Whoa Nelly!

Bucky was a dragonfly trainer, and he and his dragonfly girl Nelly were to be in a really big All- dragonfly show! Stunts and aerials, and the trollfling with the best dragonfly trick would win a gold trophy. A GOLD TROPHY! (Trollflings take shiny things VERY seriously)

Nelly however, was not yet too stable to fly being she was still a youngling! She was a golden Dragonfly therefore could turn the best tricks (or so the pet book said) but when Bucky adopted Nelly he had no idea just how goofy she was. All she wanted to do was laugh, giggle and have fun.

Bucky tried his hardest to get her to stay adrift she just kept trying to hug him the entire time.

"Nelly's you gots to try" Bucky told Nelly but she kept smiling at him and making a "meep eep" sound. (wings fluttering)

You see Nelly just wanted to make her Bucky smile. Sure she wanted to win the All Dragonfly award but being with Bucky was much more importants. So the moral of this story is, all that glitters...is NOT gold! (or golden dragonflies or trophies) but the love we give and share every single day.

Dedicated to my son Avery who spent the better part of his summer studying dragonflies near our pond and who loves all creatures great and small.

Bucky and Nelly's story copyright A. Matthies 2007

All photographs and tales from Trollflings Etc. is copyrighted under the US Digital Copyright Act

Galactic Trollfling Troll "Uno" and his Meep Orc "12"

Today I created something I haven't made in some time now! A Galactic Trollfling and his little pet....and they are so colorful and cute...thought I would share!

The Christmas Trolls

The Christmas Trolls

I took a moment this morning and revisited all the troll Faery girls from Christmases past. Some of my most favorite dolls are my holiday faerys. There is something magical about winter and Christmas and I am so lucky to be able to recreate that magic in their tiny faces.

Even though the girls now have happy homes I still think of them when I visit my troll album. I hope you enjoy their pictures!

I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and hope this next year is wonderful for the lot of us!

Krystal is my first snowgirl faery and has been adopted by Matt! If you would like to adopt your own troll faery girl (or boy) there is still some trolls that need good homes in my CDHM shop. Visit here!
http://cdhm.org/users/trollgirl

Dasher and Chrissi Trollflings and " The Candy Cane"

Dasher Reindeer and Chrissi awoke Christmas morning to find Santa had left them two big candy canes!
Dasher quickly ate his up...but Chrissi the Sweet Potato wanted to take one small bite then finish the rest later. Now in Trollflingland, one knows NOT to let their candies lie around, another troll will take it. Chrissi held onto her Santa gift very tightly...she wouldn't even let go of it to straighten her Christmas hat! Dasher sniffed the air a bit then whispered to himself

"Candy cane...nummy"

"Now Dashers you alreddy ate yors!" Chrissi had said quite matter-of-factly.

Dasher scooted a bit closer...closer still....eyes on the prize...ever still closer...transfixed on the red and white stripes (it is dazzling)

" I am warning yoo buster! Yoo are muh frend but this is my candy canes!" Her grip tightened on her candy cane, so much so she almost snapped it in half.

Dasher scooted just a teeny bit closer(he knew now he might be pushing his luck) and gave Chrissi his best puppydog eyes. Dasher's Scruff bear stepped in a bit closer too. *scoot*

Chrissi at this point began to feel nervous and had thought to herself
"SIGH, I should have eetin this earlier! Ok Dasher and Scruff, you win. "
She also remembered that part of the magic of Christmas is sharing with others and did allow Dasher to have a tiny bit of it before she ate it herself.
I hope you all have a Very Merry Christmas and try to come back to see all the cute Troll Christmas stories! I guarantee they will make you smile and laugh.

A special thank you to my wonderful trollfriend Julie for letting me use the photos of her Trollkids Dasher, Scruff and Chrissi for this story!

all trollfling stories photo and text copyright a. matthies 2007-2008

Woodland walk fairy basket tutorial

Miniature Floral Fairy Basket/Beds for Polymer Faery faes

Woodland walk
Wow some of the basket selection at your local craft store is NOT FIT for faery babies. That is where you step in! You can alter those high clunky tall and awkward baskets into something resembling a fine bed for a wee faery child. I can show you how.

Hallo everyone it is me Amber Matthies, here again to show you a few things if you want to sit along. I create my tutorials much as if you were sitting here right along with me, chatting and creating. It's fun. It's fun to share. I can dig it ;)

1. Remove the bottom and handle and lay to the side as shown.
2. Using some cloth covered BROWN wire (available in the floral arranging section) add the bottom back to the basket but a bit inside so lays flat. Free stitch tightly back onto the circular basket hoop. All the way around, and using the empty areas between the weaves (like sewing) Stitch , stitch!!

3. Hoorah! Look! Now it lies flat no more bulky bottom! Reglue the handle back into the very bottom securely to shorten it. I use Aleene's tacky glue with my floral and basket work. Strong hold, low toxicity.

Floral Fantasy work TIP A:

My first tip to you about fantasy floral designing. Do not just rip a piece off your moss sheet and plunk it down inside your floral work. You do not want the clunky. Does not look natural! You want it to look gathered as if a faery had harvested it and added it herself for her babe to lay in. Those tiny details is what will make your work stand out as "faery authentic".

Stretch it a bit! Take out those large pieces of mud and trim as much of the brownie stuff off as you can. Throw out the pine needles and sticks (save the sticks for your nests!) Just takes away from the beautiful green of your sheet moss. You pay dearly for that green, use it! (trust me I know!)

I am a professionally trained florist of over 10 yrs experience but I work on the tiniest scale. It is SO fun but a challenge.

4. Now is a fun part you might all know. EMBELLISHING..think again faery authentic for those of you who like the classic look (like myself)

I added one of my yarn swaddled weekins to the basket, and she is comfy as can be! A butterfly came by to take a peek, aww how sweet! Imagine yourself on a woodland walk and found this basket resting on a log! That my friends is the magic of faery! You will find a bit of your own style coming through in your work and that is SO important. YOu want to create with your art something that came from your heart. I can help you with the technical jazz....please come back to see us soon! http://cdhm.org/users/trollgirl is where you can purchase this piece

Now remember to use and share this tutorial as you like but not for resale! Copyright Amber Matthies 2007(or the Gunnagitchees will gitcha!;))

Fantasy tree, what will you be??

Ah it is to be a Wizards' Tree! The best part about starting to sculpt a tree is, I never know how it will end up! Mean or sad, evil or kind....the tree creates itself (I am just the hands ;))
Here is the nose...yep...moving along nicely...keep smoothing! The opposite end of a paintbrush is good at smoothing larger noses...(keep that in mind)
Upper lip, it's very important! Upper lip creates movement as in a laughing smile or singing, or speaking (think about your own upper lip moving when you smile or speak)
Hey how's it goin? The weather is fine here today. I heard there may be snow moving in """" Now wait. Back to business! You need a face sometime today fine sir!
Eyebrows convey emotions. Think of your own eyebrows when you are upset or happy, or sad...they go up and down and move along with your eyes.

A bit jovial? It works for me! Perhaps questioning? Add a beard and you shall have........................

I laughed a good while at this...Sean Connery! I swear it was not intentional. It just goes to show you, that the clay takes on a life of it's own sometimes. I do on occasion sculpt trees that look like various moviestars completely by accident...in fact... once I had a tree turn out to look like William H. Macy. (one of my favorite actors)

My blog does say "fantasy sculpting" so I will be back here and again with some fun photos and tips for you I can share.

My formatting isn't perfect, I am not tip top on html and all that jazz...but I hope you enjoyed today's post. Remember to stop by http://trollflings.com/ sometime if you please, to see more original creatures!

Keep in the clay and you will find magic there!

UPDATE

Here is our fine King Arthur tree giving counsel to a wee Trollfling!(handsome!)

Nestor the Long-Eared Christmas Donkey

Not only is "Nestor the Long-Eared Christmas Donkey" my four year old's favorite Christmas tale...I love it too.

I created my newest troll with that wonderful story in mind.

You see Nestor was born different. He had long long ears that he often tripped upon. The other donkeys would "laugh" and call him useless. He would hang his sweet head and seek reassurance from his mother who loved him dearly.

One day, the stable master had rejected Nestor for offending a Roman Guard, who had orders from the Emperor for donkeys from the stable.

Nestor was on his own in the cold when Momma came to comfort him.

A cherub appeared to him and spoke to him! Nestor could hear the angel with the help of his special ears. The cherub (an angel for animals) guided Nestor to Bethlehem where he had a very special mission.

Nestor was claimed by a stable master there, when Joseph and Mary arrived to adopt him. You see Mary was heavy with child and couldn't walk through the cold night. They needed to find a place to stay, for a child was on the way.

The inns were all full because of the Roman census...Joseph and Mary had no where to stay, and time was running out.

Nestor remembered the warm stable where he grew up and how comforting it was. He took Mary who he was carrying to the stable where baby Jesus arrived shortly after.

Nestor returned home to his home and mother, a hero! He had helped our Lord into this world and kept him safe.

My doll is an homage to that sweet story. I also believe that even though you are different, you can still feel love and pride in what you do and find friendship when you least expect it. Angels guide us everyday, and Nestor is proof of that!

Nestor is available for adoption now, in my fantasy art gallery at C.D.H.M

http://www.cdhm.org/user/trollgirl

I wish you all a very Merry Christmas, from my family to yours!

Autry the Red Antlered Reindeer

Had a very chilly nose! He found a teddy under the tree this year....and it was JUST what he wanted!

Inspired by my friend Judi AKA Kibbles
http://kibbles.etsy.com/
who has donned her red antlers since the auction she ran for a pair of dog antlers to benefit the animals who were lost and injured in Hurricane Katrina so many years ago. Her friend Gus the Brittany was the fashionable model for those antlers, and Judi was able to raise quite a lot for those pets lost in the storm.

The red antlers are a reminder of the love and care Judi shows animals each and every day. I am honored to have been Judi's friend for many years through C.D.H.M.

Autry is available for adoption here

http://cdhm.org/user/trollgirl

with a portion of the profits going to our local animal shelter here in Troy Ohio.

Judi you are a good friend to me and wanted to honor you in my own small way. I hope we are friends for a long long time!