Antique "Frozen Charlotte" Jewelry

These wonderful tiny antique porcelain dolls are called Frozen Charlottes. These porcelain dolls, made between 1890 and 1920, are actually dug out of the ground in Thuringia, Germany near the old factory grounds. (see previous post)  These are the rarest of the dolls- a wee 1" tall.

Here's a sneak peak of a few pieces I'm working on.  A necklace and maybe a pin.....

I absolutely LOVE these tiny ones.  My research shows that these dolls were first made to cool down tea, and well-behaved children at the tea party got to keep the "prize".  Later they were baked into cakes and pudding to be found by lucky children.

The term "Frozen Charlotte" comes from a poem written in 1840 about a girl named Charlotte who froze to death on her way to a New Years' ball.  Strange- can you imagine the lawsuits today if you baked porcelain dolls in a child's birthday cake and someone chipped a tooth- or worse- choked!?

Etsy Treasury- My Little Bird People

Good Monday!  This morning Etsy's shavingkitsupplies included me in her Treasury list.  I think my little Bird Lady looks just dandy among all the other treasures!  Thanks shavingkitsupplies!  Check out her shop for some amazing hand stitched fabric images.

Etsy Front Page

So I'm taking my Sunday afternoon nap, and I get a whole bunch of emails congratulating me on the Etsy front page.  Here's a snippet of my birdhouses- I never saw it live.  That TOTALLY made my day :)

New Bags!

It's always nice to wake up to an Etsy sale!  I posted this bag last night and it sold while I slept.  I just blogged the other day about how sales were slow- but things are picking up for me.  Maybe getting laid off wasn't so bad after all :)

I finally have a plan for my tiny Frozen Charlottes (see last post).  Maybe tomorrow morning I'll post a sneak peak!

Happy Sunday!  The sun is shining here!

A Few New Bags

3 new bags in my shop- I like this newer drawstring style.  These are fun to make, and I love the way they drape when cinched shut.  Each one has a bit of applique detail.....

Vintage hibiscus barkcloth from the 1940's with antique lace trim.

Vintage coral linen print that a lovely elderly local designer gave me.  This is one of my absolute favorite fabrics.

I'm doing some advertising for the first time since being laid off.  While this used to be a "hobby", I've recently relied on this income.  So I'm stocking up for spring sales.  I'm starting to do more jewelry too.  Remember those "Frozen Charlottes" I blogged about last week- the antique German porcelain dolls I acquired?  I have about 100 of the tiniest and rarest of these dolls- about 1" tall.  I don't know what I'm making yet- next post!

Etsy Treasury

My Russian Matryoshka earrings were picked for trotalo's Treasury list.  I love this stuff!  I've been getting a lot of Etsy press lately but sales have still been a bit slow.  I wish people would let loose of some of that cash :)

My next post will be new bags- yea!

Happy Friday!

Etsy Front Page

My little Birdhouse made Etsy's front page- this is a beautiful group.  The list expired, so I don't have the link.  These little birdhouses have been very popular.   My next project is little hot air balloons......

Etsy Treasury

My linen bag of was picked for Soov's Etsy Treasury list.  It really makes my day when someone adds me to their fav's!

I just got back from walking and liked this quote.  No- it's not literature or poetry- just Counting Crows.  The words stuck in my head because it describes me :)

"She has trouble acting normal when she'd NERVOUS"

Happy Thursday!

Owl Bag- Work in Progress

I made this little owl last night which I'm making into a bag today.  I have about 8-9 new bags to list in my shop, I just have to photograph them ( NOT my favorite thing to do)  Check in the next fews days to see what's new.  I'm trying to stock up the bags for spring.  Once summer arrives and school is out I won't have a lot of time to sew.

Happy Wednesday : )

Antique Porcelain Bird Ladies

Here's the new group of bird ladies.  Made from antique German bisque doll parts that I wired together.  The bird heads are quite rare (I have a secret stash in my studio).  I was told they were made for bottle stoppers, but I'm not sure I believe it.  The clothes are made from an antique quilt top.

This might be the last of these ladies for awhile.  I've indulged myself long enough- time to get back to sewing purses.  Or making more birdhouses :)

Antique German "Frozen Charlotte" Dolls

I've seen a lot of these lately in the mixed media world.  These are wonderful antique porcelain dolls that were dug out of the remains of a German doll factory in Thuringia.  The factory produced these dolls, called Frozen Charlottes between 1890 and 1920.  My package arrived this morning from Germany- purchased from an elderly woman who is one of the "seekers". 

These vary in size, between 4" to a wee 1".  I love the dolls that still have earth on them- little artifacts from a different time.  I have another package on the way with many, many of the 1" size.  I always buy in bulk- so will have some to sell.  (send me a note if interested)  I don't know quite yet what I'll do with them......

More Vintage Birds in Progres

These are the latest in the bird series.  I was hoping to finish them last nite but someone had a high fever- he's better today thankfully.  Sister Birdie sold already- so here's a peak at her sisters......

Where Women Create

Last night after finishing Sister Birdie (see last post) I stayed up late reading the latest issue of  Where Women Create.  I'm totally addicted to this Stampington & Co. publication!  2 issues have been published, with another on the way.  I love peaking in other people's studios- here's a peak of my shelves above my big table.  Just a collection of treasures and projects just completed.

I got my vintage ventriloquist doll last year- FINALLY!  Those who know me know that I wanted one all my life, asked for one every Christmas as a child.  Mom says she doesn't remember.  And no,  he's NOT creepy!

Sister Birdie

I was inspired yesterday after one of my birds made Etsy's front page to finish a few I had in progress (I have so many things "in progress" that this was quite rewarding!)  I don't know why she became a nun- it just happened......

Call me old school- but I liked when nuns wore habits.  I don't know why, maybe because they're easier to spot?  Must be my parochial school upbringing.

Sister Birdie is made from antique German porcelain bisque doll parts that I wired together.  Her bird head is also antique bisque- (part of my secret collection of clay bird heads stashed away in my studio- but that's another post!)

Happy Friday!

Etsy Front Page

These little things totally make my day!  My little Bird Lady made Etsy's front page this afternoon.  I absolutely love making these- some people thought they were a little "freaky".  I sold 3 so far and will make a few more tonight.  The clothes are a little labor intensive- sewing clothes for a 4" figure is tricky!  Tomorrow's post (or maybe Sat) will be my new birds.  Aren't the little cloth houses amazing in this picture?

Inspiration- Ann Wood Birds

I have been a huge fan of NY artist Ann Wood so I was very excited to finally purchase one of her birds.  This is Ellie, one-of-a-kind, made from vintage fabric.  She perches in my studio and inspires me every day to make something.  I hope to get another bird soon- but they go quick!  I really want one of her big owls- they are incredible!

Happy Wednesday!

March Birdhouses

March in Cleveland is always full of anticipation for me.  We can either spend the Ides of March under 2 feet of snow, or like this weekend- in 60 degree weather.  I was fortunate to spend a relaxing weekend with great friends!  

I also spent time on my birdhouses- always a labor of love.  This new series combines antique watch parts, antique quilt fabrics, Japanese clay birds........

......here's a left-over Anthropologie drawer pull paired with a really great millinery thingy- it reminds me of the dust spec in Horton Hears a Who.  We are here! We are Here!.....

Woodland forest birdhouse with copper oak leaf and vintage mushroom....

...my favorite- El Santuario- with a mushroom hanging from a brass chain, and a little glass vial that holds water....These are all available in my Etsy shop.

Happy Spring :)

Birdhouses in Progress

These birdhouses have been really popular so I decided to make a few more- it's a great way to use up all your little bits & scraps.  These fabrics are from a vintage quilt, with antique lace......

antique clock dials, vintage glass buttons, millinery trim.......

Japanese clay birds, found objects, little mushrooms.  These are all lined up in my studio waiting for glue and a little TLC.  Hopefully I'll post the finished houses on Monday :)

Happy Birthday Sis!

Happy Birthday to my sister Jenny!  Do you remember the old days when you would brag that you were older?  And did you know that today is the only day of the year that you are 2 years older than me :)

More Shameless Self Promotion

I was sick today- the annoying cough/flu stuff.  This Etsy treasury list I made brought a smile to my face.  The kitty looks like Charlie when he was a boy, those bowls are awesome, and I love those rings!   I only listed these birdhouses Saturday in my shop and people seem to like them alot.  I have about 6 more in the works- maybe tomorrow's post will be "birdhouses in progress".  I LOVE making these :)

Shameless Self Promotion

It's a great feeling to stumble on a blog that featured something of yours.  I just found this- from last month- from a blog called Cheap Chica's Guide to Style.  Yea!

Etsy Treasury

Another nice surprise!  An hour or so after listing my birdhouses for sale on Etsy, they made a Treasury list.  Look at the whole list here.

Happy Birthday Mom!

Happy Birthday Mom! Hope you're having a wonderful day!  Miss You :)

Little Vintage German Wooden People

Well, I got a bunch of these at auction awhile back.  They were originally on toothpicks- like cocktail picks.  I thought they were so cute I made little beads out of them.  I regret selling them :(  Does anyone out there know where I can get more??

Works in Progress

..........just a few random images of works in progress.  I'm starting to mix things up more- fabric images, vintage millinery flowers, and brass letters........

.....vintage lace, feedsack cotton, linen, and buttons....

...This was going to be to front of a purse, but I think it's too fragile with the glass beads, so it will most likely be a little quilted wall piece.  The fortune reads "You will travel to a distant land"- I wish.

Arm Chair- Red Chair #2

#2 in my Red Chair series

Mike said "Kind of creepy but I like it."  I wasn't sure if that was a compliment or not.  

Etsy Front Page

I stumbled upon my Etsy front page feature this morning!  Always a pleasant surprise.  My lemon earrings sold & will soon be on their way to Australia.  I love the colors of this group- very soothing on such a cold winter day.