Little Milla and her 'regency' birthday dress

Precious Milla's First Birthday Party

I tried to make her a Regency style ensemble that would be practical for todays modern woman. She needs to be able to get around that skirt and climb and be able to fall off the sofa with grace and dignity. She just learned to walk this week. She still hasn't crawled.

Receiving a psychic birthday greeting from her sister Sophie's chicken.

And here she is in her birthday crown, not sure about all these people standing around serenading her. She's holding her baby who she rarely lets go of. Milla got a new, slightly bigger baby shortly after this shot, who surprisingly didn't displace the dirty little old baby. Now Millie walks around with a baby in each arm. She doesn't like to let them go, so 'eating it' has become a problem when has no arm to catch herself.

One thing I've noticed about little Millie, is that she prefers to be in the kitchen getting into things, whilst clutching a baby in her arm. She's obsessed with the stove. Is barefoot most of the time. She'll make some old fashioned man very happy one day.

Where on earth have I been?

Gosh, I haven't done anything here other than spend my morning coffee moments browsing other people's fabulous blogs! I feel rather badly about my apparent laziness. It's actually been a rather busy summer, filled with birthday parties (and homemade dresses) for little girls, family and college reunions as well as trying to get my act together for the Dimensions In Dollmaking show in September.

They don't have enough dolls for the show, so I opened my big mouth and promised them one more doll on top of the promised two I haven't finished yet. They are due this coming Sunday and not a one of them can I call finished.

They are coming along, and I work best under pressure and a last minute deadline. God forbid I actually get something done a week ahead of time so I can relax and enjoy my accomplishment. Nope, I have to finish them and stuff them into a box at the last second and drive them up to Carlsbad and not see them again until they are on display. Which is always a nice surprise, to see them with all the other wonderful dolls. Also a surprise is the fact that they always seem to be missing at least one finger apiece the next time I see them. Not a good surprise, that's for sure.

So out of three entries for this year, the Debbie Reynolds "Kathy" from Singing In The Rain, Anita Goode-Laffe and Emily Dickinson, I wonder which one will suffer the fate of Ada in "The Piano" and have her finger lobbed off. Probably not Emily, for I have taken pains with her to use for the first time a wire skeletal hand armature support. But the other two can pretty much forget about coming through this event unscathed. Poor dears. At least Anita will have a Goode reason for a sour face.

I'm not at a place where I feel comfortable shooting photos of them, probably not till I get ready to pack them up. When I do, this coming weekend, I'll post pictures of the girls. I'll most likely post some photos in the next couple of days of my little Milla's first birthday dress.

Happy Birthday, Mom and Dad

Happy Birthday, Mom and Dad

Mom and Dad (with me)

One of our Grandmother's famous 'unbirthday' parties.
One a year is easier than dozens!




Mom, Dad...you are much loved and so very, very missed. We had a great big, fabulous Birthday Party for you this weekend...I know you were there in spirit. Dad, all your siblings were there, their children and grandchildren too! Amazing to see how everyone's changed and grown. We all have such a good time together! Stacy's cake was a work of art! It truly was a fabulous reunion.

Nothing like a game of "Apples To Apples" to break the ice and get to know long lost cousins! Great to hang out with all of the Arizona crew, being such a far flung family. Hadn't seen some of them since childhood. Great to see Uncle Bob's face watching all his kids together for the first time in so long. The party next year will be even bigger, with karaoke machine, a dance floor and who knows what else. We can't wait, and wish you both had really, really been there.

In Loving Memory:

Dick

August 3, 1934-June 18, 1973

Raye

August 3, 1937-November 16, 1992

(Our 'Raye Raye')

Mom, if I knew how to upload a song here for you, it would be Andy William's "Try To Remember".

(It's the thought that counts)

Love you Mom and Dad.

IOLCC Dolls

Gosh, what a busy time I am having this summer. I haven't been terribly productive in blogland. Being so darned busy, I have had little to no time to work on my IOLCC Dimensions in Dollmaking entries. Mentioned here in an earlier blog some ideas I had, and until this last week, didn't actually start doing anything towards those goals. Then again, that's SO me.

I do have two in the works, and they really have very little to do with this years theme: Make Em Laugh...or Make Me Laugh. Not sure which and does it really matter? As long as somebody's laughing.

I don't have photos yet, but they will be up hopefully this next week. When the girls are decent enough to be photographed.

I am almost ashamed to admit, that all I did was pull two abandoned projects lying dormant in my drawers to finish up so I could enter SOMETHING. I'd promised two, and I have to deliver.

The show is most severely lacking in entries this year. So if I bail it will be noticed, and these ladies are so nice I can't leave them shorthanded.

So if you have a doll that you want to enter, please, please do so!!! Just google IOLCC or Imitation of Life Construction Company. It's here in San Diego and their Dimensions In Dollmaking Show will be held September 16th at the San Diego Convention Center. Home of Comicon!!! They are taking entries up to September. From anywhere in the world. Get's lots of coverage in the magazines.

At any rate, the first doll I decided to finally complete is a historical figure who really had a lot of tragedy in her life. A nice lady with a sense of humor despite all the awful things that happened to her family. She's wearing mourning clothes, is depicted in middle age during the time her daughter committed suicide.

You probably think it's disrespectful to enter this poor lady in a show with humor as the theme. But really, this woman could use a laugh. She deserves it. I am temporarily renaming her for the show. Then she'll go back to being herself, and on another post closer to Halloween, I'll let you in on who she really, really is.

But for now, she's Anita Goode-Laffe. 'Cause she really could use one. Yeah, I know it's corny. But it's all I could pull out of my hat at the last minute.

The other entry is from Singing In The Rain. She's a representation of Kathy Selden jumping out of the Monumental Pictures Cake. Why? Because I don't think I can make a decent yellow slicker for her to wear. Was showing my little Sophie the youtube video of 'Make Em Laugh' with Donald O'Connor when she spied on the side column a tiny photo of a girl in pink jumping out of a cake. She HAD to see it and constantly requests it. Triggered an idea in the dusty attic I jokingly call my brain.

Don't think anyone will 'get it'....but then no one at this show ever does 'get' what I do! I'll post photos next week of their progress.

For now, headed from sunny, breezy San Diego for a fun filled family reunion in Tucson, where I hear tell it's not really THAT hot...it's a DRY heat you know.

Lazy Daze of Summer

I haven't done too much sewing or dollmaking, and I'd better get to that...

but I thought I'd show a few photos of Sophie in a couple of her little dresses I made her.

Here she is, wearing the same dress I made for her when she was a year and a half old. I have shown her in this on previous posts, when she first got it, and when she was two. It's a Civil War reproduction made from Civil War repro cotton. Amazingly, it still fits her and will probably fit her when she's four as well. I'll have to let out that tuck at the bottom by then. Got lucky and she was suddenly in the mood to wear her 'long ago' dresses and let me take photos.

Trying on her 'glass' slippers.

Sophie's third birthday request was a Cinderella dress. This came as a surprise, as she's no interest whatsoever in Disney princesses, Barbie dolls, etc. While she loves books, she's more Fern Arable than Belle. You'll see. Anyhoos, I remember how disappointing it is to NOT get what you ask for on your birthday...yet I could not bear to spend my time on a Disney production either. Since Sophie's never actually seen the Cinderella movie, I took great liberties. I made her another 19th century period dress...but in a lovely blue watermark print I have had laying in a drawer for 5 years (lots of things lie dormant in my drawers, and I mean that in every sense of the word). I decided to make a 'sparkly' overskirt that was removable so that she could have more versatility.

Here's Sophie tending her flock. She must have really been going for the Cinderella theme this year, because she also asked for baby chicks for her birthday. She received three chicks, oh so cute but my, how they've changed. They seem to be turning into chickens. Pooping, pooping, poopy chickens. We visit the poop coop daily. No eggs yet, but they will be fabulous colors when they start coming! No plain jane white eggs for this gal. And don't you just love a gal who's willing to wear her glass slippers in a poopy chicken coop? So down to earth.



Sophie and Blanche (she prefers the French pronunciation) . Here you can get a glimpse of her sparkly overskirt.

I didn't have any of those fancy new-fangled coverable buttons, so I used metal washers. Handmade the button holes. Unfortunately, this type of detail goes largely unnoticed in the three year old brain. That's why the good Lord helped us to invent cameras.

IOLCC Doll Competition Dilemma!

Well, it's time for me to start planning what the hell I am going to make for this years Imitation of Life Construction Company's (IOLCC) annual international "Dimensions in Dollmaking" show. Hosted annually by the San Diego Quilt Show at the fabulous San Diego Convention Center, this event showcases the work of artists from as far off as Tasmania and Israel! It is I feel, the most visited concession at the quilt show, and with good reason! The best of the best is on display...along with the works of those determinedly on their way to joining those ranks. The show has been covered by Art Doll Quarterly and many other magazines.

So it's pretty daunting to me to come up not only with a doll worthy of sitting on those tables...but one that fits the theme without me feeling like I am 'selling out' to a typical and

expected idea.

This year's theme is "Make Me Laugh". Instantly, tables filled with 78-104 clowns appeared in the vacuous space that also is considerate enough to allow for my tiny brain. Now, the artists that send their work to this show are for the most part imaginative, original people. I know because I sit there monitoring the booth and am pretty familiar with the pieces. But then again, there are some who do create the first thing that probably popped into their heads. I am diametrically opposed to doing this, and it is my mission in life to defy pretty much everything. Particularly those things that are common sense and make most people's lives easier.

The thing is, that the people who DO make the first thing that popped into their heads, create a piece that is the first thing that most visitors relate to. And therefore, the most popular.

What I do is pretty predictable...if you know me. It's going to have to be a female, and she's going to have to bear historic significance. ALWAYS. But I do try to come up with a persona that nobody else will think of. Not just for the sake of originality, but also education. I think it's fun to discover a person I knew little to nothing of. But that might be just me.

In contemplating a female of historic interest who made people laugh, a few popped up immediately.

Lucille Ball

Now really, is there anyone funnier than Lucille Ball? She raised that ballet bar pretty damn high. She's THE person to aspire to if you are a woman comedian. She's also the first person who's going to pop into the heads of at least 1/3 of the artists participating in this competition.

Lucy is also probably THE most recognizable person that the visitors will relate to in making their vote. Is she worthy? Heck yes! Is she original? She's been done to death in the doll world. So, no, I don't think so. Is she a shoo-in? Ehhh.......depends on how she's depicted. She'd have to be recognizable. Otherwise nobody would 'get it'. A Lucy from her earliest days looks very different from the Lucy the world knows and loves.

Barbra Streisand
(as Fanny Brice)

Then, there's Barbra Streisand. Not only is she a funny girl, she portrayed a historic comedienne in a very well known movie. She's well loved, instantly recognizable, and she's pretty distinctive. Will anybody else come up with a Barbra? Not as likely as a Lucy. But the visitors would be able to relate to her. She'd probably need to be in character as Funny Girl, Fanny Brice for people to really 'get it'. The pregnant bride springs instantly to mind.

Fanny Brice


Which naturally, takes me to Fanny Brice. THE original Funny Girl. I highly doubt that anyone else will do her. I believe that this is because no visitors will be quite able to remember her. Whoever remembers her will likely be dead, and therefore not able to visit the display. People will relate to Streisand AS Fanny Brice. But probably not realize she was actually a real person. Which makes me want to shove her down the public's collective throats, so they learn a little something new. Will anyone relate? Naw. Will anyone look at her twice? Not much more than to say, "Oh, that's nice. Who's Fanny Brice?"

Fannie Beane

My ultimate desire is to represent somebody NOBODY ever heard of, and that's Fannie Beane! Why do I like Fannie Beane? Because she is one of the earliest vaudeville comediennes, and she played DEADWOOD. How cool is that? She headlined at the famed Bella Union Hotel. That can't have been an easy audience! You history buffs who've cried (as I have) at the demise of HBO's "Deadwood" will know that establishment.

Will anyone relate? NO. Will anyone look at her twice? Probably NOT, other than to say:
"Who the hell is Fannie Beane and why did she think it was okay to show her face at this show, which is obviously about funny things, like Lucy, and...clowns?"

So yeah, having a hard time deciding what to do. My Dave says go with Lucy. I said no way. Then again, selling out and making a clown might finally get me in one of them fancy periodicals.

Jenny Lind, the Swedish Nightingale

Jenny Lind

The Swedish Nightingale

Jenny Lind was born Johanna Maria Lind, October 6, 1820 in Stockholm, Sweden. Jenny was (shock!!) the illegitimate daughter of Anne Marie Fellborg, a schoolteacher, and Niclas Jonas Lind, a bookkeeper. Her parents did not marry until Jenny was 14 years of age. Wow. You just don't hear of that type situation that often in the 19th century. Makes us 21st century live-in sinners seem more normal, doesn't it?

When Jenny was nine, her singing was overheard by the maid of Mademoiselle Lundberg, the Principal Dancer of the Royal Swedish Opera. Thus began Jenny's illustrious singing career.

Hans Christian Anderson fell in love with Jenny in 1843, and while they remained close friends, his romantic feelings were not returned. Hans wrote three fairytales inspired by Jenny; The Ugly Duckling, The Angel, and The Nightingale. The Nightingale fit....and from then on, Jenny Lind became known worldwide as "The Swedish Nightingale".

Jenny married Otto Goldschmidt in 1852, and bore him three children. This was her only marriage. She gave her last performance in Dusseldorf in 1870, and died of cancer November 2, 1887.

Jenny Lind was one of the first worldwide celebrities, coming to the United States after an invitation from P.T. Barnum to tour. She may well be the first celebrity to become a 'brand'. Her name graced cribs and cradles...dolls and songs. Women strove in droves to imitate her fashions. So, step aside Cher, Madonna and Britney. You've got enormous shoes to fill.

Here is my version of Jenny Lind, made for the IOLCC (Imitation of Life Construction Company) competition in San Diego last year. The theme was...oh god, what was it? Oh yes...something about having wings. I can't go into the world of fairies and faes, it's just not my thing. I don't do animals. Not well. So me being me, and going against the grain, I had to find something historical to get around the whole 'wing' thing.

Is a Nightingale not a winged thing? That's how I came up with Jenny.

Jenny is made of paperclay over an armiture..and she's quite a heavy gal. I mean, um...sturdy. No girl wants to be referred to as heavy. She is completely handsculpted. I did try to come up with some resemblance to the real Jenny, but the plastic surgeon in me did whittle her somewhat bulbous proboscis down a just a tad. Her hair is also hand modeled, as I didn't want to risk sending her into the hands of others to display and having mohair somehow get pulled out of shape. And it's a good thing I did....because Jenny came back from the show missing a couple of her digits. She's lucky she wasn't a pianist...

She's wearing a ballgown made from contemporary changeable silk taffeta, which is enhanced by antique fabrics and beaded trims. No good, useable, historically significant, displayable, wearable antique garment was destroyed to create Jenny's gown. The gown is covered with netting (with pleats of silk ribbon) from an antique gown that was shredded Her headpiece is all antique 'bits' as well. She holds a miniature reproduction of sheet music (I believe it's the Jenny Lind Polka...can't truly remember, it got lost in the show). Her mitts are also antique lace. I like how she turned out, and apparently a lot of other people did too. Which made me a happy camper.

There was a gentleman at the show who kept staring at her, leaving...coming back and staring at her. He said she looked just like his niece, who worked at the Whaley House Museum in San Diego. Hmmm...............that was very interesting, as I was Head Docent there for a few years. What a coincidence. But you'd think I'd know who he was talking about..I couldn't figure out who worked there (and I know EVERYONE who does and has since 2000) that this doll could possibly resemble.

Finally figured it out, he was right! She's just much younger than Jenny...and much more lovely. I wonder now how much of my memory bank threw this gal into this doll? Weird.

Alas, I still haven't gotten round to rebuilding her poor little fingers.