Bjd's, Marie Antoinette, Hats & other things....

I haven't done much with the dolls lately, except try and finish up their colonial/Marie Antoinette inspired costumes. Poor Dorothea has been consigned every since she arrived at Christmas from Paulette Goodreau in her wizard of Oz costume, with no new clothing or even a new wig...until now. I have been wanting to take photos of them out in the yard having tea, with a real Petite Trianon type setting, but until now had not finished the hats for them. I did however, think this was a great time to show off the open book wardrobe catalog that I made to fit Gracie & Dorothea. Marie Antoinette had so many gowns that a wardrobe book or catalogue was brought to her in the mornings- she pricked the fabric swatch next to the drawing of the gown she wished to wear that

 day, then they brought in her wardrobe choices to her apartments in large baskets. This fascinated me to no end- though there is still a couple of these books in existence, I could find no images, so I made my own.

Dorothea's ensemble was really thrown together today- almost an afterthought. Her skirt was made by me, & had a matching bodice- but I have misplaced it. Her top is a Tonner camisol I got off of Ebay- in Scarlett's underpinnings. With a lavender sash it coordinates with Gracie's ensemble. Both ensembles were made using the 2008 Arcadia dolls Haute doll pattern. I still have some tweaking to do on these. I was really pleased with the straw hats, and how they came out- I have some larger ones that will fit the American Girl dolls- so I know Felicity would love a new hat to match her pink dress and her rose garden dress.

Gracie's gown was made using cotton- her slippers are made of taffeta. I have not yet finished embellishments on her slippers- need to make some for Dorothy as well. I played with the pattern a bit on this one- I think it needs a ruffle or two in retrospect. The dolls' wigs came from an artist on Den of Angels forum named Mimi who specializes in the most beautiful mohair wigs. They really soften the look on these outfits, I don't think I will ever have anything but mohair again for the bjd wigs. I am hoping to take more pics when I get a few scenes set up but not with the heat index as it has been. For now, hope you enjoy the photos and what the dolls have been doing here at the 'Patch...
~Lisa

More Jewelry creations.....

I have been creating.....and creating........shown above are some simple jump ring earrings I created. I am really enjoying the creative process of making jewelry, especially the recycling of old vintage pieces as well. My newest creation? Some thing casual and funky and vintage, out of the possibilities Mayonnaise jar that my old friend of my dads' Cherokee, gave me. He used to frequent old yard and tag sales, and would come home with all sorts of interesting findings and old jewelry.

The chain, key ring, and vintage earring all came out of the jar! The only thing I added was copper wire wrapping the key ring, and the jump ring to connect it. There were alot of onesie old clip on vintage earrings that are really just too beautiful not to be made into pendants, or a focal point for glitzy pieces. I have a couple of ideas for about three to four pieces, and think they will really pop.

And of course, here is the first piece I did, Gears turn the Wheels to my Heart, a little bit of Steampunk. I absolutely adore steampunk, and last night began work on doll sized goggles for Gracie. I want to make doll size jewelry with a steampunk theme, but the trick is finding gears and charms, and findings in appropriate scales. Also, though I do sketch, I work better 'off the cuff' so to speak. Usually that entails throwing a bunch of chain and findings on the table, then pulling out the jump rings, glue and fasteners....

Right now, I'm living a 'charmed' creative life.,...& I LOVE IT!

~Lisa

A 'Little' bit of art from Lisa.....

Usually, I post here about the new going ons in the 'Patch, and what the dolls are doing, or learning. Actually, not much of anything has been going on with the dolls....they pretty much have been quiet, except for Gracie, who just got her new wigs and is striking a pose all over the place....Since moving the One Sixth Scale dollhouse into the display room, as well as refurbishing my very first dollhouse that daughter played with, as is now mine again...I've been busy.
First of all, I decided to experiment with my artwork...jest a little bit' like the song says. I had recently discovered Steampunk, and also Steampunk styled jewelry. Here is a shot or two of my worktable of the ingredients I've assembled so far.......since Steampunk is so exciting to work in as a medium. I think I have found a new calling....

This book is called Steampunk Styled jewelry by Jean Campbell, and it is a great book for ideas, inspiration and explanations on the culture of Steampunk. Got it yesterday with coupon from Michael's....with more jewelry making goodies...

Shown here is the very first steampunk themed necklance I created to the left- on a leather chain..'Gears turn the wheels of my Heart'. It has a key hanging from the big gear, with all the gears connected to look as though they turn, with a small heart charm in the center of the pendant dangling. The book is a miniature book I made, plus some charms, odds and ends that will be pressed into service soon.

A better view of the pendant, with the heart above the gears. I like it, but am biased, so decided to wear it out to one of my favorite restuarants when going out to dinner to see if there were any stunned looks, gasps of horror, or interest in it all around. The waitresses loved it- so much so that my husband laughed and said they forgot to bring the ketchup for the fries he ordered, they were so busy looking at it. I have to admit, after being like an artistic dessert for the year 2010 - so many emotional upheavals, letdowns, and other problems too draining to mention, it was nice to see I had not lost my touch artistically. The wonderful thing about the steampunk culture is anything can constitute steampunk...and it so embodies my way of thinking...I have always been attracted to the clean lines of wood, brass, veneer, chrome, and glass..I love Victorian era and remember watching 'Wild Wild West' as a child...& loving it. (early 70's tv show, but the movie was good too.) So besides the lives of the dolls, I will probably be showcasing new items here in a steampunk theme, hopefully in more jewelry, but in miniature and for the dolls as well. Gracie has already said she would like to be a Steampunk Alice....

This is an example of steampunk I did in 1:12 scale a few months ago, earlier in the year. I adored doing this table, and the pieces came together with some items I had and it kind of just came together naturally. It's a steampunk themed tea table, and the table is veneered on its tabletop with birds' eye maple veneer by me. All of the items were modded or scratch built by me; Rhett is a doll by the talented artist Sherri Colvin of Colvin Studio. I hope to be doing more of this type of thing in 1:12 scale as well as for the larger dolls. The doll world I have already thought of things for, or more projects, I should say. lol. My creative juices are flowing again and I will be showcasing my steampunk items here....and watch my Etsy store and Ebay store as well for those artisan creations.....
~Lisa

All 'Wigged' out in the 'Patch....

So Gracie has been having an Alice in Wonderland complex.....and started complaining about her hair.

Gracie in her 'before' pic with Leekeworld wig from Denver Doll Emporium
The wig was great, but unfortunately, new to the bjd world when I bought it, it soon frizzed on me. No amount of combing and wetting would settle the frizz on the curl. It is still a good wig, but then Gracie decided to contact Mimi on Den of Angels and had TWO wigs made in the same color??
This is why you don't give bjd's laptops.....
Well, the wigs arrived today. Gracie maintains that Dottie will want to look JUST LIKE HER....and needed one. Or one could be used for styling rococco when I make her new dress....(hmm, how did that slip in there........) Now she has decided that the wonderful fluffy wigs would make her into a perfect Alice in Wonderland....so she definitely needs the Tim Burton Alice dress, not the silly one from Disney....hmmph. Well, here is Gracie in her new wigs..

This one or .....this one?

One is more wavy than the other, and the other one she settled on was longer with the waves in it. There were variations of color in the other one as well. She has a white rococco dress made from a pattern by Haute doll, I will have to dig that out and make her another one, with the other wig restyled in a rococco/Marie Antoinette style, to match the dress. She does resemble Alice in this new wig though, so maybe an Alice dress made out of that remnant of blue silk would be lovely too.

All for now~~Lisa

More Correspondence from Miss Ashton....

 

Miss Ashton was once again writing to her dear Friend Penelope,who lives in England. Alot has happened lately at Pumpkin Hill , as well as the Academy has a new pupil, so let's peak over Miss Ashton's shoulder while she writes....

May 28, 2011
Dear Penelope-
Much has been happening -where to begin? My new pupil, whose name is Kit, has arrived, & what a handful! Thankfully, we haven't begun formal classes yet at the academy! She dislikes school but loves learning new things. She also loves to write, and I frequently find her writing in her journal book at my desk. I might have found the young lady who could report on our activities at the Academy, my dearest Penelope, and maybe influence Becky & Felicity to read more.
Spring has come and I have been baking again! Dearest Penelope, could you please send me your receipe for cherry cordial comfits? I used our fresh cherries from the orchard to bake several pies. We were thinking of having a bake sale to raise money for the Academy's school supplies that are still needed...So I have been busily baking for days now. The girls have been such a big help, especially my newest pupil Kit.
Must run now dear, and prepare the scones for tea! Sincerely , Ashton Browne

While Miss Ashton has been writing to Penelope, her new pupil, Kit, loves to come into the study and write in her journal. Kit is new and is more 'modern' than the other girls, and dislikes school intensely. But she adores reading and any sort of writing, and loves Miss Ashton's study- it is the one place she knows that the other girls will not read her stories or journal.

Other residents of Pumpkin Hill have been busy at their correspondence as well, such as Annabelle from the The One Sixth Scale Dollhouse . Annabelle is a 12 inch French Fashion reproduction doll.

Here is Annabelle with her letters, neatly tied with ribbon, ready for Marigold Finch to deliver them to the other dolls.

Have a wonderful weekend!

~Lisa

Felicity feeds the chickens....

          

                                                          Random photo of the day: Gracie blogs in the tree!
                                                    Random Link of the day: Meet Marigold Finch!


As I stated before in a previous post, I will be doing a random photo and a random link from the blog, please let me know how you like it. I believe for those stumbling across the blog this will encourage you to explore the posts and see the history behind the Residents of Pumpkin Hill, the dolls and their lives here in the 'Patch.

Every morning, before beginning lessons at the Academy with Miss Ashton, all of the girls have their chores to do. Felicity's chore is feeding the chickens. This morning Felicity could only find one chick, which she thought was unusual. She had the feed pail with her full of chicken feed, but no chickens!
'Oh well, I will just feed this one, the others will flock here soon.' she thought, and began to scatter feed for the one lone chick. She didn't think anything of it , as the mother chick will sometimes hide in the wheat field.

Felicity finished feeding the chick who was quite greedy and gobbled up the feed she scattered, and then went to the kitchen. Miss Ashton was baking early in the morning, so lessons would begin when the girls had eaten their breakfast. Felicity hurried, as she was feeling quite hungry.

Felicity came in running...'Oh Miss Ashton, I couldn't find all of the chickens, so I just..........' she stopped at the smell of warm, apple pie on the table......'.....you baked PIE!' Becky was squealing beside Miss Ashton. This was indeed a treat, as it was breakfast, and Miss Ashton told them the pie must cool, but they could have a slice for a snack later.
~Lisa

The Dolls at Maymont Park...

Random Picture of the day: Miss Ashton bakes a Pie!

Random link of the day:Miss Ashton at her Correspondence

With the blog of the dolls and their activities, I have took a great idea from one of my all time favorite dolly links- Our Dolls the residents of Pleasantville, and am going to be posting a random picture, and also a random link if possible here at the beginning of each post. This will encourage everyone to go thru the blog posts and enjoy more of the lives of the dolls who live here at the 'Patch on Pumpkin Hill.

The bjd's attended a meetup at Maymont Park, here in Richmond, Va on Saturday. Lots of things were going on in the city that day- a Susan G. Komen walk for breast cancer, an Asian food festival, and more. Gracie, April Mae, Dixie, and Wren all attended and we met up with the other members of Den of Angels bjd forum where the meetup was planned in the Japanese gardens. Please enjoy the pics!

Some of the girls brought their bjd's and lots of food!

Gracie on a rock near the pond, where the carp were swimming about. Behind her was where the meetup group had its picnic.

                                                            

All too soon, we had to leave. It was quite a walk back up the hill.

This was the bottom of the fountain with steps on each side, up to the Italian gardens.

These are pictures of some of the fountains and the Italian gardens at Maymont Park. Maymont was once the estate of the Dooleys, who also owned Swannanoa in the mountains. Maymont was decorated with swans, as Mrs. Dooley used swans to decorate the home here in Richmond for the winter--even to having a Swan bed and vanity made! They also donated funds for St., Joseph's Villa. a home that exists for handicapped children, and orphans. I hope to visit Maymont again and take more pictures.

Gracie really enjoyed meeting the other dolls, and is wanting to go back for more visits....

~Lisa