onward goes my doll head quest....

Poking around in antique or junk stores is a perfect way to spend a lazy, Saturday. After all, it is the hunt that gets me up early to stand in line to get into a flea market sale or tromp through a dusty store. Sometimes, I do not have a project in mind...waiting to be inspired by the find. Sometimes, I go in search of something specific...like abandoned dolls.

 Dolls have to have a certain "look" about them. They can't be overly bright in their painted faces. They must be more serene looking without bright red lips. They don't have to have hair..cuz I'm gonna rip it off anyway. The clothing absolutely doesn't matter because I'm going to take it off, throw it away and let the dolls canvas body clothe her.

This past year, I've added a couple of dolls to my collection that when I saw them just jumped out at me and said...buy me. Gently carrying them home, upon seeing them, my husband shakes his head. Trust me, I say....

 The wiggly eyes got me right away!

So...I cut her into pieces....the little doll in the dress has a dreamy expression...she will be immortalized....

I couldn't resist this odd doll head. I stuck her in an old spring with  Spanish moss.

The doll on the left had a blonde wig and a wedding dress.....she really is stunning and is made of porcelain.

What did I do with the doll head in the picture above????

So...John says, "What do you want for your birthday?"

I'm taking an on-line art class to make a Santos Cage doll.  What I have discovered about these dolls is that you are either in one of two camps with these dolls...you are either in the "they are creepy" camp, or you are in the "OMG, they are so angelic" camp.  I actually think I'm in both camps. They are so...oddly strange that they appeal to my sense of fun. What is a Santos Cage doll?  Well, look them up on the web..they are all the rage in the "OMG, they are so angelic" camp.  Note:  I found mine all dirty and alone sitting in a little shop on Main Street Battle Ground, WA.  My mood when I saw her went from strangely attractively creepy  to OMG....

I couldn't get her off of my mind...I had to have her...I bought her and brought her home to the first camp of on-lookers....the camp of creepy. So be it.

When I bought her, I was misinformed as to what she was.  I didn't care...the OMG factor had taken hold of my senses and home with me she came. Thinking all of the time that she was a Victorian entry way doll that victorian age women folk would put plants on her stand and the plants would grow and resemble her skirt...I was happy with that description.  Until.  Until, that is until I tried to find another one to buy.

These are not mine....pictures pulled off Google Image Gallery-but they are good representations.

I had no idea how to descriibe the doll or plant stand for an internet search...so I began cryptically typing in all sorts of descriptions. One finally popped up. THERE SHE WAS.  My OMG camp factor grew enormously when I found out what kind of a doll she really is/was/is. It seems they are wildly popular. Who knew?

The dolls are religious in their origin. Catholic to put a point on which religion.  I'm not Catholic...I don't care about that aspect of the dolls...I'm obsessed with them.  The Santos dolls take their name from the Spanish word for Saint, and are also known as Santons (French) and Santibelli (Italian). The Santos that started the genre of dolls we currently represent (primarily Spanish Colonial and Western European style), were originally started as copies of 17th century carvings by priests. Originally, Santos were created for use as in-home altars.  They were needed in small villages that did not have a priest, as well as for when it was not possible to travel to church, such as during times of war.  Their development flourished in Europe  in the 1700's and 1800's, primarily due to these wars.

They come in different sizes, shapes - some with slatted skirts...some with legs.  HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!

So, John says, "What would you like for your birthday this year?"  Boy, does that leave the purchasing door WIDE OPEN!

This little girl stole my heart with her serene, angelic face. 

I couldn't resist this one either. Her face is so pretty

The hunt on the Web netted me two sweet Santos dolls that I could afford.  Hey, the reproductions are spendy. My little collection is up to 3 right now.

My three little girls adorn  my entry way close to our great room...they greet me coming and going and every time I see them, I smile cuz I'm in the OMG camp with these girls!

I haven't started my on-line doll making class yet ... still gathering the list of items.  Once I start...I will post pictures. Thanks for reading.

Tin Man Yard Art

These guys are absolutely charming. Either one would look great in my yard.  Everytime I see something as unusal as this - I think:  welding class!

In Search of Junk

I vow in 2011 to go in search of more junk. Funky, fun, old things that have been discarded; things just waiting for me to pick up and know they can have another life with us.  Poking around in small, local shops is a passion and delight of mine.  I love standing and looking at the creations of various objects - picking them up and knowing they each have a history and that somewhere someone gave them up.

I love stars.  The rustier the better. I found this arrangement and liked it right away.

This setting reminded me of spring. We could use a little spring in the Northwest right now.