Bump de Bump de bump!!!!

I guess ya'll have figured out why there hasn't been a post for a few day, yes? I told ya I was addicted and please help me...cause I just can't STOP!!!   For those just visiting today for the first time...I am addicted to making ornaments...just so ya know..hehe

I have had some commission orders for them and that has kept me busy and that's a GOOD thing!!! That I had some orders not keeping busy. I'm always busy piddling and a potching doing sumthin!!! (one of those Southern sayings)

One of my best friends and the mother of my godson contacted me and wanted me to do a special ornament in remembrance of her twins (a boy and girl) she had recently lost. This one was hard to do, thinking about my sweet friend having to deal with the sadness and loss of her precious little ones. She is a strong woman and even though the loss hurt, she knew that God decided to call them back home to be with him. I love you Ber!!!

Next, I had a request for a group of angels. I love making my angels. I'm getting to use some items that I have had for some time now....just sitting in a box....covered in dust. It feels so good to be able to share some of my treasures with others. A good bit of my images come from one AWEmazing site, The Graphics Fairy. (like my favorite and most requested angel face) If you're looking for vintage images please make sure to go and check out Karen's site.

Another wanted Santa....lots and lots of Santas!!! I'm really happy with how this grouping turned out. They are so beary cute, eh?  HeHe  The last one is for "Baby's First Christmas" and I love the little vintage baby image I had.

This one I'm making to hang on our tree. (I can of course make one for YOU too...just sayin) I love candy canes and was told the story when I was young about what it represented this time of year. I know it's hard to read on here so here's what the ornie says:

Look at a Candy cane, what do you see?

Stripes that are red, like the blood shed for me.

White is for my Savior

Who's sinless and pure.

"J" is for Jesus

My Lord, that's for sure

Turn it around and a staff 

you will see

Jesus my sheperd

was born for me

Have you ordered YOUR chenille bump ornies yet? Ohhh I'm just kidding...well...no, I'm not actually. ^_^

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

I'm having soooo much FUN peoples!!!!

I can NOT believe that I haven't been making the chenille bump ornies all these years. Why...oh why...did I put them away? I'm so happy happy I got them back out to play...hehe

Thursday nights are football time for the mister...which means HE has total control of the remote and we WILL be watching football!! I don't mind especially since my addiction to making my ornies is back and is not going to be dealt with for sometime. HEY....I could be addicted to a whole lot worse, ri iight??  I made quite a few last night while saying "go go go" (had to make the mister at least think I was watching) and here they are:

These three new little angels will be added to two I did yesterday...which will make five little angels..hehehe  I had a request for five angels...YEAH!!! I love that someone loves my art so much they ask if they can purchase it. Makes me feel like my therapy isn't a waste. ^_^

This lil Rudolph is the same one...I didn't make two because...well...I need another ink cartridge so I can print off some more of the vintage images. Good reason, eh? He will hang on the tree or stand up to be used in a Christmas scene. Until I can print some more of this image off...the Chazman has claimed this one as his own. If anyone is interested I plan on getting a new cartridge this weekend so I can make some more. He is $4 plus travel fare. (I accept Paypal...just message me if interested in Rudolph or any of my ornies)

Wouldn't this one be just perfect for a couples first Christmas together? I fell in love with the postcard and just had to find a way to use it. Again....once I can print off some things, (not having any colored ink really really stinks) I want to make a paper banner to say "Our First Christmas 2013".

This Santa has been out gathering snow for Mrs Claus. He doesn't mind..he would do anything for Mrs. Claus. Besides, it gives him time to smoke his pipe and enjoy the new fallen snow.

Most of my ornies I'm selling for $4 each. There are a few that will cost a little bit more due to some of the items I'm using with them. In this group it would be this last Santa. He is holding a real glass vial filled with vintage MICA flakes. He is $5.

Now as a gift for anyone that adopts one of my ooaks (one of a kind sculpts) from my Etsy shop, I will give them four of my ornies for free....as a Thank You gift. If you purchase one of my jewelry pieces then I will add one of them as a gift.

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

Santa and the Antique Toys.

Most think of Santa as that "little old driver, so lively and quick" as the old stories go....but....he truly is the one and only original elf. The ONE, the TOYMAKER, the MASTER himself.

He carved out of wood or hammered and nailed some amazing toys that I can guarantee never sat on a shelf.

He read all the letters of each little child and took his designing with all that in mind. There were little carved trucks for the good lil boys and hand stitched dollies for all the lil sweet girls.

There were even some pull toys made with love and care, like elephants and tigers and polar bears. Beware!

The toy that Santa favored and loved the most of all was a sweet lil elf he hide in a box. A box with a crank that would turn in a circle...would make the elf POP and make the children all giggle.

Santa the toymaker we should never forget or his amazing antique toys that throughout the years have brought joy to so so many girls and boys.

That little old driver so lively and quick is one to BELIEVE in whatever his hat. Elf or toymaker, he's in our hearts from childhood to adulthood. What else could be better than believing in that!!

Santa and the Antique toys are one of Southern Ooaks original designs. Sculpted by hand without the use of any molds are his head, hands and feet. A strong wire armature underneath with a body wrapped in wool yarn. His hair and beard are sheared lambswool. His costume made from vintage fabrics. Some toys were found here and there and some were hand sculpted with love and care.

This Santa has  been adopted and is going to live with a wonderful family. I hope they have as much joy with him during the Christmas holidays as I did designing and sculpting him. Safe travels Santa!!!!

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



I some how didn't do a story for this ooaks when he was originally done so now he has one....whew...I feel better!!

Santa just LOVES those candy canes!!!

It's November and Santa loves this time of year. It's the time that he gets to take out of his busy schedule to go and let the children meet him and whisper to him what they so most want for Christmas. Nothing delights the jolly old elf as much as seeing the brightness in their eyes and catching the contagion of their giggles.  For years he has given each child a small gift after they have given him either their one wish for that truck or doll or have unfolded that almost never ending list of toys. HOHOHO  That gift is a specially large size candy cane that the elves themselves make at the North Pole. They are simply magical and none other taste as good.

This year Santa had a small mishap with one very giggly little girl and one big old sticky candy cane. Little Khloe was SO excited that she was going to meet Santa this year and get to tell him that she wanted a big cuddly teddy bear. That's all she wanted....just that bear....she could call all her own. Khloe already had a big soft bunny and a bright yellow tiger and she needed Mr Bear to complete her tea party group. I mean, what's a tea party without Mr Bear, ri iight?? Khloe giggled the entire time she whispered to Santa and squealed with outright delight when Santa said he felt sure "if she had been a good girl all year" that a teddy would be under her tree on Christmas morn. As Santa handed Khloe her candy cane, she took a lick and then stuck it up to Santa's face so he could get one too. Unfortunately, Santa was already starting to stand and nodding down at her and instead of getting a lick, his beard got it. Now you would think there would have been a moment of silence but like I said before.....giggles are contagious and everyone started to laugh.

Santa and Khloe are part of my 2013 Santa ooaks series. Santa has a strong wire armature that has been wrapped in wool white yarn. What I call his underclothing. His face, hands and feet were hand sculpted using clay without the use of any molds. He is detailed in acrylic paints and his eyes are bone beads that have been hand painted using acrylic and fine MICA powders. His beard and hair were made out of sheared lambswool. His suit was sewn using vintage fabrics and the trim used was made from faux fur. His boots were hand sewn using felt. Santa even has a gold wedding band on. Mrs. Claus would expect no less!!!

Khloe has a strong wire armature that has been wrapped in green hued wool yarn. Her face, hands and feet/shoes were hand sculpted from clay without the use of any molds. She was detailed using acrylic paints and her eyes are also bone beads hand painted using acrylic and fine MICA powders. Her dress was sewn from a pretty vintage embroidered napkin. I so love being able to repurpose items. Her hair was made out of sheared llama hair. Her candy cane was sculpted from clay and detailed using acrylic paints.

Santa and Khloe are sitting in a twig chair that has a heart back pillow and seat pillow that were hand sewn. The chair is sitting on a rug made from a piece of upholstery fabric. Again, I so love to repurpose items. ^_^
Both are permanently attached to a small wooden base that has this piece sitting at 13 inches. Santa and Khloe are permanently attached to the chair and to each other. We don't want a toddler jumping down and running off now do we....NO...I think not!!

Now if you have been following along with the designing of this piece then I bet you are wondering if I  have totally lost it OR did you even notice something changed?  HAHA...you didn't even notice. OK ok Johanna, I'm sure YOU did. ^_^  The lil girl's name was Sarah J but her name has been changed to protect..oh wait...that would be for another tale (tall tale...hehe) her name was changed to Khloe because one of my dear, sweet friends and collectors fell in love with her the moment she saw her. The reason was because she reminded her of her sweet, darlin great granddaughter...who's name is....YES....Khloe!!! Since she wanted to adopt this piece then I felt that I really should change the name. I want my collectors HAPPY HAPPY!!
My muse has already been whispering of another ooaks that lil Sarah J will definitely be a part of in the future.

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

Psssttt....one of Mrs. Claus recipes for using some of the candy canes that are left!! So so good!!

No Bake Candy Cane Cheesecake Bites

Ingredients:
1 pint chilled heavy cream
3 (4 oz each) packages of cream cheese softened to room temp
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1-1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/2 cup crushed candy cane

Directions:
*Spray a mini muffin tin with nonstick cooking spray and set aside.
*Pour heavy cream into a bowl and with the whisk attachment whip cream until soft peaks form. Gently transfer whipped cream to a separate bowl and set aside.
*Using the original mixing bowl combine cream cheese, sugar and vanilla and with the paddle attachment gently beat until fluffy. Using spatula fold whipped heavy cream into the cream cheese mixture.
*Divide mixture among the muffin tins and smooth down with back of a spoon. Sprinkle the candy canes on top and gently press down into batter.
*Place in freezer for 6-8 hours or overnight. When ready to serve, tap tin on countertop to release bites. Transfer each one to a small foil mini cupcake holder.

*Makes 24 (betcha can't eat just one...hehe)

Santa looks like a biker dude!!!

WOW...another chilly morning here on the suppose to be warm southern coast.  I'm not complaining AT ALL about it either. I do love chilly weather....in small doses. hehe

I have been waking up rather early in the mornings and this morning was no exception. The house was quiet and that's a great time to work on my projects. Ya know right now it's Santa. Yesterday I put part of his coat together, got the pearl buttons sewn on and trimmed around the bottom in fur (faux fur)  This morning I cut out his hat, sewed it up and trimmed it in fur. After I took a WIP photo for my post I thought to myself, "Santa looks kinda like a biker dude".  LOL  Hmmmm....that might be a future ooaks!!

I plan on getting  him completed this morning. Since the Mister is at work now and the Chazman has been taken to school...the house is again....quiet!! Well, as quiet as it can be with my two furbabies sitting here either snoring or dreaming of a caught mouse and licking their lips...ROFL  I was actually able to get a good one of Boo this morning. She normally turns away from me or hides when she sees the camera but not this morning. Gotcha ya!!!  Well not ya as in you but ya as in her. Ohhh ya'll know what I meant!!

Her fur is soooo black that it's hard to see her. Sooo black in some areas that it actually looks red. She is a love though and I'm so happy that she and her companion Callie adopted us.

Now....time for more coffee and work, work, work. I hope that your day will be a great one. Do something FUN today!!

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

Do you remember visiting Santa? Loveman's in Normandale, oh yeah!!

WELL...... it seems that the Mister must have dreamt that he was a mummy last night. I came to that conclusion due to the fact that  I awoke this morning with no covers and icicles hanging from my ears. Ok ok perhaps there were no icicles but it was purty dang COLD and I didn't have any covers. The Mister had
totally and completely wrapped himself up in them...like a mummy!!  I so hope that YOU don't sleep with a
mummy too....so so hope!!

I'm sitting here drinking my THIRD cup of coffee and not sure if I'm doing it because I love coffee that much or if I'm just wanting to hold the mug to warm my fingers up so that I can work on Santa some more...hehe
So far....Santa has pants!! YEAH...that's a good thing because it's to cold to be running around NEKKID!! He also has his boots on which is another good thing....keeps those tootsies warm. (HEHE...I actually have on TWO pair of socks. Do you know how hard it is to put flip flops on with TWO pair of socks?) I'm working on the trim to go around the top part of his boots. I'm using thin white cording and doing a twisted square knot. I think it looks really good...adds some "UMPH" to his boots.

I think Santa was trying to blow his breath on his hands to warm them up.

I'm hoping once my hands thaw out..HAHAHA ummm I mean HOHOHO...that I'm going to get this guy finished. I already have his coat and hat cut out. I just need to get them sewn up and on him. I haven't done a traditional dressed Santa in quite some time. Do you remember going to see Santa...sitting on his lap and whispering to him what you really wanted for Christmas? Yes..I whispered...I was soo shy!!  Loveman's department store in the Normandale shopping center was were the REAL Santa always came and I have some very fond memories and a few not so fond. Like the year one of my sisters SCREAMED the whole time she was sitting with him and the elf taking the photo just said "SMILE".  Yeppers, she took that photo with my face being very "What can I do" and my sister balling her little eyes out. Like I said....memories and why this Santa will be in his red fur lined outfit.

The REAL Santa at Loveman's in the Normandale Shopping Center.

I wanted to ask a question. When do YOU decorate for Christmas? I have always, always done ours the weekend after Thanksgiving. It's become a tradition but I have to say that after yesterday I'm having a very hard time fighting the urge to start decorating NOW!!!! It makes it even harder when the Chazman is begging me to do it now too. The reason is not that I'm working on a Santa...if it was then my house would stay decorated all year long...hehe!! It's because our sweet and loving friend, Janine, brought us some goodies yesterday. Thank you thank you Moma J (that's what the Chazman calls her...she is such an awesome adopted Grandmother) 

Can ya believe all the goodies? Chaz is really excited about the 4ft tall Santa. He isn't up to his full height sitting in the box...hehe  This Santa sings songs and dances and you can even hook him up to your radio and he will sing with that. AWWWESOME!!! There are two trees...one is 4ft and going to be sitting in Regi's B&B (the front sunroom) and the 5ft one that has fiber optics and turns is going in the Chazman's room. There are gumdrop lights (what Chaz calls color lights because when you look at them and squint they look like "Gumdrops") there are some vintage peppermint candy light covers, some cranberry/gingerbread men/peppermint garland and many more. I will show you more when I do decorate which might be soon. No, I will wait....umm....maybe. ^_^ 

 Now...I have a question, do you see the orb by the dresser? I took about three photos of this same shot and this is the only one it appears in. I have two friends that are "sensitive" to spirits and have made the comment that we have a few that like being here with us. I think one wanted to check out the decorations too, eh?  Ohhh and the fuzzy little thing in the bottom left corner, that's not a spirit...that's Callie. She loves having her picture made....such a ham. Boo doesn't like it so much!!

Until next time......Hugs,

Regi 

WOW..where did my beach weather go???

It's a Saturday. The sun is out. A slight breeze is blowing the leaves on the trees I can see outside my window. The girls were laying on a cabinet watching a squirrel dart up and down one of those trees and let me know they wanted to go outside. .I open the back door......WHAT??  They take one step outside and then dart back in. Good Golly Miss Molly....it's 47 degrees outside!!! If two females with beautiful fur coats can't deal with it then I guess it means I will be wearing my flip flops with socks today. HEHE

I do love the brisk weather, when we do actually have some, and I'm going to fully enjoy it this morning. The house is quiet as the Mister and the Chazman are both snuggled under their covers like we live in the Arctic or sumthin...so that gives me some ME time. I'm going to use it to work on my current Santa piece. Here's what I have so far.

Their bodies are wrapped. Their faces are detailed and I even have lil Miss Sarah's dress completed. Well...it's not in this photo but it actually is now..hehe   I'm working on her pantaloons and then all I have to do is attach her hair. I made my little wisp last night so that they would have time to dry. What are little wisp, you ask? That's the sections of hair you make to apply to your sculpt. Makes it soooo much easier than trying to apply a bunch at a time. I found a really great tutorial over at Doll Makers Dream if YOU want to learn how. Matter of fact...she offers several free tutorials on doll making. Thank you Amanda!!

Thank you for coming to sit with me for a bit. I hope if you are new you will wander around and visit some of my other posts. I promise to be entertaining!! For my old friends (NOT that I am calling you old but that you have been visiting for awhile) thank you so much for stopping by. I so love visitors!!  Now, it's back to working or playing or OHHHH it's so nice to work at something that feels like playing. ^_^

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

WIP on Santa and his sticky beard!!

Good Morning!!! It's FRIDAY!!! WOOT WOOT!!!! I love the weekends and this is a long one for the Chazman. No school on Monday, it's Veteran's Day!! Remember to say "THANK YOU" to all those that have served in the Armed Forces.

I worked on Santa and the little stinker with the candy cane (hehe) and got quite far along with them yesterday. Wire armatures were made and then each one was wrapped up like a mummy. ^_^   I did have to take some time to redo lil stinkers left hand. Why you ask? Well....it's because I made two left hands. I could have possibly understood two left feet  but two left hands. Geez!! I can't believe I didn't notice it before I baked the pieces. Oh well, I got another one made and the extra left hand will go into the body parts box. Yes, yes...stop laughing, it's not the first time I  have done this. ^_^

I even got the pillow made for the chair Santa will be sitting in. I'm using a twig chair. I just love that kind of furniture. I would love some that WE could sit in to be honest. I love it that much!!

Now...off to work on these two some more. I'm sure Santa is sooooo excited about having a candy cane stuck in his beard...hehe

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

Teaser Post: Santa and his sticky beard!!

Good Thursday Morning!!! (it IS Thursday, ri iight?) Oh I know it is because I marked off my calendar this morning. That's the only way I truly do know what day it is. There have been a few times that me marking it off got me into trouble because....well...someone else had marked it thinking they were doing me a favor. Kinda like the Mister does from time to time and now that I think about it I bet he does it to be funny. HA!!

As you read yesterday, Santa and the ceramic sleigh are all finished which means I was able to start on the next Santa piece. Santa and his sticky beard!! Why does Santa have a sticky beard? Well...make sure you come back to visit and I will tell ya then. ^_^

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

Regi


Let's see who reads my post or at least looks at the pretty pictures...hehe!!  The 10th person to make a comment on this post will receive one of my turtle necklaces.

You don't have to jump through any hoops....just make a comment to let me know that you came to visit. Make sure you leave an email addy so that I can get in touch with you to get your snail mail. Just my way of saying "Thank YOU" for making my day a better one by taking the time to drop by and letting me know you did ^_^