Poppy

Little Poppy is lovely, and everyone loves her. But her head is in the clouds and she doesn't hear anything anyone says. She's dreaming of that man who she hasn't yet met. Always a little absent minded. Never able to focus on anything.

This little doll is my favorite yet. She turned out exactly as I'd hoped. I had little blue bachelor buttons I had planned on using. But, they seemed like a little much. I am quite proud of her, and will be sorry to see her go, when the time comes.

I had fun making her, and enjoyed being even more excited every step of the way. You can purchase her here. 

Lotus Asylum

Benjamin Blythe

Benjamin Blythe loves the girls he watches over. He strolls along the halls, checking on each one. The girls look forward to seeing him, he's very tall and mysterious. They don't know anything about him. He can be purchased here.


Benjamin Blythe is a unique sculpting experience, in that he didn't turn out even remotely like I planned. I planned to make a female doll as usual, but I did want to make it differently than usual. I wished to make a long face, longer body, and high eyelids. I did these things, but I didn't expect the doll to look like a boy.

Well, I discussed it with my husband, and he agreed that I should dress him like a gentleman. How could I resist something of a 19th century nature? So, I got started designing and sketching his clothes. The further along he came, the more pleased I was. You see, at first I was very disappointed with how he turned out. I will readily admit that he's not my best work. Yet, I put so many hours into the sculpting, I felt I had reached a point where there was nothing more I could do.

I love how he turned out, in the end.

Had this unexpected result occurred while making a custom doll, I would simply have made another one until I got it right. Every doll always has its own little personality, and has a place in the Asylum.

Stay tuned for my next doll, which will be themed in blues!


Lotus Asylum

Petra

I have finally started using a new kind of clay. A type that I've commonly read as highly recommended. I am very excited with the results.

Petra is terrified of spiders. Naturally, all spiders are welcome to make their homes in the various nooks and corners of the Lotus Asylum. The others are a little annoyed with Petra's constant outbursts. She has requested a transfer to a spider-free location.

I wanted to mention a few things about her wardrobe, in particular, her sleeves. I spent a great deal of time making these. When I considered what I would put on her arms, this idea just popped into my head, and I had to do it. I took some black velvet and hand stitched some black satin ribbon onto it in stripes. This gave them a very unique black-on-black, stripe look with two different textures. As for her two-toned silk dress, I made sure to give her darts to help with the shape of the breasts I gave her.

As for the spider in her hair, It was a complete after thought, to be honest. The expression on Petra's face resembled a fear of some sort, and I thought a spider would do well, here. Honestly, I really loved how the spider turned out, and I had the biggest smile on my face when I was finished.

This doll is the first of, hopefully, many to come with the same attention to expression and detail, as best as I'm able.

Petra can be purchased here, if you are interested. To see more of my dolls, you can visit the Lotus Asylum link below.

Lotus Asylum

The Lotus Asylum Bag

When someone would purchase a doll from me, I used to wrap them up in muslin and tie them up with jute twine, before packaging them up and sending them off. However, somewhat recently. . . say within the last two or three months or so, I started hand sewing these little muslin drawstring bags to put the dolls in before packaging. I think it almost gives a doll the feeling of "getting a present" even if you bought it for yourself. But, most of all, I enjoy making them. It's not that I don't have, or don't know how to use a sewing machine. It's that I find a sort of peaceful enjoyment in the business of hand sewing. These little bags can keep being made in my spare time indefinitely, so there is not much tedium in making them. Soon, I will be switching to butcher's twine rather than the jute, though. I think it's a little more elegant, and more of a staple for drawstring bags.

Normally, I would just keep on making and sending these little bags along with the dollies, and not say a word about them. But, yesterday, I started making a new one and got very excited. 

You see, about two weeks or so ago, I thought it might be a great idea to make my neat (as can be) little stitches in different colors, so there would be that unique little detail that was fun. I then proceeded to make a red one and a green one. I wasn't too excited about either, but I sold some dolls, so off they went. 

Last night, however, I ran out of the last of my white thread, so I decided to look through my bin and see what special colors I could find. I found a variegated thread that I bought at an antique shop last year in a box with a color I needed. I had never used this thread, so I thought I'd give it a try. I was very surprised at how cool it turned out. 

I do believe I will continue to make these little bags in this color. It's much too much fun not to.

Lotus Asylum

Juliette

Juliette is a walking contradiction. She is a pioneer woman with delusions of grandeur. She is a sensible, hard working girl who can make things happen and get things done. However, she seems to be under the impression that she's in charge of the asylum. It's exhausting, being delusional.

Juliette can be purchased here.

I had fun making this little dolly. I was inspired when I saw these two little "fat quarters" for quilting (I often buy these for my little dolly dresses) at the fabric store. I couldn't resist, even though I only had a few dollars to my name at the time. I had this thought of a little Susie Homemaker/Lucille Ball type girl. I even thought about giving her a story about too much time in the kitchen. . . maybe even make her the asylum cook. I have made some "faculty" dolls, before. Yet, as I continued to spend time with her, she began to speak to me in a different way. As I usually do with my dolls, I let my own feelings bleed into hers and, not that I have any delusions of grandeur (in fact, I rather think that would be an interesting altered state of mind to have), I do find myself in a strange state where I'm running around trying to make everyone's life easier, or make things right, if they're not. 

My father once said that I was a "pioneer woman," that I was good at making things work, making things happen. If something was not right, I found a way to make it so. And when push came to shove, I've always been good at getting things done. I felt that this dolly needed to have that in her, somewhere, and as she came together, I was very pleased with my work. Oh, of course, I don't think she's the best thing I've ever made, or even could make, but I am happy with her. . . more so even than I expected to be.

I look ever forward to the new options that will open up to me with the new clay that will soon arrive. I think there is a new world–even a new venture out there for me, and I plan to explore the expanse of life that lays ahead of me.


Lotus Asylum

Winter: Pandora's Box

If you live in the Northwest, perhaps you know about the process the soul goes through as the seasons change. As I'm aware that not everyone experiences the change of the seasons in the same way that we do, let me paint you a picture, if you're not from around here.

Mostly, the soul begins it's transformation as the summer begins to come to a close. We have survived that one heat wave sometime around August. It lasts for only one week, but since we're not acclimated to such warm weather, we feel the suffering anguish, and believe that it is quite possible we may die.

Around the time when a child's new school year begins, one starts to smell the crispness in the air, and feel the slightest cool breezes amongst the humid heat that has been looming for the last week or two. We see the slightest change of color on the leaves of the trees, and here there are many different colors and many trees have leaves so vibrant, it is difficult to believe possible. Yet, as the wind starts to blow stronger, and the air starts to become cooler, we revel in the feeling, as though we were standing on the top of some small rocky hillside, overlooking a valley. We imagine ourselves in that heaven that consists of throwing our hands out above our heads, closing our eyes, and becoming that free-spirited child that wishes they could live on that hillside forever, wind blowing in our snotty faces. We must cherish every moment of it, because it is the most beautiful, and yet lasts for so short a time. 

But, as the winter looms ever closer, our souls seem to join the nature of the season's change. We feel daunted by the coming cold which, in our minds, has become the dragon which must be slain inside that deep dark dungeon of impending doom. We look forward to the cold, the wind, maybe the snow (if we're lucky). Yet, when it comes, we become little hermits, closing ourselves up within our little houses, like scared helpless children who cower with their heads bent and hands clutching the back of their heads. 

If January manages to come around, perhaps we may see one day where blue sky has shown it's face along with the sun, and the clouds have slightly parted to the side. Maybe the rain that has plagued us for so long, is starting to dry up on the streets. We feel that glimmer of hope, as though we have witnessed that last little gift at the bottom of Pandora's box. Maybe, just maybe, we will see sunshine and warm weather up ahead, even though we do know that there must be that unrelenting shower of a canine and feline nature in the late spring. But, there is hope, and that one beautiful January day reminds us of that.

Lotus Asylum

Diamond Candles

Hello, everyone! I know it's been awhile since my last post. It has nothing to do with laziness, I assure you. I am thinking about this blog all the time. The truth is, I don't really like "trying to write something" when I, in fact, have nothing to write. Sometimes, I have a lot to say, and sometimes I don't. Today, I have something to say. Well, hey! It's Christmas Day!! Who doesn't have something to say on December 25th?

Today, my husband gave me the most unique present I've ever seen or heard of. Even more unusual is that I've never heard of it. It is something right up my alley, exactly my style, something I wouldn't be able to get enough of: A Diamond Candle.

If you don't know what this is, it's a 21 oz. candle (which comes in many intriguing scents), which comes with a ring inside. The idea is that you have to burn the candle in order to retrieve the ring. What is extra unique (and quite impressive) about this item, is that every candle comes with a ring which is valued at $10, $100, $1000, or $5000. Obviously, in order for the company to survive, both the $1000 and $5000 rings would have to be pretty rare, and therefor, whoever should come upon these, would have to be pretty darn lucky. 

Well, I was given one of these candles. Being one of the biggest lovers of surprises, this gift nearly killed me with excitement, when I found out that I had to burn it to find what was inside. Nevertheless, I was ready and willing to be completely patient. I lit the candle, and it smelled lovely, being scented Lavender Lemon. I waited and waited, trying to occupy myself, and then coming back to smell it, stare at it, and think about digging the ring out. I got lucky! The ring was quite close to the top of the candle. It only had to burn for about an hour before I was able to easily dig it out. I used a toothpick, and transfered it to a piece of paper. I really wasn't sure what to expect. I waited about two minutes and was surprised to find that the wax was quite cool, and even more surprisingly, very oily. I've touched the hot wax on many a burning candle and there was a decided difference between the waxiness of your usual candle, and the oiliness of this Diamond Candle. It was wrapped in foil, so I unwrapped it, feeling the extra "present" inside of the candle present I had. Inside the foil, was a tiny ziplock baggie with the ring inside. The wax being so oily, I felt that it was quite prudent to wash my hands and the baggie with warm water and soap, just in case wax should get in the ring when I opened it. 

So, I'm not a huge fan of pink, but I was very pleasantly surprised with how much I loved this ring. It was obviously a cheap $10 ring, yet I'm not so sure, I've spent a good $20 on many a ring that was not this well made and strong. I don't even care how much it is, it's unique and pretty. And even more surprisingly, it fits the "ring finger" on my right hand, perfectly.

What I came away with after enjoying this lovely gift, is that I can't have enough of them. I want more. It's not even the gamble of "will I get an expensive ring?" especially since I'm not stupid enough to think that it's very likely. It's the excitement of the surprise, the knowing that each ring is quite different and unique, that each time I buy one, I never know what I might get. I have recently discovered that you can even purchase one with paypal. Needless to say, I'll be buying another one for myself soon. It's way too fun of an experience not to. Next I'll be buying the scent of "Fresh Cut Grass."

Merry Christmas, and I sure hope you had a thrilling gift giving and receiving experience as well. I more than welcome you telling me what you got in the comments. Go ahead!!

Cheers!

Lotus Asylum