More Customs and Even Closer

 Last night I invigilated the final exam for my course; I still have to grade half their final papers and the exams, but then I will be done!!!  My new goal in life is never to grade another paper, so I'm very much looking forward to having the summer off to concentrate on dolls, Etsy,  blogging and general stuff-making.  I'm taking a course in American Gothic Fiction (lots of Hawthorne and Poe) and I have two words with which to express my feelings about that:  Yippee Skippee!  Dolls and spooky stories?  What a way to spend a summer...

I'm still working a way on several custom orders, and have recently completed two.  One very special project was creating a doll that was meant to embody the spirit of Sapphire, the beautiful cat pictured below, who has passed on to kitty  heaven. Linda, her  'owner' (I don't really like that term in relationship to animals, especially when  I feel more like I exist in service to my cats!)  asked me to create a doll that could help her commemorate Sapphire, and as a cat lover myself who has lost felt the pain of losing a beloved pet, I was honoured to have the opportunity.

Sapphire has that beautifully superior, slightly cranky look of so many cats,  so I tried to capture that in the doll's expression.  I also used Sapphire's beautiful grey and black coat as inspiration for the doll's clothing.

  And I made my first attempt at a clay pet; far from perfect, but it was fun to try and I will definitely be making more.

You can read more about Sapphire and see some of Linda's lovely illustrations here.

I also made another version of Ghostly Minka, who was my one Hallowe'en offering last year.

This Minka has the same punky hairstyle but a slightly more demure expression.  I need to braver with short hair styles, because I do love how they turn out. 

And speaking of Hallowe'en creepies, if you have a vampire fetish, you should check out the BBC series my husband and I just finished watching, Ultraviolet.   You can find it on netflix in the States or zip in Canada, and here are my top four reasons to watch:

1. It's about vampires
2. The almost absurdly handsome Idris Elba (you might know him as Stringer Bell from The Wire, but he's even yummier with an English accent.
3.  It's good
4. It's funny (yet frightening) to see how hilariously passé clothes from 1998 already look (lots of shiny suits and unfortunately shoulder-padded leather jackets.)

Also, if, like me, you watch all things vampire, you might also recognize Stephen Moyer who plays Bill Compton on True Blood.  Ten years ago, he looked positively petite and fey compared to his more recent vampire incarnation. 

Comments

[Kelly]

Oh Kitty! I love the tribute to Sapphire...I just lost my baby Winnie after 18 years last month. I just love it!

The Minka doll is wonderful....and her hair is perfect!

[Kimberly Wlassak]

Sarah:

I really love Minka. There's something about the slight slump all about her that draws me in to her. She's not quite depressed, but definately sad and thoughtful.

Thanks for the tip on Ultraviolet. It looks like something my daughter and myself would like. I am a huge "almost anything Vampire" fan. I think it goes all the way back to being a young girl and watching "Dark Shadows" everyday. I was fascinated and terrified by it all at once.

Kim
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[Sarah]

I think you have done a good job of personifying Sapphire. I know what you mean about living in service to cats too!

[Kelsey]

Sapphire's clothing is spectacular. Well done on both of them. They are fantastic.

[Prudence]

You've been doing so much gorgeous custom work! Thanks for posting the pictures, too - it's fun to see the likenesses. xox

[Dawn]

Sapphire was a beautiful cat! Goodness! My siamese should look so regal. You did a wnderful job on recreating her.

[Marjorie]

They are all ever so lovely and elegant!! And so like their real-life counterparts!! :)

[Miss LK]

I received my Sapphire doll today and her sweet little kitty! Thank you everyone for your kind words on Sapphire, too.

It was very very tough to get over with the loss of my beloved cat. I still miss her everyday...

Art helps. Thank you, Sarah! Your romantic rendition of Sapphire captures the magic that Sapphire touched upon me and it will last forever.

Linda

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Blogs are good for every one where we get lots of information for any topics nice job keep it up !!!

[natasha]

sapphire's mama must have been so excited to see that incredible doll. wow. i love that idea! i keep the brushings from my longhaired cats to spin into yarn and make into something at some point.

congrats on being a full-time artist (although it is hard NOT to be, whether you get paid for your time or not:) but i think you will do great. not many people are lucky enough to know their calling and go a step further and actually follow it. go you!

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