles show up to put his hair on him though. They are in the mail and should be here sometime next week.

3-13 New Dolls in the Making,

I am fighting allergies this week with bouts if vertigo so things aren't going as fast as I had planned. I don't know if I will have any listings to add to Ebay this weekend of not.

I am making another Old Fashioned Roller Bunny, and 2 painted muslin dolls. One is a Raggedy Ann style doll, the other I think will be a Yankee Doodle Dandy Americana doll.

The Raggedy Ann doll is in her ugly stage, LOL, she reminds me of a wrinkled new born.

Both dolls are jointed at the hips and shoulders and have needle sculpted faces. They are scupted and have the first layer of paint on them , and have a start of the second layer.

The Yankee Doodle Dandy Boy is going to have his clothing painted on. He will be wearing a shirt, belt, breeches and shoes. He will also have a hat that is not painted on but is made separate and will be removable. I will sew a little dress, bloomers and apron for the Raggedy Ann Style doll.

I got a great deal on a piece of natural flannel, I haven't quite decided what I will be making with it, I am thinking maybe a wrinkled knee camel to go with Raggedy Ann Dolls. If I do make a camel he will not be painted but instead will be tea and coffee dyed.

The Bunnies that I had listed on ebay last Sunday sold over night. It was a nice surprise to wake up to Monday morning. They are now all residing in Canada. Yes, I shipped them Monday and they got there today. It seems packages going to Canada this week are moving much fastser than those going from state to state.

Have a great week and thanks for stopping by and peeking in on what's going on in the Doll*Shoppe

NEW BUNNIES AND OTHER NEWS

I just listed the bunnies in the above photo on ebay.

I have been trying to play catch up with myself all week. It seems the more I plan to do the more I have to do and the less time I have to do it all in.

This week I think I will be creating something a little more carefree - maybe some Raggedy Ann style dolls, it's been a while since I did those.

I am thinking of making both a boy and a girl. I'll surprise you with it during the week sometime.
Sometimes I surprise myself, It's funny when you start out making something and it some how morphs into something else during the creation process. It's like Christmas, you never know what you will get next.

The Olde Primitive Sisters Group has started a market web site of their own. There are several talented artists who are selling their goods there. Go take a peek, you might find something you like!

http://oldprimitivesisters.com/shop/

I have not set up my shop there yet, but I am sure I will join there in the near future.

3/6 Mid-Week * What's Goin' On

The medium sized Victorian Bunny is finished. Her head is slightly turned to the side, it gives her a inquisitive look. I made her feet slightly larger than the last medium sized Victorian Bunny. She still needs a basket or a backpack.

The rest of the bunnies are all in different stages of being finished. The largest bunny still needs her eyes painted, the smaller ones need sanded and painted some more.

Little ducky is in a the sanding stage. I chose to paint him in vivid colors, as most of the old toy ducks I have seen were at one time very brightly colored. Of course after he is antiqued the colors will look more vintage and time worn.
I can see a lot of improvements that can be made on the next ducks I make. I will add some more needle sculpting and possibly I will lightly stuff the wings and give them a quilted look in the future.

I am seriously beginning to worry about ebay. I have read that a new CEO is on the horizon and that his plans are to move ebay to a fixed price platform. That kind of defeats the purpose of ebay - doesn't it? That along the fee increases and feedback changes has me looking into other venues that I may pursue in the future.

Other news? After receiving an invitation to join - I am now a member of the Olde Primitive Sisters Group, this is a great bunch of ladies who are all talented artist in their own rights. We all sell on ebay - If you type in OPSG into your ebay search there you will see a wide variety of primitives and collectibles that we create. Everything primitive from ornaments to primitive dolls, toys, folk art and Americana art.

I am getting tired of bunnies, again. Next week it will be something different - I think.

Thanks again for reading my blog!

Sunday's Update

I will be listing my Uncle Sam saw dust dolls on ebay today. They are the perfect Americana bowl fillers for the primitive patriotic collector.

I will also be re listing the Mama Bunny and her babies. I was a little surprised she didn't sell the first time out, but sometimes that happens. She is so cute in person, the pictures really don't do her justice.

All of my other bunnies and the little duck have the primer coat of paint on them and are drying as I type this.

I hope to have a productive week in the creativity department.

I forgot to mention the other day, the Roller Bunny Pull Toy has found a new home in Illinois where he is loved very much and will be well cared for, I am sure.