Moving Blog To My Website!

Hi there, if you've stopped by to read my little blog, I want you to know I've moved it!  From now on, you can read my blog directly on my website.  There is a link to your right and here is the direct link to the new blog:  https://www.lillislittles.com/blog

Thank you for stopping by!!

Lilli

How healing creativity is...

It's two and a half weeks until Chicago International! On a sad note, my mom passed away last Thursday and I've been trying to keep up the creative flow.  It is healing I must say, to create.  She loved my dolls and I would bring them over to her house to show her and she would admire them with her magnifying glass (she was partially blind).Mom was so proud of me; she would tell people that I was to become famous...lol :)  I will miss you my dear Mom!

Here are my latest dolls for the show.  My website has a page devoted to all of the dolls I'm bringing.

My latest for the Chicago show!

Hi folks, just another little update to show what Lilli's Littles has been up to.  I feel I've fallen off the grid, as I'm buried in my studio creating like mad!  I have to force myself to take a break on occasion :)

Here are the latest 3.

The Chicago show is 5 weeks away!  My fiance and I are driving making this a bit of a vacation as well!  It's 2200 miles from us!   I used to live outside of Chicago, but it's been years since I've been back.  I'm looking forward to seeing the Windy City again :)

Create create create!

Hiya folks, touching base with all of you.  I've my head buried in my studio coming up with various creations for the Chicago Show.  On my website, I have a page dedicated to the particular dolls I'm taking with me.  Click on the logo to the right!

So these are my latest 3.  It took a bit to get dolls finished after Christmas as I had the most difficult time getting some quality porcelain slip.  Finally, success!

Winter Windowland!

It's rare for snow to fall here in Vancouver Washington.  Here is the view from my window and it's so lovely and cozy.  I don't mind that I can't drive to the grocery store because I'm afraid of the other drivers out there (we're just not used to it here!), or that my toes and nose are so cold I'm shivering.  It's worth it!  Beautiful fluffy blanket!

So with my shivering fingers I write my blog post :)  Here's to fluff and stuff!  

A really big deal has come up.  I've been given the opportunity to go to the Chicago International show in April.  This is the biggest miniatures show in the US and has always been my dream to attend.  It's worth it to fly out there and save your dollars to spend at this show!  Check out the list of dealers they will have there:  Chicago International

So, most of my new creations will be showcased and for sale at this show.  In fact, I will be debuting some of my own sculptures of miniature dolls made in porcelain!  Check back here to see hints of what I'll be bringing to the event!
For now, I'll just show you my latest dollies....

From Beginning to Now

I've received many requests for tutorials or videos on doll making and I'd really like accommodate those requests.  I hope in the new year to be able to post up some tutorial videos of some of the techniques I use.  From experience, I know how difficult it is to find any instructional material for porcelain doll making, in particular miniature doll making.  When one "gets the bug" to learn something, it's nice to get results to our research and really learn something well.  It's like an obsession with me, when I discover something new to learn and master, to find out all the information I can about the topic.  So, hopefully I can help those out who would really like to know these "secrets"...they're not secrets really, it just takes lots of practice :)

And I mean PRACTICE...take a look at these beauties.  Some of my first dolls.  A few made from polymer clay and some of porcelain.  I had to dig for these :)  They are from about 15 years ago...yowsa!!

I learned most of my doll making skills online with tutorials made by talented doll artists.  In fact, most of these tutorials are still up on these artists' sites.  Check them out:  

http://www.ginabellousdolls.com/tutorials/

http://www.minidolllist.com/

http://cynthiahoweminiatures.com/tutorialindex.htm

So, I hope to add to the treasure trove of tutorials out there...let's see if I can do it!  Juggling work, family and school...well, I AM superwoman you know!  

To end my post with my latest dressed doll and to show how far I've come...practice practice practice!

So Christmas is almost here. We've already had some snow, just that "frosting" I had talked about, but so far it's been a mellow winter.  The winding down of business for the year is evident everywhere, even in my own little world where I'm finishing some projects for work and school.  That mad rush of buying gifts is coming to a close.  It's been a good year.  Life is lovely.

Here is my latest custom order and as always, I enjoyed creating her and embroidering her apron.  She turned out well I think :)  Her new owner likes her and that's what matters :)

I've been rolling around some ideas in my head for the new year.  For Lilli's Littles it's been a wonderful growing journey and it's only getting better.  Learning about how to run a small business is definitely an invaluable skill to learn!  I want to have supplies for miniature doll making and even expand into building supplies for houses and scenes.  Hopefully this new year will bring a new printer so I can continue designing fabrics for minis.  I also want to keep working on my own molds.  I have a few already and now that I've figured out plaster mold making, I just need to practice my sculpting!  So, keep an eye out for new things arriving at Lilli's Littles!  Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!!