Salem Witches Collection and Dolls Biographies

Happy Halloween! The day when the veil between reality and fantasy is lifted, imagination is steered and one can be anything they wish for one night. 

After being truly inspired by the scenery and culture of America’s halloween town, Salem, I really feel I’ve gotten the full dose of Halloween this year! Also I’m glad I got started on this collection so early, and avoided my usual mad rush. Each outfit is as special and unique to it’s model as I’d hoped it be. And the set has been great! The cauldron casts the place in an eerie glow with a tea candle inside. The trees, cut out from cork board, are decorated with quotes from Macbeth. Finally various items made the final touch-the perfume bottles as potions, the remnants from the trees as fallen branches and even some plastic spiders crawling into the blew. As a final touch I made some ‘spirits’, made from muslim squares and stuffed, hovering throughout the air from jewelry cord.

And so, without further adeu, I wish to introduce you all to my girls...I should probably note that the summer when I received these guys as a graduation gift, I had an internship in New York at the time. As such, they were all given surnames after areas in NYC.

Blanca Brooklyn

Name: Blanca Isabelle Brooklyn

Age: 17

Star sign: Saggitarius

Fav Color: Purple

Fav Objects: Travel size haberdashery kit

Occupation: Milliner

Pet: Venus the Cat

Style Icon: Westwood and Chanel

Phobias: The Dark (yes, she’s a witch whose scared of the dark!)

Magical Inheritance: Witch 

Blanca became friends with the girls late. Often an outsider, she always had a hard time relating to people, and was hesitant whether or not she were meant to have friends. She expressed herself through her millinery passion, loving how hats can express one’s nature. She especially admires artists such as Westwood and Channel as inspiration.

Eventually, the others found Blanca and encouraged her talent and passion, often turning to her for fashion advice. Though the one who is still sometimes insecure, Blanca is learning to blossom with the sisters, often joining them for Tea and dressing sessions. 

Blanca is also a witch from her mother’s side, although from a distant past when she was eccentric about her powers of telekinesis. She nows tries her best to hide them, though there are days when she tries to control her powers by occasionally practicing them, knowing she shouldn’t completely reject her magic inheritance.

Jaime Madison

Name: Jaime Christina Madison

Age: 16

Star sign: Taurus

Fav Color: Teal

Fav Objects: She’s not really materialistic-maybe her iPod?

Occupation: Personal Trainer

Style Icon: Any of the women from Marvel Comic Books

Pet: Harley the Rabbit

Phobia: Small Spaces

Magical Heritage: Valkyrie

Jaime is the boyish, confidant and head strong one of the group. Sometimes rushing into things without considering the outcome, Jaime learns to explore. She is passionate about trying anything, some odd foods to exploring different parts of the world. She is the one who absorbs and respects other cultures, and learning more. She is fluent in several languages, from Japanese to Sign. However, she loves to wear a dress or two sometimes, just to convince her friends that she can pull it off once in a while. She is often seen plugged in, listening to her rock music. While she plays keyboard, she bashes tastes sometimes with Rosalind’s demour style. Spunky, punky but always ready for action, Jaime is to go-getter.

Also being part valkyrie, Jaime is the best fighter, about to adapt and use any weapons within her reach and able to plan perfect battle strategies-and she doesn’t even have to work out all that often to stay in shape!

Erika Lexington

Name: Erika Lavinia Lexington

Age: 16

Starsign: Virgo

Fav Colour: Sky Blue and Green

Fav Objects: Her lace umbrella

Occupation: Runs a tea shop/Florist

Style Icon: Persephone the goddess of spring

Pet: Leo the turtle

Phobia: Being in crowded places

Magical Heritage: Fae

The sweet, fun loving, smiling one of the girls, Erika is gentle natured and optimistic. She loves bright colors and lots of light. She will almost always be found in her garden, nurturing her plants and creating her various teas. She has a strong wish to be a Botanist or a florist, and has accompanied Jaime on her journeys at times to discover new plants to bring back to add to her collection. Her philosophy of plants applies to people; give them time and attention, and they will thrive. She has a hard time connecting with Rosalind because of her love of the indoors, but Erika is confidant in their friendship. 

Her love of plants comes from her Fae heritage-she is a distant offspring of Titania, the Fairy Queen. She has had many suitors, but her mother has made it clear there is no rush for Erika to marry! Erika in the meantime is keen to better tune her fairy gifts of nature to the finest.

Rosalind Lafayette

Name: Rosalind Beatrice Lafayette

Age: 125

Starsign: Scorpio

Fav Color: Dark Red, Purple

Fav objects: Her violin

Occupation: Musician, song writer

Style Icon: The Vintage classics-Queen Victoria

Pet: Hermione the Hamster

Phobia: Being made fun of

Magical Heritage: Vampire

Poised, prudent and elegant, Rosalind is the aristocratic picture of a lady of the 18th Century debutante. At 125, she has seen a lot of the world, and finds it a little over-rated, her immortality. But her time on earth has served well, and she is grateful to have witnessed the great masters of fashion in their prime. A true vintage fan, her wardrobe pays homage to all the ages, though she is particularly drawn to the Victorian era.

She is the 75th child of the vampire Leopold, and as such, surrounded by her siblings she has a determination to prove herself the worthiest of them all in her poise and perfection. She believes in mind over matter, and is often found reading in her library, studying philosophy and such. She is a famed musician, skilled with the violin and piano and loves writing music and loves the classics, but lately has come to find herself appreciating the talent of one Idina Menzel. 

Once Upon a Zombie Doll Review

Is it me or was I was totally ahead of the trend last year when I created my Twisted Fairy Tales collection for Halloween? Now it seems everyone in the doll industry is jumping onto the Fairytale band wagon! First Mattel’s Scary Tales line for Monster high, followed closely by the Ever After High dolls, and now Once Upon a Zombie.

These dolls have a really compelling backstory, where the Fairytale world has been cursed, and all its inhabitants, including the classic Princesses, have been transformed into shaded living corpses. I’m drawn to the idea of these glamorous characters being stripped of their natural beauty and being forced into these circumstances. It’s in sync with my Twisted Fairy Tales, though mine was focused on the idea that these stories didn’t happen in the way we’ve been told, ‘twisting’ their legends in a gothic retelling.

I loved the design of the Once Upon a Zombie characters, as it seems the designers make a point of making them being prettier in their zombie form. I can see people being drawn to them, in character and design, seeing them so defiant with their bare feat and tattered ball gowns. I particularly love the running mascara their faces are painted with! But they could have gone into more details in so many ways. For example, the Little Mermaid in particular is kinda boring with just her shell bra and starfish hair clip. True, maybe the designers wanted to steer clear of copying Monster High’s Scary Tales line, but fairytales are so rich in detail, the imagery could have been played out waaaay more! It seems more like a great foundation for a spooky Fairy Tale concept.

That aside, my one real bone to pick with this line, I’m afraid, are the physical dolls themselves. I have a real problem with companies that show drawings of their characters, but when manufactured into dolls disappoint in how much they couldn’t resemble the original design, like the Mystixx Vampires line. For example, the character drawing of Sleeping Beauty has flowing straight hair, so why does the actual doll have ugly crimped hair?

Overall, though, I like the line in that it’s a fresh approach. However, unlike the Ever After High line, I won’t be rushing to the store to get my hands on one of these creepy little ladies. Basically great concept, poor execution in the production. However, I can’t help hoping to finish my Twisted Tales collection sometime before the 31st.

Halloween Collection 2013: Witches of Salem

The time has come once again! I’m pulling out my special DVDs saved only for the month of October-Nightmare Before Christmas, Corpse Bride, Dark Shadows etc, and measuring myself for costumes. But what is making this year freakin’ amazing is that I will be spending Halloween in the most bewitching town in the world-Salem! Sorry, England, you’ve got loads of catching up today before you’re even in LEAGUE with American Halloween! I am looking forward to some unique shopping for witchy crafts and handmade goods, walking tours around the city honoring the poor souls wrongly condemned and what I expect to be some wicked cooking.

And in light of this trip, my Halloween collection this year will be honoring the infamous craft as I transform each of my girls into gorgeous witches. But not just any witches...

Last month I wrote to Sister Diane, whose Podcast Craftypod offers brilliant advice to crafters worldwide, from crafting techniques to offering ideas on making a living in crafting. Check out her stuff at Craftypod.com. If anyone could give us suggestions on the next step for Punkee Pixie, she could! And as silly as it sounds, a part of me felt as if I were writing to a celebrity. Within 24 hours she’d written back with some great advice! But one thing she urged was showing more of the stories behind the dolls and the characters I’ve created. My girls all have a story behind those gorgeous eyes, as you will soon find out. So part of this collection is really thanks to her!

Here’s my mood board. Many ideas came instantly, such as color palettes and trends. I liked the idea of having a gorgeous catwalk worthy look, but when toped with a pointed hat makes an instant modern witch. 

A new idea just dawned last night. I was watching Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters on Netflix last weekend (finally they uploaded it!) and was really inspired by the design of the witches’ wands. They all looked clearly handmade, and personal. So I thought why not give the girls each a wand, or some sort of handy item that’s a prop to represents their personality? 

There’s a lot of details going into each girl, so I’m trying to get started asap. Only four weeks to go...total rush job, right? haha!

Tooth Fairy Photoshoot

Yet another Fairy has come to flourish. Last night completed the Tooth Fairy chapter in my fairies collection. Because the dress had so many details to it, in the end the whole look really spoke for itself without the need of a massive set. I found some small lavender satchels to serve as ‘pillows’ for her to leave the money underneath.  Another touch was the scattered coins at her feet. Sadly, my mother refused to cough up the teeth she’s kept all these years (seriously, what else is she gonna do with them?!) so I substituted teeth with small pearl beads in her small pouch. Hopefully to the viewer will see the similarities and recognize the theme.

For the final touches to her look, I decided less was more. Instead of an elaborate headdress I made a cowl/mask that covered her face up to her eyes, still making her look ready for surgery with an air of mystery. For the wings I wrapped some cotton around wire to make a structure that suggested the skeletal framework of wings. All together it looking cutting edge (literally), eerie and constricted-everything I had envisioned for this character.

I’ll be putting the Fairies collection on hold briefly, for as you may have noticed, October starts next week, which means the dawning of the most fabulous festival for any costumer....HALLOWEEN! Yes, I’ll putting all my efforts into the creation of my yearly Halloween tribute collection. Details to come!

Tooth Fairy (so far...)

My pattern making skills must be pretty sharp these days, because this was the first time I didn’t need to make a template! Not to mention finally dipping into my satin fabric stash with confidence now that my overlocker and me are on terms most amiable.

Reflecting on the look as it stands right now, it’s leaning more towards ‘surgical’ than ‘skeleton’, but I’m OK with that. The gathered bodice centre, my own pattern came out great. As to the skirt, the crossings really do look quite boney like-in fact, I’ve gone into the skirt panels and added more miscellaneous slashes.

The biggest question right now is a head piece. Unfortunately what first comes to mind is some kind of ‘ninja’ mask, since I want her entire face covered except her eyes peering through, keeping with the lashed theme and have it seemingly clumsily stitched together-think Michelle Pfeiffer’s handmade Catwoman costume. A part of me is a little worried this could come out a little too Hannibal Lector. Hopefully with a more romantic approach, maybe some kind of bandaging forming a cool hair accessory or mask, this could stay true to the theme of the mystery behind Tooth’s existence in our childhood memories.

As the icing on the cake, I’ve found out my Mom has actually held onto all the teeth me and my sisters lost when we were little, and plan to make a small organza sack to hang from her side, so you can see the actual teeth. Or I may make some teeth myself-I’m been really into into mould making lately. The look could have some ‘tooth’ accessories, but without going too Wilma Flintstone. 

Tooth Fairy: Mood Board and Inspiration

After a couple of weeks of traveling, not to mention celebrating my older sister’s engagement, it’s back to work. And while Titania is still undergoing construction, I’m presenting the mood board for my next fabulous fairy; Tooth.

The Tooth Fairy-probably the one sprite we’ve connected with the most as kids and are therefor the most connected to. Yet despite all the publicity she receives, it’s funny that there’s no corporate set image of her! In Dreamworks’s Rise of the Guardians, she’s a militant humanoid hummingbird, but in Hellboy 2: the Golden Army, tooth fairies are savage flying piranhas who devour bones (always going for the teeth, the most visible bones, earning them the title ‘Tooth Fairy’.) Either way, the tooth fairy remains illusive visually.

Not to mention that despite the hype she causes, there’s one thing that’s never answered; what DOES she collect the teeth for? Some kids believe she uses the teeth as construction materials for her Tooth Castle. Personally I prefer the answer in a children’s book my little sister used to read, explaining that actually the teeth are processed and used as pixie dust.

Either way, with a clean slate to worth with, I’ve decided to go with a more grotesque vision of the Tooth Fairy, centered on her obsession with bone marrow. 

Ever since seeing the Oscars footage, I have been in love with the Dior gown worn by Jennifer Lawrence! I mean, if there was a more exquisite dress to fall in, that was it-she floated on the steps in it, and despite her embarrassment I felt that moment on the steps was stunning! Seriously, Jen-that was the ‘Grace Kelley’ of falls, you looked amazing. That profile is what I want to work on as a base.

Fairy Godmother Photo Shoot

After finishing the Eloise James Regency novel A Kiss At Midnight, I went into the Fairy Godmother photo shoot with a mind fresh with ideas. I was amazed with the results, especially with the styling choices made at the last minute.

Inspired by the wigs from this period, I pinned Erika’s locks up in twists, but let some of her ringlets cascade down onto her bare shoulders. For the final touch, remembering how my Fairy Godmother incarnation is a fashion trend setter, stitching sequins onto eye-and-button clasps and fastening them into her bun. The result was messy yet immaculate, like a blonde Helena Bonham Carter. It’s one of those times when I truly felt the whole look, hair, accessories, the gown, all embody a singular theme I want to present in each character.

Maybe the poses aren’t as extravagant as I envisioned them, but in the end, seeing the details and work I’ve put into these looks really makes me proud as a designer. Doing this collection has really pushed me to finish one thing before starting the next. True, I do believe in using up whatever resources you have available, from little oddities you find lying around the house to the fabric from old clothes, but to achieve a particular effect to be achieved in a look, these days I’m patient and determined to make that idea a reality. So maybe it does take more time, and yes, one does get inspired a little too easily for the next project, but with some perseverance and dedication a true crafter can create something wonderful.

Titania Phase 1

I’m in the mood for something regal, majestic...say the Queen of the Fairies herself? In Shakespeare’s Midsummer Night’s Dream, Titania is impulsive, passionate in her mood swings, and slightly volatile. The name Titania itself invokes a sense of danger from the uncertain; not at all like the glitzy ditzy dames we picture when imagining Fae monarchs as kids.

A little background; this is not the first time I’ve designed a look for this character, but I’m maintaining some of my initial concepts. The first Titania I created was half woman, half deer. Mainly, I’ve tried to stir clear of presenting Fairies as wispy beings of light. I believe they’re more grounded (literally, with non-functional wings), and very in tune with their surroundings. Take the fairies from the film Pan’s Labyrinth, in disguise as insects and  all around us though we fail to notice them.

And speaking of insects, that was my first vision I had for this Titania. Butterflies are regarded as the most visually beautiful of all insects, coming in vibrant colors that allure and fascinate. I’m especially drawn to blue butterflies, loving that deep indigo wing decorated in tints of black, so that design is the core of this costume.

My mood board for this project consists of a color palette of corals, browns and oranges. Some inspiration came from things such as the cover art for the novel Splintered, or different insect wing shapes. I’m thinking of creating some sort of tiara for Titania from antennae, and for the wings, I was inspired by Storm’s cape from the anime version of X-Men, something that coils and folds around the shoulders, more demure for someone of Titania’a rank. I want her to seem delicate and seductive, but with an air of intangibility, like she could suddenly become fierce and unpredictable in the blink of an eye-or in this case, the flutter of a wing.

Tinkerbelle and Lilac Fairy Photo Shoots

What better way to spend a hot afternoon in the summer than doing a fairy photo shoot? Ok, so maybe there are some things you can think of, but I still had a great time doing my first on site (aka my back garden) shoot for my Fairies collection. Prepping Rosalind and Jaime for the shoot had an interesting twist-I put them in those dresses at first just to test the size, and wasn’t intending them to be the models for those look. This actually made the characters more striking and unique-for example, a red headed Tinkerbelle is fresh and new.

But on site, the original concept of this all being a purely outdoors photo collection was put on ice. Tinkerbelle is an attention addict and just doesn’t fit in the great outdoors. She’s a diva, she needs bling, pizazz, the spotlight, a fully prepped set! 

Lilac, on the other hand, had the exact opposite results. Jaime looked amazing out there in the garden! An iron plant frame made a perfect set-the scale looks just like a tower. Setting Jaime there, how her dress cascaded down, the profile was stunning. I especially love having a serious of photos for this collection where the model is off centre. True, the wings weren’t essential in the end-I even tried draping them around the bars, suggesting bed curtains, but it did zip. I then placed it in the small pathway between some rose bushes that leads to a fountain. The image alluded to the image of the fairy walking through the grounds of the Palace while it's under the curse, admiring her handiwork. 

It’s is so chic, couturesque...if there was  Vogue for Fairies, this would be on the cover! It’s everything I’ve wanted in this project, a modern interpretation of classic characters with edge.

Ever After High Launch Review

I’m taking a small detour to reveal this epic news for the doll community. 

Now, some of you MAY have noticed I’m kinda a fan of the Monster High doll line. The individuality of each character, how clearly its expressed in their looks, even their colored skin tones. But mostly on the fact that finally there’s a toy line out there directly for those of us who are not afraid of break the mould!

So you can imagine, months after I created my Twisted Fairy Tales, the thrill of hearing that Mattel is launching a sister line to the Monster High Dolls based on fairy tales!! Doll World, welcome to Ever After High, the place of learning for the children of the Fairytale characters we know and love. And to top it off, one of the head lining characters is actually not your expected Princess heroine, but actually the daughter of the Evil Queen (I know, finally, a dark Fairytale themed doll!!). 

Who out there can’t relate to the conflict Raven goes through, resisting her destiny of becoming a fairytale villain. A bit like Frankie Stein of Monster High, there’s a clear parallel in this protagonist to that sense of being an outcast, but I’m personally drawn to her headstrong attitude and gothic fashion sense, contrary to Frankie’s shy and optimistic exterior.

As we speak, I’m already making room of my shelves to welcome these gorgeous ladies to my family! Yes, I much as I’ve worked with my Ellowyne Wilde dolls, I think I may take the path of the doll collector at last. Raven naturally is my first chance, but since the Madeline Hatter and Briar Rose dolls were revealed, I feel the fairytale lover in me won’t be able to resist the rest of the gang. I’ve been checking daily for the UK release date, and intent to be leading the stamped to grab one of these amazing dolls when they come out.

If only dolls like this had been already fifteen years ago....oh, Ever After High, where have you been all my life? I was lost, but now I am found!!

Sugarplum Progress

It’s been a while, due to a week vacation followed by one heck of a flu, my sister visiting and a busy week doing costumes for the children’s ballet, I’m back and bloggin’, folks!

So here’s how things are going so far with the Sugarplum costume. The new skirt made out of layers of netting looks way better, scratching the whole cupcake paper tin idea. The lilac and hot pink sequins really do look like gum drops. At first I started to stitch them onto gathers pieces of netting, to look like twisted candy wrappers, but it had no effect whatsoever against the skirt’s layers. The whole gaudy tacky theme is under some rethinking.

So, it’s still a work in progress, and I’m desperately trying to stay on track and finish one outfit before moving onto the next. Even though the temptation to start the next fairy is there....so obviously there...dang it, stay on target!!!

Wingin' It

First, I should totally highlight the fact that this month I celebrate my girls’ third birthday. Exactly 3 years ago I received my gorgeous Erika, Blanca, Rosalind and Jaime as a graduation gift from a treasured friend Lin. Happy Birthday, girls! I love you all!

Anyway, to business:

Last week I hit rock bottom at one point with Sugarplum (seriously, is there some equivalent of writers’ block in design?), so I decided to take a break, and going back to tie up a few loose ends I left. I hadn’t yet made the key fairy feature for my girls Lilac and Tinkerbell; wings! 

With Tink, I wanted to add size range to the collection. I thought of her appendages seeming to be part of her vest, subtly indicated protruding from her shoulders. I started with some cardboard as a base for each wing shape, then layered the remains of the chiffon and linen fabric onto it, even tossing some of the leftover bling into the look.

Literally, the second I finished these, I wondered what the heck I was thinking! The size was way too big, threw off the balance of the upper part of the costume. I scratched that pair and started at once on a simpler version, instead with a smaller more flexible paper base and holding back on the bling. Now the wings are clearly there, but not overbearing the whole ensemble. And anyway, who said wings have to be functional?

For Lilac, I didn’t like where the mask idea was heading. It looked too much like those commedia d’ell arte looks. However, I still liked the idea of hiding the eyes, as if suggesting them being closed for sleep. I then remembered the image of the Greek Goddess Nemesis, with half of her mysteriously covered by this black cloth that hides her eyes. The effect is so simple yet subtle, it’s perfect for Lilac’s narcolepsy theme.

Her wings I’ve always envisioned being long, sleek and flowing down on the ground, more like a heavy cloak with frayed ‘moth eaten’ edges. This makes her walk have this amazing train behind her, like how she drags the sleeping curse everywhere with her.

Sugar Plum Fairy, so sticky n' sweet...

It feels weird, designing an outfit for what I think of as the Poster Girl for the Holiday season in the beginning of May. But I’ve got so many ideas for it, I can’t resist!

The Sugar Plum Fairy from the Nutcracker ballet has always been viewed as graceful, gorgeous, the epitome of the magical sugar world Clara finds herself in. So I was intrigued by Matthew Bourne’s vision, where Candyland is this toxically alluring realm, and the Sugar Princess is actually Clara’s rival. Here the Sugar Plum Fairy represents the dark side of sweets, it’s grosser aspects (it’s sticky texture, it’s artificial coloring in her hot pink gown.) It’s all so brilliantly reincarnated!

I’ve been listening to the soundtrack for the film Hansel and Gretel; Witch Hunters. The track ‘Don’t Eat the Candy’ is very chilling yet amusing with the sound effects of kids licking their fingertips. 

Nikki Minaj is another inspiration for this character, with her vibrant color choices and girly rock frocks. When putting together my moodboard, I researched ‘Nikki Minaj Prom Dresses’, and was amazed with the results that came up! Pink was always the foundation shade for this look, and not that magenta shade I love, but a tackier pink-think that Barbie birthday cake you had when you were six. However, the ‘Plum’ aspect of the character calls for purple, which would add to the artificial coloring palette I want to invoke, suggesting all the food coloring used in the candy industry.

For my first sketch, I’d always envisioned using a lollipop swirl strip, looping around the bodice as if the dress is oozing off of the doll. But in the transition to the full length skirt, I remembered this Monster High dress design for Snow bite, how the top layer of the dress having this acidic dripping effect. That dripping effect would really present that sticky element. For the skirt, I’ve got a couple of things in mind, along the lines of candy wrappers being stuck on. Also I’ll be using pink and purple rhinestones to suggest that glittery detail in iced sugar. 

I can’t wait to get started! It’s gaudy, tacky, yet whimsical and bright.