Mail for Orchid

This is an Orchid-sized invitation belonging to Orchid. Orchid will not be attending "Amour" at Oheka Castle, nor will she be attending this this year.

Maybe next year.

"And splashing up - up to the roof, tossed fountains of crystal;

And Princes in scarlet and green

Shot with their bows and arrows, and kneeled with their dishes

Of fruits for the Queen."

- Walter De la Mare

We're Off to the Castle

On February 19th we will be at an open house event entitled "Amour" at Oheka Castle located on the highest point in Cold Spring Hills. When it was built, it was 109,000 square feet under its turretted roof and was a four hundred acre Gold Coast estate. It was expanded in recent years to encompass 115,000 square feet. Oheka Castle is the second largest private home in America with only the Biltmore, in the Carolinas, being larger. A private evening for two, called the "Ultimate Evening", is available at the Castle for fifteen thousand dollars for that one night.

Vamp will get gussied up and will be going with us on February 19th, as one of her biggest fans will also be at the Castle on that day. Orchid and Window will be missing the event because they are at the February exhibit. Anyone wishing to join us on February 19th can visit http://www.oheka.com/ for more information.

Cinnamon

A nice closeup shot of Cinnamon. He's on the doll quilt and if you look carefully you can see the pearl work on the fabric next to his tail. To the right, you can see miniature appliqued silver flowers near his leg. The antique lace in the upper right hand corner is part of the quilt.

Cinnamon is named "cinnamon" because his tail distinctly resembles a cinnamon roll. Hearts, one of my signatures, are around his neck and dangling from his tail.

As I have pointed Cinnamon is a C.F. Dragon. There is a huge difference between C.F. Dragons and C.F. Originals. To see, adore, love, and purchase a C.F. Original, visit www.cforiginals.net.

Cinnamon and his brother Lincoln, who is also a C.F. Dragon, will be on display in the February exhibit. At the end of February, Lincoln is off to California. Cinnamon, of course, stays with Orchid.

Cinnamon and Vamp

Vamp is in Orchid's room, still playing with Cinnamon. Cinnamon is sitting on one of my completely hand stitched, excessively overdone, doll quilts. My lifesize queensize quilt, which is not yet complete, will be on display 'as is' in the February exhibit.

The beautiful wallpaper for Orchid's room, as well as the materials for Orchid's harlequin floor, came from purtypaperpurveyor Diana Gaizo who can be reached by phone at 631.580.1118. Diana's cottage is full of exotic wares and she has extended an open invitation to the girls to visit and shop in person anytime they are out and about.

Vamp and Cinnamon

When Vamp came home from the show in January where she, too, won a ribbon, she promptly went off to Richard Gardner's studio to have her 'show pictures' done. Upon coming home, Vamp changed out of her black and silver sequin show gown and gave up her adorable tiny green frog with bat wings. Here she is wearing a peach dress that I bought for her at the show. Peeking out from underneath her dress is a soolditisshattering peach silk petticoat which was made for Window.

Vamp is holding Cinnamon. Cinnamon is a jointed C.F. Little Cow Harbor Dragon who was created as a pet for Orchid. Orchid was enjoying him just fine until Vamp came home from the photographer's. Vamp appropriated Cinnamon and hasn't let him go since.

Window Gets Ready

February 1st is rapidly approaching. Window is now ready for the exhibit. She is wearing Vamp's spiderweb tiara from the UFDC show in January and she has on Orchid's 'everyday dress'. Orchid's 'everyday dress' is made from well worn pale pink floral silk. It is trimmed with antique lace. The petticoats also belong to Orchid; one is vintage lace and the other is a taupe silk. Orchid's 'everyday dress' is one of the things that Orchid wears when she goes into town.

This is where I probably should tell you: some of you are already confused. These are not 'Orchid Stories'. I am not telling you 'tales of Orchid' or reciting 'what Orchid would do if she could do things'. Orchid ACTUALLY does these things. Orchid travelled across the country. Orchid goes into town with me shopping. Orchid sits with painters. Orchid goes to the photographer's studio where she poses for him.

I don't "imagine" that Orchid does these things; Orchid DOES them. When I tell you that Vamp is going to the Castle, there really is a Castle and Vamp will actually be there. To many of these things, you can go, too.

Yes, Orchid changes her clothes and shares her clothes with her sisters. Her excess clothing is what will be available once photographers and whomever else have finished working with a particular outfit.

As American as Apple Pie

This picture is for those of you who have been following my apple pie saga. I don't cook; I don't even pretend to cook. Be that as it may, my love affair with apple pie goes back to high school and Home Ec. And haha, no, I did not 'fail home ec'.

I stopped making apple pie probably ten or fifteen years ago when someone told me, "This is the worst apple pie I've ever tasted." It happened to have been a peach pie that I'd made. Still, I was turned off.

Recently, I turned back on when I was introduced to the gadget in the picture. No one could believe that I wanted one. I despise kitchen gadgets and I don't cook. Why would I need a corer peeler? Even when it is not doing anything, I love it. Made from silver metal, on a simple wooden stand, it looks like a cross between Leonardo DaVinci's drawings and a Spanish Inquisition device. If you use very hard apples and position the apple perfectly correctly, the gadget works fine. If you don't, it doesn't.

The first time we tried it, its wooden stand was still on backorder. We used it without the stand and the peels went all over the floor and made the wood kitchen floor all sticky with apple juice. I waited for the handy dandy stand and we tried it again. This time we positioned the entire gadget and its stand on the large pink and white fish dish. The apple peels were still everywhere; you can see them trying to escape off the table. The marble table still got all sticky. All of the peels and cores were fed to the raccoons.

The readytobake apple pie can be seen on the right side of the photo.

Welcome to the Monkey House

Does anyone read Kurt, other than me? Well, this has nothing to do with him. The movie "Buddy" is a Jim Henson production which is now about ten years old. However, since it is set in the time of the Chicago World's Fair, it's ten years old but never looks dated.

People very often wonder, and very often ask, what sort of a house Orchid lives in. This movie goes a long way in explaining that. Someone recently said, when speaking of my husband and myself, "Well, you're animal lovers." They said it like it was a bad thing!

This movie is based on a true story depicting very wealthy animal lovers. There are lots of animals in the movie, but primarily monkeys. The house is good, the scenery is good, the furniture is good, the costuming is good. The ending is happy. It is a marvelous family movie and if you have never seen it, then you simply must. The flick is hilarious; bearing a striking resemblance to our household in attitude and laughter. There's a part where company comes to visit. The expression on their faces and what goes on with the animals is exactly like what goes on over here when people visit. Yes, we ordered bamboo and the bamboo came with chickens. Yes, we did allow our chickens to walk around in the house. Yes, I would brush the chickens with a hair brush. Yes, they would walk on a leash.

The little gold pieces in the picture are fragments that I was creating for future incorporation into jewelry and books. I also made some extras to share.

Orchid in Winter

A picture of Orchid taken at the show. Yes, it took three of us (or five, six, or more...depending upon how you count) to produce this year's show entry. A.D., of course, did the sculpt, producing Orchid's one of a kind self. MiniRoses did Orchid's hat, designed Orchid's coat which was made from vintage fur felt, came up with Orchid's dark brown velvet studded rhinestone scarf, and provided the silk chiffon for Orchid's dress. I did whatever else might have been left. What? the shoes, her black lace stockings, the jeweled handle for the peacock's leash. The feather people provided the peacock's feathers, the bead people provided the significant amount of Austrian crystal that Orchid wore.

Orchid's diamond earrings were custom designed and created by jeweler Ben Kahn. Her diamond earrings were her gift from last year's win.

Ben does amazing custom jewelry. Anyone wanting their diamonds reset should skedaddle on over to him. He's a great neighborhood secret. Ooops, can't find him? use info@cathycara.com He even has a new piece, ready now, which corresponds to our (A.D. and mine) collaborative theme for 2008. Ben has made a diamond studded frog. Emerald eyes and diamond froggy bumps. REALLY nice.

You Make Me So Very Hoppy

"I'm so glad you came into my life..."

Yes, folks, this is supposed to be a frog. I'm sorry I take such terrible pictures. It couldn't be my SCULPTING that makes it not look like a frog, now could it? He's great fun because he's jointed; he's hypnotic to hold.

He has genuine black pearl toes, iridescent skin, and all sorts of strange sparkly things on his back. I even tried to position his legs in the correct direction for your viewing pleasure. (His legs naturally fold backwards. UhhHuh, it's scary.) Yes, I will probably pop him into February's exhibit. You'll be able to see that he really is green (and orange).

In the background is a picture of one of C.F.'s frogs. If you love animals, flowers, beads, and humor you simply must visit C.F. at http://www.cforiginals.net/.

Behind the frog's back you can see the cover of C.F.'s Jungle Book. I highly recommend it; even for a child. Librarian friends are you reading this? I'll be waving it around, asking you to order it. It really is delightfully good.

Alice in Wonderland

The ohhhsolovely dark blue, First Place, ribbon winner from the competition this month is CasaBlanca's Alice. As you can see, CasaBlanca has chosen to depict the classic scene with the Pink Flamingo. The greenery framing the piece added interest and is a nice touch. CasaBlanca's pieces were well sculpted and a treat to behold.

CasaBlanca also won a red, Second Place, ribbon for a delightful black boy piece. I thought him to be great fun. I do not know whether or not CasaBlanca will part with him. Also, she does GollyWogs. Everyone knows how much I love them. I have it on very good authority that GollyWogs have red hair when they are born, their hair only turns dark when they are much older. Anyone interested in handmade GollyWogs, with red hair or otherwise use email: info@cathycara.com.

This award winning 'Alice' is available. Anyone wishing to contact CasaBlanca can use info@cathycara.com

Window's Shoes

Ohhhhh, so delicate. It is really a shame that you can't see the tiny beaded heels. CasaBlanca are you looking? I do LOTS of variations on these.

Visit http://www.cathycara.com/ reasonably regularly. Not yet, but once the site is more 'operational', I plan to offer these regularly. In the meantime, yes, you can still 'ask' for them and I'll make you a pair.

Or two. Or three. Orchid has LOTS of extra shoes.

Window

Orchid's sister, Window, is another fine sculpt by A.D.
Window is one of a kind, hand sculpted from German clay, possessing fourteen points of articulation. She will be on display in the Exhibit for the month of February 2007. If you require directions to the Exhibit, contact info@cathycara.com

The photograph shows Window's hat. It is pink and blue fabric trimmed with antique gold. There are rhinestone ribbon roses and large plumes of vintage ostrich feathers. A golden bird nests somewhere within. I had a great deal of help from MiniRoses in producing this hat. Hat making is a complex art all unto itself.

Orchid in Texas

I've promised to 'backfill' the blog here and there with Orchid's past escapades. When people wonder how someone across the country can know about Orchid (since we've still been hiding her from the magazines), the answer (sometimes) is: because Orchid has been there. People have met her.

Last year, Orchid went across the country. She was in approximately fourteen or fifteen states. So many, that I lose track.

Orchid is wearing her souvenir sombrero and the black high boots that I made for her. Good thing, because there are snakes in them there bushes. I'm sure.

This photo taken in Texas, may have been one that was done by a professional photographer. I will have to double check and see if he'd like the credit.

Here There Be Dragons

You are looking at a 'CF Dragon'. This is as opposed to a 'CF Original' dragon. They are two ENTIRELY different beasts, sharing many of the same characteristics. I'm going to try to explain it to you once, and thereafter you get to bother C.F. That's 'C.F.' as in 'C.F. herself' as opposed to dragon/seahorse/hedgehog/phoenix. You get the picture, there really is a C.F. And, since it's essentially C.F.'s fault that these creatures are rather rapidly proliferating through out North America, and who knows, maybe Europe and Africa, C.F. can handle all your heavy duty questions. Visit: www.cforiginals.net. Write it down, you know me, I might not repeat it again (What? You think I have nothing better to do than look up information that I specifically told you was important and NOT to lose?) So, C.F. is the source of all knowledge when it comes to these creatures. Not me, folks, C.F. . That being said, let me tell you about them.

They are SO ADORABLE, you could DIE from looking at one. The one that you see above is NOT AVAILABLE. He's mine, mine, mine. They are so adorable that I secretly think that C.F. has bred them with Medusa snakes or something. Although, C.F. didn't breed the one above, but I tell you she's still responsible. C.F., the twenty-first century Dragon Queen, has sanctioned a special breed of 'C.F. Dragons' for Little Cow Harbor. So, now, all of you in the neighborhood can have one of these little darlings in their house. And the TRULY hard part for all of you will be having to choose between a 'C.F. Dragon' from Little Cow Harbor (meaning one that was born and bred in your town) and a 'C.F. Original' dragon/seahorse/hedgehog/phoenix/etc./etc./etc. from the West Coast. I feel like a traitor telling you that my favorites are the Originals. But Originals are originals and like the 'Princess and the Pea' I can tell the difference, and I prefer C.F.'s. For those of you who care, Orchid will be wearing a 'C.F. Original' bestowed upon her by the Dragon Queen, so be sure to ask to see it. Yes, I promise PHOTOS, as soon as I have some.
I'm so excited over the infestation of dragons in Little Cow Harbor that I can hardly sleep! I kept expecting mine to wander off during the night. And the most amazing thing about mine is that he kept sprouting new wings. He started off with two genuine pearl nubber bumps. One of his bumps got all scary and injured like and then he had sprouted FOUR pearl bumps. Then, delicate solid glass wings appeared. And I thought the transformation was over. But, no, THEN he sprouted LABRADORITE wing bumps with iridescent Austrian crystal and I was cheering him on going: Yes!Yes!Yes!!!!!!!!! (I learned this incantation chant from MiniRoses). C.F. could have given me a heart attack. She never told me that they continue to evolve.
So, my advice to you is contact C.F. . She will direct you to websites, chat groups, and books that deal with this very specific beast. As you already know, if Orchid has one, you REALLY want it.

The next exhibit begins February 1st and runs for a month. If you require directions, use info@cathycara.com. There definitely will be 'C.F. Dragons' from Little Cow Harbor there.

Vamp

Vamp is off to Richard's studio, getting her 'show pictures' done. She is the 2006 collaborative effort between A.D. and myself. The division of labor was once again the same, with A.D. doing the 'hard work' (i.e., the sculpt) and me doing the 'fun work' which is everything else.

Once again, we have ourselves a winner. Vamp came home with a light blue ribbon from the UFDC (United Federation of Doll Clubs) competition. Orchid, our diamond girl, again won dark blue, First Place (ooohlala!!!) and life goes on.

We have already started work on our entries for 2008, so for any club members looking to be entertained by us then, don't worry - we're planning to be there.

I am considering doing the 'Flamingo Show' in November. My jewelry, crowns, SHOES(!!), maybe elves, certainly DRAGONS(!?) would be available IN PERSON then. However, that will depend on the response that I get from any of you who attended this last show. Meaning (here, folks, I'll spell it out...): If you want me to appear IN PERSON, you had better email me to tell me so. info@cathycara.com is for all of you who have asked for EMAIL over the years, so USE it. If I have to pay to do a hokey show and none of you care about buying shoes or crowns, then I'm NOT going to do the show. As many of you know, EVERYTHING I do is word of mouth. So, please, tell your friends. Pieces are still only acquired by someone who knows someone. Although, I have this past year tried to donate several to charity auctions for causes I deem worthy. I figured that this allows someone who knows NO ONE to get a chance.

A special note to whoever was lucky enough to win one of my elves: they are EXTREMELY (can you hear me yelling) delicate. They do not like windowsills, they like to be protected from cats. They are happiest in china closets. The answer to what they are made of is: elf flesh. There is no 'elf hospital' that they can go to if they become injured. You are now on your own with them and as long as you always remember that they are ELVES, and not toys, you should be fine. Anyone wishing to acquire an elf, they come jointed/semi-jointed/non-jointed can contact me at info@cathycara.com . Several elves will be leaving for California soon, well maybe, but that's another story.

Innocence has a Power Evil Cannot Imagine

"I have been fascinated by fairy tales and the mechanics at work in them since my early childhood. I have enjoyed reading the original versions of 'Grimm's Fairy Tales' and have always found that the form itself lends easily to disturbing images. Hans Christian Andersen and Oscar Wilde in fact have some tales of thinly veiled S&M, full of horrific and brutal moments. I always try to integrate some fairy tale elements..."

- Guillermo Del Toro

Christmas Eve

Orchid, on her way to one of the many parties she attended this season. On this particular evening, underneath her gown, she wore her cowboy boots. Her black lace stockings and her brown cowboy boots were a huge hit. Of course, the men were thrilled to have an excuse to peek under her skirt....

Somewhere Over the Rainbow

This is the radiant rainbow that MiniRoses and I were treated to one day while we were shopping for fabric and trim for Orchid.

It proved to be a lucky omen, as we found many wonderful items in a non-favorite shop where there are usually none. In addition, we each received a ten dollar gift certificate as some sort of promotion. We went home that day very happy indeed.

Gold Coast Soiree

This is the Phipps' mansion where Orchid and her sister attended tea in November 2006. The estate is 160 acres in total with 88 acres devoted to formal gardens. It is considered to be the finest English-style garden in the United States.

Enhancing a very enjoyable afternoon was the fact that children literally walked into each other at the sight of Orchid. There were 'mini-pileups' of children wherever she went. I loved it; I wish A.D. could have been there.

Fine Feathered Friend

Normally, for the most part, I neither do, nor approve of, previews for 'show destined' denizens. However, we're two weeks away from competition and Orchid's peacock is simply so splendid, I couldn't wait another moment to share him.

His golden wing feathers are rare and exquisite, a gold chain wraps around his ankle and the jeweled peacock motif charm at the end of the leash ensures that Orchid can maintain a tight rein on him throughout the show.

Poodle Skirt Flamingo

This beaded pink flamingo is destined to go on a Poodle Skirt for Orchid. The big discussion in Little Cow Harbor was whether or not a Poodle Skirt had to have a poodle.

After a great many laughs, it was decided that, in our town, it did not.

Live or Tell

For anything, the most banal even, to become an adventure, you must (and this
is enough) begin to recount it. A man is always a teller of tales, he lives
surrounded by his stories and the stories of others, he sees everything that
happens to him through them, and he tries to live his own life as if he were
telling a story.

But he has to choose: live or tell.


Jean-Paul Sartre
La Nausee