dollies + squirrels.

i have been crazy busy! recently, i was commissioned to make a very special keyhole bracelet with a fantastikal and old porcelain keyhole cover. it has since made its journey to a northern fairy land to live with Karin of GypsyEyesJewelry / LookingGlassHouse. please have a look-see at her lovely and amazingk frippery...it is over the top divine!



a few days ago i drove out to Schertz to procure a new Old dress form for myself, as Dolly is on holiday at the university modeling the gadjo disko dress until the semester ends, and i've been so sad without her. i haven't been able to photograph any new dresses or skirts since she departed and it was starting to drive me mad. i have another adjustable dress form, but she's modern and plastic and, although she's just what i need for sewing + draping, she's not much of a looker as far as modeling goes. so i am pleased to introduce dolly's counterpart, Mollie:

i paid more for her than i've ever paid for a dress form but it felt like the right thing to do. i found an add for her on craigslist.com and struck up a deal with the seller. when i first got her, she was covered with a strangely-colored and slightly dusty jersey knit fabric. i quickly went to work picking and tearing it from her paper-mache' body. once she was completely skinned i thought about decoupaging her with a light layer of white tissue paper, but ultimately decided to leave her in her original crusty, grungy state. i gave her a light spray of clear coat lacquer and then a little buff with some sandpaper to polish her up a bit.

below, you can see that the finish looks a bit like old, worn leather. i think it will compliment my frippery fantastikally, don't you?

moving on, this afternoon i noticed that a sprig of the coral vine had blossomed INside the porch. sort of seems like a very personal little bloom, no?

on the OUTside of the porch, the coral vine is really taking over! making its way all the way up the front gable of the house...

wouldn't it be wonderful if it reached the top and then made its way back down again?!

in the world of animal husbandry, we have released the squirrel babies! the boys took to the wild like the wind....but sweetie-girl has stuck close by.

we can feed her pecans by hand...she also loves apples and bread!

i just want to snorgle my nose in her little furry tummy!

next weekend is my last weekend at the san marcos farmer's market for the year...after that i will begin the Katinka Pinka Holiday "World" Tour, making my rounds to Oklahoma City for the Girlie Show and back around through a few austin venues before a winter break. watch the 'events' page on my website to see a continually updated list of when + where i will be peddling my wares! xoxo!