Jul 30, 2008

Too Busy to Blog

Back from vacation a couple of weeks now, but I've been too busy to blog. We had a wonderful time in Williamsburg, although it poured rain on the Fourth of July and we got drenched waiting for the fireworks! But the rest of the trip was great. Not too hot and sticky this time! I'll try to get hubby to email me the digital pictures he took so I can post some for ya'll to see.

I've been busy with the "real" job for the last few weeks, too, but still working on my dolls. I decided to plow right into Halloween. I have tons of cool fabrics left from last year and didn't want to run out of time. My first Halloween project was to create a Pumpkin King and Queen, dressed in 18th-century style and sculpted powdered wigs, who rise out of the pumpkin patch to dance the minuet. Challenging to say the least -- but I'm pleased with the way they're coming out. My next project is a pair of witch cats who are sisters: Elvira and Agatha Cauldron. Agatha is a black cat and Elvira is orange. They, too, are dressed in 18th-century garb in various shades of black and orange. The cat sisters were inspired by a garage-sale find: two old spools the previous owner had been using as candlesticks. To attach the girls, I ran armature wire down the center of the spool. Upper part of the wire that extends out of the spool is torso and head, sculpted, painted, wrapped and costumed as with my other figures. I'll try to get some pictures of them posted, too. (And the king and queen, if anybody's interested.) Agatha is finished, except for a couple of possible accoutrements, and Elvira is being dressed.

More later,

Nina

3 comments:

Unknown said...

Ooooh, I can't wait to see pictures of them. Your dolls are all amazing! I hear ya on the "too busy to blog". I didn't realize how hard it was going to be to keep up over the summer. There's just too much to do! Glad you're back!!
XOXO
Jillian

Nina Mason said...

Thanks, Jillian. Good to see you here again. Elvira is almost finished except for hemming and arms. I'll try to snap a couple of pictures this weekend to post. We're busy in the basement these days with a huge dollhouse for our American Girl dolls. My daughter and I are recreating the Merriman family from the Felicity series, along with other characters. I'm using My Twinn dolls for Mr. and Mrs. Merriman. Samantha has become Annabelle, Elizabeth's snooty older sister, and I acquired a Heidi Ott doll to portray Ben, Mr. Merriman's apprentice. Two Carolle dolls, hand-selected for the roles, are Nan and William, Felicity's younger sibs. I've been busy making costumes and clay food and shopping online for furnishings, while hubby builds the house room by room. Life is good!

Nina

FairiesNest said...

I can't wait to see the cats. Your Halloween witches last year were my all time favorites. :) And the dollhouse in the basement sounds amazingly fun!