Happy belated thanksgiving

So how was every ones thanksgiving? great i hope...mine was nice...beautiful fall day with blustery winds...my husband and i had a nice meal...turkey, ham, mash potatoes and dressing, steamed veggies, and yeast rolls,,,barely any room for home made sweet potatoe pie...lots of food for just two people, but we made several plates for neighbors and friends who were not able to get out until today...afterwards we winterized the house, raked leaves to burn off those excess calories...
 this christmas i have entered so many swaps, i love swaps but i am swamped with christmas orders and gifts, and of course my online swaps so very little time left for making items for resale...next year i will remember this as although holiday is a time of giving and i do enjoy it so...i really need to focus on marketing...but i truly hate that aspect of art...yes i enjoy the extra money but my sole purpose of making art is more personal than just for resale yet i need to still take a more active role in generating sales...uuugggg...so with that said i will be persueing sales and facebook, twitter, ect as well as my online stores with a renewed vigor and energy i've yet to put into it...

 I've been painting again...i always enjoy that...now of course i've made dozens of clay ornaments and a few dolls i will have to hold off on posting those as  i mentioned are swap items and i do not wanna ruin the element of suprise that goes with not first seeing what is coming in the mail...lol..so today i will share the paintings i've completed, and soon i will post the swap items in detail with photo's just give me another week or so...

I'M BACK.....

Well the surgery went well and i'm almost as good as new with only a few aches and pains but not enough to keep me from my fall creations...oh how i love fall...with cooler air and changing leaves...what a truly wonderful time of year.

i've been busy making some fall witchypoo's and boohags...haunted children of witherspoon manor and jointed dolls i call toodle bugs...you see...toodles was my childhood nickname...lol...lol...

  You'll have to wait on the toodle bugs...these are still WIPS and need clothing...no nekkid toodle bugs allowed...hehehe...but here is a larger pic of a jointed doll i've recently made...but she isn't finished...i've made her a mask but have yet to photogragh that yet...
   well folks that my news for today...hugs...christen

new art doll and fairy paintings

This is my first post since the spectacular Alice in  wonderland blog event held by the lovely ladies and gents over at artdollsonly.blogspot.com...and i have several new paintings and one rather large art doll to share with you today....My mother and her husband came to visit from Ohio...and they brought me a very large supply of art paper and assorted paints...mostly water colors...water colors are a new medium for me and will take a bit of getting used to but are great fun....and being that my original love is painting i have been busy, busy, busy....here are some photos to give you an idea of what i'm working with...see all the awesome types of paper my mother and stepdad brought...wasn't that the sweetest thing....there is nothing like having the support of family...my mother is ever incouraging to brooden my artistic ideas and to go a more traditional route such as landscapes, florals,,,although more than likely she is right as mothers often are...i'm drawn to the fantasy art...fairies, day of the dead, the dark side of life so to speak...although i do like pink and pretty fairy princess's...go figure....seems the exact opposite of dark...doesn't it...oh well what can i say...i am a gemini and gemini's have two sides to their personality and i believe it is often visiable in my variety of creations...here is a few of my latest and all my new lovely paper...

these are my attemts at water colors...the day of the dead zombie picture is a mixture of acrylics and water colors...and my blue sprite is all water color...not sure why she looks so mad...i was in a good mood when i painted her...hehehe.

and there are more....i've really been excited about painting again...this lil' fairy on the scull needs work...the scull needs improving but hey this was my first attempt at painting such a large scull....so maybe with practice....it'll improve...i'm also working on a very large two by three feet painting of mother earth in the goddess form but she is still a wip...so no photo's of her yet....and last but not least here is a picture of my latest artdoll fairy princess...she is huge...eighteen inches tall and free standing...her head, hands and shoulders are polymer clay and her body is soft sculpt on a candle pedastel...i've yet to create her wings and floral beaded crown....but this is her so far...and a few pictures of my living room and doll collection.... 

and hall way...can you tell i love dolls...all kinds of them...even mass produced....(gasp) but i do prefer hand made one of a kind...and last but not least here is a collage photo of my fur babies....co-co, tarbaby and trouble such sweet animals and all rescues....these characters are truly my best friends...and funny too...always a source of happiness...well thats my news for awhile...i'll be undergoing another surgery on my right arm...third one in one years time...hopefully my last for awhile...so i'll be recovering for about a month and then i'll be back to creating...until then...hugs...christen

Welcome to my wonderland

Many of you may be visiting my blog for the very first time and I'm so glad you were able to stop in...art dolls are my passion....creating art is like breathing to me...can't live without either one....over the course of six months....I've been creating wonderland characters...these two are my latest....both my interpretation of the red queen..."OFF WITH YOUR HEAD" for those of you who may or may not have seen Tim Burton's version of "Alice in wonderland" that is the red queens favorite and best line....this movie is an artists dream as the colors and characters litterly dance in ones head and stoke the creative engines ....for those of you who haven't had the pleasure of seeing it....you must...I've seen it six times and each time see some thing in the background or the design of the whole thing that i hadn't quite seen before...much to look at in this movie.

In the month of August I'll be having my first blog give away....haven't decided on the prize yet  but you can guarantee it will be some thing great....thinking on the lines of an art doll or possibly an original painting by non other than little ol' me....but you must be a follower to win and you must leave a comment with a way for me to contact the winner....current email address...I've chosen the ninth of august as the day I'll pick the lucky winner....as according to the calender it'll a full moon...no better day to get lucky and win an original piece of art....so are you waiting for....join...lets get to know each other and share in our artsy passions... 

This is my version of The mad hatter..he is a full ten inches tall and pose able at the arms and knees so he can sit or stand....reason being was i thought i might want to pose him sitting in a chair at a mad hatter tea party or standing in a group with my other wonderland characters....so unlike the red queen he is not self standing but needs a stand which on hind site am not sure i like but originally i had planned it that way....so what do ya'll think? should he have been self standing or are pose able limbs a plus? leave me a comment as I'd sure love some input on this matter and it may well effect the outcome of future dolls......

This is my Alice in wonderland art doll and she as well is pose able and not free standing just in case she may want to join in the mad hatters tea party....she is as are the others made of fimo polymer clay...my favorite choice in mediums when it comes to sculpting dolls...although i do indulge in air dry clay on occasion too...and rarely i have been known to sew a cloth art doll by hand....of course all of my doll clothing and accessories are one of a kind...hand made by me....like this charm bracelet Alice is wearing around her neck....is removable and can be worn...imagine owning your very own key to wonderland and all the magic that it entitles...at her feet are clay replicas of the cakes and treats eaten by Alice in the movie...as well as the drink me bottle which glows in the dark...such fun to create...and enjoyed the magic as each character came to life in my studio

Now no group of wonderland characters would be complete without the white white rabbit....would it? I'm late...I'm late for a very important blog land date...OK, no I'm not actually late but feared i might be because I've still to create the caterpillar, the twins twiddle Dee and twiddle dumb...and not sure if i ever will...well I'm sure i will but when is the question.....as I've now moved on to....you guessed it....the Cheshire cat...and i was just so undecided on how this character should look...i created two...one a Ferrel mangy type cat character with an earring in his ear...cats can wear earrings in wonderland you know....to a fun brightly colored cartoonish version of the Cheshire cat...which one is your favorite?

the second cartoonish Cheshire cat is standing behind a portrait of his self that i painted in acrylics as well...i guess you can see i really loved the movie and was inspired to create a assortment of lively and fun characters...but some how during the wonderland theme i managed to slip over into Goth land which is a darker version of Alice in wonderland....a place where the ear ringed cat would feel right at home and i created an Alice in Goth land...here she is.....

And last but not least is a group picture of several of the characters but not all of them....

So this was my trip to Alice in wonderland and i must say it was super fun....hope you enjoyed my creations and don't forget to become a follower and add a comment for the August 9th full moon give away for a chance to win an original piece of my art....also you might like to visit my other blog http://www.wickedwhimsies.blogspot.com    this blog is just another place to chat art and life...so hop on over and check it out if you will....also a big thank you goes out to ladies and gents of http://www.artdollsonly.blogspot.com    for taking the time to organize this wonderful wonderland blog event...please also go back and check out the other marvelous artists who were also inspired by the Tim Burton's version of ALICE IN WONDERLAND....until next time....blessings and hugs...christen

Stepping out of the box

after many nights of staying up late to sculpt, paint and collage....my newest art doll has come to life and is stepping out of her world into ours so to speak,,,and basically that is how i feel about creating in so many words...i often must step out of the box...mentally, emotionally and allow the clay to take on a life of its own...even when its not comfortable or I'm unable to see just where i might be going with any certain project...to try not to second guess the muse but to follow where he or she may lead....a metaphor for life,  this creation speaks to my inner hopes and fears and i hope encourages others to do the same....blessings until next time....christen

hot summer weather and cool new art dolls

it is sweltering hot here in scenic city chattanooga tennessee...one hundred degrees yesterday...almost to hot to move...but instead to sit inside under the cool air and sculpt has been my plan...and mostly that is what i've done...oh of course i've been out to weed and water the garden that is growing just beautifully this year and to take my morning walk with my little dog co-co and we've had two cook outs....in less than a week...food just tastes better off a grill i think...i also recently ordered a sculpey clay machine on line from joannes fabric and have been teaching myself to make canes...this is a slow and tedious project and takes much more pacience than my doll making....just yesterday though i did manage to make over one hundred and twenty beads...not to bad for a beginner in caning but i  definitly need to practice....but today i'm ready to move on to other things...like halloween art dolls...i miss making spooky creepy little dolls..those are my favorite and the mood has struck me to make a few...so today that is my focus....what creative little thingsa are ya'll doing in your neck of the woods?? dolls? jewelry?  any thing creative is good...i think gardening can be a form of creativity too...any thing one does to chanel beauty or inspiration into the world is art to me...here are a few photos of my creativity......i've not named either of these dolls yet for some reason...i usually will think of their named towards the end of sculpting them but not this time...but each doll is just under ten inches and the one in purple has pose able arms...while the other is a full sculpt...i didn't like her stockings as they don't seem to go with her outfit so i think i'll be changing that...also she has pierced ears so i'll be adding her earrings just as soon as i make them...

now the canes i've been working on...definitly need improving but for a beginner i'm not complaining...these haven't been cured yet and still need holes put into them to string them up later...but here they are...what do you think? well thats what i've been up to...so now its time to begin another project while these bake...and when they have cooled off i'll turn them into lovely pieces of summer jewelry to add to my etsy shop...http://fantasiesfromwithin.etsy.com...    have a great day bloggers...hugs...christen

Goth art dolls

Well seems another month has just flown by me...where does the time seem to go...between art and gardening and house hold duties seems i rarely find the time or energy to blog..right now today i'm in the middle of cleaning my studio and setting up a new sewing room...i'll be posting photos probably in the next two weeks of each work space...one is for my sculpting and painting while my other is all sewing things related...i've put off setting up this space due to no air conditioning in that room but since i'll be getting one next week i can't wait to start sewing and learning my "new" antique sewing machine...yes its new to me but is over fourty years old yet in mint condition all the attachments kept in their original boxes ect...a lovely machine and perfect for the simple seamstress i aim to be...mostly in the past i've only done hand sewing but i'm looking to add more detail to my costumes and need the help of a sewing machine to achieve this goal....i have so many ideas and plans for very detailed doll gowns...only problem being most of my dolls do not bend and there for must be hand sewn directly on too the art doll...but a sewing machine still will be helpful for adding layers to skirts and dress's as well as making perfect hems with even stitches...not to mention other things i might decide to sew as well...maybe some mini wall art made from hand painted and rubber stamped fabric...my head is swimming in idea...but first i must arrange the space to be able to use it in a proper way...clutter seems to upset my creative energy...i need neatness, organization...these things are a must if i'm to create successfully...so i'll leave you with photo's of my latest goth doll nose ring and all...is'nt she cute? and of course i'm working on a whole set of alice and wonderland creations for the ADO blog challange...so much excitement...ohhh i just love art dolls...also please visit my other blog at http://www.wickedwhimsies.blogspot.com/

new night light artdoll and mixed media paintings

i sure am bad at blogging...seems i just get so carried away with family and art that weeks slip by and then i realize i've not blogged any...which i do enjoy writing and i love blogs so i should be very good at it but actually i'm a pretty lazy blogger...rather be making art...hehehe...any onme out there entering the ADO's alice in wonderland challenge? well i can not wait to see what people come up with...how exciting!!!!

also save plastic candy egg cartons for painting

affordable craft and clay supplies

I'm always on the look out for affordable sculpting or painting supplies or any type craft materials really and i must say its getting harder and harder to find good deals that are quality as well but the other day at our local dollar tree...which by the way is a chain store and they might have a location in your area as there are hundreds of them all over the united states but i do not know if there are any over seas...i found a metal nail kit that usually sells for six to ten bucks at wal-mart for a buck at the dollar tree...these minauture tools are great for sculpting and cutting and trimming clay finger nails...plus these came in a neat hard plastic container that will stand up to heavy wear and tear...i also found a eye glass kit in a nifty case that has the tiny screw drivers and magnifing glass...both really good for adding texture to clay and seeing what your doing in tiny spaces like eyes or teeth sculpting...these were sturdy tools not your regular flimsy cheapo stuff...plus i was lucky to find crocet hooks and long razor blades great for cutting canes...so for less than five dollars i got some awesome new tools in there own carry cases...heres a picture...

my new etsy shop

http//:fantasiesfromwithin.etsy.com

the monter mash

oh ...i can not wait till next halloween....can you believe i'm already planning my very next halloween eight months in advance...crazy huh? Underneath this post you'll find one of my favorite halloween tunes...enjoy

why is'nt my blog showing

seems i'm having trouble with my blog getting an error code....who knows just how long this has been happening...i think thats probably why i have no followers...hmmm...how to fix this?

WHATS FOR DINNER?

Its cold and wet here in the Chattanooga valley and the forcast tomorrow is calling for sleet and snow...brrrr...not very southern like weather if you ask me...so today my husband and I stayed in and snuggled under blankets and watched old movies...court shows...and ate yummy comfort food...homemade chicken and egg noodle soup with carrots, celery and saut'ed garlic with fresh rosemary and piping hot yeast rolls with whipped honey butter, boy was it good...plus the house felt so homey with the smell of fresh bread and soup floating in the air...all in all a cozy winters day with loved ones just can not be beat...our two cats Tarbaby and Trouble and dog Co-co under the covers snuggled up...i'm so blessed and to think i'd would have never dreamed life could once again be good..oh, we've all felt that i'm sure,its been a long ten years but my life is finally stable and for the most part...productive...oh happy day!!! the first pic is of a wall sculpture i've finally finished and the second is of our yummy chicken soup.

creepy molly and her dolly sculpt

wow, where does the time go...already the third week into the new year...and i have so many creative things i'm doing...my most recent prodject has been a really creepy art doll and a shadow box....i call it...creepy molly and her dolly and her imaginary friend manson. As a child did you ever have an imaginary friend? Well i most certainly did...and not a one of them was a human...one just happened to be an animal and the other was a friendly brownie like creature who was responsible for turning the frig light on and off...creating my imaginary characters was great fun...i'd love to see any imaginary friends others care to share...just seems an interesting subject to me....what do you think?

I've been selected as a finalist

Its been several weeks since i've had time to blog and so very much has happened during that time...hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas...mine was fantastic...great food and lots of friends...although missed my children dearly as they both live with their father and he and I have issues,,,but does'nt every one?

My most exciting news is that after entering the earth mother art doll contest for the magazine, Cloth, Paper, Scissor...I found out i was sellected for consideration to be published...now how exciting is that!!! Seems it was just yesterday i began making artdolls..but really it was last March, that i discovered polymer clay and airdry clay and since then...boy have i been busy...i've always created art in some form or another but artdolls have been a new found joy and i look forward to this upcoming year to grow and create as an artist in many forms. here is a picture of the doll i entered into the mother earth art doll challenge...do you like her?