A Luv Luv Sale at the shoppe!

Two Hearted Peeps

Its a Luv Luv Sale! Any heart and love themed print is on sale for only $10! AND I am extending my Dessert sale as well. $10 YUMMY and LOVELY prints 'til the end of February at the shoppe! xoxo!

Back in the Game

It has been 5.5 months since I fell off the p90x wagon. I am back in the game as of yesterday. P90x is an intense exercise program where you work out for about an hour daily at home. The thing that makes this program work is that everyday is a different workout so what happens is that you experience muscle confusion which means that the body doesn't get a chance to plateau (which is what usually happens in the gym). Getting laid off and starting the etsy store meant even more days (and nights) sitting and working. When I had the graphic design job I would at least take breaks and lunches! Any one who has an etsy store knows how hard we work and how addicting it is to be online and promoting...My body definitely feels it. One thing I really don't like (hate actually) about painting and crafts is how your body is often hunched over for hours on end...it is really hard to stop working when you are in that creative zone... But a new zone is something I need to get back into. That is the sweat, heart thumping, hard core mental and physical zone of movement and exercise!

Healing Power of Touch

The Healing Power of touch... I took 2 leaves off the same plant. The leaf on the left I paid attention to it by just holding it a couple times a day, the one on the right I totally ignored. After a couple days the ignored one is not looking so hot. After a week it has declined rapidly. (This was done in 2003 and no I do not still have these guys, they eventually met the same fate)

Positive Thoughts and Prayers

Sometimes it is easy to get depressed when one hears about the problems of the world and disasters that befall innocents (such as this weeks Haitian earthquake)...especially when we are helpless to do anything. Even with all the strife in the world one must take the time and remain positive and hopeful. I am hoping that there will be more survivors. I grieve for those that have left this earth plane and I do hope it is beautiful for them on the other side. But for now I will take a break to recognize the light in this world and its life force. I wish I can help out physically in some parts of the world but alas I cannot.

I can and will send out good vibrations and prayers.

To see a glimmer in the dust

To view the ocean inside a shell
Such a sight!
Never having to open my eyes.

Tea at the Huntington

I had a most marvelous time at the Huntington Tea Room (at the Huntington Library and Botanical Gardens.) I have been frequenting this fine establishment since I was a 16! The prices have gone up quite bit (its been a long time since I was 16) but the food, it is still delicious! My favorite are the scones and watercress sandwiches. I prefer a bite sized scone instead of a giant biscuit. The watercress sandwich has a bit of horseradish in it so it is quite zesty! The best part about this tea is that it is all you can eat. And afterwards you can walk around and enjoy the gardens. This outing never gets old and I will keep having tea there til I'm old and gray.

Ps: I didn't want to be weird and take a bunch of pictures of the food but I did get a close up of the strawberries and cream! Well now I have an excuse to go back, maybe on a less busy day. So for now I leave you with a rose...

A Lovely Purchase

I just want to rave about this lovely porcelain beaded necklace I purchased from a very talented young designer at her Etsy Store Violet Reaction. I was pleasantly surprised the necklace had a nice weight to it and so beautifully crafted. I got it for my mum but I secretly want it for myself!

The Dollface LaLa Blog is here.

The Dollface LaLa blog is...alive! http://dollfacelala.blogspot.com

Flash Forward

Hope you all had an exciting New Years...we just went to the local Mexican joint and watched Dick Clark. I quite enjoyed the quiet time with all my favorite people under one roof. It was a very mellow New Years eve indeed, why I think I got tipsy after one glass of champagne and went to bed by 2am! My New Years resolution is to focus on my artwork yet try and not be so obsessed about my Etsy store that I ignore my kidlets. No more spending all that time in forums! It is sooo easy to get addicted! I would like make more sales obviously so I don't have to look for another job after my unemployment checks stop coming! Which means I need to do more art and have more listings. I'd like to get back to doing more walking of my dear neglected dogs. Also to get back into my yoga and exercise. That's it. Not too much to accomplish right?

Little Ladies at 12am 1/1/10

Flashback

Christmas 2009

Hope you are having a wonderfilled Christmas. We finally put up the tree a couple days before Christmas which is early for us! One of my little ladies is having her first Christmas so that is exciting. And I finally put up the lights too and proud to be the last one in the

neighborhood to do so!

My little ladies...
♥♥
Baby's first Christmas...
♥♥
For the Christmas post I would like to show these wonderful illustrations by Mary Blair, an artist I just recently found out about even though I've (unknowingly) seen her work at Disneyland since I was a kid. I love her work and her child-like style.


I'm a bit sleepy now, opening presents can be hard work! Merry Christmas!

I am off my rocker and started a new etsy store.

(January 7, 2010) Actually I am back on my rocker and did the right thing by consolidating all 3 of my doll face stores into one universe of a store for dollfaces at Dollface LaLa! www.DollfaceLaLa.etsy.com

This store will also have its own blog, but i'm going to continue with this blog for personal fun and good times. There will certainly be dollfaced news but it won't be my only focus! Also the strangest thing in this whole trial and error of starting a Etsy business is that I had to really think hard about my business name. I found out that a porn star has the name Sandee, so I have to ditch that. There is no way I can out rank her unless I start drawing naked dolls!

Back from the brink of death...sort of

Yes I am being a bit dramatic, but our household had a case of Mal Estomac (aka stomach flu) and it was not cute. At all. But alas I am no longer under the weather and must attend to my blog...and artwork. Here is a bit of artwork that IS cute.

The Quadruplets

The absolute worse part about being sicky pants is that my best friend and I made a tea reservation at the lovely Chado Tea Room and I had to cancel. The thought of scrumptious finger sandwiches did not sit well. And now I would just love some sandwiches and scones. I am still being very good (bland) about my diet. I sit here drinking a hot cup of roosbois tea when I really want is hot chocolate.

White Rose

I have a love of dolls as you already can tell, and this one was inspired by Asian ball jointed dolls. I hope one day to be able to create one, perhaps out of resin or porcelain...

Introducing the Menagerie...

The Menagerie has been added to the Sandee Rose Dollhouse, here are the first of their official portraits.


Mr. Bun as a Dandy in Velvet
Mr. Bun is usually very conservative and would not want to parade around like some dandy but a new headmistress at the school has caught his eye and this velvet suit does have a certain flair....


Miss Wilhemina Hammerneck- Headmistress

Miss Hammerneck is the new headmistress of the Bartholomew Finishing School for girls. While she looks quite stern during school days, after hours she reads romance novels by candle light and drinks sherry.


Benny
Just so we are clear on this, Benny was NOT one of the boys who threw the baseball at greenhouse!


Miss Lilly Edwards - Pickpocket

Miss Lilly comes from a very respectable family though her father had to send her to Bartholomew's Finishing school for Girls due to her rather shameful habit of picking pockets. That hasn't stopped Miss Lilly. Many of her classmates report missing items which was once on their person.

One lump or two?

It is getting into winter and it has been a few months since my best friend and I have gone out for tea...(sigh) Looking at teapots all morning has lifted my spirits and I thought I share with you this charming set...


Tea Set Red Toile...found browsing Teapots and More
I do have some cucumbers and cream cheese and some soft white bread, perhaps I will settle myself for a tea for one today.

A Stroll in the Spring

I had lovely time creating this piece. It was very spontaneous the way it happened. I was looking over some vintage photographs of children and saw this:


...which inspired the painting. The rest came from my imagination. I love the idea of transforming everyone into doll faces and having bunny friends that we can stroll through wonderland with.

Deliciously Spicy

I came across a Lindt Dark Chocolate Bar infused with chili at the market and wow, what a delicious combination! I have a love affair with dark chocolate and lately it seems that the higher the percentage of cocao, the better. I see many new varieties and supposedly dark chocolate is full of antioxidants as well as magical properties, so it gives me more reason to enjoy.


...Which reminds me, one of my favorite movies of all time is Chocolat, with the beautiful Juliette Binoche and the brilliant Johnny Depp. I adore her outfits in the movie. Very 50's vintagy cardigan sets...anyway back to the chocolate, I truly believe hot cocoa is the drink of Gods. The mayans would agree.

The Amulet - Somewhere a Cat is Waiting

This painting was inspired by my beloved cat Coco who no longer walks this earth plane. He was my dearest and loyal cat. All black... he was a skinny flea bag kitten who I adopted from a lady in front of the grocery store. She had 4 all black kittens and Coco was the runt of the litter but grew to be big and healthy with a luxurious coat of shiny black fur. He was loving and hug-able!
This is my actual amulet and locket of Coco with bits of his hair on the other side.

Loosing him was rather depressing...This book by Derek Tangye "Somewhere a Cat is Waiting" helped me get through the loss. A wonderful book about life with cats and the lessons they can teach us about life and loss. And exactly a month after Coco passed a cat was waiting for me. I was on a temporary assignment at Disney Studios and a coworker suggested I accompany her to the pet store. There sat in a cage was a big beautiful tom cat, with gray striped markings, white paws and green eyes. He was left in a box that morning. He left with me that day. He was big and hug-able! ...That was 9 years ago and he is curled up under my desk as I type. I have no idea how old he really is, but he has lost his girth over the years so I am guessing he is elderly now. He has grown a bit ornery but I need to remind myself that he is really is a good cat and I must be sweeter to him.
Oliver, doing what he does best.
******************************************
I often think about my Coco. Cats are magical creatures so Im sure that he is with me at times...well...that topic is for another post.

Wonderfully gothic - A Christmas Carol

Disney's A Christmas Carol in 3d

The Mister and I had a date away from the children last night and saw Disney's A Christmas Carol in 3d. It was very impressive technically and the scenes were really wonderfully gothic. The costume, the "set" of the town was rendered realistically yet had that stylized look and that gloomy Dickens feel that I so love. The 3d aspect of it was captivating, you really feel like you are in the movie. The tale stayed true to the classic with a lot of flying around the town and fun 3d action. The characters were remarkably life-like but still retained that somewhat dollish look. I would love to learn how to render some 3d characters in the future. We had a really enjoyable time.

Going Digital

I started painting before I learned to use a pencil so there is a long history and love for the craft. It was watercolor first, then acrylic, then oil then back to acrylic when I had my babies. I do love oil painting. Something about the buttery feel and creaminess of the paint...I secretly even love the way it smells. Sometimes I would add a bit of lavender in it to really get lost in painting aromatherapy. Hours would fly by when I am painting. Over the years I have a lot of paintings, (most in my garage being an unknown artiste). I have had moments of wanting to give up painting. It was taking up a space, supplies were costly, lack of time due to babies, worrying about the toxic effects on them, hurting my back being hunched over... and lastly just not sure where I am going with my art. A month ago I decided to buy a Wacom Tablet and I feel a renewed since of being able to create freely without constraints. Granted it still is pretty time consuming! It was a bit awkward initially getting used to drawing on the tablet yet looking at the screen! But after a while, I began to enjoy the spontaneous nature of it. Getting straight to the blank "canvas" and not having to do so much of the planning and preparing of the actual canvas gave me a sense of freedom. I am also able to incorporate my love of graphic design and photography and the mountains of source materials on the internet is so inspiring. So, we will see where this leads me. I would definitely pick up the paint brush again but for now I am having so much fun.

These are some of my works done oil on canvas...
HMMOG (Holy Mary Mother of God) Oil on Canvas
Muixalante, Oil on Canvas

ps: I use the Wacom Intuos4 with photoshop cs3 on a 24" imac.

Behind Gilded Cages

I often love to depict doll-like creatures in luxurious surroundings. There is something very precious yet sad about being confined in beauty.
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