Steam Punk Monster Doll Bruce

Quick take the picture...!!! Its hard to hold this smile!

 Bruce wants me to make sure I tell all of you ....he is not a girly soft toy....not cuddly...not cute...and not not not...****uggghhhhh*** sweet......

No indeed....Bruce is a tough Punky Grunge Steam punk Monster who is very much into Heavy Metal music....head banging...and rust....!! Though I have caught him listening to the Justin Bieber once...shhhhhhhh!

Bruce is an original creation monster made without a pattern and from an original design...He has a cloth calico body that has been specially stained to look grungy with a coffee and walnut stain...His body is made from a art textured fabric that uses layering, ripping, burning...to creative a unique punk grunge textured look...He has metal parts that have been upcycled from our farm shed....chains, bolts, screws...barbed wire and other little surprises ....aged and rusted and worn to perfection. He has leather strips....

Look into my eyes......you know you want to take me home.....

He is a n awesome cool dude...Not suitable for children...but I can imagine just the thing for some teenager with angst aplenty!

Bruce is 32 cm high or about 32" and is quite weighty due to the metal parts.

Please note that Bruce has rusted aged parts, ripped and exposed seams as this is the look I was going for.

I'm like a rusty James Dean......

I am a New Zealand Doll, Bear and Plush artist...who creates whimsical and weird and creepy creations from home in my studio on our working sheep station in the high country of New Zealand. We are isolated and my world is mainly filled with the bush, mountains and animals that share our world.......I love to recylce, upcycle or re purpose old items and vintage fabric and finds....I find the prospect of creating something new from cast offs wonderful and exciting......

I have been creating creatures from the time I was a child...it is my love and passion and I hope you enjoy my work....

I'm so Sexy ...it hurts...

Here is what some of our customers say about Mystic Hills Ngaroma's creations:

"Exactly as pictured and described. Well-made, and the fabric is flawless. Arrived on time and well-packaged. I will shop from this online store again. And again."

"Absolutely adorable & well-made. Attention to detail amazing. Will definitely buy from this vendor again."

"This bear is the most adorable little guy!! He came all the way from New Zealand, and has such a sweet little expression on his face - we just love him! Gave him as a gift today, and the lucky recipient was totally thrilled! Thank you so much!!

"I could not be happier. The cat was beautifully made; the seller is very skilled. I am saving up for another purchase."

"ARRIVED SUPER FAST & PERFECT!!!!THESE MONSTER DOLLS ARE SO WELL MADE AND SO CUTE & DIFFERENT I LOVE THEM!!!TAMMY IS A GIFTED ARTIST!!!! THANK YOU TAMMY!!!!!!!"

Pet Sheep Amelia gets sheared.

It was that time of year again , when our pet sheep ( always my little lamb) Amelia needed to get her fleece taken off. She was so stressed last year at having it done in the wool shed that we decided to shear her outside our back door where she is used to sitting around . It was a good sunny day and there was alot of fleece to take off. Amelia was just scanned a week ago ans is going to have twins in another month of so . As it is winter here Greg is leaving some fleece on her and shearing her with hand shears. Enjoy the pictures!

For those of you who don't remember - our earlier blog posts have pictures of Amelia as a rescued lamb after her mother died. She was delivered by C- section by Greg  ( he got her breathing )  we raised and bottle fed her. She follows me everywhere and is a wonderfully loving pet and friend.

Its hard work....for both!

Trying to leave some fleece on for winter warmth

Ohhhhh this is uncomfortable!

 That is a lot of wool!

Hmmmmm you smell very familiar.....

There is a whole sheep under there!!

So how do I look?

 

 

 

 

Amelia's wool will now be washed and dried and then carded up for spinning or felting .Some of it will go into my little creations that we sell.It will become part of our art doll bodies or needle felted Goddesses....Thank you Amelia .. If anyone of you would like to buy some of her wool...washed and cleaned...Let me know.!!

Amelia....I love you lots!!!!!!!!!!!!

Spirit Doll " The Keeper of the Sand Dunes"

Here is our newest doll. Another experiment in my creation of Art / Spirit Dolls. I really enjoyed the process in making this doll and decided to name here ( Thank you Greg ) The Keeper of the Sand Dunes....

Here is a listing on Etsy for her

http://www.etsy.com/listing/77140319/art-doll-the-keeper-of-the-sand-dunes

I wanted to create a doll that would reflect the sand dunes and beaches we walk on near our home. I am always amazed at the beautiful shells that wash up and the wonderful gnarled bits of driftwood. It is strange and wonderful to think this all was once living and now exist in a new form.  Some as I look at them have forms that speak to me. We gather driftwood, feathers, shells , pebbles and sea weed ..anything that I think would lend itself well to my art work.

The Keeper of the Sand Dunes is an Art Doll/ Spirit Doll that pays tribute to the wonderful earth spirit that dwells on the cold wind swept beaches and sand dunes. She twirls and spins in her unending dance an the edge of the tide ...drawing up towards her....sea shells , driftwood and bones of the sea.....She gathers the sea shells and ties them to her belt around her waist as she dances.........shells spin on the wind and turn into sand .....wood into fragments....life into life again. Her arms reach up in celebration......Her reminder....that We all come from the Goddess and to her we shall return.

" The Keeper of the Sand Dunes is made from driftwood - keeping its own natural shape. This was built up to a more female form with the use of wool from our farm. To this was added special yarns, ripped soft fabrics, lace and ribbons. She has corn silk for hair and a sea pebble forms her face.To her belt is tied sea shells gathered from the beach. Her belt is a chord that was handmade with silk sari fibers, and yarns. The Keeper of the Dunes Spirit Doll is made to hang on a wall , door, or window....I love the way
 she lifts her arms up in celebration as her natural form seems to twirl....I can imagine her suspended and twirling in the wind!

Making Spirit Dolls

 Spirit Doll Yemaya Goddess of the Sea and Mother of the Be-Coming

I have always been facinated by the whole idea of Spirit Dolls. Perhaps for me , the making of a doll is simply not just a craft or a plaything. Its a concept I have found difficult to explain to people who live on quite a different plane.

Several years ago , I did an interview  with a popular Lifestyle magazine on my work and my creations. The young reporter they sent to interview me was the typical "Yuppy  corporate climbing type" who sat there in front of me and struggled to understand anything of what I was explaining to her. She could not grasp that the making of a doll or bear or any creation was far more than wool or fabric , stuffing and thread.It was no surprise that I ended up sounding  in her article like some arty nut job who had been sniffing on the paint and glues too much.

Dollmaking for me is very much a spiritual process. I make dolls when I am sad, when I am happy or when I want to communicate. I have marked the anniversaries of the heartaches of my life with a day of quite stitching to make a little doll. I do not fully know why but it is for me a way to give voice to what lives inside.Perhaps this stems from my early childhood growing up within a  struggling family. Due to my mother's constant ill heath - childhood for me and my siblings was quite a different experience. There were no kids parties , or many outings or celebrations. Our life was very much confined to our home and lived within the circumstances we found ourselves in. As children do , we coped . I made dolls and little creations with what I could find. My mother was a crafter too so there was no shortage of fabric scraps , wool etc. I would spend hours making my dolls and often talking to them while I made them. This is something I still do. They transformed from wood , fabric and yarn to little beings with faces and stories to tell. . Creatures worthy of life and love.

In the same way I have found Spirit Dolls have been since pre historic times  a source of comfort and story for many people. Made with sticks, bones , bark , fur and yarn, the represented the link between the human and divine. These dolls fashioned with hands and stories marked special occasions,links to the land and geographical locations,  spiritual beliefs, totems of protection, a link between a psychic ability and creativity.

When I make my Spirit Dolls I pay close attention to the materials I use, where it came from and its own story. How far did a piece of driftwood found on the beach actually come, how old is this shell in my hands, what does the universe want to say via my hands today. I am very much in the process of learning....loving what I create and happy when something finds its way to another hands and heart. I think that is the essence of Spirit Dolls, the material creation of one spirit , mingled with the universe and shared with another....

Goldie and Her chicks plus the Piggy Patrol

 Here is a peek at Goldie and her chicks....they have all dived under mommy for cover...

 

How many chicks can you see?

Here comes Gweenie the BusyBody ( on Piggy Patrol ) to see what all the fuss is about!

Gwennie peeking at the new chicks...

Happy as a box of Fluffy Chicks

That is an actual phrase here in New Zealand to show how happy you are and this morning its wonderful to hear cheeping coming from our little chicken run. Our hen Goldie has been sitting on a clutch of egss...and all ten of them have hatched today. She has 10 lovely yellow chicks....I thought all of you would enjoy seeing photos of the happy brood....

I was going to include a picture  of the mommy but had a chick emergency. I found one on its side fighting for its life...so out it came for added help and care.

So as I write this - its sitting in my bra to keep warm and Yes if you are wondering - it does tickle.  I am hoping the wee one makes it...little chicks are so fragile...
 

 "I'm going to fight to live!"....send good thoughts my way ....and a suggestion for a name for me....not sure yet if I am a boy or girl....

Enjoy the pictures and send us a comment of what you think...

I Believe in Faeries

I love Faery stories and have always believed that there must be somehow these wonderful little creatures living in my garden. A whole unseen world that was lived on a whole different plane....one that was close to the animals and plants that made up workings of everyday life. One that saw no distinction between the species- no less importance .

Not too long ago I decided to make myself and for the faeries that lived around my home ,their own house.. I used an old brass birdcage as I read that faeries like to be close to the outdoors  all the time and not cooped up inside like we do. I added some shiny Christmas type ornaments that dangled and some little chimes that would ring and tinkle as the wind blew or the faeries flitted by. I also read that these wonderful little creatures like to make things - so gifts of sewing threads, shiny translucent fabrics , lace and tiny buttons all tucked into a small tin are welcome gifts.  I added a pink feather boa around the edge of the birdcage to soften the hard edges and lend some whimsy to the whole faery house.A little swing seat....colourful ribbons draped and dangled...and some tiny wee birds ....I also added in an old found bird's nest.

I must admit I enjoyed the whole process of being  childlike and believing - silly and a waste of time some my think. But I wholeheartedly believe in growing up and chosing to be serious and practical - we have somehow lost an innocent part of ourselves that we secretly grieve for. This is the part of our souls that truly gives us courage and hope and leads us to living . Go build yourself a faery house...even a small one and you will discover what I mean