Back to Reality

I recently took a much-needed holiday from both my life and work. The timing couldn’t have been better as I was able to traverse my way from the West Coast to the East with a few stops in-between, attending weddings and piano recitals, family reunions and hanging out with my best friends, all of whom I have known for several decades. I got to tickle babies and take older children shopping while instilling in them the best ways to navigate through the choppy waters of life. I got to get into the field again to do actual research for an upcoming project (David Bowie Is exhibition anyone?) and ate my way from New England to NYC. There were some revelations as to who I am in the great scheme of themes that’s nothing short of shocking but a simple DNA test (in which my mother has gladly agreed to take) should sort things out. I spent some time in the hospital as well, visiting, not as a patient, and got to work on the embroidery project I started a year ago and haven’t been able to complete. All in all it was a very well-rounded holiday although I can’t say I had done any R and R as half the time I was running around, trying to make every minute of my trip as meaningful as I could make it.

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Edward Scissorhands

Although Edward Scissorhands isn’t technically a “Christmas Movie,” I always lump it in with my usual cache of holiday binge this time of year. And why not? I now live in a place where snow is non-existent, sort of like in the movie.

This set features Edward, Kim and Peg Boggs, Jim the hoodlum boyfriend, the Inventor, and a mini topiary dinosaur.

Well, Merry Christmas, wherever you are!

A Portrait Set

Everything about this portrait set is adorable. From the very handsome couple to their little doggies.

When the subject of an Easter egg surprise was broached, I more or less squealed and immediately made the mini objects.

Oktoberfest Revisited

When I look back at some of my earlier works, I would inevitable wish I have time to repaint some of them, especially now that I have better tools and equipment to handle some of the more complicated jobs. Fortunately, I got the chance to update one of my favorite sets of all time, a trio of dolls featuring some Bavarian folks celebrating Oktoberfest!

This time around I was able to print some hats for the folks.

Marie Got Married

Years ago, I happened to come across a fashion blog and gave it a read even though at the time, my idea of high fashion was making sure I have pants on when I leave my house. The blog caught my attention not only because the author was fashionable in a relatable way but she was hilarious as hell. I thought it would be fun to paint her as a nesting doll in her various duds and, even though I was well-aware of the fact that I would probably come across as someone with stalking issues, I took a chance and emailed her with my strange request. Come on, I had to! This girl owned a hat shaped like a pair of lips smoking a cigarette. And she owned a corn suit, for crying out loud.

She said yes and I devoted a week (this was back in the day when I actually had to take a week to paint a set of dolls) painting her in various outfits and had an absolute blast. Thanks to her, I was introduced to her BFF, who runs the most delightful little store in LA called the Pygmy Hippo Shoppe and thus history was made because I got to create so many sets of dolls I would not have done otherwise if it weren’t for these two gorgeous gals. And of course, when Marie got married, my first thought was to make her a set of wedding dolls.

Marie, her man, and her doggie.

From what I gathered, there was pizza at the wedding.

Aren’t they fabulous? Congratulations, Marie and Jimmy! May your marriage be long and full of laughter and joy!

Girl Power

There’s one good thing I like about the newer Disney princesses. They’re misfits and strong-willed, they kick butts, and they get things done. After being snottily told by my downstairs neighbor that I was weird, I feel like I have a few things in common with some of these princesses. If I’m not weird, I wouldn’t be who I am, would I?

This collection of Disney Princesses is for a little girl turning four. I sincerely hope she will see beyond the pretty outfits and gleaming castles and learn to be just as fierce and independent as these ladies!

Fifth of May

Gold Coast Bakery 60th Year!

For the Gold Coast Bakery’s 60th anniversary, I was asked to create a set of dolls after their mascot, a baker. If you live on the Gold Coast, you might have spotted one of their trucks tooling ’round town, or pawed at their products at the supermarket.

It’s always a great deal of fun painting cartoon-like characters. And bread. I love painting bread, more than I love eating it!

She Said Yes!

Gentlemen, step up your game, ’cause Joe’s got you all beat by a mile!

I kid, I kid! While I commend all the husbands and boyfriends (as well as girlfriends and wives for that matter—wait till you see this birthday present I’ve got cooking in the sweatshop— for coming up with all sorts of interesting and quirky ideas to gift their beloved, this one project is by far the most interesting.

Joe is planning on proposing to his girlfriend and came to me with an idea of using a set of matryoshka dolls as a vessel for the ring. Why not? It reduces the risk of accidentally swallowing it if he had, say, put it in a glass of champagne or something, doesn’t it?

I thought about carving out a piece of foam to put into the last doll as a ring holder, but the Hubs got on his computer and designed something for it. He printed the ring holder with rubberized plastic and voila!

I used my own engagement ring as the test subject.

BoBo Babushka, conspiring with boyfriends and husbands since 2009.

The Best Wedding Party Ever

If you are to handpick your own celebrities to be your best man, maid of honor, and celebrant, who would it be? For this couple, they had Ed Asner as their best man, Julie Newmar as their maid of honor, and Mink Stole as their celebrant.

For their first year anniversary present, I was asked to paint this delightful wedding party, but with the actors in costumes that defined their acting careers.

Mink Stole as Connie Marbles, the groom and the groom, Julie Newmar as Catwoman, and Ed Asner as Lou Grant.

The main doll is customized with quotes and dates and symbols that’s unique to the couple.

I always enjoyed writing a bit of lyrics or poems on a set so I was thrilled to be able to do so. Not many people know this, but I’ve won 6 consecutive penmanship awards in the 4th grade.

The grooms are painted with various talisman and pets. These ones are highly symbolic.

Apparently, Julie Newmar walked into the wedding announcing that she was holding a $100 lipstick. In her hand also is a Tony Award. And a whip. You can’t get more bad ass than her.

This was hands down one of the most challenging dolls I’ve ever painted. The Ed Asner doll is only 1″ and I was asked to paint an Emmy Award and the house from “Up” that he was involved in. For this one I had to whittle my 0000 brush down to an even smaller point. Needless to say, after the dust cleared I had to go lie down and not use my eyes for a whole solid hour.

Happy anniversary, Bruce and Chris!