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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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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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!

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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Soft Villains?

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

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! 

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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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!!!

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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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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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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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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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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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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Can You Guess Who I Played With Yesterday???

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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!  

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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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Paul's French Fashion Doll!

Many of you know that I have a very special relationship with David and Paul of The Old Pretenders.  What you do not know is that Paul went through some rough medical trials in 2000 and was not sure if he could ever create like he used to again.  Well here is proof that he can indeed create and with exceptional detail and style!  Just look at this French Fashion Doll he dressed, exquisite down to the last details!  This beauty is dressed to look exactally the way antique dolls were dressed in the 1870's and 1880's.  Paul's eye for beauty, color and detail is unmatched in this divine creation.  Can't you just imagine waltzing in the moonlight in a gown like this?  BRAVO PAUL!!!

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BAT BABYS at TINSEL AND TREASURES!

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I am so excited to be presenting my new BAT BABYS at this weekends TINSEL AND TREASURES show! These sweet little pendants (they hang upside down!) are crafted from fimo, and apoxy clay, and then embellished with beads and shimmering metallic powders. Each is unique and one of a kind. I will also have a large selection of reliquaries available for sale. Please come by and say HELLO if you are in the area!!!

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