Ever heard of a Faerie Godfather?

Those of you that come to sit under the old Southern ooaks tree (and a HUGE thank you thank you for that) know that I had one more Santa piece to work on. Well......I have been trying and believe you me...I do mean "TRYING". Every time I would pick him up to draw out a pattern for his suit, I would just all of a sudden put him down and not want to do it. Of course, I would look up at my muse and she would be sitting there smiling that "I know somethin you don't know" grin...drives me nuts!! I even got up several times and took a short nap walked away for awhile. Came back...picked him....laid him on my paper to trace him for a pattern and the same feeling would take over. This just wasn't happening.....so....I sat him on my printer and we just stared at one another. Do you know hard it is to out stare a clay character? Apparently I did it though because he fell over....just couldn't take the REGI stare I guess. HA   I picked him up and as soon as I did an image came to mind.

WIP (work in progress)

Meet Godfrey....the faerie Godfather!! Now stop laughing....just click on his picture and take a close look at his sweet, tenderhearted face. The image that came to me was of this kindly soul being a faerie protector of cats. I know....I know....dogs are a man's best friend but have you ever known a woman that had so many feline's that she was called the cat woman? Well...who do you think conned sweetly talked her into becoming one? Godfrey of course!!  He will look like any other elderly gentlemen sitting in the park with the exception of his beautiful yellow canary wings. He loves his wings because it draws the cats to him....ya know...like a little canary would. People say that cat's have nine lives but we all know that's not quiet the truth. It's Godfrey's job to keep these furbabies safe and find them a loving home. Yes....with a sweet little old cat lady!!

I hope that you will come visit again soon so you can see how Godfrey turns out. I'm excited to see how he turns out myself. Hope there won't be any more staring contest. ^_^

Until next time..........Hugs,

Regi and Godfrey

Santa and his Wicker Sleigh

Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner and Blitzen....come on guys, give an elf a break. Please!!! Santa is patiently waiting in his sleigh and ready to go. How can he go if you guys aren't hooked up to the sleigh. Nooooo, Comet...you can not have another granola bar. You have eaten four already. Any more and you won't be able to get that big ole reindeer hiney off the ice and fly with the others. Santa needs all of you and that doesn't mean he needs more of YOU all bigger. It means he needs all of you reindeers at the head of his sleigh.

Dancer shakes his head at Comet and the elf as he hears the elf as he walks off say, "I'm so NOT signing up for reindeer duty next year...that's for sure. I don't care how much hot chocolate Santa promises to pay."

Santa IS patiently waiting on those reindeer.  You see, they get way to hyper if they are hooked up first and then Santa and his bag get in. Thank goodness Santa is a happy, PATIENT, jolly old soul...HO HO HO!!!

Santa is holding his bag so it won't fall off  until those reindeer come and get hooked up and behave. His bag was so full that he had to carry one of the Teddy bears he is delivering this year. He doesn't mind though, it will keep him company while he is on his way.

Santa's bag is filled to overflowing, as always!! It's a miracle that the toys don't fall out during his flight. There's going to be some happy little boys and girls this Christmas Eve it seems. I see a musical teddy, a train, building blocks, baseball, a wooden rocking horse, a doll baby and a gift bag. Just once I would love to peek down into Santa's velvet goodie bag....just once!!

It looks like the elves are finally getting those reindeer to cooperate. They have turned Santa's sleigh around to get ready to hook them up. Not to long now and Santa and his reindeer will be on their way!!

Santa and his Wicker Sleigh are, of course, another piece in the 2012 Santa series. The piece sits at 14 inches. That's from the bottom of the sleigh up to the shinny, green bow. I love being able to reuse vintage and/or antique items and this sleigh was perfect for this piece. I attached faux pine garland to the handle and attached a beautiful bow made from a green  ribbon. Santa is one of my hand sculpted pieces, no molds are ever used. His head, feet and hands were sculpted from clay, baked and then detailed using acrylic paints. His hair and beard are made from angora wool yarn. His pants and bag are made from velvet. He is wearing a felt vest and has a lace collar. Which I know you can not see now that he is fully dressed but I know it's there and so do my sweet friends that come to visit. Thank you by the way...I love your visits!! Santa's cloak was made using a piece of fabric that I have been saving for some time. I think it looks like Christmas ornaments. Perfect for Santa!!  I lined the hood with velvet to give it a beautiful finish. I'm sure Mrs. Claus would have done the same. ^_^  Santa is permanently attached to his sleigh as well as his bag. This piece will be going to the Robin's Nest Christmas Open House and will be available to purchase.

Now...it's on to my next piece. It seems some little missy stayed up to SEE Santa and Santa got caught!!!

Until next time..........Hugs,
Regi

Santa and the Velveteen Rabbit

Sitting under glass on the top of a shelf, Rose has been waiting for what seems like a 100 years. She has been yearning for a little girl to send Santa a letter requesting a special stuffed bunny to have for her own. Rose wasn't just any stuffed bunny, no sirrie, she was known in the toy shop as the Velveteen Rabbit. A beautiful bunny dressed in a velveteen dress with a hair clip of roses to match. During all the years of sitting and waiting Rose made a friend who was loyal and true. This little friend was a bear named Ted. Yes...Ted E Bear...a silly little clown of a bear. Ted told Santa that he would wait patiently with Rose until her day came to fulfill the wishes of that special little girl because he just couldn't stand knowing Rose was all alone sitting on the top of the shelf.

Rose was very surprised when Santa himself came and took her down off the shelf. Ted E was so happy for her as tears of joy and sadness came flowing down. He was happy that she finally was going to get her own lil child but sad that he would remain behind. All of sudden Ted E looked and there were Santa's hands pulling him down off the shelf. Ted E, who was just as surprised for he knew what was fixing to come true. Rose's wish of that special letter had come to the shop and letter from a little boy asking for a silly old bear. How exciting and what a surprise that they would be going to a sister and brother. Santa let out a roar of laughter and told the two little toys that they would be riding in the sleigh with him this year. Now Santa knew it had been quiet awhile for Rose wishing to be given to a child and so she and Ted E were going to get to ride in the front and carry a big bright balloon and see all the world Christmas Eve night.

Santa and the Velveteen Rabbit is the latest design in my Santa series for 2012. Santa's head, hands and feet were hand sculpted out of clay (no molds used...ever) then baked and detailed using acrylic paints. His body  is a wire armature covered in wool yarn. His has a felt vest underneath his cloak (which is not removable) and his boots were made from felt. His hair and beard were made from angora wool yarn. His costume was hand sewn using vintage material and detailed with golden braided string. In his left hand, he is holding a tiny plush bear who is wearing a multicolored ribbon collar. A tiny "The Night Before Christmas" book is hanging from his wrist. It is a real book that has the original story in it. In his right hand, he is holding the rope to his famous never empty toy sack. Peeking out the top are some miniature toys. Santa is sitting in a vintage sleigh found on one of our treasure hunts. Of course, Rose and Ted E are proudly sitting in the front holding their glass balloons that have been covered on German glass. Some tiny wrapped packages are sitting in the front as well. No need to try and unwrap them...they are just for display purposes..hehe!!

Rose and Ted E.

Tiny toys peeking out of bag

Back view of sleigh

This piece sits right at 11 inches tall. Santa and everything in the sleigh is permanently attached. The storybook can be removed from his wrist if you do it very carefully. I'm sure that someone will enjoy reading it on Christmas eve. 

Now...it's time to move on to the next Santa piece that is calling my name....or is that my muse....sometimes I just can't tell!!

Until next time...........Hugs,

Regi

Twas the REAL Night before Christmas....

Not many folks know what happens for real on the night before Christmas. Oh..it's very true what they say...that Santa does delivers toys in his sleigh. However..the jolly ole Santa doesn't start out his delivering of gifts in his sleigh. No...he begins delivering gifts by riding his polar bear, Patshatl (which means giving) to the little elf children that live at the North Pole. You see, the Li'l ones are not allowed to know about the toy shop until they reach almost adulthood. Christmas is a magical time and Santa wants all to "BELIEVE" during their childhood so that when they are grown then the seed of magic will have been planted and they can continue a long tradition of giving and believing with their Li'l ones.

Santa and Patshatl are one of the newest designs in the Southern Ooaks Santa series for 2012. From Patshatl's back foot to the tip of the tiny wooden rocking horse, they sit at 8 1/2 inches tall. Patshatl is a wooden bear that was rescued from an old dusty table at an estate sale. The gentleman said that it had belong to his great aunt and was about 70 years old. I love collecting old, vintage, antique items to reuse with my designs. I had to sand some places and then I white washed him with acrylic paints.He is such a handsome Polar bear. His riding blanket was felted and then tiny glass beads attached. His nose harness was made from felt and then beaded. His reins were macramed using hemp and some of the tiny glass beads in between the knot tying. Santa,of course, is one of my original designs made from clay, without using any molds. If you have been following along then you know how he is made but I will give a small description for those that are new to the ooaks tree. His face and feet were sculpted from clay, baked and then detailed using acrylic paints. His body, a strong wire armature wrapped in wool yarn. His hair and beard were done using angora wool yarn. His Santa suit was hand sewn using velvet fabric from a vintage wrap. (also found at an estate sale) and faux fur. His gloved hands and boots were also felted.

Santa's bag was made from the same velvet fabric as his suit. Peeking out from the top of his overflowing "goodie" bag are a wooden rocking horse, soccer ball and tiny basketball (yes elves play soccer and basketball..hehe), a tiny bear, two tiny shiny presents and a bagged gift with candy canes poking out.

The piece came a long way from the little skinny guy to the plump, jolly old elf he is now!! I love designing Santa and I have many more to come. This piece is going to the Foley Performing Arts Trim-A-Tree event. I so hope that someone adopts him and takes him home. If they listen carefully, they might even hear the li'l elf children giggling on Christmas morn!!

Until next time...............HUGS,

Regi

SHOCK...I posted 2 days in a row ^_^

Good golly Miss Molly....don't everyone faint on me now!! I actually posted two days in a row....Yea Me!!

I finally finished the leather boots for big guy (Santa) but I must say I did NOT come out of it unscathed. Ya'll can just call my chin the "pin cushion" from now on. No, really you can cause I actually have tiny holes here and there on it and OUCH, every one hurt like the dickens but his boots look Santatastic!! No more pin cushion chin for this gal...no no no...now it will be pin cushion fingers..hehe!!

I thought I would take a break from working on the two Santa characters and work on the blanket the polar bear is going to be wearing. As you can see in the photo, I chose burgundy and off white. I like my design for this piece and am seriously thinking about making a BIG person (human) blanket with it. That will have to be later on though...much later on...to much to do right now. Do you see that stabbing tool needle? That's why I was saying I was going to have pin cushion fingers. I hope not though. I'm going to use the wooden skewer to hold the pieces in place while I felt. Surely, that will keep my fingers safe and band-aide free THIS time. Hopefully!! See the blue beads in the background? I'm going to sew some on the blanket. I love these three colors together for cold weather costumes...it's just ARCTIC looking. Or at least I think so but then ya'll know what a quirky person I am. ^_^

Ms Peaches is enjoying the sun coming in the back door and with every "OUCH" sound I made she would look at me and I swear she snickered. She did...I just know it!! The sunshine sure does look good though. I might just have to get me a pillow and blanket and stretch out with her...no no no...to much to do..but then again................

Until next time.........Hugs,
Regi (and Ms Peaches)

Santa on a Schtick...hehe

I'm working on a new ooaks in my Santa series and this one is called "Santa on a Schtick"..hehe   Noooo, I won't really call him that. Although, it is a Santa on a stick....a candlestick!! I just couldn't resist the temptation to say it like I did....you see...I'm a huge Jeff Dunham fan and I love his character, Jose Jalapeno.
You know...Jose....Jose Jalapeno....on a schtick!! OK OK I will stop now.

For the base of this piece I painted a wooden candlestick with acrylic paints. I used colors that are in the fabric I'm going to use to make his cape hood. I love these colors....so festive. Don't you think?  I am sculpting Santa's head and thought I would take a WIP photo to show you. He is looking rather JOLLY, if I must say so myself.

He's looking at you!!

Hopefully, I will get him finished and baked tonight so that I can detail his face with paints, get his beard on and make his hood. Right now...I have to walk to the school and get my Chazman and wouldn't ya know, it's pouring down rain. Guess we will "DANCE" in the rain on the way home. ^_^

Until next time.........Hugs,

Regi

Must be one heck of a tale!!!

Tick tock...says the clock 

It's time to log in those names 

the names of all the good boys and girls

 and of course the naughty ones as well. 

Far up in the North Pole there is a hustling and a bustling going on. Christmas is not so far away and there is so much work to be done. JJ...the little keeper of the book is extremely busy with all the tales he has to tell. What book you ask? The Naughty and Nice book...oh yes..it's real!!! JJ learns of stories, good and bad, of all the little children all around the world. Once he knows the stories, he jots down the child's name on the Christmas list ledger and rushes to Santa to tell him the tale that will let him make the decision of which column that must be checked. 

JJ finds Santa sitting in his favorite chair in his cozy, warm reading corner and climbs upon some books so he will be close enough to whisper the stories directly into Santa's ear. The first tale is one that will surely delight his boss and sure enough all around the Pole you can hear Santa's laughter as he rares back to let out a huge belly shakin roar. 

Santa and JJ are the latest in my Santa series for 2012. If you have been following along with my WIP post and photos then I hope you will be happy with how he turned out. This piece sits right at 10 inches...from base to the wispy tips of Santa's hair. The base is a piece of pine that I gently etched into to make it look like an old worn wooden floor. It was then white washed with off white and green acrylic paints.

Poor JJ he thinks he has to SHOUT so we can hear him...hehe!!! Santa's vintage rattan chair, ottoman and books are permanently attached to the base. 

JJ is standing with one foot on the book and one foot up on the chair arm. Santa is helping to brace him so he doesn't fall. JJ is carrying the latest Christmas List Ledger in his leather satchel and will give it to Santa to check off once he has told him all of the tales. (ledger is actually permanently attached to the inside of his satchel...so we will just pretend that he gives it to Santa)  JJ stands right at 6 inches and is one of my wire armatures wrapped in wool yarn. His face, hands and feet were hand sculpted and then attached to the armature. His costume is completely  hand sewn and he is wearing tiny little felt elf booties.

Santa, if standing would be 10 inches. He is one of my wire armatures wrapped in a soft muslin body. His face, hands and feet were also hand sculpted. His costume is completely hand sewn and he is wearing hand stitched leather booties. His glasses are hand twisted wire.

I am so proud of how this piece turned out and am so hoping that during the Christmas event he will be attending that someone will adopt him and take him home for years of enjoyment. 

Until next time..........HUGS,

Regi

Naughty or Nice Book..which one are YOU in?

I'm making progress on this piece...thank goodness!! Santa has his beard and hair attached...oh yeah...and his head is finally where it's suppose to be...on his shoulders. ^_^

Such a handsome fella!! My Santa's are a bit on the whimsical side and well...that's just because each one has a bit of me inside. I LOVE being a whimsy!!

I worked on some of the props for this piece too. Two books....oh yes....the naughty and nice books. One I did as an open book. Oops...elf just had to get a foot in the photo I see..hehe!!

The other as a closed book. Even made tiny bookmarkers to go with them. Santa's going to be busy sitting in his chair going through these books. Make sure you remind your wee ones that "Santa is always watching".

There is also a list of the names that need to go into the book this year but before that can happen one of Santa's elves tells him some stories of the children on the list. Some funny, some kind and some where that child will "DEFINITELY"  be receiving a stocking full of coal. 

I'm also working on the little story telling elf today. He has been wrapped with his wool yarn underclothes over his wire armature. Just finished one of his tiny felt elf shoes and as soon as I finish writing this then I will do the other one. (he is standing to the right of me just a tapping his foot...I think he is a bit impatient)

See now he has his hands up and is hollering at me to hurry up. Silly elf!! I guess I should go and help him out. I mean...I sure wouldn't want to be standing around in my underclothes and one shoe on either.

I have a favor to ask of YOU....it's not a hard one....please put me in your thoughts and/or prayers for this afternoon. I am finally going to the doctor about this arm. I know..I know...I should have already gone but it's at the point that I am losing feeling/control in it and that is affecting my doll making AND I can't have that. I need my therapy!!!

Until next time............HUGS,
Regi

HOHOHO...It's Santa Claus!!

FINALLY....I finished the Santa piece I have been working on for over a week. I normally get them completed in about 3 days but I really shouldn't complain because I did stop and work on a few other things here and there. ^_^

If you have been visiting then you know that my mermaid soul has been peeking out in some jewelry pieces I have been designing in between working on this Santa. Soooo..before I show you how Santa turned out let me show you one other of the mermaid pieces I haven't shown you yet.

This is a keepsake piece. The tiny little vial holds some of our beautiful white sand along with two tiny shells. Yes...found right on one of our beach walkabouts. The last of my turquoise turtles (sad face) was used to represent that these little guys actually hatch right here on our beach. I thought it needed something else so it wouldn't look so plain. I think the sterling silver starfish did just the trick. (I made two of these and sold one already...dang I wish I had more turtles..hehe)

Now...last but definitely not least...here is my newest jolly ole elf himself.....SANTA!!! Such a handsome fella.

Santa stands at 11 1/2 inches. In one hand he is carrying his bag full of toys for all the GOOD girls and boys. (Have YOU been good this year...HA!!) Peeking out is a teddy bear with two tiny candy canes. Noo, you can't eat them...they aren't real!! A bright red drum for that little drummer boy or girl. (all kiddos love to make noise, ri iight?) Also in his bag is a set of wooden building blocks that mysteriously spell out PIE.
Hmmmm, wonder if that is a hint that Santa wants pie this year instead of cookies. ^_^  In the other hand he is holding a cute little stuffed Ted E Bear and a big book (a real book) of the story "The Night Before Christmas".

The Chazman said that he loved him so that means it has been stamped by the Southern Ooaks approval department. ^_^

Now it's on to the next Santa design. My muse has been whispering the words "Merry Halloween and Happy Christmas". She and I must have a conversation about just what in the world she is thinking.

Until next time.........HUGS,
Regi

Santa's still singing..poor old dear!!

Yeapers....the old man is still singing. The old man as in Santa...not the hubbikins..hehe!! Just thought I might need to clarify that. NOT that I am calling my hubby old....I would never do that!!!

I have been twisting yarn for what seems F O R E V E R now and am ready to get on with it. He is looking rather handsome, I must say. The twisting around him to plump him up isn't that hard..it's the sewing it around to make it look like a sweater that takes so dang long. It's worth it though...I think...I mean most of it will be covered up with his cloak...so why am I doing all this? Well, it's one thing to not make toes that won't ever be seen but I just can't have a nakked undressed Santa....I mean...really...I just can't do it. ^_^

Here's some WIP photos of where I am at the moment with this character. Notice Santa sitting on his schtick watching and OMGOSH, YES..he is still singing that darn song!!! I wish he would sing it from off fa fa away.   (Since I said Santa on a stick...I just had to say a Peanutism. Just love Jeff fa fa DunHAMM.)

Here's a closer shot of him so you can see the sewing of the sweater. I still have a good bit to do on his body before I can attached his head. I'm ready though....I want to work on his cloak and goodie bag and stop the dang singing!!!

Until next time...........Hugs,
Regi

Jada and Pearl

Deep on the ocean floor, sits a tiny, young merchild named Jada. Her bright shining green eyes and beautiful green/purple tail is why her momma named her that. Jada means precious green.  Her golden ringlets will one day relax and give her that flowing hair that most mermaids are known for. Today,  Jada is happily bouncing in her shell. Not many know that the shells the merbabies are born in will remain with them for life. With each stage of their lives it will become exactly what they need at the time. First their crib...then a bouncing chair....then a place to hide precious treasures they discover. Finally, it will become their own young ones crib. Jada is discovering that she has a unique talent....she can control the fishies. Well..at least this one little fish that has been swimming around since her birth. Her momma told her that this was her very own companion and that she would stay with her throughout her lifetime. Jada hadn't picked out a name for her little companion until today. She whispered that she would love to have some pearls of her own...like her momma had. Swish....off little fishie swam to return with a string of beautiful pearls in her mouth...just for Jada. Jada was caught a bit off guard that fishie did as she asked and then she started to giggle. Little fishy just gave herself a name....Pearl!!!

Aren't Jada and Pearl just as cute as can be. Love the chubby little cheeks of young ones. Just makes you want to pinch them..hehe!!  If you read my previous post then you know that Jada has a very strong wire armature wrapped in tape and sealed in glue. She is one of my fully sculpted ooaks. From base to tip of her ringlets she sits at 4 1/4 inches. I did individual scales for her tail and then applies fine MICA powders before baking. I just love the sheen it gives them....like fish scales!! Pearl also has a strong wire armature underneath her fully sculpted clay body. She also has a coating of fine MICA powders as well. The string of pearls are vintage...they were taken from an old wedding veil. I love re purposing items. Her shell is a natural sea shell that has been attached to a spiral wire base. Jada is permanently attached to her shell. She is a collector's item and not a toy so handle her with care. You never know what she might tell Pearl to do if you don't. ^_^

Thank you for coming to visit the old Southern ooaks tree today. I hope you will come back again soon. Until next time........HUGS,

Regi

Morning Glory...Butterfly Faerie

Tiny little butterfly fluttering about

tending the garden 

with a bright morning shout

Morning Glories a opening

raising sleepy little heads

knowing that the morning

brings sunshine to their beds

Tiny little butterfly fluttering her wings

is in fact a tiny faerie 

listen to her sing

She goes where she pleases

and pleases as she goes

Tiny little faerie

shhhhh...no one else knows

My sweet Li'l Morning Glory is now complete. I could keep on rhyming....just look at those cute little feet.  Ok...I will stop or at least I will try. Once I start rhyming it's just so dang hard to stop. There...that last sentence didn't rhyme. Ha!! 

Morning Glory is one of my partial clay sculpted faeries. Her body from waist down and her arms are part of her strong wire armature wrapped in a soft wool yarn. Her chest/bodice is made from clay to look like butterfly wings. As always, she is completely hand sculpted...no molds....ever!!! I used a vintage lace to make her Victorian puffed sleeves. (both at her shoulders, wrist and around the legs of her tiny wool jumper.) Her shoulders and leg cuffs are adorned with glass seed beads. She is hand painted using acrylic paints....even her tiny fingernails and toenails. Her eyes are tiny bone beads hand painted and her hair is made from feathers. The wings are one of my butterfly designs...made from silk ribbon and glass seed beads. Her flower she is holding is made from clay and then hand painted using acrylic paints. She sits at about 5 1/2 inches with her feathery hair. Hey...a girl's gotta have some poof in her do, even a tiny faerie!! 

I used a vintage porcelain figurine of morning glories blooming as her base. I love to find these at estate sales and antique malls. I can remember my great grandmother, grandmother and even my mom proudly displaying their porcelain pieces. I want to find a way to bring them back to life so they can again proudly be displayed.

Without any more words I will just let the photos show you more. Thank you for stopping by to visit...you are always welcome here under the old oak tree. Please come again and again and ..........ya'll get the meaning!!!

Until next time............Hugs, Regi

Boo Hoo!!

Boo Hoo...Boo Hoo, what a sad sad day

It seems this artist has run outa of clay

My muse is whispering for me not to fret

She has an idea that is a sure sure bet

Some paper, a pencil and hearing my muse

it seems I have drawn a critter to use

I love to sculpt with my clay, as anyone that knows me, knows that to be true but it's not the only thing that I can do. OMGOSH...I'm still rhyming....sorry!! ^_^  Let me shake it off. (standing up....shaking my head all around) OUCH...ok enough of that.Now I'm dizzier than normal. HEY...no comment on that subject. I heard that!!  It is true that I have used all of my clay and since the Hubbikins seems to be actually cleaning his pockets out before he puts his pants in the washer. Dang it So nice of him. My pickle jar is a tad bit low. (pickle jar...where I hide put any and all loose change I find...which use to be in the Hubbikins pants pockets that he forgot about) 

Being an artist is what I am...and it's also how I keep myself grounded....as in...it makes for a great "THERAPY" session. Keeps me sane...most of the time. In thinking about some of my past sessions work, I remembered some of the fabric critters I use to enjoy designing, sewing and painting. In moving it seems I have lost my pattern folder so I just sat down and started doodling some new ones. I use the term "doodling" as I don't really think of myself as the kind of artist that can draw...just stating a fact!! Anyways, here are some of my doodlings so far.................

This one will be a monkey. I keep my designs simple....very very simple. Can ya tell? HeHe  I'm thinking that I might even make a banana to go with him...attach it to a string to one of his arms. I mean..a monkey has to eat or he could go APE!! 

This of course is a FROG. I love frogs and being the mom of a true ALL AMERICAN boy..it's a very good thing that I do!! Can't ya just hear him saying "Ribbet"? Thinking of frogs...I use to make small clay ones and give them as inspirational gifts to friends that were feeling blue. Now....I know what you are probably thinking. "Perhaps Regi has gone insane...what do frogs have to do with inspiration?" Well, let me tell you. On the bottom of each frog I would write the word FROG and I would attach a tag that explained why I was giving them a frog. Here is what the tag would say.....

Fully Rely on God

                                                                           

                                                                             

This smiling fella is a cat. I bet the body pattern looks funny to ya, huh? Well...it does on paper but once sewed up...it looks kinda cute. Kinda like this......

 I have to get him or her all painted up and then I will show just what my fabric critters really look like. I really like this body design and I thought of another creature that would look cute with it. Can ya guess what it might be? 

 Why...it's PUFF the magic dragon of course. I think he will look so cute with this body...like he is laying around just waiting for some mischief magic to get into. 

These make such cute gifts to give. You can paint them and leave them just painted. Perfect for a little boy to have a playmate for all those monster battles. You can paint them and then make cute clothes for them. Perfect for those little girls and their afternoon tea parties. Also, one of the things that I have done with them in the past is to let them become Tooth Faery helpers. Paint them and then make 2 small bags to go with them. Each bag is painted alike with a tooth. You place one of the bags around the critters neck with the lost tooth in it. They hold the tooth in the bag to keep it safe until the Tooth Faery comes to collect it. Then the Tooth Faery (that's you by the way) replaces the bag with the tooth in it with the extra bag with money inside. Just a hint too....a quarter won't cut it these days....believe me...I know...the Chazman expected at least a dollar..LOL!!!

I'm so happy that my muse sings so many different ideas to me......I would so hate to go completely insane and mistakenly squish her due to post traumatic artist syndrome. How do YOU keep sane?

Until next time.......HUGS, Regi