Autumn, Candlelight, and a little blogging....

Autumn is coming, and in the aftermath of Hurricane Irene, I was bored one evening so decided to play with the shadows, candlelight and my favorite pumpkins. I even dragged out my Wizard of Oz wicked witch and a little Bespaq table I had aged & customized with spiderwebs...since we have no power, the fireplace mantel was the perfect spot to drag out my candlesticks and candlelabras, and play with 'Elegant' halloween placement.

I took some time when my netbook was re charged (we are running off of generator power from the RV now, until Power returns later this week) and did some re-arrangement of the blog. I've added some artsy art doll and Halloween art links- I will be adding more, these are some of my favorites from Art Dolls only .  I also purchased Stampinton's Art Dolls magazine and have been enthalled with the artistry of some of these dolls- no rhyme or reason, but the art behind the dolls is fascinating and fabulous. I have put a few things on my list to create- one is an art doll, some ornaments, and possibly a marionette &/or a marionette theater. I have been entrhalled with Patricia of The Magical Marionette theater and how they perform, plus create the marionettes. One of the new boxes to the right will feature some links to marionettes, Patricia's blog, and also the Czech Marionettes, which are art forms within themselves. A doll on strings that performs! lol...One of the things that fascinated me as a child was Mr. Roger's puppets, I loved Henrietta and the King, and how he did the different voices, with the train running around the castle and throughout the magical village...So one of my future projects this year will be to create a marionette, possibly from Puppenfimo or paperclay. I am currently working on finishing my art doll- she is made of paperclay, and some halloween pumpkin ornaments, all made of paperclay! Yes, I am creating again, even without power. I seriously think candlelight has been inspiring me- there is something very tranquil about lighting candles, and seeing the light from their soft glow, that sparks my creativity. Also, if you are doll lover as I am, the dolls seem to have their own kind of magical whimsy in candlelight. Tasha Tudor had magnificent art for a reason, and I think it was because of beeswax candles....nutty I know, but hey we're all a little nutty here in the Pumpkin Patch!lol

I hopefully will be posting more photos as I make progress on my doll, and please enjoy the links- I encourage you to browse them!

The dolls outside in the evening....

What do dolls do, you ask, in the evening? Here Dottie and Gracie are lounging...yes, dolls Lounge, outside, on the grass, on antique linens and just ...dream, talk, and laugh. At least here at the Patch on Pumpkin Hill they do, and look at the clouds in the sky. I chose this spot in our yard as the weather, evening light, everything was perfect for this photo shoot, and it looks quite timeless, like they have found a secluded spot with their baskets, their book and fan, and are enjoying each other's company. Things I like to do myself, when I have time too. I have always been intrigued by timeless paintings of women in white from the late 1890's by the great painters like Monet where women lounged, rested, fanned themselves and did not seem to suffer from the day to day high tech drudgery of today. lol...

To dream in tranquility and peace, ah, heaven.......Enjoy the pics!

~Lisa

A gift from Miranda Wandering....

Today we received a gift from Wendy Wylde, from the famous blog of Miranda Wandering .
I was one of the ones chosen for liking the  C&M Coffee page on Facebook., It was quite exciting, and of course Gracie went out to the mailbox and found the package way before Dixie did.....here is Gracie unwrapping the goodies Wendy & Miri sent...

'What have you got there Gracie?'

"It's a present from Miss Wendy, that nice friend of yours near the cool doll store where I came from!! And that little doll named Miranda!!!!W0w!"

                                               'Lisa they even have their own card for their blog!! Why don't WE have a card for Pumpkin Hill Studios??'
                                           " We do Gracie."
                                            shrugs shoulders...'No, not the EBAY store, but the blog ...about US!"
                                              Me laughing..."Oh..."

Dixie immediately clamed the book, the cup, and the cinnamon bun and doughnut...I think Gracie wanted the cinnamon bun, but Dixie was quite for such a little Brownie fairy....she took her loot home to strut in front of the other tinies, and then wished me to come and take pictures....mystified, I followed her to the doll room, where the Pumpkin Hill dollhouse was....they were all in the kitchen with..............their dolls!

Dixie decided since the C & M coffee had had a cool doll meetup, that the tinies of Pumpkin Hill could have one as well. Minuette had her Tigger bear, April Mae had a porcelain jointed doll that was sleeping, Maizie had a tiny Kewpie and so did Wren, only hers was in a small dome, because she did not wish it to be broken. Dixie had one of her Bratz dolls! (I didn't even know she liked Barbie or Bratz, ) and they wished me to take this photo to send to Miri and Miss Wendy.

Have fun with the pics!

~Lisa

A Few private Memories of Dad...

 Above are pics of my dad from the year 1966-1967? I think. Today on August 5th, was my dad's birthday, he would have been 73 today if he were alive. We lost him about two weeks before Christmas in 1969 of  a brain anorism when he was 31. So today, I thought I would take a few moments in remembrance of him, and the fun we had while he was here.Above he is receiving an award of some sort from when he was in the Air Force. With each passing year, I think I miss him more and more, he was one of the most positive and friendliest people you would ever meet.

I know many have seen the picture I have posted of me, at the age of three standing in front of the amazing playhouse. My dad took this picture of me, after being dragged up from his nap on my great-grandmother's front porch when we were visiting for the summer. The playhouse stood beside the house of my great-grandmother's neighbor, whose large North Carolina home was across the street. THe playhouse was originally built for the couple's daughter, who was my mother's age at the time, about 27, and had a family of her own. The playhouse or dollhouse, was built like a real house- it had a replica fireplace, small table and chairs, built in cupboards, windows that opened and closed- the shutters closed as well, and was landscaped like a real house. The funny part about this day is I remember sitting on the front stoops just wanting so badly to go over and play in the dollhouse. I remember once being allowed to go in, it was quite difficult for Dad to get me to come out until he went and got the camera and promised to take my picture. It is one of my fondest memories of him, and his patience with me, and unknowingly, put me on my path to my love of dollhouses, dolls, and most of all, doll furniture and anything in miniature. The most wonderful part of this story is after we came home, my grandfather heard so much about the playhouse that I was presented with my very own playhouse, not as elaborate, but just as wonderful. I think the reason for this is I never stopped talking about the playhouse or dollhouse and my fascination must have bordered on a child's obsession, which led to the wonder of the world of dolls and miniatures. So began my story into Lilliput land, and I guess you could say, it was more than a Kodak moment...it was priceless.

Thank you Dad, and have a Happy Birthday with the Angels , we miss you.

~Lisa