The Other City

Discouragement

I keep meaning to work on some more still life type photos of the Gossamer Girls for you.  I don't know why I kind of dislike photography, but I have to get over that.  My partner encourages me to work on photostories with the Gossamers to generate interest.  I agree that is an excellent idea and I need to start.  I just need to forfeit the peace of of sitting and crocheting for a little while.  It is indeed fun.

At any rate, I have ordered a bunch of clothing for Emmaline for my birthday.  All made for American Girl dolls, but they fit her well.  I figure it would be cool to make and/or buy more clothing and photo props for the photo stories.  When I have finished my tiny house, there will be a little dolly room built on one end of my workspace just for this.  But I really need to set up a version here too.

Since I seem to be having trouble selling the Gossamer Girls, I wonder if there is anything different people would like?  Or perhaps I should do something as simple as move them to the Waldorf Doll section of Etsy. Waldorf dolls are wonderful, priced similarly to the Gossamers and seem to have a similar purpose.  I simply haven't because the Gossamers really are not Waldorf dolls.  But perhaps they have enough similarities.  Does anyone know?  I wish I knew someone else who was into dolls like this.

Gossamer Girl Store Grand Opening!

The Gossamer Girl shop is open!

 

All Gossamer Girl items will be here from now on, for a much more child friendly shopping experience.  My art dolls will appear at my original Etsy store. 

To celebrate this grand opening, use the coupon code "grand" for 20% off!  Just for you few, wonderful people who read my blog.

It is a great time to get yourself, or your child, a Gossamer Girl Doll!

Upcoming News!

In the very near future, I will be separating out my Gossamer Girls line from my art dolls.  I will have a different store for each, since the Gossamer Girls are sweeter and aimed more at children.  I am taking my art dolls in a much darker, more morbid direction and it seems like a good idea to keep them away from things marketed to children. 

I just have to create a logo and get the new shop set up for the Gossamer Girls and they will be live!  Until then, please feel free to continue to buy them from my original store.

The new store is simple called Gossamer Girl Dolls.

The old store will remain The Other City.

Hope this all will work!

Transcendental Maggot

I am returning to my original inspirations with a series of art dolls.  One of the ideas of the Gossamer Girls was that I would not need to constantly be making more of them, unless I had an order.  So I am freed up to work on promotion and art.  This Maggot is the first of the art doll pieces I have been truely pleased with. 

The phrase "Transcendental Maggot" is a reference to one of my favourite books of all time, Geek Love, by Katherine Dunn.  This book probably did more to make me who I am today than any other.  Save, perhaps Lord of the Rings.  I am glad to be returning to art that reminds me, however distantly, of this book.

I am really trying hard to move beyond cute dolls.  I feel I have begun with this piece, but I am nowhere near there yet.  I want to make you feel the way Saturn Devouring his Children by Goya makes you feel.  I want that horror, that sinking in the pit of your stomach.

Quick Update

I am 99% done with a new art doll that I'm pretty pleased with.  I keep trying to push my work out of cute and into more unsettling waters.  It is a challenge to do with crochet, but I plan to work polymer clay into it and that should help.  I am trying to put together art pieces that I am pleased with so I can start looking into a show. I really have to get better at this self-promotion thing.

In other news, this is a trailer for Caitlin R Kiernan's latest book.  I absolutely love it and her work is inspiring my work for my hypothetical show.  Maybe I want to be Albert Perrault in crochet.  I admit nothing.  Anyway, everyone should go read this book immediately.   I do hope it comes out in audio soon as well.

The Drowning Girl Trailer

Why could I not get that to embed?  Annoyed now.

Emmaline

This is Emmaline.  I had an idea for this colour scheme and she immediately began yelling to be made. I am so pleased with how she came out.  This is exactly what I wanted for the Gossamer Girls.  Her character is another automaton.  I do love my living dolls.  She likes soft, pretty things and being cared for.

Emmaline is probably the last Gossamer Girl I'm going to make for myself.  I have a good idea of how they are made, so I don't need to do any more prototypes.  Of course, I would love to make more for other people.

I am probably going to buy her clothing from some of the lovely American Girl clothing makers I've been finding on Etsy.  I have learned I don't enjoy making clothing as much as I do making dolls.  And of course, one of the intended advantages of the Gossamer Girls is to free me up a bit to focus on art dolls.  As long as I don't have an order.

I went to an art show put on by The Mad Tatters last weekend.  I didn't think I was going to get to go, but I did.  I'm so glad I was able to.  I've been having a hard time lately, but Brandan and Ellie are always so kind and encouraging.  I'm glad I know them.  Brandan is encouraging me to talk to The Plastic Chapel about having a show there. They have shown there a couple of times now.  So, I'm working on some new art doll pieces, trying to push beyond cute.  Cute is fine for the Gossamer Girls, but it's not what I want for my art. I am working on a large, hopefully pretty horrible piece now. Hopefully it will go well!

Gossamer Girl Clothing Ideas

There are some wonderful clothing sellers on Etsy that will fit your Gossamer Girl doll!  Here are just a few. Gossamer Girls seem to like historical outfits, from a variety of periods best.  But I am sure they would also enjoy a modern ensemble. I will keep adding to this list in the future.

Terri's Touch

Soft, historical dresses.

Jenny Wren's Dress Shop

Lovely use of color and pattern.

MegOri Girls Boutique

Lots of great shoes.  Theda has a pair of boots from here that look wonderful on her.

For All Time Designs

Beautiful outfits using vintage fabrics.  Also gorgeous doll quilts.

I will keep my eyes open for more people who make clothing in this size!

 

Degrees of Progress

So last week, my Etsy store had the best day ever.  I sold two dolls in the same day!  And I got good feedback for them.  I still get nervous about that, especially with my older work, which these were.  And then, I got an email from Ellis Ann at Thread asking for more work.  And she says I can keep a sample of my Gossamer Girls there, with a flyer with ordering information.  I am debating going to anothe store called Talulah Jones as well, once I get the flyers printed. 

We have run into some cash flow issues, here in The Other City.  It isn't too bad but we don't have much of an operating budget at the best of times.  I'm having a hard time finding the money for printing the flyers. At least, there is the free section of Craiglist for supplies for the tiny house.

If anyone is at all inclined to support handmade dolls, now is the time to commission your Gossamer Girl.  The Other City needs your help to grow.

Theda Goes to Work

 

Theda is wearing a peacock blue spaghetti strap dress, with black detailing.  It is perfect for your Gossamer Girl doll to wear to any more formal occasion like familial gatherings or evening just tea parties in the park.  It will also fit your American Girl dolls.  The dress is made of a combination of merino/acrylic and cotton yarn, and can be washed.

I had a hard time getting the colour to show up properly in these photographs.  It really is a lovely peacock blue.  I think I got it to look okay, after I messed with it in photoshop for a while. 

I need to get better at making clothing.  I want to make coats and hoods especially.  My next project will be a pair of overalls, which I do already know how to do.  I have lots of other art doll or soft sculpture ideas too, but right now I feel like I need to restock my shop after that banner day I had yesterday.

This dress is for sale on Etsy!

Theda, my dead little love

Theda has been inhabiting my head for a long time now.  This strange, lovely girl has rejected two BJD bodies before I decided to just make this body for her.  I don't know too much about her.  She was killed when she was thirteen, sometime during the Sixties.  Then, she came back.  Ressurected as a revenant.

She doesn't talk much. In fact, she may not be able to.  But she definitely has her own gothic style.  I was excited to be able to make her in the Gossamer Girl pattern, because she can wear American Girl clothing now. In fact, she is currently wearing boots from Megori Girls Boutique!  There are other things I hope to be able to get her in the future, but she will also work as a model.

Theda will not be for sale, as she rather means a lot to me.  She, and the other Gossamer Girls, represent pretty much exactly what I want to achieve with my play dolls.  However, you can order a Gossamer Girl of your very own at my Etsy store!

Rory

Rory is a strange little creature.  His short limbs and bobbly head give him a babyish look.  And his weird, mewling cries vary between adorable and unsettling.  He is the perfect companion for any little girl lost in The Other City.

Rory is 6 inches long and is made entirely of acrylic yarn, for durability and easy washing.  He features safety eyes, which will not come out.

I felt like making something small and cute and soft after I finished Theda.  And also something easy.  Rory has already been a comfort to me.  I hope he can be a comfort to you, too.

Rory is for sale on Etsy!

Bread!

Nothing very exciting going on.  My dolls continue to not sell, even on clearance.  So, to take my mind off it, I baked some wonderful smelling bread.  I used my usual Amish white bread recipe, but added cinnamon and nutmeg and an olive oil and sea salt crust.  I'm not sure how it will come out, but I usually enjoy the contrast of salty and sweet things. It smells absolutely wonderful.

Sale Time!

There is a clearance sale going on in my store right now!

Visit cayora.etsy.com to check it out!