It's definitely a Monday!!

Happy Monday morning.....NOT!!!! Ok to YOU I do wish a happy Monday but for me.....well....it seems I ate some bad chicken livers yesterday and am paying the ultimate price. BLAHHHH!!! Don't like being sick, not at all, especially when it's the way my grandmother use to put it, "both ends be a running for the hills". Yeah, probably to much FYI...sorry!!

I was able to work on Glenda yesterday BEFORE I ate the livers and she now has her petticoat and poofy skirt. (yes yes Johanna.....to hide those witchie necessities she might need....hehe and yes, your comment post counted. Silly dragonlady)

She be a styling, ri iight? I'm working on making some eyelashes for her. Not sure they are going to work out but if they do then I will share a how to. Just in case some of my artist friends are in need of making some themselves......remember....I love to share. Hopefully, I can get her dreads put on today and work on her fancy witch hat I have planned.

When I was downloading these two images to share with you it seems that another image was snapped. Now I only took these two and no others so it's a bit puzzling to me. I always put my camera back in the desk drawer so that Piwacket doesn't decide to get to curious and check it out. HaHa   It's of the top of my desk but it seems that "someone" wanted their pic taken. Do you see them?

I know that we have some spirits here with us and thankfully they are sweet, kind ones or have been for the past two years. If you come to visit often under the old Southern ooak tree then you have seen an image of several orbs that were intrigued by Christmas decorations I had been given last November. If ya don't remember or haven't seen them then just click HERE. I have always had at least one with me since I moved out on my own some....well....we'll just say a good long time ago...bahahaha...and as long as they behave then I don't mind having them about at all. It seems my Chazman can sense them as well so hopefully they are just guardians to us and who wouldn't want a guardian watching over them?

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

Ahhh....story is a changing!!!

Good Sunday morning peoples!! I hope today is filled with sunshine, cool breezes, some sand between your toes and a treasure trove of Mother Nature's bounty. That means get out and enjoy the outdoors today. Vitamin D and vitamin Sea are good for a soul.

As ya'll know I helped out at Beach Reflections yesterday and I must say...I'm so enjoying meeting all the interesting folks coming in. (waving at my new friends from Mobile) I'm going to be helping out again tomorrow too so come on in and visit and SHOP...make me look like a good luck charm peoples. ^_^

While sitting in the shop yesterday my mind kept going to my newest sculpt and I must admit that I do believe this witch is more on the dark side than just a sweet little old hag giving away candy. I don't want to give to much away at this point but let's just say.....there is a twist to this piece and I don't just mean the twisted lollipop I'm using as one of the props. Bahahahaha!!! Once I got home I did a bit of tweaking on her face. A new snarl smile, a bigger nose (all the better to smell little children with my dearie), a pointed chin and of course a mole or two that will have a few hairs that need trimming.

Now....is that a snarl or is she speaking out of the side of her mouth at someone.....or something??

I'm going to get her hands done today and hopefully start on the trick or treater this afternoon. I want to get them baked so that I can get them detailed and their costuming started. Oh what a great day it's going to be and before you say "Regi....ya need to follow your earlier advice" be assured that I will at least enjoy some vitamin D throughout the day. Ya'll know I have to get up outa dis old chair and dance every now and then. 

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!!

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 ^_^

Dragon is complete...YEA!!

I finally finished the last Tooth Faerie assistant.....the dragon!! I still have to make their little tooth pouches and hopefully will get those completed tomorrow afternoon.

While I was working on the dragon and waiting for the paint to dry in between applications I was able to work on the newest Santa ooaks.

Santa is clapping because he's just so happy that he has at least part of his underclothing on...hehe!! I hope to get the legs done tonight or in the morning.

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

Zombie time starting soon..MUAHAHAHAHA!!

Well...I guess there really is no need for me to apologize for letting so much time slip by yet AGAIN between postings. I think everyone has figured out by now that the time in Regiville passes by a tad bit different than else where...hehehe!!

I have been working on a group of my traditional lil mummy candy containers for the Chazman's classmates for next month. (Halloween is only 34 days away..WOOT WOOT) If you are new to visiting under the old Southern ooak tree then click HERE to see a "HOW TO" on making some mummies of your own.  As well as working on these lil guys I am also working on my Tooth Faery helpers for the Angel program...as well as ribbon barrettes and pins. Busy, Busy, BUSY I am!!!  I promise some WIP photos of these projects soon. I also have a few more witches planned for my 2013 Witch series that I needed to get started on too. One of my sweet friends and ooaks collectors stopped by yesterday and adopted Bella, the dragonfly witch ooaks. I was sooo excited!! I so love making my ooaks but really love when others love them too.

I have to put my muse aside for a few days as I am starting one of two deep cleans that will take me through Thursday...I think...probably...hopefully before then. (I clean beach houses and condos...so love my job) I'm sure that by the time I finish with these I am going to feel like part of the Zombie apocalypse...MUHAHAHA

Until next time..........munch, munch ummm I mean HUGS,
Regi

Newest Lil witch....Tabitha

It's so hard finding a quiet spot to just sit and read. I mean, every good witch has to have time to learn her spells and it sure can't be done with a bunch of jibbering, jabbering adolescents around. Tabitha just happens to be one of those adolescents but one that is wise beyond her years. She loves to study and learn new spells and she finally found a nice quiet place up in the attic to do just that. All she has to do is use her wand, say her incantation "Let light rise out of darkness" and "POOF" her skellieabra is all aglow.

Tabitha is the newest lil witch in my 2013 Halloween witch series. She has a strong wire armature that was wrapped in wool yarn. Her face, torso, hands, feet and boots were hand sculpted using clay. (No molds are ever used in my character sculpts) Her face, eyes and boots were hand painted using acrylic paints. Her bustier and boots were washed with acrylic paints to give it that vintage look. Her hair is dyed wool yarn and is curled to look like dreadlocks. (All the fashionable witches are wearing their hair like that this year. ^_^)
Her costume was hand sewn using some of my vintage fabrics and tulle. Her witch's hat was made from felt and adorned with some of the tulle and fabric same as her dress. Tabitha sits on a wooden base that was painted black and a piece of tulle with felt pumpkins attached as the rug. Her skellieabra, wand and books were all handmade from clay as well. She sits right at 6 inches from the bottom of her base to the tip of her hat.

I enjoy designing and making my little whimsical characters. I always show you a few WIP photos as a tease when I'm working on one and thought I would show you a few more as Tabitha started to come to life.

Tabitha can be found in my Etsy shop and I promise she will make a wonderful new addition to your home. She has already promised me to be a very good lil witch!!

My muse has already started whispering about more ooaks to add to this series but I told her she just had to shhhhhhush for now. I'm going to be spending the rest of the week getting everything cleaned, organized and set up for our yard sale this weekend. WOW....have we ever collected a lot of junk ummmm I mean treasures..hehe!! I may make a few necklaces after dinnertime for the next few nights (I just have to stay busy busy ya know) some of my beach sand ones and I"m thinking about making a few magic wand and potion bottle ones too. What do YOU think?

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

It's Christmas in July here under the old Southern Ooaks tree.

It's Christmas time!!! OH NOOOOO....don't panic...it's not December yet. It is however, Christmas in July here under the old Southern Ooaks tree. I have listed three of my original one of a kind Santa series in my Etsy shop and just for this month I have discounted them $50.00. I also ship FREE in the US...lower 48 and also will ship the least expensive I can internationally. After this month these three pieces will go back up to their original prices. Here are the three that are up for adoption. ^_^

Remember this lil lady....lil Miss LuLu?  If you are new visiting the old ooak tree then just click HERE and you can read all about this lil miss.

Every piece on this one was handmade by me. I so enjoyed stitching up Lulu's blanket and her little matching pillow. For some reason though every time I left the studio and came back she was jumping on the sofa..hehe

I so love to sculpt Santa. So much character in his old wise face. I never use molds for any of my pieces and I try to make sure each piece is a true one of a kind.

Santa is reading a real book to lil Miss Lulu....the Christmas ABC's. Hopefully she will fall asleep soon as Santa still has a very busy night ahead. (He will make sure that Lulu's is the last house he visits next year)

All the pieces are attached to one another and mounted onto a frame (not a frame though..it's now a floor). It would make a great addition to any Santa collectors collection. Santa and lil Miss LuLu!!!

The second ooaks is called Santa and his antique toys. I so love making tiny vintage toys. Tigers and elephant pull toys were very popular back in the early 1800's. I think they would be today too...especially if ya live here in Alabama. (Al the elephant-ALABAMA and Aubie the tiger-Auburn) I'm thinking of making a few Alabama and Auburn Santa's this year. We will see if the muse likes the idea. ^_^   Santa looks funny as just a head and hands, eh? Amazing how our pieces transform as we put them together.

Here is Santa in a WIP (work in progress) stage. I try and use vintage fabrics for all of Santa's clothes. I find them at antique stores, estate sales and sometimes yard sales believe it or not. Love when someone doesn't realize that what they think is old and junk is really a treasure. I even have a few friends that send me little packages with fabric they have and aren't going to use. THANK YOU too by the way and you know who you are. {{{HUGS}}} I know that some might think me a tad bit crazy (you sooo do not have to respond to that either by the way...HA) for making ruffled shirts or collars when most are covered up by Santa's jacket or cloak but I know it's there and so does Santa. I try and make a bit peek out here and there so you will know too.

Santa turned out quite handsome I do think....holding the antique toys going to good little boys and girls.

This would be another great piece to add to that someone special to you collection. Hint Hint!! Everything is permanently attached to Santa and his wooden base.

The last piece I have put in the Christmas in July sale is Santa and the Naughty Nice Book. I so enjoy putting Santa in arrangements that capture him in more than just the Christmas eve delivery theme. If you don't remember the original posting for this one then just click HERE.

I love how this Santa turned out...such a jolly old soul. You can just see the happy face as he his listening to the elf tell his stories of the children.

Here is the dreaded naughty nice ledger...well...I guess it would only be dreaded if ya knew you were going on the naughty list...hehe.

I used a oak base and hand etched the floor design. Had so much fun doing this. I'm thinking of etching more wood in the future.

All the pieces in this group are permanently attached to the floor base. Everything with the exception of the chair Santa is sitting in was handmade by me.

I know it's early for Christmas but it's NEVER to early to shop for those special folks that are collectors of all things Santa. Wouldn't it be great to give them a one of a kind piece?? Oh YES it would. ^_^

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

Two sales in a week..WOOT WOOT!!!

I am sooooo freakin excited!! Oh yes I am (doing the chacha dance) I sold TWO (that's 2) of my ooaks last week and am just tickled pink. A friend has been eyeing one of my Teacup faeries for some time now and even asked if I would send her hubbikins a link to it and drop a hint that she sure would like to have it for her birthday. Of course I couldn't disappoint my friend so I did just as she asked. Sent him an email with a link and told him that his wife had this on her birthday wish list and he would so be "THE MAN" if he got it for her. Not sure if telling him he would be "THE MAN" or if he just loves his wife that much but he bought it. Thank you thank you!!

Then....the very next day my sweet friend and Southern Ooaks collector, Jeanne, (she has a great blog herself...YOU should go and check it out...ya'll will LOVE her) bought my mermaid and seahorse piece for her daughter for her birthday. So LOVE birthdays!!! So love that these two thought about my work for birthday gifts. Thank you thank you...AGAIN!!! ^_^

Jeanne was my first collector and will always hold a special place in my heart because of that. (Not to slight any of my other collectors...I love ya'll too) She has adopted several of my ooaks and she makes me feel so special that she keeps coming back to adopt more. I also consider her a friend and for the past several years I have had the joy of watching her Bella grow up through photos and videos. Bella is a one of a kind herself and always makes me giggle or smile. She is a little beauty already and has the most gorgeous head full of hair.....a head full that would look amazing wearing one of my hairbows. I mean...I love making them...and for some reason I can not get the Chazman to wear any...hehe (Just kidding, I would never try that..he is definitely a male...through and through...plus he got his long hair cut short...ROFL...I still wouldn't try it though) Since it seems that Jeanne is partial to my mermaids I thought a ocean theme would be perfect for the bows. Yeppers, I made two of them. I have had this scarf with such amazing colors and sea prints on it that I have been saving and am so glad I did....save it!! I turned it into a pretty bow and then put one of the spiral seashells I found on one of my walks. For the other one, I used a bright teal ribbon....bunched it up and then made a vintage lace center and attached two more shells found on a beach walk (a moon shell and a cockle shell) I also filled one of my lil glass vials with sand from Gulf Shores and attached that to it as well. I so hope Bella likes them and will wear them....and often!!

I so love giving a little something special when someone buys several of my ooaks. I also put some of my regular paper bookmarks, paper corner bookmarks and a little bag of shells in the box too. Along with a little something just for Jeanne. Hope she finds it a purrrrfect little gift. HEHE ^_^

Yesterday was my mailing day it seems too. I mailed both of these purchases off as well as a goodie box to my sweet friend, Johanna, who by the way is writing a very interesting twist on a Dr Who story. If you're a fan of Dr Who, please go and read her version. I'm reading it and so loving it!! Go sit and read for a bit....I promise you will enjoy it!! (Click Here...to be taken on a wonderful adventure) As far as the goodie box goes I can not tell ya what's in it because Johanna is probably reading this post and even though she knows she is getting a goodie box (YES YES I just couldn't keep that a secret from her..dang it) she doesn't know what's in it. I know....I'm baddddd!!!!  :P

I also mailed out three other small packages to three of my artist friends that played the "Pay it forward" game on Facebook back in December. I so hope they like their little gifts and this I am keeping a secret and not saying who the three were and what they are getting. HEY...I told ya I was baddddd...hehe

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

Seahorse love....Nerissa and Nixie

The ocean is a fascinating world and if we could only see everything that happens beneath the waves. It's an enchanting realm filled with delight and wonder.....more than most of us could even begin to imagine. If only our world above the waves could get along together as well as the one below the waves....every creature great and small living in harmony and peace...caring for each other...protecting each other and loving each other as all families should.

Two such creatures that share the sea and are totally devoted to one another are Nerissa and Nixie. A sweet, tiny little mermaid and her constant companion, a seahorse named Nixie. Ohhhh, the adventures these two have together. Hunting for old shipwrecks and gathering up treasures galore.

Narissa and Nixie are one of my original Southern Ooaks designs in the mermaid series. Each one has a strong wire armature underneath their fully hand sculpted bodies. Narissa's face was detailed using acrylic paints along with fine MICA powders. Her eyes, hand painted on bone beads. Her hair is dyed pulled wool yarn. Her tata covers are natural shells found on one of our walks on the beach in Gulf Shores, AL. Her tail was detailed using fine MICA powders mixed with a glaze that gives it that wet look. Nixie was detailed using acrylic paints and sealed for protection. Both sculpts are attached with a wire base to a natural sea urchin. The white bottom base has been covered in German glass to give it that sandy look. They sit at 5 inches from base to the tip of Narissa's flowing locks.

These two sweet characters will be available in my Etsy shop. I have free shipping in the US and will ship everywhere else the lowest I can. I hope these two whisper to you.......take us home!!!

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