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Mother Winter Class at the Castle!

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Last weekend 5 lovely women joined me in creating their own personal versions of MOTHER WINTER at the CASTLE!  Not only was this my last class of the season for the Castle, but I think it was one of my absolute favorite classes!  Using glass domes as a 'skirt' and wonderful papers, fabrics. glitters and natural materials - true fantasy versions of Ms. Winter appeared!  Inspiration came from Pagan Myths, Marie Antoinette and even the Aura Borealis!  My personal favorite part of this project was creating the miniature 'Winter Wonderland' scenes that fits under the glass domes.  Teeny Tiny little trees and houses clinging to snow encrusted hillsides - one is truly transported!

Enjoy!!!  

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Tuesday, November 10, 2009 in Castle Classes, Doll Houses and Miniatures, Dolls and Puppets, Ulla's Art | Permalink | Comments (3)

49 Candles!

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Every year of my life, on this morning I have been serenaded by song, and this morning was no exception! From near and far, phone calls, emails, letters and hugs have arrived - letting me know how truly Blessed I am!  My Mother told me (again) this morning how happy she was that day 49 years ago, at 2:12 am when I arrived, and I told her how happy I am too, that I am here!  Life is indeed good!

These amazing antique movable Silhouettes are a small part of a stunning gift given to me yesterday by The Queen of Ribboned Crowns who always makes me smile and laugh and helped me celebrate my day - a day early. Doesn't that look like me above, singing with Sadie? And surely tonight the golden candle will be lit when my dear husband opens the door!

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Thursday, October 01, 2009 in Dolls and Puppets, Fairy Tale Style, INSPIRATION, Paper Art, Who is Ulla | Permalink | Comments (27)

David, Paul and a few Chicks!

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Its been a while since I have posted about David and Paul and their Old Pretenders. Firstly, Paul's 'Chick Invasion' made me smile!!!  Ever wonder where all those little chicks travel to after Easter?  Well, here's a good guess!  (Click on Photos for better views!)

Now for a few photos of Loveliness!  I have always adored the idea of a 'Dolls Doll'. How about a 'Dolls, Dolls, Doll'?  Just look...

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How small can they go?  The 'Dolls, Dolls, Doll' in the second photo is less then 1 inch tall!  WOW!!!  I can't even imagine what kind of glasses were needed to create this treasure!!!

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Here is another beauty I adore...  There is something truly delightful in her 'raggy-ness' and worn clothing.  Not that I don't adore David and Pauls costuming skills, I just find the simplicity of this little maidens clothing makes her 'Dolliness' shine through...  She is one of my very favorites of their creations so far!!!

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And here is one of their very latest, dressed in a beautiful antique Paisley!  She makes me want to invest in  Mouches big time!!!

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Next is a wonderful and unusual 'Black' Old Pretender.  She gives an entirely different perspective to these delightful dolls!  Just look at those teeth too!

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Last but not least, and just for fun, here is a Punch and Judy set (plus a little devil!) created by David - a fews years back...  Their skills truly know no bounds!
ENJOY!!!

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Tuesday, April 14, 2009 in Dolls and Puppets | Permalink | Comments (12)

Putz Lamb and Cart Class Sample!

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A Putz is a miniature landscape that was popular in the 1800's in Moravian communities in Pennsylvania.  Using clay, wool, and matchsticks, you will craft a delightful little lamb or two inspired by the vintage sheep that populated these charming scenes.  Strap a harness on your wooly creations, and your lamb will pull a lovely cart created from one of the Castle's German papier-mache egg boxes and decorated with glass glitter.  Perfect for your spring and Easter decor!

Fee:  $115.00, includes all materials
Tuesday, March 17th from 11:00am to 5:00pm

Call the Castle at 510-204-9801 to register today!
Hope to see you there...

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Friday, February 20, 2009 in Castle Classes, Class Samples, Dolls and Puppets, Ulla's Art | Permalink | Comments (12)

Pop Goes The Rabbit...

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This dear little Rabbit Automata, is from 1890!  When the music plays, he slowly rises out of the cabbage, twitches his ears and begins to chew on a cabbage leaf - until he suddenly disappears back in his hole!  Available for a mere 2,150.00 pounds from Automatomania in England!

Thursday, February 19, 2009 in Dolls and Puppets, Fairy Tale Style | Permalink | Comments (18)

Inspiring Me Today...

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I am heading out to my studio today with clay on the table and Sheep on my mind!  I love the variety and whimsy of these delightful animals by Colin's Creatures!  There is practically one for each day of the year!!!  Via The Feathered Nest.  

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Wednesday, February 18, 2009 in Dolls and Puppets | Permalink | Comments (8)

Soft Villains?

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I just think these are marvelously clever!!!  By JunkerJane on Etsy via Little Brown Sparrow!

Thursday, January 29, 2009 in Dolls and Puppets | Permalink | Comments (8)

Seashell Mother...

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 My friend Stephanie Blythe just sent me this delightful photo of her newest creation!  Don't you wish we all had a little shell we could curl up inside?  Truly LOVELY! 

Monday, January 19, 2009 in Dolls and Puppets, Fairy Tale Style | Permalink | Comments (18)

Painterly Poupee!

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I really like the painterly quality of this doll by November Girl.  I also enjoy the mixed use of materials she has used.  Wonderful!

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Monday, January 12, 2009 in Dolls and Puppets, Fairy Tale Style, INSPIRATION | Permalink | Comments (2)

More Inspiration...

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These are few more images I've had sitting on my desktop for a while now.  Unfortunately I've misplaced their links, most likely under 'antique' and 'automata'.  I love the top two 'little worlds' or 'folly's'!  And the bottom pin-cushion is just too cute for words!  I feel some new projects brewing!!!

Wednesday, January 07, 2009 in Doll Houses and Miniatures, Dolls and Puppets, Fairy Tale Style, INSPIRATION | Permalink | Comments (8)

Enchanted Sculptures...

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Kathy Ruttenberg creates sculptures that are enchanting as well as thought provoking.  Her sculptures wear many faces, and often tell further stories on their clothing.  A talented watercolorist as well, we get a feel for her process with the accompanying images.  In 2007, she was given the Macy's Flower Show Windows - allowing her ever growing whimsical community a new avenue of expression.  I love how benevolent animals play such a large role in her pieces, making us wonder who is animal and who is human...  Truly Delightful!!!

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Wednesday, January 07, 2009 in Dolls and Puppets, Fairy Tale Style, Illustration - Inspiration, INSPIRATION | Permalink | Comments (2)

Oriental Gastropoda...

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Here is another version of a whimsical traveling 'mollusk', by the ever creative David and Paul! She is named 'Katatsumuri', and glides ever so quietly with supreme oriental grace!!! 

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Tuesday, January 06, 2009 in Dolls and Puppets, Fairy Tale Style | Permalink | Comments (3)

Traveling Home...

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How I wish I had a house on my back, so I could be home whenever I am away!  This delightful doll - house is by another Russian artist.  The details are exceptional!  There is tea waiting inside, clothes hanging in the closet, a delightful sun porch and even a tiny back door!!!  Please come and stay awhile!  Truly Wonderful!!!
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Monday, January 05, 2009 in Doll Houses and Miniatures, Dolls and Puppets, Fairy Tale Style | Permalink | Comments (14)

Caged Hope...

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I find this delightful landscape/dollhouse built in a birds cage full of feeling and emotion.  Built by a Russian Artist its simplicity and charm touches my heart.  The cage seems to speak of confinement yet there is hope within.  And she has left the door open!  Quite Lovely!!! 

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Wednesday, December 31, 2008 in Doll Houses and Miniatures, Dolls and Puppets, Fairy Tale Style, INSPIRATION | Permalink | Comments (8)

Dreams of Snow...

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David and Paul kindly sent me these enchanting photos of a doll they created a number of years ago.  They write:  "This doll's name is "Snowdrift" and she is the embodiment of her namesake: Her grand dress a blending of snow and cloth. Can't you just see her gently wafting through the snow as she drifts with the wind? That was the intention. Magic!"

Magic Indeed!  Her rapturous stance seems eager to catch each tiny snowflake that falls and place it in her gentle heart...  A true maiden of winter.   BLESSINGS TO YOU DAVID AND PAUL!!! 
 
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Friday, December 26, 2008 in Dolls and Puppets, Fairy Tale Style | Permalink | Comments (7)

Dreaming of Sugarplums...

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Imagine knocking twice on an old wooden door, and quietly it opens...  Outside is grey and very very cold, but within - dreams stir and tiny lights twinkle!  Step inside, into a warm embrace and your eyes dance with visions of the sweetest of treats...  This is how my visit with Nicol began. (Yes!  a couple of you knew right away!)  Step quietly to the right and melt into wonderland... 

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Is your heart beating quickly?   Nicol's dearest of husbands, who knows her so well, recently surprised her by setting up her daughters childhood bed ("because she loves things like this" he said) in the middle of her living room!  Swathed in antique lace, with dear little dollies sitting center front, and lit with 'Christmas stars', this is truly any romantics christmas dream come true! Everywhere you look Nicol has created delightful Magical vignettes filled with treasures and special finds set 'just so'.  Glass domes and boxes reveal fairytale splendors in a palette that one can only call NICOL!  

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Sometimes 'sugarplums' take months to prepare, and Nicol's newest dreamland has been 'cooking' for quite a while!  New renovations has granted her a dearest wish - to have a studio that sparks creativity the moment you enter and makes one feel the need, urge and desire to make wonderful 'dollies' and treasures while letting time stand still...

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A vintage chandelier hovers over an old oak table.  The light is perfect - pale sunshine and vintage shadows!  A slightly peaked roof highlights the victorian window that peeks into the garden beyond.  Along the walls old tables hold cabinets, baskets, and bins filled with antique bits and pieces ready for Nicol to create!

Over a delicious Black Forest inspired lunch a mysterious butcher-paper wrapped package arrived from 'the old country'.  Within were not 1 but 62 tiny little frozen charlottes, recently dug up from an old factory in Germany - a recent EBAY splurge.  

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Such sweet little things, 'like angels with broken wings' - and there was the inspiration we needed!  An old photo hanging on a bulletin board, of a sweet cotton batting wrapped snow-baby set our creative juices whirling.  Nicol pulled out boxes filled with ribbons, tinsel, antique christmas glass beads and batting the color of old creamy butter.  With Chopin playing in the background, quietly we dreamed up our own versions of snow-babies with old paper wings dancing to sugarplum dreams...

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Here you see our little angels, Nicol's on the right, wrapped in walnut colored bullion and topped with a golden star; mine to the left, wearing ribbons of vintage chenille the color of faded roses, and a tiny cream colored star from an old forgotten desk.. Surely we were helped by the many little eyes who kept watch over us as we created, and the sweet 4 legged benevolent souls who kept us company as the sun faded and dreams came true! 

THANK YOU NICOL FOR SHARING YOUR DANCE WITH ME!
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Wednesday, December 24, 2008 in CHRISTMAS, Doll Houses and Miniatures, Dolls and Puppets, Dolls Inspiration, Fairy Tale Style, Fun with Friends, INSPIRATION | Permalink | Comments (9)

Can You Guess Who I Played With Yesterday???

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Tuesday, December 23, 2008 in Dolls and Puppets, Fun with Friends, INSPIRATION | Permalink | Comments (6)

Alice Window

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I've had this wonderful window display sitting on my desktop for a while now.  Cannot remember where I found it (anyone know???) but I sure do love it!  

Wednesday, November 12, 2008 in Dolls and Puppets, Fairy Tale Style | Permalink | Comments (2)

Les Carnets de Miss Clara

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My favorite French blogger and dear friend Florizel tells me that the beloved Miss Clara has started a BLOG!  Now we can indulge ourselves in the magic that Miss Clara creates on a regular basis!  ENJOY!!!

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Monday, November 10, 2008 in Doll Houses and Miniatures, Dolls and Puppets, Fairy Tale Style, Fine Art Inspiration, Paper Art, Paris Discoveries | Permalink | Comments (6)

Masks from Venice

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Saturday, October 25, 2008 in Dolls and Puppets, Fairy Tale Style, Halloween, INSPIRATION | Permalink | Comments (3)

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Ulla Norup Milbrath


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