Coppermouse Dolls Ebay Auction: Primitive Annie

Welcome to this week's auction for my primitive Annie doll. She is approximately 12 inches tall. Annie is entirely handmade from my own patterns. She is sculpted out of cloth and paperclay. Her blue cotton dress and bloomers are permanently attached.

What can I say about this doll? She is a curious feisty little red-head, full of life.

It is my opinion that every dollmaker needs to make their own version of Raggedy Anne.

Here is the link for Annie (it will not work until 9 p.m. central tonight).

MRSBO Adoption: Pamela Pumpkinhead

Welcome to this week's adoption. May I introduce to you Pamela Pumpkinhead. She is five years old. The story goes that five years ago, a magician from Mr. Pringle's Society of Feeble Prestidigitators was challenged to enchant a pumpkin into a hammer. Somehow, he changed the pumpkin into some sort of little baby girl. The magician was greatly disappointed (he really wanted that hammer) and brought the wee baby gourd to our orphanage.

So why on earth is that child holding an axe, you say? That is easy to explain. Pamela does not want the other children at MRSBO to chop off her head and carve a jack o' lantern out of it. We cannot blame the little tykes their mischief. It is getting close to Halloween after all. However, we are not barbaric here at MRSBO. We decided to give Pamela a fighting chance and allow her to carry an axe for her own protection. Perhaps the best protection for Pamela is if you can bring her home with you.

Pamela Pumpkinhead is made out of sculpted cloth and paperclay and is hand-painted with the finest acrylic paints. From the top of her pumpkinhead to the tips of her black boots, she measures 10 inches tall. Pamela comes with a tiny axe made out of paper and a wooden dowel. It gently fits in her hand. Her dress is made from 100% cotton and is my own original design. She wears tiny muslin bloomers with a matching petticoat. Her black and white stripped stockings and boots are hand-painted and sealed with acrylic varnish. You will need a doll stand or chair to display her. She can sit on her own. Be careful with her though, she is still somewhat fragile.

I certainly enjoyed making Pamela Pumpkinhead. She is inspired greatly by my adoration of Edward Gorey (and a somewhat strange predilection for evil children). And since Halloween is right around the corner, why not include Pamela Pumpkinhead with your decorations.

Potential Parents please click here.

MRSBO Up for Adoption This Week: Bella & Donna

Welcome to this week's adoption. 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.

Potential parents click here.

Happy Dollmaking,
Melisa

Percival Up for Adoption on Ebay MRSBO

May I introduce to you Percival (under no circumstances may you call him "Percy" because of a pending lawsuit from the unfortunate couple with whom I most regrettably forgot to warn). Percival is currently residing in Mrs. Blathersby's Orphanage (MRSBO) and just cannot wait to find a new home with lovingly dedicated parents. Percival's story is a rather sad tale. He was brought to the orphanage earlier this year after his parents met with an unfortunate boating "accident." Now our poor little chap has become somewhat of an expert on maritime disasters. Percival can tell you about every single recorded major disaster at sea from memory (and I must suggest you pay attention). Percival is only five years old and I firmly believe you are the just the loving home he needs. At such a tender age, there is still hope for little Percival.

Potential parents may view Percival here.

Mrs. Blathersby's Orphanage (MRSBO)

I have just started a brand new Ebay group called Mrs. Blathersby's Orphanage for the Unattractive and Mentally Unsound (MRSBO). The group's focus is to create a community and an online presence for dollmakers who like to make bizarre, weird, ugly and strange primitive and folk art dolls.

http://groups.ebay.com/clubforum.jspa?forumID=1600021395

Group Charter:
When applying for membership to MRSBO, please supply the following information:

1. Your first name.
2. Your return email address.
3. Your reason for wanting to join MRSBO.
4. You must provide examples of your work.
5. Website, blog or photo galllery URL.
6. How did you learn about MRSBO (Mrs. Blathersby's Orphanage)?


If you would like to join our group, please review our etiquette guidelines below.

MRSBO Guidelines:

Please use proper etiquette, correct spelling, good grammar and common sense when posting.

Posts that are uncivil, impolite, discourteous, malicious, or inflammatory are counter-productive and minimize the zest of MRSBO for others and are grounds for immediate expulsion. In addition, Mrs. Blathersby frowns upon coarse and unrefined language. After all, there are children present.

So I hope to hear from some new applicants.

Happy Dollmaking,
Melisa

Violet on Ebay

I must admit that I'm rather excited about Violet going up for auction tonight. She will be a seven day auction. Check back later tonight for the link. Wish me luck. Oh yes, please bid.

Click here to bid on Violet.

Hand Beaded Fairy Doll on Ebay

My latest doll is now up for auction on Ebay. Check it out!

At Last, Baby Beatrix is on Ebay

Original Legs

Redesigned Legs

Well to say that this doll was a challenge is the understatement of the year. This doll went through several changes. The biggest was her legs. Oh man, they just wouldn't stay together. The clay leg would just pop right out of it's cloth leg. I wound up taking off the cloth legs and tossing them into trash. Well they went into the trash after I threw them across the room in frustration. So with a pencil and drafting tools, I designed a new leg and decided to make it hinged so she could bend at the knee. For added security, I glued the leg into the cloth and covered the join with ribbon. Normally, I just sculpt the lower leg directly onto a cloth leg. But for some reason I decided to try a more traditional technique using sewing buttons. Never again! Okay, perhaps "never" is too strong a word to use, but it will be awhile before I do it again. The last headache was her dress. I was originally going to use this awesome yellow silk, but it just didn't go with her overall appearance. So I thought I would use one of my favorite calico prints, but the armholes were too small for her. That got tossed as well. In desperation, I pulled out boxes of fabric and the plain pink broadcloth just seemed to be right. So after careful re-measurements, I found inspiration in one of the best doll books around, The Collector's Book of Doll Clothes by the Coleman sisters, and made a new dress pattern for Baby Beatrix.

At any rate, Baby Beatrix is now up for auction on Ebay. Click here to go to the auction. I hope you can stop by and place a bid. A lot of work has gone into this doll. At least watch her so you can enlarge my ego. I love seeing how many people are watching.

Without a doubt, my next doll is going to be another big-nosed fairy. I need to make something whimsical to lighten my dollmaking mood.

Lindwinkle OOAK Paperclay Cloth Dragon Now on Ebay

I have finished my sleeping baby dragon. His name is Lindwinkle. This is his story.

Deep within the mysterious lands of Crystal Cliffs Marsh perched high on a stone ledge, Little Lindwinkle is taking a nap. His parents, Garwinkle and Waywinkle, are currently searching for his next meal. Anything will do really, an errant knight, a plow horse from the fields and the farmer too. Lindwinkle is just a few months old. His wings are still too tiny to carry him, but it will not be to long now before he can fly around the skies with his parents.

He is one-of-a-kind dragon. No molds were used in creating him. He is made from Paperclay, an air dry clay, sculpted on a cloth armature. He is 6 inches tall and 7 inches wide. He is painted using artist quality acrylic paints. His ears are reinforced with wire and plastic. I had a blast making him.

Click here to go to the auction.

Or search by Ebay item number 120119339615

As always happy dollmaking,
Coppermouse

Avarona Milkweed now available on Ebay

Here is your chance to own Avarona Milkweed. Please visit the auction today and bid!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=120118010204