Playing With Dolls

I used to say, "I don't collect dolls, I just have a few that I really like." But recently, I counted my dolls, and I think it is safe to say that a grown woman with 25+ dolls, is a doll collector! My recent doll obsession, (besides sculpting them) is BJDs or Ball Jointed Dolls. I mentioned in my last post that next weekend I will be attending a BJD Artist Workshop and Retreat. I could not be more excited about that! I am also looking forward to the arrival of my very first purchased BJD. Modern ball-jointed dolls are a unique collectible in that they are completely customizable. They are hand cast resin, and are often made in Asia (which is why they are sometimes called Asian BJDs). A collector chooses the sculpt, the hairstyle and color, eye color, clothing, and the face-up (how the face is painted). Many collectors will even do the face-up themselves. The other thing that makes BJDs so wonderful is, of course, the jointing. They have ball joints at the neck, shoulders, elbows, wrists, hips, knees, ankles, and sometimes at the waist too, making them able to pose in very lifelike ways. As soon as I saw them, I knew I wanted to add one to my collection (yes, to my doll collection) But which one? There are so many choices of companies and sculpts-- and that is even before you begin to think about customizing!
I finally decided on Ange Ai Gaby from Custom House in Korea. I love her sweet face and small size. I also knew I wanted a child doll. Here is the picture of Gaby from their website.



When my little doll arrives home, she will look very little like that photo. She will be bald, naked, and unpainted. She will also have some random eye color which the company chose (which could even be purple--not my taste) But she won't be like that for long! I have purchased a wig and some eyes for her, and have the materials necessary for giving her a "face up". I also purchased some clothing patterns and an adorable pair of tiny leather shoes.




I have been very busy making bears for orders, and I have a show coming up soon, but today, I gave myself permission to "play with dolls". I think my doll will be arriving near the middle of next month, so I made a Halloween themed dress/outfit for her. The shoes I got have a cute black cat face on them and I fell in love with them, so I based the outfit design on the little cat face. I made a drawing of how I wanted it to look. I purchase a Bitty Bethany Pattern because the measurements seemed similar to Ange Ai, and made some simple alterations.I think the outfit turned out too cute! I hope it will fit her. The jumper is black velveteen and I made the Kitty applique from very thin leather to match the kitty on her shoes.





This will be her Halloween outfit, since I hope to display her with my Halloween bears and other decorations. I will have to make other outfits for other occassions.
I'll be sure to post her pictures when she comes!
Now back to Teddy Bears!

I'm Still Here!

I've been working on so many things at once that I have not been posting much, but I am still here and still making bears (and some bunnies, and some knitted scarves). Also, our power was out for a while due to the huge winds the hurricane sent us. In Ohio!!? Remember the post where I was contemplating whether or not I'd give up electricity before giving up making bears? I had a chance to try it out! What do you think I did during the power outage? I worked on bear on the screen porch and in the candle light until my eyes couldn't take it anymore!

I am also very much looking forward to next weekend for a chance to get away and emerse myself in sculpting dolls and surround myself with passionate and talented doll artists at the BJD Artists Workshop Retreat!!! The forum for the retreat has asked for a photo, and I didn't have a recent one I liked (I have lots of cute ones from 2-3 years ago before I gained 20lbs!) So I asked my son, Alex to take one. He took a few, and then told me to hold one of my bears. Wouldn't you know that the photo of me with a bear was the one with the most natural smile!
Here I am with The Little Drummer Boy, made for Teddy Bear and Friends magazine's Christmas feature.



I'll bring my camera to the retreat so I can post some pictures here. It sounds liek we are going to be very busy though so I do hope I remember to use it!

Where Has the Summer Gone?

This has to have been the fastest summer I can remember! I'm sure I said that last year too, but this year was even faster. I don't know where the summer went, but I started back at my teaching job last week. It is wonderful to see the students again and my mind is full of ideas for lessons and projects.
I have not been posting on here very much, not because I have not been making bears, but because it has been a beary good and busy summer with lots of custom orders and one fun show. But the highlight of my summer, and certainly one of the biggest highlights of my Teddy career so far, came in the mail about a week ago. I hope I don't sound too cheesy when I say it is a dream come true , but I have been wishing for this for a long time.Please check out pages 28-31 in the latest Teddy Bear and Friends magazine.

Sauder Village Doll and Teddy Bear Show

I'm back from the Sauder Village Doll and Teddy Bear Show! It was a delightful show. Most of the exhibitors were doll and/or Teddy Bear dealers, but there were a couple of original doll artists present and seven Teddy Bear artists. The collectors were wonderful, as usual, and five of my pieces (two bunnies and three bears) found new homes. Another bear found his new home as soon as I got back from the show.
It was also delightful to meet (in person--I know Bobbie from Teddy Talk) artists Bobbie Ripperger, Berta Hesen-Mensen, and to see Jacquie Pollitt and Marilyn Wagner again. We also enjoyed seeing Beth and Ben Savino of the Toy Store again.
As usual, I was so busy chatting with table visitors to think much of my camera, but I did remember to get a couple of shots of my table, and my handsome assistant.
This is most of my table. I couldn't stand back far enough to get it all in at once.


The Traveling Bear got cut off, but here he is.


Here is a closer look at Jax, Doodle, Flopsy, and Peter.


A closer look at my more traditional Teddy Bears...The Little Floppies, Pincushion, and Simon.


And last, but certainly not least, my handsome assistant Sean(AKA husband, best friend, soulmate, etc.) He was a great help, and of course I love his company. He is not able to come along often so it was a real treat.A treat for me, I mean!


As is always the case with traveling to shows, I was ready to be home at the end. But shows always leave me looking forward to the next one too! I'll let you know when that will be. For now I need to change gears a bit, and get ready to start teaching school again.

Teddy Bears or Diet Coke

The icemaker in our freezer broke this weekend which led me to actually make use of a cute Teddy Bear ice cube tray I purchased on an impulse at some point in the past. As I was plunking the little frozen Teddy Bears into my glass, my son Alex remarked. "Two of your favorite things enjoyed together, Teddy Bears, and Diet Coke!"
This comment led to the following amusing exchange.

Alex: Which would your rather give up,Teddy Bears or Diet Coke?

Me: Diet Coke. (No hesitation.Diet Coke is not really good for you, but Teddy Bears are!)

Alex: Would you rather give up, Teddy Bears or TV?

Me: (again without hesitaion) TV!

Alex: Teddy Bears or the Internet?

Me: (With a little hesitation this time, I do enjoy the internet) I'd give up the Internet.

Alex: Teddy Bears or electricity?

Me: (No response.)

Alex: Mom?

Me: I'm thinking!

And I'm still thinking! And laughing at myself for contemplating a question which should be a "no- brainer". Electricity sure does make life easier, but a life without Teddy Bears is hard for me to imagine! Anyone else out there as crazy as me that you might consider giving up electricity before giving up making, collecting,or hugging Teddy Bears?

Jax

Before I post about my latest bear, I wanted to say that Missy seems to be back to her normal bouncy little self, following me around, chasing Cinder, and purring loudly when she's held. Thanks for the prayers and well wishes!

I have finished the bear inspired by the loopy green and purple trim. This is Jax.


Jax's coloring was inspired by the fabric trim, but the clown bear idea came from Paula Carter's Teddy Talk "Send in the Clowns Challenge" last summer. There were many beautiful entries (I made a panda clown that I was quite pleased with) but Paula herself made several fabulous clown bears which had incorporated clothing like this. I thought, "What a wonderful way to use up pieces of mohair which were too small for a large bear, but to long and thick for a smaller bear." (It's also a nice way to use up yards and yards of white mohair you have special ordered with out making all white bears.) I had asked Paula if she would mind if I used the idea, and she said, go for it. So, a year later, here he is--Jax--a clown bear Tami-style. Be sure to visit Paula's blog (You'll find link to the right.) if you'd like to see more wonderful clown bears.

Studio Cat

Since we got Missy in April, she is always right there with me when I am working; curled up in my lap, intently watching me cut out mohair parts, chasing bits of stuffing, stealing the show in bear photographs, or sleeping in her little bed lined in Teddy Fur. In case you couldn't tell by how often she appears in this blog, I love having her near me. Cinder, our big boy is wonderful as well but at 17lbs he's not much of a lap cat!

But danger lurks in a Teddy Studio for a curious kitten! I knew that kittens, like baby humans, put anything in their mouths, so I was sure to be extra careful about putting my things away after working. My studio is an open room that the cats must pass through to the unfinished part of the basement where their litter box is.

Apparently, I was not careful enough! When we took Missy to the vet yesterday because she would not eat and was throwing up, we thought it might be complications from her spaying surgery last week. But the vet took some x-rays and said "linear foreign body". Linear foreign body? I questioned. "Like thread, string, or ribbon" he answered. Oh no!It's my fault my kitty is sick. Where else but my studio would she get into thread, string, or ribbon?

He said that string or similar would not show up on the X-ray, only evidence of it in the form of little air bubbles in the intestine. Missy has special high nutrient food and medicine for nausia and for helping the foreign body pass and thankfully she does seem to be improving (no more vomiting, and she wants to eat and the photo above was taken today), because if she doesn't, it would mean "exploratory surgery". Please say a prayer for Missy so she won't need surgery and check your own studio or home for pet dangers.