The newest addition to my family of handmade dolls is evolving.

 I kind of love her.

 She has painted stockings, and a hand-sewn dress and hat.

She is my first doll with jointed arms and legs.
She is 8.5" tall when standing, created from hand-carved natural clay, papier maché, copper wire, water-based paint, hand-dyed and hand-sewn muslin and cotton terry cloth.  She is jointed with black elastic.

ps - as per many messages I have received since posting, she is not yet in the shop. She is still waiting on the creation of her personal box and story. I will post more when she's finished and ready to make her appearance in my shop!

 A little glimpse of the next doll to go in my shop...this one, as you can see, jointed.

There's something alchemical about doll making...it's quite addictive! The process of bringing these little people to life, bit by bit.

Also: An extra little sale in the shop this weekend!

Use coupon code CYBERWEEKEND1 for 20% off anything in the shop through Monday!

 Progress in the studio...

 my girls are starting to inhabit their world a bit more substantially.

 Q still has daily conversations with them, and checks in to see their progress.

 This one is nearly ready for the shop...

While this one is still evolving. I spent yesterday dying muslin. Q was determined that I use some pink.

Still hard at work on mysterious projects in the studio...

HOLIDAY SALES! HOLIDAY SALES!

 It's that time of year...and starting today I have three sets of prints available in the shop at holiday sale prices.

Each group of prints is chosen to compliment one another, perfect for framing or gifting.

With each set, you receive three 8/5" x 11" prints for less than the price of two, plus a card with a personalized holiday message and signature. 

Sale-priced sets available for a limited time over the holidays.

Details here. 

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!

 I thought I might share a peek into the working process behind my next series of work. 

It's been quite some time since I did anything three-dimensional, and I have to admit it's been nothing short of thrilling to get my hands really dirty again in the studio. 

These fellows are made from natural clay and papier maché over armatures.

 The beginnings of bodies and limbs.

 The first time Q came into my studio and saw all of these pallid, disembodied parts, she looked at me uncertainly and pointed at her nose (for some reason this was her very early, self-invented sign-language for "scary").

 I told her "No, they're not scary. They're going to be little people!"

The very next morning, she came running into my studio, looked up at the shelf with the heads (which had multiplied) drying on it, bowed a little to them, and said quite politely, 

"Hello. I QQ. It's nice to meet you."

 On that day, she befriended my little people, and ever since she has a daily conversation with them on their shelf as they evolve.

 They are each one-of-a-kind, hand-formed, hand-sanded, and hand-painted.

 Frankly, I'm a bit giddy with excitement. It feels unexpectedly good to switch up my media a little and use some skills that have been dormant for some time. Armature wire, sandpaper, pliars, slurry, carving tools...My studio is looking very different these days! Now I'm just itching for the mohair to arrive so that I can start playing around with hair!

Next up for painting...

I was up extra-early this morning, fueled by the excitement of a new project in the studio that I started last night. Can you guess what it might be?

A little illustration I did for a friend a couple of years back a the holidays. I'm still fond of it.

Specially-colored version of The Plate Juggler now in the shop, limited edition print on watercolor paper.

For more than a year now, I have been receiving requests for the girl with peacock illustration, the original of which sold last year. 

I am sorry each time that I have to say I'm no longer able to sell prints of that image. 

This year, I thought it was high time to make another girl with another peacock (this time a regal white one) to join my menagerie.

As of today, Mathilda and her friend are available in the shop as an 81/2 x 11 print.

Third image in the shop!

These images are meticulously colored in special detail for this limited-edition run of prints.

And...limited edition print #2 now available in the shop! The Camel Ride.

It's that time of year again! Yes, in preparation for the holidays I will be releasing a small series of new prints into the shop, including a few select limited-edition signed prints from my upcoming book. These prints are made by me from my original India ink illustrations for the book, and each has been digitally colored especially for this limited series. Only 50 prints of each will be made and signed in my studio.

The first of the series, Icecream Day, is available in the shop as of today. A very few more will follow. Stay tuned for further announcements...