Mugwort Mourning Dolls on Etsy

I've had this idea for sometime about creating dolls stuffed with the magical herb mugwort. Mugwort was used in ancient times, and still is used in protections spells and for contacting the dead. It is also used in protecting yourself from evil spirits. It provides protection in traveling and aids in Psychic work.
I am fascinated by all things mystical and magical, so I wanted to create dolls incorporating this magical herb. I wasn't sure about how to do the body in order to be able to stuff it using the herb, so... Mary Lent was my first victim in experimentation. Her head and hands are polymer clay and the body is hard stuffed muslin using wool and mugwort herb. She is 7 3/4" tall and her dress is made from a victorian mourning cape and from it hangs victorian mourning beads. Also used is victorian black net with gold metallic threads, all in keeping with the times. I hand sculpted her bone and skull beads. She was the first proto type.

After I finished Mary, I wasn't sure thats how I wanted to do the body and thought it would be much more fun to do one in a casket. As my daughter Kimberly's boyfriends dad ,Vern, (thats a mouth full) ,is a wonderful wood worker, making hearses, wagons, carriages and caskets (how perfect was that) I commissioned him to make me some cool little caskets for my mugwort babies. Lucy resides in the first one. I changed the body to more of a minature type, which is 5 1/2" tall, the casket is 6 1/2". Lucy has head, hands, and legs sculpted from polymer clay and the body is hand sewn from muslin, and stuffed with mugwort. She is removable from the coffin. Lucys clothes are made from an antique pink ribbon that had silver lined beads sewn on. It has vintage lace, vintage millinary net and pink silk ribbons. Mohair curls, hand painted glass eyes.

The interior is tufted cream silk velvet, with the same on the sides of the little casket. The top is removable and held on by tiny nails. Lucy is removable and can be displayed with the top on or the top off the casket as it stands up on it's end. I like this idea better than the first, so the next few I will make will be of this type. The top of the casket has antiqued gold dresden trim for decoration. The poems for them are as follows: "Mary Lent, her little life spent..when into the witches cauldron she went"

And... "One dark gloomy day, little Lucy went out to play..it was a day of dispair, as she ceased to breathe air..and now in her casket does lay"

Both Little Mugwort Mourning dolls are now available in my etsy shop waiting for new homes to haunt!http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=24802821 this should get you there, my etsy user id is queenofthefaeries.

I am also working on some other similar pieces using another famous poisen herb in the mixture! so be watching for the next magical batch!

Happy Hauntings, Gail

Keep Watching!

First,... I am excited to tell you that Victoria Vampire, my doll for the exhibition in Japan, has a new home there! The collector is the wife of a famous Kabuki actor ....How cool is that?!!! I am excited she will be making her new haunting grounds there in such good company!
Next.. a little heads up !
I have been working on a new idea for something thats been brewing in my mind for quite some time. I finally finished something new and fun that I will be listing on etsy, hopefully by tomorrow (friday) eve. Here is a mysterious sneek peek at one of the pieces. As soon as I get them listed (I have 2 dolls) I will give you all the details and photos on my blog for you to see!

And,.. a big Thank You to all, for your support and kind words during the last few months. It's been a big source of encouragement for me and I am touch by your thoughtful and kind comments while I am dealing with family health issues. I am strengthend by your words and kindness as I know most of you are dealing with your own life issues. I send you kind thoughts and blessings to give you strength that we may all find that bright light to guide us on our path!
Happy hauntings, Gail

World Ningyo Exhibition

Here is a link to see all the wonderful dolls as they are set up at the show.
http://www.dolsballad.co.jp/index.html
Click on the picture of Tine Kamberbeeks fairy in the block that says World Ningyo Exibition. It will take you to the show page.
There are two pages of doll photos. To get to the second page click on the short brown sidebar at the bottom of the page on the right (not on the long brown one), or, on the short brown side bar top right in the picture of the blue brick window that says Maruzen.
There are some pretty fantastic dolls! My little Victoria looks so lonely on the table by herself!! I only had time to make the one doll, but she has her little vampire dolly to keep her company!
I love all the wonderful Japanese ball jointed dolls in the show!
I'm inspired!!
Happy hauntings, Gail

I'm Back..Again!

Victoria Vampire, My doll for the Japan show!

Well, this must be my year as caretaker, as thats all I seem to be doing since the beginning of this year! It leaves me precious little time to do anything else, and I've sorely neglected my poor little blog. Between careing for my 84 year young mother who had a stroke after christmas to my husband who recently had a new bionic knee replacement. I'm a bit burnt out!! Plus trying to finish some dolls that were promised last year..(thank you to those who patiently waited in the wings while I dealt with life)! And..trying to get my doll for the Japan show finished and mailed so it would arrive in time.!

Yeah..I am happy to say it did arrive safely and all is well..for this moment! LOl!

Here is a link to the show in Japan. There are some wonderful artists included and I am honored to be among them.

http://www.nonc.jp/exhibits/page16/page16.html.

Her name is Victoria Vampire,:

"Little Victoria wanders alone at night looking for someone tasty to bite"!

She measures 12" tall and wears antique fabrics and carries her little ghost dolly along on her outings. If you might be interested in having her come to haunt your house, email me at faeries16@hotmailcom and I can give you the contact info.

In the meantime Ms "P" has been very quite..it makes me really nervous, especially when the lights flicker and I hear crackling lightening like noises and hidious laughter coming from the back room!!!!

I am lighting my religious candles covering myself with protective oils, and calling in all protective saints and any one else that can bring protective energies to prepare me for what MS "P" might be boiling up in her little dark corner of the room....BE AFRAID...BE VERY AFRAID!!!

This is what happens when she does not get the attention she requires..does anyone have a spare suit of armour????

Happy Hauntings, Gail

French Art Doll book!

I love great books! Especially ones that have lots of wonderful inspiring photos! I recently ran across such a magical book, thanks to a post by artist Extroidnare Joanna Thomas.
This is a Fabulous French book put together by Aude Berger. There are beautiful large photos of works by 13 doll artists. I was pleased to see dolls of some artists that I had not previously known.
Some of the artists included are Wendy Froud, Tine Kamerbeek,Virginie Ropars Veronique Jacquelin, Heloise, and Bets and Amy Van Boxel.
The book is in French, but Aude has had some of the writing translated into English. She is looking for someone who can help her translate the rest of the book from French into English. If anyone can help or knows of someone who can translate, please contact Aude at oo.berger@laposte.net. You can e-mail Aude if your interested in purchasing the book, she does speak English.
What I read of the translated work is charming and as beautiful as the dolls. Aude has an enchanting style of writing like reading a fairytale. Thank you Aude for creating such a wonderful book for us to see!







Happy Hauntings, Gail

My Work in Two new Publications!

Miss Pennythistle is enjoying reading two new publications my work is in....well.. actually, she doesn't read....she just looks at the pictures!! Miss "P" loves to look at herself in pictures..unlike me! Miss "P" is easily entertained!!
Multi-talented artist Cynjon has put together a wonderful little art zine, with great photos of many different artists doing different types of work. Paintings and sculptures to cute little felted creatures! It features a wide variety of work, something for every one! Check it out!!



Check out his cool site, and find out more about this new art zine which is available from Blurb. You can find the order link on Cynjons site!
Thanks for including me in your first cool zine Cynjon!!

The Preimer Issue of the Fairy Society Magazine is now available also!
A wonderful new magazine filled with fantasy art, wonderful articles, and little surprises. Beautiful photos of doll artist B.B. Flocklings enchanting children adorn the pages. There is an article on how to make fairy cakes out of clay to creating wigs makeup and costuming by Rhonda Napolean. My own contribution, a peek inside my studio. Be sure to check this preimer issue!
Miss "P" thinks you'll not be sorry! She has Good taste! (at least she thinks she does..and I'm inclined to agree, this time)!






Happy Hauntings, Gail

Who is that person in that Video??

Well, I suppose we all look at ourselves in photos and such and say..Do I REALLY look like that??
I am positve that some other being other than myself is speaking for me in the video "the world of the doll maker" I look at it, and say.."do I really talk like that?? is that how I Really look! Yikes.. Time for a major make over! Fab four... Where are you?!!
Thanks to some of my friends who know me, like Marilyn Radzat and Kat Bunker who have soothed my wounded ego and have agree with me that "that is not me in this viedo" and sent photos more resembling the real me, I am feeling much better. So I thought I'd post a few photos that look more like the "real" me.







Some of my favorite photos are these at shows where Richard Simmons collected my work. The one photo is of me, Richard and my daughter Kimberly who is very artsy and has a blog of her own. the Enchanted Room, Check it out.
The others are of me in Hawaii at the retreat with Marilyn Radzat.

Okay..I feel better now!
happy Hauntings, Gail