Earthquakes, Heat and Busy Busy Busy ~

Hello There:

I am inside.  It is where I've been all week.  It's too hot to do anything outdoors.  I run out in the morning, water the garden and find my way right back inside.

It's hot....so, so, so hot.  It's hot and jolting and rumbling with earthquakes.  Not huge earthquakes, just big enough to make you stop what your doing and wait to see if this will be "the big one".  But no, just a hard jolt and a rolling shake and it's over.  Until the next one.  So...this is life in Southern California.

I have been crazy busy.  I am copy-editing a middle grade trilogy.  Each book is about 300 pages.  I am also keying in the revisions as I go.  It is slow work.  Slow but fun and I am really enjoying it, because I am a reader and a dedicated wordie!

I am also just starting to play around with the illustrations for a children's book about 'possums.  Just starting...but it is in my mind all the time.  I'm not the author, but I was asked to do the illustrations.

Through it all, I am trying to keep up with my own work and I have so many projects going all at once.  So, I work a little here and dabble a little there.  It's nice to be in the studio during these long, furnace days.  What more can a gal ask for?  

Even though I'm crazy busy with all sorts of bookish stuff, I decided to list a set of my Gnarly-Dolls yesterday.  

 Zeb and Essy

For those of you that are familiar with my Gnarly-Dolls, you can probably see that Zeb and Essy are more traditional than my normal doll-extravaganzas.  They were made because a friend challenged me to try and create a set of dolls that were more traditional.  This is what I came up with.  Yeah...not so normal, but it's the best I could do ~

Both dolls are completely hand-stitched.  I don't use a sewing machine.  I don't own a sewing machine.  I am terrified of sewing machines.  They're too fast and chaotic for me.  I prefer the rhythm of a hand-stitch.  It is truly meditation.

Essy ~

Zeb ~ 

You see, when I was a little girl, I loved the show "The Waltons".  I especially loved Grandma and Grandpa.  Their names have always stuck with me....Zebulon and Esther.   Zeb and Essy for short.  Yep, just a little nod to my childhood and to Grandpa and Grandma Walton.

Just so you know, Zeb and Essy have removable clothes ~ 

These two characters were really fun to make, and now it's time for them to go onward.  I am hopeful that they will find a new owner that will love them and take grand care of them.  

If you are interested in adopting Zeb and Essy, you can find them in my online shop.  Just click right HERE.  

Also...please note ~ Zeb and Essy are not toys.  They do have buttons that could be pulled off and cause a choking hazard. 

Well, I am off to bake a birthday cake.  We have a birthday in our house today and another one next Tuesday.

Like I said....busy busy busy!

Ohhhh....and the winner of the art print giveaway is comment #5 ~Jaybird.  

Until Next Time:
Kim
Gerushia's New World

Gnarly Alice is Finally Finished ~

I am so happy to finally show you the finished "Gnarly Alice in Wonderland". She's simple, really...just my idea of how Alice looks. Well...this is how she looks in my dreams ~



She's completely hand-stitched. I don't use a sewing machine. I love to sit and stitch and think. She's wearing a fashionable, walnut ink stained blue skirt, a lovely white net petticoat and she thinks the black yarn gives the impression of black striped stockings. Both Alice and myself LOVE striped stockings! ~



Her skirt buttons are vintage...all covered in shiny rhinestone goodness! ~



She even has a black satin ribbon in her spectacular golden hair ~



All in all, I'm happy with her. She's rather large. Larger than I had planned. Measuring approximately 27" high x 29" wide from the tip of each hand.

If you're interested in adopting Alice, she can be found in Gerushia's Etsy Shop.

If you have any questions about Alice, please feel free to email me or leave a comment right here on my blog. I'll be more than happy to answer any questions.

Thank you so much for looking. I'll be back super soon with the previously promised High Voltage Tattoo post (yummy)!

Until Next Time:
Kim
Gerushia's New World

Zeb and Essy Need a New Home ~

I just adore making dolls. I love the whole process...thinking, planning, drawing patterns, and finally, combining every aspect to create a curious new life. Zeb and Essy were created as a sort of nod to the old handmade ragdolls of the past. (Of course, I added a bit of "gnarly" to the mix.



A few years ago, I was making several dolls a month under the name "gnarly-dolls". But, when my mom became weak and sick, I no longer had the time to hand-stitch my dolls, so I put them aside for awhile. Now....with a bit more time and a higher spirit, I am finding my way back to the meditative and rhythmic stitching that I love so very much.





Zeb and Essy are the last dolls I made before going on hiatus. I kept them, safely packed away, just in case I never had the opportunity to make anymore dolls. But, I've found that keeping them hinders the process of going onward. So...I have decided to list them in Gerushia's Etsy Shop. All the details will be listed there, such as size and a bit more detail about their story...why I named them Zeb and Essy.



I will be listing them as a pair only. They do not want to be separated. I will list them tomorrow, Tuesday, August 10 at 11:30 a.m. pacific time.

If you have any questions, please feel free to email me or leave a comment right here on Gerushia's blog.

Until Tomorrow:
Kim
Gerushia's New World

Something Alice-y This Way Comes...

Oh my....it's been ages since I've taken the time to sit down and hand stitch a doll. I am so happy to say that I've gathered up all the ingredients and have started to concoct a new doll. Something fun and gnarly and Alice-y. Would you like to take a peek?



I am just now brewing a batch of strong tea to stain Alice's skin. Once that's dried and ironed....the mad stitching will begin.

I am hoping to have her finished by Monday so I can list her in one of Gerushia's Shops. Or maybe even simply offer her for sale straight through Gerushia's blog.

I will be back soon with a complete Alice to show you.

Until Then:
Kim
Gerushia's New World