So long, farewell!

Well, kind of.

Angela Michelle Dolls shop on Etsy is closing December 31!

In order to spend more time on my new printable graphics shop on Etsy, The Occasional Day, I am closing down my toothpick doll shop on December 31. If you'd like a toothpick nutcracker or other doll, now is the time to get it! When they are gone, I may not be making more.

I will still make toothpick dolls in my (very rare) spare time, and I am always available for questions and tips on doll-making. Email me at arosseau (at) gmail.com. And of course, I always love to see photos of the dolls you make!

To snap up one of the last nutcrackers/Penny People/angels/anything toothpick that may be around for quite a while...http://www.etsy.com/shop/AngelaMichelleDolls

To see the snazzy new printable graphics shop that is currently taking up every waking moment...http://www.etsy.com/shop/TheOccasionalDay. It will specialize in DIY printable invitations, party sets, and all things printably fun.

I'll still post here when I have the time to work on a doll. My current doll, a steampunk lady, hopes it's sooner, rather than later. She's been hairless for too long, and the other dolls are starting to talk.

Thank you for your interest in toothpick dolls - happy doll-making in the future!

Ang

Travelling Doll Project - Miss Rosie Pimlico

Last time I told how I signed up for ADO's Travelling Doll Project. I scultped the beginning of a doll, Nadia, then sent her off with her journal on her first of four more stops around the world.

After Nadia went on her journey to find herself, I received in the mail Miss Rosie Pimlico, of Wales. Definitely a girl with an eye for the finer things in life. Miss Rosie was started by Yve Hooson, a wonderful cloth doll maker.

Miss Rosie and I chatted for awhile, and I quickly realized she had a love for beads & accessories. So I fitted her in a beaded top with extra poofy sleeves, stitched up a little purse, and then sent her on to her next stop in California. I should note that when she came from Wales, she couldn't do without hot tea in fine china every morning - but by the time she left the South, this girl was a sweet tea addict! Ahh, another convert. :)

This was the first time I have ever worked on a doll of this size, and while it was fun, boy - was I stressed! For more pictures and the complete story of Miss Rosie's time in Georgia, visit the official Traveling Doll Project blog, and my report on this round of the TDP.

Next time, I'll report on round 3 - my adventures with Aiden, the dragon child!

ADO Travelling Doll Project

Late last year, I signed up to be part of a Travelling Doll Project with the doll-makers' group, Art Dolls Only. I tried not to think about what a huge challenge it would be for me, considering that the dolls I make are MINIATURE, and I'd be working on several LARGE dolls (for me, anything over 5 inches is massive).

Basically, I made the beginnings of a doll, then sent her on to the next person on my team. She added whatever she wanted, then sent the doll on to the next person. And so it goes until my doll has been in the hands of each of my 4 other team mates. When I get her back in June, she will be completed, and 5 doll artists (including myself) will have worked on her. While my doll is winging her way around the country and world, each of my other team mates has been sending their dolls around, also. So, we have 5 different dolls making the rounds, and each person will end up with the doll that she originally started. Got it? Good.

We've been at this since January, and here's what happened on the first round of the TDP:

Travel over to Art Dolls Only Travelling Doll Project Blog for my report on the doll I made to send out, Nadia. If you have time, look through the blog! There are several teams going right now, and the dolls are fabulous!

Break from the Lady

Quick break from the Lady of Toothpicks (see previous post) to bring word of some toothpick folks who were rather insistent at having their pictures shown.

The Nutcracker. Charming as all princes should be, except when you shove a nut in his mouth. Please refrain.

St. Nicholas. Not to be confused with his rather chubbier counterpart. Will sing old English Christmas Carols when no one is listening.

Ah, the angel! Taking a break from her normal angelic duties to grace your Christmas tree. Has also been spotted with blonde, brown, or black hair.

These are my toothpick doll ornaments of the season! Travel to the Angela Michelle Dolls online shop on Etsy to see more variations and invite one home to your tree.

Merry Christmas to you!

Birth of a Toothpick Doll

I've been having fun lately...

While I was making Emeline, the toothpick doll of the decade from me, I took pictures obsessively. I wanted to show them in a way that wouldn't seem too "family vacation slideshow night," so...I started playing.

This is as far as I've gotten so far, let me know what you think! If you have trouble viewing the "movie," let me know so I can improve the file size or speed.

Oh, and I promise - I'll get the wigging photos up soon! She won't stay bald.

Emeline, Lady de Couer-dents

I write about not getting work done and then disappear for 3 months. Accidental Master of Irony, here.

I have been getting work done, though - a project that began to eat up every spare minute until it grew so big it crowded out all other projects.

Introducing...

Emeline, Lady de Couer-dents (Lady of Toothpicks)

She was a competition piece, 70+ hours of work in one month. I was so sick of satin & feathers & wigs...

No, I did not win the competition, but I am pleased it gave me the deadline to produce this piece. I think she may be my favorite to date.

More pictures (of the finished doll & the process behind her) coming soon!

This is why...

I never get anything done.

Yes, that's my cat. Oreo.

And yes, that's my lightbox, where I photograph all of my toothpick dolls and other miniatures. If the photos in my shop start sporting traces of cat hair, you'll know why.