Friday, October 16, 2015

Witches in Fiction 2015… Death Rites and Remembrances


This year's 


is now live and lusty
and full of gifts and prizes.

Artwork by Sunshine Shelle

Get on your best besom
and fly over to Magaly's Blog
where you'll find all the links
to all the wonderful people taking part.



It's a great beginning to the
Samhain season,
the Halloween Holiday,
however you celebrate it.


I'm offering a tiny tea-for-two set,
all ready for tete-a-tetes and 
fortune tellings.





The Skull Tea Set through the
darkly delicious  eyes of the

Halloween is coming!

Blingee by me,

Witch and magic circle
Magic Circle



Saturday, October 3, 2015

It's Coming! Halloween!


It's nearly Halloween!

And that means



Perfect for a
Darkly Delicious Dolls'
Tea party.



New designs appearing
all the time.


Skulls and scary faces,
gothick grey and ghastly green.


Just don't drink out of them!


is now available in three colours.


Gothick Grey, Steampunk Salt Glaze
and  a tasteful Jasperware Blue,



for the more refined doll.



Also, pumpkin?

Who doesn't like pumpkin?



Jack O'Lantern sets, too.
Totally channeling Tim Burton.


Free USA shipping on all tea sets until Halloween.

(But if you want it for Halloween, 
you need to let me know.

These are made-to-order.)

Have a Happy Halloween!



Saturday, July 11, 2015

Mad Tea Party and a Rabbit/Cat Toy Tutorial!





This is a special year for all things



This is the 150th anniversary 
of the publication of



Hop on over to
and join in the fun.

The kettle's on!



I made an Alice doll for myself,

and I thought, maybe there were 
some other people 
who would like an Alice doll, too.

People like
 the White Rabbit


and the Cheshire Cat.


Obviously, a little paper clay art doll
 isn't a good toy
for a bunny or a cat.

We're going to make a little Alice doll
from some sisal twine.

Sisal twine is safe for cat and rabbit toys.

You need a ball of sisal twine,
a book and a pair of scissors.



 First, wrap the twine around the book ten times
cut off the end and slide off the book.


Then, wrap the twine across the book
five times, and slip off the book.


Take the longer piece of twine and tie off
where you want Alice's head to be.


Poke the shorter piece of twine through the long piece,
to make Alice's arms, and tie another stand of twine 
underneath, to make her chest.


Cut through all the loops at the opposite end to the head
and fluff them out, to make Alice's skirt.


Tie a nice fluffy piece of sisal twine through the top of 
Alice's head and separate the strands, 
to make Alice's long, blonde hair.


Here's your Alice!
Give to your kitty or bunny to enjoy!




(Yeah, I know. 
It does look a bit Blair Witch...
But, that's ok.
Now you know what to make 
your bunny for Halloween, too.)


And, as I always make
for the 
Mad Tea Party,
here is mine for  this year.


Tiptoeing through the topiary.


Lying in the clover.



She's very small, just ten inches tall.





On a side note, I'm
very
very
very
excited to tell you 
I've designed another book cover,



Thank you so much for visiting me
and taking tea
at this Wonderland
Mad Tea Party.

I'll be along to your blog,
some time this weekend.

Hugs!


Wednesday, July 8, 2015

Mad Tea Party

It's that time of year again!

You are cordially invited to this year's 


Hosted by the fabulous Vanessa
at A Fanciful Twist.

Sign on, join in,
have a cup of tea...

See you on Saturday 11th July!





Saturday, May 30, 2015

May Monster Madness






 I went for Steampunk.

The late Victorians were big on
the insect theme



and it's only a small step to
steampunk and animate these little beauties
into creations of exotically beautiful horror.

Here is a selection.


Creatures crafted from
discarded parts.




My friend, Miss Magpie's Steampunk Observer.


Lego Steampunk Scuttler.


Watch-part Insects from



Creation of a clockwork insect.

One of my favourite films
has a spectacularly unpleasant 
altered  flea.

See it here, with its trainer's forceps
adding a hypodermic needle.



The flea's view as it travels to its target.


And here, its mind-altering toxin takes effect.



Here is my own Surveillance Arthropod.

(Right now, it's under your couch,
taking notes in Morse code.)



And a how-to, if you want to make your own.


Thank you so much,
for sharing in
May Monster Madness!

If I haven't visited your blog yet,
I'm on my way.




Thursday, May 28, 2015

What I'm doing right now.


What am I doing?

Well, I'm making a
Mabel Bunt Action Figure.


Here she is, looking unusually introspective,
which probably means Lord Guise 
has said something complicated...



She'll get tavern wench gear, and a tiny sword!

It's a rare perk of being a writer and
a doll maker; I get to make
my own action figures.

No, she does not come with kung fu grip


Read about Mabel Bunt here.


And here is Oona.


She's an interesting girl,
with at least two opinions on everything...


...and rarely agrees with herself.


Also, she's a little intimidated
by all this sunshine...

Anyway, back to this week's commercial.
Everyone's favourite action figure.





Sunday, May 3, 2015

Mad for Hats? Welcome to Mad Hat Day

 Welcome to Debi's

Mad for Hats?

Make your own!


I found a wonderful pattern for 
doll-sized decorative hats on 

I love the pattern, 
but I don't use it for my dolls
because it's not  for commercial use,
which is fair.

But when I got an opportunity
to use the pattern for a Mad Hat
I was so excited!

Here is my 
Mad Hatter Mad Hat!


I took the basic pattern
and loaded up Tenniel's illustrations
into the crown and brim.

I then printed  it out on cardstock
and cut it out and glued it together.
Done!

(Original hat design  on A Field Journal )

I don't know if this image will print for you.
If not, you'll have to try the original blank
version on

But once you have the basic shape, 
you could print out the design on any 
coloured or pattered thin card.



The hat was done and ready for the best bit.


Trimming!


An Alice-style talking flower.


A lacy brim
(This is one of those fancy laser-cut
cupcake holders)


Ribbons and braid.



Anna Lee models for you.


A raven's feather.

(Because they're like a writing desk...)

Thank you so much, Debi,
for this fun party!

Back later to see everyone's hats.