My Three Little Men

Here are my three little men. Alex, my nephew Cooper and Jake. It's so funny to watch them all together because each are 4 years apart. Jake was born in Aug.1999, Alex in July 2003, and Coop July 2007. Apparently, my sister and I have a thing about being big, fat and pregnant in the blazing heat of the summer. We do everything the hardest way possible, it gives us character:) Well, it should be an interesting birthday year....two words 'Joint Party'.

Thinking of Spring

I know....we have a few more months of winter but a girl can dream, can't she? When I left the house this morning to take Jake to school, the birds were chirping like it was a warm spring day. I guess they were just showing their appreciation that it wasn't in the 20's like it has been the past few days. In honor of my little chirping birdies, I did this new little painting. I did some antiquing this weekend with my sister in-law and I found a few really good old books. both of which I used in this collage.
Well, enjoy your day and think spring!

Sweet Caroline

Here is my newest dollie. Her name is "Caroline".....named by my 4 yr. old son. I have no idea where he got the name from since we don't know anyone named Caroline. Another little Alex mystery:)
Her dress is made from another vintage handkerchief. I think they add such a delicate feel to the doll because they already have fancy edges and detail. I know for a fact that this kerchief is well over 40 years old because it was my great grandmothers. I have so many hanging around I thought she would like to know that they were being put to good use.
I think I am going to put them in my shop some time this week so keep an eye out!

Meet Alice....

Ok, I did it! I finally hunkered down on this cold Sunday and started and completed this new little doll. Her body is made of stuffed muslin which I painted with acrylics and colored pencil. Her dress is made from a vintage handkerchief and some striped ribbon scraps I had leftover from my holiday gifts. I save everything! I even sewed her a little crinoline to give her dress a little more poof. I'm not quite sure what I'm going to do with her yet. I think she needs a mushroom and a tea cup and saucer. Well, I gotta go and clean up my rather large mess.
Have a great week!

A Movie you have to see!

I forgot to ask you all if you have seen "Atonement" yet? I made my sister come with me a couple of weeks ago to see it and it was wonderful. It was worth it just for the art of the film! Joe Wright makes the most beautiful films....it truly is like watching a painting! He also did "Pride and Prejudice"... maybe you saw that? In the film there is a lot of smoking (it takes place in the 30's), and the way he incorporates the smoke into the mood of the scene is amazing! The ending is a bit of a bummer but if you have already read the book (also wonderful) it won't be a surprise. I read a review last week about the then upcoming Golden Globes and the writer wrote something about there being many people who think that "Atonement" is the best movie of the year, and the rest are men. I thought it was a very funny quote:) I guess most men don't like love stories. You would think they would smarten up, go to a movie, and learn a little something about romance, right?
Have a great weekend!

Success!

Ok, this isn't the kind of doll I had in mind but it's a start. At least my machine is up and running! The new dolls I am planning are going to have arms and legs and clothing:) It may take me a year or so at the rate I'm going. I'll keep you posted!

Mommy Brag

Hello Friends,
I'm in a bit of a slump. I am inspired to work on dolls. I have lots of ideas, all of the necessary supplies, etc......yet I can't get myself to clean up my work area in order to take out my sewing things! I keep going in there looking around at all of the junk scattered about and then I walk back out, overwhelmed! I know what my major source of anxiety is. I need to take a trip to IKEA and get new furniture and organize my studio. I need everything to have a place, a wall to hang my finished but unsold pieces, a work table that won't allow me to keep stacking more and more junk on! (does this table exist?) HELP!!!!
OK, my rant is over...I feel better, thanks:)
I wanted to take a moment to brag about my wonderful, sweet little boys. My little one, Alex slept over his Grandma's last night and I missed him terribly. He is the cuddly, kissy one out of the two and I love it. He told me recently that he didn't want to get big because then he wouldn't be able to hug me. Of course I explained that no matter how big he got, he would always get hugs from mom. My eight year old Jake is such a smart little guy that I'm in awe of him. Our school system has a website where we can check his grades and so far he has straight A's. This is such a thrill for me because I always struggled in school and I'm so happy it doesn't seem to be a problem for him. My third boy, my husband, is super private and would probably pop a vein if I gave up any info. on him. I'll just say that he's a great guy and a terrific dad.
Enough about us!
I hope you all have a great day!

Changing Gears!

Hello Friends,
I am posting a photo of my latest little girlie. I call her Rose..... for obvious reasons.
Right now, my boys are visiting friends so I am going to clean up my studio and get ready to make some dolls. I haven't made any since before Christmas so I feel like I need a little bit of a change. I hope to list them in my shop sometime next week. Stay posted and I will let you know the exact date!
Have a great day!

Custom Painting Completed

Hello Friends,

Here is a photo of my most recent custom painting. I'm so pleased with how it came out! As you can see, it changed a bit from the original sketch and that is what custom is all about. Please let me know what you think!

Goodmorning!

Hello Friends,
I just came back from my morning walk and I thought since I was being such a good girl, I would stop and post a little about what I am doing these days.
I have had several clients over the past few months ask me to do custom art for them. So I am thinking of creating a website just for the "Custom" art. I will still be doing my own little whimsical things and selling them on Etsy because if I didn't, I'd go insane. I love to do custom art but it feels good to get the stuff out of my head and on paper, canvas...whatever I get my hands on. So I will be employing the delightful skills of my sister to create a new website for me and I will let you know when it's ready! I'm very excited!
Also, as I have probably told you before, I love books. Especially Jane Austen novels! Anything filled with romance and drama. Some of my other favorites are Little Women, To Kill a Mockingbird, Circle of Friends....I could go on forever. Anyway, I have read these books so many times I feel like the characters are my friends:) So, another project I am planning to work on of "Dolls of Literature" . I want to make hand painted art dolls after all of my favorite
characters. I think my first set will be Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy from Little Women.
Well, that's what has been rattling around my head for a while so we'll see what happens!
Have a great day!

Hello!

I received a custom order yesterday! It's my first since I posted the new service in my shop. I am attaching the sketch that I did and later I will post the finished piece. It's of the clients children and their little dog. I'm very excited and I can't wait to get started.
Talk to you soon!

I'm Back!

Hello Friends,
I'm sorry I haven't been so good at posting so far this year. I had to take a bit of a break and get my post holiday life together:) Decorations are away, new toys are almost away....still need to "Relocate" old toys. I am still finding random Christmas odds and ends that I missed while de-decorating. I hate that! Every year I try to comb the rooms with a careful eye and spot the stray that will make me climb, once again, into the creepy attic but I always seem to miss one. This year it was an Elf hat that my son wore for "Crazy Hat Day" at school.
I have added a little message to my Etsy shop promoting my Custom order feature. I will paint your children, your pets, your children with your pets.....you tell me what you want and I send you a sketch for your approval and then I complete the painting! Easy and very affordable, especially for a one of a kind custom piece.
I am attaching a photo of one of my latest paintings that is available in my Etsy shop.
I am happy to announce that I have gone a whole week without pigging out on cookies or candy! Big big achievement for me! As I sit here,I am dying to dig into the candy jar with the loot from my kid's stockings! Will power isn't something I have much of but I keep looking at the photo's my sister and I took and it helps. So so sad.
Anyway, I promise to try and be more regular with my posts to let you know what's going on at The Vintage Sister Studio.
Have a great night:)

A New Year, A New Diet!

Ok folks,
This is it! I'm making it public as a last ditch effort to get my fat ass in gear and lose some weight. I know I don't usually use bad language in my blog but this is serious stuff! I am not "overweight" according to all of the charts I've been checking but the pounds have been creeping on since I quit working full time 4 1/2 years ago and it's GOT TO STOP! My sister and I are going to do "before" bikini shots tomorrow! Oh the Horror!!!!!! We thought that if we did pictures, we would be so mortified that we will be forced to be motivated. At least Mandy has an excuse, she just had a baby in July! I on the other hand have a sweet tooth the size of my entire mouth and would much rather have a chocolate chip cookie and a cup of tea than a real meal any day.
Mandy and I joined the Self Diet Club and after I entered all of my info, it said that I could have 2,670 calories a day. At first I thought "Wow, this is going to be easy!" Then I thought "Wait a minute, that doesn't sound right" So when I checked my info., not only did I enter that I wanted to GAIN 1 pound a month, I also entered that I was native american, which I am not. So now whenever I email my sister I sign it "Little Flat Foot" and she signs hers "Big Bottom".
So, I will be keeping you up to date on my "Life Style Change" (because that is what you call a diet these days) as well as my art!