New Izannah Doll for sale

http://www.ebay.com/itm/180941630833?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649#ht_806wt_932

 I've listed a new Izannah Walker style dollie on ebay, please stop by and pay her a visit!

She's ready for a lovely summer's day spent outdoors.  She's got her bonnet, lunch bucket and a good read, her well worn copy of "Jane Eyre" and a comfy wooden chair to set upon!

New Izannah Doll for sale

My Newest Izannah dolly, ready for summer in a lovely cotton frock of white with delicate purple flowers, made from antique fabric.  Here she is, shown in a museum setting appropriate to her 'time!'  Unfortunately the lovely antique 1860 crib she's enjoying is not included in her worldly possessions and must remain in the museum.  She must find a new place to lay her weary head.

She likes to spend time out of doors, and while in my humble yard noted that my fence appeared to have been whitewashed by Tom Sawyer....her little way of making sure I knew it was lacking in that department.  And I assured her that the lack of whitewash on my fence was deliberate, an aged 'patina' that I was going for by way of neglect.

Like my last few dollies, this gal has come down with "Flora McFlimsy" syndrome and complained that she had nothing to wear, and how cruel it was of me to even think about sending her out into the world with only one dress.  So I let her pick out another one for her journey.  This frock was made from mid 19th century reproduction cotton.

She's currently available for adoption on ebay.  Please do stop by and pay her a visit!


http://www.ebay.com/itm/OOAK-Izannah-Walker-style-primitive-Art-Doll-by-Robins-Egg-Bleu-/180922713195?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2a1fd5846b#ht_785wt_932

Happy Fourth!

Olly Golly, it's been a long time since I've made a post! So much going on in my world and I always forget to have a camera on hand to capture my adventures!

I am currently as of Friday officially 'unemployed' in the traditional sense.  I've got my museum work on the side and my dollmaking on the side, which now will come to the forefront as I've suddenly got oodles of spare time.  Going to see if I can make something of that before I become so frightened of my empty bank account that I go pounding pavement looking for 'work'.  Sometimes things happen for a reason so I figure it's time to give this my 'all' and see what I can do with it.

I've been to some living history events lately with my girls, using of course, someone else's camera so I don't as yet have my own photos to share!  But soon!

Finally got to have my 'likeness' taken with the girls in an official tintype and anxious to share that as well.  I'm picking up the tintype tomorrow in Old Town.  The gentlemen who make these do so as a public service in Old Town once a month for the purposes of a living history example of period photography.  So when they see people walk by in period clothing, they welcome the opportunity of  photographing them in their historical setting.  It takes a few weeks for the varnish to dry so the lucky subjects have to wait a month to see the finished product.  I'm thinking about possibly creating a 'tinted' version of the tintype!

Our museum just received generous donations from the direct descendant of the gentleman who built the Whaley House and I've been pretty busy working on them.  Got a few of the artifacts in the museum this weekend, and am anxious to share them with you.  Got my camera in my purse this time and will be there today taking photos, finally.

As I'll be in Old Town tomorrow anyway, I figure I'll put on my period duds again and maybe charm the tintype man into taking one more of me, alone this time.  Maybe with a special little historically inspired dolly I just finished an hour ago!

Look for photos of her in the next day or two as well!

Have a wonderful, free and appreciative 4th of July!  Eat apple pie, watch fireworks and hug someone you love!

"Living" History....

Well gosh, it's certainly been awhile since I've posted anything about anything other than Izannah Walker inspired dollies...least it's been awhile since I posted anything like that on the blog I'm leaving behind. This blog is pretty much lacking everything!


While my little doll languishes on ebay this week, I've been busy not on another doll, but on something I really miss doing.  Playing dress up with myself.


I used to be involved in Living History "light", meaning I wore period clothing for my work as a museum docent for the historic Whaley House Museum in Old Town, San Diego.  And I ventured off to the occasional Civil War reenactments and Victorian Tea here and there.  


But then I stopped working in the museum as a docent, stopped climbing a steep staircase a bazillion times a day, started snacking a LOT more, and poof!  Robin grew out of her corset.  I mean, I REALLY grew out of that corset.  To the point where I was embarrassed to wear period clothing.  So I dropped all that and focused on making period clothing for other people who still fit into their corsets, and making dolls.


Anyhoos, I've spent the last year shedding all those extra pounds and am off in a few minutes to make a new corset, because my old one is enormous on me now!


We've got "Ladies Day" coming up next Saturday in Old Town and I'm a gonna be pressed and dressed and rarin' to go.  I'm taking my two little gals Sophie and Milla with me.  They're 4 and 6 now, and willing victims of "dressing up" for the time being.  


They've got their dresses, stockings, balmoral boots, pantalettes.  But San Diego is unpredictable and this week's been bloody cold and gray.  I can't have ugly sweatshirt jackets ruining the girl's 'impression' so I've been busy whipping up a couple of period appropriate bolero jackets for them.  And petticoats.


Cinderella's always last to get outfitted for the ball, and my dress remains unfinished in favor of getting the kids ready.  Plus, I can't really bother with my dress bodice until I have a corset and that won't be finished till this evening.


Will try to get around to taking photos of my works in progress! And now it's time for sewing and boning and eyelets, oh my!

Izannah's been workin' in the garden!

 Today was a gorgeous day, and Izannah decided to spend the afternoon in the garden.  Tending the chickens.....

 Collecting the eggs.........

 Contemplating life.......

 Putting her piggies up........

 Tending the vegetables.....

Watching the clouds roll by...

It got a little warm today so she took the liberty of lolling about in her unmentionables, since she was in the privacy of her own backyard.

She's fantasizing about what kind of yard she'll be in next week...will there be chickens or roses?


Please pay her a visit on ebay: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180890186501#ht_848wt_932

I have a new blog and will close this one out soon!

Hi all you wonderful people who've been following me!  Here's my new blog: http://robinseggbleu2.blogspot.com/  Please stop by and pay me a visit, I'm going to close this one out since it's apparently been infected by malware.  It hasn't harmed my computer, but that darned warning sign comes on and so you probably have not wanted to stop by lately because of it!  I'll be posting a new doll in a few days.

Hello everyone!  This is the first post of my new blog, thank you so much for stopping by!  I'll be seeing what I can do to cancel out my old blog since it's apparently been infected by some naughty malware type sprites.


Hopefully I can redirect anyone who was kind enough to follow my old blog here and follow this one instead.


I'm working on a new Izannah Walker type dolly, and she will hopefully be ready for her close up in a couple of days and will show up here as well as on ebay!

New One of a Kind Izannah Style Art Doll

Here's a peek at my newest Izannah Walker inspired doll, she's available for sale on ebay.  This little gal is 19 inches tall, and she's ready to see the world and bringing along an extra frock!

Please stop by ebay and pay her a little visit!http://www.ebay.com/itm/OOAK-Izannah-Walker-style-Art-Doll-by-Robins-Egg-Bleu-/180872650746?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2a1cd99ffa#ht_848wt_932

New Izannah Dollies!

Robin's Egg Bleu Art Dolls are one of a kind historically based creations made by Robin Sweeton-Lakin. The inspiration for my dolls is taken from early primitive portraits and by the amazing 19th century doll artist Izannah Walker. I work primarily in cloth with paperclay, an air drying clay form of papier mache. My work is all individually hand sculpted and I avoid the use of molds in my work, so each is truly one of a kind and made by me. The garments which attire my dolls are hand sewn in the period correct manner, and made from authentic 19th century reproduction cotton fabrics. Only fabrics, notions and trims available during the early to mid 19th century are used. I occasionally use vintage or antique fabrics and trims, which are obtained in pieced form or from items too fargone to salvage in their original form. I never cut up a displayable or historically significant garment. I try to be as 'green' as possible in my work; with the exception of paint and varnish, I do not use plastics, styrofoam or polymer in my work. I recycle stained and frayed pieces of antique fabric and the occasional disheveled old dress or petticoat into tinier versions of their original selves to be enjoyed as opposed to rotting in a trunk in some forgotten attic. I have a background in living history, historic preservation, museum work and in sewing period correct garments for museum docents and historic reenactors. I truly love what I do!

New Izannahs!

These little gals are looking for a new loving home!  They're snuggling up together, slippers on, waiting for a story to be read to them.  They prefer "Miss Suzy" by Arnold Lobel if you should happen to have a copy lying about.  One of my personal childhood favorites too!  About a wee squirrel who gets chased out of her tree, winds up living in an antique Victorian doll house in an old attic.  Just their cup of tea!  

 The big girl is 18 inches tall, both made of paperclay head over cloth body, my general standard of course.

Handsewn period correct clothing.

Here's those little "carpet" slippers I made, lined with antique brown glazed cotton.  I wish I had a pair for myself!

 I'm particularly fond of this wee Izzy, I think she's a very determined, spicy lil' gal.

They're up for adoption on ebay so if you're interested in giving them a new home, please pay them a visit! And even if you don't have "Miss Suzy" to read to them, they enjoy Dr. Seuss as well.  Really, anything that rhymes tickles their fancy.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Izannah-Walker-style-ooak-primitive-folk-art-antique-inspired-doll-/180863628015?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2a1c4ff2ef#ht_1688wt_932

New Izannah Dollies!

Here are my newest Izannah Walker inspired dollies!  The larger doll is 19 inches and her little baby is 5.5 inches.  Made of cloth body with paperclay handsculpted heads, these gals are dressed in mid 19th century reproduction cotton frocks, all handsewn.  They are available for adoption on ebay!  Please stop by and pay her a visit!  http://www.ebay.com/itm/180841368392?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649#ht_1100wt_932

A new Greiner style doll!

Well, I've finally finished this poor Greiner papier mache inspired repro doll!  I've been purty busy lately so she's been simmering on the back burner and what not.  I did take lots of photos of some other projects I've been working on, unfortunately I took them on my phone and my phone is currently not on speaking terms with my computer, which accounts for the lack of posts here on my poor neglected blog!

Anyhoos, this gal is made of liquid papier mache and is 21 inches tall.  As always her clothing is completely handsewn in the period correct manner.

She's currently looking for a new home on ebay, where more information is listed about her! Please feel free to pop by for a visit and a chance to get to know her better!


Having a problem getting the link here, my ebay user name:  robinseggbleu

Christmas is coming, the goose is getting fat....

It's that time of year!  I've been awfully busy, though you wouldn't know it from this blog.  You know me...I mean well, just keep procrastinating.   I did manage to get my Christmas Izannah off to a fabulous new home, and I imagine she's quite happy there.  I made Mr. Whaley a smoking/lounge cap for the Whaley House Museum, an item that had been on my 'to do' list for quite awhile.  Also finished up that reproduction papier mache doll I made for the museum, specifically to wear a dress that I made from the innards of Mrs. Whaley's supposed wedding dress. The gown disintegrated in my hands this summer while cataloging it, and the only parts salvageable were the lace and polished cotton lining.  It lent itself to an 1850's style of wedding dress, so that's what I made out of it. Thomas and Anna Whaley wed in 1853. So I figured it was appropo. Originally, it was a late 1880's early '90's gown...so we know it wasn't really Mrs. Whaleys, nor that of her daughters.  Just too late a period and besides, the gown was for someone at least 4 inches taller than I am...and I'm about 4 inches taller than any of the Whaley women.  So no way could they have worn it.  Just a donation from the '60s to the museum and touted as something it wasn't.  But...the doll dress came out great.  Dolly and dress are under a little Victorian tree swathed in strung popcorn at present.

We got the Whaley House and Marston House museums all dandied up for Christmas, had our big SOHO Holiday Party.  Did some Christmassy this'n'that events.  Currently I'm awash in pink and green glitter.  The two little angels in my life asked Santa for a pink princess gown and a Tinkerbell costume.  I'm 'almost' done with the princess gown, just finishing up the lining.  Next comes the Tinkerbell costume.

Now, I know...I haven't taken any photos but I swear I will.  Hopefully Friday I'll get pictures of at least Whaley House all decorated, along with the smoking cap and the papier mache repro doll in the 1850's wedding gown.  And by next week, some pretty girls wearing glittery pink and green costumes!

It's been an eventful year, particularly the last few months.  Some losses...the good kind and the bad kind.  Lost 3 friends to cancer in the last month.  But there's more angels in Heaven to look after us.  Lost 60 pounds since September, so I feel much better, that's for sure.

Trying to keep up momentum of creative activities.  Working on another doll, but not sure when she'll see the light of day!  Hopefully by the end of January at the latest.  Will sure try and get some photos posted on here of my handiwork.  Till then, if I don't make it back on here before...

Happy Holidays!

Christmas Izannah redo

Well, I went shopping in my cupboards for some more festive fabric and made my Christmas/Holiday Izannah a little...okay, a LOT happier by sewing a new frock for her.  I must say, her demeanor has miraculously improved.  She just needed a little color, poor thing!  At any rate, I finally got her unmentionables finished too, and she's a very happy camper and has been a dreamboat to live with.  I almost wish I could keep her....almost.  I put her up for adoption this evening on ebay, you can pay her a little visit if you wish!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/ebayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180764192959

New Christmas Izannah!

A New Christmas Izannah In The Works!

She's not quite done yet, still working on trimming her unmentionables, which she's angry at me for mentioning.  She's very embarrassed that it's taking me so long to finish her, that I've dilly dallied on finding just the right antique fabrics for her foundation garments (talk about ungrateful).  She found out the hard way that I am a first class procrastinator.  But hey...I've been busy.  Really super busy.  She's new, so she doesn't realize that we're smack dab in the middle of the Holiday Season and... I have things to do. 

Hopefully, I'll get her undies done by Sunday so she can quit giving me the stink eye.  I hate when they do that to me and it just furthers my resolve to sell them right out from under myself.

When she's fully presentable, I'll post more photos that are taken in decent light.  It's a crappy day here today in what used to be sunny San Diego, and I'm a crappy photographer.  Two crappy scenarios equal really crappy pictures.  For instance, you can't tell from these images that her dress is the identical shade as this carefully selected text color.  Perhaps no one's noticed yet, but I do that a lot.   Her dress doesn't look brownish red.  Just brown.  In fact, now that I focus more clearly on this text color, it pretty much just looks brown too.  Hmmm.............I may have been too hasty in my fabric selection.  It's vintage polished cotton and I thought it'd look so fabulously deep, rich and Christmassy.  Might have miscalculated.  Might change my mind on the dress.  Might take me longer to finish her. 

Ho ho well,  it'll just be a surprise then.  By the way, she's the one in the photos that's bigger than the other.  She's my largest Izannah thus far, and at 25 inches she's what we facetiously refer to as a "big boned gal."  Really, she's her petite little sister's nemesis.  She uses her girth to get her way on the shelf and I have found the little one suspiciously face down on the floor on more than one occasion.  I hate to say it, but this one's a bit of a bully.  Don't let her confident smirk fool you.  Notice the concerned countenance on her little sister?  There's a good reason for that.  You can see from her body language how she's leaning away and doesn't want to get too close.  Poor little thing.  She's very sweet so I'll let her live with me longer (I have to because she's on an extended layaway).  The big one's getting kicked out as soon as I can get rid of her.

You can see in the bottom photo that she's calmly plotting her next move against the little one.  And as you can see...the little one is fully aware of this.

Dia de los Muertos Catrina Doll

For the upcoming Dia de los Muertos Celebration here in Old Town, San Diego, I decided to 'revamp' a few of my  old dolls into "Catrina" characters for altars.

This is the first one I've finished.  She's been reincarnated a couple of times, this is her third manifestation.  Originally, she was an adult Alice Liddell, the inspiration for Alice in Wonderland.  Got tired of her pretty quick, she had some proportional issues, so she was recreated as Emily Dickinson. 

When I decided to throw Emily under the bus, I chose to Halloween-ize her into a vampire.  That was last year, and she was never finished.  So this year, I am working on a Day of the Dead altar for the Old Town Saloon and I thought...hey, I know what I can do with this dead in the water vampira. 

Truthfully, I was inspired by the absolutely amazing artist, William Bezek.  He is THE master of all things Halloween and Day of the Dead... and I worship him.   Plus, my sister, who also worships him, just purchased his majestic Vampire creation, "Luca" (with his own glass windowed coffin!!!!) and we felt that Luca needed some female companionship from the other side.  So after Catrina is done watching over the souls who've passed on at the Old Town Saloon, she's going to live with Luca.  Whether he likes it or not.

For her costume, I used an antique mantilla that I beaded for my "Vamp" doll (who got reincarnated into Debbie Reynolds), and an antique Victorian cape.  Thank goodness I'm a packrat and save everything.  Because San Diego is an early Spanish settlement, I chose a less "Late Victorian" Catrina look, and went for more of an early California look for her.

As always, I am a lousy photographer,  as particularly evidenced in the second photo.  Nearly every single photo I took of this doll has weird haze and 'orbs' swirling around her.  Normally, I wouldn't appreciate that.  But in this case....'spooky' works for me!

I've got a couple more reincarnations going, and hopefully, I'll be done with them before November 1st. 

San Diego Celebrates Dia de los Muertos!

Old Town San Diego Celebrates

Dia de los Muertos!

If you live in the San Diego region, please do stop by and participate in this amazing two day event!  Dozens of fabulous Memorial Altars,  Food,  Music, Costumes, Face Painting, and our incredible Candle Light Procession!

(Procession takes place Wednesday, Nov. 2nd @ 7:00pm)

The Whaley House Museum is a major participant and will be open for evening tours, offering face painting and fun activities! 

I'm pretty busy right now, painting sugar skulls, converting some of my old dolls into Catrinas for altars, and creating an overhead banner for the Procession!  Also working on an altar for the Old Town Saloon, right across the street from the Whaley House, where one of my Catrina dolls will be keeping her eye on things...so do stop on by for a 'spirited' libation if you are kid-less!  Photos to come!

Couple new project I'm working on!

Here's a couple of dollies I've been working on:  another little Izannah and attempting a papier mache from 1850 for the Whaley House museum.  We're a little low on dollies in the nursery there so I thought I'd try to perk it up.  Alas, the empress as yet has no clothes, just a humble chemise.  A fabulous gown is my next project!



Whaley House Lambrequin

Well, I finally got my camera chip to talk to my computer!  So I've got a couple of very lousy, out of focus, badly taken photos of that lambrequin I created for the above rather naked original mantel in the Whaley House Museum!

   Eh, it's okay without a lambrequin, but I like it better WITH one!

 Used some of the antique Scalamandre silk drapery created for the dining room of the museum over 50 years ago, along with the guimpe braid and tassels to trim it off.   We found an antique silk embroidered with chenille yarn and beads that was probably intended to be a bell pull that was never finished and used that as the center panel.

Unfortunately, my poor photography does not do it any favors!  But it does pick up the colors in the Brussels carpet and the wallpaper quite nicely!  It really looks nice in the evening when the lighting picks up all the gold in the wallpaper and the fixtures.