My latest happenings- PANTALONE

I hope for you who celebrate, you had a wonderful Thanksgiving........here in Australia we don't celebrate but I'm very thankful for my family and friends and my life...........

I was quite busy with end of year stuff and designing my latest project, PANTALONE,

(pron: PUNT-A-LON-Y) another character from Commedia D'Arte- http://www.mmunzonedesigns.com/page6.html

He is very rich fellow, but mean and grumpy, a bit like Scrooge, he carries his money bag and a small sword and mask.

Well, until yesterday morning when I had a fall and broke my elbow, now I'm so fustrated I can't do much with one hand but type, oh well it will be all right........
Anyway, he is almost finished, just need to add the finishing touches, I want to share some pics of him so far.
I have made a mask for him which he will hold in his hand.

Tell me what you think of him.

Cheers, Michelle

LATEST WORKSHOP- THE ENCHANTED TREE

My 'THE ENCHANTED TREE' WORKSHOP  has begun and there is still time to join in.
It is a Free standing, TREE- Height 15” (38cm), with 2 Fairies- IRIS and baby, ERIN in 2 sizes. This is a Workshop is divided into 6 Lessons for the intermediatte doll maker.
The workshop contains clear instructions, all supported by many drawings and hundreds of clear, full colour photos along the way. You will be shown how to build the wire armature for the tree, make the stand, how to paint and attach the bark, how to make the gorgeous leaves and transform your tree and how to make and dress the fairies.

 

I will answer all questions you have during the workshop and long after the class is over. You can work at your own pace, while you make this magical piece. To find out more click on- http://clothdolls.ning.com

NEW PATTERN -CHRISTMAS ELVES- PIPPA & OLIVER

My Christmas Elves- Pippa & Oliver are now available as a pattern (and a E-Pattern).

Their height is 39 cm (15 ½"), they have needle sculptured faces, they are richly embellished girl & boy elves.

They have wired legs and fingers. The pattern has instructions for elves, 2 outfits, accessories, decorating & mounting dolls on stand. LEVEL-Beginner- Intermediate

Here are some pics. I'm really pleased in how they turned out and I love the stand, what do you think?

Apart from creating little characters, a lot of you my know, life has been a little hectic lately with my son Robert is in hospital, got his hip replacement, he is improving so much everyday, when he had the op on Tues (Oct.19) they gave him the option of having full knockout or an epidural, he chose epidural.........he described every detail of the 3 hr op, from the drilling, sawing & hammering to seeing the bone they cut off.............gives me the shivers.

First few days were hard for him, now he is getting stronger and the pain killers have kicked in, he has been pushing himself to walk (with crutches) they are amazed at how well he's doing, he just wants to get out of there.

NEW CHRISTMAS ELVES- PIPPA & OLIVER

I've just completed my NEW CHRISTMAS ELVES- PIPPA & OLIVER-
They are 2 very cute, TOY MAKER ELVES- 39cm (15 ½”) Tall.
 As you know my hubby and I have been doing a lot of work around the house, (never ends) well a few weeks ago we landscaped our front yard, we pulled out the jungle that was there and just left a few favourites, at the moment the new plants are small so it doesn't look like much.

They will brighten any home, both have Needle sculpted faces, wired fingers to hold toys and gifts, wired legs and they can be mounted on a stand.

This is my new pattern and E-pattern, it will be available in the next week or so..... 

Most of the new plants are roses, if you haven't guessed yet I love roses, a few are blooming already but when they grow a bit I will share more pics with you, are there any rose lovers out there?
Here is a plant we've had in the garden for about 10 years, it's an Australian native and is very drought resistant, I don't know it's name though, I was going to pull it out but it has put on such a show I couldn't do it..............last year it flowered for the 1st time, 1 long flower, this year it has 5!

ZODIACS DOLLS- BACK IN STOCK at ETSY

I've just completed a new set of my popular Zodiac dolls, I have been out of stock for quite a while, they are available at Etsy- http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=17643

Each doll is approx. 20cm (8") tall, the bodies are made with assorted cotton, rich fabrics & embellished with beads, sequins and braids & found objects.
Each doll has a description plaque, makes a wonderful gift or just reward yourself.

May be hung or placed on optional stand.

Also available is the pattern or E-pattern, email me at michelledolls2000@yahoo.com.au for information.

CONTESSA - COVER DOLL

I received  the latest issue of Soft Dolls & Animals last Friday, much to my surprise my Contessa made the cover.
The part 1 of her pattern is in this issue and the other half will be in the next issue.

I read the 'About the Artist' at the end of the project, I didn't realise how out of date it is, it said I have been designing for 7 yrs, really it's close to 12 and I have been married for almost 30 yrs, our kids are all adults now, we still have one cat but a different kitty.

SPRING is in the air..........

Wow less than 1 week left of Winter here in Australia, there are signs everywhere that Spring is almost here.
Today when I went for my daily walk I decided to take my camera, I live smack bang in the middle of suburbia but luckily there is a lot of greenery around my area.

The wattle  trees (Aussie native) are so yellow .....

and the blossoms so gorgeous, can't wait for my roses to bloom.

We began working on our front garden this week, I'll be sharing photos soon.

Creativily I am designing a new doll called Pantalone (pron: Punta-lone-i) my 4th character from Commedia D' Art, I will post a peek shot soon.

I'm also busy filling orders, especially for my Zodiac dolls, I love how each doll of each star sign is different.

PIZZA OVEN DONE!

Alleluia! The pizza oven finally done, except for the finishing touches.....doors to the storage section and tiles to the bench, but all the hard work is done, what a job, just in time for our son's 21st birthday next week, lit a small fire in the oven today, we have been told to gradually increase the temprature by increasing the fire size slowly, I wonder if we will eat pizza this week. 
Now for the big clean up then onto redesigning the front garden, that will have to be in a few weeks times. Maybe after the party I can bring my mind back to making dolls............for now you can still join one of my workshops below.

LATEST WEB WORKSHOPS

Just letting you know Gwynee Fennyman and Mr. Fennyman workshops started today, they promise to be very exciting projects.

Many techniques in both classes, to find out more click on- http://clothdolls.ning.com/

Hope you can join me.....

What I'm up to....

Just took some up to the minute photos of our pizza oven & new BBQ area, hubby and I (he is the official builder and I'm the measurer, line marker & level checker!) have been working on this for months, it seems and sometimes it feels like we're the blind leading the blind, but it looks like it's finally coming together nicely.........

On the doll making side of things, I am preparing the workshop for Gwynee Fennyman, stay tuned for details.

I have also started a new piece called the 'Time Keeper'.

GWYNEE FENNYMAN is here

I have put the finishing touches to my latest doll, here she is.............



Gwynee Fennyman is the wife of Mr Fennyman, she is an Elf from the Narlyan Forest, they have shared a life together for many years.......
Her face has a cloth overlay applied, with a sculptured features including eyelids, nose and mouth, her hands are also sculpted and she's holding a tiny bird.

Latest Activities

Can't believe we are halfway though April already, as usual everyday life has been hectic. I haven't done much designing in the past few months.
What I have been doing is working on Mrs Gwynee Fennyman, I just have to add the finishing touches and she will be complete, here is a quick peek. Here she is with Mr Fennyman....

For a while now my husband has wanted to build a outdoor pizza oven, for the last 2 years we've said we'll have it done for our son's 21st birthday, well that's in June,

so we finally made a start this week, so far we've knocked down half of the BBQ to make room for the pizza oven, here is the start of the base....

I have also began we doing our front yard, so far I have cut down unwanted plants, still a lot to do.....

I have been playing with photos, photoshop and another photo enhancing program, can't recall the name, I'll have to find it, it has the ability of turning a photo into a drawing and much more....

Here are some photos taken when we went for a holiday to Terrigal, on the Central Coast of N.S.W.

These are of the same photo-
I will put more pics up soon........

BLOSSOM PATTERN OUT NOW

I have finally completed my Blossom pattern and it is ready to purchase as a E-Pattern or as a paper version.

Email me at-

michelledolls2000@yahoo.com.au

She's a 23 cm ( 9”) cute little flower fairy,
quick to make and makes a great gift.

Her face is needle sculpted and her whole outfit is made from a few silk flowers and she has bead encrusted wings that are also quick to make.

Looks great sitting on a shelf, chair, log ( I found this one on the beach when we went on holidays last month) sit her on any little spot, she'll brighten your day.

WORKSHOPS currently running

I just want to tell you about my workshops that are running and accepting students right now..........

A Technique workshop-

PAPER CLAY over CLOTH at-

http://tinyurl.com/yft2qt3

FINEUS, gorgeous Elf at Cloth Doll Artistry- http://clothdolls.ning.com/page/fineus-by-michelle-munzone

I have a video on 'You Tube' on the Fineus workshop, for more details click on-http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0SCnqJUBVK4

I also have a video about some of my patterns up- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eXZSh9VH8PY

NOTE: The following workshop are still going and taking enrollments-

ANKARA- http://tinyurl.com/nbjsdl

NEEDLE SCULPTING- http://tinyurl.com/yzru5oy

APPLYING a CLOTH OVERLAY- http://tinyurl.com/yas34gc

Thank you for looking.....

Cheers, Michelle

the cat situation-

For anyone who is interested just want to update you on our kitty situation, as you know last August we lost our beautiful 13 yr Fluffy, after a few weeks my daughter got a new little cuddly friend- Poppy, I introduced her then, , we only had her for 2 months, when one afternoon she somehow broke off the bell on her collar and the wire holding the bell broke, she swallowed it and in a matter of minutes died....... we were so shocked, thought our luck with pets has changed.

But a while later we were ready for another kitty, we purchased Piccolo, who has been with us since November, (when I got his collar I made sure the bell could not un-attached) he is a very affectionate but very energetic little baby, here is PICCOLO..........climbing trees

RECENT MAGAZINES APPEARANCES

I received my copy of Dolls, Bears & Collectables last week, how nice to see my profile on page 14 and my doll Sabine on the cover and as this month's project on page 42. In addition my advert on page 6, just want to point out was designed by my very talented, graphic designer daughter, Stephanie.

A few months ago my Perri, the pincushion was also featured in D,B & C and my Luscious Strawberry appeared in Soft, Dolls & Animals.
I'm planning to make a list of all the projects I have had in magazines over the years, with the magazine name and what issue it appeared in, as a reference to make it easier to find my projects for anyone that is interested.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Welcome to 2010, (can you believe it's 2010?)

Thank you again for all the support over the years, what are your New Year's resolutions?

I, for one, hope to be a lot more productive this year and also get my health back, (I fell down the stairs 6 mths ago and my back has been giving me trouble ever since).

May the new year be a new beginning for those of you who have been going through tough times, may the future bring you love, happiness, health and peace. Wishing you a...HAPPY NEW YEAR..............

Above are some pictures of the fireworks in our beautiful Sydney harbour last night I had the pleasure of sharing the night with my husband, my bro & sis in law, it's the first NYE all our kids are all old enough to do their own thing.