It's not as easy as you think

I had this idea to make a new Troll.  Sketched it out and everything.

So then I had this idea to make it real primitive, rectangles, squares, stitches that can be seen and so on.  Well, much to my surprise that is not as easy as you think.  The first head I made was my traditional, except I'm using a heavy T-shirt.  And that was OK, but not what I was going for. 

So the past few days I've been stitching.  Letting things happen as they may.  Using an applied method, instead of needle sculpting. When it gets real ugly I stop.  This is my progress so far.  It doesn't even come close to the sketch.

I will keep going for a while, see where it goes.  Or it may just end up in the Trash.  Who knows?!?

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.

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?!?

Inspired by a fellow Doll maker

This week I was inspired by a fellow doll maker Sharon Mitchell.  She gave my Oggie some very special eyes.  So I decided to try my hand at it.  Found my Oggie Pattern and had at it.  He's a cutie for sure.  

Here are a couple of pics of the progress.  Calling it a day, because my fingers hurt from sculpting, stuffing and pinning.  

I have not decided on what he or she will wear.  So stay tuned.

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.

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. 

Revising an old pattern

Oh' this is a very slow process, as I don't want to change the pattern.  I just want to update the wording and diagrams.  It's really hard not to get side tracked.  Right now I'm stuck on the eyes, because I no longer have the eyes, that I used in the prototype.  It's those little things that can really slow down the process. 

I want you to be able to find the products that I use easily, without having to spend too much time tracking them down.  I'm very happy with Glastic Eyes that I'm using on the Troll Santa's face.  Time to move on and glue on the eyelids, add color to the face, attach the ears.............you get the drift?!?

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

Jake Doll finished

I'm very happy with the out come of the second edition of Jake the Old Man Troll.  It was actually a good experience for me to do this.  It made me realize how far I've come and how far I can still go.  Since it's Easter weekend it felt fitting that he has a bunny and a basket. 

This is subject to change or not!

I have a couple more older patterns that will need revising and I will try to get to them soon.  Before summer is in full swing and I'm doing other things.  Thanks for your continued support!

Taking my job very seriously

Been working on "Jake" the entire week.  LOL  What was I thinking. Revising a pattern that I designed 18 years ago?!?  Well not so much revising, but creating new diagrams.  I can't say that I like it. :(  But I will move forward.  The body parts are sewn and stuffed and today I'm working on the sculpting the face.  My favorite part, as it defines the character.  We shall see how it goes.  I'm trying real hard not get off track here. 

I have taken a couple of pics as I work on z face! 

Revising Jake Pattern

Well yesterday I decided that before I can offer Jake, he will need some updates.  Partly because I designed him in the year 2000.  Eighteen years have gone by and unfortunately I drew in the diagrams and did not scan them.  So in order for me to make this pattern available in Digital format I will need to re-draw and scan in the diagrams.  

Not sure how I really feel about doing this.  I'm worried that since this was one of my first patterns it will turn into a total redo?!?  I will try real hard not to let that happen.  So here it goes.

Hand stitching has begun

I absolutely love this part.  I'm using an applied method for the clothes.  Yup, it's just what it sounds like.  Hold the fabric to the body, adjust to your liking, pin, cut and sew.  

8 inches tall

Can you stand it?!?  I totally am loving how this little girl is turning out.  The clothing and accessories are always the fun part for me.  This is when cloth becomes a little character of sorts.

This is a Christmas troll, sitting on a large package.  Is he entangled in ribbon or Christmas lights???  Guess we'll find out soon.

Goal for the week

Well my goal for the week is to finally finish my Forest Troll Girl.  Gosh the poor thing has been waiting for ......oh' I don't know how long?!?  Yesterday I attached her hair and made her a cane with mushrooms.  Can't wait to see what else she wants.

Finally some shoes

Funny how life goes on and not every day is a creative venture.  Today I finally started on the shoes.  I'm real happy with how they add to the over all look of my latest Troll.  It helps if you have a good book to listen to.  I just finished listening to Anansi Boys.  Getting lost in creating and the story.  Hopefully it won't be long now that she'll be done.

Oh' almost forgot.  The shoes are made from a t-shirt scrap.  Then painted with Sobo glue, which dries clear and gives the shoe a little stiffness.

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.