The Other City

Winter Snow

Another created thing totters unsteadily on soft feet through a world muffled in dust.  Born for snow and winter, the automaton forgets summer even as breathes in heat.  She travels deep into basements and tunnels searching for cool air.  Soon, the white hair her maker gave her fades into the twilight of the everlasting dust.  But peering through gratings, a flicker of memory makes her wash her hair and stare up into the night sky suddenly so full of falling stars.

This is Neve, the doll I previously alluded to.  She is 18 inches tall and is rather lovely, in my opinion.  She was featured in the second Cirque Voltaire show, althoug Bird definitely stole the show in that venue.  Neve is more suited to quite, domestic settings.  She is after all, only a doll and was designed to be loved in someone's home.  Fortunately for the both of us then, she sold last month.  These pictures were provided by her owner.

I continue to try to work out the pattern for my automaton series.  Although I am considering taking a break for an art piece I have in mind.  I have been reading about encephalitis lethargica again recently and it is making me want to do even more sleeping dolls.  I don't know what it is about sleepers that is so appealing but their spell is far from broken.  If anyone has any opinions about the automaton series, I would love to hear them.

Dilemma

I am working on a series of dolls in the correct size to wear American Girl doll clothing.  However, I tested a couple of my prototypes last night and I see now it will be very difficult to make their feet fit into the shoes.  I can get the length and width right, but then there is too much height.  I may be able to get them into the right size, but it may be easier to just say they can wear American Girl clothes but they need shoes made by me.  I can make a line of crocheted shoes with felt soles pretty easily, but I know other people make some really cool shoes for dolls in this size. 

So, does anyone have any opinions on this?  I'll have a couple of prototypes ready to show soon anyway. They will be pretty cool.  They will feature removable wigs and everything. 

 

Update- Strick that.  Removable wigs seem to use a prohibative amount of yarn, at least at this point.  I'll keep experimenting though

 

Automaton IV

She knows she is a made thing, not a creature born. She knows she does not breath or love or laugh. But also, she knows she is beautiful. And that is compensation enough for a heart that ticks or the long stillness of workshop days.

This is a crocheted doll intended for adults, but suitable for older children as well. She is in my automaton series of living dolls so she has pedestal feet rather than more human ones. She is 22 inches tall. Her hair is rooted and will not come out; it is half black and half navy blue, with lighter sparkly highlights. Her face and the gem in her chest are embroidered. The gem glows in the dark. She also features a wire armature that allows her elbows and knees to hold simple poses. She will be a good friend to you.

This is one of the newish pieces I completed during my time of silence.  There is a third automaton that came before her who sold before I could photograph her.  However, the person I sold her to has said she will send me pictures.  And the name of that piece.  I have begun to think of her as Hiver, though, which is French for winter.  I hope to be able to show her to you soon.

Otherwise, I have been working on a series of dolls which people can order on commission and pick the colours for, like those pretty Waldorf style dolls.  They will be the same size as American Girl dolls and so will be able to wear their clothes.  Also, I am thinking about more artistic pieces to try to pursue something in a gallery.  If I can get the nerve.  I am trying to shake off this silence in order to do so. 

I feel like I'm in artist drag, rather than being the real thing.  At least drag is fabulous.

Bad blogger is bad

Since my friend lost his mind and ceased to be my friend, a silence has descended upon me.  Since then, I do continue to make dolls but for some reason my ability to post them has diminished.  I have never been good at self promotion. 

But I shall do my best to change that.  Expect photographs of new dolls to come tomorrow.  I do know this is the only way out of the life that I seem trapped in now.  So I shall break my silence, even if it is hard.