Happy New Year!!!

Until next year....

Hugs,
Regi

Topper the hopper is complete!!

Such a handsome gentleman Topper turned out to be. Wearing his finest Steampunk hat...tiny rosebuds on the back brim. It's a special hat made just for Topper...has tiny cutouts so it fits snuggly up against his big old floppy ears. Which I'm sure you have noticed that they aren't flopping at all this moment because he is strutting strolling down Valentine Lane to take his Honey Bunny a gift.

Topper stands at 6 1/2 inches tall. He is hand sculpted from Super Sculpey clay without the use of any molds. He has a strong wire and light bulb armature underneath. Yes...you read that right...a light bulb. Topper is one of my characters from the town of Resyculbinz. Any townsfolk from there has a used light bulb for a body. My way of keeping our earth cleaner. I have such a "hopping" good time using them. OMGOSH, sorry about that...I just couldn't resist. (giggle giggle) He is hand rubbed with acrylic paints to give him a ceramic look and then sealed with varnish. His collar is made from a white ribbon with a tiny bow tie adorned with a sterling silver bead cap and tiny crystal bead. His Steampunk hat is made from clay and hand rubbed as well. A coating of fine Mica flakes covers the hat. He is holding a pair of sterling silver hearts and is walking down Valentine Lane. Valentine Lane is a wooden heart that I painted with several layers of acrylics and then rubbed them to give it that aged look. Tiny white dots line the Lane.

I hope you enjoyed Topper...he is such a gentleman!!! If you would like to purchase Topper please just drop me a comment with your addy and I will get back with you. Until next time.....

Hoppy Hugs, Regi

It's starting to look like a Wabbit..

What a wascally wooking wabbit...oops, I mean what a rascally looking rabbit. Sorry about that speech impediment there, I tend to take on my characters when I'm designing and sculpting. Warner Brothers came to mind..LOL!! 

I think that this one could be for Valentines and hop right on over to Easter. He is turning out to be quite the "Honey Bunny" don't ya think? He is going to be holding the tiny sterling silver heart laying beside him in the photo. It is actually two tiny hearts together. I'm trying to decide if I want him wearing a hat of some sort. It seems the proper rabbit would be wearing a hat when he came to call. My muse is whispering, so we will see.

                                                 

He is standing on a wooden heart that will be hand rubbed for an aged look. He even has a tiny fluffy bunny tail. The mark next to him is my signature I put on all my ooaks. (celtic marking) Most the time it is hidden but I decided that this year it would be put some where it could be seen. Hopefully it won't always be on the ooaks hiney..hehe!!

Well, back to work..umm play..ohhh it's great to have a job where you are working and playing at the same time. Thank you for stopping by...please come again and until then....

Hugs,

Regi

Sticking to my New Year's Resolution!!!

What a wonderful Christmas we had here at the old homestead. I love all the holidays...the decorating..the baking...the visiting with family but when it's over..well..it's over!!! I keep my decorations up for a bit afterwards because the Chazman loves them so much. He would keep them up all year long....not just Christmas ones but for all the holidays...wouldn't that be an interesting decorating theme? They will stay alittle longer than I want this year seeing how the week before Christmas Uncle Fluenza came to visit me and I still can't seem to kick him out the door. Don't you just hate when some relatives come to visit and they just don't know when to leave? Took me years to get Auntie Flo to stop dropping by...hehe!!  Now...what were we talking about...oh yes...the decorations. Hubby will be home onThursday/Friday so guess what's on his "HoneyDo" List for Thursday? Yep...for the first time in our marriage he is going to help put everything away.
He of course might decide that Chaz has a wonderful idea...just leave them up all year long. I don't think so Mister!!!! My Grandmother would come back to haunt me if I did that. She always told me that you should always...always take down the Christmas decorations before the New Year starts. If I didn't then the old year would follow me into the new year. Yes..yes..it might just be one of those old Southern sayings but being the true Grits that I am, I really don't want to take the chance!!  (Grits=girl raised in the South)

If you follow my post then you know that I have already made one of my New Year's Resolutions.  (I hear that laughing sound again...hehe) It was not to wait until the last minute or when a holiday was upon us to start designing and sculpting for that particular holiday. So today, I am working in my studio on my rabbits, faeries and Easter things. Yes, I know that Valentine's comes first and I do have a few ooaks planned for it but Easter is really being "bounced" all around inside my head. Git it? Bounced...as in what rabbits do..bounce around!! OK....I think I need to get busy.

Thank you for stopping by to visit. Please come again soon and a comment of your visit would be wonderful. I truly do love reading my comments. Until the next time.....

Hugs,
Regi

Twas the night......

Twas the night before Christmas and all thru the house....the hubby was snoring....asleep on the couch.

The wee one had FINALLY fallen slowly to sleep and mommie hoped now not to hear even a peep. 

For it's time to wrap presents from Santa you see and I realize that OMGOSH we forgot the batteries.

I finished the wrapping, placed them under the tree and now it's time for a hot cup of tea.

As I sit in my chair without any cares, I thank the good Lord with a small tiny prayer.

Oh heavenly Father, protect and keep...all my babies safe as they slumber and sleep

I rose from my chair...turned out the light, walked over to hubby and kissed him goodnight.

Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house...the hubby was snoring, asleep on the couch.

Merry Christmas to all.....

It's baking time..YUM!!!!!

Chaz went and picked up a friend this morning to help with the baking and look....Garfield is already rubbing that tummy. He knows about all of the goodies we are going to bake.

I started a family tradition with the Chazman back in 2004. Every Christmas Eve day we do our holiday baking. We have such a great time together and he is becoming quite the chef!! We make several batches of homemade cookies and of course Santa gets one of each sat on his plate before we go to bed. Our all time favorite we won't be able to make this year due to all this rain. Our angel meringue puffs. I think though, we will have plenty of other wonderful goodies to gobble up.

With my coffee in hand, reading specs on and enjoying some really great post today, I discovered that several of us bake today. With that being said, I thought that I would share one of the Chazman's other favorite recipes with you. It's simple...easy and oh so yummy to eat!!!

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Peanut Butter Balls

1 1/2 cup peanut butter (creamy or crunchy-either are GOOD)
1 tbsp. vanilla flavoring
1 lb. confectioners' sugar
Semi-Sweet chocolate pieces

Mix the first three ingrediants together until smooth and creamy. Chill in frig for about 30 minutes. Take out and make 1 inch balls.  (I like to make mine a bit smaller for the wee ones in the family...don't want them bouncing off the walls now do we) Chill on wax paper in frig for another 30 minutes. While the balls are chillin melt the chocolate pieces in the microwave. Remove the peanut butter balls from frig...dip in chocolate with a fork (this let's the extra chocolate slip thru so you don't have so much on each one) then place back on wax paper and return to frig to chill until set. They can be stored in an airtight container for about a week. (Like they are going to last that long...LOL)

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I hope that you will try this yummy treat. If you have a easy, fun recipe..send it along in my comments. Who doesn't like to try new yummy goodies? Happy baking!!!  Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you and yours. Until next time......(I'm coming Chaz...I'm coming to the kitchen now)

Hugs,
Regi

Needle Felted Finger Puppets

In my opinion, one of the greatest movies that Disney has ever released was about a a character that was ridiculed and called mean names just because he was different. His one true friend was small and tiny but had the heart big enough for both of them to help the shy, different character to achieve his full potential.

The movie is Dumbo and was in fact to this day one of Disney's shortest animated features but is regarded as a true classic. It amazes me that a animated movie made in 1941 can still teach us something. To me the message was that if you believe in yourself, you can overcome your differences or handicaps and achieve any goal you set before yourself.

Our Godson, Kaiden,  loves Dumbo. He loves to be read to but of course seeing that he is only 14 months old it is a chore to keep his attention for any length if time. His mom has discovered that if she uses a puppet while reading the story he will sit and listen. So came the idea for his Christmas present. Hand puppets that will go along with his favorite book. I decided to do the two characters that made the biggest impression on me, Dumbo (of course) and his tiny friend, Timothy Q mouse.

If you are familair with the story then you know that Timothy is a circus mouse, which means he wears the traditional ringmaster outfit.

Dumbo has on his circus outfit as well. Beautiful yellow and red ruffled collar and tiny lil cap.

I think that Amber and Kaiden will have some memorable times reading Dumbo from now on.

Of course, my lil tester, Chaz, had to try them out. He let Timothy teach Dumbo how to fly and off they went all over the house. Hummm, wonder if I will be able to get them in the box and wrapped before Christmas day when we exchange gifts with the children?

In making these finger puppets, another idea pop up as well. I am wanting to write short stories for children  and I think making finger puppets to illustrate the story would be awesome. I'll have to work on that in 2010.

As always, thank you for stopping by and taking a look at what I've been up to. I hope that maybe you will sit down and watch Dumbo over the holidays...remember the child in you or share it for the first time with someone else. Remember...being different can be a good thing!!!!!!!!!

Merry Christmas and the happiest of holidays to you all....Hugs, Regi

Flop is here....

Flop is here and ready to be loved. Big baby blues...soft brown and tan fur. She even has her own carrot to help Autumn keep her fed.  Autumn is our great niece and this is her Christmas gift. She is still toddling around herself so I think that Flop will be in loving care.

Flop is one of my felted characters. For added strength, since she will be being taken care of by a toddler, her body is made from felted material. Her mouth/nose and fur patches are hand needle felted as well as her lil bunny tail. Her eyes are hand embroidered with tiny eyelids felted above them. Her carrot is made from felt material as well and attached to her arm so as not to get lost when feeding time comes around.

I think that Autumn will have fun playing with Flop. A baby bunny to take care of all by herself. I think every little girl loves to play mommie.

Thank you for stopping by. Now it's on to making some needle felted finger puppets....until next time.

Hugs,

Regi

Captured Faery Sold....

I'm so excited...I just can't hide it...Rosebud, the captured faery just got adopted!!!  (dancing and singing)    It was last weekend actually but in going through my post I realized that I hadn't told anyone. I am so excited and just had to share it with you. For those that are reading my blog for the first time let me explain. I recently was added as one of the Alabama artist to the Harrison Brothers Museum. It is a wonderfully restored hardware store in Huntsville, Alabama. When you walk thru the front door you feel as though you have stepped back in time. All throughout the store there are displays of artist work.  I am so honored and proud to say that my Southern Ooaks are one of those displays. If you are in the Huntsville area, please go and take a look around and ask for Southern Ooaks. Be warned though....you won't walk out alone!!!!

Rosebud is the first in a series called "Captured Faeries" .  Each one will be displayed in a cage, a teapot, a
teacup, candle holder or a tiny trinket box. I hope to add more to the museum by Easter.
                                                        

Most of my ooaks are soft bodies with only their heads, hands and feet sculpted out of clay. Rosebud is one of my ooaks that is a fully sculpted clay faery. I have discovered that some of the other ooak artist make their wings with papers but I like to make mine with fabrics or when I'm blessed, real wings. I say "blessed" because how often do you find butterfly wings, dragonfly wings or cicada wings laying around? I could never kill any of those beautiful creatures for their wings but when I happen upon one that has already moved on then I preserve that beauty and design with them. I go to extremes at times too when I do find them. One day we were going down the interstate and one flew right into the windshield. A big, beautiful butterfly...the blue ones that we just don't see to often here. The speed limit was 70 and I made my poor friend slow down so as not to let the butterfly come off until we could pull over (safely) and I could jump out and get it. I think I got out of the vehicle before we actually stopped...LOL!! The little thing wasn't dead..just stunned. I stood with tears in my eyes and watched it fly away. Tears of joy, of course!!!

Thank you for stopping by and come back again. Until then,

Hugs,
Regi


**NOTE: No faeries are harmed while living in their new habitats. I find them in my garden, wings broken, poor dears. I place them in the habitats to keep them safe, so they can heal and be far away from Ms. Peaches, our cat. I don't think I need to explain!!

Frogs & Lizards and Bears....OH MY!!!!!!!

Frogs & Lizards and Bears...OH MY....my sister in law is going to get me...LOL!!!   She is the grandmother of the lil man this gift is for and she so doesn't like outdoor critters...of any kind!!  What lil boy could resist a back pack with all these critters on it? It's big and roomy and could even hold a small Tonka truck or two.  Hey, I just made my first "man" bag. Ok well not really but it is for a lil man, so that should count.

I love buttons and am quite happy that I have been collecting them for umm about a hundred years now. Well, maybe not that long but I do have some old ones. I have had these really neat pearlized ones that I have just been waiting on the right project to use them with. I think they made awesome frog eyes.  The lizard's buggy eyes are bright green beads with a french knot in the middle. I made sure that they were sewed on tight and even gave them the "CHAZ" test. If he couldn't pull them off, I know that Tyler won't be able to.

I'm enjoying making all the children's gifts in the family this year. Most have come to expect a handmade item from their somewhat quirky Aunt. I have a few that look forward to it....or so they tell me!!

Thank you for stopping by and come back again. Until next time,

Hugs,

Regi

Mini Santa is complete and going to school tomorrow.

Mrs. Haak's Mini Santa is complete. Sure hope he will like going back to school after all these years.  Chaz is thrilled with him and of course wants me to make HIM one. He always wants one of everything I make but I explain to him that I can't do one exactly like it because that's what makes them "special' ooaks. One of a kind sculpts, never to be repeated. Of course.....there will be plenty more Santa's in the future, just not one just like this one.

I truly had fun with this one...hummmm, think I've said that about some other ooaks too...but it's true. I thought the hands would be a problem but they were the easiest thing to do. Painting those tiny baby blues was the difficult part. HOHOHO!!!!

 

Back of his cape and attached hood. Kinda reminds me of a Stevie Nicks cape.....hope I didn't just tell my age there. Hummmm, wonder if I could make me a felt cape/hood like this one? Something I'll have to work on!!!

I know I said Santa was 6 inches but if you are like me without some comparison, I can make that be LOTS bigger than it actually is.  So with that being said, here is a photo with a normal size spool of thread.  ^_^

As always, thank you for taking the time to stop by and look. Until next time,

Hugs,

Regi

It's a Mini Santa!!!

I have been steadly working on all the Christmas gifts for the family these last couple of weeks. I don't know why in the world I always seem to want to wait until I have the Christmas decorations up before I start getting "jiggie" with it. (I've always wanted to use that word...LOL..sorry) I have made one of my new year's resolutions and this one I'm going to stick with...stop laughing..I am I tell you I am!!!   You haven't even read what it is yet..so stop laughing and keep reading. (I know that most are laughing, thinking about all the resolutions that are made each year and none of them ever getting past the first few weeks) The one I'm talking about is regarding my ooaks and any gifts I need to make during the year. I'm going to make the resolution that they will be done three months ahead of when they need to be. I think that's a good goal to give myself. Hey wait, when is Easter? OMGOSH...I need to get busy!!!!

I like to make my lil man Chaz's teachers gifts. For Mrs. Haak, his homeroon teacher he requested a Santa.

Seeing that the time is so close to them being out for the holidays I decided to try my hand at a tiny or mini Santa. Most of the ones I make are at least 12 inches tall so to make a 6 inch one has been an adjustment. He is turning out to be a size that I think I will be adding to my Santa making.  Below, are some photos of him so far. Standing he is, yes you guessed, six inches. Sitting he is six inches also.  I made a tiny mushroom stool for him to sit on and it makes him sit at 6 inches and believe it or not I did not plan the height being the same. Honest...I'm not smart enough to have thought of that on my own. Must have been one of those "muse" things.

Santa's mushroom stool is a small wooden votive holder with a clay cushion. Both are painted and then the cushion dipped in MICA flakes. Santa has a suit of wool yarn. His boots are made from clay and then handrubbed with paint to give them an old leather look. His scrunchy socks are real pieces of sock. His belt is felt with a sterling silver clasp serving as the belt buckle. I am currently working on his red flannel cape and hood that will be trimmed in the same wool as his outfit. He will be holding a tiny Bear. Of course, I will post another photo when he is complete. I hope that Mrs. Haak will enjoy her Mini Santa and remember Chaz each year for many years to come.

Until next time,

Hugs,
Regi

The Pillowcase bag/purse

A few weeks ago, I had no choice but to clean up my studio and in doing so I discovered I had carpet on the floor that I hadn't seen in awhile and to be honest had completely forgotten about. I so hope that I'm not the only artist that gets so involved in designing and crafting that even I could get lost in the room at times. While cleaning I found one of my notebooks that I keep design ideas in...you know the one...it lays by your bedside table so when one of those ideas "POP" in your head you can jot it down or for some of us it is the muse that starts singing so loudly that it's amazing she doesn't wake up the whole house. Mine is the latter one...there are some days I would love to let her go visit another artist for a day or two. She sings almost constantly!! Anyway...what was I talking about? Oh yes...the notebook.  This one had been filled up many years ago and stored away. I'm so happy that I started flipping through it. I found my pillowcase bags I use to make. I first thought about this large bag due to my love of Mary Poppins (which I think I have stated in another post or two) To have a bag that was large enough to carry so many prized possesions. I made a smaller bag for one of my nieces so she could put her ballet items in it when she went to practice. It didn't need to be one of the large ones just yet as she is only four. For some reason my camera has lost some of it's photos and that was one of them. I'm sure it had something to do with the person holding it at the time they disappeared. I'm not very good with the technical/mechanical things in life but I try. I did however get photos of the bag I just finished for my great niece. Our lil princess...I started to put Diva but wasn't sure she would understand what that meant just yet. You know, one of those 5 year olds that sometimes makes you think you are talking to a little woman at times. So cute and sweet and hands on those hips kinda lil lady!!!  Here are some photos of her pillowcase bag. It's a Christmas gift so shhhhhhhhhhh!!!

Every Princess has to have a castle. One that has a beautiful garden growing up it's towers. I know in the photo it's probably hard to see but the dote over the "i" in Princess is a tiny sterling silver dragonfly. Now what castle wouldn't have a dragon flying near by...even if just a small tiny one.  Her handsome Prince, well not so fast there..she is only 5...so I figured she could just enjoy the frog for now. He will entertain her with his balancing act on the big ole ball. Fairy godmother is close by though with her magic wand for when our lil Princess has outgrown the frog. (Poor dear....should I tell her that most of them stay "frogs" even after fairy godmother does her thing...LOL...sorry my male followers...I just couldn't resist)

I hope you enjoyed looking and thank you for dropping by. If anyone would be interested in making one of these very simple bags just drop me a note and I will email you some directions. They are great for girls or boys. Matter of fact, I've already started designing one for my three year old great nephew. You will have to check back later to see how it turns out. Until then,

Hugs,

Regi

Soooo excited....named in the Harrison Brothers Newsletter!!!!!

Another wonderful thing has happened on my ooaks journey out into the world. They have been listed in the Harrison Brothers Newsletter. Of course, I was given a mention too and am excited beyond belief. I cried when I opened up my email this morning and started reading the letter. Tears of joy and excitement!!!!!!       I know that some of you are saying to yourself..."she cried?". To have been an artist all my life and to have always just given my wee ones away because I never had the confidence to try and sell them....this is an honor that I really have no words to fully describe what I am feeling at this moment. I have people that believe in me...that have given me and my ooaks a chance to do what up til now I have only dreamed about.
Thank you Ginger....for giving us this chance!!!

Here is the link to the museum so you can sign up for the newsletter. For the life of me I can not figure out how to post it here so you can read it. I hope you will sign up for it (it's FREE and we all love free) There are some wonderful artist displayed there and the museum itself is a wonderous trip back into time.

Welcome to Harrison Brothers

Until next time,

Hugs,
Regi

Come in and look around....

I love all the holidays throughout the year

but Christmas is my favorite

                                                                    time of the year.

No need to knock, just come on it

Enjoy the decorations

Come sit down for a spell

                         and let me share all the stories they tell....                     

                                                  

Stockings are hung for all of the boys

Even the oldest three that are grown

for they live in our hearts

no matter where they roam..

     

An old Fashioned Christmas you see can be found in all my vintage Santa Postcards hanging around

                                           

Even the Chazman has a room all his own, it's decorated just like the rest of the home

          

but look closely at his lil tree for a barrel of monkeys you will see

    

Our family room is warm and cozy it's true but don't all the decorations add alittle charm too

The Santa Bear is special and one of a kind, I made it for momma but now it is mine

Our village is set up and changes each morning as Chaz moves the villagers while apparently we're snoring

                                           
                                           

Sadly, our visit must come to end

     

But please my friend, take with you the knowledge

 as the door slowly closes

that you are welcomed here

anytime of the year.

Merry Christmas to all

Hugs, Regi

Last set of the "GUYS" jewelry is complete!!

Well, the last of the teenage "GUY" jewelry is complete. I'm almost sad to move on to my new projects. I just love making the hemp pieces. Ho hum!!!! Of course, anyone that knows me will be sitting back laughing at this because as soon as I start sewing, I will be saying, I LOVE to sew...LOL!!!

This piece was made using dark green hemp cording, earth clay beads and tiny bone beads. I think this set might just be my favorite. All the colors tie in so well with one another.

It's all wrapped and under the tree waiting to be opened and for me to hear all the glee from the teenage voices saying "Hey...here's a keychain and I really love it.....now where's my car and the keys to drive it"?  Dream on baby boys...dream on!!!!

                                      

As always, thank you for stopping by and looking and until next time,

Hugs,

Regi

Good luck in the "Fish Bowl"

It has been brought to my attention that some of us don't have a Facebook account....imagine that...LOL!!!! So to make this fair to all my followers I wanted to set up a step for them to be able to get their name in the fish bowl too. So here it is: Simply email some of your friends...put the link to my blog in the email so they can find me and send that email to me so that I know you did it. Now, everyone is covered and will have a chance to enter the fish bowl.

Thank you for reading and posting comments. I'm so excited about this giveaway. I think I'm even going to let the winner decide which weebie they would like. Soooo here are some photos of the ones they can pick from.....will that someone be YOU!!!!!

Good luck to all and until next time....

Hugs,

Regi