Jewlled Cat Girls & Elf Lords

Shopping with Karen and Joy can become an all-day adventure. We have a BJD conference next weekend in Austin, plus Animefest in September (just in time for my birthday!) and Celtic Music Festival 2 weeks later. After a long bout of summer school, things besides the weather are heating up ... So, we went looking for goods to make new jewelry designs for people and dolls.

Yes, the dolls get jewelry as elaborate as their human companions ... and depending on the materials, the jewelry costs as much. Shoot, Colette's wardrobe and shoes costs as much or more than my own Renfaire garb, so I'm as guilty as the next BJD collector. Alas, we merchants must take the risk and hope that (sooner rather than later) we can find buyers who desire our goods ... considering we went to the "Asian Trade District" on Harry Hines, I should watch the connotation of my words ... For non-Dallas residents, sections of Harry Hines are notorious for prostitution, although now I believe the term is "bath house" and "live nude models." As long as a precocious child doesn't ask after the specifics, most parents can zoom past the shadier sections of the street ... Besides, who would bring a kid along on a major shopping trip in the wholesale district? Never mind, I'm sure someone has, since one wholesaler has a sign that says, "No Strollers Allowed."

On the left, Pash't shows a hand flower based on some designs we've seen at local Ren faires, as well as the "slave bracelets" so popular in the 70s & 80s. It's true -- everything old is new again. Just wait 5-10 years. I never imagined that I'd mentally measure girls' skirts and have to remind them that the length is too short ... it takes me back ... way back, to a time and place I'd rather forget. At least we don't have to make anyone kneel down so we can measure the distance from hem to floor. Ahem! back to Joy's design ...

The elf lord sports a rainbow moonstone wrapped in 14 K gold-filled wire ... some guys have all the luck. Last year, some of our smaller pieces sold to women who decided to share the pendants with their dolls, so this year we'll take large and small wire-wrapped stones and crystals. You never know what will appeal to whom ... Unlike Texas, buyers from out-of-state appreciate the artistry (and lower prices) of our work. No nonTexan has studied Joy's work, sniffed, then said, "I could do that" or "I used to do wire wrap" when we're at the bigger cons. Of course, the prices for OOAK jewelry startle the kids at conventions; they haven't learned yet that you have to pay for high quality stuff ... Unless they're cosplayers, they shop for their "fine jewelry" in the department stores.

On the right, Pash't displays a jewelled choker. Joy learned how to make them at Beadworks (now defunct); I'm sure the pattern has appeared in Bead & Button or other jewelry magazines. We just reduced the pattern to fit the dolls ... originally Joy made several large pieces for human wear ... lots of head pins, many crystals, and hours of work. I still may make a steampunk piece in my colors (capri blue, hunter green, chocolate brown) and copper ... but I have to make the dress, too ... that won't happen before Animefest. Besides, it's too hot to wear courduroy with appropriate Victorian undies while the temperatures are topping 90 degrees -- if we're lucky. If not, it'll be closer to 100.

Steampunk -- when Goth met Brown, according to the fan boys ... The so-called "industrial chic," to use the hobby store's designation. I think it's a way to combine science fiction and fantasy with history ... and the fashions are much kinder to the heavier set (not to mention those of us who are over 30!) than much of the loligoth -- unless you go EGA (elegant goth aristocrat), which -- except for the colors -- isn't much different from steampunk fashion ... if you can, though, try to find the Victorian ghostbusters with their steam-powered "proton" packs as they prove that even in the past "who ya gonna call?"

Dance is the hidden language of the soul.

-- Martha Graham

May all your dances be happy ones!

The Cats Creep

According to a book about creepy things, cats are creepy creatures. People who own more than 1 cat are socially inept and on their way to being a danger to society. The authors comment that people who own 4 or more cats should be watched because they might invite little children into their homes in order to pop them into the oven ... So, we're wicked witches, eh? I've been called worse by angry students. BTW, as you've probably guessed, the book was written by a couple of guys.

On a more serious not, we've gone from a 1-cat household back to a 5-cat household in less than 3 months ... The lovely Lady Orchid, a lilac point Siamese, passed away from cancer in June ... We adopted a white-and-black shelter cat Davey from the Tri-Cities Shelter in Cedar Hill in June when Skittles seemed lonely. However, Davey had been a caged cat for most of 12 months, so he had problems with socializing with people & cats. So, Joy brought in 2 kittens from the feral mothers ... Bojangles, a tuxedo male, and his moggy sister, Margot. (We went with dancers' names this time.) Davey and Skittles play with them -- yes, Davey now acts a bit more like a cat, though he at times beats up on Margot who is smaller than he. Then Joy spotted their calico sister who is MUCH smaller and brought her in last night. I got home from ballet and walked into the cat room -- and there was a teensy kitten on the boxes next to the door ... She sleeps next to human heads. It's a cute habit while a tiny kitten, but we'll have to stop it -- In Texas summers, you don't want furry objects next to your face. Too hot!

Art credit: The sketch is by one of the ATC artists in Joy's group.

Dance quote: "Barre is like prayer. You must do every day."

-- Natasha Krassovska

May all your dances be happy ones!

Griffins and Cats

I'm currently reading the first book in the Griffin Mage trilogy by Rachel Neumeier. Her griffins are huge creatures that carry the heat of the desert -- and they are not the cute little winged kitties from fantasy art. These griffins are like the beat in Peter S. Beagle's Two Hearts -- they are perilous to humans, even if they consent not to be your enemy ... which is not the same as saying they are your friend. The differences between the two species are too great ... and the griffin mage Kairaithin has transmuted Kes' healing powers so she can heal his people ... Kes has never quite fit into human society; she prefers quiet solitude to the noisy business of living among others. Now she's the apprentice to a nonhuman mage. The griffins and humans are on the verge of war ... though whether it's over territory or survival, I'm not quite sure. Since griffins prey on humans' flocks -- and there are horror stories of man-eating griffins (which hasn't happened though an injured griffin could do major damage to any stranger trying to aid it), Kes' people are ready to exterminate the flock since their mere presence scorches the earth ...

I'm also reading Battles of the Clans by Erin Hunter. Yes, I read kids' books. The Warriorcats series helped me forge a bond with one of my SPED (aka special needs) students this year. He loved the fact that I knew the characters and could discuss the plots with him -- and I didn't criticize when he brought the novels to class ... although I did make him put the book away when we were working on other stories. Cats and Shakespeare are a difficult mix, even for me, though Firestar has made speeches to rally his warriors just as Henry V did ... Erin Hunter's Warriorcats series is an ongoing soap opera of sorts, with many hero journeys for Firestar and his descendants ... I think we're on the grandkits now. BTW, Firestar and the other leaders live longer than normal lives because the cats in Starclan give 9 lives to the clan leaders ... I must admit that I've grown fond of Bluestar, the leader who mentored Firestar. In her book Bluestar's Prophecy, the Thunderclan leader must choose between saving her clan from bloody extinction or raising her kits ... Her choices affect her clan and her family in several books. (I told you it was a feline soap opera!) Firestar, since he's a male, never has to make the same gut-wrenching choice of leadership or motherhood ... only a Brit author would include such a mature theme in a children's book.

Ah, what's the deal with the cat in the tutu? Well, this IS "Dancing Doll Cats," and tonight I plan to attend ballet class. I may not get as high as Margot Fonteyn once did with my pas de chat (step of the cat), but I get higher than most ladies my age!

Dancing Doll Cats -- Live in July

Welcome to the first blog for Dancing Doll Cats, where I roam the feline way through jewelry, dolls, and fantasy novels. Although my students might not believe it, I'm not your average English teacher ... I've walked the wild side of theater in the hood, as well as performed on the Ren Faire stage.

The doll on the right is "Friend Gretel" by Obitsu ... It's true -- BJDs love to have friends ... My profile picture is "Colette," a OOAK Obitsu with a face-up by my friend Mariann. She's wearing the St. Gretel dress ... which we sold, along with the original doll, through Owl Moon Studios. I enjoy working with the BJDs -- when you switch their eyes and wigs, you can create a new personality, as well as a new look, for the doll. However, Colette got her "look" at BJDC Austin 2006 ... and, although she changes her wigs as fast as any court lady, Colette has kept the same eyes and face up. They simply fit her personality.
Pash't, the Egyptian lady on the left, often appears as our Obitsu mascot. She's a OOAK creation by Joy. I created her necklace and tunic ... leftovers from my master's project on "jewelry techniques for the theater."

Currently I'm outlining a fantasy novel using archetypes and actors from all the movies and TV series that I enjoy ... I just don't know whether we're going to China or Japan. Oh, well, it's the journey at this point that counts, not the destination.

May all your dances be happy ones!