March 30th Best We Can Do websale

  Where, oh where, is this year disappearing? It's nearly a third over, but on the bright side, something new and exciting is on it's way. Whatever could that be? Why of course, it's the latest Best We Can Do artist group websale! My work, along it the magical offerings of Lori Ann Corelis, Paul Gordon, Nicol Sayre, Scott Smith, and Roberta Taylor will soon be online for your enjoyment and consideration. Please come to our new and improved site (click link in the right margin) on March 30th at 8:00pm est and let us "tuck you in with a nursey rhyme..."

  Above you will find the cover of the little book in which I found most of my inspiration. It was published by Thomas Nelson and Sons in 1928. The rhymes I chose to recreate...

"Ding, dong, bell, Pussy's in the well.
Who put her in? Little Tommy Green.
Who pulled her out? Little Tommy Trout.
What a naughty boy was that,
To try to drown poor Pussy Cat."

"Little Betty Blue
Has lost her holiday shoe,
Give her another
To match the other,
And then she will walk in two."

"Peter-Peter, Pumpkin-eater
Had a wife, he couldn't keep her.
He placed her in a pumpkin-shell,
And there he kept her very well."

Remember... March 30th... Best Wishes!

Little Ladies of the New Year

   I'm a little late, but there is still one day left in January. So, I will say Happy New Year and wish everyone health and happiness in 2011. At any rate, it's never too late for well wishes!

  

   I have nothing new to report from the realms of art doll creation. I can only say that I am working right along, getting things organized for the upcoming months. I'm setting up my show schedule, working on special orders and trying to accumulate stock. When I can spare a moment, I have been sorting through my collections and listing antique and vintage dolls, etc. on etsy and ebay.

   While I am on the subject of antique dolls, I do have a little collecting experience to share. Presents are always fun, aren't they? Even presents that you purchase for yourself, right? Every year, within a couple months of Christmas (when I can afford it), I purchase a little something for myself. I don't mean to suggest that I don't receive lovely gifts from other people, but my "self-gifting" is a fun little tradition that I enjoy. I put my  presents away and open them in private, usually after the new year. As I have a mind like a sieve, it's still a surprise... even though I purchased the items.

    This year's "self gifts" are treasured finds. All were priced low, which is always appreciated. These dolls are not high-end by any stretch of the imagination, but each one is all-original and has simple, innocent charm.

I'm calling them the Little Ladies of the New Year. Please scroll down, see their photos, read the descriptions, and enjoy the artifacts of a long ago  nursery....

Little Ladies of the New Year

9.5" tall... Bisque head marked  "390  Made in Germany  A9/0M" (Armand Marseille), open/close glass eyes, mohair wig. She has a composition body. She wears a pink silk dress and bonnet trimmed in lace (even some flowers on bonnet), buckram drawers and slip with lace, stockings, and one shoe. I imagine she lost the other shoe while making a hasty retreat from a kitten, sometime in the last century. circa 1900

7.5"... Bisque head marked "GK  crossed bones symbol  N  Made in Germany   193  20/0  DEP" (Gebruder Knoch), fixed set eyes and blonde mohair wig.  She also has a composition body. She wears her all original linen sailor dress and hat, trimmed in rickrack, buckram drawers, and has painted socks and shoes... the shoes are in a blue to match the dress! circa 1900

 

A dear little miniature doll, only 4.25" tall. Parian-type bisque shoulder plate head, bisque arms and legs. Her torso and upper arms and legs are cloth. Her outfit is all original and meant to depict some form of regional dress. The red skirt is fantastic, as is the fancy bodice!  circa 1900

If you are curious about the painting in the background, it is an oil entitled  "On the Lynn, North Devon, Eng."

It is dated July 23, 1886... folky-looking, in my opinion and just one of those odd little things I found at an estate sale.

Merry Christmas and Thank You!

 I would like to extend my sincere thanks to everyone who has read, followed, and purchased from my blog in 2010. I appreciate your efforts so very much! Merry Christmas to you all....

 I have had some requests to post my offerings from The Best We Can Do websale here, so here they are:    (click on images to enlarge)

                                       Spirit in Helping
Santa measures 9.75" tall so this piece is larger in height and scale than my usual work, all antique and vintage fabrics, antique and handmade accessories, an actual German toy cart circa 1900   sold for $395......Thank You, J.

Spirit in Giving

10.25" tall overall , so also a little larger than usual, Santa is dressed in felt and cotton, mohair beard, dollhouse and candy container are handmade, candy container has removable head and note dollhouse address, authentic German platform horse circa 1900     

Sold for $245... Thank You, T.

               

Spirit  in Tradition

An old real picture postcard was the inspiration. The photographer's prop sleigh an backdrop are all hand painted and mounted on a single base, so as to be free standing. Santa and the little girl are also free standing. A sepia tint postcard of this scene is included. 8" x 7.25"

Sold for $185... Thank You, T.



The Best We Can Do December websale!

(click on this image to enlarge)

  I am pleased to announce that I will be joining The Best We Can Do artist group for their December 1rst websale! I've admired all their creations for many years, so it is a thrill and

an honor to be included with this group. I wish to express many thanks to each and every one of them. As for a hint to my offerings for this websale, let's just say everything is......

                                                         "Santa-tastic!"

 Click on the link in the right margin (Christmas Spirit) and you will be whisked away in Santa's sleigh to The Best We Can Do website!

Open the July 31rst EHAG Emporium!

   Thank you for stopping by to have a look at my July EHAG Emporium offering! She is the Sweetheart of the Vaudeville Stage and goes by the name of Katze Von Sterner. You should see her songs and dances when she takes a turn in the glow of the footlights! No one does a better version of  "Oh, By Jingo" or "Mistress Mumbo Jumbo." Of course, no STAR of the stage would be much of anything, without a spectacular costume. Katze is dressed in one of her favorites which includes a star headdress of glittering gold trimmed with a soft black fringe (her head fits right through it) and a frothy frock made entirely of antique Dennison crepe paper. For more playful fun and to create the illusion of a stage setting,  Miss Katze arrives with tri-fold screen that includes "scrim" panels with applied gold stars and lots of frivolous gold braid trim. Katze Von Sterner stands 7.25" tall and again, her screen is included. Item is Sold... Thank You, B. Paypal (with id allenwcunningham@gmail.com) is

preferred, but other payment options may be considered. Please email me at

allenwcunningham@gmail.com to check availability and don't forget to see all

the other fine offerings from the EHAG artists.

Sweetheart of the Vaudeville, Katze Von Sterner

Katze Von Sterner in her stage setting

Detail of Katze's headdress,

Her head fits right through!

Close-up of Katze's dear little face

Details of dress

All antique Dennison crepe paper

 

A parting shot of Katze Von Sterner

Best Wishes!

Thoughts on Crepe Paper

   Wow, what an exciting title, huh?! Well, if that title caught your attention, we are kindred spirits! We must be either interested in the media of a gentler era or a little nuts! Either way, I'm glad you paused to have a look. Anyone who is into the doll making and/or decorative arts knows working with crepe paper is mostly a labor of love....

   You may be asking yourself why I am currently preoccupied with crepe paper. I don't want to say too much at this point, but  it will make complete sense upon the opening of the July 31rst EHAG Emporium. Aside from this, I do have to say that I adore the old fashioned charm of crepe paper. It was invented in the late nineteenth century and seems to have had a golden age in the years 1900 to 1930. During these years, it seems the Dennison company of Framingham, Massachusetts reigned supreme in the manufacture of crepe paper. Dennison published little booklets packed with wonderful illustrations and instructions for creating a wide variety of items with their product. Two of these little books, published in 1925, are pictured above. Costumes and flowers in crepe paper are quite reasonable. But can you imagine lampshades, bed spreads, or everday hats? I've actually seen these instructions in my studies. Dolls were also a natural conclusion when working in this medium. I am fortunate enough to have a set of old Dennison paper dolls with crepe paper costumes and a German bisque Christmas doll dressed in holly patterned crepe paper.

    With regards to dolls, after seeing some of the old doll costuming and the Dennison costume books, I could not resist trying to make my own interpretations. I've done this for a few years, here and there, on my dolls. Modern crepe paper can be found by a few different makers. However, I must warn you that the quality is less than favorable. Modern crepe paper has no where near the strength of the old stuff. Expect to tear some part of the costume, just when you are thinking completion is almost at hand! When I have been able, I snatch-up vintage crepe paper. I've been lucky enough to find it on more than a few occasions. I recently used the orange (or amber, as it is labeled on the packaging) on a doll

(HINT-HINT). This vintage crepe paper is like a dream...heavenly....to work with. It has the

quality and strength of muslin and on this last project, not one piece of my pattern was torn.

     I will end this post here.  Again, I don't want to say too much and let the cat (HINT-HINT) out of the bag! Please remember JULY 31rst,  9:00PM EST... that's when the many talented artists of the EHAG Emporium will be unveiling their latest work. Oh, and do stop by the Emporium now and sign up for a chance to win three fabulous door prizes!

Best Wishes to You!

Open the Art Dolls Only Challenge!

  "... In another moment down went Alice after the white rabbit, never once considering how in the world she was to get out again..."

I see you've tumbled down the rabbit hole and joined in the fun of the Art Dolls Only "Alice challenge!" Well, do step in! Thank you for coming to have a look at my Wonderland offering. If you have an interest in my piece, "A Grin Without a Cat," ITEM  IS SOLD....THANK YOU, N. !

"... Well! I've often seen a cat without a grin," thought Alice; "but a grin without a cat! It's the most curious thing I ever saw in all my life..."

  Here is little Alice discovering the Cheshire Cat. Alice, the Cheshire Cat, and the base are all original sculpts in paperclay. Alice is dressed in delicate periwinkle China silk with silk ribbon accents and a pinafore of muslin trimmed with antique lace. The "cat's grin" floats above the stump  in a trail of eerie ectoplasm. Please note the smiling black-eyed Susans. They are on their best behavior, as they hesitate at the idea of being plucked! Over-all size is 7.5" tall by 5.25" wide. Alice is completely removeable from the base, for ease of shipping and/or storage.

Alice, slightly closer

                                                         

Alice's pinafore with antique lace trim

                                       

Alice in close-up

                                                                  

The most curious thing I ever saw in all my life!

                                     

Please don't pluck us!   Click ADO logo in right margin to see other artists' work. Best Wishes to You!