Have a Merry Christmas!

Bessie says so!

White Trash

 I actually started a cooking blog, somewhere.  

Making White Trash candy in Arkansas is pleasurable on all kinds of levels.

 However, the people I'm giving it to, I want to understand that the name

 is a whole 'Tongue in Cheek' kind of thing, 

So I made this tag 

and I'm hot-gluing it onto a  peg 

(that's a clothes pin to you) and clipping it to the cellophane bag.

And, if you're on my Christmas present list, you're getting a bag of this

For recipe, see here.

Merry Christmas.

Dollmakers on Thursday: Christmas is coming!

Ok, so...

There's no Dollmakers on Thursday this week, 

because Christmas is about a week away 

and you should see my 

Not Done Yet list....

However, here is a Christmas card, 

from me to you.

 Whoever you are.

Just print and fold. 

And, to you 

(whoever you are)

Please have a wonderful time,

 be happy, 

be sweet,

be safe.

A Marie

Ok, this isn't a picture of a Marie

. This is an Infanta

 Miss Possum, of Plush Possum Studio found her for me 

and she looked so sweet in this portrait 

I really wanted her on my Fairy Tree  for Christmas.

So, 

I printed her skirt on fabric

 (freezer  paper and inkjet  printer technique. 

I'll add one of the many fine tutorials as soon as I get a link)

then I gave her wings and ribbons and roses 

and glued her to a peg.

And now she's on my tree and I'm going to make some more!

Here. Make some yourself!

Dollmakers on Thursday: The Christmas Fairy

Us British, we're a secular lot. After all the drama with Henry VIII and the beheading, burnings, civil war and Guy Fawlkes, we've decided to just tone the whole thing down. We rarely talk about religion because it's not polite and, on the whole, we're pretty benevolent towards whatever it is eases your spirit.

So, what does that have to do with dolls, I hear you asking? (well, I don't obviously, I'm behind a keyboard in Arkansas and you are...wherever you are... And your mic's turned off)

When the Christmas Tree made it to England and became popular, it was crowned with an angel. The Empire of Victoria wasn't comfortable with that kind of thing and so the angel was quickly replaced with a fairy.

The fairy remains at the top of the Christmas Tree to this day. She's had many incarnations, sometimes she looks more angelic and sometimes she's a ballerina with wings, but she's always up there. 

That most famous of fairy artists, Cecily Mary Barker

depicted one in her Flower Fairy series,

her painting portraying a fairy doll 

that was just the prettiest ever.

And if you really want one, 

R John Wright, a highly respected and influential doll maker

has been busy on just that.

R John Wright's dolls are made of warm and tactile wool felt, 

with sweet faces and beautifully sewn accessories.

She's lovely but she may be too big for your Christmas Tree 

(or my pocket money).

How about something smaller?

When I was a kid and went to Woolworths 

they had the best Christmas Tree fairies. 

Like this

How I wanted one of these!

This fairy I found at the very lucky 

Making Good Use blog, here .

She made quite a haul of vintage Christmas goodies 

and this cute little thing was among them.

The other commonly available shape was this posing winged Ballerina fairy.

Nope. Didn't get one of these either.

 I was unable to persuade any grown up that had the money 

that I REALLY REALLY wanted one. 

I think that's a big part of why I make dolls now...

Now, with the Internet (I love it!)

there's all kinds of  fairies 

for all kinds of Christmases.

These are made by 

Wendy on Mulberry Musings. She's a girl after my own heart, with her 

whimsical Christmas Marie Antoinettes.

You can find them here, 

along with all sorts of delicious Rococo images, on her Etsy.

Or how about this sweet and pensive fairy, 

by Meenamorey of Deviant Art?

If you want to make your own, there's a tutorial here.

All very British so far.

 How about an American fairy, styled for Christmas?

This Candy Cane sweetie is by AmandaKathryn, on Deviant Art.

 I featured another of her dolls here on Steampunk Fairies.

I always have fairies on my tree.

 In fact,, the Christmas baubles come off on Twelth Night 

and the fairies remain on display all year.

A Christmas tree is a magical creation, full of sparkle and glitter,  

holding hopes and promises of delight.

Of course it should have fairies!

Look what I did!

My first doll on Etsy! 

No, no, I'm not expecting  it to actually sell!

But I got it there

Yay me!

Tutorial and giveaway: Christmas Garland

You know this thing is only days away, right?

No, I'm not ready yet, either,

but to help you,

 Crimson Heart Studios 

 is offering a garland tutorial 

and two  hand crafted garlands on her blog.

Hurry! Pop on over there and sign up!

Dollmakers on Thursday: The Father Christmas Figure

Why Father Christmas? 

 Partly because I'm British and Educated Middle Class (it's a burden, I know). There was a terse comment in a British magazine that said you could tell if someone was middle class because they called the chap in the red suit and boots with a sack of toys 'Father Christmas' and not Santa Claus or Santa. 

They were being snarky, too...

Either way, this seems the time to embrace a doll that is universally accepted by everyone who celebrates this season.  He is welcome in all forms, from the young and lusty giant that is the The Ghost of Christmas Present'

 to a jolly old elf shamelessly touting soda.

(You will have to mentally apply your own image here.

 I'm not fighting Coca Cola for copyright))

Here are some inspiring artist made dolls

Father Christmas William Bezek

This splendid fellow is, unfortunately, sold. 

And I'm not surprised. He's a dear.  

For more on how he was made, thee's some information here.

For more works by 

William Bezek, 

see his Etsy shop here, and for 

new works and 

general all round inspiration, see his blog, here.

There's a pretty AMAZING door wreath, 

which I've featured here.

You want something more rustic, more Prim? 

How about a Santa Claus stump doll?

This glorious chap is made by the very talented 

Bethann Scott at The Stitch Fiddler

if you want something very glamorous, 

how about these by Cynthia Finnerty.

A green one in scalamandre silk

And this one. I, personally, have a weakness

 for  Father Christmases who looks like 

Gandalf the White.

One more?

Here's  a golden one with a fairy.

Have you been good?

I hope so. 

Apparently. he makes this list and checks it twice!

I mean, how does he have the time?

It's Christmas!

Do you, maybe, prefer cloth dolls,

 and Santas you can hug?

Do you like your Father Christmases 

to induce a warm smile

or a chuckle?

How about cloth Santas you can make?

and treasure for years?

These are all made by the wonderfully talented Deanna Hogan 

The patterns for these are all available here. 

or on Deanna's Etsy,

if you're not sure what kind of Father Christmas you like, 

there's literally a line up here. 

From 

Papa Noel

To a Victorian Santa

How about a traditional Santa, for your 19th Century mantel display? 

These, made to traditional German methods by Two Sisters Studios, 

look like you found them in a locked chest of memories in your Great Aunt's attic.

These are some of my favourites.

 If you have your own, 

feel free to add to your comments.

 I'd love to see.

I have an ulterior motive for posting these.
Crafters who are anxious about making their own dolls

 will often venture out into making a Santa for Christmas decor.

 It's a doll everyone can make with confidence.

If you make a Santa, I'd love to see.

 If you make a Santa and decide you enjoyed it, 

branch out into other dolls. 

I'll hold your hand.

 I promise!