spirit dolls by paula

spirit dolls by paula's photostream

2011-07-05T19:09:00.001-07:00

spirit dolls by paula's photostream on Flickr.

Dolls galore...enjoy!

spirit dolls in B/W for the june challenge with ART DOLLS ONLY

2011-07-05T18:17:00.000-07:00

I love my online dollmaking friends. we belong to a group called Art Dolls Only. the challenges they come up help me creatively to think outside the box. in this case the june challenge was for a black and white doll. i love drawing in b/w, and almost right away i knew what i wanted to make. then the vision expanded and i was creating two dolls instead of one! i'm finding that i like sculpting these little clay faces - it give me more dimension than my typical handpainted canvas faces change is good. here's the end result. i also love the little painted clay boots!

Ginny 1 comes home!

2011-04-29T19:03:00.000-07:00

I am having the best time this year participating with two teams in the traveling doll project (known as the TDP, for short).
I created 2 almost identical dolls. one went to a team of 3, another went to a team of 6. my smaller team is done, so we all have our original dolls back now, but they've traveled to two other artists and been transformed. here is my doll after she was worked on so beautifully by donna cooper in illinois, and tiffany koornneef in oregon. see my previous post to compare before and after! ginny's come home with a face, hair, hands, legs, shoes, and more bling! i expect my other doll, ginny 2, back home this summer.

traveling doll project 2011 Ginny 1, Ginny 2

2011-03-12T18:24:00.001-08:00

i participated in this very creative project last winter (see previous posts). this year i'm on 2 teams, so i got to start two dolls.
they have now left my studio for their first stops in illinois and oregon, where other artists are working on them. the journey will continue for several more months, with each stop being recorded by blog, photos, journals. check out adotravelingdollproject.blogspot.com to see what other teams have started. i am a part of Ladies of Liberty and The American Pies. the two dolls i created were named Ginny 1 and Ginny 2, in honor of a well known dancer in my town. she passed away 2 years ago, and i had the honor of attending her estate sale last summer, where i found glitz galore. the dolls in this photo are headless, but not for long.

silver spirit doll

2010-12-29T11:31:00.000-08:00

this one started her life as a normal spirit doll, that is, made of fabric and branches and canvas and moss. when i "retired" her, i
dipped her in housepaint and gave her new life as an outdoor object. she resided for almost 2 years on top of a birdhouse in my
back yard, painted bright red by my daughter. recently she started to tilt and crackle a bit, so i decided it was time to give her a fresh coat of paint. i had some chrome silver spray paint in my garage, which i used first on some leftover autumn gourds that i wanted to display with my holiday stuff.

the doll got a coat of chrome and was transformed - i love how shiny she is! this one will go back outside and be my elements experiment. will she stay shiny or will she turn dull with the winter wind and snow? we'll see. in the meantime i am prepping another dipped doll for the chrome, and she will be sent to key west for a fundraiser.

Fifi

2010-12-02T18:36:00.000-08:00

I finished up my newest doll over the weekend, having plenty o' time, for a change. All because my daughter had a cold and it was
in our best interest to stay put. It was actually the best thing that could have happened! We sat on the couch,
she with sketchbook or little sewing projects, me with current spirit doll "stuff" that requires stitching, and I also put the
final touches on the new doll, which we are officially naming Fifi. She is so cute and sassy, and looks great no matter what she's sitting on. A dollhouse chair, a pumpkin, whatever. Fifi rocks!

not quite a spirit doll

2010-11-26T05:32:00.001-08:00

the online group i belong to, Art Dolls Only, has monthly and quarterly challenges that inspire us to create new, exciting dolls . this month's challenge was to make a doll using unfamiliar materials. to think outside the box. perfect timing, as i am feeling too busy to make my dolls in the usual way right now. i adapted my daughter's fearless attitude and just sat down at my art table to see what was there, what looked interesting, and then voila - start making something! this bendy lady is not done yet. she needs clothes. but in the meantime i am enjoying her wooden knob head which i handpainted, her pipe cleaner body, her purple clay shoes, and the little chair i borrowed from my daughter's dollhouse. i will finish her this weekend and post another photo of her when i'm done. you can see more creations at www.artdollsonly.com

From The Attic

2010-10-18T18:29:00.000-07:00

I have not posted in a while. Could it be that I'm so busy I'm not actually getting a lot of new
dolls to come to life? Sadly, that is the truth. However I was just up in the attic with my
7 year old daughter, and she spotted the jackpot, the hidden pink wardrobe containing my stash
of "Dawn" dolls from the 1970s. I loooooved these dolls, and all their outfits. My Nana even made
a pink bathrobe and an elaborate wedding dress for my dolls. They are smaller than Barbies (which
I never owned), so you can imagine the scale of the hand sewn outfits. My daughter is in doll
heaven playing with all these girlies. I am reminded of the magic of dolls, shiny clothes, shiny hair,
and teeny tiny shoes.

a spirit BRA?!?

2010-08-07T07:15:00.000-07:00

a moment's departure from the spirit dolls to....bras! i'm participating in a breast cancer fundraiser
this fall. the feature is many "Artful Bras" which will be displayed and auctioned off at a gala event. i thought i'd share photos of mine here on my blog. i met the organizers of this event last spring at the opening of my
show "All Dolled Up" at the good news cafe. we hit it off immediately and i was committed to creating some dazzling
bras. interestingly enough, i shared with these ladies that i'd had a phase of creating art bras back in 1991 when i lived in new york city. i recently unearthed a few in my brother's attic, and perhaps i'll post photos of them at some point! the new bras i'm
making are similar in their construction - i take an actual bra and coat it in many layers of latex paint, giving it a hardened "shell" like a gessoed canvas. ready to paint, decorate, whatever! the one shown here is titled "The Cha Cha Bra".

a spirit doll for heidi

2010-07-03T17:45:00.000-07:00

i just got back from a visit to key west. having lived there from 2001-2006, it holds a special spot in my heart.
and...it's where the spirit dolls were born! every time i'm back i ride by my old house and peek up at the window that
was my studio and where oh so many wonderful dolls were created. on this trip i brought along a special doll for my
great friend heidi, as a thank you for letting me stay at her home. sassy pink leopard fabric, chiffon headwrap,
and one of my newer style faces using glitter for eyeshadow. heidi has a bunch of my spirit dolls and always seems to keep
finding new spots to display them. my last nite in key west we all went to the beach and were treated to the full moon rising.
paradise!

"Miss Lily" returns home as the TDP ends for our team

2010-06-10T07:21:00.000-07:00

I belong to a wonderful online group called Art Dolls Only. In January a team activity called The Traveling Doll Project was started. Each team member began a doll and sent it on to the next person, who got to add on something
in their own style of dollmaking. When my spirit doll left Connecticut she first went
to Seattle, then to Missouri, then to Texas. She's now returned home and I love how she's evolved. Fancy clothes,
huge hair, pretty jewelry, and something very exciting: movable arms!!! Along the way she also got the name "Miss Lily".
Welcome home!!

New Spirit Doll faces

2010-05-18T10:55:00.000-07:00

dang! what happened to march and april and half of may? i've been so busy. a lot of it was spent volunteering for
worthy things at my daughter's elementary school. now it's time to get my own creativity on track again.
i'm continuing to work on the Art Dolls Only Traveling Doll Project (i have 2 dolls in my studio right now, and
await the return of my spirit doll by the end of the month). i also met some women at my restaurant exhibit
who are putting together a non-doll related event later this year. i won't say now what i will be creating,
but it's going to be colorful and fun! last but not least, i'm headed back to key west in june for a visit that
is part business, part pleasure. i will be meeting with a local bridal planner (JULIE SHRECK of simply you weddings)
to show her my growing collection of gorgeous bridal spirit dolls. the faces shown here in my hand may be
the new twist to the way my dolls look...something more dimensional. i'm going to play with these and see
if they are suitable for the additional two bridal dolls i will be finishing up before key west. one of these faces
has a tiny pearl, a tiny shard of mirror, and a tiny rhinestone cooked in. change is in the air!!

All Dolled Up

2010-03-22T06:21:00.000-07:00

From March 10-May 10 I have an exhibit of 49 spirit dolls at The Good News Cafe in Woodbury CT. It's a cool restaurant, a hip little oasis in the midst of a traditional Connecticut town. For the display I did a large central frame of all-white bridal dolls, then marching out on either side all around the room, are dolls in colored outfits. Right now my studio feels sort of bare, but it's good to have a bit more space, as it inspires me to get back to work again!

ADO "Angel" challenge

2010-03-01T10:24:00.000-08:00

this doll came together very quickly, as i had a lot of white material, feathers, and pearls on hand in my studio. her face is created from Fimo clay, then attached to a canvas base. she's almost like a mardi gras angel. i photographed the finished doll against fabric i used in 2006 to create my lifesize spirit doll, "Big Mama".

Little Clay Faces

2010-02-24T10:38:00.001-08:00

After creating a fabulous burlesque face for my last spirit doll, I got excited about

the new look. All that glitter...va va voom! I had some Fimo clay on my work table

and started to form some face shapes with tiny noses. Baked 'em in the oven as

directed, and then started playing with paint and glitter again. For now I am using

hot glue to attach them to my standard canvas head forms. We'll see. Change is in

the air.

Burlesque Spirit Doll !

2010-02-12T07:17:00.000-08:00

I'm working on another challenge for the fabulous online group, Art Dolls Only. This time

it's a Burlesque theme. She's not done yet, but I'm happy with her evolution so far. I've had some thick purple faux fur in my studio, and it's finally been put to good use as the doll's cape. I'm also pleased with her glitter eyeshadow. My little girl commented that this doll has

"a tricky face". Hee Hee !!

Traveling doll project, 2010

2010-01-27T07:14:00.000-08:00

I am part of a team on Art Dolls Only that will be collaborating on a group of 4 dolls. Each one of us starts a doll, then sends it to the next person, who adds a bit of magic, and sends it on. We each get a month with the doll, and in that time we journal, blog, create, and get to know the work of our team artists up close and personal ! My creation is wearing a nubby red dress and is being sent out headless. I will enclose her head in the package but will leave it up to my team to decide if and how it will be used. "Seattle, here I come !"

caped holiday spirit dolls

2009-12-20T10:39:00.000-08:00

this group of spirit dolls was created for harrison gallery in key west. it's challenging trying to sell my art in a tropical place when i'm in the mood to adorn them with capes, fur, cashmere... but we'll see how they do. i love the capes, and have Art Dolls Only to thank for motivating me to create something new. my caped doll in october got me inspired to try it with these ladies. they're glamorous and fun!

holiday show at barn hill studio

2009-12-20T10:35:00.001-08:00

the past couple weekends i've had my dolls on display at a wonderful old barn in monroe, ct. i also mixed in a few of the "naughty & nice" clay figures for fun.

NaughtyNice, & not a spirit doll!

2009-11-24T13:27:00.000-08:00

i'm a new member of an online group called Art Dolls Only. i agreed to take part in an "ornament swap" with the theme Naughty or Nice. i got paired with a dollmaker from Argentina. i was inspired to create something other than a spirit doll, so i started playing with fimo clay. my current dolls are all getting dazzling capes (i liked the look on my halloween doll, see previous post) this little figure is a few inches high, and her tiny red velvet cape hides some bodacious little boobs, complete with glittery nipples! she will be a very funny addition to the holiday tree.

halloween spirit doll

2009-10-28T17:27:00.000-07:00

TA-DA! after what seemed like a long stretch of interrupted creativity, this dazzling autumn beauty was inspired by an online challenge through a group i belong to, called Art Dolls Only. she's about 20 inches tall, made from blouses belonging to my niece, my friend francine, and even one of my own. the toile lining of her cape is fabric from my french fairygodmother sylvie. for the first time i've added a mask (made of sculpey), and i like the mystery it adds to her face.

my trusty assistant

2009-10-27T10:54:00.000-07:00

this is neiman, a big orange cat who came into my life about 8 years ago when i lived in key west. we're all in connecticut now, but he is a typical kitty who craves the sunshine. in this shot he's arranged himself in the middle of my work area, surrounded by clippings of cashmere that i've been using lately. my next post will be of a completed halloween spirit doll, which i created for the art dolls only challenge online.

botanical #14: morning glory

2009-10-05T17:55:00.000-07:00

every morning glory i planted this year came up purple. the ones in my veggie garden are the happiest, as they get a full dose of delicious morning sun. there is a fleeting quality to this season. we're definitely done with summer, but the full splendor of fall is maybe another week away, so in between are these dreamy days - time to be outside raking without mittens, time to appreciate the cycle of nature, and to imagine what next year will be like when it all comes back to life. my early spirit dolls always had their eyes closed. the faces have evolved a bit, some with eyes open, to my latest simplified style which can be seen on the post titled "obedient plant". i'd love to get some comments on the various facial styles...

botanical #13: hyacinth bean

2009-09-21T17:28:00.000-07:00

this is another late summer/early autumn treasure. i first saw these vines with their glossy purple bean pods in new york city, where i belonged to a community garden. a friend of mine who still lives in the city sent me seeds from the same plant, and for the past two years i've grown the vine here in connecticut. the bean pods are not edible, just pretty to look at. the purply flowers are a nice compliment to this creamy white bridal spirit doll.

botanical #12: goldenrod

2009-09-16T18:06:00.000-07:00

AHHH-CHOOO! people with allergies hate goldenrod. i love it. bees love it. and as far as complimenting the shiny autumn disco dress on this spirit doll, it can't be beat! goldenrod rocks!

botanical #11: obedient plant

2009-09-15T06:35:00.000-07:00

i associate this plant with two things: back-to-school, and bees. this is my 4th autumn here in connecticut; i am more connected with my garden and yard each year. i know when the obedient plants are blooming there will be mornings of freedom like i have now that my daughter is in school. i also know there will be packs of bees all around these flowers, gathering pollen in one last mad dash before it gets chilly. i chose this golden spirit doll as a contrast to the rich purple flowers around her.

botanical #10: day lily

2009-09-12T13:13:00.000-07:00

summer was over in a flash this year. i took this photo when the lilies were at their peak, and before the deer nibbled them. now it's september, and my early autumn flowers are putting on their show, so stay tuned for those posts coming soon.

botanical #9: snow on the mountain

2009-09-01T08:52:00.000-07:00

i'm not sure what the real name of this plant is. some call it snow on the mountain. you either love it or hate it, because like the loose strife plant, it spreads. i appreciate low-maintenance gardening so for me it's great. i also think the leaves make a nice background for this juicy hot pink spirit doll !

botanical #8: loose strife

2009-08-22T13:06:00.000-07:00

for those who don't know about loose strife, it's a perennial plant that can overtake a garden in a very short amount of time. it is beautiful when it blooms in late july - the flowers are often referred to as goosenecks. i photographed one of my bridal spirit dolls amidst my patch of loose strife last month, and this was the graceful result.

botanical theme spirit dolls, part 7

2009-08-12T17:56:00.000-07:00

i planted two sunflowers this year, and both survived. many times the seeds are found and eaten by squirrels before they even get a chance to sprout. this time i got lucky! here is my first beautiful sunflower, as backdrop to a silky spirit doll. i took this photo before 8am this morning, and enjoyed watching the bees visiting the numerous squash blossoms around me.

botanical theme spirit dolls, part 6

2009-08-10T21:20:00.000-07:00

this summer has been all about raspberries. i have bushes everywhere in my yard, so in addition to being a pretty backdrop for this spirit doll, i have also managed to pick bowl after bowl of luscious berries. i end up freezing what we don't eat, so i will have the luxury of plucking a ziploc from my freezer in january, remembering the bounty of summer.

botanical theme spirit dolls, part 5

2009-08-02T19:29:00.000-07:00

recently i was standing at my kitchen window (doing dishes, as usual), and noticed the plethora of flowers out in the back yard. i saw everything as a potential backdrop for my botanical spirit doll series, so i rushed out with a camera and took the latest shots. this yellow spirit doll is surrounded by the last of my hosta blossoms not eaten by the deer!

ADO "Elements" challenge

2009-07-16T22:50:00.000-07:00

i was excited to find the Art Dolls Only blog, as well as their Facebook page. here is my offering in their "Elements" challenge - a spirit doll that i feel represents the element of Air. her white chenille dress is complemented by a cloudlike feather boa. the feathers are light as air and flutter in the slightest breeze. today the sky was cloudy; not the easiest backdrop for my photo, so i draped some sheer blue fabric over my front door, which is a juicy benjamin moore color called aqua marina. i hope viewers will enjoy taking a look at the rest of my blog...

botanical theme spirit dolls, part 4

2009-07-12T19:11:00.000-07:00

it's now july, and my lovely blue hydrangea bush is in full bloom. i nestled in this floral spirit doll for a beautiful photo. the doll is enhanced and complimented by nature... i am finding so much to be thankful for in my garden. for an upcoming exhibit i will probably combine a grouping of the floral dolls along with my "botanical" shots.

botanical theme spirit dolls, part 3

2009-06-18T06:33:00.000-07:00

despite all the rain we are having in the northeast, my ferns are happier than ever. this particular one caught my eye and seems to make the perfect spiral cradle for a spirit doll. her linen dress is imprinted with a bold pink dahlia. stay tuned for more in the botanical series!

botanical theme spirit dolls, part 2

2009-06-15T15:53:00.000-07:00

an artist in san francisco sent me some beautiful hankies from chinatown, knowing they would be transformed into spirit doll dresses. thank you gary! i've got this doll posing on the edge of my little fish pond, with a glimpse of pink waterlily behind her. there are two bullfrogs living in this pond as well, but they chose not to be photographed.

botanical theme spirit dolls, part 1

2009-06-15T15:50:00.000-07:00

this time of year my garden is irresistible, full of color and changing every day. this spirit doll is photographed in front of some rue blossoms, right outside my back door.

4th spirit doll story (i think)

2009-06-15T15:31:00.000-07:00

This spirit doll's dress reminds me of looking down from an airplane window at landscapes. it could be urban rooftops or a field of tulips in holland. the purple "scarf" was clipped from a cherished item that no longer functions in its original form. i found the blue button in a relative's sewing box. i am so lucky to have a bountiful garden, and this spirit doll is posing in front of some lovely peonies.

spirit doll video!

2009-06-09T06:18:00.000-07:00

this was made with i-movie, and i am really pleased with it. take a look.

another spirit doll story

2009-06-03T06:11:00.000-07:00

this doll reminds me of someone i know and admire greatly. she's tall and elegant with a touch of sparkle. most of the elements used to create this doll came from connecticut. i've photographed her in front of my dazzling purple clematis vine which is in bloom right now. the rhinestones were found by a friend at a yard sale in key west, then kindly passed on to me.

what i saw on the ceiling

2009-05-28T11:16:00.000-07:00

last night as i put my daughter to sleep, i noticed this beautiful shadow being made on the ceiling by the nightlight. it's very feminine...like a full-figured woman dancer. it got me thinking about my current spirit doll shape, and even further about why i feel "stuck" and not entirely inspired to make my next batch of dolls. maybe i need to go in a new direction with their form. rounder heads? curvier arms? more flowing dresses? something is going to change, i can feel it.

the goddess

2009-05-28T10:50:00.000-07:00

this spirit doll is definitely a goddess. her crimson velvet dress fabric came from a historic home on my town's main street. the sparkly hat is from a costume designer and former ballerina i met in key west. my french fairy godmother sylvie, who lives in nyc, sent the mesh fabric i used to overlay the velvet. she is posing in front of a bloodroot leaf.

passion

2009-05-19T08:05:00.000-07:00

women and their shoes...an undeniable attraction. something i love as much as dollmaking is illustration, and this fabric reminds me of something i would draw. the glamorous faux fur collar is snipped from a hat i found at a yard sale one weekend. the bright red button is from a collection i have that seems to magically replenish itself.

soon-to-be bride dolls

2009-05-13T05:46:00.000-07:00

this looks like a party dress and robe, right? right. but before long my scissors will snip, snip, snip and a bunch of new bridal spirit dolls will emerge. stay tuned.

finished batch of bride dolls

2009-04-25T09:32:00.000-07:00

i feel like i'm working slower lately, but i allow for phases like this. here is a completed group of bridal spirit dolls. some are on display in a group show at barn hill studio in monroe, ct. others i plan to take to local bridal shops and see if i can tap into some customers that way. these are not the average bridal gift, but for certain brides they are perfect.

"cardinal" spirit doll

2009-04-20T09:25:00.000-07:00

one of the dipped spirit dolls was getting some cracks from being outside all winter, so my daughter had the honor of giving her a new paint job. from afar this doll looks like a cardinal perched on top of the bird house.

iPhoto spirit doll

2009-04-13T16:38:00.000-07:00

the mac is just too much fun. so many ways to create, recreate, and re-recreate! this is a shot of a spirit doll using "infrared effects" in the photo booth feature. it may appear a little scary to the uninitiated, and will then have people asking me again if these are voodoo dolls. sorry folks, they're not. i'm just having fun.

here's my card

2009-04-06T20:59:00.000-07:00

i like my business cards. they get attached to the dolls when they leave my studio for the real world. i did everything by hand and then got help putting the elements together on the computer. overnightprints.com did a nice job for a good price...

reinvented spirit dolls

2009-04-02T09:39:00.000-07:00

these 3 dolls were created a few years ago. my style has evolved since then, so i decided to recycle/reinvent by dipping in exterior latex paint to preserve them for outdoor display. there is an exhibit of such work going on this month at mocha coffeehouse, a cool local place overlooking a river. the dolls shown here were freshly coated in acrylic paint with a bit of metallic sheen. i hung them outside yesterday at the coffeehouse, and will be interested to see how they do during the rainy month of april.

healing doll for kathy

2009-03-30T11:09:00.000-07:00

a good friend of mine just underwent major surgery. this spirit doll was created especially for her. the toile fabric came from a historic home in my town, and the sparkly embellishment is an earring saved from my nana's jewelry box.

the big mystery

2009-03-25T16:06:00.001-07:00

i participated in a craft show last fall. on my table, along with a nice display of spirit dolls, was a small framed sign which read, "AMUSE. INSPIRE. EMPOWER." a woman walked by, chomping a hot dog. she paused, then said, "what do they do?"

bridal spirit dolls in progress

2009-03-25T15:41:00.000-07:00

right now i'm in bridal mode. i love working with all the different tones and textures of white. my studio table is piled with fabric and pearls and all sorts of pretty things for making bridal spirit dolls. stay tuned....

HOLY Spirit Doll!

2009-03-18T19:37:00.000-07:00

I created this little beauty for my goddaughter's first communion. I love finding stuff for my dolls when I'm at estate sales. I think the overlay on this dress was a crocheted doily, and the lace headpiece was from a great house sale where I picked up a whole box of trim and buttons. This doll is in the "mini" category...I don't relish working this small even though everyone thinks the minis are sooooo cute. They take just as much time as the regular size dolls, and they make me scrunch over and have to wear my reading glasses!

almost springtime

2009-03-17T06:56:00.000-07:00

i just sent these spirit dolls down to harrison gallery in key west for "walk on white", which happens each month on the 3rd thursday. open galleries, snacks, and if you're lucky, free wine. the photo was taken outside on a patch of winter-crispy leaves. before long the whole yard will be coming alive again. i can't wait!

key west brides

2009-02-28T10:28:00.000-08:00

i just got back from a wonderful visit to key west and the harrison gallery, where my spirit dolls are still shown. any of these beautiful brides (on coral bases) would make a unique wedding gift.

queen of spirit dolls

2009-02-13T12:07:00.000-08:00

this particular doll attracted people like magnets. she really stood out wherever she was placed. i wish i had the kind of life where i could go around in a fluffy dress and wild crown like this more often.

bridal spirit dolls in the snow

2009-01-31T12:53:00.001-08:00

white on white on white on white. gorgeous!

spirit doll bods!

2009-01-31T12:50:00.000-08:00

headless dolls! oh no! i tend to work like a little assembly line - here in the process all the bodies are awaiting the perfectly matched faces. this group of dolls was for a floral-themed show last spring.

memory doll for judy

2009-01-31T12:43:00.001-08:00

a close friend asked me to create this spirit doll using one of her mother's scarves. it is adorned with one of her mother's pins as well. a very elegant doll indeed...

madame joyce

2009-01-27T13:40:00.000-08:00

the purple quilted fabric used for this dress came from the costume workshop of a wild and wacky woman in key west. she invited me in and let me loose like a kid in a candy store. the fur collar is salvaged from my mother's closet, circa 1950.

dipped doll

2009-01-27T06:37:00.000-08:00

a couple summers ago i started dipping my "retired" dolls in exterior latex house paint. they become outdoor sculptures, and i've been watching their progress through the seasons. i have a few in my backyard, and i will be observing one that has been outdoors since last year in a key west garden. it's an art experiment!

the mini ones

2009-01-26T22:56:00.000-08:00

these dolls are about 7 inches high. very cute, but not as easy to make as i'd like.

faces

2009-01-26T22:32:00.000-08:00

i've always handpainted my doll's faces. they've gone from having eyes closed (dreaming) to eyes open, and this latest style is one that i am trying for now. it's a bit less detailed, and also the haircolor is lighter than earlier dolls. i work best when i have all my "ingredients" ready to go - all the dresses, all the faces, all the elements needed to put together a doll. i'm always happy when the trusty glue gun is hot and ready to go!

spiritdollsbypaula.com

2009-01-25T21:30:00.000-08:00

this shot was taken at harrison gallery in key west, june 2006. my work is still there, even though i have left the tropical sunshine. i miss being able to ride my bike over to the gallery, with spirit dolls in the basket and my daughter in the bike seat. i'm grateful to have those memories!

detail

2009-01-25T11:33:00.000-08:00

this one has a plush furry collar to keep her cozy all winter.

glam bride

2009-01-25T11:30:00.000-08:00

i love this doll with her feather boa. she's bigger than most dolls i make...usually they're about 10 inches high; she's double that size. her dress fabric is chenille and makes me think of old fashioned bedspreads.

brides galore

2009-01-22T20:08:00.000-08:00

here's a bunch o brides.

angel bride dolls

2009-01-22T19:53:00.000-08:00

i've been making these dolls since last winter. the first ones were photographed on a snowy background. i have a gorgeous tree in my yard that serves as a frequent backdrop.

angel bride dolls

2009-01-22T19:50:00.000-08:00

2009-01-21T11:46:00.000-08:00

the francine doll...