Frosie Dolls

The Hipster Dolls

2010-10-08T05:48:00.001-07:00

Ok... so I lied a bit when I said I'd have more hipster doll photos up asap. My computer screen broke, I went on holiday, the dog ate my camera etc. etc.
Anyway. Have these:

Doll number 31 (Sort of)

2010-08-02T09:45:00.000-07:00

What a fool I am. Forgot camera today (apparently it's still in the boyfriend's bag from the wedding party at the weekend.)
Ah well. Here's the hipster groom. I promise (again) to put proper photos up asap.

Doll number 30 'The bride wore American Apparel'

2010-07-30T12:00:00.000-07:00

So, I've been a bit of a dipstick and haven't been posting the photos properly. Sorry about that. Tomorrow's the final day of my doll-a-day project. However, I shall be at a wedding tomorrow afternoon so it's unlikely that I'll be able to post the doll up until Monday. I promise that I'll get some proper photos up of these cool cat hipsters on Monday. Maybe a group shot or two. Maybe it'll be a hipster wedding party. Maybe.

This here lass is a bride. She's sporting high-waisted leggings, a floral lace spandex leotard and a transparent skirt. What a slag. At least she looks happy.

Doll number 29

2010-07-29T10:41:00.000-07:00

Baaaah my camera ran out of battery just when I wanted to use it. I suppose the Hipstamatic pictures are quite fitting but they don't really show off the colours (the gold leggings especially) very well. Ah well. I'll redo tomorrow.
So she's the third in the hipster crew. I think we'd be friends maybe.

Doll number 28 (just a sneaky peek)

2010-07-28T11:07:00.000-07:00

I'm in a hurry because I'm going to the cinema! But here's a sneaky peek of today's doll. He's another hipster. Indoor sunglasses.

Doll number 27 (What a poser)

2010-07-27T10:24:00.000-07:00

I decided to make a hipster doll today. LATFH was a great research tool.
So here he is in all his glory.
PBR not included.

He's available in my Etsy shop starting...... nnnow!

http://www.etsy.com/listing/52448336/hipster-guy-doll

Doll number 26

2010-07-26T07:12:00.000-07:00

Today's doll is a new Pissy Fishwife. Yes, technically I designed her a while ago but she's the first doll from this batch (from the lovely thefabricpress.com) and she's a brand new, never made before colour. Lilac! That counts for something, surely? Also, I'm now putting ribbon loops on all new fishwives so that they can hang around your pad more easily.

Anyway, I'm in a hurry because I'm meeting friends to go and see Eclipse.

Twilight made me do it. (I know I'm not the only girl to have used this as an excuse.)

Right, skates on. Time to get home and get ready to see Edward... I mean Eclipse.

"Doll" numbers 24 and 25

2010-07-26T06:08:00.000-07:00

It was a busy weekend and I was sleepy.
They still count. I didn't lose.

Doll number 23

2010-07-23T07:04:00.001-07:00

So it's the end of the week... that's what went wrong here.
I apologise for this burlesque dancer's nose. It was a mistake. Nice basque though?

Doll number 22

2010-07-22T09:19:00.000-07:00

Well, this was supposed to be a burlesque doll (hence the sculptural boobs) but it turned out a bit more culottes-ie than I intended.
Ah well, she's still a smouldering hottie, right?

Doll number 21

2010-07-21T09:50:00.000-07:00

Blurg. I don't feel very well today so this is a pretty basic doll. It illustrates quite nicely how I feel!

Doll number 20!

2010-07-20T11:46:00.000-07:00

To me, this looks like the face of somebody who went all out for the fancy dress party... only to find out that it wasn't fancy dress... that there wasn't even a party.

Awww. Silly, cross little kitten.

First flock of doll-a-day folk up in my Etsy shop!

2010-07-20T10:04:00.001-07:00

So, the first lot of these limited edition doll-a-day guys and dolls are up in my Etsy Shop. Feel free to go and take a wee look around and maybe even take one (or two... or three?) home!

Doll number 19

2010-07-19T11:16:00.000-07:00

Phwoar! Here's another moustachioed gentleman in a Victorian-style bathing suit.

He's a little uncomfortable about the amount of flesh on show but I think he's dealing with it pretty well.

Doll number 18 and a little family photo

2010-07-19T08:19:00.000-07:00

This tiny chap is doll number 18 and a 10p piece. For those of you that haven't seen a 10p, it makes the doll about 1cm tall. That's very small.

By day 18, I was pretty sleepy. This guy was made whilst in the car on the long trip home, in between naps.

Here's the Latitude lot all together. They had a great weekend but are a little scared of Alice Glass.

Dolls number 15, 16 and 17

2010-07-19T07:37:00.000-07:00

Latitude Festival was brilliant. The only trouble is that there's so much on, it was quite hard to find time for festival doll-making!

These dolls are, at best, minimalist and, at worst, lazy.

I was busy!

The above 'doll' was made the day I left, making it doll number 15. There was lots of last-minute packing to do so (s)he didn't really get a lot of time spend on her/him!

Above is little doll number 16. I made her at the campsite after breakfast and then took her to watch Laura Marling on the main stage. She wasn't blown away...

This wee fella is doll number 17. He got made whilst out and about. There's me sewing an arm on whilst waiting for the fantastic Standard Fare to come on.

More to come...

Doll number 14

2010-07-14T10:45:00.000-07:00

What we have here is Awkward Victorian Man. He's very conscious of how spindly his legs are in that swimsuit. Oh, and that his nipples are on show.

No much more to say.

Oh, other than that I managed to scab some tickets to Latitude festival, leaving tomorrow (super-whoop!) so I probably won't be posting any more dolls up until Monday.

Don't worry, doll-fans, I'll be taking my trusty sewing kit along. They can confiscate my scissors but they can't stop me from trying to make dolls out of plastic bottles and used plasters!

Doll number 13

2010-07-13T09:57:00.001-07:00

Today's dolly is pretty much the same as yesterday but with some slammin' lashes and a slighter physique (there's not much in it.)

May I present Mrs Squishy.

Doll number 12 (Where is this month going??)

2010-07-12T10:36:00.000-07:00

I bought som beautiful new fabric today. It's a linen/cotton mix and has a lovely texture. It's a bit of pain to make little dolls from due to the fact that it frays pretty badly...
Anyway, this little guy is made from the fabric and is very simple. He reminds me of a biscuit man with currants for eyes. That's probably just because I'm hungry. He's fun to squish.

Bless him. Look how wistful he looks in the last photo.

At least, I think that's wistfulness.

Maybe it's his sad 'stop squishing me... I don't like it' face.

Dolls number 10 and 11! (And a hectic weekend)

2010-07-12T01:48:00.000-07:00

The dolls for Saturday and Sunday are the tiniest so far. I had to simplify as I took a reduced sewing kit around with me. Most of the work was done whilst football was on (= a good time for me to work undistracted) and the dolls are completely hand-sewn.

I desperately tried to blog 'em yesterday but just couldn't figure out how to upload the photos from my phone. Ah well, better late than never, right?

Doll number 9 (And the weeeeekend!)

2010-07-09T08:18:00.000-07:00

I had plenty of fun making this super-saccharine mermaiden today. She's as pink as a sugar-mouse and I feel like I need to brush my teeth after making this.
Sweet.

Doll number 8

2010-07-08T07:33:00.000-07:00

Whoop whoop! Finished this one quite quickly today. This probably had something to do with not switching my computer on and checking emails, twitter etc.

Today's doll is a 1920's flapper in a beaded, fringed dress. She's got the same sort of finger-waved hair as yesterday's bathing belle and I sewed a string of beads into it for that deco look.

I probably should be putting something in for scale reference. If you're interested, she's 7 inches tall.

Doll number 7

2010-07-07T10:24:00.001-07:00

I tried out a couple of new things on this wee bather. She's sporting some rather cute (if poufy) bloomer shorts, made with shirring elastic. Also her hair is made from carded felt, glued into Marcelle waves. Fun!

Doll number 6

2010-07-06T11:09:00.001-07:00

I couldn't find the pattern I wanted to use for this today. I vaguely remember putting all my patterns together and putting them somewhere really clever. Somewhere where they would be all safe and together.
I wish I knew where that place was.
So I made this tattooed lady, based on an applique one I made a few years ago for a circus exhibition (photos tomorrow if you never met her.) This time round I didn't hand-sew all of the tattoos on, I used the freehand foot on my sewing machine :)
I quite like the way the tattoos worked out but I haven't exactly warmed to the doll. I'm making her a skirt and bandeau top. Let's see how I feel about her another tomorrow.

Doll number 5

2010-07-05T12:06:00.000-07:00

She's a mermaid. A cheeky one, too.

She's from a very simple one-piece pattern I made a while ago and decided to revisit.

I forgot to go home because I spent so long painting her scales. Also I can't see very well any more.

Doll number 4

2010-07-04T12:57:00.000-07:00

Here's doll number 4. I'm quite sleepy today (definitely not hungover... no.)

I think this doll says it all.

Doll number 3 (Also my birthdaaaay!)

2010-07-03T08:27:00.000-07:00

It's my birthday today! But, just for you, I made a doll today anyway.

She's quite simple and her hair is 'freestyle.'

(those are supposed to be hands, by the way.)

Right, off to the pub!

Doll number 2

2010-07-02T11:09:00.000-07:00

1. Yes, I was in a hurry.

2. Yes, I'm a bit scared of her too.

Doll number 1

2010-07-02T08:54:00.000-07:00

So here's doll number 1 of my 'doll-a-day' project! Shis is yesterday's doll so apologies for not posting her yesterday. Also, you may have noticed her state of undress. Whatever. It still counts.

Today's doll to be posted in a bit!

A doll a day! Throughout July!

2010-07-01T10:58:00.000-07:00

So I've decided to make a doll for every day of this month. The first doll, Miss 01/07 has been made but, here's the catch, I've left the camera lead at my studio and I am at home. This oversight means that you won't see her until tomorrow. I know, I know, boo hoo.

I would attempt a phone photo but my phone, held together with tape, isn't really up to the job. Ironically, the reason I'm not at my studio today, with aforementioned camera lead, is because I've been waiting in for a fancy new phone that didn't show up. Lame

Laters

Trying to make a non-terrifying doll for a baby.

2010-06-28T04:16:00.000-07:00

So it's my friend's baby's first birthday tomorrow and I wanted to make something to give to him at his party on Saturday. The first photo clearly demonstrates that I struggled to make a cute face and, instead, made the most terrifying doll I've ever made.

The other photos show the second doll I made. I went a lot simpler and, while I'm not 100% happy with it, baby seemed to think his face tasted pretty good. That's good enough for me.

I like how little the doll is and plan to work on the pattern a bit more and design some simple clothes for it. This doll is, clearly, dressed only for the beach.

Now... I wonder if adding eyelashes and long hair will help save the scary first doll?

New (slightly surprised-looking) doll!

2010-06-17T10:19:00.001-07:00

Ok so, yes, that's the same (one and only) dress that the other dolls were wearing and yes, that is a full ball of wool worn as a temporary wig and yes, she does look a little surprised/crazed. But that's good, right?
The fabric she's sitting on is what I'm planning to make her dress from and her mini-bloomers are made of a similarly-printed fabric in blue. To match her eyes! (quick additional photo-taking and uploading...)

See!

The rag doll crazies. I have them.

2010-06-16T11:17:00.000-07:00

Ok, so I've been driven half insane trying to get this rag doll pattern right and still don't feel that it's quite there. Above you can see the first prototype as 'finished' as she's going to be, with her little bunches and little felt shoes. Mark 2 is nearly finished, just needs her dress making. I think tarte au citron yellow will suit her. Mmm tarte au citron. I'm still trying to get the face right. It's tough because I've been embroidering it before sewing the head up and I can't tell exactly how that will look once the polyester filling goes in. I think her face is a bit big for her head but she's quite cute with her bunches. Tomorrow I'll finish her and carry on with the new face in the embroidery hoop. These babies are taking too long!

Dress finished... thank goodness.

2010-06-10T10:45:00.001-07:00

Well, it's taken a whole day of trial and error but I think I'm finally happy with the pattern for my rag doll's dress. My studio is pretty much trashed as a result of this. I've gone with a wrap-style dress that sticks out just enough to be girly. I didn't get the hair done today but I've swathed some felting wool over her so she doesn't look quite so bald as yesterday.
What do you think?

Rag doll prototype!

2010-06-09T11:53:00.000-07:00

I've been working on a new doll. A rag doll! These pictures show the prototype. I'm hoping to get her hair, shoes and dress done tomorrow. At the moment her features are painted but I'd like to try a bit of appliqué or embroidery to make them more child-friendly.

Some tweaks definitely needed but I'm quite pleased! It's always fun making new things.

Catch of the day: Pissy Fishwives!

2010-06-02T09:23:00.000-07:00

That's right! Pissy Fishwives are in! Above are some of the dolls just listed in my Etsy Shop. More to come over the next few days :)

sneaky peekie

2010-05-12T10:00:00.000-07:00

Oh go on then... just a little sneaky peek

Open Studio and these aggro sea-bags

2010-05-12T09:36:00.001-07:00

So the Pissy Fishwife fabric came back from Rosablue's www.thefabricpress.com and the dolls are now in various stages of completion. I'd take a photo but there's not really any space clear enough to take one! All this will change before the weekend though as I'm opening my studio as part of 'House' in Brighton (see crazy flyer below.) I'm at Blank Studios in Portslade (take the number 1 bus from Brighton centre) and I'll be selling my dolls, maybe showing some of my animation work and drinking lots of tea. Oh, I'm also making some wheat-free, dairy-free chocolate almond brownie drops, whatever those are. Come down and have a nosy and a chat. Longer letter later x

Long time, no sew

2010-03-01T06:36:00.000-08:00

Phew! It's been far too long since I last posted. I've been mainly concentrating on my animation and illustration work these past couple of months, see? Here's a rather crazy looking image I sent off to Spoonflower. It's a test swatch for a whole new batch of printed pissy fishwives I'm going to be making. Hopefully the colours will make more sense in print than they do on screen as they've been carefully chosen using Spoonflower's printed colour chart. The proof of the pudding is in the eating or don't over-egg the pudding or something. Definitely pudding.

Nearly Christmas!

2009-12-17T05:14:00.001-08:00

Well, the Open House and Studio was fun! It was lovely to meet some of the people interested in my work and have the chance to have a nosy around some other artists' workspaces. This is what my studio looked like whilst open:

A lot of my Christmas dolls have gone to new homes but I've still got plenty left. Today is that last day to order from my Etsy shop to arrive in the UK in time for Christmas! I've just put this new dollie up for sale, along with some others:

She's pretty cross.

And lastly but not leastly, I'm going to be a stallholder at the London Designer Makers' Christmas Sale on Saturday. It's at the St Aloysius Social Club near Euston from noon til 6pm. More details of this event on the flyer below and information about the sellers can be seen at their blog. I'll be situated next to the lovely Julia Pott and her lovely, ridiculous creations. See you there, right?

Open Studio!

2009-12-04T04:56:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow I'll be opening my studio, along with many other artists at Blank Studios. I'll be making and selling my dolls and you'll be allowed to come and nose round at my workspace. As if that isn't exciting enough, there will also be cake and mulled wine and the whole of Blank Gallery will be open for you to come and draw whatever you like on the walls. I've been doing some of my own drawing on the walls. Well, I painted a tree for my fairies to roost in. And no, that's not a paunch, that's my hot water bottle in my apron pocket to keep me warm. And yes, I know my glasses are silly but I broke and then lost my proper ones.

There's a map to the studio on the Blank website and my studio is number 7 + 8. I'll be in all of this weekend and some of next :)

Studio open: Saturday 5th + Sunday 6th Dec 12-5pm
and Saturday 12th + Sunday 13th 12-5pm

2009-11-30T09:05:00.000-08:00

My fairies are now on sale at 'The Laughing Dog,' a new shop on Brighton Marina that stocks primarily work from local artists and makers. Situated at 39 Marina Square, it's opposite the Christmas market and well worth a look if you're around that way. Did you say cinema/Christmas shopping combo? I think so.

Brighton Open Houses... it begins!

2009-11-28T02:29:00.000-08:00

Today is the first day of the Brighton Christmas Artists' Open Houses, when over 70 homes and venues open their doors as galleries for 2 or 3 weekends. This Christmas I'm involved with 2 different Open Houses, the first of which opens this fine, blustery day and the 2 following weekends. The house is called 'Art @ 73 - Nick Orsborn & Guest Artists.' I am one of those guests! The pictures above are of some of the dolls I'm selling there: Winter mermaids and Large Treetop Sulky Fairies. My screen-printed fairies will also feature with some great offers. There are more than 15 artists and makers exhibiting at number 73 Stanmer Villas. What I've seen so far is fantastic and I can personally recommend Carol Wilson's essential oil products. More details about this house can be seen at:

http://www.nickorsborn.com/news.html

The other venue I'm involved with is my studio in Portslade, where I make the dolls. I'll be opening that, along with all the other members of BLANK studio next weekend. There'll be all sorts going on, artwork, performances, cakes and an opportunity to come and draw on the gallery walls! More on that later.

More Sulky Fairies! (But smaller this time)

2009-11-26T08:18:00.000-08:00

Phew! It's been a busy couple of weeks. I've mostly been making these cantankerous little sprites. I tried working in a new way, using screen-printing, as hand-painting is really a bit too time-consuming for dolls as tiny as these. Here you can see a little bit about my working process.

Mr Mark Pavey at www.markmadethis.co.uk printed these ladies for me and I'm pretty chuffed with the result!

These dolls have started appearing in my Etsy shop: http://charmingrosie.etsy.com

Happy Sunday! New sulky fairy in the making.

2009-11-15T07:06:00.000-08:00

So today I've been working on a new big fairy in pink. She's about halfway there and she's possibly even more cross than the last one. Possibly.

Mermaid couple

2009-11-14T12:51:00.000-08:00

Ok! Her boyfriend is here and he's all cosy as well.

Christmas Mermaid number 1

2009-11-14T06:20:00.000-08:00

With all this cold, windy weather even mermaids have to wrap up warm. Here are some photos of my first Christmas mermaid. She's waiting for her boyfriend to arrive. Photos later!

Big Sulky Fairies

2009-11-12T06:05:00.000-08:00

First post! Hopefully first of many. Today I'm working on a new design. Well, it's a design I've used before in miniature and have now scaled up and added more detail. Here's the first completed one. Not sure what to call her. She's got a ribbon at the back so she can be tied to the top of the Christmas tree or the end of a bannister or the back of your head or whatever.