Merry Christmas

A very Merry Christmas from Darling HQ, thank you for all the support in 2019.

Heres to a wonderful 2020 for us all and a very happy year.

                                                         XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

20 percent off !

I just wanted to say a big thank you for everyones support this year and heres a 20% off discount code to use in my etsy shop

THANKUSOOMUCH777

just key the above code in and youll get a discount, its valid until the 1st of January and you can use it as often as you like,

lots of love and thanks,

Deb XXX

Back to painting........

Just recently I have really enjoyed making a new series of small paintings called the welsh cottage in winter series.

Its been really rewarding to see people receive them so well .

I will keep making more as I am enjoying it so much.

They are all being offered for sale in my etsy shop.

I am aiming to add one regularly, the first painting sold straight away and I have today just added the bottom snow storm painting.

I hope everyone is keeping cosy as the cold nights draw in, not long till Christmas time, so its good to spend the evenings planning ahead for it.

I really want to be organised thoroughly this year ! lol.

X X X

A new sculpture, called, Learning to love your crows feet...

This sculpture is all about the ageing process, wrinkles and all, particularly the lines on the face, the crows feet.

Its not an easy thing ageing, and we need to love ourselves ,despite the changes.

We live in a society that worships youth, so lets change that, and admire age instead.

Its ok to age, we are so lucky to be here, every day really does count.

Celebrate, for we really are the lucky ones .

A dash of Halloween .....

I thought I would make a couple of dolls for Halloween, so the Bride of Frankenstein was born.

Then lil Pumpkin head too....

These were fun to make , plus I gave them wobbly heads too.

Most folks in the U.K. buy their Halloween décor from the highstreet so I expect these chaps will end up in the U.S.A. a big thankyou to my customers out there, always xxx

Homes for my creations....

Its always nice to see my puppets in their new homes, heres one of my puppets whos now living with the pretty Vivian in New York.

I hope you both have lots of fun together and thanks for supporting me

X X X

Daughter number two.......

I thought it would be nice to promote my childrens work, all making it in the real world, so first of all, heres Annabelles work.

As you can see she works in a range of mediums with a strong folk art feel, all one of a kind pieces, ( Im so proud of her ! )

Shes a fab painter, but she also has a great feel for sculpting too.

She also does commissions.

Her work has found homes in lots of places. Shes been selling her art, since she was little and went on to do a degree in fine art.

Just lately shes been sculpting a lot of one of a kind, pots, for your favourite plants.

If you would like to find out more or you want to support her and her work, you can find her on facebook as Annabelle Aston Art or on instagram as art.annabelle.

Thanks for looking, I hope you like her work as much as I do xxx

Little Santas.....

 Yep its the c word, its that time of year when all us makers go a tinsy bit bonkers trying to keep up with it all.

So as usual I am making for Christmas and people are buying and ordering already !

These wee fellows stand at 10 inches in height.

Ive really enjoyed making them and watching their personalities develop :)

One of them is a tad more serious than the other one, hes obviously got more deliveries to do, lol.

 Im just finishing off a very large one now, but Ive managed to get these two into the shop.

I will be making a few pumpkin and witch dolls for Halloween very soon too, so that will be a fun change,

Have a super week !!

xxx

Hartley Hare flies again...

Another of my Hartley Hare style puppets flew off to New York earlier this week, I never tire of making them.

They are large with arms and legs, and an awful lot of hand sewing. But I can also stuff them and make them as a collectors toy rather than a puppet, which does make them cheaper.

As a puppet he is fully lined and a lot of work goes into the innards of him, so to speak.

But I really love making him.

If you want one of these making for  someone for Christmas then do place your order now as I wont have time to make him otherwise.

Also payment plan is available , just get in touch via my etsy shop.

Happy Puppeteering !

XXX

Lavendar Bags....

Tis the season of the moth...…. so I thought I would make some lavender bags to help.

Ive always made these, printed up old photos to do so, those of you who were with me in the beginning will remember, and if you ever come to see me at shows, I usually have a nice selection,

I rather like this grumpy welsh lady though, you can get one in my etsy shop, but I also give one away free with any of my welsh dolls that are purchased.

Keep those moths away !! lol.

Happy September

         xxx

Emily, the welsh folk art doll

Here is Emily,shes another very tall folk art doll that Ive made and shes in the shop now.

Shes got a different face to the others, sometimes its nice to change styles and stitches.

All materials are welsh again, but in particular I love the fabric for her dress , which was taken from an antique welsh wool skirt, the pink is really lovely.

Shes also wearing the traditional Betgwn  welsh jacket, which I really enjoyed making.

Folk art dolls are a real favourite of mine, and theres more in the wings waiting to be finished, but a few sculptures should make their appearance next week too.

I work on a great many things at once, just to insure a steady flow of stock.

Happy stitching everyone !

xxx

Bronwyn, the tall welshdoll.

Heres Bronwyn, my large/tall welsh doll that Ive just listed on my etsy shop.

Here are a few photos so you can all see how I made her.

Shes a primitive style doll, and shes made with natural fibres.

I pay attention to detail,you can really see that better if you ever meet any of my dolls in person.

In the welsh doll series all the materials come from Wales, most are antique, but we are so lucky to have a fully working old woollen mill nearby, which I support by also buying fabric from them.

I like the fingers on this doll, they may look messy to some, but I wanted them to look old fashioned and primitive, like that, all hand stitched, like early pioneers may of made.

Have a great weekend and Happy Sewing !!

xxx

Museum of Automata, York, 199x

Makers, getting ready for Christmas..........

Its that time of year again, that time when all us makers commence our Christmas makes and ask our customers to order in time for Xmas, lol. Which seldom happens.

I hereby promise that I will not be working Christmas eve this year making other peoples orders, I want a nice Christmas myself, instead of getting myself into a big stress.

So I am aiming to have every thing made the week before xmas and down tools and concentrate on a bit of a rest.

I wonder if I will manage that this year , I certainly hope so. Wishing much rest and joy to everyone out there this year around such a busy time. I do hope we all get to pace ourselves properly and be greatful and joyful, without stress.


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Puppets

Making Puppets is my favourite thing to do.

Whenever I get a free moment , I like to work on my own troup of marrionettes.

Sundays are my best days, because its usually when I get chance,

Happy Sunday Everyone !!

XXX

Folk art forever...

Its been really good to get back to my roots and practice my folkart decorative painting again. 

Im in the process of decorating a few pieces, some of them quite large, so I thought it would be useful to try something simple first as its been a while.

So I opted for the chair seat, its a wooden seat so it was perfect to paint on.

I hope you enjoy looking at it.

X X X

Large dolls in the Welsh doll folkart series ....

Im really enjoying creating some one of a kind, folkart, welsh dolls.

Especially working on the very large dolls.

To give you an idea of scale, the smallest doll there is 15 inches high, the tallest is about a metre long .

Everything used to make these dolls comes from, and has been purchased in Wales.

Happy Monday folks !

XXX

Foxes and some more foxes......

I think foxes are one of the most popular things that I make, indeed they seem to be breeding all the time !

As well as the scrappy ,heart warming foxes ,for collectors above. I now do these soft ,child safe foxes for the little ones.