Thanks for the Nod

I had a really great internet weekend. Lucky enough to be featured in three blogs, I thought I would share them with you here.

http://girlsavage.wordpress.com/

http://tonjastreasures.com/wordpress/

http://etsygreekstreetteam.blogspot.com/2009/03/theme-for-saturday.html ...

Thanks to these artists and bloggers for taking the time to promote other artists!

I've also been lucky to have been bestowed some wonderful awards.

First from Michelle over at Crow Haven Farms. Thank you sister!!!

and second is the

Proximidade Award given by bartonoriginals

The description as to what this award represents is as follows:
"This blog invests and believes in the PROXIMITY-nearness in space, time and relationships. These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in prizes or self-aggrandizement! Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers!”

Thanks again to all of these people for promoting creativity and that special nod in my direction!!

First Month of the Traveling Doll

I gotta be honest, this post is probably more for myself than my readers. I am participating in this amazing project, The Traveling Doll Project" you can click on the link right at the top of my blog to learn more about it.

I'm trying to keep track of all the dolls I'll soon be recieving and getting to work on..oh boy, this is so much fun. This is the first stage of the 5 dolls I will eventually get my hands on.

The possiblities!!!!!

Once all of these dolls have been sent on to the next artist and that artist has added their own personl touch and flare I will do another updated post.

Again this is more for me than you:) But thanks for viewing!!

Dance with the Boy who brung Ya

My wonderful husband is a southern boy through and though. You may be wondering what the hell the title of this post means, believe me the first time my husband said this to me I thought the same thing.

I've been on a amazing journey into the art doll world of late. Learning and exploring all of these new techniques and styles. I love every second of it.

But every time I sit down to create and my very southern husband is around he says to me "don't forget to dance with the boy that brung ya" Which means in non-southern slang, to create the things that people noticed first.

So this week I've been working on some Stubby Kids. These little kids are soo much fun to make and sometimes I forget who brought me to the dance and how much fun he could be . So in other words I've been dancing to Pour Some Sugar on Me with the very special boy who brung me and shaking my sweet booty all the way.

The Residents of 7717 St. Charles Ave

If your standing at the Riverbend you'll want to head south down St. Charles Ave. toward downtown or the French Quarter, as they say in New Orleans, just follow the river.
You could take the street car but it's only three blocks so if it's a nice day and not to muggy you may want to walk.

St. Charles Ave. is infamous for it's ancient and sprawling oak trees that hover over the Ave. and is indisputably, the most superb collection of great mansions of the south. The Avenue is a place of residential grandeur where the wealthiest, and the most powerful of those who built this great City once lived. The sound of the streetcar is familiar to those who live here as it runs up and down the Avenue day and night. You could walk on the neutral grounds, the grassy path down the middle of the Ave. but please don't call it a median. Legend has it that the neutral ground got its name from early New Orleans when the French and Spanish could do business between sections of the city standing on the neutral grounds.

The house at 7717 St. Charles Ave. will be on your left or on the lakeside of the street, a common term of direction in the area. This end of St. Charles doesn't have quite the magnificence of the homes further down the Avenue but they are nothing to snub your nose at either. 7717 is a large two story home that sits back off the Avenue. I imagine that in it's prime it was a beauty but appears to be in a bit of disrepair these days. The home was built in the 1800's, it is a plantation style home though not quite as grand as the plantation homes out in the River Parishes. The front of the house has floor to ceiling windows which are shuttered for the use of hurricane protection and of course adds to it's ascetics and charm. It has a large covered porch with an equally big balcony on the second floor. The house also has a belfry protruding from it's rooftop, oh how I would love to enjoy a warm cup of tea and a favorite book in that belfry. Sadly though I have never been in the house, so I can only imagine it's interior.

So with you I share the history of the Residents of 7717 St. Charles Ave. It's said that the house has a bit of gris gris upon it or in other words has been cursed. No one knows the origin of the curse, just that the people who have moved into 7717 St. Charles Ave over the years have continually been destined to endure some type of tragic event. The rumors of the happenings at 7717 St. Charles Ave. are stories told often, mothers warn their children they will have to spend the night at 7717 St. Chalres Ave. if they do not behave. The house has changed hands many times over the years and each time the new residents believe the curse will not effect them, but of course it eventually does.

Last week you met the poor Madame Victorene who met her demise at the address. Let me tell you about Poppy Severne.

Poppy Servern had been a resident of 7717 St. Charles Ave. She was working as his nanny when Poppy had become Sir Edwards mistress. She had spent many nights in Sir Edwards bed while Madame Edwards was away visiting relatives. Theirs was a torid affair until the evening Madame Edwards came home early and found the two of them in a compromising position, a struggle ensued and Poppy was pushed down the stairs. The Edwards informed the authorities that it was an accident and the death of Poppy Servern was pushed under the rug.

Please check back for more of the tragic stories from this doomed New Orleans address.

Black Widow Madame Victorene

Madame Victorene is the second piece in my series The Residents of 7717 St. Charles Ave.

Madame Victorene was not bitter, after all it was not her doing that all five of her husbands died of tragic deaths at very young ages. It's true they had left her a great fortune and she had lived very comfortably, but to think she had anything to do with their deaths was just horrible gossip. She died rich and alone at 7717 St. Charles Ave.

Meet Sarah

This is Sarah. She is my piece for The Traveling Doll Project
Be sure to check out the link if you would like to watch the progression of Sarah and a myriad of other amazing traveling dolls.

Polly - She Moves

I have met the most amazing artist and nicest people of late. Mostly through my art doll team ADO. Nicole from MealyMonster recently taught me how to make this 'pin doll' as she called her. She started out like this, with buttons at her shoulders and hips which allows her little legs and arms to move slightly. I really like this style doll, it gives her a bit more character and life. My daughter certainly think so as she can't seem to keep her hands off her and keeps trying to make her do the jig:) Dressing her was a bit more difficult but I worked it out I think.

So thanks again to Nicole, for opening up this new world of dolls to me!! I think I'll be making more.

Something Different

I'm not really a fantasy artist but one of the gals from ADO suggested doing a mermaid. I had this little head started and decided what the hell. It's kind of liberating not making legs, fins are much easier. So meet Elle.

Let the Traveling Begin

I am more than thrilled to be involved with this wonderful event! The Traveling Doll Project has begun.

What is the traveling Doll Project?
This project is a collaboration of artists, all working individually on a group doll. A team of 6 people will end up with 6 dolls. Two team are participating for a total of 12 dolls being completed.Each doll will take a journey...starting and ending in the same place with a whole new look and story. A journal will travel with each doll that will tell the story from the start, middle, and the end of the dolls adventure.

I will carry the ADO Traveling Doll Badge throughout the duration of the event here on my blog. Please click the link to visit the projects blog, where all of the participants will be posting and updating their progress.

Much ADO in March

I know the buzz is out about ADO. A fantastic team of art doll artist that I am thrilled to be a member of. Below you will find a couple of our members work. You can click the links to find more from these incredible artist.

OstrichGirl

Ozlem Akin

filialunadesigns

Stay tuned for more great artists!!