Re-Igniting My Blog! Yes!

 It's been a while........but I've re-discovered my desire to blog regularly. So much water under the bridge since I last made an entry here, in fact too much to even contemplate writing about, so I'm just going to launch in and post some pictures of recent work. I will try faithfully to make regular updates.

So, here are some recently-completed works, starting with some art pieces:

.......and some dolls:

It's Spring!

Winter is something of a time of torpor for me.......I tend to stay close to the fire and be a bit inward looking. Which might go some way to explaining why I haven't posted here since April! It's not as if we even get particularly severe winters here - in Tasmania, the coldest state in Australia. Our winters are mild by North American or European standards. No snow to speak of, a few frosts, some rain but also lots of sunny days, but still I like to huddle up inside in winter.

Spring has arrived quickly and greenly this year - things are burgeoning in the garden and I feel more inclined to look outwards. Longer days, warm sunshine and life feels good.

But my winter days by the fire do produce a fair bit of artwork, so here is a sampling from the last few months.

A sweet red-haired girl in a smocked dress and winter woollies:

 

An Izannah Walker-style doll in clothing trimmed with feather stitch and crochet:

 

"Sparrow":

 

"Mouse"

 

                                                                     
                                                     "Juno":

And a doll made to Deanna Hogan's "Verity" pattern. I called her "Patience" because she waited ten years to be made! I also made her a little wooden chair to be patient on.

 And that was about it for winter projects, apart from a few more jobs around the house which you can read about on my home reno blog at http://www.fourteenstepstothebluedoor.blogspot.com.au  

I've started working on some new things now and I promise to blog about them very soon! 

Sister and Brother

I have just completed this boy and girl pair as a special order.....for a very patient customer who has waited quite a while for them! I really like making these little dolls - they are a satisfying size to me (12" - around 30 cms) and I just love making their tiny, removable garments and the little toys and things that they hold. I admit that I didn't make this violin (found it in the music store) ......but I did make the bow!

I'll be offering a limited number of these as special custom orders through my Etsy store: http://www.susiemcmahon.etsy.com  for details.

A Bird In The Hand

....and a "Sorrydoll" in greys and mauves. I'm enjoying playing with the tension created by the dichotomy between the rather jaunty outfits these dolls are wearing and the very sombre expressions on their faces.

The Sorrydolls

These two are done......another is on the way.

Brother and Sister

These two are nearly completed in their warm winter woollies. I've only shown the top half because the brother is still waiting for one sock and his shoes.
(They are 'spoken for' and will be heading off to a new home soon.)

More Sukeshi Dolls!

I've been having a lot of fun making these Sukeshi dolls - half the fun is coming up with new ideas.
Here's the whole crew:

The new ones are:

P'tit Fauve - a messy artist.

Safe!

Moonchild - she has a certain glow.

Fishy Tickles!

These will be in my Etsy Store in a couple of days, so if you've taken a fancy to one, keep your eyes peeled!

BFF

Tweet and Starkid are BFF, so are Anneliese and Gretel (hard to believe these two doll heads came out of the same mould!)

New Stuff

I am participating in another local market this Sunday - at Deviot on the banks of the Tamar River. I have been busy making simple dolls similar to some that I made many years ago and doing more paintings. Here are some pictures of some of my wares, including this little "Looking-Glass Alice" painting. Oh, I also made a little basket for Liesl, which I plan to fill with flowers.

Secrets Revealed

I think I can share this with you now - the little girl that featured in my last post was made a a retirement gift for one of the long-standing members of staff at the school I work at. This is what she requested and I was thrilled to make it for her. Here is an incredibly bad photo of her unwrapping the gift at our end-of-year lunch (Yay! School's out for summer!) I think she was very happy!

The other picture is of some Christmassy Zozies ordered by a friend of mine in Melbourne (one for her and one for a friend) I think it is OK to post them here - she should have received them by now, except that there is some kind of postal workers strike happening so she might not have got them yet - if that's the case, sorry S. - the cat's out of the bag.