Heart Felt Apologies

My heart felt apologies to anyone who might be disappointed that they will not be meeting Heart in Austin, Texas this September.
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I interrupted Heart's photo shoot with Richard Gardner, whisked her off so she could catch her plane, and as Val and I admired her one last time as we packed her up we both said, "Oh, no."
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The one of a kinds contain metal in them. Their armatures are an assortment of metal, including wire, and Heart in particular contains glass to stabilize her core. Val and I looked at each other and said, "Oh, no. What if they x-ray her and don't let her on the plane? Metal, wires, glass?? Oh, no."
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Therefore, I apologize in advance to western fans. I field complaints all the time that my work is only viewable on the eastern seaboard. I'm really very sorry, I want you to know that we tried. Val was in from North Carolina and we really had a great idea for the convention. You would have enjoyed the idea, I'm sorry that you won't get to see it this September.
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Here she is. The first picture of what you won't get to see. Taken by me.

Spring Vamp

What does one do with a little red haired vampire on a fine Spring day?

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We wandered through the garden, took pictures amidst the tulips, visited with the statuary, rode the animals, listened to a frog concert, had tea, and wore funny hats.

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What would you think that we did?

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If you would like to see the darker side of Vamp, look for her in 'Bebe' at: http://www.richardgardnerphotography.com/. 'Bebe' is the photographic exhibition of my work and my collaborative work with A.D. Puchalski. To catch up with A.D., who has been spending time with darling bears as opposed to little vampires, visit: http://www.angeldevilland.com/ .

New Shoes for Orchid

We took a chance. A.D. and I decided to do the "you have to be in it to win it" thing: we decided to go for several pairs of shoes that were being sold at a steep discount. The catch being that you bought multiple pairs sight unseen.
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We decided that we lucked out. Out of nine pairs, only two were 'iffy'. Even those there is absolutely nothing wrong with other than our personal taste.
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Orchid gets to keep one new pair of wonderful boots and the darling pink pumps in the photograph. We were discussing the difference between her new boots and her 'old' ones. The old ones are in the photograph. They are entirely different from the new ones. Due to the angle of the picture, it is difficult to see that the old boots are almost twice as tall as the new boots. They also have chains up the front whereas the new ones lace.
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Orchid will be not have a break until the middle of January. A.D. and I decided that for such a hard working girl, she should have some great presents. What girl doesn't love shoes?

Lila

"Autumn winds will blow right through you.
Somewhere in the mists of time,
They'll ask me if I knew you.
I'll smile and say,
You were a friend of mine."
- Alan Parson's Project

In addition to oodles of innate talent, Laura Galbraith now sports a spiffy new Master's degree in Fine Art. 'Lila', a piece created expressly for Laura Galbraith's thesis project, has joined Orchid and theGirls here in Little Cow Harbor.

Unfortunately, I will not have Lila's sparkling new 'Cinderella type' gown ready for her in time for the LICG Jericho Fiber Exhibition. However, you can look forward to admiring Lila in person at Ripe Art Gallery this Christmas season.

To find out more about Laura Galbraith, visit Laura's blog at: www.lauragalbraith.com/blogger/blogger.php

Beyond Natty Boots

"Well, even the brightest star won't shine forever.

But, all of the hands I've played are working out right.

And, every move I've made feels like a winner.

There's something in the air.

Maybe for the only time in my life,

Something in the air

Turning me around and guiding me right.

- Alan Parson's Project

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"Ohmygod." That's all I could say when I opened the package. Originating in Korea, I missed snagging these magnificent 'Orchidworthy' boots for Orchid when they were in Colorado. Finally, after many hours and months of chasing: they were shipped out from Arkansas.

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The work on them is simply incredible. Pictures truly do not do them justice. They are comprised of a multitude of tiny individually stitched straps laced with a fine silver chain. Even the shine on the high, unusually sculpted sole is better in person.

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In the photo, Orchid is wearing her new 'skull leggings' which I made for her in anticipation of the wonderful present which A.D. has promised her: a new coat sporting genuine bone skulls. One needs matching pants for such a coat, don't you think?

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Vampire Loves

Vampire Loves is another hysterical French treasure by comic artist Joann Sfar. Translated to English with Sfar's original quirky illustrations, one experiences the dating scene from the standpoint of a shy polite vampire.

If you double-click the images, the larger resolution may allow you to read enough to see what you are missing if you have not experienced the glories Sfar's humor; hurtyourface laughoutloud funny.

LittleRosie Gets Her Wish

"I wish I may, I wish I might

Have the Wish, I wish tonight."

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When LittleRosie was eight years old, she met Vamp at an elaborate Tea Party. Rosie fell hopelessly in love with our red haired girl. "Oh, I wish I could have one! I wish I could! And did you know, they MAKE them?", LittleRosie could be heard to exclaim, in the months after that fateful Tea Party, to whoever would listen. Because LittleRosie is rather a most special darling herself and because she has a doting loving Aunt as well as an extremely generous Wall Street Uncle, she received for her ninth birthday a week long vacation in Disney World, Florida. Her Aunt and Uncle decided that Rosie might be disappointed on her birthday if she only went to Disney, Disney was not what she'd WISHED for, after all, so Rosie also received from them our latest collaborative creation.

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We created the little pink haired vampire in the picture just for LittleRosie. Happy Birthday, Rose! We love you!

Richard Gardner Photography

A special thank you to all who did trek out to April's photography exhibit and an extra special thank you to all of you who took the time to tell me personally how much you enjoyed seeing the photographs and how much you love the work.

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For those of you who missed the exhibit, or who are not familiar with Richard's work, this is where you can view the photographs which were presented for the first time at the April show. All of the sculpts in the photographs were done by either A.D. or myself. The April show was the first time the photographs were revealed to the public.

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The photograph shown is one of Richard's unfinished proofs. Window is wearing her Little Red Riding Hood outfit. The marvelous 'red' fabric is about seventy-five years old. As usual, you can see very little of the beadwork in the picture.

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Visit 'Bebe' on Richard's site at http://www.richardgardnerphotography.com/ . Realize that nothing you see on your computer screen, no matter what the resolution, can compare to seeing the actual finished prints, as a collection, in a gallery setting. The reason people say it was a 'simply incredible show' is because it was. The prints are very, very beautiful in person. Be sure to notice the one containing Precious. Precious is even more precious for having been immortalized in Richard's work.

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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.

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.

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.