Angela Michelle Dolls

Travelling Doll Project - Miss Rosie Pimlico

2010-05-18T12:16:00.005-04:00

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

2010-05-11T15:31:00.003-04:00

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

2009-12-07T11:21:00.006-05:00

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

2009-11-16T13:47:00.008-05:00

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

2009-10-19T13:16:00.004-04:00

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...

2009-06-16T14:46:00.003-04:00

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.

Yard + Art = YART Sale!

2009-06-12T12:05:00.004-04:00

Been by Etsy.com yet? If not, please don't go until after you're finished reading here. I'll never get you back. More than one unwary browser has been lost for weeks amongst the stash of goodness that exists on Etsy.

Etsy is hosting a 5-day sale called the Yart Sale! (Yard Sale + Art. Just go with it!)

To join in the Yart Adventure, I've set aside all of the Doll Frames, Clips & Pins in a special section (quite cleverly named "Yart Sale"). Click for Yart Sale Section.

Between now & Sunday, June 14, shipping is free (reduced for international folks) on all Doll Frames, Clips, & Pins.

Stop by and browse! The laundry will wait.

Fairy CSI - The Conclusion

2009-06-10T18:34:00.003-04:00

In case you missed the exciting Part I episode of Fairy CSI, scroll down one post past. In my attempt to make miniature (as in one inch) fairies, I littered my work desk with fairy parts - heads on sticks, legs, random bodies - quite a sight.

Productivity did come from the wreckage, as it (sometimes) does, and I ended up with...

You'd never know of her sordid past. Of course, it would help if I photoshoppped out all the fairy parts behind her - evidence of those that did not make it this far. Practice makes perfect.

Now the only question remains...what do I do with her?

Fairy CSI

2009-06-09T10:14:00.003-04:00

I've been experimenting. I like tiny things and I'm addicted to thread, but Penny People just take so darn long! So I wondered if I could make a tiny doll from clay instead of thread.

I like clay. In particular, I like making heads from clay. Pop some eyes in, stick a nose on, pull out a grin, and you've got such a cute little sucker, disembodied as it is. For me, the challenge comes in making bodies for the heads, as I'm told that just a pile of heads is a little disturbing.

So, back to the experimenting...

My work desk now resembles a Fairy Crime Scene Investigation. Tiny body parts everywhere, random heads on sticks - who knew the world of miniature doll-making was thus?

I have one of the original thread Penny People (princess in blue, above, 10 o'clock) watching from the corner. She seems to have thrown her hands up hopelessly. I kept reminding her that as I did make her, I just might know what I'm doing. She was not convinced. Clay and thread are two very different mediums.

Fairy CSI: To be continued...

Clip a Doll

2009-06-08T10:41:00.008-04:00

I'm always trying to come up with excuses to have dolls around (like you need one). I have:

- put dolls on photo frames

- displayed them in hoity-toity glass domes (not recommended if the doll already has an overblown ego - this really sends them into diva mode)

- turned them into earrings (a much smaller 1" version of them - not quite sure anyone would want a 3" doll earring, although I could be wrong. Maybe.)

- hung them as Christmas ornaments (clarification: attached a hanger to the back of the doll. I do not hang dolls.)

Now, toothpick dolls find themselves in two new places to help them better see the world:

As a pin...

And attached to a clothespin (with a magnet on the back)...

The world is always interesting when seen from a miniature doll's perspective. Now that toothpick dolls are even more portable, we'll have to see what new stories they come back with. Sure beats carrying them around in your jeans pocket. I did this when young and stupid and soon learned what a wretched sight a toothpick doll with a broken neck makes.

Want to see more pins & clips? www.AngelaMichelleDolls.etsy.com

Toothpick Bodies Galore

2009-05-18T10:06:00.002-04:00

An awful thing happened last week. I ran out of bodies. Toothpick bodies, that is, for toothpick dolls. I like to have a fairly good stash on hand. So I cranked up the body-making factory & went to work. Two evenings of work later, I am once again amply supplied.

It's ok, folks - crisis averted.

Queen usurped by a Treasury

2009-05-09T17:58:00.003-04:00

The Queen and I aren't speaking to each other.

We were doing so well for a while there, and I thought I might finish her without incident. Naive, foolish notion. I should have known it woudn't be quite that easy working with her.

Now, she wants this diamond pattern on her sleeves. I thought it would be easy enough, so I drew it into the original design. Then I started working on it. Blasted, fiddly, confounded thing. That diamond pattern has given me more grief...

I have figured out how to do it, but it's going to be very tedious & tiny. So, rather than working on it, the Queen and I have simply stopped speaking to each other.

There are two ways to resolve this. Either she consents to a simpler design, or I relent. Hmm... Considering the likelihood of the first option...I'd better get back to work.

On another note, I'm currently featured in a treasury on Etsy.com, curated by MoodyandSanguine. Check it out - lots of cool items there! My personal favorite is the Snow White locket.

http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=57128

From Princess to Queen

2009-04-01T18:26:00.002-04:00

I'm so excited. After a long day at work, I get to come home & spend the evening working on an incredibly difficult 3-inch tall doll that has proven to be one of the most stressful projects I've ever designed. I think I need help.

The Queen of Hearts has been waiting, with surprising patience, as I set her aside to work on the Princesses and Pirates for the toothpick doll kits I'll be selling this summer. She has no head, and so far the lower half of her arms is nothing more than a half-inch cut of toothpick.

Time for that to change. I need a break, and she needs a diamond pattern on her sleeves. Now, how I'm going to do that...well, maybe I'll figure it out by the end of the evening.

Happy doll-making!

The Toothpick Princesses Arrive, Fashionably Late

2009-03-30T15:00:00.006-04:00

Finally! You should feel quite special. The Toothpick Princesses have finally consented to allow their picture to be taken. We have, in order of appearance, Madeline Lily, Isabella Rose, & Alyssa Violet.

These dainty ladies are part of a kit I'm developing, which will be available in June. The kit will include instructions & materials to make the three characters above, provided you're willing to put up with these picky princesses on your crafting table! I've promised my kit testers that I would give them a teaser of the dolls they're going to be testing in April. I'm working on a Pirate kit (see previous posting).

Want to know more about these kits, & when they'll be available for purchase? Sign up for the free Angela Michelle Dolls newsletter by going to http://www.angelamichelledolls.com/.

Now, if I may, allow me to introduce the Princesses in a more befitting manner:

Isabella Rose will be your guide to making these dolls. All of the instructions will be given in her point of view, and she will ask that you kindly pay special attention when constructing her hat. And when you arrange her hair, be sure to give it the proper length. If it worked for Rapunzel...

Years ago, Madeline Lily read in Princess Perfection that princes who run afoul of the local swamp witch frequently end up as frogs. Enter Ferdinand, the friendly green frog. He may not be a prince, but he sure can write sonnets!

Alyssa Violet has a head on her shoulders - one she hopes is the fairest in the land. To assure her of her status on the Prettiest Princess list, Alyssa obtained a Magic Mirror. Although in addition to giving Alyssa her current ranking (right now, she's number 4), this Mirror also alerts her to any local sales, and provides the quickest route, among other things.

Keep on eye out for more stories & introductions for both the Princesses & Pirates!

Attack of the Toothpick Pirates!

2009-03-25T11:00:00.000-04:00

They've landed! Captain James Kelly, center. His first (& only) mate, Lucky Pete. Stowaway, Calico Anne.

These swashbuckling adventurers are part of a kit I'm developing, which will be available in June. The kit will include instructions & materials to make the three characters above, provided you're brave enough to allow these rogues onto your crafting table! I've promised my kit testers that I would give them a teaser of the dolls they're going to be testing in April. I'm working on a Princess kit as well, but the royal ladies are still fixing their hair and were mortified at the thought of getting their pictures taken yet. Hopefully we'll see them next week!

Want to know more about these kits, & when they'll be available for purchase? Sign up for the free Angela Michelle Dolls newsletter by going to www.AngelaMichelleDolls.com.

Without further ado, a quick introduction to our band of Pirates:

Captain James Kelly is in command, or tries to be. I hope you like the looks of him, because he will be your narrator as you craft these toothpick pirates. The instructions will be from his perspective, pirate slang and all. I did convince him to be family friendly, I promise! From his sword to his jaunty tri-corner hat, he'll teach you everything you need to know (with side comments!).

First Mate Lucky Pete & his pet parrot, Percy, work their hardest to keep the Captain's ship afloat, minus a few leaks here & there. Percy is always ready to point out which spots Lucky Pete has missed. Even with his eye-patch & peg leg, this pirate is a faithful hand at the mast!

Calico Anne has had such trouble living out her dream to sail the open seas. No one wants a girl on their ship, so Anne snuck on to Captain Kelly's ship - after all, she only had to sneak past two people! She was soon discovered, but the fact that she brings along a treasure map helps make her company a little more bearable. Of course, it would be nice if she weren't such a clutz - she's slipped and dropped that map over the side of the ship more times than anyone cares to count!

That's all for now!

Mini Calories Don't Count!

2009-03-23T09:51:00.007-04:00

Etsy Team MIDS (Miniatures in Dollhouse Scale) Feature:
Miniature Artist Blue Kitty Miniatures

It's Spring! Time for flowers, afternoon rain showers, green grass, and...the swimsuit diet. Was that a groan I heard? If you have a weakness for your corner Cake Shop & walking there every morning doesn't help the calorie disaster that occurs upon arrival, allow me to offer an alternative...

Introducing the exceptional (& calorie free!) fare of Etsy artist Blue Kitty Miniatures.

(Click on any of the pictures below to go directly to the item listing)

Wish your wedding cake looked like this? So does your blushing dollhouse bride. This cake, from the bottom roses to the top pearls, measures about 2 inches (50 mm) tall. I'll give you a moment to pick your jaw up off the floor...

Recovered? It will only last a moment. If neither you nor your dollhouse residents are celebrating a special occasion anytime soon, let me propose to you that there is always an occasion for cookies! Particularly when they come from this adorable miniature Black & White Tuxedo Cat Cookie Jar. Best part? The cookies are included! Click on the kitty picture above to see the "Awww!"-inducing teeny cookies that come with this Cookie Jar.

Bet you never knew that you desperately wanted a miniature herbal book with a goggle-eyed plant creature peeking out, huh? You do now. One of my all-time favorites - I've been fighting the temptation to buy a dollhouse just so I could house this little guy. Resolve...failing...

Do you need a moment to pick up your jaw again? Pretty soon, your dollhouse family is going to forget they're in a dollhouse, when even the flowers that get knocked over look this real!

Do you remember getting cakes like this when you were a kid? No? Then make up for it by providing them for your dollhouse children! Their permanent smiles will thank you.

Want to see more of Blue Kitty's work? How about a golfing novelty cake? A ladybug cookie jar? A Toadstool House Novelty Cake? Step right over...

Toothpick Dolls from Yesteryear

2009-03-20T11:00:00.000-04:00

This week I'm showing off some of my very first dolls (from about 15 years ago), done in the first fledgling years of my career as a teenage doll-maker.

Today I would like you to meet...

A few of the typical dolls I used to do (typical other than martians & Star Wars, I mean).

A stylin' curlytop with an oh-so-chic butt skirt. About the same time I picked up on toothpick dolls, someone gave me a little container of various felt shapes - circles, hearts, ovals, flowers, etc. This, along with some lace scraps, became my accessories of choice when fashion designing for the toothpick community (a highly overlooked demographic group, by the way).

This Lady in Blue models a green felt flower folded in half for her purse, & a black felt oval draped over her head in something that hopefully resembles a hat. The decoration on the hat is a piece cut out from a strip of lace. The innovation of a 13-year-old - something I wish I had back, at times!

When fashion supercedes function, you know you've hit high design. This look features a huge pink felt heart draped across the arm & accented with bits of lace. Not sure she can move that arm, but toothpick dolls have never really clamored for ease of movement, luckily. Her hair is set in a style that was supposed to make it look like her bangs were draping down over one eye, but instead kind of makes her look like she forever has her head turned to the side. Looking at...?

Ah, one of my first attempts at a full skirt & other drape-y things. I was quite proud of this Princess-Lady when I made her so many years ago. She had looong hair (down to her feet) and a little crown-tiara thing going on. Unfortunately, she met the fate that a few dolls met during those beginning years - she had her neck broken while I was carrying her around in my jeans pocket at school. I did learn...

A Toothpick Galaxy Far, Far Away...

2009-03-18T11:00:00.002-04:00

This week I'm showing off some of my very first dolls (from about 15 years ago), done in the first fledgling years of my career as a teenage doll-maker.

Today I give you my homage to a galaxy far, far away...

OK, let's have some fun. Can you guess who these characters are? I could tell you the name of the movie(s), but I'm really hoping I don't have to. I know these were made years ago before I was really any good at toothpick doll-making, but come on! Help out my ego & tell me you can recognize these dolls. It's a good cause, really...

#1. We have the obligatory mentor, both older & wiser than our hot-headed hero. And also with an apparently crummy movie contract, as he only lasted for the first half of the first one of six movies.

#2. Aforementioned hot-headed hero. What do you get when you mix a restless whippersnapper who just happens to be a natural talent and a nefarious villain with a shocking secret about said whippersnapper's true origins? A franchise.

#3. Damsel in Distress. Just don't tell her that.

#4. Unlikely Good Guy. If you can buy a good guy who makes a living smuggling & has an unnatural fear of carbon-based preservation methods, that is.

There was also a half-finished Chewy running around, but I opted not to photograph him, as he's just not as intimidating without a head. And he will probably never get one at this point...

Next show & tell on Friday!

Toothpick Martians

2009-03-17T11:00:00.001-04:00

If you're looking for the Advanced Toothpick Doll Tutorial advertised in the Angela Michelle Dolls Newsletter, click here. If you don't receive the Angela Michelle Dolls Newsletter & feel hopelessly out of the loop, click here.

This week I'm showing off some of my very first dolls (from about 15 years ago), done in the first fledgling years of my career as a teenage doll-maker.

Today I would like you to meet...

Mr. & Mrs. Martian, respectively.

I think Mrs. Martian, who declined to give her first name as it is unintelligible in our tongue, was the very first doll I made to debut the skirt technique. She's quite a happening lady, with her cat's eye glasses (fashion takes awhile to reach her stretch of the galaxy), and her cute little bob.

Mr. Martian, as I remember, has always been quite proud of his bowtie, which was made of several small balls of thread and assembled in something that, at the time I made him, seemed like a bowtie shape. His grin is, you could say, stuck to his face eternally.

The couple features three fingers & toes per appendage, and a somewhat unruly set of eyes that spring out from the top of their forehead. I really shouldn't tell you this, but Mrs. Martian's pink glasses are for show only. She once saw an episode of Mary Tyler Moore, and there was no going back...

When I remember my early dolls, this couple always stands out. I made several sets, but this is the only couple I kept, apparently. For some reason, I thought they made quite appropriate gifts, although I can't recall for what occasion...

My First Doll: Pathetic, Sweet Thing

2009-03-16T12:09:00.008-04:00

Want to see the first toothpick doll I ever made (15 long years ago...)? Pictures at the end of this post.

Well, if you subscribe to the Angela Michelle Dolls Newsletter, you probably came looking for the Advanced Toothpick Doll Tutorial. You'll get it, don't worry! There's a link to all the spilled secrets below. I recently taught a tutorial in the Custom Dolls, Houses, & Miniatures forums. We covered the basics, and then delved into how to make a skirt (that will make a doll stand on her own), and how to start adding intricate accents with split-thread detailing.

To access the tutorial:

1 - Head to http://www.cdhm.org/. Click on "Forums" in the top right corner.

2 - If you're not already a member of this forum, scroll down to "CDHM Announcements". Click on the last topic in that section, "CDHM Forum - Registration Benefits". It will show you how to join (it's free, by the way).

3 - Join the forum! It's free, and you'll be able to see my toothpick doll tutorial, as well as a host of other tutorials, tips, & tons of information relating to dolls & miniatures. There are some fabulous artisans there!

4 - Once you've joined, scroll down to the "Tutorials" board & click on "Past Tutorials". Go to "Click here for Past Classes", scroll to the bottom of that list & you'll see "Learn to Make a Toothpick Doll". There you go! Oh, and before you leave there, check out some of those other tutorials - they're so much fun! Bonus if you have free time that's begging to be filled in a creative way.

All of the information in that tutorial will eventually make its way into this blog, but I'm holding off for a couple months, as CDHM is often able to publish its tutorials in publications, & a magazine will decline if the information is freely available on the internet already. Thus, the schedule switch. But you can still access that entire tutorial today if you wish.

So, what to do with the next week? Thought you might like seeing how I started in the Toothpick World...

This was my first doll, made from a flyer my mom picked up in a craft store. That was circa 1994, & I was about 13 years old. We were stationed on an air base in Italy, & toothpicks & thread were some of the few craft supplies I had access to.

The rest of this week I'll pull out some photos of other oooold dolls, including Mr. & Mrs. Martian, & my homage to Star Wars.

Fun, fun :)

The Queen of Hearts, in Toothpick

2009-03-13T11:33:00.004-04:00

Remember the Queen of Hearts doll I've been working on? Well, I'm still working, and so far, she's still cooperating. She hasn't raised too many objections about how her costume is turning out, although it probably helps that I haven't given her a head yet...

I just love parts like this, that look so wild. It looks so hideous right now, & I'm the only one who knows just what I'm doing. Feeds my mad scientist alter ego. Bwa Ha Ha! (The laughter sounds much better when it's not in print...)

See? There was a reason for the chaotic pink strings. They all fed into her poofy pink overskirt, which the Queen was undecided on for a long time. Not even the Toothpick Peasant doll looks too convinced, yet. It wasn't until I added a satin waistband & satin ruffles all along the hem that the Queen agreed it was acceptable. This was a good thing, as if a doll doesn't like what she's wearing, it usually means I have to start over completely. Toothpick dolls are stubborn, fair warning.

Starting to resemble her design a touch more. I love the little black bolero jacket. I have to tell you, this lady has turned out to be the most difficult doll I've ever done, hands down! It's practically an engineering project, trying to figure out which layer I should do next, & how to keep the shape of the silhouette right... So much fun, so many meltdowns.

Working on the arms. Confession: I hate doing arms. There are two of them. You spend hours on one arm, getting it just right, and then you have to turn around and do another one, and it has to match the first perfectly. Bleuagh! (I believe that about sums it up)

I've put her aside for a couple weeks now, procrastinating on those arms, but I'm finding I can't stay away for long...

The Perfectly Landscaped Dollhouse

2009-02-23T13:35:00.009-05:00

Etsy Team MIDS (Miniatures in Dollhouse Scale) Feature:

Miniature Artist Golden Unicorn Minis

Is your dollhouse lacking curb appeal? Do your 1/12 scale dolls stay in their chambers & avoid lounging on the terrace, even on the best of days?

Let me recommend you to Golden Unicorn Minis, THE Dollhouse Landscaper whose name is in every fashionable doll's mini-rolodex.

Don't worry! You can still catch up with the styles of the dollhouse elite. Check out some of the pieces that could spruce up your dollhouse's tired exterior:
(Click on any of the pictures below to go directly to the item listing)

Start with the front door. Place one planter on either side of the entrance & have instant grandness (grandeur?). Whatever the word, you'll have it!

Climbing roses. How much more romantic can you get? Put some of these winding their way up the dollhouse facade, & I can practically guarantee a miniature Clark Gable will come strolling round the corner.

Does the lady of your dollhouse have a green thumb? Even if she doesn't, just put this out by the back garden, and all of her neighbors will be convinced she really does know the difference between a rose & a tulip!

I know you're going for prettiest castle on the block, but can your really hope to compete with the Tudors without a lion's head wall planter?

As the centerpiece of a garden or the focal point of the grand foyer, this wonderfully intricate statue & bowl of flowers completes your mini layout.

Well, I hope you (& your dollhouse!) have profited from this little lesson in mini curb appeal. To continue your look through the catalog of mini landscaping, be sure to visit Golden Unicorn Minis on Etsy.

Happy Chocolate Day!

2009-02-12T11:00:00.003-05:00

That is what Valentine's is all about, right? You mean I have it wrong?!

Enjoy these very Valentine-y finds from the talented artists on Etsy.com...

Ok, first things first. Need a card? Running out of time? Behold the solution. This card is emailed to you for you to print out immediately. Forget the store! You've got Valentine's Day covered.

By moderninkstudio

I'm all for jewelry, but make it handmade! Ethereal & charming, this is the perfect ring.

By jessicavanneste

Don't ask me why a little knitted heart with eyes gets me, but this is just adorable. Instant smile. You'll be remembered for this one.

By Zantie

Want a fun fact? This cake is 2 inches tall. Don't believe me? Go ahead, buy it! You'll see. Valentine's Day comes even to dollhouses.

By BlueKittyMiniatures

The name of this temptation? Orange Twist Oreo Truffle. Click on the picture & see if you can read the description without drooling. I dare you.

By sugarsmitten

Hope you enjoyed the show! By the way, you now have no excuses to meet Valentine's Day unprepared - sorry! Oh, and if you don't have someone special to buy for, I'm sure yourself wouldn't mind getting one of these from you.

Out of the Project Tube...

2009-02-10T11:36:00.006-05:00

I work in miniature. What would be a pile of scraps for one person could become an entire project for me. So I always have tiny pieces of STUFF left over that I don't want to throw away, because my next mini masterpiece might call for it! My solution? Pill containers. Grand, I know.

I use tiny containers, like the kind you can buy that have 7 small stackable containers for you to keep a week's worth of pills in. These become my great & wondrous Project Tubes. Seriously, one tube of containers could hold everything I need for an entire project.

So, what's in my latest Project Tube? A bouquet of a dozen red roses! Seems perfectly normal to me...

I make these roses as accents for my toothpick dolls, & decided to let them have the spotlight all to themselves for once. Each rose is handmade, formed on the tip of a toothpick. The bouquets have three different sizes of rose - a bud, a normal size, & a fully opened rose.

I have to admit, the hardest part about these bouquets is wrapping them in that iridescent film! Fiddly stuff. But the end result so charms me that I put up with it. Having chocolate within reach helps, too.

These rose bouquets are available in my Etsy shop.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Goals for February of 2009

2009-02-04T15:00:00.000-05:00

New month, new schedule. And hopefully, some accountability in getting everything on the list done!

Ambition requires patience, as I'm learning. Small steps, & you will get where you want to go. The trick is to know where you want to go, & then plan your path.

So, have plans? Have goals? A dream you want to conquer? The first step is to make a plan. With that in mind, what are your goals for February?

Here are a few of mine:

- Finish the Queen of Hearts (guess I better get started!)

- Finish writing a tutorial I'll be doing for CDHM.org in March. Some advanced doll techniques will in here - stay tuned for more details!

- Finish my book of the month for February (Seth Godin's Purple Cow - it's a short book, no excuse not to finish it!)

- Lose 2 lbs. I figure I can do that much.

- List several toothpick doll clips & magnets I'm finished, but am procrastinating about taking photos of.

Imagine yourself on February 28. What will you have gotten done this month?

Queen of Hearts - I've finally started her!

2009-02-03T12:23:00.005-05:00

One of my goals this year is to finish a doll about every other month. My schedule says I should have one finished by the end of February. So maybe it's time I got started :)

Remember my original Queen of Hearts sketch? This lady scares me, honestly. I don't know what I was thinking when I drew that design, but now I'm paying for it - this is a difficult project!

First, some supplies:

- Various pairs of scissors, reverse pliers, 6-inch ruler, glue

- toothpicks (those do help when making a toothpick doll)

- Thread color catalog

- Impossible sketch (hanging up)

- A mess of embroidery floss (yes, that is the technical term. A herd of sheep, a gaggle of geese, a mess of thread)

- A bowl of fruit (1 navel orange & 1 Fuji apple, chopped into bite-size pieces. Works well when there's no chocolate in the house.)

Humble beginnings, but we all have to start somewhere...

Her design calls for a nice, full skirt. This is layer 3 of a 4-layer petticoat. I start down around her ankles, & keep adding layers until we reach her waist. No, the woman will not be able to move. You'll notice Sleeping Beauty lurking in the background often. She has consented to be my reference model for this project.

Ok, 4 layers of petticoat done. Now we start the tricky process of adding all those decorative skirt layers. She'll end up with the following layers:

- subtle pink & white striped underskirt

- black & white stripe detailing

- black satin overskirt, pulled back to reveal the pink underskirt & black & white stripe

- hot pink over-overskirt (I really should come up with more elegant-sounding names...) with fringe & rose accent

This is the first layer - the sublte stripe underskirt. If you look closely, you can make out the pink & white striping. You'll see this layer is only in the front, for two reasons:

1) The back would be covered up by the black satin skirt.

2) Adding this layer all the way around would add bulk to the back. When you're working in such a tiny scale, even one layer of thread can make a difference. She needs to have a shapely silhouette, without extra bulk.

Ok, the first of 4 decorative skirt layers is finished. Now I'll start the black & white stripe detailing (see the original sketch). But first, I have to outline exactly where this detailing will go. Look closely, & you'll several lines of a single strand of white thread. Now, I just fill this part in with the striping.

I'll post more progress in a few days!

Want to know more of how I've done a certain technique? I'm planning a doll tutorial in the next month - tell me what you'd like to be in it!

This Blog Invests in the Riches of Proximity

2009-02-02T13:29:00.007-05:00

JemJoop, who has skills at mini-making that I am simultaneously in awe of & envious over, has awarded Angela Michelle Dolls with the lovely Proximidade award!

As originally described....

This blog invests in the riches of proximity! (rough translation). Proximidade, translated from Portuguese to English, means vicinity or neighborhood.

This blog invests and believes in PROXIMITY - nearness in space, time and relationships. (blogging makes us close by proxy; friendly neighborhoods linked around the world). Blogs that receive this award are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in prizes or self-aggrandizement. (effort is made to maintain a quality blog in terms of blog etiquette, response, and audience - just because) *Note to reader: It does not escape my attention that the mere posting of the award is, in itself, a small measure of self-aggrandizement. I never said I was perfect ;-).

Our hope is that when the ribbons of these awards are cut, even more friendships are propagated. (post the award, and grow more friendship by passing it on) Please give more attention to these writers! (be an active friend of their neighborhoods) Deliver this award to eight bloggers who must choose eight more and include this cleverly-written text into the body of their award. "

OK, so I don't have 8 (I need more blogging friends!), but here, in no particular order, are a few of my sincere nominations:

(If you've already been nominated, just consider this a confirmation of your wonderful-ness as a fellow blogger-friend :)

Hope you enjoy strolling through these lovely blogs!

Review: No More Mondays, by Dan Miller

2009-01-28T15:00:00.001-05:00

One of my goals for 2009 is to read a book a year. So far, so good. Yes, I know it's only January, but I'm celebrating the little achievements.

My book for January was No More Mondays, by Dan Miller. Gotta love a book with a catchy title.Wonderful first read for the beginning of the year. He's got all sorts of quotes & extra little stories & situations to get you to think. This is all about pinpointing your talents, dreams, & passions - the things that get you excited, & then going on those to build a business, part-time income stream, ministry, or what-have-you.

Specifically geared towards those who'd like to venture out from the traditional "j-o-b" & earn income through more creative pursuits. Freelancer, entrepreneur, consultant, artist, or any other kind of work that lets you be a little more independent.

Answers such questions as:

How to take your talent & find a creative way to earn income by it

How to find more time in your schedule

How to start your own business with little or no money

How to get over your fear of losing the "safety" of a traditional job. (Asks the question - Just how "safe" is a traditional job?)

A wonderfully written, fast-paced, keep-your-highlighter-handy-you're-gonna-want-to-remember-this kind of read. Not a get-rich-quick or easy answers book. It helps you define the types of work you excel at, but applying that is all up to you.

Recommended? YES!

For more info or to purchase, here's Dan Miller's official site.

Febuary's book: Purple Cow, by Seth Godin

Bits & Bobbles Swap

2009-01-26T13:45:00.004-05:00

Have a lot of extra crafty stuff lying around? Would you like to be rewarded for shipping some of it off?

Malissa (Sleepy Hollow Folk Art Originals) is hosting a Bits & Bobbles Swap! Basically, just fill a sandwich size baggie with some of the odds & ends (hopefully matching!) of craft goodies you have yet to find a project for. Send it to the name you're assigned to, & you'll receive a goodie bag in return!

Fresh crafting fodder - how fun!

Get a Free Doll Kit!

2009-01-23T10:36:00.003-05:00

Everything you need to make your very own toothpick doll, except a third hand.

I'm getting ready to launch a new product & I need your help! Toothpick doll kits are themed kits with instructions that are easy to follow & entertaining. They'll include everything you need, from glue to scissors to thread to fun extras. Perfect for an afternoon craft or a project to take on a trip with you.

Want to be a tester?

If you'd like to know how to make a basic toothpick doll, sign up to be a kit tester. I'll send you a sample kit for free in exchange for your feedback (I will send a one-page comment sheet with each kit, or you can fill out a short online comment form). The first two kits offered will be a Pirate kit & a Princess kit.

To sign up, email me (angela@angelamichelledolls.com) with the following information:

Name

Age (Must be 12 years or older. Preference will be given to volunteers age 12-18, but I will be sending sample kits to 18+ as well)

Email

Mailing Address

Theme Preference (Pirate or Princess)

Space is limited, & the list will fill on a first-come basis, so please sign up quickly! If you know of someone (daughter, friend, sister) who would be interested, send 'em on over here!

Deadline to sign up: January 31

Black Widows & Semi-Colons

2009-01-16T10:00:00.002-05:00

Ever had a defining moment at 6 AM? There are other things I'd rather wake up to.

Last fall, we switched out the decorative wreath outside our front door. The old, summertime one came in the house & the new, fall-y one took its place outside. Well, the old wreath quickly got forgotten in our breakfast nook where it had been stashed, & sat for a few weeks - long enough for a certain creature who had taken up residence in the wreath when it was outside to grow comfortable enough to look for new lodgings in its new location.

Enter a groggy, half-aware early riser (you'd think this would have cured me of getting up before sunrise ever again). I flicked on the light and saw a black spot in mid-air near the ground - a glistening black spider hanging upside down in her web. I leaned in closer & saw a perfectly-shaped red hourglass. Have you ever seen pictures of a black widow in a textbook? Good grief, I'm having to pull my feet up as I type!

Anyways, you want something that will shock you awake better than a double shot of coffee? I found it. Works great.

I actually stood in the kitchen and stared at the thing in shock for several moments, until I realized that I had better do something, as it wasn't going to kill itself. Waking someone else up would probably have been better, but this really inconvenient fit of bravery possessed me, and so here, in dramatic retelling, is my heroic battle...

The spider & I faced off for several moments in the darkened breakfast nook, light from a single bulb illuminating the telltale red hourglass on its hideous black body. I held in my shaking hand a bottle of Raid, and had on my foot a big shoe. The spider had as its defense a lethal poison, ready to foster my destruction. I stiffened my shoulders, bent lower, and held the can above the spider's gangly form. I sprayed, it fell in agony to the carpet below, & I stomped like a bad clogger. The twisted spider lay still, dead, the light still shining off its now mangled hourglass. And so it will be told for time immemorial of my valiant defeat of the black widow in the kitchen at 6 AM.

I hope you read that in your best James Earl Jones tone of voice.

Ever notice that when your brain is occupied with spiders, you see them everywhere? (Sorry.) When I took my glasses off before going to bed that night, I saw a black spot on my dresser (a very fuzzy black spot - I'm rather blind without my second pair of eyes). I instantly reached out to pound it into oblivion & realized at the last second that I nearly killed one of my favorite pairs of earrings - a handmade set of semi-colon earrings from nerdgoddess at Etsy.com. If you need to get your mind off of black widows & other creepy crawlies, head over to her shop quickly!

Oh and by the way, yes - we threw the wreath away!

Do You Flickr?

2009-01-14T10:00:00.000-05:00

WARNING: Browsing the many fascinating pages of Flickr can lead to the sudden loss of your entire afternoon and/or evening. Particularly when stumbling upon such photostreams as this one by Etsy's Team Miniatures in Dollhouse Scale. Grab a beverage first!

Do you like the toothpick dolls & Penny People you've seen on The Elegant Toothpick? Want to see more? When I've got new pictures to post, the first place they show up is on my photostream at Flickr. Works in progress, finished characters, and experimental projects all seem to end here, where they get along quite nicely.

This is Nereida, a 1-inch tall mermaid in a frame box. Find her & others like her in my photostream.

Have a Flickr account? Add me as a contact! I'm always looking for more photostream paths to wander down...

Queen of Hearts Toothpick Doll Sketch

2009-01-12T14:01:00.009-05:00

I get so excited about starting a new doll. Because so few people make toothpick dolls, it's generally a make-it-up-as-you-go art. I learn something new with every doll I make.

My next over-ambitious project?

The Queen of Hearts - a three-inch study.

Reasons I'm excited about this doll:

~ The way-too-big-for-her-head Marie Antoinette style wig. Still working out the design, but should be fun.

~The large heart on the bodice will be entirely jewelled with teeny tiny glass micro-beads of reds, pinks, & blacks.

~ The crazy stand-out collar. No clue how I'm going to do that.

~ The million layers of skirt this woman will have, from the subtle stripe of the first layer to the heavy pink silk of the top layer.

Now, doll-makers will tell you that as they work, the doll will seem to develop her own personality, even dictating what details she should be given as she is completed. I tell you this in the faint hope you won't consider me too far gone when I say that I can already tell this lady is a snob. I had to rework the above sketch so many times because she didn't like the sleeve detail, or the collar wasn't right, or the skirt wasn't grand enough. You'll notice her head is not yet attached to her body - it's because we're still in negotiations on the exact style of wig.

Want to see how she progresses? Eager to find out which of us will win the battle of wills? (So am I!) Check back often - I'll be posting her progress regularly. You'll get to see photos of a toothpick doll from start to finish - that, or me breaking toothpicks in half if she & I don't get along.

Remember at the beginning, when I said that so few people make toothpick dolls? Want to know what you can do to change that awful truth? Check out the Toothpick Doll Tutorial (see the December 2008 blog archive on the right side of this page) & learn how to make a Toothpick Doll! Then, send me a picture! Together, we can bring the knowledge of toothpick dolls to the world! (End of melodramatic rant.)

Bits & Bobbles Swap

2009-01-09T10:00:00.001-05:00

Attention, compulsive craft stash hoarders!

Malissa at Sleepy Hollow Folk Art Originals is hosting a Bits & Bobbles Swap. Basically, you fill a sandwich-sized ziploc with all sorts of fun stuff - lace bits, buttons, fabric scraps, etc. The kind of swag that you collect & hoard but may never get around to making a project out of.

You send your little bag of treasures (definitely helpful if the items match each other!), and then you receive someone else's bag - new stuff for a new eye to make a small project out of!

Want to sign up? Head to Malissa's blog entry about it: http://sleepyhollowfolkartoriginals.blogspot.com/2008/12/my-after-holidays-swap-rules.html

You have until Jan. 31 to sign up.

Toothpick Feature: Ye Olde Dog Catcher

2009-01-07T10:00:00.000-05:00

Show & tell time! This was a custom piece of an old Victorian-style Dog Catcher. And yes, he's made of toothpicks.

Confession. It is so much harder to make a male doll then a female doll. Granted, the ladies have flowing skirts, curly hair, fancy sleeves, & miniature roses, while the men have pants, a jacket & a hat, maybe a mustache. But please tell me how you're supposed to make a thin, spindly toothpick leg look like anything other than a thin, spindly toothpick leg if you can't cover it with a wide skirt! I ended up using an entirely new body structure composed of round & flat toothpicks with him.

Confession #2. I really had fun with this guy. Maybe I just like attitude, but it seems that the dolls that give me the most problems end up being my favorite. When they're finished, that is.

OK, time to play spot the details! This dapper Dog Catcher has a newsboy-style hat - someday I'll have to do a tutorial on that. There's a whole inner structure that goes into hats.

He's got contrasting lapels on his jacket, & orange buckles. His sleeve has a tiny insignia.

See his tiny bowtie? Ok, look harder - it's there!

My favorite - his net. It's entirely hand-knotted. Such fun! Such torture.

See more photos at http://www.flickr.com/photos/angelamichelledolls/

Happy 2009!

2009-01-05T13:42:00.004-05:00

It's already day 5 of 2009! So, how many resolutions have you broken so far?

Have you thought about what you want this year to look like? Do you know what you want to be different in 365 days? (Well, 360 & dwindling.) Ah, the power of goals. So, got some?

I just spent the past week settling on my 2009 goals. I'm a list person - love making them, love checking them off. Unfortunately, I can spend too long making them & not long enough checking them off, but hey, always room for improvement!

And speaking of improvement, here are a few of my 2009 goals:

1) Read 1 nonfiction book a month. No, crossword books don't count.

2) Launch Toothpick Doll Craft Kits. Everything you need to make your very own toothpick doll, except a third hand.

3) Be a craft vendor at a fair. There's this Pirate Fest in southern Georgia...

4) Submit my work for feature in a doll magazine, like Art Doll Quarterly. It could happen!

5) Work through a Chinese Language study course. Why, oh why couldn't I want to learn Spanish?

6) Complete a manuscript for a fiction book. Imagine all the room I'll have in my head when I get that out of there!

So, what about you? Got goals for 2009? How about just for January? Post them!

"He who does not plan, plans to fail." Or something like that. Happy 2009!

Ze Important French Award

2008-12-16T09:26:00.009-05:00

Mealy Monster has bestowed on Angela Michelle Dolls the quite important & impressive-looking Marie Antoinette award! Merci, Mealy! We are highly honored & duly big-headed today about the whole thing.

In keeping of the spirit of the game, I have nominated the following equally fabulous blogs:

Sleepy Hollow Folk Art Originals

Whetnall Watercolours

"Masquerade" - 1-inch Penny People

the RULES of de game

1 Please ad the logo on your blog

2 Place a link to the person from whom you received the award.

3 nominate at least 7 or more blogs

4 put the links to those blogs on your blog

5 leave a message on their blogs to tell them they are the chosen ones

Nutcracker Giveaway!

2008-12-10T08:00:00.001-05:00

This ends tomorrow, Dec. 11!

Go to http://www.raechele.blogspot.com/ to enter to win one of my toothpick Nutcracker Christmas Ornaments!

These nutcrackers are made of toothpicks like most of my dolls, & hand-wrapped. His hat is fashioned out of clay, then covered in needlepoint thread. His face is my favorite part - it's made from tiny bits of colored cardstock that I've cut to make his mouth, nose, & eyes. His eyebrows are actually single strands of thread, stiffened.

Note: Although he is as charming as all princes should be, this Nutcracker will object if you actually try to crack a nut in his mouth. Please refrain.

Drumroll, please...

2008-12-08T10:01:00.003-05:00

We've reached the grand conclusion of the Toothpick Doll Tutorial! After cutting, glueing, curling, dressing, wrapping, designing, & creating, you now know how to make a toothpick doll! Congratulations! I want to see a picture!

You've mastered Toothpick Doll Basics! Next week's tutorial: Toothpick Doll Advanced...

Just kidding :) We'll start a little slower. Seriously, though - if you have questions or would like to know more about making toothpick dolls, ask! I'll be doing more tutorials, & can certainly fit your curiousity into the tutorial schedule.

And, as promised, I am giving away the toothpick doll I created during the tutorial. The winner is...

Jenn!

Please email me at angela@angelamichelledolls. Let me know your mailing address & if you'd like the doll mounted on a pinback or left plain. Please contact me by the end of the week!

Thanks to all who followed the tutorial - hope you had fun!

Toothpick Doll Tutorial #6: Finishing Touches

2008-12-06T13:37:00.006-05:00

Tutorial & Giveaway!

All this week, I'm doing a toothpick doll tutorial, & at the end, I'll give away my finished doll. To enter the giveaway, just leave a comment on any of the Tutorial blog posts. Since there's a new post every day this week, you can enter every day! I'll announce the winner on Monday, Dec. 8. Enjoy the tutorial! Oh, & take some pictures of your dolls - I want to see them!

Bows & Such: Finishing Touches

By now, your doll is clothed & has arms, a head - all those things that are fairly necessary in recognizing your work as a doll. Now comes the incredibly satisfying part of adding little finishing touches. Don't skip this part! It really makes your doll look finished & will take some of the attention off of your mishapen head (maybe).

(Editor's note: Yes, I chew my nails. When you get to the level where you're making things like this 1-inch Queen, you will, too. Fair warning.)

You can add all the finishes your imagination can come up with, well...within reason. You may want to draw the line at the blinking eyes or spinning head. If your imagination isn't working for one reason or another, ask the nearest child - they'll come up with enough suggestions to keep you busy! When I make dolls with my nieces & nephew, we add faces, roses, bows, hats, anything we can come up with (& I can make!) My two oldest nieces are making their own dolls by now, & wow, are they good! We're talking ball gowns with feather hairpieces, & elven archers.

For now, let's keep it simple - bows. Bows are beautiful, chic, trendy, & highly undervalued in haute couture. Not to mention, EASY! (Don't underestimate that last reason!) People ask me all the time how I make such tiny bows. This question has always struck me as odd, probably because of the answer - you start with a big bow. No, I have no interest in spending an obscene amount of time & adding immeasurably to my stress level by attempting to tie a 1/4 inch bow. Not happening. At least, not today. Just tie a bow, any size, then gently pull the ends until it's as teeny tiny as you like. Presto! Instant marvel! So go ahead, tie a few bows, add them wherever your doll would like, and...

TADAAAA!!! You have a toothpick doll, your very first. I'm so proud. Always, always, ALWAYS keep your first doll! Never give her away, sell her, misplace her, or chuck her out. I still have the very first doll I made from about 15 years ago, the pathetic little thing. She's got a special spot in my heart, not the least because she's absolutely hilarious to look at! Not saying that your first doll is a laughing matter, of course. But just in case she may someday derive a chuckle, keep her! It's fun to see where you've come from.

If you do decide to use this tutorial & make a doll, please send me a picture! I'd love to see your creativity. Not to mention it'll do my teacher-heart good. Hope you enjoyed the journey!

Leave a comment to enter the giveaway!

You can leave as many comments as you like, asking questions, making astute observations, etc., although your name only gets entered once every day. Yes, you can go back & comment on past days if you missed some!

You can enter the giveway up through Sunday, Dec. 7. On Monday, I'll draw a name & announce the winner. If you like, I'll mount the doll on a pinback. She'd be cute on a hoodie or cardigan, or on a totebag or bookbag. Check back Monday to see if you've won!

Toothpick Doll Tutorial #5: Toothpick Salon

2008-12-05T15:27:00.011-05:00

Tutorial & Giveaway!

All this week, I'm doing a toothpick doll tutorial, & at the end of the week, I'll give away my finished doll. To enter the giveaway, just leave a comment on any of the Tutorial blog posts. Since there's a new post every day this week, you can enter every day! I'll announce the winner on Monday, Dec. 8. Enjoy the tutorial! Oh, & take some pictures of your dolls - I want to see them!

Hairstyling in Miniature

Ok, have you gotten over the stress of making your first head? Good! Now let's cover it.

If you got really ambitious, you should have curls by now. If working on tiny things can leave you in a stressed-out, jittery mess, may I suggest you go with straight hair. Quite fashionable.
Regardless, you're going to begin the same way. Put down a line of glue that starts behind one ear, comes up across the forehead, & ends behind the other ear. (No, there are no actual ears. You're making a craft! If your imagination isn't on yet, now would be a good time to flip the switch.) You're basically tracing the doll's hairline. Now follow that line with your first piece of thread (see picture above). When using curly hair, you'll have to finagle the thread a tad to get it to lay down in a straight line. Again, straight hair is all the rage with beginner dolls. Perfect for preventing nervous breakdowns.

Take a deep breath, ya done good. Now do it again, & keep right on going until your doll is bald no more. You'll be pretty good at the glue, thread, glue, finagle, thread, deep breath, glue, thread routine.

Yay, she's done! Beauty like none other! The Mona Lisa's smile is now tinged with deep envy. Oh, alright, if you don't prefer the "windblown by a hurricane" look, we'll fix her hair...

Now comes my favorite part - hairstyling. Have fun with this - it's the only time you can guarantee a good hair day because you get to glue the hair in place! Maybe this is why I struggle with doing real hair. Give her a trim where needed, & just start glueing the hair down wherever you like. I cut a short snippet of curls & glued them in place for bangs on my gal.

Tomorrow: Finishing Touches!

translation: You're almost stinkin' done!

Leave a comment to enter the giveaway!

Toothpick Doll Tutorial #4: Finally a Head!

2008-12-04T11:00:00.001-05:00

Tutorial & Giveaway!

Just How Do You Make Those Heads?

This is probably the question I get asked most often. So now, just for you, I shall reveal the Secret of the Head. Take good notes.

Start your thread where your shoulders left off & wrap along the toothpick until you reach the end. From here on out, just wrap back & forth along that toothpick until you get a head-shape. Don't worry - there are pictures to follow! I'm not just leaving you with that.

TIP: When you get to the end of the toothpick (like in the picture above), put a little dot of glue there & use that to help secure the thread wrapping at the end. This small act will single-handedly save your sanity.

See in the picture above - you just wrap back & forth until you're satisfied. Where you need to, put a dab of glue to hold the thread in place. This takes practice! I give you full permission to let your very first doll be a conehead. Mine had a rather thin oval for a head - give yourself a break! Now, when you're finished, end of the thread at the back.

Don't get too excited - you're not done yet! Now it's time to seal the head.

Put some drops of glue around the top & chin of your head (well, your doll's head, then). With your finger, smooth the glue OVER THE ENTIRE HEAD. Try to do it in just a few smooth wipes, then let the head dry. The glue will dry clear.

WARNING: Failure to seal the head can result in your head popping off. If this happens to you, I will probably be able to hear your wretched wail from here. Don't let your head pop off!

NOW, you're done. Take a deep breath, your doll looks lovely! At this point, you should feel so proud of yourself that you don't even mind that your doll is as bald as a beach ball.

Tomorrow: Hairstyles in Miniature

But first - if you would like curly hair for your doll, there's one more step you need to do today. Wrap some thread around a toothpick & secure it with a small piece of tape. Soak it for about an hour or so & let it dry overnight. Tomorrow, you shall have curls. Be safe & wrap 3-4 toothpicks of hair to make sure you have enough. Make it 12 if you're going for the Rapunzel look. (Not recommended on your first doll, by the way!)

Leave a comment to enter the giveaway!

You can leave as many comments as you like, asking questions, making astute observations, etc., although your name only gets entered once every day you leave a comment. Yes, you can go back & comment on past days if you missed some!

Toothpick Doll Tutorial #3: A Shoulder to Lean On

2008-12-03T11:00:00.005-05:00

Tutorial & Giveaway!

Today is All About the Shoulders

Shoulders are tricky, fair warning! I'm going to give you some tips to make them easy & beautiful. Start your shoulder at the back of your doll, about 1/2 down from the neck. Glue the end of the thread in place between the arms.Now flip the doll over & put a light line of glue down both arms from the bottom of the shoulders up to the neck, like in the picture above. If you want a little added security, put a line of glue on the front as well. Don't get too glue-happy here - you don't want glue squishing out between the threads. Your doll will appreciate your restraint. Take your time & start wrapping the thread around to form the shoulders. Wrap up toward the neck. Try to get the wraps as close to each other as possible. The glue will go a long way towards making your thread stay in place, but you may need to press it in place some with your finger as well. Go slow, take your time, don't stress. If you end up with a messy spot on your shoulders, we'll stick a bow on it at the end. Oh, the wonderful power of bows!Keep wrapping up until you get to the neck. Wrap a couple times around the neck, then end the thread. Tada! You have shoulders! Go you.

Tomorrow: Turning the Spindly Head into a Real Head

Leave a comment to enter the giveaway!

Toothpick Doll Tutorial #2: A Dress & Some Arms

2008-12-02T11:00:00.005-05:00

Tutorial & Giveaway!

Starting the Dress

So, you have your supplies, you have your arms, you have a nicely glued & dry body - on to the outfit!

Glue the thread you want to use for the dress to the doll, just below the shoulders. (See the picture above). It helps to press the thread down with your thumb to get rid of any extra glue & secure the end of the thread. Now you're ready to clothe this doll!

Just start wrapping the thread around the doll, going toward the feet. Try to keep your wrapping pretty close together, so you don't end up with gaps in the doll's dress (how embarassing!)

To end off, just clip the thread & glue it down. I've ended mine shorter, because I want to add a stripe to the bottom of the dress. Now don't get too fashion-designer on your first doll, but go ahead & add a stripe or two if you'd like.

To do the arms, start the thread at the pointed end & wrap down to the hand. NOTE: You don't have to start the thread at the very tip of the point - you'll see I started about 1/4" down. That part will be covered by the shoulders, so save your eyes & patience! When both arms are done, glue them on.

Wonderful! Now set her aside & don't touch her! The arms will take a while to dry, so we'll pick back up tomorrow.

Tomorrow: Shoulders

Leave a comment to enter the giveaway!

Toothpick Doll Tutorial #1: Supplies & Bodies

2008-12-01T11:33:00.008-05:00

Tutorial & Giveaway!

Want to learn how to make dolls out of toothpicks? Stick around! All this week, I'm doing a Doll-Making Tutorial. At the end of the week, I'll be giving away my finished doll. To enter, simply comment on any of the Toothpick Doll Tutorial posts. There'll be a new post every day this week (Monday-Saturday), which means you can enter once every day. Next Monday, I'll announce the winner. On to the doll-making!

First Things First: Supplies

Yes, it does take more than toothpicks to make Toothpick Dolls. But not much.

You will need:
- Toothpicks

- Tacky Glue (or any white craft glue)

- Embroidery Floss (make sure you have colors for skin, hair, & a few colors for the outfit)

- A Pencil

- A ruler (any size)

- Scissors (I use two pairs - a big pair for cutting the toothpicks & a small pair for cutting the thread. You'll survive if you don't have a small pair, they're just easier to manage. About the big pair - promise me you'll cut your toothpicks with a nice, decent-size pair of scissors. Big scissors are easier to control when cutting toothpicks, & your fingers will thank you.)

Ok, go gather!

Toothpick Doll Anatomy

Pull out your ruler, toothpicks, scissors (BIG PAIR!) & pencil.

On two toothpicks, mark 2 inches from one end. These are the legs, nice & long. On one toothpick, mark 1 inch from each end. These are the arms - just throw away the middle part after you cut the arms. On one toothpick, mark 1 1/4 inch from one end. This is the torso & head. After you cut this piece, make another mark 5/8 inch from the cut end. This marks the head.

After you cut the toothpicks to size, put your little arms away someplace safe - we won't need them again until tomorrow. Glue the legs to the torso, like the picture below. Make sure the legs don't go above the mark, or you won't be able to make your head. Congratulations! You have a body! Now don't touch it again until all that white glue turns clear. You wouldn't want crooked legs!

Tomorrow: A Dress & Some Arms

Leave a comment to enter the giveaway!

The Herald of Spring is complete!

2008-11-14T10:14:00.005-05:00

He's painted, he's primed, he's grinning & he's ready for Spring! Too bad winter is just starting!

The Herald of Spring was a Round Robin Collaboration with doll artist KyEliza, from Etsy. She made the Herald himself, on his vintage spice tin. I made the Herald's mechanical insides, & the three little elves. We are both so proud of our little guy!

Here's a close-up of the three elves. Their job is to fix up the Herald after the long winter so he's ready to announce the Coming of Spring. Unfortunately, only one of them is actually working! Green Hat on the left here takes his job very seriously. He's found a gear that has popped off & lugging it back to its spot. Pink Hat over on the right tries, but he's rather clumsy! He was trying to fix a spring, & it popped off! So now he's stuck, dangling until someone can help him. That someone won't be little miss Yellow Hat in the center - there's a certain question she's been asking the daisies, & I'm afraid we're not going to get any work out of her for awhile!

So what happens to the Herald now? Well, he was only one of many collaborations going on this fall, in a challenge held by the Etsy Dolls & Miniatures Team. The other sets of partners have been busy combining their styles into one doll as well. As the challenge is wrapping up, I'll round up some photos of the other pieces. There are some creative partnerships going on! Stay tuned!

Miniatures on Martha Stewart!

2008-11-11T11:11:00.002-05:00

If you like dollhouse miniatures & Martha Stewart, have I got a good thing for you! Today (Tuesday, Nov. 11), Betsy Niederer of Custom Dolls, Houses, & Miniatures (CDHM) was featured on Martha. She had a teeny tiny Thanksgiving Dinner layout that perfectly matched the cover of Martha's latest magazine.
She showed how to make a Christmas Tree Ornament that looked like a miniature ceramic plate of Christmas cookies!
I am a member of CDHM, along with many very talented doll & miniature artists. Got coffee & some free time? Come check us out! Here's my gallery, or stop by the CDHM homepage.

Elf 3's Grand Entrance

2008-11-01T21:37:00.007-04:00

For Round Robin Collaboration: All 3 elves are here!

Here's the third member of the worker elves' party. The prince has stepped out of the shot for this one & no wonder - her hat isn't finished yet! It still looks a little odd, & the prince is a little too worried about bad press to be seen with her quite yet.

There! Hat done, shoes tipped, she's ready for work, if you can convince her to leave her flowers for a moment. There's a certain question she's been asking the daisies for a while now, & I'm afraid we're not going to get any work out of her just yet! Oh, look - the Prince has come back. You may want to cover your ears, though - as he may begin to serenade, as he's heard that all princes are supposed to do.

Next up: all three elves in place around the Herald's mechanical innards.

Day 2 of Elf-making

2008-11-01T11:25:00.005-04:00

For Round Robin Collaboration with KyEliza:

The final day (hopefully!) of Elf-making begins. I'm all set with my tools, a huge stack of candy corn (the kind with the pumpkins) & a massive Beijing Starbucks mug of Awake Tea (yes, it's legal!).

Well, the Princess & Jester have wandered off (so hard to keep their interest), but the Prince has hopped over to watch. Probably because this third little elf is a she - and a very opinionated she, too. I was going to dress her all in pink, but apparently this is not a pink sort of elf. I think I've convinced her to have a pink collar & belt, but we'll see.

Elf 2 in Full Costume

2008-10-31T19:28:00.003-04:00

For Round Robin Collaboration: The second Elf has arrived! He's a bit of a clumsy one - he'll be hanging off the end of a spring that has popped loose. Poor guy...he tries so hard to help!

Oh, the Jester is back! No doubt drawn out by the kind & caring nature of the Princess, or the fact that she has been known to whop him upside the head if he doesn't come when called. Ah, friendship. How sweet.
Stay tuned to meet the third little member of this elf party - coming up soon!

Elf 2 Peeks In

2008-10-31T15:31:00.003-04:00

For Round Robin Collaboration:

The second little elf in the series is making his way tentatively into the world. You'll notice the Jester has wandered off. Don't worry, he's not still sulking, his memory isn't that long (tiny head, tiny brain, tiny attention span). But the Penny Princess has been lured out to watch the proceedings, no doubt by this elf's cultured fashion sense (his use of pink).
The little green sticks are his legs, & the wee pink dots are his shoes (he'd better not lose one - I'm not making him another!). The string I'm holding in the photo is the beginning of his arms. It's actually 3 strands of 6-ply embroidery floss. One end is taped to the table, & I hold the other end while I glue a thin piece of wire to the strands. Can you see the wire? (Ok, squint!) I'll cover it with another 3 strands of floss, then roll it to form a circular tube. Presto! Arms.

Elf 1 Makes an Appearance

2008-10-31T11:16:00.007-04:00

Today is Elf Day for me - I'm making the three elves that will go into the Herald of Spring (see earlier posts to catch up!), & I'll be posting my progress all day long. Check back often! You never know what trouble a 1-inch elf can get into!
Here's the start of the 3 little elves who will be repairing the Herald of Spring (Round Robin collaboration with Kyeliza). Another little Jester I'm using for scale is looking rather disdainfully at the 3 heads before him. He doesn't remember that at one point he was just a head, too!

We're getting farther...the Jester has stuck around long enough to see this wee one get dressed in his purple & green striped tunic. Arms & legs are beginning, too. But it seems the Jester does still have reason to laugh - this elf is bald, & has no cap! Elves without hat or hair are often laughed at in the world of Penny People, I'm afraid. I've yet to teach them otherwise.

Aha! Hair, real arms & legs, pointed shoes, and...well, the beginnings of a cap. Apparently the elf doesn't feel quite presentable yet - you'll see he's turned away from the prying eyes of the camera, & is staying out of eyesight of that opinionated Jester.

He's here, he's here! Now, where did that Jester go? Probably off sulking because he doesn't have a daisy belt buckle. Oh, well - One elf, ready to work! He's all set with a tiny gear he's trying to find the perfect spot for. Unfortunately, he's the only elf that will actually be working, as you'll see. His two companions to come may be more trouble than help in getting the Herald of Spring oiled & primed to make his big announcement!

So, a Nutcracker, St. Nick & an Angel walk into...

2008-10-28T19:30:00.010-04:00

my Etsy shop! Were you expecting a different answer? Sorry, family-friendly blog :) But you're welcome to visit Angela Michelle Dolls on Etsy to pay them a visit!

Each ornament (or pin, as suits your fancy) is made from toothpicks, with a special holiday twist. The Nutcracker has his classic face & beard, his facial features hand-cut & put in place with a toothpick as my tool! Old World St. Nick has a Christmas Red cloak, extra fluffy beard, and wee pointed cap. The Angel holds a miniature handmade holly wreath. Her wings are my favorite part - they're made from Angelina fibers, a special fiber that bonds to itself when heated. The lights show through them beautifully!
So please, step inside out of the cold & enjoy the dolls!

On Voting & Elves

2008-10-27T19:47:00.005-04:00

I'm wearing a sticker with a peach on it, proclaiming "I'm a Georgia Voter!" We were able to vote early in my state (Yay Georgia!), & I've never seen such numbers of people out to vote! Maybe it's because I grew up as a military kid, maybe it's because I've travelled quite a bit, but hitting the button to cast my ballot always makes me stand up a little taller & appreciate my country a little more. Whatever your opinion is, get out & express it! Go vote & wear your sticker proudly!

OK, on to the Herald. Ky has sent me her piece, which means I've got this joyful little fellow sitting on my desk with no innards. That would be my part. Which is how I ended up in the local hardware store, contemplating if hex nuts or stop nuts have more intrinsic beauty to them. There are a lot of fun things in hardware stores! No clue what other people do with them, but I've got everything I need to build the Herald's mechanical innards.

Here are my sketches for the three little elves that will be tuning up the mechanics on the inside of the Herald. Each elf will be one inch tall. I've got work to do!

A First Look at the Herald of Spring

2008-10-26T17:11:00.007-04:00

Ever wondered how a doll begins?

Kyeliza's sketch of the Herald of Spring, our Round Robin collaboration.

Her completed piece - isn't he great! Notice his polka dot sleeves & the wonderful hat! Ky's ability to do faces is just amazing - he's so jovial!

So, now I have this incredible piece of artwork sitting on my workdesk, waiting for me to add my bit. Talk about pressure! Want to see how he turns out in the end? I'll be posting my sketches tomorrow, & the work I've started.

Round Robin - The Herald of Spring

2008-10-25T19:40:00.013-04:00

The Etsy Dolls & Miniatures Team is holding a Round Robin event! We've each been paired with other Dolls & Miniatures artists to make a piece together to celebrate Spring (yes, we know it's fall - we're planning early!).

My partner is the wonderfully talented Kyeliza, who makes whimsical dolls out of vintage spice tins. You have got to check these out - they're incredible!

So how do Spice Dolls and Toothpick Dolls go together in a collaboration? Not sure. But Spice Dolls & Penny People go together beautifully! Our piece is "The Herald of Spring." He'll be one of Ky's spice dolls with the front of the tin cut out to reveal his mechanical innards - gears, springs, cogs, the works! Tiny 1" Penny People will be industriously at work, oiling & cleaning the gears to prepare the Herald for his big Announcement of spring's arrival. He's the Herald of Spring, showing his springs!

Keep watching for sketches, progress photos, and the finished product!

Oh, and if you haven't stopped by Etsy's shiny new Dolls & Miniatures category, make yourself a cup of tea & head on over! There are some quite talented artists running around in there!

In Progress: Beaded Evening Gown

2008-09-23T16:58:00.001-04:00

This poor doll has been so patient. She's been in progress for well over a year now, watching as Penny People, Dolled Up Photo Frames, and other projects spring up around her. She will get finished, though, and hopefully soon.
See the fringe on her gown? Well, that thing is one reason she's sat on the shelf for so long. See, each strand in that intricate fringe is beaded separately and individually glued in place to ensure that perfectly even edge that rises up to a point in front. If she weren't so particular about the placement of those tiny little beads, she might be finished by now. But she is, and so she's not.
Her bodice separates her from other dolls I've done in the past as well. It's covered in several pieces of black lace, carefully cut & placed to show off the floral motif. Between that, her satin gown & her beaded fringe, she may be waiting just a little longer until I have both the time & energy to finish her toilette. But then again, aren't all sophisticated ladies entitled to be fashionably late?

Yarrrr! It's Talk Like A Pirate Day!

2008-09-19T11:37:00.006-04:00

Arrrgh!

Pull out your eyepatch, dust off your tri-corner hat, & practice that swagger. It's Talk Like A Pirate Day!

Need to brush up on your lingo? Forgot the difference between Arrrrgh & Yarrrr? Never fear! Try a Pirate Dictionary.

Here are a few samples to get you started:

Ahoy! - "Hello!"

Avast! - derived from "hold fast". Stop and give attention.

Aye! - "Yes!"
Aye aye! - "I understand what you said and I will carry out your order!"

Having trouble getting into character? How about turning your name into a Pirate Name with a Pirate Name Generator? I'm Lady Felula the Forgetful. Hmmm...can I try that again?

Why, you may ask, should we bother with Talk Like A Pirate Day? Silly question! Why not?

Now, straighten that hat, wake up your parrot & have fun!

(The photos are from picture frames made exclusively to celebrate this silly day! Check them out at www.AngelaMichelleDolls.Etsy.com)

Rapunzel's Blonde Highlights

2008-09-08T11:57:00.007-04:00

By the time I finished making Rapunzel, I wanted to give her a haircut in the worst way. Personally, I'd think she'd be gorgeous bald. Ok, maybe not. But all that hair was definitely a challenge! Usually, I make curly hair by wrapping thread around a toothpick, soaking it, & removing it when it's dry. Of course, that wasn't good enough for Rapunzel. She was a high-maintenance gal. To get her look, I wrapped the thread around wire that was slightly smaller in diameter than a toothpick, to get smaller curls that would look better in volume. I wrapped thread around those wires for close to an hour to get enough curls, using two different colors of blonde to give her a more natural look.

If you look closely, you'll see that the curly tendrils that frame her face are smaller than the rest of her curls. I love that wispy look when small fly-away pieces escape and frame the face (clarification: I love it on dolls; I hate it when it happens on me!). To get that look, I made MORE curls, this time with a much smaller size of wire. Each of these curls had to be placed individually in particular spots to get that "the wind just did it" look.

To see more pictures of Rapunzel, stop by to visit her! It does get lonely in that tower...

Have you seen a doll on this blog or on my website that you'd like to know more about? Let me know! I'll feature her in a future post.

Could you use free kids craft projects?

2008-07-07T16:20:00.005-04:00

I know, I know. Miniature art dolls and free kids crafts projects don't normally combine. But in my world, there's nothing more natural. I grew up doing crafts. Plastic beads, pom-poms, construction paper - we had a loot of craft supplies that made sure the doors of our imaginations were always open. The result? You get used to a world of color, creativity, & possibility. Get kids creating, and who knows what they'll be able to come up with? For me, it led to the craft of dollmaking.

Need a free kids project? About once a month, I send out the Angela Michelle Dolls newsletter, an email newlsetter that contains a free kids craft project, fun trivia, and even an article on a behind-the-scenes technique for the Elegant Toothpick dolls (see image below in the post below). If you're looking for fun & low-budget kids' craft ideas, sign up! It's a free newsletter, and easy to join. Come by www.AngelaMichelleDolls.com, enter your name & email, and you're good to go.

Tomorrow (Tuesday), I'll be sending out July's newsletter, with the instructions for these fun foam door hangers. If you miss the newsletter & want the craft project, email me or leave a comment here & I'll shoot the instructions to you.

Why 'The Elegant Toothpick'?

2008-07-04T10:08:00.009-04:00

I am a dollmaker. You can make dolls out of all sorts of things - clay, cloth & porcelain are the usual suspects. I use toothpicks. Look closely at Rapunzel here. Imagine the head stripped down to a single toothpick. Under the dress are two spindly little toothpick legs (thank goodness for floor-length skirts). Each arm is two pieces of toothpick, attached to look bent at the elbow. Everything added to the toothpick skeleton: the head, the body structure, the gown, the hair, the flowers, is all embroidery floss, or thread. Yes, I'm nuts; yes, I love it.

I've been making toothpick dolls for about 15 years now, & would love to share some of the techniques I've come up with. Got a trace of insanity running through you? It really does help. If you'd like to learn, stick around. Toothpick dolls are tiny, fiddly, exasperating, & oh-so-fun.

Oh, by the way, there is an easier version. Toothpick Doll Lite. A little more basic, but with just as much personality. I teach this version to girls at Birthday Parties & other get-togethers. If you want to learn, this is what you start out with. Someday I'll post a photo of the first doll I ever made. The sad little thing. In the meantime, check out more photos of both kinds of dolls at http://www.angelamichelledolls.com/

Do you ever grow out of creativity?

2008-07-03T20:20:00.000-04:00

I love doing crafts with kids. One kid, a group of kids, the joy's the same. When a child finishes a craft project, and holds in her (or his!) hands something she's made herself, you can't beat that look. Do we ever grow out of that? That desire to make something, or the feeling you get when you finish a project? Teach a grown woman how to bead a necklace, and you'd think you were looking into the face of that child again.
Creativity builds self confidence - that pull to create is written into us. After all, we're made in the image of our Creator; is it any wonder we like to create?
So go make...something! Learn to bead, pull out the macrame from the waaay back of the closet, take a cake decorating class, sit down with some kids & color - just get creatin'!
And then send me a picture. This, I gotta see!