Coin Operated Boy

Amanda Palmer, The Dresden Dolls.
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Snow Queen

Yes, that is 'my fairytale' for this week.  As I survey my domain, all is quiet, all is white.  This is what it looks like here upon our wisteria laden hill in Little Cow Harbor.
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Yes, it is cold.  But, it is gorgeous. The elves are by the fireplace. There are no complaints in fairyland.

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Blue Ribbon Horses

Edge Godiva and Weeener danced their way to a first place 'blue ribbon' at this past weekend's UFDC Doll Fanciers show here on the island.  The piece was entitled "Shall We Dance?"; the setting was a Masquerade Ball room.
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Weeener sports Daisy Dayes legs and beautiful Christy Johnson paint and customization.  Edge's signature 'Sdink eyebrows' brought much "Oooooohing and Aahhhhhhhhing !"
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Additional un-retouched photos of Edge and Weeener from the show are here on the Journal :  http://catcara.livejournal.com  .  You can also find detailed "credits" for both dolls on the Journal.
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I am sorry that I did not get a photograph of the darling little winged frog carrying a Valentine.  I was ever so grateful that he had 'volunteered'.

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Never Never Land

I loved this.  Click and enjoy a sweet moment of Lyfe Jennings.
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Red Riding Hood

Blue Ribbon Winners !

Edge Godiva and Weeener are now 'blue ribbon' horses in my stable.  They are 'first place winners' from the UFDC Doll Fanciers' show this weekend.
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Dance with me here :  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kpdSQ1v-4h8 !
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I spend a great deal of time trying to explain to everyone that 'I am not just me'.  Some people create dolls entirely by themselves; I do not.  Not only do I receive a great deal of help with the dolls, the 'help' comes from those who are completely fabulous artists in their own right.
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Please give a huge standing ovation and a hearty round of applause to the following hugely talented American artists who worked very hard to make Edge and Weeener a reality:  Christy Johnson for Weeener's paint, Daisy Dayes for Weeener's hooves, and Cheryl Austin for Edge's face.
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Yes, I did do all of the clothing.
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I thank each and everyone of you for all of your support and all of your encouragement.  The dolls would never be possible without each and every one of you.
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A detailed listing of the "credits" is on the Journal and can be found here: http://catcara.livejournal.com/188984.html

2011 UFDC Doll Fanciers Show Photographs

In no particular order, these are the dolls which I took pictures of.  Please feel free to use and share the photographs, particularly if it is 'your doll' that you see here.
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None of my dolls are in these photographs.  I will load those pictures separately.
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There you go!  You have seen some of what I saw!

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Additional 2011 show photographs belonging to the Doll Fanciers' Club can be viewed here: http://www.kodakgallery.com/gallery/creativeapps/slideShow/Main.jsp?sourceId=533754321803&cm_mmc=eMail-_-Share-_-Photos-_-Sharee

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Edge and Weeener appear in photographs numbered 97, 98, 99, 100.

Congratulations to all the Winners !

The January 2011 UFDC Doll Fanciers' Doll Show was a rousing success.  The change of venue for brought so many out of state vendors that this year they spilled out into the hall.  In spite of record cold temperatures, I got to see many old friends and made wonderful new ones.
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In spite of the farther walk to the ladies room, there were many lovely dolls and a good time was had by all.
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The UFDC club members worked particularly hard this year to keep tabs and run "two competition rooms" .  The unfamiliar zigzag of hallways and odd layout of doorways made for an 'Alice in Wonderland' scampering throughout the day.  I promised everyone that I would share the few pictures that I did manage to take, so here they are. I will load them in stages here on the blog, or out on the journal, beginning with this year's "big" winners.  I am sorry, but I do not have photos of all the dolls which 'won'.  Not only do I take 'hardly the best photographs', I get very easily distracted if someone begins talking to me.  I am lucky that I have any photos at all.
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The only "disappointment" that I noticed was people not understanding why the 'competition rooms' were not available for viewing until the show's end at 4 o'clock.  Many people arrived at 3 o'clock and could not understand, why, if the show was "still going on" could they not view the competition dolls.  Of course, my response was: "Such decisions are up to the club and I will relay your displeasure as well as the message as best I can."   Probably, it takes 'that many hours' to dismantle the competition rooms and the 'extra hour' is simply required in order to ever finish the show at a reasonable hour.  However, people are not wrong when they said, "Then it should say that on the admission pamphlets and tickets.  We thought we had all day to see the competition dolls!  Your dolls are only in 'competition'! Now we cannot see them!"
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Therefore, I have promised to share my photographs.  Yes, no matter how 'not good' they are.
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My personal 'show favorite' was this second place winner.  The charming artist who entered this particular baby doll took a reborn blank, rooted her hair, painted her, and dressed her.  The photo does not do this piece justice :
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This is a photograph of the 2011 "Best in Show" dolls.  Each of the 'big pink fluffy ribbon winners' are moved to their own table to stand alone and be admired.   My favorite is the one in the 'red cape':
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Congratulations to all and thank you for braving the cold with your lovely dolls so that we could all enjoy them!

Daydreaming

Watch this lovely stop motion video created by Eclipse21 using a Soom Vega boy with jointed Soom hands.  He is sporting one of Eclipse21's extremely beautiful 'custom wigs'.
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Doll Show is This Sunday !

A quick reminder that the annual UFDC Doll Fanciers' show is this Sunday, January 23rd, 2011.
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If you come to the show you will get to see my horses Edge Godiva and Weeener in person.  Edge has just returned from the west coast where he was painted by Sdink.  Her only instructions were to 'make him be himself'.  Weeener is a harlowkitty/Christy "over the top" work of art.  I had great pleasure dressing them both in their 'show finery' and we hope that you enjoy them.
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Information on the show is here:  http://orchidzblog.blogspot.com/2011/01/calendar-2011.html and here : http://catcara.livejournal.com/186599.html

Supakitch and Koralie

SUPAKITCH & KORALIE - VÄRLDSKULTUR MUSEET GÖTEBORG from elr°y on Vimeo.

Find the French husband and wife painter team here: http://www.supakitch.com and http://www.koralie.net .

Argento's "Phantom of the Opera"

Curl up into a brocade velvet easy chair and watch the whole film here:

Part 1:


Part 2:


Part 3


Part 4:


Part 5:


Part 6:


Part 7:


Part 8:


Part 9

Lovechild Boudouir

Steampunk design clothing, accessories and more. Dress like the dolls.  Find Lovechild Boudoir here: http://www.lovechildboudoir.com/store.php

Up on My Hill

The start of this new year finds me hard at work upon my hill thinking Divine thoughts.
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I will keep you posted.

Thought for Today

By believing passionately in something that still does not exist, we create it. The nonexistent is whatever we have not sufficiently desired.
--Franz Kafka
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One of a series of centaur portraits by Spanish artist David Trullo.   Find David Trullo here: http://www.davidtrullo.com/

Calendar 2011

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Sunday, January 23rd, 2011
UFDC Patchoque Doll Fanciers' Show

The Annual Patchogue Doll Fanciers Club show will take place on January 23rd from10am to 4pm. The show will be at a new location, the Sheraton Long Island Hotel, 110 Vanderbilt Motor Parkway, Hauppauge.
Yes, I will be "showing" something from my stable of "Wild Horses" .  You will see 'one large horse' and 'one small'.  The piece will be entitled, "Shall We Dance?"

Sunday, January 23rd, 2011

UFDC Patchoque Doll Fanciers' Show

The Annual Patchogue Doll Fanciers Club show will take place on January 23rd from10am to 4pm. The show will be at a new location, the Sheraton Long Island Hotel, 110 Vanderbilt Motor Parkway, Hauppauge.
Yes, I will be "showing" something from my stable of "Wild Horses" .  You will see 'one large horse' and 'one small'.  The piece will be entitled, "Shall We Dance?"

I hope to see you there.

Iris

Cirque du Soleil's new "Hollywood" themed show is only at the Kodak theater in Los Angeles.  Find the Kodak theater here: http://www.kodaktheatre.com/events.htm
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Doll Fanciers' Upcoming Show

This is a reminder that the UFDC Doll Fanciers' Show is approaching.  It is at a new location this year in Suffolk County on Long Island.  Please see the 'Calendar' here for all of the details.

Clink Me !

Whoooo hoooo! Celebrating five years on the Internet!  A special thank you to all of you who are 'still with me'.  I am grateful to each and every one of you who has told me how much you love "Orchid's Blog".  I am always completely thrilled when you tell me that you made the pilgrimage to one of the shows.  Have I told you that while she was at this summer's Hamptons' show, Cindi Lauper  acquired one of our large fine art doll photographs?  She did, indeed.  Yes, the greatest compliment is when you actually desire a piece of the art. The photograph is to hang here: http://www.intergenerational.org/truecolors.php as part of her "True Colors Project" .
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I do apologize for the fact that there still seems to be an 'in crowd' and an 'out crowd'.  The 'in crowd' understands perfectly well almost everything which goes on.  The 'out crowd' stands around and says, 'WTF? WTF?'  I have not yet figured out how to 'rectify this'.  The 'in crowd' has flat out told me, "But that is the great fun.  There is an 'in crowd'!  We read everything.  We know everything.  We get everything!"   There is also a 'whole bunch of "we's" ' who work on the dolls.  I do not create beautiful dolls 'single handedly'. Hmmmm, yes, I am sorry for the confusion.  If i can 'fix it', I will.  For the moment, I do all the shows that I can, I 'write' all that I can to try to keep you on the same page and yes, I am even sculpting all that I can.  But, that is a story for another day.
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This year will be a very exciting, very busy, year in Little Cow Harbor.  I look forward to continuing to keep up with you on LiveJournal and I will continue to walk my dog around town.  If you can find my dog, you can find me.  It is the twenty-first century and I am completely amazed that Russians 'know my dog'.
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This is a quick reminder that the UFDC Doll Fanciers' show is coming up shortly.  Yes, a couple of my very beautiful horses will be there.  Edge had gone westward to California for his final grooming and has safely returned.  He is more lovely than ever.  When you view the competition, please remember that you will be seeing very rare horses straight from this Fairyland. Indeed, they are surely not like any regular horses you have ever seen in your life.  The show is at the end of January.  See the 'Calendar' on here for more details.
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Weeener Continues her Lessons

The Queen of Slantways has refused to allow Weeener to slack off.  Darling Weeener continues her lessons with the dark Prince of Nigh Hill.
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The photograph is the gift of Candygears.

Link Me

"Would that this garland fair
Might weave around thy Life,
A spell to shield from care,
A guard from every strife."
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This is a moment for a special thank you to all who have taken the time to journey to an exhibition, meet Orchid in person, and follow our activities on the blog. I am particularly grateful for all the kind feedback and whispers of encouragement.

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I am extremely pleased when you tell me that the site is a favorite, that you have it bookmarked, and that you explore it often; hoping that you don't miss a thing.
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For those of you who have asked to link to the site, by all means, please do. My card, provided here, may be used as a banner logo; the address to link to is: http://www.cathycara.com/
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I am delighted when you tell me how very hard you laugh and how very often you have shared that laughter with family and friends. You don't want to miss this April 2008 as we are planning, "Alice in Wonderland". And no, before you ask, Orchid will not be "Alice"; Alice will be "Alice". Blue eyes and shimmering pale hair already ordered by A.D. So, begin the fun sharing now: "Eat me. Drink me. Link me."

September 16th, 2008
Visit with us, listen in, and join us as we chat from our studios. In celebration of our one of a kind resin wonders that are Nine, be-friend us on LiveJournal at: http://catcara.livejournal.com/

May 24th, 2009
Too many of 'us' are on Deviant Art. I have become "deviously deviant" and joined: http://catcara.deviantart.com/ . If you are on Deviant Art, please "watch" me currently do nothing, I will happily "watch" you back.

Happy 2011 !

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