Nasty Nellie Blaylock and Lula Geisel on Ebay

Auction Link

May I introduce Nasty Nellie Blaylock. She is eight years old and as you can plainly see is quite the little devil. It must be said that MRSBO not only has orphans from this corporal kingdom, but other dimensions and realms as well. In this world, Nellie Blaylock was a complete bane to the Sisters of the Holy Wretched. One could say Nellie was too wretched, even for the nuns. Sister Orlick was often overheard saying that "one day that child will rule in Hell!"
Despite the fact that Sister Orlick's prediction was correct, we at MRSBO do not give up on our little ones. Nasty Nellie Blaylock still deserves a loving home. Are you that person? Can you find it in your heart to help Nasty Nellie discover adoring virtues and solid loving discipline. She will need discipline...quite a lot of it actually. Maybe even some chains and a locked room...but I digress.
Nasty Nellie Blaylock is holding her beloved doll George. We are not quite sure what George is, but all that matters is Nellie cannot function without him. It's true that there are many mysteries about Nasty Nellie Blaylock.

Auction Link

Mr. Pringle's Society of Feeble Prestidigitators (MRPSFP) has graciously donated their time and skills to raise some money for Mrs. Blathersby's Orphanage (MRSBO). Charity for the greater good of life's most unfortunate creatures. It was decided that each magician would make a doll to sell for the charity.

The doll for this auction was created by Commander Tootsopht (Ret.). Commander Tootsopht often regales the society about seeing strange sea creatures while serving in the Barbary Wars of 1816. Wild yarns peppered with sitings of giant squids and deadly sea serpents are often met with subtle disbelief and disguised eye rolls. He even claims to have seen old Bloody Bones in the flesh. Poor old Tootsopht!

Commander Tootsopht was delighted to participate in the charity auction for MRSBO. He proudly named his doll Lula Geisel.Lula Greisel was created by Commander Tootsopht, as you already know. He was supposed to conjure a little rag doll for the orphanage, but somehow he created ...well how would one put it delicately? He made a squid girl. I suppose one can never predict the strange results of the Society of Feeble Prestidigitators. Half little girl and half cephalopod, Lula is very frightened of the orphans and inks all over the place.

Lula is holding a little mermaid doll created by one of the ladies of Lady Pickwort's Society of Exemplary Hygiene. It is our sincere wish here at MRSBO, that you will take pity on poor Lula and bring her home with you.

Please bid early and often for the little children of our orphanage.

Squid Girl WIP 2

Whee! I finished her dress this morning. All it needs is a black satin sash and she'll be officially done. I tell you what, I've been working on this dress pattern for quite some time and finally got it to fit. It's a variation on a historical pattern published in Evelyn Ackerman's "My Favorite Patterns for Dressing Antique Dolls 1865-1925." It is only two pieces, the bodice and the sleeves. I have to sew the sleeves by hand, but it's worth it. I like this pattern because it accentuates her squidiness. :P

I think I'll make another dress just like it for my little red devil doll.

Happy Dollmaking,
Melisa

Little Bunny Girl Doll on Ebay

Auction Link

Little Bunny Girl is now up for auction on Ebay. Please stop by and bid!

Squid Girl WIP

Last night, I painted my Squid Girl. I knew I wanted her to have red hair, but I also wanted her to have a fantastical color scheme. Attaching the legs was quite a chore especially when it got down to the last two legs. There was hardly any room for the needle. Somehow I got them on there.

By the way, this is my doll for the MRSBO Raggedy Anne Doll Challenge that will be held on January 31. I have a skeletal outline for her story. No name yet, but I'm sure I'll find a good one.

Now I need to make her dress. Stay tuned for more pictures.

Little Bunny Girl Doll

Today I finished my bunny doll. She is wearing a little pink calico smock style dress with the tiniest yellow buttons. Originally, she was going to have a green apron, but I really fancy the pink dress by itself. She is 11.5" tall. She is made out of cloth and paperclay and then hand-painted with acrylics.

Bunny will go up for auction on Ebay tomorrow night at 7:30 pm Pacific. I'll post the link then.

MRSBO Adoption: Cordelia Thunderfiz and Felix Thump

Auction Link

The Curious Story of Felix Thump.
by Melisa Matkin

Cordelia Thunderfiz's father was once a great explorer of lands unknown.
He would drag his family to parts of the world with great trees and plants overgrown.
Sir Thunderfiz's achievements were recognized by the royal majesty.
Doubtless, it was whispered, he would meet with some horrid tragedy.

As soon as he would return home, he'd be off once more
To darkest lands and strange continents to explore.

Was it great riches or fame that drove him north?
Life's too short to stand in one place, sally forth!
He would cry in great tones of glorious mirth.
And off he go with family in tow to the bizarre ends of the earth.

Then one day while exploring fantastic fauna and flora,
His precious wife and co-explorer, a lovely woman named Dora
Passed away quietly after the long travail of childbirth.
A baby named Cordelia drew her first breath on this strange patch of earth.

And now dear readers, our tale grows most sad
Don't say I didn't warn you that things grew very bad.
So now's your chance to run and dissappear
Before the dread words of this poem you hear.

In Sir Thunderfiz's library there is an ancient tome,
Within it's dusty pages there's a story written in shakey hand by Sir Jerome.
His stark descriptions and strange ramblings of giant savage bugs
Were simply much too much for his curiousity to simply shrug.

And so it was Sir Thunderfiz went off once more
To darkest lands and strange continents to explore.

By this time, Cordelia,only five, craved her father's attention.
"Not now, Cordelia," her father would distractedly mention.
Softly she'd turn away and leave the room
To play with her toys alone in the murky gloom.

"I'm so lonely" Cordelia would cry to her teddy.
"I try to talk to Father but he says, 'that's enough already!'"
Poor motherless Cordelia, abandoned and forsaken
Never gave up hope on finding a friend, courage unshaken.

After several months at sea, Sir Thuderfiz's ship came upon an unknown isle
"Could this be the place of Sir Jerome's story?" he wondered with a smile.
Thunderfiz and his team went to find the tribe of savage giant bugs
Little Cordelia, left alone, went on her own exploration scarecly afraid of insect thugs.

As her father searched in vain, Cordelia discovered something within a foilage clump,
It was to her great delight a little insect boy named Felix Thump.
"Will you be my friend?" she exclaimed with joy.
"Of course, of course!" buzzed the little insect boy.

Happily the two children played together all day long and until it was night.
Cordelia went home with Felix Thump, ate a great feast and slept tight.
Not once was Cordelia bothered by the savage bug's language and dress.
In fact, one just might say, Cordelia could care less.

No longer was she lonely, she had found a new family
Giant insects who loved her, at least to a tolerable degree.

But what happened to Cordelia's Dad?
What about the warning and what happened that was so bad?
Remember from a few lines ago the great feast?
It was her father, truely a great beast.

© 2008 All rights reserved. Melisa Matkin of Coppermouse Dolls

I am very pleased to present my first MRSBO adoption for 2008. Also, it marks the first time I have used poetry to tell a story. Truly, I will be sad to Felix and Cordelia go, but they need a new home. In the future, I plan to explore more of the mysterious giant bugs.

This doll stands 11 inches tall. She 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, petticoat and bloomers are also made from my original patterns. Lastly, this Cordelia Thunderfiz comes with her little friend Felix Thump. Felix is made from muslin which is then hand-painted with artist's acrylics. His eyes are glazed with iridescent glitter to give them life. Felix is around 6" tall.

She may stand with the assistance of a doll stand (not included) or sit nicely on a shelf.

This doll is signed and dated by me, Melisa of Coppermouse Dolls.

Squid Girl and Bunny Doll WIP

It's been a while since I have posted some "work in progress" (WIP) pictures. What you see now is two dolls. On the left is my Squid Girl doll for the MRSBO Raggedy Anne Challenge. The doll on the right is going to be a simple little bunny doll. Perhaps my bunny will be an albino? I have not decided yet. There are so many beautiful breeds of bunnies to chose from it's like trying to pick one color from a big box of 100 crayons.

As you can plainly see, the faces are needle-sculpted cloth. But what you can't see, or feel rather, is that both dolls have been dipped in Paverpol. Now the heads are nice and hard. They're ready for the paperclay application. Paverpol creates the perfect surface for the rough process of sculpting refined features.

If you have any questions about how I make my dolls, feel free to leave a comment and I'll do my best to answer.

Happy Dollmaking,
Melisa

My Latest Izannah Walker Style Doll Up for Auction on Ebay

Here is my second Izannah Walker style doll up for auction on Ebay.

Auction Link

Upcoming auctions will include more orphans from Mrs. Blathersby's Orphanage, a very odd Raggedy Anne doll, some unusual rabbits and per chance a take on Little Red Riding Hood. Oh and do be on the lookout for MRSBO's Heinrich Hoffman's Dreadful Morality Tales coming this March. It shall be most delightful!

Little Izannah on Ebay

Hello, here is my latest doll up for auction on Ebay. She is inspired by the lovely dolls of Izannah Walker. This doll stands 18 inches tall. She 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, petticoat which features three tiny rows of pintucks and bloomers are also made from my original patterns. Lastly, she wears a tiny necklace and matching bracelets made from blue glass beads.

She may stand with the assistance of a doll stand (not included) or sit nicely on a shelf.

Auction Link