Celebrate 365

The new summer issue of Celebrate 365 magazine is out ! Connie Porcher, creator of this awesome magazine graciously used three of my Alice figures in the lastest edition! 2 dolls figures and the large teapot clock. All of the pieces in this magazine are wonderful, it is a honor to be in the magazine with them. Check out the feature interview with Flora Thompson of Bone Head Studio, I am a huge fan of this talented lady's work. Her version of Alice is amazing! Congrats to everyone ! check out Celebrate365.com For the latest work of your favorite artists and market lines. ~Susan~

Our new deck!

I thought I would share something else with you today. Even though we are still in winters clutches for the moment our backyard is in glorious living color. My husband decided it was time for a real deck to enjoy our blooming backyard. We had a pebble concrete deck before which wasn't very foot friendly for those of us who go barefoot virtually all the time.
Now it is soft & smooth to the foot and so inviting! However, it is drizzling again, sigh, and the ground is squashy , wet & cold on my feet as I take these pictures. Pooka & Chloe' investigate while I take pictures, silly doggies think there might be something new out there to find. They are fascinated with the pond, probably because of the singing froggies. They are only 1 1/2 inches long fully grown but boy do they like to singing!
Notice the gray skies..... Our backyard is long and sort of narrow, our a corner lot the slopes down on the far side. We wanted to create a intimate & private setting especially as our neighbors are fairly close on the backside. I think we managed to create a private sanctuary with all of the towering trees and lush foliage. This is our secret garden. Where Clematis commingle with tiny pink climbing roses, on hidden trellis's and climb the vintage white rattan headboards set out for them. There is a small waterfall that has been over taken with green leafy ground cover with it's purple flowers. Now if only the sun would grace us for a while , we could have it all!
Can you find Alice , the white rabbit, Daisy, the caterpillar and the mad hatter ? Probably not since the pictures a so small, but I have Alice sitting near the front of the waterfall Daisy is nestled to her left and the caterpillar is tucked in amongst the ferns . The rabbit and mad hatter are sitting shaded under the burgundy and green leafed Japanese maple trees.
For those of you with the sun shining on you , I envy you , for those of us that sit under the gray skies of the Pacific Northwest, hang in there our day in the sun will come! Blessings Susan

Finished at last!

At last the finished Alice in Wonderland teapot. The teapot measures 8" inches by 10"inches . I created this piece by first making the armature and then sculpting the entire piece with clay. It features a large dandelion on the back with assorted leaves. On the front the Cheshire Cat sits above the heart shaped frame of the clock . with clock is battery operated and easy to remove to replace the battery when needed. Layers of color washes were used to created an aged distressed look. Thank you for stopping by! Susan

Wip of new work

I thought I would post a few WIP photos of piece I am currently working. Still lots to do yet bases need to be added and lots of tweaking but we're getting there. I really like creating these pieces. Maybe I should take some pottery classes so that I could try and create them as real teapots! Wouldn't that be fun. well off to my studio. smiles Susan

We're all mad here!

I am beginning to feel a little like the mad hatter, my studio is in chaos again. sigh! I just can't seem to keep it clean . I like having everything within arms reach when I am working especially when I am starting to assemble pieces that require bits of lace, ribbon, crepe paper. The next thing I know I am drowning in STUFF!!
Is it really any wonder my husband stands in the doorway to talk to me rather than coming all the way in? He's probably afraid he'll be covered in the bits and pieces of debris that cling to every surface of my room at the moment........ on the up side, he leaves me alone to create and forges for he's own lunch.
I just finished 2 new pieces that are a bit different for me . I purchased a pattern from Rebekah Holloway a couple of years ago and would pull it out on occasion a place it in the I really want to make that pile, then when I clean my studio it ends up back in the pattern cabinet. I finally pushed myself to make it and I love this pattern! It was a combination of soft sculpted body with a clay sculpted head and shoulders. I gave them a whimsical twist and ended up with 2 music box art dolls. Glory is a patriotic piece that stands on a drum box music box was added and play America the Beautiful. Glory's pants and umbrella are navy blue with white stars, her coat is warm and natural with tiny red pom pom accents. The brim of her hat and her collar are red crepe paper that has been fringed. Her tutu is layered gathers of red tulle for that foo foo look. She carries a cone filled with moss and paper flowers. Overall height is around 11 inches .
The one is called Live Joyfully, she wears all warm & natural with deep pink accents, her layered gather tulle skirts are the same warm pink as are her collar and hat trim. This piece is larger than Glory by about 2 inches. Live stands on her toes , she carries a matching pink umbrella in one hand, and a mask cover in ultra fine silver glass glitter in the other.
The box she stands on is wood covered completely in warm and natural fabric, with vintage faux velvet ribbon and antique lace . The banner is made of crepe paper trimmed in silver glitter and the phrase Live Joyfully. Her music box plays Edelweiss. Measures 13".tall.
I will be listing these pieces to night on Ebay. That's all for now, thank you for peeking in ! ~Susan~

Sneak Peek

Finally I have a peek for you of the things I have been working on for Aha's Alice In Wonderland Challenge. In the back is what I think the toddler Queen of Hearts might have looked like. Dress in her Red and black outfit complete with Crown! Next is a magical teapot with a door that might just lead somewhere in Wonderland but you would have to use a drink me potion to get through. Flutter is a magical butterfly from the looking glass world. Finally Alice, dressed in frilly tulle with blue satin ribbons. She wears a bracelet with a key on it . I wonder what it opens?
I hope to add the mad hatter, the Caterpillar and the Tweedle bros. rabbit and the cat! We'll see how it goes.. But for now these little cuties are just waiting bases and few props. That's all for now! Thank you for stopping by!

Alice in Wonderland FUN!!

I am so excited I can hardly wait until Tim Burton's version of
Alice in Wonderland comes out! The color and imaginary on the Disney official website captures my imagination! So much so that I have started creating Alice figures.... baby style. Alice is almost complete along with a wonderland butterfly baby. I have already sketched out my ideas for the Queen of hearts baby, Mad Hatter , and the Caterpillar. So much fun! Watch for the WIP's I hope to post some today. ~Madly in Love Susan~