Tilly's Valentine -In the works

Tilly is a frumpy little eight year-old with a keen sense of style. She loves puffy sleeves and anything pink. Her expression shows her excitement as she waits to ask the question, "Will you be my Valentine?"

I thought I would show some of the process I go through when creating my dolls. This is a work in progress and is not quite completed as of now, but I will update the photos when it is done. Tilly is made of polymer clay over a foil and wire armature. I actually made her a little differently than I usually would to try something new.

Normally I attach the sculpted pieces (hands, feet, and head) to a wire armature whereas this time I created each sculpted limb with a piece of braded wire coming out of it. Then I wrapped the wires together assembled the body. I wrapped the braded body wires with foil to pad her out as she is supposed to be a chubby girl. If you scroll over the slide show it will tell you which step of the process each photo is showing.

Old Man on Easter Morning OOAK Art Doll

The "Old Man on Easter Morning" was just featured on the aHa American Holiday Artists Page for this week! http://suzanneurbandesigns.typepad.com/aha/

This is a OOAK (one of a kind) handmade sculpture. He is made from polymer clay constructed on a wire armature and painted with acrylic paint. His eyes are realistic glass paperweight eyes and he has real hair (mohair). This old man has a removable, pink, worn-out, bunny ears headband. He carries a hand sculpted easter basket- also removable- with green paper grass and four painted easter eggs. This is an original sculpture and will not be recreated at any time. He is signed by me, the artist, and labeled 2009. His shoes and clothes are also handmade and hand sewn. all patterns are original to this doll. He is 14 inches tall with his ears and he stands alone without a base. Thank you for viewing my art, all pieces are created in my smoke-free home.

Who is Granny Wolf?

A Doll maker since age 12, I've aspired to create many characters over the years. It all started spending summers with my grandmother. She taught me how to make her much desired peddler dolls: a six-inch clothes pin doll with a carved wooden bead head. More importantly she taught me the art of pattern and clothes making and the proper way to sew an outfit. I've come a long way since then making improvements and many alterations along the way, especially in moving on to sculpting with soft clays such as primo and prosculpt. I have even taught doll-making classes at Michaels Arts and Craft Store.

I spent 6 years as an Army Aircraft Mechanic but now as a stay home mom of a two year old boy (and one on the way!) I am finally able to devote more time to my arts and crafts. My most recent accomplishment is being published in Art Doll Quarterly Magazine, the November 2008, Winter issue. I love to create silly characters and whimsical themes out of paper mache, paper clay, polymer clay, wooden pieces, gourds, armatures, and any other sculpting materials that attract me. My goal is to be a full-time professional artist. Many of my works have already been sold and collected through Ebay and other ventures. I am proud to announce my new membership with AHA, American Holiday Artists, a juried group on Ebay!