Robyn-made

Happy Chinese New Year!

2012-01-29T07:05:00.000-08:00

Advice

2012-01-28T00:20:00.001-08:00

I don't like to be given advice.
If someone does attempt to advise me on any matter I'm more likely to then go and do the opposite than to follow what they say. That dislike of others offering their wisdom is one of the last vestiges of my teenage self, and something I should really grow out of at the grand old age of thirty.

If I'm going to start following the advice of others then I think this little nugget is a good one to begin with -

"Love one another and you will be happy.
It's as simple and difficult as that.
There is no other way."
Michael Leunig, from 'A common prayer'.

Perfect for Valentine's day, or a wedding present don't you think? you do? well then take a peek here...

An ode to my slow cooker

2012-01-24T14:35:00.000-08:00

When you have a day that begins before 6am, involves wrangling two children unwillingly into their clothes and out the door in time for school, then taking the smaller of those children across London on a bus and two trains (in the pouring rain) to a theatre where you try to appear professional whilst making sure the baby doesn't trash the theatre or kill herself in the workshop, before making the trek back across London in time to collect the big one from school, bring her home and attempt to engage in the endless make believe games she insists on me playing (Oh for the day to arrive when the little one can take my place)

When you have a day like that and you walk through the door to the smell of herby chickeny goodness, then you can't help but love your slow cooker almost as much as the children (who are the reason you need it as you can no longer live on take aways as you did in those faintly remembered pre children days)

I'd almost forgotten I'd put it on first thing - it had been so many hours earlier that I'd thrown some unpromising veg in it with some barley, chicken, herbs and water. It seems like alchemy that such humble beginnings turn into this.

The theatre was Orange Tree by the way, where I'm designing the set and costumes for 'Muswell Hill'.

Makeover

2012-01-18T15:44:00.000-08:00

You might have noticed things are looking a little different here. I am very much still a puppet doll maker, and Rose Lullaby Dolls will still be open for business, but I'm doing so many different things these days that I'd like to blog about. So I thought a more general blog title was appropriate.

I also have a new shop opening on etsy called 'Robyn Made' which will be filling up with papercuts over the next few weeks, it's just got one item at the moment, but it's a very pretty item - a papercut family tree.

I'm excited about starting to blog about my theatre work, and the wonderful creations of the people taking part in my workshops. I hope you enjoy coming along for the ride.

Workshops!

2012-01-12T05:55:00.000-08:00

Spring 2012 Workshops

After February half term I'm starting a series of workshops locally, here are some details on what's happening. Contact me here to book your places!

At Manor Farm House

Manor Farm Site, Pinn Way, Ruislip HA4 7QL

Pre school arts and crafts

Tues mornings throughout term time starting on 21st February 10.30-12 noon.

We’ll be making masks, hats, capes, and puppets amongst other things. There’ll be building blocks and some baby toys for little ones, playdough to squidge, colouring to do and a drink and a biscuit for everyone. We’ll finish each session with a story related to our make and some songs.

£3 per child (siblings under a year free) drop in, but spaces are limited.

Adult Rod Puppet Making.

Tues evenings 7.30-9.30 21st Feb-27th March (6 weeks)

Working with bamboo, masking tape and papier mache we’ll sculpt your own individual puppet, then give them hair and clothes using a variety of yarns, fabrics and leathers.

I’ll be teaching you my own way of working, which I have used to make puppets for theatre and film and as art objects.

£60 per person, including materials and refreshments.

Make a Crazy Creature

Knitting class for ages 8+

3rd April 10-1pm.

Learn to cast on, knit, and cast off and create your own little crazy creature in the process!

£15 to include materials, refreshments and your own knitting needles to take home so you can carry on creating.

You’ll need to be able to sit and concentrate carefully for this class.

Make a Colourful Corsage.

Hand sewing class for age 8+

4th April 10-1pm.

Learn some basic sewing techniques and create beautiful brooch or corsage in the process!

We’ll be using gorgeous fabrics to design and make something really individual.

£15 to include materials and refreshments.

You’ll need to be able to sit and concentrate carefully for this class.

At Little Willows in Pinner

Children's Rod Puppet Making for ages 8+

10th April 2012

Make your own Rod Puppet using all sorts of materials.

Please contact Little Willows for prices, times and availability.

http://www.little-willows.co.uk/index.html

At Pinner Library

Weekly Craft Club - Knitting!

Every Thursday during term time from the 23rd February 6-7.30pm

We're asking for £3 for the half term - just to cover materials used during the session.

Birthday Parties

I run puppet making workshops and parties for boys and girls aged from 5-11. I can create a workshop on any theme, provide all materials and clear up afterwards! Please email me for more details

featured on frankly!

2011-12-16T09:05:00.000-08:00

The lovely folksy folk have featured me in their online magazine! take a look here to find out about my 'essential kit'

christmas bauble cards

2011-11-25T13:05:00.000-08:00

I've been playing with paper again, and I've made these papercut bauble cards. You send your friend a pretty card, then they can very easily remove the bauble to hang straight onto their tree!

Each one is cut by hand so you can have any name or phrase you like, or an angel.

Take a look at them in my etsy or folksy shop

playing with paper...

2011-11-04T16:45:00.000-07:00

I've spent the last fortnight being throughly distracted from the many things I should be getting on with by paper. I've been playing with making paper furniture...

and little paper tableau....

making a paper cut of my big girl's name...

and paper cut baubles!

I'm loving piddling about with paper!

big dolls and little dolls

2011-11-04T16:36:00.000-07:00

I've been making cloth dolls, every one individual and never to be repeated. They're all made using gorgeous fabrics, tweeds and velvets and soft cottons.

The drawings have turned into badges.

2011-09-15T11:27:00.000-07:00

They're available in my etsy and folksy shops right now!

a peek inside my sketchbook...

2011-09-13T15:02:00.000-07:00

some doodles from the past couple of days.

I've written a little story about the girl, and will be making the creatures into pin badges.

Getting better all the time...

2011-09-10T12:26:00.000-07:00

The comments on this post on my facebook wall have got me thinking, I've been making puppet dolls as art pieces for 2.5 years now, and the way I do things has changed over that time, even though the basic techniques are the same.
So, what's different?
Firstly, the bodies. When I started the backbone was made from sticks I found in the park and then dried out, now I use bamboo skewers. This change happened because I couldn't find enough sticks that were the right size, and straight! My first dolls were very skinny, then I started adding bigger bums so they sat better, then I started building up their bodies more. so they've gone from this -

to this -

The first dolls definitely needed to lean against something, this young fellow is self supporting.

Then there's the skin tones. I still use the same tissue paper and glue, but I've just become a lot better at using them! My first dolls had rougher skin, like Anna here -

Though there is something rather lovely about her imperfections, these days my dolls' skin is a lot smoother -

Another difference is in their clothes. For a while I used glue a lot to make their clothes, I don't really know why, perhaps because I was coming from a theatre background where it's more about the overall effect than the teeny tiny details? Maybe because the dolls were so skinny back then stitching clothes onto them was harder? Anyway, now all their clothes are completely hand stitched, it's easier and much nicer.

Then there's their eyes. I started out using tiny beads, then trying to break up tiny beads, then I used fabric backed with glue and cut to shape, then thread rolled into a ball with glue, then I started doing what I still do now. I colour in a patch of my palm with the desired eye colour, I splodge a little pva into my palm, then I rub and rub and rub. The glue picks up the colour of the ink and forms into a rubbery doughy consistency. Then I cut it to size with a scalpel, and roll it into a ball. I use a little more pva to glue them to the doll while they're still soft. They then dry rock hard.

So there you go! With every doll I make I perfect my techniques a little more.

I'd love to hear how your work has evolved over time....

Mum and daughter and cat

2011-08-29T13:00:00.000-07:00

I've just finished this commission, I'm rather pleased with them, especially the mum with her sandals and union jack symbol on her back.

Finished peggy dolls

2011-08-29T12:53:00.000-07:00

Here are some of my littlest ladies at the Made-it Market in Cambridge at the weekend.

The market was fab, I'm hoping to make the christmas one this year, with lots of peggy angels for your tree.

Peggy dolls in progress

2011-08-15T12:01:00.000-07:00

While my baby did this -

I did this!

They're very much works in progress, but I'm enjoying making them. If you'd like to see them in the flesh then make sure you come to the Made-it Market!

Made-it Market

2011-08-12T16:13:00.000-07:00

The picture says it all really! Me and my dolls and puppets will be at the Made-it Market in Cambridge on the 27th August, I'll be running mini finger puppet workshops too. click here for more information.

Open Studios

2011-06-14T05:48:00.000-07:00

If you are around North London next weekend and fancy seeing some of my work in the flesh, as well as demonstrations of how I create my dolls and maybe making a finger puppet of your own then come along to my open studio event!
I'll be open from 11am-6pm each day, as will a number of other local artists, in the same venue as me you'll find weaving, photography and drawing.
Take a look at the open studios website here for details of who is taking part and where to find them.

Rag dolls

2011-06-14T04:59:00.000-07:00

I'm going to be expanding the Rose Lullaby Doll family to include some ragdolls! These are some large sized dolls, I'm also working on some smaller dolls suitable for little hands.

A family on holiday

2011-06-14T04:55:00.000-07:00

I made this family for a short film last year, this is them early on in the process -

Then this is what they became -

And here is a still from the film which is currently being edited -

It's getting towards that time of year again....

2010-10-17T15:19:00.000-07:00

Hello, I've been terrible at blogging over the past few months, sorry! I've been very busy with lots of fun commissions including some puppets for two short films, I'll post about them soon.

I've just listed my first Christmas Fairies of the year, I can't quite believe it's time to start thinking about Christmas already, this year has flown by.

Jemima

Francesca

and Flo

Francesca and Flo are finger puppet fairies. I'll be making more fairies, and I'm planning on making some boy fairies!

If you'd like a fairy with a specific hair colour or style then do let me know.

I also have lots more Liberty print finger puppets to list, and some more puppet dolls dressed in Liberty print, I'm planing on making up for my absence with lots and lots of new things for you to see over the new few weeks!

Another finger puppet doll

2010-06-08T02:53:00.000-07:00

I do love making girls with fabulous beehives!

A finger puppet doll.

2010-06-07T09:21:00.000-07:00

A new type of doll, she's a finger puppet with clothes made from tissue paper which I've drawn details on to.

A girl with a pretty dress and sparkly shoes.

2010-05-30T14:32:00.000-07:00

This is another portrait doll, the full size version will be taking this mini version to Greece when she moves there next month, she'll sit on her dressing table. I hope they're both extremely happy in their new home :-)

Oh Comely Magazine

2010-05-29T04:21:00.000-07:00

oooh! look, a lovely new magazine....

with beautiful photos....

fabulous articles and a layout that makes it look like a glamourous scrapbook.....

what do I see here?

some of my work!

They wrote this about me...

"Just look at those gorgeous little faces looking up at you longingly with their beady little eyes. Robyn Wilson, a puppet and dolls maker, hand-sculpts these brooches one-by one out of papier mahe and colours them with delicate layers of tissue paper...

This bunny is another of Robyn's papier mache creations, wrapped in Liberty of London's print fabric. It's one part bunny two paprts papery space hopper and cute as your nana...

For many more ingeniously crafted paper things have a look at Robyn's blog, www.robynlouisewilson.blogspot.com. you'll find gangly puppets and gorgeous dolls galore. Each one is unique and handmade. Lovely."

New portrait doll and exciting news!

2010-05-28T10:28:00.000-07:00

Hello, I'm sorry I have blogged in a while, I've been crazy busy making portrait dolls, I haven't even had a chance to photograph a lot of them. I finished this guy today and did get some photos, he's the first doll I've made with shoes in a long time, I'm rather proud of them!

One of the things that has been taking up rather a lot of time is preparing for an exciting exhibition I'm taking part in - from the 25th to the 1st July I'm going to be in Dubai! I've been asked to take part in an annual doll exhibition, and to give some demonstrations of my process. I have to make a number of dolls for the event so that's been keeping me busy! It's going to be a fab week, I can't wait! It took me a while to believe the invite was genuine, I thought it was far too good to be true!

New Finger Puppets

2010-05-06T11:34:00.000-07:00

Here's the current crop of finger puppets! Available on folksy now.

My two favourites are - the bear covered in sailing ships, it's just the most fabulous and unusual print...

and this mini finger puppet, because it's just so cute!

Which are your favourites?

Brixton Village Market

2010-05-01T15:23:00.000-07:00

I spent today making finger puppets with boys and girls of all ages at Brixton Village Market

Brixvill is an amazing magical place, where gorgeous food and drink, fabulous clothes and art meet and melt together in a wonderful unpretentious, unselfconscious way. Something special happens every Saturday between 11am and 6pm, and on Thursday's there's now things happening until 9pm.

The day ended with an alien, a disco mouse and an orange owl being created at my table while my 2 year old daughter danced to the accordian being played opposite. Fabulous.

And of course, if you'd like me to run a workshop or birthday party for you then just click here to email me!

Finger Puppets

2010-04-27T03:33:00.000-07:00

available on etsy and folksy now!

A peek into my sketchbook

2010-04-11T15:25:00.000-07:00

These are some charcters I've been doodling recently. I'm thinking of photoshopping scanned in liberty fabrics into more carefully worked versions of them, and maybe developing them for screenprinting...

What do you think? What would you like to have images like this on?

The Etsy 'do'

2010-04-11T12:55:00.000-07:00

I had a fab time at the Etsy do at the Fashion and Textile Museum the other evening. I met lots of fab people, and was chatting so much I didn't take anywhere near as many photos as I planned to! It was really lovely to see Mary from Quite Contrary Crafts again, that's her fabulous hand cut card above. I first met Mary at the folksy Christmas do, there were other lovely folksy people there including Forever Foxed and Noisette with the mini noisette bump!

The fabulous sparkly crown pictured above is by Janine Basil. She makes awesome headpieces and fascinators, all sparkly and feminine, but they really pack a punch at the same time. I love them.

I was reunited with Heidi of Polkadots and Blooms. We spent half a day queuing together at the Liberty Open Call. It was lovely to see her again. Heidi makes pretty home wares and accessories using vintage fabrics.

Taking photo's of everyones work and dispensing photography advice was Heidi Adnum. She took some lovely pictures of my dolls, and very clearly knew her stuff. I was the last person who had their photo's taken, because I kept starting to chat to people while I was queuing and drifting away from the queue!

Other fabulous people there were Sannapanda, Crocuss (who makes very pretty jewellery) and Etincelle Design (who makes really striking tribal inspired jewellery)

And the lovely girl who's owls are pictured above and didn't have a card...I've forgotten your shop name, do let me know so I can link to it!

The only disappointment of the evening was that I didn't get to take a box of wine home - unlike Mary!

Tilda

2010-03-30T02:53:00.000-07:00

This is Tilda, she was named by Christell, one of my Facebook 'fans' (I do so dislike calling people that, but that is what facebook decrees them to be...Facebook followers, contacts, acquaintances, those are terms I much prefer...) I got so many brilliant suggestions for her name via facebook and twitter. It was REALLY hard to choose which to go for, I need to try and work out how to have a vote on here, so next time I can put up all the suggestions and you guys can vote for your favourite.

Anyway, I hope you like Tilda, I have a few more dolls lined up to list over the next few days, then we're away for Easter, and I have a show going up the week after (Pirates of Penzance at Wilton's Music Hall) so things may go a little quiet, but then I'll be back.

I'm planning on trying to list an item a day throughout April. So I'll be making a number of smaller items and creatures to keep my puppet dolls company.

Black Haired Betty

2010-03-25T18:16:00.000-07:00

I've just listed Betty on Etsy and Folksy. I really love her hair, and I'm so pleased with the photographs I've got of her, they really seem to capture her well - very thoughtful.

Today's listings

2010-03-23T14:36:00.000-07:00

Daisy, the newest in my Liberty dolls collection is now available on Etsy and Folksy.

And Eleanor, who's development you've seen on this blog is now on Etsy and Folksy!

Thanks to Claire and talking beads for providing them with such pretty names.

The bunnies have a new eggy friend!

2010-03-23T03:48:00.000-07:00

Easter Bunnies!

2010-03-22T02:10:00.000-07:00

Available on Folksy and Etsy now! More coming soon in other gorgeous Liberty's fabrics. I love Liberty fabrics!

and now she has hair and a mouth too!

2010-03-19T13:50:00.000-07:00

She still needs a name, so if you have any ideas then do let me know!

She's getting there....

2010-03-18T17:54:00.000-07:00

She still needs hair and a mouth, but she's getting there!

Work in progress.

2010-03-17T17:17:00.000-07:00

I've been playing around with lots of new ideas recently, and this is one of the results of that. She's very much a work in progress as you can see. I haven't even given her any skin yet, this is just her basic shape constructed from masking tape and bamboo. I think this style of doll could make lovely christmas angels (yes I'm thinking about Christmas already!) This young lady isn't going to be an angel though, I shall post some more pictures of her as she develops in the next few days. Do please tell me what you think about this new style of doll by leaving a comment below!

and the winner is..................

2010-03-14T09:56:00.000-07:00

Congratulations!

Blog Giveaway!

2010-03-01T03:53:00.000-08:00

Hello all! My blog now has 99 followers... very exciting! to celebrate, and push on into 3 figures I'm going to have a giveaway.

So if you'd like to be the recipient of a brooch made with the hairstyle of your choice then follow my blog and my facebook page and leave a comment on this post saying what hairstyle you'd like!

You can request any hairstyle, any hair colour, male or female, curly or straight, even bald!

You have until Friday 12th at 17.00 UK time. The winner will be announced on the 13th here and on facebook, and your brooch will be with you in good time for Mother's Day!

Good Luck!

Brooches

2010-02-25T04:55:00.000-08:00

My new range of brooches! I'll be listing them on etsy and folksy soon, and I'll be doing custom ones, so if you want one with a particular hair style, or even a portrait brooch then do get in touch. They are crafted in the same way as my puppet dolls, so each is one of a kind. They are backed with hard wearing fabric on to which a 1" brooch pin has been hand stitched. You might recognise the fabric, it's what Ingrid's skirt was made from!

Duckpond Market

2010-02-21T14:20:00.000-08:00

Well I did it! My first art/craft market! It was a great day, so friendly and some wonderful stalls. I had a bit of a crisis the night before when I realised that no table was provided, but with some creative improvisation I got around not having anything to use (thank you to Mr Roselullabydolls for stopping me from panicking for long enough to think something up!)

I sold 2 dolls and and plenty of postcards, there was also a lot of interest in my portrait dolls, I'm very glad I put together some literature to give to people about them.

]

I didn't sell a single brooch though, which I was rather disappointed about, but I think I need to look at how I present them, I'm not sure that many people realised what they were, and I was so busy talking to everyone about portraits that I didn't explain them.

I'm really looking forward to next week up in Cambridge, and next month back at Duckpond!

Real life places to see my work!

2010-02-17T07:19:00.000-08:00

So far, almost all my dolls have been sold online, but over the next couple of weeks I'm going to take part in my first ever art/craft markets!

This Sunday - 21st Feb - I'm going to be at Duckpond Market in Ruislip. I've visited this market a few times, and it's just gorgeous. Started up by a local woman last year it's turned in to a roaring success, with high quality arts and crafts, a farmers market, children's activities and lots of fun entertainers.

Then on Saturday 27th Feb I'll be up in Cambridge at the Made-it Market. This is a brand new event which is taking place in 'The Shop' which is a fabulous community art initiative.

Towards the end of March my work will be part of a group exhibition in a shop window in Camden, and there are other exhibitions coming up around Harrow and further afield.

So I'm very busy trying to get lots of dolls and doll brooches made!

It's a terrifying thing, putting your work that you put your heart into out there for all to see, but even more terrifying is sitting next to it and seeing everyone's reactions!

I've been putting a lot of thought into how I'm going to display my dolls, something which as a trained set designer should come very naturally, but most sets I've designed don't have to be transported on the bus and erected in half an hour!

Currently I'm planning on using two of the cardboard dolls houses I blogged about here as the main display areas for my dolls, but I need to think about how to show off my brooches, postcards, literature about custom 'portrait' dolls (which I still need to create!) , business cards, guest book and of course prices! I'm sure I'll make plenty of mistakes to learn from!

If any of you have wise words on the best and worst ways to display things at art/craft fairs then please pass them on!

If you want to be kept up to date with events my work will feature in then do sign up to my facebook fanpage.

2010-02-13T02:37:00.000-08:00

Four more puppet dolls dressed in Liberty's fabrics! All girls this time, there'll be a couple of boys coming soon. I've experimented a bit with their hair dos this time.

Martha and Connie - custom dolls

2010-02-12T02:08:00.000-08:00

These dolls were made as imaginings of how two sisters who are at the moment gorgeous little toddlers would grow into beautiful young women. These dolls are going to be companions for the girls as they grow. Its such a wonderful thought that I've created things which will be a part of their world for a long long time.

I've made a brooch...

2010-02-07T17:43:00.000-08:00

...and I'm not sure what I think of it! I like it but I'm not sure other people will! what do you think? shall I make more?

My day at Liberty's

2010-02-07T06:20:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I went to Liberty's of London to show their buyers my dolls, hoping for some good advice and the chance of seeing my work on Liberty's shelves.

I'd made a collection of dolls clothed in Liberty fabrics...

I arrived at 8.15am (they were to start seeing people at 10am) and already the queue was truly enormous! There were some lovely people there, with beautiful things, from wedding tiaras and headpieces, gorgeously upholstered chairs, a gingerbread dolls house, and stacks of brilliant mens and womens wear.

After queuing outside for about an hour we made it to the staircase, still queuing, but at least warm! Eventually we got to a holding room, where we signed up to a list for our respective categories and waited for our name to be called. This was another hours wait, but with a chair and free tea and biscuits this time, so although nervous I was content!

I eventually got to see 2 buyers, for the briefest of times. They didn't think my dolls would be right for Liberty's - they are too 'rustic'. They suggested making caricatures of famous models and politicians. I have thought about doing a Kate Moss doll in the past, but I'm really not sure about politicians, I'm not sure there's a huge market for Gordon Brown dolls?

Anyway, although it didn't end with Rose Lullaby Dolls being put on the shelves of Liberty's it was a good day, and preparing for it was a really useful process to go through.

Now I'm going to start listing my Liberty dolls on Folksy and Etsy - Jasper is there already and there are more to come. I'm working on another group so there will be plenty to choose from!

The first group of Liberty dolls!

2010-02-01T11:16:00.000-08:00

Here's a sneaky peek at some dolls I've made who are dressed in Liberty fabrics, all their clothes are totally hand stitched, I think they're rather special!

Liberty's and dolls-houses

2010-01-21T16:59:00.000-08:00

In a couple of weeks I'm going to be showing my dolls to some of the buyers for Liberty's of London, which is rather exciting and terrifying!
I spent an hour or so in there yesterday wandering around, I hadn't been in for a couple of years and had forgotten what an utterly gorgeous place it is. The fabric/yarn/haberdashery department was predictably the section I gravitated towards, and oh my the things I found there! Vintage glass jars full of beautiful fabric covered buttons, a yarn selection I just wanted to jump into and snuggle up in, a selection of ribbons and trimmings to die for and of course the fabric...Oh the fabric!
I umm-ed and ah-ed for quite some time but eventually settled on a couple of pieces of liberty tana lawn. This is one, the other is covered with line drawings of Elizabethan sailing ships.

I can't wait to use these fabrics to make some special Liberty dolls!

Today my cardboard dolls houses arrived, which I'm also thrilled with. I got them from Oxfam's January sale and they're just fabulous.

I'm going to cover them in ivory tissue paper and use them to display my dolls at exhibitions and shows. I have plans to create a whole village for my summer exhibition, with these as the 3 main houses filled with dolls going about their business, surrounded by lots of little houses with one or two dolls in and some fabric hills with trees on and dolls on swings hanging from their branches.
I've got a million ideas swimming around my head at the moment, I could just do with the time to realise all my plans!

Lovely long-haired Lucy

2010-01-19T05:14:00.000-08:00

Sigh... I want Lucy's hair too! and for that matter I'd quite fancy having her dress as well! She's in my folksy shop here and will be on etsy later today.

Susan

2010-01-18T08:33:00.000-08:00

Meet Susan, I've just listed in my folksy and etsy shops. I'm in love with her beehive! She is called Susan because her hair colour made me think of Susan from 'Neighbours' which will mean nothing if you're American!

Toby the Valentine's doll.

2010-01-17T02:54:00.000-08:00

Here's Toby! I'm so pleased with his hair, and his heart. I think he'd be a rather lovely valentine's present, whether given to someone else or yourself! You can buy him on folksy here in £ and on etsy here in $, and he comes with a free hand drawn Valentine's card.

Valentine's Cards

2010-01-13T16:42:00.000-08:00

Hand drawn Valentine's cards are now available here in $ and here in £. I've made them by drawing the design on tracing paper which is then folded around the card like a book's dust jacket. Each card is hand drawn and so each one is an individual piece of art. This is the first time I've ever made greetings cards, and I'm really pleased with them!

Make your own Rose Lullaby Doll.

2010-01-12T16:06:00.000-08:00

I'm now selling naked and hairless Rose Lullaby Dolls for you to finish however you like. Each doll will be handcrafted by me and entirely one of a kind, you can specify the eye colour and it will arrive with a few insider tips on how to create your character. I think this would be a rather fabulous present for the crafty person in your life! You can buy one in dollars here or in pounds here

St Valentine's Day Doll

2010-01-11T17:24:00.000-08:00

This my first Valentine's doll, she's called Catriona after my sister, whose birthday is on St Valentine's Day. I really like how protective she looks about the heart, and how the hem of her dress flare right out. She's listed in both my etsy and my folksy shops - more to come soon, including some naked and bald puppet dolls for you to get creative with and finish off yourself!

Treasury

2010-01-07T09:28:00.001-08:00

I've snagged a Treasury in Etsy's 'Treasury West' and filled it with lovely things for you to see - take a peek here

Valentines day

2010-01-04T11:57:00.000-08:00

I've just about recovered from Christmas, and now I need to get thinking about valentines day asap! I'm thinking of making some puppet dolls who are cuddling hearts made out of vintage fabric, and some cards out of illustrations of the same.

What do you think?

What would you like me to make for valentines day?

Portrait of three friends

2010-01-03T13:57:00.000-08:00

This is a portrait of 3 housemates which I did to commission. I used unbleached cotton canvas, pen and ink and acrylic paint. I need to get better at taking photos of 2D work!

Last custom doll for Christmas

2009-12-22T01:09:00.000-08:00

This is a replica of a lovely person on their wedding day, the dress material should be more blue and less purple, but otherwise I'm really pleased with this - its a dress shape I haven't tried on a doll before but I think it works. This is the last of a lot of custom orders I've had for Christmas, just some drawings to do now!

Merry Christmas!

2009-12-21T06:54:00.000-08:00

This is Ellie's sister, my first sale on folksy - hopefully the first of many!

Una the Lullaby

2009-12-17T14:15:00.000-08:00

Lullabies are friends of Rose Lullaby Dolls, they cuddle them when they are sad and tickle them when they are happy.

Puppet doll portraits

2009-12-10T18:05:00.000-08:00

This is Julie Storms brother in law, I had fun creating the wispy hair on top of his head!

This is Erica

These are of Tracilee's Dad and his wife - I'm so pleased with her hair!

These are of lonelystranger with a 'geeky' kind of skirt and her best friend who's favourite colour is blue.

There are more to follow - I've been busy!

Ingrid again!

2009-12-07T17:05:00.000-08:00

She's a runner up! India Knight, Times columnist and judge gave this lovely quote about her -

Wonderful. I love her elegant, slightly nerdy look – amazing what you can do with a Barbie (gold star for sorting out her crazy figure/features). Again, lovely attention to detail, full of wit and charm – really delightful.

Being a runner up is fab, but being a winner would be even better, and the people's choice prize is open until Thursday - so please click here and heart Ingrid!!!!!!!

Being a working mum...

2009-12-06T15:12:00.000-08:00

It's hard! Martha has broken her arm and then caught a stomach bug this week, now I've caught it from her. I've got so many orders to complete by the 10th and an exhibition to prepare for and then more orders to do after that, but I've been out of action for 3 days and am going to have to cut down on sleeping to make my deadlines...
Once you've got a child you just can not rely on definately doing anything anymore - there's so many possible scenarios that will prevent you. Pre child If you were really ill you couldn't work. Post child, if I am ill, Martha is ill, my husband is ill, or a childminder or childminder's child is ill then my work probably has to stop. She's wonderful but oh my trying to be a working mum is hard.

More custom orders

2009-12-06T15:05:00.000-08:00

These two are of Pete Seeger and a man who's written a book on him - bought for the author by his wife to say well done on getting published.

My upcycle christmas entry

2009-12-03T16:05:00.000-08:00

This is what I created with the ingredients I posted a few days ago, I'm rather pleased with her, what do you think?

Nudist puppet dolls!

2009-12-02T06:59:00.000-08:00

current works in progress...

Wonderful feedback

2009-12-01T01:31:00.000-08:00

I just love getting feedback when customers receive their puppet dolls, I get real 'job satisfaction' from knowing that people love what I make for them.
The two little Scottish girls who I blogged about a week ago have arrived at their new home and their owner left me the most wonderful message, the best quote from it is "Robyn is clearly an artist working with mysterious magic". What a brilliant quote! hurrah for lovely customers.

Folksy/Sue Ryder Competition

2009-11-28T07:33:00.000-08:00

I recently discovered a great website called folksy which is sort of a british etsy, they're running a competition to make something awesome from charity shop finds, the items will be auctioned in aid of sue ryder, and a winner picked by some great judges, including Wayne hemmingway, Louise Roe, India Knight and Antoni&Alison and the winner has the chance to use their london flagship store window as a showcase - this is a picture of the raw materials for my entry - I'll post the finished article when it's finished!
The materials are... 2 scarves, 1 doll, 1 broken necklace, 1 ball of wool - all from a charity shop, and from my stock, masking tape, hot glue, pva glue and tissue paper.

A portrait of a lovely couple

2009-11-26T02:09:00.000-08:00

This is a portrait of a couple of nearly newly-weds, a wedding present from the bride's sister - I was a little intimidated by making something for such an important occasion! The bride is a knitter and the groom is a book worm, so they have a couple of books and some knitting needles in a ball of wool. I loved making her hair from embroidery thread, although it was pretty fiddly, and I'm rather pleased with his hair, I think I've captured it rather well.

I made a treasury out of my favourite etsy faces...

2009-11-22T17:39:00.000-08:00

Treasuries on etsy are limited in number, you can only make one once the total number falls below 333 (they are up for 2-3 days and then expire) then you have to jump in VERY quickly to claim your spot. The idea is a member curated gallery of items, and some are chosen to appear on the front page of etsy, which is very good publicity.

I spent quite a bit of time finding the faces for my treasury, and playing around with the colours and composition - I hope you like it, you can see it in its full glory here for the next 2 days, and the more of you that visit it and click on the items the further up the ranks it climbs - so please visit and click away!

Two custom 'puppet portraits'

2009-11-22T03:05:00.000-08:00

These are 'puppet portraits' of two little scottish girls who are best friends, such a lovely subject.

Custom doll

2009-11-15T10:58:00.000-08:00

This is a puppet portrait of my customer's boyfriend, Jorden. He's been lots of fun to make!

Betsie

2009-11-12T18:19:00.001-08:00

First christmas fairy!

2009-11-12T09:57:00.001-08:00

Meet Ellie

My day job again

2009-11-11T16:42:00.000-08:00

This is the most recent piece I've designed - 'Alison's House' at Orange Tree Theatre in Richmond. It's about a family of a great poet who died 18 years earlier breaking up the family home, and discovering secrets along the way. The characters are loosely based on Emily Dickinson's family. Orange Tree is a 'theatre in the round' - the audience sit all around the edges of the performance space, hence the lack of backdrops!

Christmas fairies

2009-11-08T16:45:00.000-08:00

I'm going to be listing some christmas fairies on thursday, made with some really beautiful vintage lace I found in a local shop.

I think I may have left it a little late for a lot of people - everyone seems to be much more organised than me (who hasn't even though about christmas shopping yet!)

Edwin - from www.roselullabydolls.etsy.com

2009-11-07T06:12:00.001-08:00

Edwin likes a good cup of tea, he's also partial to a chocolate biscuit, but he doesn't approve of dunking the latter into the former. you can buy him here.

Featured on Etsy!!!!

2009-11-06T17:37:00.000-08:00

I've been featured in a gift guide and a storque article!!!

89 new hearts and 1 sale so far!

My newest doll - Wendy

2009-11-04T16:58:00.000-08:00

She's all new, and made in a different way to my norm, because she's posable, with wire arms and legs instead of the usual string. Tell me what you think of her!

Beautiful Things

2009-11-01T04:11:00.001-08:00

I found these last night - so so beautiful, and such a wonderfully simple idea - I wish it were mine!!!!

They're the creations of Margie Oomen who's blog can be found here - blog and here's her etsy shop.

How I make a puppet's head from masking tape and a twig

2009-10-30T18:59:00.000-07:00

My 'day job' - Set and Costume Design

2009-10-30T16:40:00.000-07:00

Alice the ballerina - from www.roselullabydolls.etsy.com

2009-10-30T16:38:00.000-07:00

Bea - from www.roselullabydolls.etsy.com

2009-10-30T16:37:00.000-07:00

Arthur - The first puppet I made

2009-10-30T16:36:00.001-07:00

Edwin - from www.roselullabydolls.etsy.com

2009-10-30T16:34:00.000-07:00

Elsa - from www.roselullabydolls.etsy.com

2009-10-30T16:31:00.001-07:00

Anna - from www.roselullabydolls.etsy.com

2009-10-30T16:29:00.001-07:00

Puppet making with 6-8 year olds

2009-10-30T14:47:00.001-07:00