Monday, September 29, 2014

Mermaid Week - Adriana

Adriana - a gorgeous mermaid

Size of Doll: 25 inches
Designer: Red Hen Designs (Raewyn Parker)
Handmade by: Raewyn Parker


This doll is handmade by me in my New Zealand studio. She is a large sitting mermaid but needs to be propped up against a support (she will not sit independently).

She has a long quilted tail. She is wearing a little bra top. (The top and tail are trimmed with gorgeous organza and pearl trim. Her arms are thread jointed to the body and have posable fingers, elbow and wrist joints.

Her face is hand-painted. Her hair is yarns glued to her head. She is wearing earrings.

This art doll will be much admired in your home, or will be a favourite gift for a friend or family member.

The doll comes signed by the designer, with a laminated swing tag, which can be personalised with your name if you would like.

She is not a toy and is not suitable for children.

xx
Raewyn

Monday, February 3, 2014

Fairies & Ballerinas - my 'pretties'

Some fairies and ballerinas
Ella

Liana

Libby & LilyRose

Lavinia

 
xx

Thursday, January 30, 2014

Bubbles - a set of hanging mermaids

Bubbles - set of hanging mermaids - pattern


Quite quick to make.  Look great hanging on the wall.

xx





Tuesday, January 28, 2014

Krystal & Luke

a nice mer-people couple!

12 and 14 inches

Here's the pattern:




Here's some finished dolls:


I don't make any male mer-people...I have real difficulty with faces of men, and let's face it ..they don't sell - little girls want pink girls, not boys.  (Though in saying that, there are more than a few mermaid collectors who are interested in a pair.)

xx











Monday, January 27, 2014

Mermaid Magic - my first ever pattern!

Mermaid Magic - 2003!


Pattern for sale - still one of my most popular patterns
 
The dolls have remained basically the same.  They are still really popular at shows - little girls will just always love mermaids I guess, particularly of they are pink and sparkly!





Haha, none of these are pink and sparkly - I think I sold all those over Christmas!  My faces have changed somewhat, but the doll itself is the same.

xx

Sunday, January 26, 2014

Adriana - gorgeous mermaid doll

Adriana - a gorgeous mermaid



She has a long quilted tail. She is wearing a little bra top. (The top and tail are trimmed with gorgeous organza and pearl trim. Her arms are thread jointed to the body and have posable fingers, elbow and wrist joints. She has a little mermaid charm round her neck.

Her face is hand-painted. Her hair is multi coloured yarns glued to her head. She is wearing earrings.

xx

Thursday, January 23, 2014

Doll of the Day - Miss Street Beach Babe

Miss Street Beach Babe

Miss Street was my High School English teacher. She spoke clearly and crisply, her manner was elegant and aloof, and her teaching was dedicated and committed. As teenagers we often wondered about her life (if any) outside school and what she did after she retired. The MISS STREET COLLECTION of dolls revolves around these teenage considerations.


Miss Street - pattern available

 When she retired, I imagine Miss Street did some wonderful things, like begin jazz dance or ballet class; she soon became a star. And every year she went to the Fiji Islands, for some sun and warmth and to meet interesting people.


 
 




xx

Wednesday, January 22, 2014

Doll of the Day - Miss Street - Wonderful Wise Witch

Miss Street - Wonderful Wise Witch
22 inch mature character doll

Miss Street was my High School English teacher.  She spoke clearly and crisply, her manner was elegant and aloof, and her teaching was dedicated and committed.  As teenagers we often wondered about her life (if any) outside school and what she did after she retired.  The MISS STREET COLLECTION of dolls revolves around these teenage considerations.

 
Miss Street - witch
 
Miss Street Witch

Miss Street - Wise Witch/Fairy Godmother - pattern for sale
 


 

Miss Street was my very own Fairy Godmother or Wonderful Wise Witch…giving English lessons in the classroom, but also lessons about life…
 
xx

Tuesday, January 21, 2014

Doll of the Day - Viola

Viola - a Garden Circle Lady

Viola is one of the founding members of the GARDEN CIRCLE. She lives on a sizable farm not far from town. When she was younger, she maintained her extensive garden herself…now she maintains the annuals and leaves the rose garden, perennial borders, orchard, edible garden and lawns to her ‘man’. Viola is never seen without her pearls…’one can never go wrong with purple and pearls’.
Viola wearing a lavender dress


Viola wearing a purple dress



Viola pattern available



This is a gorgeous and fun cloth soft sculptured doll made in New Zealand by the designer. She has needle-sculpted face , and thread jointed arms with movable wrists, elbows, and knees. She can be posed in a variety of poses (and will not stand without a stand). She has painted shoes

She is wearing a dress with skirt and belt. Her hair is wool roving/sliver coiled into a bun. She is wearing spectacles, earrings and charm around her neck. (Her clothes are sewn onto the body and cannot be removed.) She has a hat on her head
xx
Raewyn

Monday, January 20, 2014

Doll of the Day - Rosalie

Rosalie -  a Garden Circle Lady

ROSALIE is one of the founding members of the GARDEN CIRCLE.  With her huge country garden full of roses and perennials, and vast gardening experience, she is often called upon to offer advice.  She has visited the great gardens of the world, and has a huge library of gardening books.  How she has time to maintain her large garden is often cause for idle speculation. Though she insists her ‘man’ is only there to mow her extensive lawns…
Rosalie - pattern for sale

Rosalie wearing blue


Rosalie wearing magenta

Rosalie wearing bright stripes

This is a gorgeous and fun cloth soft sculptured doll made in New Zealand by the designer. She has needle-sculpted face, and thread jointed arms with movable wrists, elbows, knees and ankles. She can be posed in a variety of poses (and will not stand without a stand). She has needle-sculpted toes and is wearing sandals that match her pants.

She is wearing 3/4 pants and a white singlet top. Her hair is wool roving/sliver coiled into a bun. She is wearing spectacles, earrings and a large charm round her neck. (The clothes are sewn onto the body and cannot be removed.)

xx

Sunday, January 19, 2014

Doll of the Day - Poppy

Poppy - a rather saucy Garden Circle Lady

Lots of ways to  alter this doll design.

Poppy - wearing  a floral outfit


Poppy - steampunk
Poppy - luscious in leopard print

Poppy - pattern available


Poppy - a Garden Circle Lady

Size of doll: 20 inch Garden Circle Lady
Designer: Raewyn Parker (Red Hen Designs)


THE GARDEN CIRCLE LADIES is a collection of ladies who get together fortnightly to discuss gardening and to view each other’s and other people’s gardens. They are a wide range of ladies with a wide range of garden interests and experience…some love formal rose gardens, some love wild cottage gardens, some love fruit trees, some love vegetables, some just love their house plants. It is the GARDEN CIRCLE which has brought them together…and it is friendship that will keep them together…

POPPY is a relative newcomer to the Garden Circle.  She lives in an apartment, has no garden, but is a great expert on the care maintenance and propagation of house plants.  No one is quite sure what she does during the day, and she always seems to be out at night...and at times her attire is downright inappropriate for a garden visit.  The ladies, however, have a genuine affection for her, and thoroughly enjoy her tales of exciting adventures - not to mention her houseplant advice.
xx

Thursday, January 16, 2014

Doll of the Day - Mrs Compton

Mrs Compton - pattern for sale


Mrs Compton - doll for sale

Size of Doll: 22 inches

THE GARDEN CIRCLE LADIES is a collection of ladies who get together fortnightly to discuss gardening and to view each other’s and other people’s gardens. They are a wide range of ladies with a wide range of garden interests and experience…some love formal rose gardens, some love wild cottage gardens, some love fruit trees, some love vegetables, some just love their house plants. It is the GARDEN CIRCLE which has brought them together…and it is friendship that will keep them together…
 
Mrs Compton, the Mayor’s wife, is one of the founding members of the GARDEN CIRCLE. She lives in a sizable heritage house in the centre of town. Mrs Compton takes her position as Mayor’s wife very seriously, always beautifully dressed with immaculate hair and make-up. Her passion is flower arranging, which she does for the church, civic receptions and weddings. She is often described as ‘haughty’ by those who don’t know her personally, but the Garden Circle describe her as ‘hard-working’ and a bit of a ‘hoot’, especially after a gin or two.
 
xx
 

Wednesday, January 15, 2014

Doll of the day - Lemony

Lemony - a Very Sour Garden Circle Lady

Lemony - Pattern available
Lemony in blue - doll for sale

Lemony in black - doll for sale

LEMONY is one of the founding members of the GARDEN CIRCLE. She lives in a small house in town, which sadly has only a small amount of room for a garden…unlike the large garden she had when she was married. Never one to waste space with ‘frivolous’ plants, her garden now consists of a few plants in terracotta pots…her favourites being the pair of lemon trees which stand guard on her porch.

xx

Tuesday, January 14, 2014

Doll of the day - Jean

Jean - a Garden Circle lady

Jean - Candyland

Jean - Cats
Jean - A Garden Circle Lady



Where would the GARDEN CIRCLE be without Jean???? She is always bright and cheerful, with a huge batch of muffins under her arm, and yet another glorious hat creation. She is always punctual, sometimes has one or two grandchildren holding on to her hand, and loves gardens. No one mentions the time that she confused liquid fertiliser with weed killer, and lost an entire crop of beans; nor the time that she had too much sherry at the GARDEN CIRCLE Christmas party….

This is a gorgeous and fun cloth soft sculptured doll made in New Zealand by the designer. She has needle-sculpted face , and thread jointed arms with movable wrists, elbows, and knees. She can be posed in a variety of poses (and will not stand without a stand). She has painted shoes.
 
She is wearing a dress with sleeves and has lovely lush boobs. Her hair is wool roving/sliver coiled into a bun. She is wearing spectacles, earrings and charm around her neck. (Her clothes are sewn onto the body and cannot be removed.)
 
xx
 

Monday, January 13, 2014

Doll of the Day - Ingeborg

Ingeborg - a Garden Circle Lady

THE GARDEN CIRCLE LADIES is a collection of ladies who get together fortnightly to discuss gardening and to view each other’s and other people’s gardens. They are a wide range of ladies with a wide range of garden interests and experience…some love formal rose gardens, some love wild cottage gardens, some love fruit trees, some love vegetables, some just love their house plants. It is the GARDEN CIRCLE which has brought them together…and it is friendship that will keep them together…
INGEBORG is originally from Germany and emigrated with her parents when she was a little girl after the war. While she embraced her new home, she still maintains a love for her home country. She joined the GARDEN CIRCLE after her own children had grown up, particularly with a desire to spread the word about the joy of sunflowers…and since then has written a book called ‘The Joy of Sunflowers’!!! It didn’t sell many copies, but all of the ladies have a copy on their bookshelves.

This is a gorgeous and fun cloth soft sculptured doll about 19 inches. She has needle-sculpted face with huge nose, and thread jointed arms with movable wrists, elbows, knees and ankles. She can be posed in a variety of poses (and will not stand without a stand). She has needle-sculpted toes.

She is wearing overalls with large sunflower charms and a floral cotton top.

Patterns and completed dolls are available.

xx

Ingeborg in bright sunflower overalls

Ingeborg in large sunflowers

Ingeborg pattern for sale

Sunday, January 12, 2014

Doll of the Day - Dorothy

Dorothy  - a Garden Circle Lady

THE GARDEN CIRCLE LADIES is a collection of ladies who get together fortnightly to discuss gardening and to view each other’s and other people’s gardens. They are a wide range of ladies with a wide range of garden interests and experience…some love formal rose gardens, some love wild cottage gardens, some love fruit trees, some love vegetables, some just love their house plants. It is the GARDEN CIRCLE which has brought them together…and it is friendship that will keep them together…

DOROTHY, affectionately known as ‘Little Dot’, leads a very full life. As well as supplying the neighbourhood and City Mission with vegetables from her huge vege patch, she is also on two school committees, runs a part-time craft business, tutors part-time, and runs a car load of children to and from sports and music practices most days of the week. Regardless of her busy schedule, she never misses the GARDEN CIRCLE, though she is often very late…


This is a gorgeous and fun cloth soft sculptured doll. She has needle-sculpted face and thread jointed arms with movable wrists, elbows, knees and ankles. She can be posed in a variety of poses (and will not stand without a stand). She has needle-sculpted toes.

She is wearing shorts with singlet top. Her hair is wool roving/sliver. She is wearing very cool sunglasses. (The clothes are sewn onto the body and cannot be removed.)

xx

Dorothy wearing yellow singlet and bright sunflower shorts

Dorothy wearing lavender singlet and floral shorts

Dorothy pattern for sale

 

Thursday, January 9, 2014

Dolls of the Day - Victor & Victoria Clowning Around

What fun!!! Victor and Victoria are joining the circus. These clowns are just lovely, and quick and easy to make.

xx

Victoria clown

Victor Clown

Wednesday, January 8, 2014

Dolls of the Day - Minnie and Victoria Witches

Great for Halloween or any time - my sweet witches.

xx
Victoria Witch

Minnie Witch