Dolls

Inspired By Sweetness Just Outside my Door.

March 10, 2015 By Rebecca Leave a Comment

Sometimes you find that inspiration is staring you in the face.

Literally.

Every morning this is the face I am greeted to when I walk into my kitchen, wiping sleepiness from my eyes. This little face peers through the back kitchen door and as soon as she spots me she begins meowing sharply. Food. She wants food. When does she want it? NOW!

And so I feed her and sneak a pet while her head dips into the food bowl.

It wasn’t always like this.

Around this time last year, this little lady showed up in our neighborhood. From where she came is a mystery. I just noticed her one day outside my studio window, perched atop an old table on my porch used for holding ferns and pretty flowers on my porch. It’s typical to see wandering cats in on our street. Like most places, there is an abundance of homeless critters or perhaps critters with homes who sometimes wander the streets.

Before long this little feral lady had a batch full of kittens. I found them in June nestled under my azaleas and promptly took them to my porch for protection. Little Mama did not like that however and soon moved her kittens. I felt bad for trying to intervene….my intention was to tame the kittens and find them homes. Unfortunately, they didn’t make it.

But, this little lady has stuck around the neighborhood winning hearts and earning tasty nibbles with her sweet, delicate face. This past year has been a time of getting her healthy, getting her comfortable with the human voice & touch. Yesterday, I watched her come to my husband for petting and soak it up. She’s still a little standoffish at times but we can sneak in neck scratches when she’s eating and she’ll come really close to me for treats. There has been a lot of sitting with her while she eats this past year. I think this spring will be great for her! And I think little by little she will learn to trust although I don’t know if we’ll ever be able to pick her up and cuddle.

Although this little lady doesn’t have an official name yet & is still a neighborhood cat as I suspect she visits lots of us regularly, she is the inspiration behind my doll for this month’s PFATT Marketplace.

I’ve named my doll Mittsy, but I suspect our feral gal would think that’s too cutesy.

Mittsy is available on PFATT Marketplace today at 1 PM EST. Click here to purchase.

Filed Under: Animals, Family Life, Features, My Appalachia Tagged With: cat, cloth and clay doll, kitties, pfatt martketplace

See Ya on the Farm!

February 10, 2015 By Rebecca Leave a Comment

I love designing new dolls. I love drawing the idea on paper, making the pattern. My most favorite part of the design process though–is seeing my idea actually come to life. I know a design is a success if the outcome is even cuter than I could have imagined. I feel like these four new Little Critter designs, inspired by all things farm, are better than I could have imagined (Yes, I know…a crow isn’t really a farm animal..but, I’ve never known a farmer who didn’t battle crows or seen a farm absent of them.)

These little guys are available for the month of February on PFATT Marketplace. Take a look and while you’re there, check out the rest of the art created by small business owners like me.

Here are some close ups of my new designs. Let me know what you think!

These little fellas are currently available on PFATT Marketplace for $40.00 per + $5.00 for shipping via USPS Priority Mail. Click here to purchase and if you are a regular customer of mine & don’t do Paypal, email me for details. Thanks so much for looking at my latest work!

Filed Under: Animals, Announcements, Features, Recent Work Tagged With: chicken, cow, crow, farm animals, gift under 50, little critters, pfatt marketplace update, pig

Halloween Dumplings in Print…Winter 2015

December 15, 2014 By Rebecca Leave a Comment

I was so excited to learn months ago that my work would be featured in the Somerset Studio Gallery Winter 2015 edition. Although it’s been super hard to keep this secret, I managed not to spill the beans (publicly) way before the issue was even printed! Three of my large paper mache / paperclay Halloween dolls were chosen for publication & I have to tell you, these three are some of my favorites! So much so, that one of the dolls decided she needs to stay with me. It’s very rare that I keep a piece for myself. To date, I’ve only kept two for my own collections. This article will help you begin to create your own paper mache / paperclay sculpture. You’ll get to read a little about my favorite Halloween tradition–trick or treating and how the 300 + trick or treaters we get each year, inspire me to create. If you’re interested in purchasing this magazine it hit newstands on December first and can be purchased directly from Stampington or can be found in craft stores like Michael’s or fine book stores. One of the dolls published in this magazine is still available in my Etsy shop. More photos of her can be seen here.

Filed Under: Announcements, Dolls, Features, Halloween / Fall, Recent Work, Tutorials Tagged With: halloween dolls, in print, Magazine, published, Somerset Studio Gallery, Trick or Treaters

Topping your Tree…

December 10, 2014 By Rebecca Leave a Comment

‘Tis the season of all things bright and magical. That is how I truly feel about Christmas. The smell of fresh pine, the twinkle of Christmas lights — it makes me all gooey inside.

Last weekend was my last show of the year, the annual Appalachian Holiday Arts and Crafts Fair in Morehead, Ky. Hosted by the Kentucky Folk Art Center, this show features over 100 vendors in a variety of different styles, categories and mediums. I was happy to be a participant. Not surprisingly, my Christmas ornaments and Christmas tree toppers were my popular items. It is that time of year after all.

My own tree stands almost bare at this moment, except for the lights that were strung last night around the beautiful evergreen branches. Each year, I find my decorating style changes just a little. Much like a painter aspires to a more loose painting style, I aspire to decorate a little more loosely. “Does this beaded garland look haphazard?” This is the question I asked my husband last night. This was the question which garnered a blank look as a response. “I don’t want it to look too done”, I explained. I guess that really is a “first-world problem.” Today I will work on casually and haphazardly decorating the rest of my home for Christmas…doing it up right, then undoing it just a little.

I have some new items available and the theme, you’ll see, is Topping Your Tree. All of these dolls are built on paper-mache cones and would be beautiful perched atop your Christmas tree this season and for seasons to come. And, because I love items that serve a dual purpose, many of these dolls will look just as great used as free-standing dolls long after the holiday season has come and gone. (Click each photo below to be taken to the listing for that item.)

Hope you enjoy looking at these little creations as much as I enjoyed making them. And, if you’re looking for something specific for your tree top, don’t hesitate to email me! It tickles me to no end that my creations get to become treasured parts of your holiday experience.