New little Troll Girl named Olley

Meet "Olley" my newest little Troll Girl!  She was a lot of fun to make.  Even her pumpkin and skeleton are hand made.  She has needle sulpted features including her eyes.  Eyes are hand painted using acrylic paints.  Her little pumpkin is made from T-shirt fabric with sculpted bumps. 

This is another version of my Oggie Pattern.  Which is available at my Etsy Shop.

Troll progress

I love this part of creating.  You have to listen very carefully.......try on things and listen some more.  Which was the case here.  I'm getting very close to being done.  She'll needs some earrings.  Finish stitching her little dress.  Maybe a couple spiders on her pumpkin?!?

Oh' yeah, some color on her hands and who know what other little adornments I find to add.

Pumpkin magic

While trying to fall asleep last night, it dawned on me how I should have patterned the pieces for the pumpkin.  Yikes!!!  Sometimes things are so simply, but I just can't see them. 

I get obsessive when I get an idea in my head.  This is actually the third pumpkin.  Made from an old T-shirt, needle sculpted some bumps and then painted with Sobo glue for stiffness.

It has a really nice feel.  Continuing on.............

Continuing on, after a little break

Slow and steady, seems to be the way I work these days!  Yesterday I sewed on ears, thumbs, stuffed a little more closed openings, sculpted some toes and added button joints to the arms and legs.  Oh' yeah and started this pumpkin.  

Then got interrupted and that's where this little dude or dudette was left sitting on my work table.  While laying in bed last night it occurred to me how I should have cut the pumpkin.  So today I might make another.  And why does it need to be organge?!?

Scrappy, the Pincushion Troll

This little guy was so much fun!  I picked out bits and pieces of fabric to make this 6" Troll.  He has steel BB's to give him a little weight, so he won't move around too much.  

Needle sculpted features, opposable thumbs, inset eyes  and a little tail ornament that I took off a vintage pincushion.  Must keep those needles sharp. 

Oh' I almost forgot.  I needle felted the circle on his belly.  Feeling very happy with how he turned out.

Time to make a Troll

Summer has come to an end, even though the temps are still up there.  The night are finally cooling down which helps.  I've been doing more painting these days. But a couple of days ago I decided I needed a new pincushion.  I had sold the one that used to sit next to the sewing machine a couple of years ago.

It's funny I forgot how much I love my little characters.  This is the miniature version of Mopsy.  Which by the way is available at my Etsy Store.  I have invited my FB friends to play along and have posted the pattern page.

Anyways, here are some pics of my "Scrappy" Pincushion Troll as of yesterday.

When the Troll speaks to you

I know you have probably heard this and think?!?  But my Troll Santa asked for Bunny Warmers.  And I have learned over the years not to fight those requests.  So I got out my sketchpad and then put on my thinking cap.  How could I do this with out making parts that you have to sew on.

I also know that just cause you can envision something in your head, doesn't always mean it comes out that way in cloth.  So here's my idea.

It took some finagling, but I like it.  Yesterday I spent the day making Bunny warmers and absolutely love how they turned out.  It's a lot of hand stitching and fiddly work.  But so worth it in the end.

Happy Accidents

I know I'm moving very slowly with my Troll Santa, but you know all good things take time.  This piece of art is no exception.  Besides I want to make sure everything looks good and fits like it should.

Love happy accidents. Gave this guy a tail that rotates back and forth. Button was kinda loose feeling. Fixed that by adding a belly button.

We ARE our worst critic!  And that is not a bad thing.

Slow and Steady

Slow and steady, it goes! I love taking pics as I go, because it is all about the process.  Today was no exception!  It's still pretty cool temperature wise in my studio, so I'm taking advantage and doing a little work on my troll.  

Sewed on the ears, colored the face, cut out and pin on the Santa bear.  Love how it looks.  Was covered in hair after cutting the Mohair. 

Summer time

Another one of my early patterns is getting a little make over.  Right now I'm working on my Troll Santa pattern. The body has been sewn and stuffed. It's hard to stay focused due to the hot summer days and my studio is upstairs.

WIP, I will have to redraw the diagrams and since it is a digital pattern I will be able to also put in some photo's.  I hope to get this one done in the next week. 

The Day is almost here

Well, in just a few more day I'll be in Phoenix, AZ.  I will have quite a number of Dolls for Sale.  I've been posting them for a couple of weeks now.  It's been fun finding the pics on my computer and reminiscing about when they were made.  And much to my surprise one sold last night. 

She will be a great addition to any collection.  OH' I think I forgot to mention that her name is Olive, the forest troll.  Please stop in and say Hello.  I will be at ODACA Day:

July 16th, 9:30am - 6:00pm

JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Spa & Resort

5350 East Marriott Dr

Phoenix, AZ 85054

Oh the hair

Yesterday I worked on what kind of hair this lovely lady would like to have.  I dug through my wool roving and found the perfect white long Karakul.  Ready to weft. I made up some sections and pinned them to her head.  

Not real thrilled?!?  

Then I looked up yarn hair, that was OK but still not what I wanted. 

Lastly, I ended up using scraps from a T-shirt, cut 1/4" strips, pulled it and voila.................................that was it.  It's just pinned and I will have to figure out how I want to attach it.  Plus I will need to make some tail hair.  Then off to the shoes and maybe a few more treasures on her head.

The Journey continues on............

Doing a lot of hand sewing on this little lady!  Yesterday I started the forest. Not sure quite how to begin?!?  But then it just happened.

I love how where this is going!  Trees are made from a recycled T-shirt, as is the little mushroom. I think its time to give her shoes and hair and then maybe a few more forest things.

Slow and steady

Been working on my Troll.  Letting the ideas come as they may, going at a slow and steady pace.  I really love this process.  I'm using a paper towel to create the dress.  I don't have a whole lot of this fabric and need to make sure that I don't waste it.  It's an over dyed piece of linen that I have used several time on other pieces.  Guess I like the way it drapes.  

I'll post more pics soon.

Boro stitched Pouch

It took a while, but I finished my Boro stitched bag.  It was a lot of hard work pushing the needle thru the layers of denim.  I really enjoyed the process.  I will try it again with lighter weight fabrics.  I can't wait to use it and show it off.

Fairy Forrest Troll

The sketch has been waiting for a while.  Yesterday I finally got going.  Not sure why I gravitated to the green, but I know better then to argue with my instincts.  So far I'm loving how this is going.  I'm trying some new eyes, just hope that I can get the other eye in as nicely as this one.  That is always a challenge.  

Pushing my self to step out of my comfort zone.

Troll King

Today I put the finishing touches on my "Troll King".  I don't ever think, that I've been so hooked on a Troll.  Kind of like reading a good book and you just can't put it down.  That was the case here.  I would go to bed at night thinking how to make something.

And then the next day I'd go to work.  I'm very pleased with his out come. 

Photo bombed, by z Kitty Cat

Look who photo bombed my pic.  LOL  My O'mally hangs out in the studio most days and some days he has to get in on the action.  Today I made the second shoe, added a pocket and filled it with trinkets.  

I think it might be time to start thinking about making the head.  Never in all my years of Troll making was the head the last thing to be created..

It was actually kind of a unique experience, because nothing was dictating the direction.  I was free to use the sketch and my imagination.  Very freeing!

Fat Brown Toad is done

Fat Brown Toad is finished!  Well, you might see a little bit of the drying glue.  This was such a fun project.  I may just do another.  He's not 100%  accurate.  I didn't know they had butts?!?  Mine doesn't LOL.  

It was a great learning process.  The Toad measures 5.5" L X 5" W X 4" H.  Made from one of my Eco dyed T-shirts, needle sculpted and finished with a coat of Sobo Glue.  

Sometimes you have to listen

This morning I attempted to make the front legs for my Toad. Well, needless to say Toad had other ideas.  So instead I started stitching texture into the skin of my Toad.  I'm not sure how many hours I  have stitched, but I like where this is going.

Oh' how can't wait what else he tell me to do.  It has taken me many years to listen to my pieces and go with the flow.