I was disappointed with the turn out at the craft fair, which was under-promoted outside of the local area. However the upside is a huge number of gorgeous new dolls for my Etsy store including Dream Star dolls, Wish Dolls and Either Way dolls. I won't be listing cards for a while (just for fairs), but look out for some new tags for Easter (perhaps for your baskets) in the next few weeks. I will taking my dolls into a new direction - larger scale mixed media figurative sculpture, even larger than my current crop of Bead Head dolls. Initially I will be working on some figures that will be around 3 feet tall, still heavily embellished.

I love the pretty pastel colors of this 8.5 inch art doll. Her body is a quilter's cotton with an old gold wavy print. I hand colored the aqua petals for her skirts and of course beautiful beads, sequins and colored buttons adorn her. When I painted her face, I added a light blue makeup to help her blue eyes pop. She's quite thoughtful - perhaps she's watching out for Cupid's arrow. She... Click Here to Visit My Etsy Shop!

Thanks so much to Susan for including my Cerulean Dream Star doll in her Bluer than Blue treasury .

I'm very honored to be included a blue themed art doll treasury . There are some absolutely gorgeous dolls here that I hope you will check out. Thanks Lisa.

The holidays are past, but you can still bring subtle holiday cheer to your home all year long with this very pretty 8.5 inch tall lady in red and green yard dyed woven plaid cotton. I decorated her with beads and sequins in the holiday spirit. She wears a bright red petal and leaf skirt, of course embellished with glass beads. She is one of a kind in a series. Her holiday themed sisters have all traveled to their new homes. Her festive charms including a wee snowman hanging from her ribbon sash, an epoxy button, and a bead from a vintage rosary. I like repurposing pre-loved jewelry in my dolls to give them connections with the past. I paint all my dolls faces individually. What I love about this lady is her gentle smile. Her bright multihued yarn hair sets off her sweet teal colored eyes.  Set her on a mantle, shelf or boudoir table to remind you of the holidays all year, or enjoy her as part of your holiday decor. Either way, she is there to remind you to follow your dreams. ...

Gallery 9 is taking a break from having dolls in their gallery store in favor of some more masculine items - so I'm free to list all my inventory on my Etsy store . Yippee! Stay tuned over the next few days for more dolls.

I am really rather proud of this doll - an Erte inspired purple Dream Star Doll being made on commission. She's nearly done, although I had a couple of days when I couldn't do too much because of the wretched flu. But I'm back working now, and she is looking beautiful, if I do say so myself. I'm especially happy with her face. Today I'm doing her beaded and embroidered skirts, and I expect to be putting her all together by Friday for mailing. Did I mention that I've been using the ScraPerfect Embellie Gellie to help with the beading. It really makes a remarkable amount of difference in the speed of the process. Glass beads and faux freshwater pearls

I have decided to offer a pair of very special Dream Star Dolls for sale this weekend at Uptown Village Market . This pair of one of a kind dolls were made for a contest and show, with the theme of Art Nouveau. I based the designs on the beautiful figurative sculptures and costume & fashion illustrations of Erte . My mother had a collection of illustrated plates with his designs that she treasured. Both dolls are heavily encrusted with beading, and have custom made beaded skirts. The fabrics are reclaimed vintage and the faces are of course individually hand painted. One is white and gold with a beautiful swirled beading and swoosh shaped skirts. The other is a darker foliage inspired with exotically shaped petals and hanging beads. Both have yarn hair and paper beads. I'm pricing them at $60 and $70 respectively. I should add that the dolls did win blue ribbons for artistry.

...for your viewing pleasure. Three more beautiful one of a kind in a series Dream Star Dolls that will be available at the Uptown Village Market in a mere 2 days. Cost for a unique and gorgeous gift: $50 (+ tax). Here is Believe Zodiac, with beautiful silver charms and lively zodiac print fabric. She looks out serenely on the world with azure eyes. Her hair is adorned with blue paper beads wrapped in cording - lots of fun. Follow Your Heart Paisley wears rose petals and ribbon roses on her skirt. Her body is made from a vintage wool blend paisley twill that I love. Her wavy edged paper beads, wrapped in cording, remind me of cork (but they aren't!). Her charm reads "Follow Your Heart", and offers the good advice to "Love Life, Live Life" on the other. Homespun Gingham is made from this wonderful black and brown woven gingham that I found in my late mother's stash. She is full of love and hearts - sequinned and felt. Her charms include mor...

Here is the first batch of Dream Star Art Dolls for the Uptown Village Market. Each is one-of-a-kind in a series. Green Batik My beautiful beaded 8 1/2 inch Dream Star Dolls appeal to people on an emotional level. Somehow, magically, you will be drawn to one. I can't predict which doll you will like - it just happens. You will just feel called to her. You will pick her up, turn her over in your hands and enjoy the soft hair, the little surprises of the paper beads or the charms. Sometimes the words on some of the charms will be the clincher. I never know which will be claimed first. But somehow they all eventually go out into the world to inspire dreams of beauty. Bright Batik Some people keep them on their mantels, others by their bedside. Lots of people tell me they keep theirs beside their computer. Maybe you will tell her your troubles, or just feel grateful that there are beautiful things and beautiful people all around you. Orange Lady Charms Maybe you will see...

Here are some WIP shots of some of the Dream Star dolls I am making especially for Uptown Village Market next Friday and Saturday. The Kimono and Shinto style pants for the one of a kind Dream Dolls have worked out very well. The Dream Star dolls will be $50 with bonus doll stand (while supplies last) while the gorgeous Dream Dolls (14 inches tall with wire armatures) will be $75 including stand. Also available will be a new batch of Wish Dolls, which make a sweet gift and few other bits and pieces. I'm hoping to have some original collage art mini-canvases ready too. BTW, check out the review about to be posted on my Dolls: Crafting and Collecting blog about the very beautiful "Embroider Everything Workshop" by Diana Rupp. In summary - a great resource for beginner embroiderers!

I'm delighted to report that my Dream Star Dolls in The Gallery 9 have sold. Gallery 9 supports The Peace Project , a wonderful initiative working to bring medical equipment, art supplies, and opportunity to people in post war Sierra Leone. More about that on Lisa's spiritually moving blog, The Human Parade . But the good news is that they have asked for more dolls! Yay. I'm sending over those I have two of which are brand new, summery colored dolls. Her charms include a wee cupid, and a vintage millefiore glass bead. Hand painted petals for her skirt. The other two are wintery colored plaids, including a holiday doll. Handmade polymer clay charms and vintage paper mache pearl beads. Tiny Santa charm These are all I have complete right now. Better get making!

Recently completed and sent off as the prize for my Natural Life Magazine diorama contest.

If you go to my Etsy store in about two weeks, you will find it empty of Dream Star dolls. That is because my Dream Star dolls are going to be carried by The Gallery 9 in Culver City in conjunction with their next juried exhibition, The Peace Project by The Whole 9 , opening September 25 . The Whole 9 is an artists' community with online portfolios and real life networking and creativity inspiring events. I'm super excited because the curator Lisa Shultz invited me over and hand picked the dolls to be in the gallery shop as part of this wonderful event. I hope that a whole new audience will see my art dolls. In addition I have donated a Dream Doll to be auctioned during the gala reception. She is a multi-colored doll with a hand painted face, encrusted with beading, embroidery and couched ribbons. She'll be wearing a vivid mix of patterns and prints, while on her hands different colored beaded spirals represent each of the Four Elements...

I'm very excited! My next article in Natural Life is about making miniature dioramas - and features a CONTEST! The first prize is one of my custom Dream Star Dolls in your choice of colors. Jayn is also contributing a pair of her sweet little bead earrings . We just love making miniature dioramas of all kinds, using recycled packaging as the foundation. Something fun to do for spring!