Thanks for stopping by. For a peek at my studio click here.

Saturday, January 24, 2015

Grow Your Blog Party - Welcome!


Thank you to Vicki at 2 Bags full for hosting this amazing blog party!! I am so happy to be a part of it. Click on the picture above to visit the Grow Your Blog party page. There are tons of links to over 400 participating blogs!!

Hi! Thanks for stopping by my blog. I hope you enjoy your visit here.

Lily 

I’m Debbie, owner of Sunflower House Art and I create fun and whimsical things, well usually, unless I am sculpting a zombie then it may not be quite so whimsical! Mainly I love to create. Just the process of making something new out of the items sitting in front of me is exciting. The figure above is Lily, she is currently at the Buy Nevada First store in Reno waiting for someone to fall in love with her. She is an example of the fairies I make. 

I've raised 4 wonderful children, 3 boys and 1 girl who range in age from 17 - 27. They are the joys of my life. I have 2 dogs that are full of energy and love. One who loves to play ball and the other who loves to eat!

I have one amazing man in my life and I love him greatly. We enjoy our life and the lives we've made together. We like to travel and putter around in the garden. He's pretty dang talented. I can usually ask him just about anything and he can help me make it. Really, here is an actual question I asked him - Soooo, you know in the Frankenstein movie where the creature is laying on the table in the lab? How can I make those little electrical things that look like the electrical current is passing up them. Not only did he know the name of them (Jacob's Ladder - no kidding), he is going to help me recreate one in miniature for a project I am working on - which I will share here once I get it to a recognizable point! 

My blog has been around a several years but it was one of those things that I had simmering until I was ready to share it. Last year I dipped my toe in cyberspace and started to slowly tell people about my blog. This year I decided to jump in with both feet!

The Pumpkin Patch... ready to paint

Sunflower House Art is about my creative journey. I create figurative sculptures, dolls, whimsical pumpkins, fairies and more. I work predominantly in polymer clay but I also do embroidery, paper crafts, scrapbooking, sewing, painting, jewelry design and more.  One of the greatest things about making figures and dolls is that I can use all sorts of fun things in one project. I love that all of my creative outlets can be used together. I've made paper accessories, jeweled tiara's, embroidered rugs and more when working on a doll project. Hubby thinks it's my way of never having to get rid of a single crafty item in my stash :0) I'm OK with that!

You’ll see my works in progress, the products I use and some of the tools I have found that work well for me. 

Treasure Chest Tutorial

I like sharing what I do and offer tutorials. Here you will find one on taming Tibetan lamb wool to use as hair for a doll and here are part one and part two on creating a treasure chest, I did this ages ago so it may be a bit rough! I enjoy tutorials and am currently working on a couple that I’ll be sharing over the course of the next few months.

I also enjoy the challenge of creating something based on a theme and am part of a doll swapping group that often swaps zombie dolls and not just any zombie dolls, no, no they are themed zombie dolls. For instance there was storybook, nursery rhyme, Oz and more.

Coraline

Here is the zombie I created for the animated movie zombie challenge. My partner was a fan of Coraline so I did my best to recreate her! Click here to read more about her.

I am also a fan of blog parties and will be participating in several this year. This is one more of those areas that provide a theme for you to create around. Blog parties always challenge my creatively which makes them exciting. I always learn a new skill or new technique when preparing for a party. Then, once the party rolls around I get to see how others interpreted the same theme. 

This past year I participated in a Mad Tea, a haunted tea and also did a tour of my studio in Where Bloggers Create.

Mad Tea

Click here to see my first Mad Tea party. This coming year I have lots of fun things in store.

Before Picture

I am currently re-doing my children's old play house (above - now a catch-all backyard storage area) into something amazing... you'll have to wait until this year's Mad Tea Party to see the final transformation but I'll be showing additional before pictures and some of the items I am creating for it over the next couple of months. 

My Studio

Click here to see the Studio Tour post I did. In the next 6 months or so my studio will be undergoing a complete overhaul when my hubby expands my current space into the now vacant bedroom next to it. It's going to be a fun project (I keep telling myself that!!!) and I have already started organizing and preparing for the transition. I'll be sharing some of the new storage and organizational ideas I have found and let you know how they are working for me.

Well, that is a glimpse into my blog. I hope you enjoyed your stay and plan on sticking around for a while. 

Fairy Door

Leave me a comment for a chance to win this hand sculpted, polymer clay, Magical Fairy Door. I have so much fun making these!! You do not need to be a follower to win. Winner will be announced February 15th 2015.

Thanks for stopping by!


42 comments:

  1. What a fun craft! This is what I love about blog hopping, meeting new people and learning about things I never would have thought about on my own! :)

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    1. I know what you mean. This blog party has been so much fun! Thanks for stopping by.

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  2. Hello Debbie, Welcome to the Grow Your blog party:D
    What a different perspective in crafting.
    Hope you'll have many new friends and followers this coming week. Huge hugs from Singapore

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    1. Thank you!! I am glad you stopped in for a visit - all the way from Singapore :0)

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  3. Hello Debbie. On behalf of Vicki and the Grow Your Blog party, welcome aboard! I've just had a quick look around your blog- wow you are a busy and talented lady!! I'm sure you'll make lots of new friends who'll enjoy seeing your work. How lucky you are to have a talented hubby who is willing to help with your endeavors! I too am blessed in that way. Your new space will be wonderful- so much fun to "expand" isn't it? Enjoy the party - let the fun begin!!

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  4. Zombie doll! Love that!! ;o) Your dolls are amazing, and I am enjoying looking around your blog. I will definitely be sticking around to see your rennovated play house, and to see how your new studio comes together. Plus your tutorials - they are great!

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    1. Thanks Lisa! I have lots of fun things in store. Glad you are sticking around :0)

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  5. Hi Debbie..Oh how fun.. you are so talented.. making Zombie dolls must be very interesting! Your pumpkins are wonderful. I have always liked fairies..and love the little gardens and things that people make..the door is so cute. It was so nice to meet you! Thank you for the nice comment on my blog and for helping with the party!
    Blessings,
    Tamara

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    1. Hi Tamara, thank you. The zombies are so much fun to create. Thanks for visiting :0)

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  6. Hi Debbie..Oh how fun.. you are so talented.. making Zombie dolls must be very interesting! Your pumpkins are wonderful. I have always liked fairies..and love the little gardens and things that people make..the door is so cute. It was so nice to meet you! Thank you for the nice comment on my blog and for helping with the party!
    Blessings,
    Tamara

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  7. Hi Debbie I also love doll making - I enjoyed visiting your blog and am now a follower. Hope you gain many more! blessings Hettienne

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    1. Thank you Hettienne! I am so glad you stopped by. This blogparty has been so much fun. I've met the greatest people!

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  8. Hi Debbie. Your zombie dolls are pretty neat. I have another blogging friend who makes fabric zombie dolls so I'll be sharing your site with her and I'll definitely be back.

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  9. Hi Debbie, Its nice knowing more about, and what you do. I love your work and how creative you are. I can see this is your gift. I love your dolls and sculptures. Its all great.

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  10. Hi Debbie! Your work looks amazing. I also adore Coraline. Looking forward to follow your blogging journey.

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  11. Wow, it's great to get a look at your studio and hear more about your life! Your man sounds perfect for you!

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  12. Hi Debbie, I'm Sandra, one of Vicki's helpers...thanks for being a GYBP 2015 blogger; enjoy the party!
    Please make sure you've got a link to Vicki's GYBP 2015 post...very important!

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    1. Hi Sandra, I've got the link added. I didn't realize I left it off!! Thanks for the reminder :0)

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  13. Hi Debbie, it's lovely to meet you thru the GYB event. I love your whimsical fairy dolls. I love dolls myself and am so happy that I have two daughters and three granddaughters to have an excuse to collect them. :D I'm off now to figure out the best way to follow so I can learn more about you. :D

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  14. Hi debbie what a great post. I love your creativity and your dolls. I have sculpted some in the past and then lost them all when we had a house fire. I keep thinking I will get back to them but I have so many art related things going i haven't as yet. I am a happy new follower and look forward to your new studio and your outdoor space as well. Can't wait to meet all your new people you make in the year to come

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    1. Hi CatieAn, I just found your blog through the party! Love it! Thanks for stopping by :0)

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  15. Your blog looks like fun! Enjoy the party!

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    1. Thank you :0) I am so glad you were able to stop by!

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  16. I know what you mean about doll making incorporating so many different forms of craft. I haven't done dolls for awhile, but crazy quilting is just the same. Thank you for the invitation to visit. Enjoy the party!

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  17. Your blog is great. like dolls allot all kinds. I look at your post the doll so nice.
    Have a fun GROW YOUR BLOG
    Laura

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  18. Hi Debbie,
    You have a wonderful blog. Your studio is awesome!

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  19. Just popped in from the GYB party. Such a cute fairy door. And lots of good info here.I'll be back
    Sandi
    www.thevictoriangypsy.blogspot.com

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  20. I love your art work. So much fun. And I love the fairy door - I'd love to win that too :)

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  21. Hi Debbie! I would love to sew with you in your studio! Your work is very inspiring!

    If you haven't visited yet, please come and see me at www.stitchandquilt.com

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  22. Another great post ;o) I love the area in which you create ;o)

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  23. Oh I just love your Coraline!
    A lovely post to welcome folks in and that fairy door is a real joy - my granddaughter would adore one of those!
    Actually I would love one too, I was gutted when I grew up enough to no longer believe in fairies : (

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  24. Hi SuZeQ I'm a follower on both now :0) Such fun blogs!!

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  25. Thanks to everyone who has stopped by I will be commenting personally soon. I appreciate you taking the time to visit!!

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  26. Hi Debbie, Thanks for visiting allthingzsewn. I so enjoyed visiting your blog, the treasure chest is just perfect. I need one for my Tildas. I can appreciate your imagination and energy. Iv'e only gotten a little way but I have to stop and feed the husband and chickens. I'll be back today to browse some more. I'm now following with great enthusiasm.

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  27. Hallo Debbie - love your blog and love the idea of zombie dolls! Looking forward to seeing your organisation ideas (and probably copying some if you don't mind!?) when you get your new crafty space extension

    Adorable fairy door; so cute :)

    Thank you for you lovely comment on my blog too

    Rae x

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  28. What a fun blog to visit! Thanks for stopping by my blog.

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  29. A great blog. I'm visiting from the GYB hop.
    Lovely studio!
    http://arrangedwords.blogspot.com
    A new follower.

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  30. Hi Debbie! Wow, love your studio and sculptures!

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  31. Hi Debbie! Wow, love your studio and sculptures!

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    1. Congratulations! You are the winner. If you could email me your mailing address (sunflwrhouseArt @ aol.com) I'll get your fairy door mailed out to you this week!!

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