Happy Halloween from Forlorn Dolls and Justin, Fire Survivor!

The Justin, Fire Survivor Halloween Harlequin Doll is now complete. The Hallowe'en Studio Tour opens October 1st. At this point the doll will be made available for purchase, along with other special Halloween pieces and keepsake postcards. Proceeds for the sale of the Forlorn Dolls Hallowe'en Studio Tour items will benefit the Justin Healing Fund, a charity for abandoned and abused cats and kittens. Shoppe links will be posted October 1st.

The 2014 Update... because I have been away on a Fall/Winter break for so long.

I haven't had much time to post due to a crazy schedule and many things which were in the works. First, I need to announce the release of a book which one of my dolls is being featured in. It's called Creepy Romance by Cosondra Sjostrom, available bow through Etsy https://www.etsy.com/transaction/172696282, Creepy Romance is a collection of artwork by various artists illustrating those awkward moments of love when the wrong words slip out of the mouth and just make the moment turn from sweet to creepy in a heartbeat. Proceeds for the production of the book went to a charity organization which helped homeless cats. And well, I love cats... I have two and wish I could have more. It was a project I was thrilled to be involved in. 

Secondly, I will be in the March Women VII Show at Lakeland Community College, one of my favorite shows to participate in (curated by Mary Urbas). The Show is open: March 2 - 28, 2014; with an Artist Reception: Sunday, March 23, 2014, 3:30 - 5 pm.

And finally, I just found this out this Friday and it was a surprise to me. I am waiting to make the announcement on my official website until next month, I am one of the newest members of EHAG (Eclectic Halloween Artists Guild). I am still in shock and maybe in a mist of disbelief as well. I am still trying to grasp it. So some big changes in my world indeed. I have to work even harder now. Oh boy!

So that's it. It may be a little bit before the next blog update... busy, busy, busy.

Whether it's up, or down...

It's hard to take in those words sometimes from my fellow artisans, "You're the up and coming artist" or "The one so and so magazine said to watch for" in an article I do not even recall being written about me. Funny how that passed me by. But it all seems so strange, for even though I know I am talented I do not always believe others think I am. I do have my moments of self-doubt though, those moments when I think I just simply suck at what I do. It's those long stretches when I haven't sold anything. One starts to believe the world doesn't like what you're doing and you should just quit and cut your losses before too much heart ache is suffered. But for some unforsaken reason I keep pushing myself forward. And why haven't I quit yet?

So the words are strange to me. I do not feel like the up and coming artist, or the artist to be on the look out for. I feel like the shy and apprehensive girl who is stuck at a job which stresses her out forty hours a week. I feel like a shrinking violet who gets terrified of having to go to gallery shows at the risk of talking to strangers; and then on the occasion to be recognized now by strangers based on my work alone I only shrink more. I am the girl who often wants to give up. I often feel like I am beating a dead horse making an endless array of pieces, that like most art, sits in a gallery for months only to be viewed at and never given a home.

I guess I assumed always if you were up and coming your inventory was always empty. You could finally leave that horrible forty hour day job that drags you down and join the race of people who love the work they do.

But, I can say this... as strange as those words are to me, up and coming and the artist to be on the look out for...  I may be confused on the meaning and I may never fully understand it, perhaps it is taking me somewhere. Things seem to have changed in the past year. The level of gallery shows are different and how I am noticed is different as well. It is a strange thing, perhaps a little scary. It may be stressful carrying the load I have taken on in the hopes of dumping the excess of day jobs later on. One can only hope, right?

So, maybe one day I will be the up and coming artist; and maybe I will be that artist that the magazine article informs you to keep an eye out for. I do not know if that is who I am right now. I hope I will be one day though. I can only hope, right?

Time to Say Goodbye!

One of the things I noticed after this past go around of getting ready for a show: as I was making new items for upcoming shows I had no room left on my inventory shelves to fit them in. New pieces were being filed into baskets that were strewn about the floor below my shelves. What chaos ensued shortly after trying to keep track of everything. And now, I am still have a mess to sort through!

Greg and I each have accumulated a collection of Forlorn Dolls we have refused to sell to the public. Well, I am letting go of a few of my favorites now (even if Greg will refuse his) since they just sit in the studio unnoticeable to visitors in our home. I need room for new pieces that are awaiting show drop offs. So if you had asked about one in the past and I said it was not for sale, and if I happen to remember that conversation... you might get an email from me sometime soon. If you don't get an email, remind me of the conversation and I will let you know if I am parting with such pieces.

Shoppes for Halloween

My Etsy Shop has officially reopened for Halloween pre-sales with several items marked down through the end of September for a special pre-October sale. Some of the items are also listed in my Ebay Store for a chance to snag them up at a lower price in a seven day auction format. More items will be added in the weeks to come with updates being posted regularly. Remember to sign up for the mailing list at http://www.forlorndolls.com/dearest.html for advance notice of listings. Advance notices will give you the opportunity to request an item before it is placed in my Etsy Shop or Ebay auction.

EBAY STORE: http://www.ebay.com/usr/forlorndolls
ETSY SHOP: Click the images below.

Beat the crowd...

New dolls heading toward Ebay very soon! Be sure to sign for my mailing list on at forlorndolls.com in the "Dearest" tab to get advance notice of listings before anyone else. Halloween dolls are on their way! Be the first to know about them... 

Halloween Hint: Witches are coming!!!

March of the Gnomes

I am taking a break from the studio this week, but getting geared up for a few shows. And I will be heading into the Good Goat Gallery March of the Gnomes Show. For the Gnome Show I have made two new little dolls, Gnome sisters Dialia and Dorlea Sprockfritz. The little Sprockfritz Gnome sisters will make their debut with the Good Goat Gallery Saturday, August 31 at 4pm. There will be an artists reception until 9pm. March of the Gnomes will be on display through September 23, 2013.