the queen of faeries
This vignette is all about fantasy and all things glittery, gold and pastel. We collected hundreds of items for the sets and vignettes and used around 95% of everything. Most of the set pieces here had been intended for the Court of Jewels set which we had to scrap due to time constraints. Other items were leftover from the Glaceglitter Hall set.
The story: Queen Alourelle is about to stroll through the golden gates leading to her Garden of Mists when she meets her little centaur friend Kitsin. Having discovered bubble flowers blooming in the Mists, Kitsin has captured one and presents it to his queen. A tiny ginger kitten peeks through the gates, wondering what all the excitement is about.
The story: Queen Alourelle is about to stroll through the golden gates leading to her Garden of Mists when she meets her little centaur friend Kitsin. Having discovered bubble flowers blooming in the Mists, Kitsin has captured one and presents it to his queen. A tiny ginger kitten peeks through the gates, wondering what all the excitement is about.
Queen Alourelle is the Lina sculpt from SupiaDoll and has a more typical doll-like face and figure.
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Kitsin is the Amos sculpt from Doll Chateau, a company that makes very odd and exaggerated BJD's. This doll was modded (modified) in that I had its large moose horns removed. I added the tail, two blond hair extensions from a local beauty supply shop, using magnets.
I ordered both of these dolls blank then commissioned Cristy Stone of Xtremedolls to do their specialized blushing and face ups.
Alourelle's wings were commissioned from Linny Shephard of Candy Kittens Emporium. Linny and I worked on the design together but the exquisite coloring and detailing (which appears on both sides of each wing) are all her own. |
Alourelle wears a laced, boned corset and full skirt of purple ombre sparkle net over layers of bridal net. I dyed the trim on the edge of the corset and the shoulder ribbons with polyester dye. Ribbon roses and tiny stars decorate her skirt.
The crown is a combination rhinestone napkin holder, beaded applique, glass drops and icicles from a Christmas garland. Gold beads on monofilament line spring from her shoulders.
The ginger kitten with white points is another 3-D printed BJD, this one from Walloya Morring, also of Russia.
The end topper on each side is two gold styrofoam balls, a bead and a pin atop a round metal decorative plate. Beaded trims fall from the edge. The column beneath is gold spray painted PVC pipe. |
The bubble flower is beaded wires, floral picks, beads and faux flower petals. Kitsin's ear horns are held on with magnets.
Kitsin's trappings are several kinds of gold lace and trim, ball chain, a brooch and metal tassels on a base of beige seam binding.
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Faux grass carpet and polished craft stones cover the removable floor. Cliff cleaned the soot caked, multi-tiered candle holders we found at the thrift shop and painted them gold. I added the pastel purple rocks, balls and curly ribbon streamers. Pearled garland, crystal paperweights in cups and sparkle sheer on the walls add to the airy fairy theme.
The gate, originally a wall decoration, came from a home decor/hobby store. Cliff cut off the bottom, sawed it apart, added the top filigree decorations and painted it gold. He also hinged it to two cardboard fabric tubes.
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The fancy gate latch is a large cloak clasp from my stash of findings.
I decorated and refeathered the bird which sits on a mercury glass Christmas tree spire.
The silver branches in crystal vases were purchased plain. Too plain for me so I spent several afternoons gluing on hundreds of pearls. |
black butler
After the Japanese manga and anime Black Butler, this vignette recreates the characters Ciel Phantomhive (seated) and Sebastian Michaelis (standing). I had seen another artist's interpretation of these Black Butler characters on Deviant Art and immediately wanted to do my own. I was fortunate to find the same doll parts that the other artist had used for Sebastian, but chose another sculpt for my Ciel. Many Black Butler enthusiasts have created these characters using various BJD's but most, in my opinion, use a too young and too cute doll for Ciel. Ciel, a dour, emotionally damaged young man, requires a face sculpt that reflects his unsmiling countenance.
The story: Black Butler takes place in Victorian London and tells the story of Ciel Phantomhive, head of a noble family and owner of the Funtom company. Ciel’s parents were murdered, his home burned and he was kidnapped and tortured. Ciel formed a contract with a demon who has taken the form of his butler, Sebastian, in order to revenge his parents’ deaths and his personal pain. Their contract symbol appears on Sebastian’s left hand and in Ciel’s right eye, covered by a patch. Ciel is also the queen’s guard dog and with Sebastian’s help, solves crimes and polices London’s criminal underground. The roses, skulls, chess pieces and raven are all icons from the anime.
The story: Black Butler takes place in Victorian London and tells the story of Ciel Phantomhive, head of a noble family and owner of the Funtom company. Ciel’s parents were murdered, his home burned and he was kidnapped and tortured. Ciel formed a contract with a demon who has taken the form of his butler, Sebastian, in order to revenge his parents’ deaths and his personal pain. Their contract symbol appears on Sebastian’s left hand and in Ciel’s right eye, covered by a patch. Ciel is also the queen’s guard dog and with Sebastian’s help, solves crimes and polices London’s criminal underground. The roses, skulls, chess pieces and raven are all icons from the anime.
The magnificent carved, gilded and upholstered chair by Carol Ley. I had sent her several pictures of chairs from the anime and she picked the most ornate one to create.
Sebastian is a combination of Immortality of Soul blood head and LUTS super senior Delf boy body, both purchased second hand. His face up and hand blushing is by Xtremedolls. (Note: Immortality of Soul has done their own complete Sebastian doll sculpt, but I like my version better.)
Sebastian wears a tailored suit with tailcoat, vest, white shirt and slim pants, the only costume in the show that I did not make. Tea Tanav of Estonia created the outfit from a tapeskin of the doll that I sent her. She sent me a muslin toile that I fit on the doll and then emailed her corrected measurements and photos. I finessed the fit of her final, finely tailored garment and added the buttons and watch chain. Sebastian wears a specially commissioned Amadiz wig. |
The photographic backround on this vignette and the fairy vignette came from eBay dealer Guwaren.
Close ups of Ciel's crushed velvet skirted jacket, breeches and suede top hat. I took apart two shirts and combined the frilly body of one and the ruffled sleeves of the other to create one fancy enough for Ciel. His eye patch is a bit of molded leatherette on a black ribbon. Ciel is the Misha sculpt from Ringdoll.
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I cast Ciel's ring and Sebastian's lapel pin from anime jewelry, then silver leafed them. A close up of the pentagram brand on Sebastian's hand, painted by Cristy Stone.
Tea Tanav painted the portrait of Ciel's parents as a gift and in thanks for my patience in the creation of Sebastian's outfit. This painting appears in the very first episode of the Black Butler anime. The raven is Sebastian's symbol.
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The skulls, roses and chess pieces are all icons in the anime. Ciel considers himself the king of the underworld, Sebastian his knight and everyone else his pawns.
Both the cabinet pudding and parfait appear in the anime, meticulously created here by Katie Baker. I found the candelabra for this vignette and the ones on the Victorian Fantasies set on Etsy.
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Final notes on SMALL FANTASIES: Many thanks to Crookston Photography and Linda Bobkosky for most of the photos of the Small Fantasies show. Preliminary photos of the sets and doll costumes were taken by either Cliff or me.