from hands to heart

little update

2011-11-28T16:32:00.001-08:00

Work, a photo by Doll Essence on Flickr.

Over a month with no updates here on the blog! Sorry! I've been working on my comissions. These dolls take so much time to complete and I put all my love and dedication on making them.
This picture shows a Monah head I finished painting. I love this part of the proccess!

New Monah - close up ♥

2011-10-26T18:23:00.001-07:00

New Monah - close up ♥, a photo by Doll Essence on Flickr.

This is the new face painting I created for Monah! hope you like it!

Orders: For a limited time, orders for nude Monah (with her new face painting) will have 30% off. Christmas Special! ♥ PLEASE visit www.DollEssence.com for more pictures and information!

Dolls Magazine December 2011

2011-10-13T12:07:00.001-07:00

Dolls Magazine December 2011, a photo by Doll Essence on Flickr.

I am so happy to tell that my porcelain BJD is in Dolls Magazine December 2011!!!
The article is my story, beautifully written by dear friend and masterJack Jonhston! If you want to read it click the link bellow to view the digital edition (pages27-28)
viewer.zmags.com/publication/741e52a2#/741e52a2/27

Minha BJD de porcelana na revista Dolls Magazine, edição Dezembro 2011
Um artigo maravilhoso, minha vida, escrito por Jack Jonhston.
Para ver a revista edição digital clique no link acima (páginas 27-28)

Monah - first brazilian BJD

2011-09-02T21:16:00.001-07:00

Monah - first brazilian BJD * A primeira BJD brasileira *, a photo by Doll Essence on Flickr.

I am so glad to announce my first porcelain BJD is finished! I am taking orders now. Please visit the page bellow for more pictures and information:

www.dollessence.com/monah_order.html

MONAH is almost finished!

2011-08-21T16:22:00.001-07:00

soon, a photo by Doll Essence on Flickr.

The first brasilian BJD is almost ready, just like a butterfly she patiently waits for the right time to come out of her cocoon!

A primeira BJD brasileira está quase pronta, assim como uma borboleta, ela aguarda pacientemente o momento certo para sair de seu casulo!

My doll almost finished!

2011-08-20T21:22:00.001-07:00

My doll almost finished!, a photo by Doll Essence on Flickr.

So glad, she is almost finished! If you want to be notified as soon as she is available for orders please visit: http://www.DollEssence.com

Doll Essence

2011-08-06T12:54:00.001-07:00

Galeria de Doll Essence no Flickr.

It's been a really long time since my last update here... I have been posting pictures of my porcelain BJD in progress on facebook and Flickr, so please take a look at the pictures to see more of what I have already done! Well now it is so close to see her finished, I just can't wait... I've been dreaming about this for over a year!
Also, I would like to announce my new website: http://www.DollEssence.com which is dedicated to the BJDs only. It is still in construction but there is a form there that you can fill in to receive a notification as soon as my doll is available for purchase, before I make it public. These dolls take too much time, love and patient to make so I am not sure how many I will be able to make within a month, maybe one or two. That's why the "First to know list" is a good thing if you are interested in my dolls, you might be one of the first to order and your doll will be with you sooner.

Cursos - Courses

2011-06-23T07:52:00.000-07:00

Wasn't I supposed to lose the little glass slipper?

2011-05-28T20:29:00.001-07:00

Wasn't I supposed to lose the little glass slipper?, a photo by TatiDoll on Flickr.

I like this picture as much as it hurts to remember that I broke her foot. This is my first complete-fired-to-maturity-porcelain-doll. I broke her foot while I was stringing her, I accidentaly let it fall on the floor. Fortunately she was only a test-firing doll, she is not perfect and there are some adjustments that I am making on the wax model now. But I hate the fact that I lost her foot because I know how much work it was!
While she holds her broken foot I can't help but imagine what she is thinking...It looks like she is wondering whether she has any similarity with Cinderella... "Wasn't I supposed to lose the little glass slipper?"

My work in Dolls Magazine, pages 34, 35 - Meu trabalho na revista Dolls Magazine

2011-05-21T12:13:00.001-07:00

My work in Dolls Magazine, pages 34, 35 - Meu trabalho na revista Dolls Magazine, a photo by TatiDoll on Flickr.

My work has been featured in Dolls Magazine Special Edition - Encyclopedia Artistica - summer 2011! I feel so honored to be among those amazing Doll Artists! ♥
You can view the digital magazine here:
viewer.zmags.com/publication/c46f86ee#/c46f86ee/1

Meu trabalho foi publicado pela segunda vez na revista internacional Dolls Magazine - Edição Especial, verão 2011. Me sinto honrada em estar neste artigo entre tantos artistas maravilhosos! Meu trabalho está na página 34 e 35.
para ver a revista digital clique abaixo:
viewer.zmags.com/publication/c46f86ee#/c46f86ee/1

Wax work

2011-05-05T12:53:00.001-07:00

Wax work - trabalhando na cera, a photo by TatiDoll on Flickr.

I am very pleased with my decision to include this procedure in the creation of my porcelain ball jointed doll. I was amazed by the advantages of making wax castings before the final porcelain casting. I guess the only disadvantage is the extra work and that it takes longer to finish the project. But I am pretty sure the results will worth it. Working with wax is very messy, look at my desk!

Aprenda comigo! (Learn from me)

2011-03-12T18:56:00.000-08:00

Meu site Doll Art Brasil (DAB) onde ensino a esculpir fadas e bonecas em cerâmica plástica vai completar 1 ano neste mês! Tem sido uma experiência maravilhosa não só para mim como para os alunos que fizeram parte do curso neste primeiro ano. O resultado são alunos satisfeitos e felizes com tudo que aprenderam!

Para comemorar o primeiro ano de DAB vou presentear duas pessoas com um curso completo!

Para mais informações visite o site do curso: Doll Art Brasil

On March 27 it will be one year since I started my teaching project and the website Doll Art Brasil. As a way to celebrate I will give two free courses. It has been a wonderful experience. This first year is closed with a lot of happy students who will soon become new polymer clay artists! I feel so happy that I could help people in my country learn this wonderful art.

Doll Parts

2011-03-06T12:35:00.001-08:00

Doll Parts - Partes da boneca a photo by TatiDoll on Flickr.

Working with porcelain has been the most challenging experience to me. This is one of the reasons why I am taking so long to finish this project. I want to be satisfied with my doll and that means a lot, I am a bit too perfectionist... I've lost track of how many test castings I have made, but I know I've failed a lot of times. I felt discouraged sometimes, so tired to see another set of doll parts going to trash. But there is beauty everywhere... porcelain and I have slowly started to get along well, understanding each other and allowing each one of us to go a little deeper in our relationship. ♥
I took this picture because I thought it was beautiful to see the doll parts together while they are drying. Unfortunately these pieces were part of my failure proccess.
So I keep trying, never giving up. Until I can make myself happy.

Making molds - Moldes

2011-03-06T12:23:00.001-08:00

Making molds - Moldes a photo by TatiDoll on Flickr.

I'm sorry I haven't taken many pictures during the proccess of my doll becoming porcelain... there is just so much work that I ended up forgetting all about pictures...
This picture was taken some months ago when I started making the molds. When I started I thought plaster would drive me crazy! But now I wish porcelain was as easy as plaster...

2010: A wonderful year

2011-01-04T18:07:00.000-08:00

This beautiful fairy has been finished on my Doll Art Brasil website. She now belongs to one of my dear students. She "chose" her owner through a drawing that happened on December 30, I had a video conference with all my students where I made the drawing and it was a lot of fun!

It was my way to say thank you to all the wonderful people who joined my course and trusted me. It is not always safe to join such kind of website as you may end up frustrated in the case that the artist just stops teaching because she/he becomes engaged in other projects (it happened to me once). That's why I am so proud to have completed this project, teaching people in my country, how to sculpt an adult and a child fairy in polymer clay, from the very start to the end. And yet I've given them a bonus - a mermaid lesson - which I will post pictures here soon.

The best thing about all this is to see the result of my work. Some students are even starting to teach other people in their home studios where they used to teach cold porcelain only. It is just fantastic to see they've learned so fast through my lessons, that they are able to teach now! While it took myself five years to find the confidence and experience to do so. This is just the best reward I could get.

Porcelain BJD - test firings

2010-11-07T11:41:00.001-08:00

Porcelain firing tests - testando a queima de porcelana
Upload feito originalmente por TatiDoll

Sometimes I fell I am the slowest person in this world when it comes to art. There were times when it bothered me so much but I can see the good side of it now and it looks like an advantage to me. Although I wish I had already finished this doll in porcelain, I like the fact that I am taking all the steps carefully, planning before each one of them, making tests and learning a lot. Did I mention how much I love learning? I love it so much that I'm afraid I will feel empty when I finish this doll and see there will be nothing else to learn! I will try to find something new to learn - for sure!

This is the first porcelain firing of my bjd prototype. It was only a test firing, it helped me find out that my kiln is overfiring so I have to make some adjustments. I noticed the head warped a little bit due to the high temperature, I believe. But I love the porcelain look already.

It has been a wonderful learning experience.

Teaching Updates

2010-11-07T10:59:00.000-08:00

Today I want to give some updates on my teaching, many lessons have been added to the website but I din't have time to post pictures here. So here they are:

mermaid tail scales:

clothes and eyelashes for the adult fairy:
Close up on the eyes:
Body painting:

This is the little fairy I've been teaching on Doll Art Brasil.
She is finished now and will belong to one of my students:

Teaching - adult fairy

2010-09-21T17:41:00.000-07:00

This is the fairy I am creating at my learning website Doll Art Brasil.
Last week's lesson was painting the face. I always love painting and the way it changes the sculpted face as it was a brand new face! I am very happy with this fairy and it's really great to imagine she will belong to one of my dear students...

teaching...

2010-09-11T13:20:00.000-07:00

This is what my students got as for the lesson this week: learning how to make eyelashes and how to handle Viscose in order to make this beautiful curly hair. Both this cute little fairy and the adult fairy I am making on the course will be given to one of my students who wins the drawing that will happen at the meeting I am planning for them at the end of the course! I can't wait for that!

She will become a porcelain doll!

2010-09-01T11:42:00.001-07:00

She will become a porcelain doll!
Upload feito originalmente por TatiDoll

These are the last pictures of my BJD prototype before she becomes a porcelain doll!

More beautiful pictures on flickr!

It has been a truly wonderful experience so far.
I would like to thank you God, first of all, for everything.
Thank you my family for the love and support.
Thank you my friends for being there watching this new project and posting wonderful comments of encouragement and love.
This project would never be possible without all this help. I am blessed.

Now I have a new, challenging road to follow. I will still be counting on you.

Painting lesson...

2010-08-14T12:56:00.000-07:00

This is the cute little fairy I'm teaching at my learning website. This week was painting lesson, and I love it when I can see the doll painted, it almost feels like she is alive! It's amazing they turn out completely different after painting. I'm also teaching how to creat an adult fairy, I will post pictures later, when she is on the painting stage too. We are alternating lessons every week between the child and adult fairy. It has been a wonderful experience to me. I'm enjoying it so much and I'm doing my best to teach my students just the way I would like to have been taught. It's so rewarding to see everyone is happy and enjoying the lessons.

STANDING ON HER OWN

2010-08-05T05:08:00.001-07:00

STANDING ON HER OWN
Upload feito originalmente por TatiDoll

What a magical moment to finally find out that TatiDoll stands on her own!!!!!!!!! (more pics on flickr)

I couldn't wait for the moment I would say that and it has finally arrived!
I am really, really happy! =)
But work has not finished yet, besides sanding a lot, there are some little details I want to fix and improve. I am a perfectionist.

You know what? I had this dream that I would finish this doll just before my birthday... My birthday is on Saturday and although she is not totally finished yet I am very proud and I think my dream has come true!

I am so in love with my doll...

2010-07-26T13:48:00.001-07:00

Testing joints
Upload feito originalmente por TatiDoll

I have been quiet around here for the past weeks, trying to figure out how to make the difficult elbows and knees joints... I felt a bit discouraged, but didn't give up!

Today I wanted to assemble the top part of her body just to make sure I had the elbows joints right and OMG, I couldn't stop playing with her! =)
I'm so in love.... it's almost hard to believe I made her with my own hands... thank you God!

she is very rough yet, lots of sanding to come...

more pics on flickr.

Torso and clay balls

2010-06-27T10:49:00.001-07:00

Torso and clay balls
Upload feito originalmente por TatiDoll

Work never seems to finish on this doll. I've been making all the clay balls and adjusting the body lines, carving the baked clay which is not very nice. I love taking pictures of her body parts just to imagine her finished! Imagination is much easier than reality! =)
So, better get back to work!

Feet joints

2010-06-21T15:47:00.001-07:00

Feet joints
Upload feito originalmente por TatiDoll

I've been working more on TatiDoll lately thanks to my dear husband! =)
He is being so supportive, I think I will be able to finish this project sooner than I expected!
The picture shows the legs ready for the ball joints, I started with the easiest joints which are the feet and hands (in my opinion).
More pictures on flickr.
There are SO MUCH work yet to be done....
but I'm loving EVERY second of it.

Finished sculpting feet

2010-06-07T19:36:00.001-07:00

Finished feet
Upload feito originalmente por TatiDoll

I've just finished sculpting my BJD feet today! getting ready for the next step - joints!

hands baked

2010-05-27T07:09:00.001-07:00

hands baked
Upload feito originalmente por TatiDoll

I just took these pictures, while playing with hands and face - my favorite things to sculpt.

Hands Finished

2010-05-18T06:58:00.001-07:00

Hands Finished
Upload feito originalmente por TatiDoll

These are the hands for TatiDoll that I finished today.
I've been so busy with my new online teaching website and I feel so happy, the website is a success with lots of happy students! =)
I am trying to finish this doll soon.

Só para Brasileiros...

2010-03-24T12:09:00.000-07:00

Sculpting Arms

2010-03-14T11:52:00.001-07:00

Sculpting Arms
Upload feito originalmente por TatiDoll

My little niece Ester turned 1 year old this week so I was very busy with things to do for her birthday party, that's why I haven't worked so much on TatiDoll. The little progress I made was sculpting arms, I finished them and baked already. They are so smooth, it won't require almost any sanding, which I am happy. Next step: sculpting legs. Then hands - I LOVE SCULPTING HANDS! And the last part, feet. It will be like a dream when I am done with sculpting, but It will also be the beginning of another challenge - the joints!!!

My Etsy Shop

2010-03-06T11:32:00.000-08:00

I've just joined etsy and listed my mother's crochet rugs and also my little fairy Bela. Hope you enjoy!

Torso sculpting

2010-03-03T18:27:00.001-08:00

Torso sculpting
Upload feito originalmente por TatiDoll

I am sick and feel so tired! My son is sick too, I believe it's because of the drastic weather changes. We had a sudden "winter" right in the middle of summer if that is possible.... really crazy!
Last week I baked TatiDoll's torso, as you see in the picture, but it's not totally finished, I will add more details and sand a lot. Please excuse the dirty clay. For the first time I don't have to bother about the clay getting dirty since this doll is a prototype and I love that. This clay really picks all and every dirt!
Apart from that, I have been spending a lot of time on learning a new medium. I just love learning. It is like the fuel to my work. It seems I need to be learning constantly. I'm very excited about the new discoveries I'm making.
Will talk about that later.
I hope my son, me (and the weather) get better within the next days.

New head on the way

2010-02-19T11:26:00.001-08:00

New head on the way
Upload feito originalmente por TatiDoll

Yesterday I started the second head, the one inspired on a famous girl from a movie... Ok, I hope you won't laugh at the end, I don' t know if it will end up looking like the girl's face but I will try to get her facial features as she is so beautiful and delicate. The picture shows the very firs steps of the sculpting, so it's a bit weird yet. I have a friend who might be reading this and he surely knows the girl and the movie I'm talking about, so please dear, don't say it out loud ok? No big deal folks, I don't want to make everyone anxious about that, it is not a portrait work ok?

After baking...

2010-02-15T11:05:00.001-08:00

After baking...
Upload feito originalmente por TatiDoll

I've finished sculpting the doll head, and you can see the baked head on the picture. She was on the oven longer than the other dolls I make. As she is a prototype the clay must be hard for the purpose of mold making. When I think of all the stages I still need to conclude it makes me feel a little anxious, but it has been great so far. I am really enjoying this work. thank you for watching.

Still working on the head...

2010-02-13T10:17:00.001-08:00

Working on the head...
Upload feito originalmente por TatiDoll

This is the first face I wrote about in other post, the face that came from my mind, without any reference and that I almost gave up sculpting. I think I like it now. I'm still working on the final details, like ears and smoothing... and I think I don't like the mouth very much. I just have to find out what exactly I don't like about. I'm trying to imagine her face after painting to see if she is the doll I was dreaming of...
When I finish this one I will start making the head based on that famous girl. =)

Work in progress on Flickr'

2010-02-08T17:43:00.001-08:00

New Work in progress...
Upload feito originalmente por TatiDoll

I decided to create a flickr account to share photos only. I think it is neat and easy to use. I will keep writing about Tati Doll here but most of the pictures will be on flickr. By clicking on the picture you will be taken to my flickr page. Thank you!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/tatidoll

Inspiration

2010-02-07T02:54:00.000-08:00

I had an inspiration while making a cake with my son. Laugh and mess!

~Inspiration usually comes when I am happy~

Here is some update about Tati Doll:
I spent the last 3 days working on the head, I have to admit I was getting quite upset about it. I thought I could get something from my mind, as this doll will be specially made for me I thought she could just "come out" of the clay using my memories as a reference. I even tried some sketches before putting the hands on the clay, but although I love to draw, sketches don't work for me. So I started the first head, concentrating on what I wanted my doll to be. No, it was not like that. The first head came back to the pack of the clay. Started a new one and NO, NO, NO!!! What's wrong? Oh well, I was very upset. But then, in the afternoon, I had this inspiration... I started singing a song, while making a cake for my son (and WITH my son - what a mess!). A song from a movie I love so much. And I remembered the movie that made me dream when I was a child. The beautiful girl.... THAT'S IT! The girl.... she will be my inspiration!!! At that moment I was so excited I wanted to go to the studio and start working on her right away, but had to finish the cake and put my son to bed. I couldn't stop thinking of this wonderful inspiration, and the more I thought about it, more ideas were emerging out of it. When everything was done, I went to the computer and started searching the web for pictures of her. So many beautiful pictures... wow! I am so happy that I finally found a reference for my doll. A heavy rain started, I had to turn the computer off, and looked at the second head I had started. I almost destroyed it as I did with the first one, but then I thought - well I won't be able to start the new head now because of this rain so I will spend some more time on this head here. Surprisingly, after 2 hours working, the head I didn't like became a gorgeous head! So now I will have two heads to start! One that came out of my mind and the second that will be inspired on a famous girl. It couldn't be better! Inspiration was really the thing I was missing. When I found it I could relax and make a beautiful head without any reference model. It is wonderful. Now I have big plans for this doll, she has a romantic pair which I have always wanted to create too. Maybe I will make a male doll too? This would be my dream come true.
I won't tell the name of the girl but I will post work in progress pictures and wait to see if anyone can guess who she is. If I get any close to her beauty then I will be truly satisfied.

My mother's Art

2010-02-03T05:34:00.000-08:00

My mother is also good at crafts, besides a wonderful mother. She does a lot of things at the same time. When I got married she made some beautiful crochet rugs for me and I still have them - after 6 years. They look like new yet, they are beautiful and very strong. I think the crochet thread she uses is very good. I've searched ebay to see if I could find something similar but it seems there isn't anything like that. So I am trying to help her selling some rugs on ebay.
Please tell your friends and family about it.

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE RUGS FOR SALE

New Website

2010-01-19T18:37:00.001-08:00

I've just finished my new website, this is what I've been working on for the last weeks...

www.tatianatofaneto.com

I've always wanted to learn Flash, but lack of time is always the reason I never did. I managed to learn something from this free flash template, which I changed to fit the website I wanted. I'm pretty happy with the result, what do you think?
I would appreciate if you could tell me about any errors that might occur.
I am so glad I am finished. I can go back to Tati Doll now! (as soon as I clean my studio - that's my inner self saying)

A doll for myself

2010-01-06T09:49:00.001-08:00

I think this new template is so cute, I feel it is just perfect for the new projects I have this year...

So I am starting with a doll for myself...

I've been thinking about what I want my doll to be. I've been trying to remember the time when I was a little girl and I used to dream about the dolls I wanted to have. The "baby dolls" never attracted me much. I never liked to play mommy. I only had one baby doll. I was always amazed by Barbie. I can even remember the first Barbie I saw! I took a long time of dreaming before my mother could afford buying a Barbie for my sister and me. I think I was 11 then. I remember I was never happy with Barbie's body though. It was not poseable enough. One day, while we were visiting a cousin, she showed me her "Susie", and I was amazed by the doll body, it was all articulated, I could put her on several different poses! Wow, I was so surprised that kind of doll did exist! After that Susie, I never saw any other doll like that in my whole childhood. I think it was not very well accepted in the market so they stopped producing it.
Although I have no sketch, no real plan for her, I can already feel close to this doll, I realize now that I've been dreaming about her my whole life... For this reason I decided to call this doll "Tati Doll". Tati is the short form for my name "Tatiana". Family and friends call me Tati. The sound of this short name evokes love and tenderness to me as they are mostly said by people I love. Tati Doll is a perfect name for the doll I have in my dreams, as she will be like the symbol of everything I love, everything I believe and everything I wish for me and for the world.
So now, I think I can say a little about the doll I want to make for myself.
- First of all and the most important: she must be playable.
The dolls I have created so far are mostly to be admired than to be played with, that's because of their size and fragility. I really need to play with my doll so the Tati Doll must be made of strong material and be poseable, allowing me to play with her as much as I want.
- long hair - this is just viewable in my work style, almost allt he dolls I have created have long hair. But hair for Tati Doll must be also playable, so that I can brush, wash and style it.
- clothes - I also remember I loved to dress and undress my dolls, once, my aunt made some pretty clothes for our barbies. They were much better than the clothes available for purchase.
These are the things I can think of now. I will talk about this project frequently and I will add some pictures too. I would love to read any comments, suggestions, anything. Thank you!
see you soon...

New Year's Resolution

2010-01-01T17:41:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year!!!

I hope it's a great 2010 start for everyone. I've been having lots of good thoughts coming all day long...

This is the first time I am willing to create my New Year's Resolution list. So here are the things I can think of now. The list may get bigger if I remember something else to include...

* A Doll for myself
After all the dolls I have created I feel a little empty about not having any with me. This will be my huge project for this year.

* Teach someone
I just want to show gratitude for the gifts I've been given so I think the best way is to teach someone.

* Visit friends more often
I want to spend more time with my friends, decreasing the excuses to use the telephone and computer.

* Get in shape - definitely
I lost 11kg in 3 months before my baby's first birthday. Now I want to be in shape. That means eating healthy food and saying goodbye to chocolate and coke.

* Finish my paintings
There are at least 2 unfinished paintings in my studio. I can't even remember when I started them... I really need to finish them.

Happy Holidays!

2009-12-23T09:50:00.000-08:00

Don't Save It All For Christmas Day

Don't get so busy that you miss
Giving just a little kiss
To the ones you love
Don't even wait a little while
To give them a little smile
A little is enough

How many people are crying
People are dying...
How many people are asking for love

Don't save it all for Christmas Day
Find a way
To give a little love everyday
Don't save it all for Christmas Day
Find your way
Cause holidays have come and gone
But love lives on
If you give on
Love...

How could you wait another minute
A hug is warmer when you're in it
And Baby that's a fact
And saying "I love you's" always better
Seasons, reasons, they don't matter
So don't hold back
How many people in this world
So needful in this world
How many people are praying for love

Don't save it all for Christmas Day
Find a way
To give a little love everyday
Don't save it all for Christmas Day
Find your way
Cause holidays have come and gone
But love lives on
If you give on
Love...

Let all the children know
Everywhere that they go
Their whole life long
Let them know love

Don't save it all for Christmas Day
Find a way
To give a little love everyday
Don't save it all for Christmas Day
Find your way
Cause holidays have come and gone
But love lives on
If you give on
Love...
Love...

"Don't Save It All For Christmas Day" by Celine Dion
That is my favorite Christmas Song.

Love is the key.

Spring

2009-12-13T09:54:00.000-08:00

It's spring here in Brazil, but it's almost finishing, we have only one more week of spring. I wanted to write about spring when the season started. It is my favorite season, I love the weather in spring, it's not as hot as in summer, it rains a lot and there's a nice breeze most of the time. Not to mention the trees with the gorgeous flowers, and the birds and cicadas singing...
Isn't it the most beautiful season? I was looking at all the pictures I took during this season and found some I would like to share. Now that I look at them I like the fact that I didn't write of spring before, I wouldn't have these nice pictures to show... (just click on the picture to enlarge if you want)

this is my yellow orchid. My cousin-sister gave me on my 26th birthday. This year was the first time the flowers showed up. I have to admit I don't know how to take care of them. photo taken on Sep.25

a nest that my father found on the floor, next to the fruit tree we have on the backyard. It is also a love season for the birds! =)
photo taken on Sep.25

Olavo playing with the ipe tree flowers. It was not a good year for our tree, it rained too much at the time the tree was blossoming. I just love to see the sidewalk full of yellow flowers. photo taken on Sep.13

These are the pictures I took today, while it was raining, looking from our bedroom window our red roses were so beautiful in the rain. I just love red roses.

the last picture shows our banana plant. We have already eaten many of them so you can see why some are missing on the bunch.

Finished Passion Fairy

2009-12-08T04:52:00.000-08:00

I only have to finish her base now, I didn't like the way it came out with artificial roses so I am making them in clay. More work, of course, but it will worth it.
Click here to see new pictures of Passion on ebay

PASSION on ebay

2009-12-03T19:19:00.000-08:00

Click here to go to her listing on ebay

I only need to finish the details now, clothes, wings etc... I'm planning to have all final pictures by sunday evening. I hope the weather will be nice.

New Fairy on ebay tomorrow

2009-12-02T11:23:00.001-08:00

My newest work will be up for auction on ebay tomorrow evening. The pictures below show the work in progress, the picture of the face shows the first layer of painting, I think I will use a strong make up this time. She is a PASSION FAIRY. More details tomorrow!

New work in progress

2009-11-17T17:16:00.000-08:00

I have been so slow lately, with just everything I do. I hope it's because of the hot days we are having here in Brazil, they make me lazy. It's been a long time I don't post anything, not that I didn't have anything to say, but there were many family issues which needed my attention. My husband's work schedule has changed, again! It's hard to focus on a sculpting routine this way.
This fairy is all planned in my mind, but I don't want to write too much about her until I'm sure "she" won't make me change the first sketches. It drives me crazy not being able to "see" when I will finish her.

Typus, the Guardian Fairy

2009-10-09T06:42:00.000-07:00

It was a great experience to finish the Male Fairy during the 10 days auction. Not only because it was a WIP auction, but also because I had to finish it in 8 days, as I wanted to have his pictures done for the 2 last days of auction. I want to thank my dear husband so much, for his endless support. Without him I couldn't do it. Also thank my mother who always find a way to help, I love you mom!
Some people e-mailed me to say how much they liked Typus, I was so glad to know that.
Now that the auction is finished I only hope the winner will like him personally as much as she did on the photos.

I'm thinking about my next project which I will start on tuesday 27. I wanted to have a witch fairy for halloween as I did last year, but I'm too late now... so I'm thinking of something else...

My baby just got the flu, I will be giving him more than all my love until he is well again (if that is possible).
It's better not to make plans for now.

Finished "Darla" Fairy

2009-10-05T19:28:00.001-07:00

She is now on her way home to Las Vegas, USA. Hopefully she will arrive soon to her new family and will make them happy.
Click on the picture to enlarge or visit my website for more pictures of her.
It was a pleasure for me to create this fairy. I really enjoyed all the brainstorming with the clients who I can call friends now =)
I feel the creation of this fairy somehow helped me learn more about myself, understanding my limits which I never seem to be able to respect.

Removable clothing

2009-10-01T06:33:00.001-07:00

the fairy's clothes

SkirtIt is the first time I create removable clothes. It was a huge challenge for me as I can't sew. But I just love challenges and I am happy with the result of this one.

It took me 2 days to finish it, between brainstorming and creating. I had the great help of my dear husband, but this time it wasn't practical, it was his presence only that inspired me and gave me the "light" I was waiting for to make the clothes. Thank you love!

I hope the client will enjoy dressing and undressing her fairy. =)

Ready for painting

2009-09-26T16:08:00.000-07:00

How glad to be finished with the sculpting, sanding etc...
I'm getting ready for the next steps: painting, hair, clothes, wings... wow! There is still a lot to do! But I love it, this is such a pleasant job. Where else you can relax while you work? =)

Sculpting hands

2009-09-24T11:02:00.001-07:00

I love sculpting hands so much. I fell they are getting better and better but I think there is still so much to improve until they are perfect! Spent long hours on these hands. What do you think about them? =)

Sculpting feet

2009-09-19T12:38:00.000-07:00

Finished sculpting the feet today. The left foot which is on the photo has been already attached to the the leg. Click on the picture to see it enlarged. It is greatly enlarged, the feet are only 1,4cm wide (1/2 inch).
I know I still have many things to improve, but they are the best feet I've sculpted so far so I'm pretty happy with them. Let me go back to the right feet now.

Body finished

2009-09-16T18:56:00.000-07:00

It's a great feeling every time I finish sculpting the body. I love holding it in my hands, after it is baked and be able to "feel it". Much better is to notice there aren't ANY moonies! YIPPIE! I see it as a great sign, she will be perfect!
Long hours of sanding comes next. When I think I've sanded enough, I sand more. I wish I knew any other technique to skip this part, it would be great not having to sand that much. But it seems there is no other way. Anyway, now she has a beautiful, clean and soft skin. I just wish I could get rid of all my skin imperfections that easy! Well... not that easy... I think it would hurt to have my skin sanded... crazy me!
Next steps are sculpting the feet, hands, ears. Then she is done! I can't wait.
I think she should be ready already, but I've been a little sick lately, with that allergy that almost drives me crazy.

Work in progress...

2009-09-07T12:27:00.000-07:00

This is my current work in progress. It is a commission fairy which I'm really enjoying to create.
There might be some changes on her face so I have not baked it yet. I'm working on the body armature now. She will have a lovely pose.

A break to make eyes...

2009-08-27T20:01:00.001-07:00

Today I had to take a break from my commission work and create more eyes, as I found out the green eyes I had do not look green when they are on the face. Not very nice to realize that after inserting the eyes on the fairy head... but anyway, I also created bigger eyes, like the ones on the picture, so that I wouldn't waste materials. They are 1 cm in diameter and I will probably use them for my other projects of larger scale dolls.
There was another discovery today, a nicer one this time. The eyes I create are water safe! Washing Machine safe to be more specific. I found a pair of eyes inside my washing machine, when I was removing the washed clothes! I have no idea of how they went into there, but it was interesting to see they were intact, no defect, no damage! Of course nobody will ever throw a doll inside a washing machine (I believe) but it's a proof of the eyes quality, isn't it?
Now I just have to wait for the new eyes to dry...

Priceless

2009-08-26T11:23:00.000-07:00

"I believe there are no words to thank you for making this dream come true. The fairy is perfect, I couldn't have found a better gift, even if it was a real fairy.
Just as we loved it, we are sure that she will love it too.
Each detail is perfect, each little part of this fairy is more than beautiful, it is a dream, our dream, that became possible through you. So, all I can say is a simple,
but very true Thank You!
It was very especial, the achievement of a dream that we had for 4 years. And this moment will be with us forever and you will also be part of it, for you have created the best gift of all."

This lovely picture and e-mail (translated from Portuguese to English) I received today from the girls (Tatiana and Gabriella) who commissioned me to create Fairy Any. The picture shows the moment they gave Fairy Any to their idol, singer Anahi. They were so kind to send me the picture...
Priceless...
this is one of those moments in life when it feels like everything makes sense and you can almost fly, taken by the soft breeze of happiness that is filling everything around you.

New Commission

2009-08-25T05:18:00.000-07:00

I just started working on a new commission. It's from a nice man in the USA who wants to have his wife as a fairy. I fell in love with his story, with the meaning that this fairy will have for them. And now I am also in love with his wife... while looking at her old pictures and reading her e-mails. It's so good to meet new people and their life, and realize it is still possible to find happy couples, who live together for so much time, sharing their sorrows and happiness, facing troubles together, not running away from them, like my father did...
Again, I feel blessed that I was chosen to create such a wonderful work of art. I will do my best to make it really wonderful.
I'm sure this piece will have much more than my work on it. It will also have my heart and my deepest admiration for a love that will never end!

Thank You!

Fada Any - Commission finished

2009-08-16T19:36:00.000-07:00

I can finally post pictures of my last work, the commission fairy "Any". There are many more pictures on my website: www.tatianatofaneto.com . Visit the "gallery" page, then click on her small picture and you will be taken to her pictures page.

I'm very happy that things worked just the way I expected.

Started this project on July 06
Finished on August 05
Shipped the fairy on August 06
Approximately 120 working hours to complete this project.

I am open now for new commissions, feel free to contact me if you are interested!

Eyes

2009-08-01T10:53:00.000-07:00

That's one of the eyes of the commission work. I made the eyes by myself, so they are not painted, they are glass-like eyes. It gives such a realistic effect...
After finishing the face painting, I spent two hours applying eyelashes! Maybe I'll get expert with practice but I like the way it came up for a first try. I can't post all the pictures in respect to the person who commissioned me, as it is going to be a gift for someone. But I'll do it once the gift is delivered. Today I went downtown and bought a beautiful golden box where I will send the fairy in. She will have a especial packing since she is a gift. And she really deserves it...

Anxiety

2009-07-30T14:18:00.000-07:00

I've just come to the point where I start to get very anxious to see the doll finished. I'm aware that, as a consequence, this is the time when problems may happen. So I just have to control myself, try to be calm, each step at a time.
After painting the doll it is like she starts talking to me saying "Hurry, give me wings, I want to fly!". Any doll artist will agree with me that painting is like giving life to the sculpture.
The picture bellow is a bit old, it's when I finished sculpting the body and the shoes, she will have high heels shoes, so fashion!

Learning from details

2009-07-24T19:26:00.000-07:00

I never thought it was possible to learn so much from details... The fairy I'm working for the commission is practically all sculpted, but she has a lot of details, a lot of little things that makes her even more special. She is not only a fairy, she's a star.
So I've been learning a lot. I'm totally absorbed by this work. Each step I take seems to be the very right one, it feels like something is guiding me, taking me beyond my own abilities, just amazing.
I've also learned that a commission demands a lot of brainstorming. From the point the collector tells you the kind of doll he/she wants to the time you put your hands on the clay. I've been calm enough to leave my worktable when something was not right, and patient enough to wait for the bright idea to come. I am so deeply grateful that I have been chosen to create this doll. For all the learning experience, for all the love, for all the support. I'm just blessed.

Male Fairy Wip

2009-07-04T19:43:00.000-07:00

I've done some progress to my Male fairy, I still have to find a name for him. I'm waiting... who knows "they" will whisper his name in my ears as well... So far what I know is that he is a tree guardian. I believe the fairy world is doing everything they can to save nature, they seem to be very worried. They know that the most important thing are the trees. I do believe they are sending another message through this male fairy I'm sculpting. I'm sure it will be revealed as soon as I finish this work. So there are the guardians, who protect the trees from humans. They must be strong, they don't fly very well though. I will explain that later.

After his head, I started sculpting his legs, it's the first time I start with this part of the body, I thought it would be better to do so because he is standing. He is a very muscular fairy, this is due to his ability of climbing trees. I'm enjoying to sculpt a male, I thought it would be much more difficult but it is not.

Commissions

2009-07-01T03:25:00.000-07:00

I am open for commissions. You can read more details about it on my website. As I read the previous post I thought that maybe I am crazy for accepting commissions. And maybe nobody would commission me after reading that I don't have enough time for my sculpting. Then I thought about the reasons why I wanted to do that. Besides not being happy with the auctions on ebay, I realized that I am trying to push myself (and people around me) to make it work. I mean, if I have a commission I know I will have to find ways to do it. My too serious personality would never allow me to be delayed with a commission, or to work poorly. So I know, I would do anything to make it right. As a consequence, this would be a way for me to work more on my art. I don't know how long I will be open, I think it will be for a short time, so if you have any interest, don't hesitate. Thanks for reading!

From hands...

2009-06-30T03:32:00.000-07:00

There will always be this little hand when I'm writing about my art and that pink heart from the previous post when I'm talking about other things. It will be easier for readers to choose what they want to read, if they ever come back.

I'm working on this male fairy now. I have been wishing to work on a male sculpture for a long time. The other day when my husband arrived from work he showed me a beautiful tree seed which he found while working and he told me he brought it for Olavo (our little son). That seed used to be also a toy for us when we were children. When falling, it looks like the rotor blade of an helicopter. We used to throw it and watch its fall. Therefore, when I looked at those seeds on my husband's hands they didn't look like a toy anymore, they looked like fairy wings to me. It's interesting to see how the way we see things change, due to our age, life and experiences. Then I knew it would be beautiful wings for a male fairy and a whole story came to me, as if a fairy was whispering it in my ears. It gives me the feeling that this is a very special fairy, maybe the fairies wanted to contact me again and there's another mission for me,just like it was with Alana, the ype tree fairy. I will write more about the story behind this male fairy, along with the pictures that I will post later.

It's been a long time I started sculpting him, I'm just trying to get used to my husband's new work schedule but as the time goes, it seems I have less and less time for myself. He used to work from 2 to 11pm. So I usually worked on my fairies after my baby went to bed, around 8pm until my husband arrived. Now he is home at 5:30pm, I do love to have him home early as we can have a better social life. But then I don't have the evenings by myself anymore. Now I sculpt when my son allows me, when he sleeps in the afternoon. I know it won't be like this forever, but I feel really bad about not having more time for my art. I have so many projects all in my mind just waiting to be born from my hands. I have been putting them all on the paper so that I will not forget them.