MY FAVORITE PLACE

My Favorite Place

Life is funny

When I was younger, I would tell my friends, I would some day live in the country

near a farm, a reclusive artist

Far away from the big city!

and it all came true

I have a dream Studio, with lots of light that looks out on a farm

Which makes me a very happy reclusive artist

I spend 10 hours a day in my favorite place

making dolls, sewing, designing

today I moved my doll house into my space

if she is close by, I'll work on her renovation

come in

have a visit

working on a million projects at once

through the curtains is a huge screened room

that is great for watching birds

I have only been in this studio for five years

but the faerie population is growing

finally sat down and sewed a little

my new dolls are awaiting frilly dresses

just hanging out in

My Favorite Place

DAISEY AND THE FIELD FAERIES

Daisey is a very old wise Field Troll

I always know Summer has arrived

when Daisey comes into the yard

she brought two Petti-Coat Field Faeries

pretty lacy sisters

with sun-streaked hair

whispering and telling secrets

a wonderful afternoon

telling Country Stories

These two soft jointed dolls are now in my shop

Daisey was created 12 years ago from a pattern designed by

Ute and her Trolls

COUNTRY FRENCH FAERIES

The light in Florida is Pink in the Summertime

it casts a warm glow on everything

Summertime pleasures

sipping pink lemonade, cotton candy at the County Fair

summer breezes drying sheets hanging in the yard

feather flying, giggling and squealing

Country French Faeries

playing hide and seek

chasing chickens around the flapping sheets

sparkle fluttering wings

so cool in baby blues

and pretty pink up-doos

Country Faeries

playing in the yard

such fun to watch

soft and pretty

Country French Faeries

are now in my shop

AFTERNOON TEA WITH FAERIES

So much for Spring-time

Summer has arrived in Central Florida

warm sultry afternoons

and a gentle breeze blowing over the farmlands

it seemed to be, a perfect time for Tea!

I love afternoon tea, girlie little jelly sandwiches

and tea smelling of flowers

I set up my tea service

and headed out to the lanai

The Faeries were already out waiting for me

Tea time is always a good reason to put on a lacy frock

and listen to singing Mouses and tiny twittering birds

and of course, catch up on all the faerie gossip

a wicker carriage carrying all the Tea Cup Faeries

added so much more fun for all the girls

relaxing the afternoon away

'Tea with Faeries'

My New Collection of Tea Fairys are now in my shop

IL DIVO MOUSES

Recently, one of my favorite Doll Artists Paola Zakimi

ran a Tutorial: making a doll face

I popped in a favorite CD IL Divo Ancora

and followed along

I had too much fun, along with much giggling

paper clay mouse heads

musical cloth bodies

and IL Divo Mouses were born

and they now reside in my Studio Theater

singing away the day!

THE IRISH CASTLE & DOLLHOUSE STORIES

The Irish Castle is celebrating its 125th year

I grew up in the neighborhood where the Givens Castle sits majestically on a hill

I lived in this old Chicago neighborhood for 20 years

and never went inside the Castle

The Castle has had several owners over the years

It is now owned by a Church

On my recent trip home

my good friend was able to get a tour inside!

I was so excited

These are some of the Pictures of the Castle

from past years

It was a family home

Givens the original owner, a Irish Gentleman

Had many lavish parties, I also found out that the dungeon of a basement once held a Grand Ballroom and beautiful dance floor

I remember the wooden structure on the side

it was a sleeping porch

The Castle was built on a hill top, as with all Castles they can survey the land and see the enemy approaching

Givens had several amazing stained glass and handpainted windows

in the Castle

The Family Crest

Most of the moldings and fireplaces

and the staircases

still remain

the passage way to the Turrets was a hole in the ceiling

and my very serious tour guide

did not seem willing to give me a boost up into the ceiling

and just looked at me funny when I told him that is where the

Dragons lived

but the original rooms have been taken out

to open the space into a large room for the Church

at the top of the stairs a narrow hallway that leads to bedrooms

is now used for storage

the caretaker lives in a 3rd floor apartment

As excited as I was to see the inside of the Castle it was kind of a let down

I prefer my stories of the Irish Castle

As I came in the front door, I would be greeted by an Amour Knight in Pink Metal

Castle Kids would be playing with cats and dogs

and the Purple Princess Dragon

would be licking the faces of the smiling children

and offering rides on her great winged back

and the Beautiful Court Ladies

would promenade through the Velvet Halls

My visit to the Irish Castle will always be special

but I still love all the stories and legends

that I made up about the Castle

Also while in Chicago, I found some pictures of my Dollhouse

from the early 50's

I still have most of the original furniture for the house

and after all my stressing over painting and renovating the house

I feel I have done her proud

my paint job looks almost the same

That is what I love about going home, you always find or see great things

that leave you with a feeling

of happiness!