Annie Beez Doll

Notice!

2010-03-08T12:05:00.000-06:00

In the interest of simplicity and in order to try to make my life a little less complicated, I have begun the process of combining this blog with my other blog: Annie Beez Folk Art.blogspot.com. So all of my works, wether cross stitch or dolls will all be featured together on the same blog. This blog: anniebeezdoll, WILL BE CLOSING. Please visit my other blog where you can sign up for my mailing list and also use that little "follow this blog" button thingie if you like.
THANKS SO MUCH!!!

Visit me at my other permanent blog:

Annie Beez Folk Art

This would happen to me!

2010-03-05T08:54:00.000-06:00

The very first senior moment,...or why dinosaurs are now extinct!!

Update!! Pattern F~124 The Hunny Bunnies

2010-03-03T08:38:00.000-06:00

Available Now!!
The first run of patterns are at a special sale price while supplies last!! Thank you so much for your interest in my dolls!

For Ebay click here!
To buy an E-pattern at Patternmart click here!
To order from my website click here!
A few more pictures:

(the vegies are not included in the pattern, but the flowers are!)

New Pattern sneak peek!!!

2010-02-22T08:35:00.000-06:00

Coming soon!!

Honey Bunnies!!!

Little Bronwyn

2010-02-10T08:43:00.000-06:00

On ebay today!

From Snowman to Bunnies!!!

2010-01-28T15:10:00.000-06:00

Minnie and Sadie

On Ebay right now! Click here!

Little Valentine Snowman, almost ready!!

2010-01-22T08:25:00.000-06:00

I had to have my hubby help me figure out my Dremel tool last night, so today I can finish up this little guy and get him listed on ebay. He will be holding a little valentine heart.

Deanna Hogan's Alabama Baby

2010-01-21T09:35:00.000-06:00

I am working on the Alabama Baby made from Deanna Hogan's pattern and face mold. So far I love this pattern, it is very easy to follow. I like all of the pictures included, so it is a step by step process. That is helpful to me as I have never used a face mold before. This picture is the cloth body and molded head and back of head. They have been glued on and are drying. Once dry, I will start adding paperclay to fill in the gaps and finish the head.
Here is a wonderful tutorial from Deanna that shows how the entire process works.

Julia and Ginger on ebay!

2010-01-13T08:26:00.000-06:00

All dressed up and ready to go!

Click here to go to the ebay auction!

Whoa-ho-ho!! A new doll!

2010-01-09T22:22:00.000-06:00

Wow! Its been a long time, but it really felt good to creat a DOLL again! I am happy with the way she turned out! Look for her on ebay this week, I will post a link when I get her listed.

Some Ebay wanderings...

2010-01-04T08:43:00.000-06:00

I like this leprechaun:

Hootnhollar leprechaun

Lovely set of early looking black dolls inspired by Izannah Walker:

Girl

Boy

I hope they sell to the same bidder-it seems a shame to seperate them!

This angel is super pretty, and I like the way she seems to suggest movement. Very nicely done:

Flying Angel

Here is another pretty doll from Back in the Day, an ice princess. I love the bottle brush wreath!

Ice princess

Oh heavens! I love this briar rabbit from Veenas Mercantile! A prototype designed for Bethany Lowe! You go Veena! He looks so cute perched on his box! How did she do it?

Briar Rabbit

This guy is cute, nice starting price:

Snowman

I like this moon man too:

Moon Man

Happy New Year!

2010-01-01T10:04:00.000-06:00

A new doll! Can you believe it!!

2009-12-29T15:45:00.000-06:00

A basic sculpt in the early stages, but hey, its sumthin'!! LOL!

Merry Christmas 2009!

2009-12-25T11:11:00.001-06:00

I hope you have yourself a merry little Christmas!!

News...News...News!!!

2008-06-15T15:30:00.003-05:00

Due to a series of unfortunate events that were...ahem!...beyond my control, I am going to have to give up my website. I feel a little bit sad and a little uneasy about this move, as I have had my website for 5 years and it has served me well. It has always been a place to call home where my customers could easily find my wares,and I could keep everyone informed of either new items I had for sale, or places where my work could be seen, either online, at shows, or in print. But life means change and it is time to roll on.
So, that being said I have done a lot of soul-searching and trying to figure out exactly what I wanted to do in terms of a replacement. I have decided to go with a master blog with links to places where my work could be found and patterns can be bought. I will be selling my patterns retail again through email and Paypal. All information will be given and ordering should be very easy. I will continue to sell my patterns on ebay and hold pattern sales there. Wholesale pattern sales will not change at all. I think a blog is the best way to keep everyone informed of new items, news, and sales.
So I am working on opening up a brand new blog, with Annie Beez Folk Art as the URL, and this blog; anniebeezdoll will be discontinued.I will also be terminating my samplerpost blog and combining all of my patterns; dolls, needlework, punchneedle and what-have-you all in one place.
As this idea has begun to take form I am quite excited about it! I welcome the end of monthly web fees, and I just know it will be easier to have everything centrally located, as I have sort of spread myself thin all over the web in the last few years.My website is closing on June 20, 2008, and I hope to have my new blog up and running by then. Yay!

The picture above is a work in progress. This doll is from an online class I am taking with Gail Wilson. It is a paper mache fashion doll, and will be dressed in a costume of the 1860's. She has an awesome 2 piece dress with a bustle and her hair is dressed in a snood. Right now she is in a wigging clamp and I am working on her wig. It is not fastened to her head yet, I am still in the process of gluing the hair to the wig cap. Then it will be styled into a swept back hairdo and the snood will hold all of the hair in the back. I love doing Gail Wilson dolls for 2 reasons. 1) I don't sell them, so they are just for me and I can just have fun. And 2) Everything is provided so I don't have to search around for supplies, etc. Everything is already thought out, so it is just go go go!

Julia is on Ebay!

2008-05-26T13:27:00.002-05:00

I hope she gets some bids. Ebay is just the pits these days. But if she doesn't sell, then I will pop her into my Etsy shop so she can wait for just the perfect person to adopt her!

A sad thing

2008-05-24T09:38:00.003-05:00

USA Today article: Rosaries are Newest Gang Symbol

To be honest, I am a devout catholic and the rosary is a very sacred thing to me. It is never an article to be worn, it is not jewelry, it is used only for contemplative prayer. It is a very special sacremental given to us by Our Lady, and to be used any other way is a profanity. Most rosaries have been blessed by a priest and are no longer just a thing, but a sacremental. Whenever I find a broken one, or a fragment in antique shops etc. I buy it because it has to be destroyed in a very specific way.

I don't want to make anyone feel bad, I know this is not general knowledge. But I don't think people would use them in this way if they knew that they were offending others. People wouldn't wear a Jewish yamakah on their heads as a fashion accessory,or wear a prayer shawl around their waist, it is the same thing.

I am sad to see this association with something that means so much to me. But you will never see a true catholic wearing a rosary around their neck.

OK, I'm gettin down off of my soapbox now!

Julia sneak peek

2008-05-23T12:58:00.001-05:00

Check for her on ebay Sunday evening!

Work in progress~Julia

2008-05-19T20:12:00.002-05:00

Here is Julia awaiting some clothes. I have decided to try Gail Wilson's paint overdye method to tone down the brightness of the fabrics I want to use for her costume, so I am at sort of a stand still until I can pick up some paint in the colors I need. I also still need to design the pantaloons for her. I am hoping to make Julia a standard "type" so that I can use her basic body for several different dolls that I want to do.

My favorite doll

2008-05-16T21:30:00.003-05:00

Michelle asked which was my favorite doll that I have made. So I had to really hunt this picture down. Her name is Callie, and she is in a private collection. I wish I still had her!

Geez!I may never be done!LOL!

2008-05-15T12:18:00.006-05:00

some real dusties!

2008-05-14T22:15:00.002-05:00

More doll show!

2008-05-14T22:08:00.002-05:00

Baby Emma

2008-05-14T15:53:00.003-05:00

On ebay now!

And more...

2008-05-13T16:41:00.002-05:00

Found a few more!

2008-05-13T14:37:00.001-05:00

How about a doll show?

2008-05-13T14:23:00.003-05:00

My computer has been running s..l..o..w! So I have been forced to clean it out, back things up and etc. It is a lot like going through an attic, I have been looking at a lot of doll pics! Some are really old, almost 9 years! So I thought I would dust some of them off and post them here for you all to enjoy!Here goes:

More tomorrow!

Almost done

2008-05-10T13:52:00.002-05:00

My extra-curricular activities, things I volunteer for, etc. are starting to wind down, so I hope I can get caught up on my blogging again! Its been crazy!

I am almost done with this little doll made from Susan Fosnot's Mina pattern. All she needs is a bonnet. I am working on a sculpted doll next, and then I will be putting together my Snow Queen pattern for publication.

I couldn't wait...

2008-05-02T22:52:00.004-05:00

to post this picture! Doesn't he look handsome!

Happy May!

2008-05-02T13:36:00.003-05:00

Here is the link for the new issue of

Glitter and Grunge

Thank you for looking!

May is here, and things always rev up for me this month. Its the last month of school for all of my kids, so we have finals and prom(tonight) and the end of all the school related activities- teacher appreciations, and coach dinners and things of that sort. I have to try to gaurd my work hours or I won't get anything made and that means no $!!

I have joined a new dollmaking group that I wanted to tell you all about. (Michelle are you listening?) Its called Modern Cloth Dollmaking, and they concentrate on patterns from the 70's, 80's and 90's, to today. Although I really am a vintage cloth dollmaker, the reason I joined is because great innovations were being made during this time period in regard to construction. This is when people like Antoinette Cely were teaching draping and other advanced techniques, and there were some great dollmakers doing awesome things with costume as well. These ladies got us to where we are today in many respects. So I thought it would be cool to learn more about them, and try some of their patterns.

Glitter and Grunge

2008-05-01T20:51:00.002-05:00

Well I was hoping to post the link to the new items on Glitter and Grunge today, but they are having technical issues. So I will show you my new painting here! What do you think?

My next little baby

2008-04-30T11:59:00.002-05:00

She still needs some work, and I have to come up with an outfit too. But I didn't want you all to think I wasn't working around here! LOL! I've also been doing a lot of Stampin'Up activities. Can you believe I am a closet SU demonstrator too! Don't tell anyone!

Busy, busy, busy

2008-04-23T08:37:00.003-05:00

I know you can all relate to that. The last couple of days I've been so busy that at night when I go to bed I can't sleep because my entire body is so achy! How weird is that? It stinks getting old! LOL!
I am working on another oil painted doll. She is a black baby too, and I'm going to make her the cutest bonnet!
I also have a few new canvases that I bought at Dick Blick(I am proud to say I am now a preferred customer and receive a 10% discount everytime I go there! So cool!)I snuck in there last Sunday when I had to take Lucas for his tux for prom. He is my jr. and he looks SOOO handsome in his tux, wow! I can't wait to get pictures!I will definitely post them! So anyway, I hope to get a few more mixed media pieces done.
Last night I went to guild(I belong to the EGA) and even though I haven't been stitching in a while I still really enjoy going because I have some really nice friends there. I also need to get designing on some new needlework patterns. Why am I so fractured? I just like to do so many different things, its hard to stick with just one!
Here is a pic of some dolls I dug out of the basement. I hope to get them finished up soon.

Oil painted doll on Ebay tonight!

2008-04-21T10:28:00.004-05:00

She is finally finished, little pup is dry and the adoption papers are prepared and ready! Esther goes up for auction on ebay tonight!
Click here for lots more pictures!

I DO love oils!

2008-04-17T21:13:00.003-05:00

Whenever I go back to them it is like...ahhhh!

I made this little guy to go with my oil painted doll-which is finally finished. I will get pics as soon as this little guy dries. I am working on another doll now too. Yippee! Its fun to work in oils. Next,... a painting!!!

A dreamy little kitty on ebay

2008-04-15T14:41:00.003-05:00

Click here to go to the auction!

2008-04-14T08:51:00.003-05:00

This poor little dolly is finally getting some clothes. It took me a long while to figure out what she should wear. I had lots of grand ideas for her, but I just couldn't cover up those wonderful feet! So a modest gown and pinafore have finally been decided upon. I should have her clothing finished this week and then she will be ready for adoption.
I'd like to tell you that Mew-mew is really interested in my work and has jumped up on the table for closer inspection. But she is really just there for a better view of the birds outside my window, which is just to the left of this picture.

Folk girl with flowers

2008-04-13T10:06:00.006-05:00

I had sort of a discombobulated week, in which it was very hard to get in the studio, and when I did I couldn't concentrate. We had a funeral this week involving the very untimely death of a friend. Everything just gets put on hold in these situations while you attend to the more important things in life. So as a result I have a couple of paintings that I feel a little uneasy about. This just brings home the thought to me that art is so personal. Whatever is going on in your life really gets reflected in it, whether you want it to or not. Whether you are the only one who can see it, its there.

Folk girl with flowers on ebay here.

This one I feel is a work in progress. I am not comfortable with it. I have to look at it and contemplate it a little bit. I'm not sure what it is that bugs me about it, but something does. Hmmm...

Click on picture for a closer view.
This is something of a self portrait of me as a kid. I was always, always jumping rope, it was my favorite activity for sure. When I was really small we had to wear those little red beanies so we would have a hat on in church, which we attended every single day.( I love to tell my kids that when they complain about going once a week!)

Glitter and Grunge Featured on Vintage Indie site!

2008-04-10T14:41:00.002-05:00

AND they used my painting! Wow! I'm so excited! Here's the link:

Vintage Indie

Folk Girl with Grapes in a Pastoral Setting

2008-04-06T08:22:00.003-05:00

Hows that for a title! Ha! ha! ha! Actually, I'm very excited about this piece. It turned out very pleasing, and I think it may become a series

On ebay now!

A still life and a rework

2008-04-04T20:52:00.003-05:00

Oh what fun I had painting this still life! I was going to be all fine arty and make a serious painting, but then I just couldn't resist putting one of my little chickies in there! Peep!

I decided to try and paint this little folk girl again, since the first one was in a sketchbook and not a finished painting on a canvas. I have loved the paintings of the old itinerant folk painters such as Ammi Phillips, and even went to Colonial Williamsburg to see them in the folk art museum there. They are really cool in real life. Anyhow these 18th and 19th century portraits really get me going, so I had to try doing them in my own style. I am almost finished with another one-the best so far. I can't wait to show it to you, but it is not quite ready!

Blue Vase and Folk Girl with Doll are on Ebay now.

Ebay 99 cent sale!

2008-04-03T15:26:00.004-05:00

These 2 paintings are in their final hours at ebay. Check it out if you want a great painting at a bargain price!

And for doll lovers, I have listed several more doll patterns at half off and lots of them starting at .99!

Check it all out at Ebay!

Glitter and Grunge!

2008-04-01T16:57:00.000-05:00

Hooray! My artist page is up at Glitter and Grunge! I'm so excited! Be sure to click over and take a look! Tell me what you think!

Click here to go to Glitter and Grunge!

This is why I'm always broke!

2008-03-31T18:44:00.002-05:00

Look at the damage I did today!

I had to take Isabel to the uniform store because her school went back to the regular uniform today(as opposed to the winter uniform where she can wear slacks) and let me tell you it was far!I got a little lost too which was kind of scary. But anyways, I thought as long as I had to go to BFE I would take the opportunity to go to Dick Blick. Wow! What a store! I could have spent hours in there! Instead I spent plenty of $$! But best of all, I found out they have opened a store really close to where I live! I am so excited about that!

Hey I made a Flickr set!

2008-03-30T13:22:00.003-05:00

I made a Flickr set just for my paintings. You know, when I see them all together like that I feel really proud! They actually look cohesive and like they all came from one artist. I guess I've finally graduated from novice to having my own look. That is really EXCITING to me!

My Flickr Photos

I am doing housework today. My kids go back to school tomorrow-spring break is over-yay! (aren't I mean! but man, I've got work to do!) But during the break we played a lot, my sis was in town from Minneapolis and I really let-my-house-go!! You should see it, it looks like a house of squalor! I have the Mt. Everest of laundry, and everything needs a-moppin! But tomorrow when all of the offspring are in school I will be able to paint with a happy heart!

My paintings are going to debut on Glitter and Grunge!

2008-03-28T12:42:00.003-05:00

Starting on April 1st~oh wow! April Fools Day-look out! Anyhow, beginning April 1st my paintings will be sold on the Glitter and Grunge website. I am honored to be showing my paintings with so many great artists. Check it out here!

Art Institute of Chicago

2008-03-26T15:21:00.008-05:00

I went to the art institute today! I just got back. I dragged my whole family there, even the teenage boys who profess to care so little for art! It was glorious for my soul!!!
Of course the AIC has a huge collection of impressionist art. It is so cool to see really famous works in real life. I loved these 2:

And there is a wall of Cezanne which I just couldn't stop looking at. Why is Cezanne so emotional for me? I'm not sure, but looking at his paintings evokes emotion from me every time!

But one artist I have overlooked in the past is Pissaro. His work is huge and requires a few steps back to really see. Breathtaking.

We really had fun looking at the modern art. Aidan(15 yrs old) does not think Piet Mondrian belongs in any art museum! But his interpretation of Salvadore Dali's Eternity was really astute. Oh we had fun! fun!

Little Shepherd Girl

2008-03-24T08:27:00.005-05:00

Little Shepherd girl on ebay,here.

Hehe! I guess I was in church a lot last week.

I am so excited about what I am learning about color, color mixing and color harmony. I checked a really cool book out of the library called, "Color; A course in mastering the art of mixing colors" by Betty Edwards. She is the author of the Drawing on the right side of the brain books. This book is really helping me figure out how to get where I want to go-colorwise. I didn't have much time to paint this weekend, and when I can't do, I usually read in every spare moment.

Happy Easter!

2008-03-23T10:26:00.004-05:00

Hope you have a beautiful Easter my wonderful friends!

Last few hours for this painting on ebay:

Cezanne

2008-03-21T13:19:00.004-05:00

Paul Cézanne

Still Life with a Ginger Jar and Eggplants, 1890-94
oil on canvas
28 1/2 x 36 inches (72 x 91 cm)

Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City

We are having a huge snow storm! Blah! I am so tired of snow! Paul Cezanne always makes me feel cheerful, his beautiful colors are like spring to me. This painting always cheers me up!

Holy Thursday-this is long and religious-skip over if you are not interested!

2008-03-21T08:43:00.004-05:00

Ford Madox Brown. Jesus Washing Peter's Feet. 1852-56. retouched several times up to 1892. Oil on canvas 46 x 52 l/4 in. Tate Gallery, London.

The Easter Triduum is big for me. It is the 3 days from sundown on Holy Thursday to sunrise on Easter Sunday. It is the culmination of the Judeo-Christian year. To me it is the high point of my entire spiritual year. Yes, I think about my spiritual year, From Easter to Easter, how am I doing? Did I have a good lent this year? Have I grown at all, conquered any sins? done any good works? I think about all of these things, usually find that I have fallen short in so many ways, and try to make the commitment to do better this year.
But Holy Thursday night, that beautiful service that celebrates the priesthood, recalls Jesus' request that we serve each other, begins the lonely night of the agony in the garden when Jesus pleads with us to stay awake with him for just one hour; this service is so rich with emotion for me. I feel it deeply. The hard loneliness this world put on my Lord. And in recent years, with the priest scandals, the prejudice and scorn throw toward many good and innocent men. Yes there has been horrible, damaging sin committed by a few priests. They are men, and men sin. We are a fallen race, and priests are just as susceptible to corruption as anyone else. It is a tragedy, unfair and the damage goes deep. But, there are also many really good priests in this world, who are doing Gods work, given their entire lives to it. They are a part of every family but belong to no family. They are there to comfort people during every tragedy, celebrate your weddings, they are privy to your very deepest secrets which they bear on their shoulders alone and take with them to their graves. They work quietly in the trenches,unseen mostly, helping people pick up their lives at times and trying only to guide people to their beloved God. This quiet work they do, and the lives they touch, the word mostly never gets out.
I am in a unique position. I have a brother who is a priest, he is the pastor at the church my family attends, a leader in the community we belong to, my teenage sons high school principal, their basketball coach, uncle, friend. Because of this, people tell me things. They tell me how my brother has affected their lives. How he rushed to the hospital to be with their family when somone was sick, how he called their troubled teen in for a non-confrontational talk about school, and it made all the difference, how he said just the right thing at the right time to really help someone. I hear this a lot. I see his gift with children, especially teens. I watch how he gives them responsibility and makes them a part of our community.

During the Holy Thursday service, 12 people act as apostles and the priest washes their feet. Last night it felt so poignant to watch our 12 apostles, all young high school men, having their feet washed by their own assistant principal(also a priest at our parish) while my brother, their pastor and principal attended. Their faces were slightly embarrassed but also honored. It was not somber, there was a feeling of camaraderie between the priests, deacon, servers and the boys having their feet washed. These are boys I have known for years, my own 2 sons among them. I have watched these guys grow, cheered them on in their endeavors, I am friends with their parents, we all share in this community. And here is the man in charge of discipline at their school, an authority figure, subject to that unique blend of teen ridicule and respect, on his knees before them, washing their feet! It was profound. How better can you teach everyone in that church, what Jesus meant by service to others! Once again I am blown away by the lessons one man taught during a brief 3 year ministry, 2000 years ago!

Chickie Run

2008-03-20T10:30:00.003-05:00

This is one of my new canvases from my big Dick Blick shipment last week.(remember when I ordered 15 new canvases?) Anyhow, I like this size, it is 6" X 12".I plan to do some long skinny vertical paintings too. I had fun with this one, especially the colors. Its funny, I am still longing for the oils, trying to blend the same way with acrylics and its not happening. Its kind of hard to learn a new way of painting like that. Chelsea and I had a discussion about it last night and she has encouraged me to try the oils. I have always worked with dark primitive colors in oils, how fun would this new palette be in oils-the possibilities are really exciting!

Dream Girl

2008-03-18T14:55:00.004-05:00

I finished this one up with some watercolor collage flowers and butterflies. It is on ebay right now. Click here!

A pink house

2008-03-17T14:23:00.003-05:00

I really feel like spring today! The weather is getting warmer~I've switched from my leather coat to my jean jacket-yay! I LOVE jean jacket weather-don't you! It is holy week and I am looking forward to Easter. I know most people don't "get" catholics, but this is the most profound week of the year for us, the culmination of our entire faith really. I always get very emotional during the services this week, and it always brings me closer to God, and especially my beloved Jesus. OK, don't mean to put anyone off, I'm just excited!
Hope you like my painting today!

I was honored to receive this "You Make My Day" award from Nina Mason of Nina Mason Dolls! Wow! I am speechless! Thank you so much Nina! Your blog makes my day too! Now I get to pass it on to the blogs that make my day~yippee! So I am giving this award to:

Time with Tascha~ I am just so inspired by Tascha's art. She brings a smile to my face with every single piece she does.
Sandy Mastroni~ I love this quirky artist-her shabby-weirdness just cracks me up!
Vintage Sister-I love to see what she is up to
Northdixie- because she shares SO much!
And last but not least:
Wyanne Art~ this is a new to me blog that I just discovered. I find I have a lot in common with this artist and I totally want her studio! My dream is to move near my beloved ocean, and she is living that life!

An oil painted doll

2008-03-14T10:59:00.005-05:00

As I said, my background is not in watercolors. My background is in oils. I came across a box of unfinished oil painted dolls in the basement the other day. For the first time in ages I felt like working on a doll! I decided to see what I could make of one of the unfinished dolls I found. Here she is:
This first picture is from yesterday.

And here she is after a little more work today.

What do you think?

Art Journal fun!

2008-03-13T09:09:00.003-05:00

This week I have mostly been playing in my watercolor journal. I have very little experience with watercolor, so I am just playing around, getting a feel for the medium, playing with color, and stuff like that. It is a really fun medium, so easy to keep building up color you can never be done with a a painting! I played with triads a bit to see what color combinations I could embrace. Fun!

I received my 15 canvas order already too! Can you believe that! I think I only ordered it on Monday! So that is exciting-15 new possibilites! My .99 sale is going well on ebay too! Last night I added another pattern which hasn't been offered on ebay in a long long time, so keep checking!

Can't get enough Jane Austen!

2008-03-12T11:28:00.001-05:00

Take the Quiz here!

Todays work

2008-03-10T20:00:00.003-05:00

I'm not sure if I'm actually done with this. I might change out the flowers on the bottom if I can find something more interesting. I do like the way it came out otherwise. :) Don't forget to check out my .99 sale on ebay-there are some paintings on there as well as patterns!

Hey I'm having a .99 sale at Ebay!

2008-03-09T17:41:00.003-05:00

Lots of great pattern deals, and other goodies! I'll be listing all week so check often! You may be surprised at what you will see for sale for only .99 cents!

On another note, I am finally feeling better! Hooray! And the weather man is promising 48 degrees on Wednesday! Boy will that ever be welcome! We have had such cold weather, especially the last few days. I am looking forward to getting back to my painting so much that, I put in an order for 15 new canvases from Dick Blick! Woot! I wouldn't want to run out, now would I!

Grow Painting on Ebay

2008-03-06T08:30:00.003-06:00

After much urging from my daughter Chelsea, I decided to put my last painting on ebay. I hope it will not sit there forlornly with no bids or even watchers. Somehow, even when things I've made don't sell, I cannot feel too bad if I have watchers. That lets me know at least people are interested. I was afraid putting a painting on ebay and having it not sell would take the wind out of my sails, so to speak. But it is actually this illness that is doing it. I have not been this sick in years. I did finally drag myself to the doctor to get an antibiotic. So finally today my throat is a little better. At least it didn't feel like a raging fire this morning when I got up-just more like being scraped across a gravely highway.
Hope all of you out there are in better health! I am looking forward to next week when I am determined to be feeling better and getting back to work. I have spent a lot of time looking at my house this week, so I will be doing a lot of home improvement chores when I get feeling better! ha! ha!

Longing for spring!

2008-03-03T17:54:00.003-06:00

I can't believe I am sick, again...or, still! But now it is worse, I have a fever and a sore throat. Wah! I got this little painting done somehow this weekend-even though it was a very busy weekend. Isabel had a birthday party, which was a pool party, and now she is sick as ever. Not a good idea I guess!

100 books

2008-03-02T12:17:00.002-06:00

I found this on another blog(thanks Anna) and I couldn't resist.
Look at the list of (100) books below. Bold the ones you’ve read. Italicize the ones you want to read. Leave blank the ones that you aren’t interested in. (Movies don’t count.)

1. The Da Vinci Code (Dan Brown)
2. Pride and Prejudice (Jane Austen)
3. To Kill A Mockingbird (Harper Lee)
4. Gone With The Wind (Margaret Mitchell)
5. The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King (Tolkien)
6. The Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring (Tolkien)
7. The Lord of the Rings: Two Towers (Tolkien)
8. Anne of Green Gables (L.M. Montgomery)
9. Outlander (Diana Gabaldon)
10. A Fine Balance (Rohinton Mistry)
11. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Rowling)
12. Angels and Demons (Dan Brown)
13. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Rowling)
14. A Prayer for Owen Meany (John Irving)
15. Memoirs of a Geisha (Arthur Golden)
16. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (Rowling)
17. Fall on Your Knees (Ann-Marie MacDonald)
18. The Stand (Stephen King)
19. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Rowling)
20. Jane Eyre (Charlotte Bronte)
21. The Hobbit (Tolkien)
22. The Catcher in the Rye (J.D. Salinger)
23. Little Women (Louisa May Alcott)
24. The Lovely Bones (Alice Sebold)
25 . Life of Pi (Yann Martel)
26. The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (Douglas Adams)
27. Wuthering Heights (Emily Bronte)
28. The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe (C. S. Lewis)
29. East of Eden (John Steinbeck)
30. Tuesdays with Morrie (Mitch Albom)
31. Dune (Frank Herbert)
32. The Notebook (Nicholas Sparks)
33. Atlas Shrugged (Ayn Rand)
34. 1984 (Orwell)
35. The Mists of Avalon (Marion Zimmer Bradley)
36. The Pillars of the Earth (Ken Follett)
37. The Power of One (Bryce Courtenay)
38. I Know This Much is True (Wally Lamb)
39. The Red Tent (Anita Diamant)
40. The Alchemist (Paulo Coelho)
41. The Clan of the Cave Bear (Jean M. Auel)
42. The Kite Runner(Khaled Hosseini)
43. Confessions of a Shopaholic (Sophie Kinsella)
44. The Five People You Meet In Heaven (Mitch Albom)
45. Bible
46. Anna Karenina (Tolstoy)
47. The Count of Monte Cristo (Alexandre Dumas)
48. Angela’s Ashes (Frank McCourt)
49. The Grapes of Wrath (John Steinbeck)
50. She’s Come Undone (Wally Lamb)
51. The Poisonwood Bible (Barbara Kingsolver)
52. A Tale of Two Cities (Dickens)
53. Ender’s Game (Orson Scott Card)
54. Great Expectations (Dickens)
55. The Great Gatsby (Fitzgerald)
56. The Stone Angel (Margaret Laurence)
57. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Rowling)
58. The Thorn Birds (Colleen McCullough)
59. The Handmaid’s Tale (Margaret Atwood)
60. The Time Traveller’s Wife (Audrey Niffenegger)
61. Crime and Punishment (Fyodor Dostoyevsky)
62. The Fountainhead (Ayn Rand)
63. War and Peace (Tolstoy)
64. Interview With The Vampire (Anne Rice)
65. Fifth Business (Robertson Davis)
66. One Hundred Years Of Solitude (Gabriel Garcia Marquez)
67. The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants (Ann Brashares)
68. Catch-22 (Joseph Heller)
69. Les Miserables (Hugo)
70. The Little Prince (Antoine de Saint-Exupery)
71. Bridget Jones’ Diary (Fielding)
72. Love in the Time of Cholera (Marquez)
73. Shogun (James Clavell)
74. The English Patient (Michael Ondaatje)
75. The Secret Garden (Frances Hodgson Burnett)
76. The Summer Tree (Guy Gavriel Kay)
77. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (Betty Smith)
78. The World According To Garp (John Irving)
79. The Diviners (Margaret Laurence)
80. Charlotte’s Web (E.B. White)
81. Not Wanted On The Voyage (Timothy Findley)
82. Of Mice And Men (Steinbeck)
83. Rebecca (Daphne DuMaurier)
84. Wizard’s First Rule (Terry Goodkind)
85. Emma (Jane Austen)
86. Watership Down(Richard Adams)
87. Brave New World (Aldous Huxley)
88. The Stone Diaries (Carol Shields)
89. Blindness (Jose Saramago)
90. Kane and Abel (Jeffrey Archer)
91.The Skin of the Lion (Ondaatje)
92. Lord of the Flies (Golding)
93. The Good Earth (Pearl S. Buck)
94. The Secret Life of Bees (Sue Monk Kidd)
95. The Bourne Identity (Robert Ludlum)
96. The Outsiders (S.E. Hinton)
97. White Oleander (Janet Fitch)
98. A Woman of Substance (Barbara Taylor Bradford)
99. The Celestine Prophecy (James Redfield)
100. Ulysses (James Joyce)

This was fun! I actually read more books on this list than I thought. I used to work in a bookstore, and I read a lot more contemporary fiction then. Now I read a lot of classic literature.

Oil Pastels and Etsy

2008-02-28T11:49:00.004-06:00

I ordered a set of oil pastels the other day. The idea of working with them by blending with mineral spirits really intrigues me. Aswexpress has a wonderful sale going on until tomorrow, I simply could not resist. I ordered the Sennelier brand, which are the ones Picasso helped to develop. I hope they get here soon!

I worked on this watercolor today. This is an exercise where you make a sketch and then do a multi-color wash over it. Then after it dries a little you come in and paint the negative space behind the subject using the same wash colors. Its really cool to see the subject begin to pop out as you paint the negative space behind it. This was fun!

Also, I gathered up my courage and listed some of my paintings at my Etsy shop. I heard that Etsy is going to be featured on Martha Stewert tomorrow. I hope I get to watch it, but I probably will forget. My youngest has a half day of school tomorrow, so I probably won't remember. Grr!! As I said in a previous post, my kids never have a full week of school!

It's a major award!

2008-02-27T18:35:00.007-06:00

Oops! Not that one!

Renea was kind enough to give me 2 awards! The art award, above, and the Make my Day award, below.

Thank you SO Much Renea, I am truly honored. And the best thing about these awards is, I get to present them to someone else! I love that!

Art Journal

2008-02-26T13:55:00.004-06:00

I recently got this really cool book called Art Escapes. It is a book about keeping an art journal and trying to work in it every day. The idea is to keep your self fresh and having fun, and to record new ideas etc. You are supposed to do it just for yourself and without the intent to show it to anyone.
The lady who wrote the book is mostly a watercolorist. Perusing through her pages I was really inspired to get out my watercolors. Now I have virtually no experience with watercolors, but being the extreme art stasher that I am, of course I have a watercolor set tucked away somewhere. It was in the basement.

So I pulled it out. (Oh and by the way, I also have a gorgeous hardcover watercolor journal just sitting around here too. If hubby only knew!) I intended to just play around a little bit, but instead got carried away, and well, it turns out that this watercolor is all I am getting done today! The kids will be home in about an hour and its time to figure out dinner. I don't think spending all day on one "doodle" was the intention of the art journal. But man I had fun! :)

I've been tagged!

2008-02-26T08:32:00.005-06:00

ooo I feel so a "part" of bloglandia now! I was tagged by the gorgeous and amazing doll artist Nina Mason of Nina Mason Dolls.
Thank you Nina, I'm so honored!

Here are the rules:

1. Link to the person that tagged you.
2. Post the rules on your blog.
3. Share six non-important things/habits/quirks about yourself.
4. Tag six random people at the end of your post by linking to their blogs.
5. Let each random person know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their website.

OK, here are my 6 things.

1. I write 3 pages of long hand journaling every morning before I begin to work. I find this really helps me clear out all of the extraneous thoughts and "stuff" rolling around in my head and helps me have room to create. It also helps me focus on what I need to do that day. These writings make no sense and are complete ramblings.
2. I live in the same town I was born in, barely a mile from my childhood home, where my mother still lives. Its a small town and we are part of a traditional catholic community where my kids go to the same school where my brother, a catholic priest, is the principal .
3. I am a shy person-uncomfortable in large groups, but great one-on-one.
4. I love to make soup from scratch. It takes me all day and the whole house smells wonderful!
5. I make my kids look at my newest painting every day first thing when they come home from school! ha! ha!
6. I always read at night before going to sleep. I have a huge and unruly pile of books and magazines on the floor next to my bed at all times. I read everything, and the kids often have to look through my pile to finds their favorite books.

ok. I know its supposed to be 6 things, but I have 1 more thing to share. Probably because this is on my mind this morning as my dh was just teasing me about it yesterday.

7. I never, ever get caught up on laundry. And the things that are not clothes, like rugs and extra blankets get thrown on a pile and I never get around to washing them. My husband calls this the "do not wash" pile!

OK now I have 6 people to tag, so here goes:
Michelle at The Blackberry Briar
Jenn at Noodle and Lou
Monique at Inside Number Twenty
Renea at Pocket Full of Pretties
Sandy Mastroni
Sylvia Anderson

More Snow!!

2008-02-25T22:11:00.003-06:00

Snow Queen

Wow!

I cannot believe we are getting another foot of snow! This is clearly the longest winter that will never end! My kids are expecting yet another snow day tomorrow. I do believe there is a conspiracy out there to make sure that kids are NEVER in school an entire week. My 3 youngest kids attend 2 different schools, and at least one of them has a day off or a half day every single week. Or there is a snow day. Or one of them is sick. I love my kids-don't get me wrong-but it is very hard to create art with constant neediness surrounding you.

I am bittersweet about this subject. I am getting to the point where I can see a light at the end of the tunnel. In less than 5 years I will only have 1 teen left at home. And you realize I have been at this parenting thing for over 20 years. I am ready to play artist full time and mommy part time. But I know I will miss them terribly.

OK, enough venting. I will go back to my sunny self. Lets see..ok. Ahem.

"Oh joy! Rapture! a snow day tomorrow! Yippee!"

Do you ever get to the point...

2008-02-25T13:17:00.003-06:00

where you just have to take a step back , give it a good look, and then admit your work has problems?

I worked on this one all day today. There are some things I like, but it has some major composition problems. Probably because I didn't really sketch it out well before I started. I was too excited about the cool background I wanted to try. See the little polka-dots back there? That was created by laying circles punched from contact paper lightly on the surface, and then painting a wash over them. I allowed the paint to seep under the contact paper and it created a very subtle design. I learned this technique while reading a collage book by Claudine Hellmuth, last week when I was sick. I couldn't wait to try it out.

Then I went forth with my painting and 3/4 of the way through realized my bird was floating in mid-air. And not flying either-that would make sense-just sort of aimlessly floating there. So I gave him a branch. And that made the rest of the space look too empty so I added a couple more flowers. Then I only had one leaf in the whole thing, just one little bit of green. This bothered me so I added green polka dots on all of the sides. That was ok, but my branch just ended abruptly at the edge of the canvas, while the flower wraps around. Oh what to do! I could continue to paint the branch around the side, but then the tongues at the top and bottom seem to end abruptly. AAhhh!! So now I am toying with just painting all of the sides black. But should I try to remove the polka dots and the flower wrap around first?
And just now, while looking at photos of my piece, (which is a good way to get another perspective), I am thinking AGAINST painting the sides all black. I think I could wrap the tongues and branch around the sides. I would only have to remove 2 polka-dots. Or maybe collage right over them? Hmmm...I don't know. What would you do?

A good morning...

2008-02-22T21:02:00.003-06:00

and that was all. I painted this little painting and then went back to bed.Funny how that was my one priority. OK, well I did do the dishes but that was it. I laid in bed all day reading books about collage art. (what did I say about prioroities?) I didn't get my errands done, so tomorrow I have a lot to do. Sunday is a brunch for my Mom's birthday, she is turning 82. We are also celebrating Isabel's birthday which is on Tuesday. So I have to go get a gift for my mom and make 2 quiches for Sunday. Here's to a better tomorrow. :)

I like this little painting very much. I think I am getting better. I am not ready for prime time yet, but I really find all this painting so exciting. It makes me very happy. :)

I feel lousy!

2008-02-21T22:14:00.004-06:00

I have a stupid head cold. Last night I took some Nyquil and it made me feel drowsy and out of it all day today. I only took half a dose too. I didn't paint at all or get anything done really. And tomorrow I have to run around all day doing errands. Blah! That means I only got 1 painting done this whole week. That stinks.
I feel really down and out of sorts. Maybe I will try to paint tomorrow morning and do my errands in the afternoon. Isabel is going to a friends house after school which essentially means I have until 5:00PM before I have to be home. Yes, thats the ticket. I can work until at least noon or 1 o'clock.

I spent a lot of time today looking at other people's work and trying to feel inspired. Do you ever do that? Cruise around bloglandia just looking for inspiration? Its kind of fun. But today I was feeling so lousy I just got depressed that all of these artists are getting so much done while I am sitting here~a worthless lump~getting nothing done. OK, enough of that! I have learned not to go there! Better day tomorrow, right? I will post a pic of a past creation just to make myself feel better, and maybe it will inspire someone else!
These dolls are a set of twins I did in 2006. I like their collars. Is it me or do they both look like they smell something bad?

redware bird

2008-02-19T18:15:00.001-06:00

I need to work a little more on the circles.

Imagination...a breath of air

2008-02-16T09:25:00.003-06:00

Painted on 4" X 5" chunky stretched canvas! I just keep painting away, what do you think?

Art Happens

2008-02-14T18:09:00.003-06:00

The top picture is my empty planter that has been hanging out in my dining room waiting for spring. Isabel deposited her latest drawing there and it just looks so cute! I love it that our house seems to be brimming with creativity lately. I have really been feeling great and getting so much art done, Isabel is loving her drawing class. Chelsea, my truly talented little artist has been painting again, for the first time in a couple of years. We all seem to be working away happily in the evenings while Aidan is writing at the family computer, and we are all listening to music that we mutually like. Lately it is a mix of old and new that Aidan has on his ipod. Things are blissful around here, if a little messy.
The second picture is my 4th painting I have made in the last week. I just can't stop painting. Every time I finish one I have an idea for another and I have decided not to be a killjoy and make myself do the art I think I "ought" to do. I'm getting out of my own way and just letting it flow! It feels great! Yay for me!

To all of my friends...

2008-02-13T22:46:00.000-06:00

Old and new! Happy Valentines Day! You all brighten my day! Thank you so much for visiting!

Little Folk Girl

2008-02-12T14:37:00.001-06:00

My Valentine Girls

2008-02-08T20:34:00.000-06:00

I finished a mermaid painting for my other daughter Chelsea today. She loves mermaids. I am so excited at how both of these turned out. I can't believe I have fallen in love with another new medium. I have got to pick one and concentrate on it. Jeez! I blame it all on Tascha, if I hadn't stumbled across her you tube video I would never have been bitten! :) Here is my mermaid:Here are both of my valentines together:

And here are my 2 valentine girls, Chelsea on the left and Isabel on the right. Happy Valentine's Day my darlings!

Snow Day!

2008-02-06T18:44:00.000-06:00

We have had about 10 inches so far and it is still snowing. We didn't even go to church to get ashes for ash Wednesday. This must be the first time I have not gotten ashes since I can remember! Anyhow, I was inspired by a little video on the Time with Tascha blog. The kids were all home and I knew I wouldn't be able to concentrate on the pattern writing I should be doing, so I decided to try a little painting instead. This is a valentine for my 8 year old Isabel. What do you think?

Here is Abbie!

2008-02-05T12:49:00.000-06:00

Ready for adoption!Just in thyme to cheer you into spring! Check out her auction on ebay in the sidebar!

Learning new tricks

2008-01-30T14:49:00.000-06:00

These little guys represent about a weeks worth of work, developing a new pattern and learning the art of teddy bear making. I know they are bunnies, but the techniques are the same. The little brown one has been somewhat aged with tea dye, and the yellow one has only pins for eyes right now, as I am waiting for the German glass eyes that I ordered. They are both made of German mohair with cotter and pin joints. I hope to have something ready for ebay soon. Both of these little guys are experimental, so they will have a permanent home with me. Fun!

Good things on the weekend

2008-01-27T22:43:00.000-06:00

I was inspired by Tanya's(Sampler Girl)blog entry to count my blessings this weekend.I usually consider Saturdays my "Jonah" days, because they are days I have to do things I don't always want to do. I rarely get to work on any art on the weekends. But I want to look at things from a happier perspective so I am counting my weekend blessings!

1.Made a mohair bunny on Friday night
2.Had fun at Girls Club with Isabel on Saturday and we made Baby books for all of the pregnant Mom's at the Life Center.
3.Went out to dinner with family Saturday night and had the best Chicago style pizza ever!
4.Came home from dinner to find Chelsea had cleaned the entire house!
5.Put together a care package for Chelsea's boyfriend and his room mate who moved into their first apartment this weekend and are starting from scratch-no furniture-no food!

So all in all it was a good weekend, and tomorrow I get to do my thing for another week!

Little Bird Pin Keep

2008-01-26T08:07:00.000-06:00

A new offering on ebay! This little pinkeep is actually more aged than it looks in the picture. Check out the auction here!

Needle Punch sneak peek!

2008-01-17T09:35:00.001-06:00

Here is a sample of one of the needle punch designs I am working on. I hope to have these released either in February, around the time of the Nashville show, or later in April for the online needlework show. This one is called Tulip of Love.

Bird and Berries sewing box

2008-01-14T11:24:00.000-06:00

Here is my version of a wool applique sewing box. I used my new overdyed wool threads from Moondance Color Co. on this and I LOVED them! They are glorious and a pleasure to work with! This little box and matching pincushion will be on ebay tomorrow, Jan.15th, so don't miss it!

If you have been having trouble with my website, I apologize! My web host has been having technical difficulties since right after Christmas! Hopefully this will be cleared up soon!

I have begun listing all of my patterns for sale on ebay with free shipping! This includes doll patterns and cross stitch patterns. Look for my new needle punch patterns coming soon!

This is what naughty looks like

2008-01-12T13:43:00.001-06:00

This is Mewie, our little cat. She has been a very bad girl-breaking into my daughters brine shrimp aquarium and trying to interfere with science! My 8 yr old is growing sea monkeys-remember those? for her science experiment. They are proving just too tempting for a curious cat. This is Mew-Mew after being severly "scatted!"

My little Bruckner

2008-01-10T17:44:00.000-06:00

This is an antique Bruckner doll from the turn of the century. She is quite worn and her leg is mangled, but I think she still has a very sweet face. I have been looking for an antique bonnet that will fit her head. One day I'm sure I will find one.

Hand Hooked Heart

2008-01-07T19:27:00.000-06:00

Just in time for Valentines Day, this hooked heart pillow will be on ebay tomorrow. Teddy bear NOT included!

Inspiration

2008-01-06T18:31:00.000-06:00

This sewing box is from a retreat given by the ladies at Kindred Spirits in 2007. Isn't it wonderful! I am inspired to try my own sewing box covered with wool.

Happy New Year!

2008-01-01T00:02:00.000-06:00

I wish you all peace and prosperity and an abundance of creative muse in the coming new year!!

~Annie

I've been tagged!

2007-12-23T10:38:00.000-06:00

I've been tagged by Sharon Stevens of Mustard Seed Originals(hi Sharon!!) to post 5 random things about myself, so here goes!

1.I married my high school sweetheart. We actually went to prom together, and I have a picture of us all dressed up and goofy lookin! We had a great time!

2.I have a severe purse fetish. I love purses of all kinds from designer to quirky. I will not count all that I have, lets just leave it at that!

3.I love NFL football. I will watch any game, anytime. My favorite Sunday afternoon activity is to watch football, drink margaritas, and work on some sort of stitching or sewing project. I usually watch with my boys and husband, and Sunday is order out pizza day!

4.I am addicted to Chai Tea Latte'! I started drinking tea as a way to get less caffeine in my life-I have been a coffee drinker since I was about 17. Now I only drink coffee in the morning and its tea for me in the afternoons!

5.I love the idea of organization. I love to read books about it, websites, flylady, what have you. However I never seem to be able to sustain it in real life!

Margaret Rose on Ebay!

2007-09-01T12:31:00.001-05:00

Check out all of the details!

Some dolls

2007-08-13T10:00:00.001-05:00

Here's a pic of some dolls I've been working on.
Summer is almost over, only one week left until the kids are back in school. I will miss them but at the same time I really need to be able to get back to work. It has been really hard to get anything done while they are home. Not a productive summer this year. So heres lookin' forward to a great fall!

Etsy

2007-07-15T16:45:00.000-05:00

I have opened an Etsy shop! I'm kind of excited about it! If you want to see what I have listed click here. It is VERY simple to sign up if you don't already belong, and then you can BUY!! hehe! I am tempted by lots of other handmade items I have seen there. The cost is so much lower than ebay. I hope I can eventually give up ebay altogether-its getting ridiculous! Wish me luck on ETSY!

Elinor is finished!

2007-06-30T10:52:00.000-05:00

She will be on Simply Primitives.com on July 1st! See the link on my sidebar to the right.

and here she is with...

2007-06-29T09:19:00.000-05:00

embroidered features and light colored pencil work.

New doll

2007-06-29T08:58:00.001-05:00

Here she is with just the penciled in face and very light needle sculpting.

New inspiration and great news!

2007-06-23T10:40:00.000-05:00

I just got back from vacation and I am feeling really inspired. I am ready to create again! And as luck would have it, I was contacted by Soft Dolls and Animals magazine, and asked to do a pattern for them. I am going to do a variation of my Snow Queen doll for the December issue! I am very excited about this!!

Here are a few pictures from my vacation. I am always inspired by architecture, I just love it. And Charleston SC is loaded with such beauty!
This last one is from Annapolis,MD. right outside the Naval Academy.

Dollmaking Blogs!

2007-06-23T10:25:00.000-05:00

It's good to see so many of my dollmaking friends are beginning to blog. Wait until they all find out how addicting it can be ! Har! Har! I will be adding a lot of blogs to my sidebar in the next couple of days. But in the meantime I wanted to highlight some of them. So here are a few good blogs:

http://northdixiedesigns.blogspot.com/

http://countryfolkkeepsakes.blogspot.com/

http://atticbabys.blogspot.com/

http://www.dollsofyore.typepad.com/

Dorothy is released and ready to ship!

2007-05-08T15:12:00.000-05:00

This pattern includes a color photo on the cover and an extra bonus photo close-up of her face! Enjoy!

New Pattern Release Coming Soon!

2007-04-16T12:04:00.000-05:00

My newest pattern release is Dorothy! She is a 26 inch pumpkin head folk doll made of muslin, with needle sculpted features which are sealed , painted, and enhanced with artists pencils. This pattern will be ready approximately May 1st. Preorders are being taken now. If you would like to pre-order a pattern, the price is $13.49 with shipping in the US. To pre-order email me at:

anniebeezfolkart28@yahoo.com

She done me proud!

2007-03-12T14:30:00.000-05:00

Wow! These are pictures of Cassandra, a cat doll made from my pattern F121~Angeline! Isn't she wonderful! This cat was made by Joyce Tenay of Ragpatch Primitives. I LOVE her addition of whiskers! What a great idea! You can see Joyce's doll at auction here.