Krampus Doll

" Krampus Visits "

The truth will out come Christmas Eve,
When many a child shall be deceived!
As stockings still hung and filled... quite meagerly,
Are opened by the naughty child, so eagerly!
No toys, nor trinkets, not even a sweet,
Just chunks of coal tumbling to their feet!
With a naughty list and switch in hand,
The laughing Krampus shouts " How grand! "
No Saintly Nick with his bag of toys,
Just old Krampus, visiting naughty girls and boys!
by F. Thompson

Why on earth do I have a red devil on my blog...and at Christmas time! It all began because I am a member of a Halloween Ebay group called HA31. They held a Krampus challenge for December 5th. Unfortunately for me, I was too late to list my doll in time (I had joined the group after the deadline). Nevertheless, I just had to make my own Krampus doll.

My dapper little devil stands at 18 inches and wears a hounds-tooth flannel suit. He is made out of cloth and paperclay and is painted bright red. The naughty little boy is a simple rag doll painted with acrylics. Krampus' switch is made from my broom and tied to a chopstick. I will sell him in September 2008.

Here is a brief description on Krampus day from Wikipedia:

The word Krampus originates from the Old High German word for claw (Krampen). In the Alpine region the Krampus is represented by an incubus in company of St Nicholas. Traditionally, young men dress up as the Krampus in the first two weeks of December and particularly in the evening of December 5 and roam the streets frightening children (and adults) with rusty chains and bells. In some rural areas also slight birching especially of young females by the Krampus is part of tradition.



Below is a cute Krampus commercial from G4.

As a dollmaker and storyteller, I loved the chance to make a Krampus doll. Furthermore, and on a more fundamental level, I find the concept interesting and rather amusing. While Krampus is a pre-Christian celebration of Christmas, it reminds us there are consequences for bad behavior. It is the old and compelling principle of good and evil. Also, it is meant to scare children straight. I mean come on. What's better than scaring the daylights out of little bratty kids! So have you been good? Or have you been naughty? Remember that old Christmas carol, Santa Claus is Coming to Town? [Santa's] gonna find out who's been naughty or nice. And then he's gonna sic Krampus on the naughty ones.

Merry Christmas!
Melisa

Heading Towards a New Year

It is still amazing to me that this year is almost over. Next year, I am looking forward to expanding and learning more and more about dollmaking.

I want to learn more about digital photography and take better and more interesting pictures of my work. Also, I am very excited about my Ebay group MRSBO. We will have some wonderful challenges and stories to tell. On January 31, we are having our first official doll challenge. It's called the Raggedy Anne Doll Challenge sponsored by Mr. Pringle's Society of Feeble Prestidigitators.



The premise is: Mr. Pringle's Society of Feeble Prestidigitators is sponsoring a fund-raiser for the children. All members have attempted to conjure up a doll to be sold for charity, but there is something very odd about every one of them!

I can't wait to see what my fellow dollmakers at MRSBO come up with. If you are interested in joining my group send a request here.


In January I will sell on Ebay again. Got to take a break and work on some ideas too. So look for me and my Little Izannahs on or around January 7. Don't forget I do have a mailing list so you may be notified of my dolls go up for auction. Join my Yahoo group by entering your email address in the space provided to the left.

MRSBO Adoption: Agnes Futtleplum and Petey

Auction Link

Welcome to this week's MRSBO adoption. May I introduce Agnes Futtleplum and her pet pug, Petey. They are having a little wintertime party. These two are absolutely inseparable. Petey is Agnes' best friend. One can hear his tiny toenails tapping along the floorboards as he follows Agnes from room to room. We believe Agnes is about three years old and Petey is about two. They just appeared one day at the orphanage. We will be sad when they go, but we know they will be be happy at home with you.

Agnes Futtleplum stands 10 inches tall but is about 12 inches with her party hat. Agnes is made from my original patterns. Her head is needle-sculpted cloth with paperclay. She is painted with artist acrylics and sealed with acrylic varnish. Her dress is also and crocheted trimmed bloomers are also made from my original patterns. Petey the pug is sculpted out of polymer clay and painted with acrylics. He wears a cream colored satin bow and his little party hat. Both party hats are trimmed with black ric-rac, pom-poms, and glitter. The hats are removable.

This is my last auction for Ebay this year. I'm gonna work on getting dolls made in advance to sell for January.

Have a Merry Christmas,
Melisa

Dora and Cinnamon

Auction Link

Tonight Dora, the snow girl, and Cinnamon, her pet fawn, go up for auction on Ebay.

Dora is a one-of-a-kind doll and made right from my own patterns. She is made out of cloth and paperclay and hand-painted with artist's acrylics and with just a hint of glitter. Her dress is made out of mint green velvet, cotton and embellished with pink ribbon and lots of lace. She is wearing a pagoda style dress with lacy bloomers and a petticoat. She has pink and white striped painted stockings under her bloomers. Her pink mittens and black boots are also hand-painted. Her bonnet is from ivory satin brocade lined with lutrador and trimmed with pink grosgrain, lace and ribbon flowers. It is removable, too.

Cinnamon, Dora's pet fawn, is made out of paperclay and hand-painted with artist's acrylic. Cinnamon loves to sit in Dora's lap, but is just as content to sit by her side.

Both pieces are signed and dated by me, Melisa of Coppermouse Dolls.

I will try to make one more orphan before the year is over, but Dora is my last doll for the year. There will be some small paintings and perhaps an ornament or two on Ebay, what doesn't sell I'll list them in my Etsy store. I just can't believe this year is almost over. It's been an amazing year to say the least.

Happy Holidays,
Melisa

Doll Crafter February 2008 Sugar & Spice Gallery

I am very happy. Why? Well it's because my naughty little munchkins Bella and Donna were published in the February 2008 issue of Doll Crafter & Costuming. The theme for February's gallery is Sugar and Spice : That's What Little Girls Are Made Of! Bella and Donna are without a doubt spice. In case you are not famaliar with Bella and Donna here is there story.

May I introduce to you the twins, Bella & Donna. They currently reside at Mrs. Blathersby's Orphanage (MRSBO) and cannot wait to come home with you. A little history about Bella & Donna. They have only been with MRSBO now a few months. They are very quiet and take excellent care of their plant "Lulu" (we think they are calling it "Lulu" but it comes out "roo-roo"), You know, now that I think about it, ever since they arrived with that plant, I swear we no longer have any problems with vermin (not that MRSBO is plagued with pestilence) or stray cats either. Weird, huh? But I digress, the twins are very neat. One would never know they were just in a room. They make their beds, wash their dishes and do all of their chores without ever having be told to do so. Bella & Donna are only four years old and require very little in life. All they need is a loving home (preferably one without pets or younger children). Besides, just look at those darling faces. How can you resist?On a side note, it is not that big of a deal really; however, it is worth mentioning. I strongly recommend that you do not try to take away their plant. Sister Mary Mole from the Order of the Holy Wretched tried to throw away their plant "Lulu" one day and, thankfully, now has recovered the use of her right hand. So whatever you do, leave Lulu alone. It really is not anything to worry yourself about.

Thank you Doll Crafter for publishing my little girls. It's quite an honor.

If you are interested in owning one of my orphans, please join my mailing list to the right.