Artist thoughts..

When I started this blog, I did so, so I could share my creations AND my thoughts with all of you... I've always believed I am nothing special really, just your ordinary girl next door. I sculpt because I LOVE it not because I want to get rich by it or become famous. It was a nice surprise when I was brought to a position where I could support my family doing what I loved... I will admit sometimes, it IS about the money... I put bread on the table with my dolls, I have no other means to support our family... but most times, it is about doing what I love... for those I love... you, the collectors, who many have become my friends over the years...

So today I want to talk about when you make something that doesn't sell...
"Daddy's Girl" from last week... didn't sell. Not even when I lowered her price by $200... Now I've got an auction that ends tomorrow, and not one bid... let's forget the financial aspect of this for a minute...
What ELSE does this mean to me?

Those who know me, know I am not a competitive person... I am not intimidated by other talented people, the opposite, I support them and help them if I can (and they ask for it :)). I think the biggest proof of this is that I teach sculpting :)

Both of the sculpts, I did with great care, loads of love and in my opinion they are Awesome!! I put a lot of work in them, in fact they each took me a long time to finish because I did them in between orders...
So when they didn't sell you know what I thought? People rejected my work :( You would think the first thought would be something like, "oh no, the power bill is up and I didn't sell like I planned to, now where will I find the money?" or "people might not have money at this time"... But no... my thoughts are "they didn't like them, I am not a good sculptor!" :(
Insecure much?

I often get e-mails filled with praise and I have been generally successful in what I do but I don't think I am "there" yet... where exactly is "there" I don't know. I just feel I still have so much to learn and there is room for much improvement... I often see sculptures by other artists, usually new ones and I think "wow I want to be like HER!"... Yeah I know, silly huh? But you see, I told you I was like everyone else :)

Going back to the issue of money though... I really hope my babies sell this week :) I really do have bills to pay lol :)
Hugs
Tina

Broody...

There are days I am content with my little family and others I desperately want another child... not just any child though, a girl named Ellie after my grandmother.
You see, I see everything as temporary, like my marriage situation for instance or the financial aspect, whereas a child is forever... I am like a single mom anyway in every aspect of daily life... EVERY aspect... so if *I* think I can manage, why not go for it right?

Then of course there is the issue of the extra weight... I gained 100lbs since I was 25 and we started trying... the injections, the pills, the worry, the 3 years of chemicals pumped into me... I gained.
I can't (and shouldn't) get PG in this weight... however I seem unable (and unwilling) to lose weight.

Sigh... a baby girl... Will I regret NOT having another baby say, 20 years from now? YES!! I am positive I will... I am sure in 20 years I will look back and think things weren't so bad maybe... and I could have had another one. So where does this leave me now?
I am not sure... all I know is, until I hold my baby girl in my arms and smell her sweet skin... my heart will continue longing and command my hands to make baby girls... from clay...

On eBay tonight...

I've worked on the baby and her "goodies" whenever time allowed since before Christmas and she is finally ready... going on eBay tonight.
Here's her presentation...

Photo album customized with Smilebox

And here is her auction: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=300528552909

Better and some eye candy...

I woke up this morning with a rotten headache... the whole back of my neck was killing me and so was the lower part of my skull.
I decided not to take the boys to school (which was a good thing as it turned out, keep reading) and because of my rotten behavior yesterday, I would make it up to them today.

So I got up, took a Panadol, and when we all got up, I took them to IKEA for breakfast (they love it) and we bought a night light we needed for their room. They picked out a blue mushroom!
Then I took them to the Playmobil FunPark where they were delighted to find that the new line "Secret Agents" was out!! When we left I bought them each a toy... I was spoiling them, I know, but this is mommy guilt...

We went to therapy, then I took them out for lunch and we had "souvlakia", a traditional Greek food, kind of like Fish and Chips, in the sense you can get it everywhere and you can eat it as you go.
At five we had an appointment for haircuts and then we visited grandma Eva for a bit, then went home, where they had a looong bath with loads of toys, while mommy checked e-mail she hadn't checked for 24hrs!
(don't worry, the bathroom is right next to my room and hey, they are five now... lol)

Then it went sour... Cody got out of the tub screaming his ear hurt. He's had a stuffy nose and productive cough for a week now but the doc said it is just a common virus, no need for antibiotics and it will clear out on it's own... turns out, the fluid built-up, hurt his inner ear even though we have been dilligent with cleaning his nose with salline and all that jazz.

I called my MIL to get me some ear drops and she brought me EYE drops!
I managed to get Cody to drink some kid Ibuprofen and he calmed down and went to sleep... John on the other hand... proceeded to throw up everything he had eatten all day, all over my bathroom... then he wouldn't go to sleep and he is now asleep behinme on my bed as I type this...

Aaaaaand looks like they won't be going to school tomorrow either... and I need to get them to the doctor to be checked out... and I won't be having my haircut I so desperately need... which is ok. I can look like a mop for a few more days, right?

And here is some eye candy for you... I can't understand why she hasn't found a mommy yet... She is SO beautiful and REAL looking, at least in person... anyhoo... here is "Daddy's Girl".
Good night and here's hoping a better day dawns on us tomorrow!!

This morning

This morning I woke up after two weeks of extreme stress with the boys going through the "system" and evaluations (today is the last one), with a headache, a very heavy heart and my nerves felt shattered.
I was so tired, I didn't take them school, I couldn't get out of bed and I couldn't get THEM out of bed either...

I feel if someone touches me, I will slap him.. I am so TENSE, I've been screaming all day. This is not good... I just had a nervous breakdown on the phone. I need to take Cody to his child-psych evaluation in less than an hour. I can't even THINK straight. I do not know what is wrong with me but suddenly the drugs the psychiatrist I have been seeing, offered, sound like a good idea. Maybe something light to get me to function again...

It is exhausting to be in charge for two boys, who at age 5+, one would think, would be somewhat independent and able to play FOR FIVE FRACKING MINUTES ON THEIR OWN!!!!
Ok I am doing it AGAIN... this is NOT my day.

I just wanted to let everyone know I am turning my PC off for the day.. I can't take it. I just need some peace and quiet, to get down and catch up with work and maybe once I am caught up, I will feel better in general... so please do not worry if you do not hear from me today. I will still get through work but I just need to focus right now... get the evaluation over with, get the boys to my MIL for a few hrs, sit down and complete some orders so I can breath easier and feel better all around.
I think work is the one thing that calms me right now...

I will be back tomorrow with photos and news of completed work all around I hope... I just need ONE day to really focus... and maybe that will stop me from screaming at everyone ..and no I don't feel better afterwards either... this sucks :(

"Baby Boy"

I kinda feel sad that lately, I am so overwhelmed that I don't share as many of the sculpts I am completing with you guys but on the other hand, I like how I can connect with you via this blog, share my troubles, my thoughts... but some come in often for some eye candy so I will try and make a recent work gallery and update it often for you :)

But for now, here is a little boy I haven't shared (not available).

I think I might be getting tired lately.. the other day I was taking photos of an unbaked head and it rolled off the blanket on me just as I stepped away after arranging it, and the nose was all smooshed... then a few days ago I was packing an OOAK for the UK and ehm... I tripped over the cat (who wanted to be fed) and my hand landed on his knee and I broke his leg! Yeah... clumsy much?

Sitting Pretty

This little girl (light tan skin Naunitta) is sitting so pretty in her high chair, waiting to be fed, I couldn't help stop what I was doing, take a picture and share it with you!!
I've tried to sell her several times but nobody seems to like her as much as I do, so I guess I will be fostering her a little longer lol :)

Not that I mind, really. She is SUCH a good girl!!! :)

Please pray!

Hi everyone,


For those who do not know us, I am Tina, I have twin boys who just turned 5 years old .One with ADHD, and one with multiple issues including CP.

Today is our review board meeting... this is a VERY important meeting. It can make or break, John's school career.

They will decide if an aide is required... and it IS required, problem is because Greece is in crisis right now, they will do EVERYTHING to get out of it, including asking the school board that John repeats classes, even though he is a MODEL student and the brightest in his class, just so they do not have to pay for an aide.



PLEASE prayer warriors, please, pray for John and Cody to get ONE aide to help them both in class. I have been praying for this for months and after months and months of being in the waiting list, we finally get our review today...



I believe that God, who trusted these two in my care, will not abandon them/me... we've fought for John's right to live while I was pregnant, now we are fighting for his quality of life, for an education and a decent shot at a future... please help his intellect shine beyond a broken body, please pray for an aide for John...

Thank you so much in advance... Dear Lord, you've held my hand throughout infertility, throughout a difficult and painful pregnancy please do not abandon my sons now... Amen.

Day 3

Why are the boys better already and I am going on day 3 of misery?
Today I went to close my eyes "for a minute" and slept for 4 hrs.. in fact if G. hadn't returned from work I think I would still be sleeping!!
Can't stay on the PC too long, my eyes water and I feel my fever getting worse.. the highlight of my day was the arrival of a diaper cover and a hat for Ella.. yay me.
Tomorrow is therapy day.. they've already missed a day last week, I GOTTA get better and take them tomorrow... yuck!
Hope all of you are feeling better. I will be announcing something big this week :)

On the topics of sharing...

..germs that is.
My boys decided they would share with mommy whatever germs caused their ailment this past week so today I woke up thinking I was surely ran over by a bus while I slept...
OF COURSE (Murphy's Law!) by now THEY are better and we even have tickets to the Planetarium booked a week in advance, except they are super turbo charged and I need help putting my slippers on.

I guess taking "the baby" out in the snow yesterday did not harm the baby... I however don't seem to be in luck...yuuuuuuck, I feel yuck!!! (sniffle, snorted, drool...)
How on Earth do I drive them to the Planetarium? Oh the things we moms must do... really heavy duty job this mothering thing is...

New Pics of Ella

Woot woot, I got a new photography prop and I let Ella try it out!!!
Isn't she gorgeous?? Ok so, everyone says she looks like John ha, but she is all girl to me!! :)
I want to eat her up!! Today I took her to a local shop, a friend of my father's, who wanted to see them in person. The customers freaked! First I got a scolding for taking out "the baby" in this weather (it was snowing) and then jaws dropped when I said it is not a baby but a hand made sculpture... I couldn't pass out my cards fast enough... not that there will be any orders, Greece is so poor right now, but we artists do love praise :) (and the free handbag I got from the owner ha! :))

Four Naunittas and One Nono

Hello world,

I've got my new batch of Naunittas and Nonos in. These are ready for shipping. Each baby costs 160 Euros (shipped) and comes dressed, with a hand sculpted pacifier, toy, wooden bed (!!!) with bedding and COA. Loads of stuff for them :)

So here they are:

Tan skin Nono, with blue giraffe t-shirt and hat and pacifier. Comes with toy and his own wooden cot.

Light tan skin Naunitta, brown eyes, pink stripped onesie, hat and booties (not shown), comes with pacifier, toy and her own cot.

Normal skin Naunitta, blue eyes, stripped t-shirt, hat, booties. Comes with pacifier, toy and her own cot.

White skin Naunitta (I have TWO of those, only one shown) with blue eyes (both of them). Comes with stripped t-shirt, hat and booties, pacifier, toy and cot! (in this picture she is naked, I know lol).

Please e-mail me, first come first served at tina@tinakewy.com

Worldwide shipping via Registered mail (signature required), you will not pay customs as it will go out as Letter/Gift. I only accept PayPal. Shipping within 72hrs of receiving cleared payment (e-checks take up to 5 business days to clear!)

World, meet Ella Mae

Oh wow! I think my "daughter" has just been born!

(please do not contact me for sales, she is not available at this time)

Can't believe she took me as long as she did to complete, but I think the end result was worth the sleepless nights... and there were quite a few of them too!! Wish you could see her up close, she looks and feels *real*, the pictures do not do her justice... I think I will make a belly plate too down the line for her...

Oh and wait until you see the next one I am doing, I am almost done with her, she is BIG :) and I hope her mom will love her!!

Until next time,

Tina

Out of order

We just got a text from our internet provider that there will be a temporary shut down due to the weather damaging a line but so far we are ok but don't be alarmed if I don't reply to e-mails tonight (which I usually do after the boys are in bed).. .hopefully everything will be working fine inspite the malfunction :)

Oh and thanks for asking about Alexei, geez girls, you REALLY liked that little guy huh?
He is an OOAK, belongs to someone already and won't be a resin BUT a very similar baby WILL :) I will reveal her this month :)

Back to the basics

It's been 5 whole years since I had my boys and I took a turn in my sculpting... I always tell my students to use photographs as inspiration when they sculpt, but lets face it, nothing beats the real thing: sculpting directly from a live model.

So the years rolled by and my boys grew and I have found my sculpting going a different direction; it got "prettier", chubbier, bigger, slightly more mature...so I jumped at the chance for some live action, that of a real, breathing, adorable preemie boy... and here he is... baby Alexei (still in progress)!!

I feel he looks more like the sculpts I did just after the boys were born and he is the correct scale too. Simple lines, without overthinking, without going over a feature again and again... simple and realistic with the deep reds and the deep purples of the immature preemie skin of a baby born at 33 weeks. Wrinkly arms and legs, with long bony fingers and that signature frown, the slightly out of shape elvish ears and the hairy forehead, the slight sheen of flaking immature skin on tiny palms and soles of feet and that perfect baby head shape with the fontanelle visible... sigh. Maybe it is time I gave the boys a sibling... or two ;)

The Sculpting Diaries: The Book

Yes ladies and gentlemen!! It's going, going, gone... my sculpting book is going to press. You will be able to buy it directly from their website (but I will bring copies to shows and such) in about 3 months!
After much thought I decided to put everything in one book but it is one big book!!

I am also toying with the idea of 3 mini books, head, arms, legs for those who have experience and just want a different view (so this will be mostly for artists not the beginner so much) on things. It will have photos but won't be so detailed, starting with the assumption that whoever reads it, has already made dolls before with success (so I won't go into depth about how to bake one for instance since, you know, you will have already known how to do that!) lol.

I can't wait to get my mitts on that!!! :)

Little Cupccake edition

Hi guys,
I've gotten loads of e-mails about the new silicone editon, "Little Cupcake" and I wanted to clarify *that I have nothing to do with this edition*. I only sculpted the prototype and sold the rights and someone else (Joanna) is doing everything, she will take your order, fill it and ship it etc. It's no different that when you buy a doll kit from a company, I've only sculpted it and nothing else :)
So please if you are interested mail Joanna directly :)
Thanks!
Tina

It's my party...

... and I'll cry if I want to!!
No, seriously. Today I turn 33 years old... and my day did not go off on a good start as I woke up (several times at night) by my aching... head!! OMGosh, I've got the Mother of all neck/head pains. It's in the back of my head and I suspect my tumor is behind this (yes I've got a tumor at the back of my skull that can't be operated on but let's skip that part shall we?).
Nothing like getting up in the morning and gobbling down pills on an empty stomach... I need a better pillow or something ;)

Happy Birthday to me then!! I will treat myself to some ridiculously expensive Starbuck's coffee and cake, drive the boys to therapy and work there lol :)
Then ask my MIL to boysit so I can clean my kitchen...so I can make a coffee cake... and then have more coffee ;)
See?? Perfect day!(ouch!! head...is...burting...)

What will you do today?

Open adoption day...

Stay tuned... Open Adoption Day coming soon!!

Happy New Year!!!

May 2011 be filled with good health, many good surprises, love and peace for all!!

For us artists, may it be filled with GREAT inspiration and the desire to outdo ourselves!! :)

** The winner of the BJD baby is Shelvy J. from Canada! Congratulations Shelvy!! **

Hugs and wishes to all for a wonderful year ahead!
Tina