Monday, February 16, 2009

Where Have All My Dolls Gone?

I have been looking around my studio and house wondering, "Where have all my dolls gone? I thought I had made tons?" But, I can't seem to find many. So, I had to take a trip back in time and revisit where they all ended up.
These Three Little Ladies were all sold to different homes years ago. Now I remember that they are in happy places(from left: Violetta, Snow White and Anouk)!


This Lady with the Long White hair was commission by my Printmaking Professor. She was a really big doll. My professor is one my best friends and she has long white hair herself. I wrapped this doll like a mummy to send it to her. We call her "Baba", my professor's nickname.


This group of Cat Bust was made for a special show at a local Gallery. I have sold all of them but one. I love them but, the gilding of all of their crowns took forever. I guess it should take forever!


Oh! I miss these little Faeries! There were more and they all had on Party hats and were have a tea party with with cakes and treats! I made them for a special May Gallery show and sold them all. I am glad people thought they were so fun. The one who bought the little Faerie in the photo named her "Coco". Love that!


This Chitza, a Faerie from South America. Yeah, um, I know where she is. She is currently flying around my house! I did put her in a show, but I brought her home!


This doll is "Deidre"(based on the Irish folk tale). She is the 2nd doll I ever made and I sent her to my best friend in VT.


And this is "Ophelia", the first doll I made. I had to keep her because I love her and I needed to remember how I made her!


This is a doll I made for my twin from the remnants of the fabrics my mom and I used to make her wedding dress so this is her "Bride Doll". It was so fun to surprise her with this!


Oh, the mermaids I have made! Big and small, Dark and Light. Here are few. I have sold these, but I have kept a special one for myself. Her name is Ione and she has dark raven hair and an emerald green tale. I have also made mermaids with hot pink hair and purple tails-that was fun too! Here are the Little Mermaid and Undine.


And, For a Dia De Los Muertos Exhibit, I made an altar to my deceased pets so I had to have flying angel cats and my lovely cats whom I grew up with-these are all in my home now. I need to make more angel cats, dogs and whatever else animal people want!




I sold my first Bird Cage skirt dolls before I could take some proper photos of them-yikers! Imogene is in pink and Matilda is in blue. The best part? Their skirts light up!


So, that's all I can do for now. I have sweet faerie named Aida that flies around my house too and several more that have ended up other places. One Chocolate Faerie went to live with a sick friend. My version of "Tinkerbelle" went to live with one of my Aunts(everyone in my family gets a doll for free-that's just the way it is!). A new faerie I made is one her way to a dear friend across the ocean who is about to give birth to a baby. Sleeping Beauty is still in her bed, but is slowly waking up. The Snow Queen is a bit ticked that all our recent snow and ice has melted.

I did a more recent post of my latest Bird Cage Dolls that I made for a show in October-they are a darker version of Imogene and Matilda and are named Raven and Mina. It has been a slow winter and I haven't felt like I can make much. I think it has been hard on a lot of people. I am hoping that I can create again soon. October was a long time ago!

14 comments:

KatinkaPinka said...

oh my goodness! they are all SO magical and beauteous!

Anne, Bulles dorées said...

ouaou j'adore c'est absolument magnifique, I love them all !!

Unknown said...

Thank you both so very much! I need to make new ones!
All my best!
merle

Cat (darklingwoods) said...

How delightful I love her! maybe she is related to my watercolor ;)

Anonymous said...

I love the group of cat busts! The remind me of the Egyptian Bastet statues... They are so magical!

Rosa Grueso said...

Oh, I adore your colorful dolls! I like especially the angel cats.
Best wishes,
~Rosa

Unknown said...

Thanks Cat! I love your little Lady with the bird nest in her hair!

Thanks Diva! I actually named the small black one that! She now belongs to Audrey Niffenegger the author(The Time Travelers Wife) and fabulous artist)

Thanks Rosa! That means so much as I love your dolls!

Take Care!
merle

Heather said...

These are all amazing. YOu need to submit your work to Art Doll Quartly. It would be perfect! I could totally write the story!!!

Anonymous said...

these are all so gorgeous! hat did you use - paperclay? I love all the colour...I'm a little afraid of colour myself. And all your gorgeous kitties in dresses! Ha! Sooooo adorable...maybe I will have dress up mine (one of three will definitely not stand for it, but th other two are pretty pliable!)

Unknown said...

Thanks Heather. I am pretty sure I would have to have taken some kind of class in order to be in a magazine. I just figured out how to make these dolls myself so many years ago before they were classes and I really don't want to change my style now. I don't think these dolls would go over too well in the art world these days!

Thanks blackeyedsuzie!
yes, i do use paperclay-i have to be patient and wait for it to dry. i can't live without colour! many have tried to get me to stop, but i can't! i am addicted. ha! would love to see more little cats in dresses-it is always funny(as long as the cat isn't ticked off-mine are all very mellow).
take care,
merle

Hélène Deroubaix said...

your dolls are so lovely, especially the ones with nest above their heads:) adorable! and I love the kitty statues too
sending you faery blessings, thinking of you
xo

oldflowers4me said...

your dolls are so over the top divine.....just keep doing what your doing-love you-jo

ruby door said...

i have so enjoyed looking through your dolls. so many wonderful creations. i love ophelia and that she wears red slippers is fluttery for me.
also the bride doll you made for your twin.
how sweet & GRAND it is!
look forward to watching your talent here!

Ivy Long, Edera Jewelry said...

Hi Merle~
Just catching up on my bloggy correspondence today! Hope you had a very lovely Valentine's Day too :) (oh dear, it HAS been awhile since I've posted--!)

Oh my goodness!!!! Your dolls are absolutely beautiful--so colorful and original...I love all the detailing. The mermaid and the bird cage dolls are particularly stunning! And the kitty busts and Ophelia...they're all great :)

So happy to have met and been introduced to your wonderful work--I'll be back to see what other creative projects you're working on :)
take care,
Ivy