MRSBO Orphan Trading Card: Gil by Coppermouse Dolls

This is the first orphan trading card by me, Coppermouse Dolls. It measures 2.5 x 3.5 inches. It is an original graphite illustration on card stock of a really ugly little orphan up for adoption at Mrs. Blathersby's Orphanage for the Unattractive and Mentally Unsound (MRSBO).

Gil's story:

"He's an abomination belched up from the darkest depths of the ocean!" is how the sailor described the poor little chap as he ran screaming away from the orphanage.

Gil has been with us now for roughly three years. He enjoys sitting in the sink and eating pretzels. The sisters just adore him and love taking him for walks on dreary days outside the orphanage.

Click here to purchase Gil at my Etsy store.

MRSBO Adoption: Cordelia Thunderfiz by Coppermouse Dolls

Auction Link

The Curious Story of Felix Thump.
by Melisa Matkin

Cordelia Thunderfiz's father was once a great explorer of lands unknown.
He would drag his family to parts of the world with great trees and plants overgrown.
Sir Thunderfiz's achievements were recognized by the royal majesty.
Doubtless, it was whispered, he would meet with some horrid tragedy.

As soon as he would return home, he'd be off once more
To darkest lands and strange continents to explore.

Was it great riches or fame that drove him north?
Life's too short to stand in one place, sally forth!
He would cry in great tones of glorious mirth.
And off he go with family in tow to the bizarre ends of the earth.

Then one day while exploring fantastic fauna and flora,
His precious wife and co-explorer, a lovely woman named Dora
Passed away quietly after the long travail of childbirth.
A baby named Cordelia drew her first breath on this strange patch of earth.

And now dear readers, our tale grows most sad
Don't say I didn't warn you that things grew very bad.
So now's your chance to run and dissappear
Before the dread words of this poem you hear.

In Sir Thunderfiz's library there is an ancient tome,
Within it's dusty pages there's a story written in shakey hand by Sir Jerome.
His stark descriptions and strange ramblings of giant savage bugs
Were simply much too much for his curiousity to simply shrug.

And so it was Sir Thunderfiz went off once more
To darkest lands and strange continents to explore.

By this time, Cordelia,only five, craved her father's attention.
"Not now, Cordelia," her father would distractedly mention.
Softly she'd turn away and leave the room
To play with her toys alone in the murky gloom.

"I'm so lonely" Cordelia would cry to her teddy.
"I try to talk to Father but he says, 'that's enough already!'"
Poor motherless Cordelia, abandoned and forsaken
Never gave up hope on finding a friend, courage unshaken.

After several months at sea, Sir Thuderfiz's ship came upon an unknown isle
"Could this be the place of Sir Jerome's story?" he wondered with a smile.
Thunderfiz and his team went to find the tribe of savage giant bugs
Little Cordelia, left alone, went on her own exploration scarecly afraid of insect thugs.

As her father searched in vain, Cordelia discovered something within a foilage clump,
It was to her great delight a little insect boy named Felix Thump.
"Will you be my friend?" she exclaimed with joy.
"Of course, of course!" buzzed the little insect boy.

Happily the two children played together all day long and until it was night.
Cordelia went home with Felix Thump, ate a great feast and slept tight.
Not once was Cordelia bothered by the savage bug's language and dress.
In fact, one just might say, Cordelia could care less.

No longer was she lonely, she had found a new family
Giant insects who loved her, at least to a tolerable degree.

But what happened to Cordelia's Dad?
What about the warning and what happened that was so bad?
Remember from a few lines ago the great feast?
It was her father, truely a great beast.

© 2008 All rights reserved. Melisa Matkin of Coppermouse Dolls

I am very pleased to present my first MRSBO adoption for 2008. Also, it marks the first time I have used poetry to tell a story. Truly, I will be sad to Felix and Cordelia go, but they need a new home. In the future, I plan to explore more of the mysterious giant bugs.

This doll stands 11 inches tall. She is made from my original patterns. Her head is needle-sculpted cloth with paperclay. She is painted with artist acrylics and sealed with acrylic varnish. Her dress, petticoat and bloomers are also made from my original patterns. Lastly, this Cordelia Thunderfiz comes with her little friend Felix Thump. Felix is made from muslin which is then hand-painted with artist's acrylics. His eyes are glazed with iridescent glitter to give them life. Felix is around 6" tall.

She may stand with the assistance of a doll stand (not included) or sit nicely on a shelf.

This doll is signed and dated by me, Melisa of Coppermouse Dolls.

MRSBO Adoption: Edie Migraineur by DarkAngelQ

Edie Migraineur, a little girl with a big headache.

BACKGROUND. Edie Migraineur has had terrible headaches ever since she came to Mrs. Blathersby's Orphanage as a baby. Her teenage unwed mother was ill equipped to deal with her, poor thing. We know nothing about the cad who was her father.

Edie cried for the first three years of her life, and her first sentence was, "Oh, my head hurts!" The nuns have raised her as well as they could, not understanding her pain. (None of them suffers from migraines, although Sister Frances Ignacious does have those sick headaches.) This pale little girl has not had her hair brushed since she grew it. It stands on end in bronze spikes. She screams whenever she sees a nun with a comb. She says the thought of grooming makes her feel as though she has a long screw driven into her crown.

Her file is full of such colorful descriptions. She is quite sensitive and sees the world as others don't. Edie Migraineur is nine years old, and she has asked for a family of her own. Her migraines are finally under control; she has learned to read the signs of impending pain and cope with her disability. She says that during her headaches her soul leaves her body and hovers about three feet above her right shoulder, but other than that she is a well-adjusted, if lightly educated, nine year old. She will require medication for the rest of her life. Edie cradles her squished little heart in her arms.

PARTICULARS. Edie Migraineur is constructed of paperclay over a strong wire armature. She is approximately nine inches tall sitting up straight, as the nuns insist. She wears her one good outfit, a drab grey dress with a dark belt and a white collar, anklets and black Mary Janes. She is painted with acrylic paint and heavily sealed for durability. Her watery blue eyes are acrylic. Edie is a delicate sculpture for adults, not a toy.

MRSBO Adoption: Annabella Flatts by DarkAngelQ

Auction Link

As always, here at Mrs. Blathersby’s Orphanage for
the Unattractive and Mentally Unsound, we have an abundance of cats.
Children and cats.
Annabella Flatts, a very domestic cat, has a sweet disposition and a
calm demeanor. She would love to help you with interior design or party
decorations. She also has a flair for fashion and a talent for walking
on two legs. The big boys sneak her bits of cheese and fish and the
undefined meat Cook serves on Thursdays, passing her lap-to-lap beneath the
dining table. The older girls dress her in doll clothes and baubles
and try to teach her how to tie her shoes. We think it only fair to say
that she is ever so slightly spoiled and, as all cats are, somewhat
lazy.

PARTICULARS. Annabella, primitive and proper, is a one-of-a-kind
art doll made of muslin and paperclay over a heavy wire armature. She
is approximately 13 inches tall and free-standing. She is elaborately
embellished with paint, ribbon, cord, tea-dipped tulle, lace, beads,
buttons, bells, glass drops, bows, brads, and fabric and sealed very
lightly. Her arms and hands are posed to hold various items—perhaps a string
of lights, an Easter egg, a birthday banner, a strand of tinsel, a
wedding announcement, a silk flower, a ring box, a Halloween shaker, a
four-leaf clover, or a paper heart, for example. She would work well as a
centerpiece or a bit of primitive décor, paired with a lace doily or a
spray of lilacs, on a dresser or inside a glass-front cabinet.
She wears her heart on her sleeve.

In Addition. Annabella comes with a certificate of adoption from
Mrs. Blathersby's Orphanage and best wishes for a long and happy
association.

NOTE. The little string of plastic lights shown in some of the
photos is a prop only and not included in this auction.

MRSBO Adoption: Agnes Futtleplum and Petey by Coppermouse_Dolls

Auction Link

Welcome to this week's MRSBO adoption. May I introduce Agnes Futtleplum and her pet pug, Petey. They are having a little wintertime party. These two are absolutely inseparable. Petey is Agnes' best friend. One can hear his tiny toenails tapping along the floorboards as he follows Agnes from room to room. We believe Agnes is about three years old and Petey is about two. They just appeared one day at the orphanage. We will be sad when they go, but we know they will be be happy at home with you.

Agnes Futtleplum stands 10 inches tall but is about 12 inches with her party hat. Agnes is made from my original patterns. Her head is needle-sculpted cloth with paperclay. She is painted with artist acrylics and sealed with acrylic varnish. Her dress is also and crocheted trimmed bloomers are also made from my original patterns. Petey the pug is sculpted out of polymer clay and painted with acrylics. He wears a cream colored satin bow and his little party hat. Both party hats are trimmed with black ric-rac, pom-poms, and glitter. The hats are removable.

This is my last auction for Ebay this year. I'm gonna work on getting dolls made in advance to sell for January.

Have a Merry Christmas,
Melisa

MRSBO Adoption: Dorthea Doomsdy by thetreadler

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=110201840750

Immediate placement sought
for young girl who tempts
fate with a somewhat
distressing knack for
"finding" herself in
precarious predicaments...

MRSBO Adoption: Bug by Serenstar

Bug is unique, a little different, a little kooky. Right now, she's also faintly disappointed
as she couldn't find any good caterpillars or aphids to munch on for lunch this time. 
Everything was either too squishy or too dry. She even found on ant that was far too
crunchy, a slug too slimy, and we won't mention the inch worm she didn't even bother to try. 
Bug has found her way to a special place, an orphanage for the strange and unusual. 
She doesn't think she's all that strange, but it seems that the pretty are more easily adopted
sometimes so perhaps this is the perfect home for one such as she.

Bug is approximately two and a half inches tall. She is sculpted of professional polymer clay
and glazed with acrylics, Pearlex powders and UV protective sealer.  Her arms are poseable,
wrapped in soft yarn and she can hold small objects and items if you wish upon her lap or
atop her hands.  Bug has glass bead eyes and handcrafted 'insect' wings with a mixed media
style, attached forever.  She will be carefully packaged for shipping.  This is a OOAK creation
without the use of molds.  Molds were not taken from her creation either. She comes with her
own Certificate of Authenticity signed by me.

MRSBO Adoption: Camelia Ficklefad by thetreadler

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=110198857756

Mrs. Blathersby's Orphanage
seeks placement for
most impressionable child
with a less-than-desireable
tendency to imitate others.
An upstanding household
is urgently sought...

MRSBO Adoption: Minerva Heap by Coppermouse Dolls

Welcome to this week's adoption. May I introduce to you Minerva Heap. Orphaned at the age of six, she is the sole survivor of her family. Her parents were members of a local acting troupe. Apparently, as the story goes, they came to untimely demise during a performance of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. Rumor has it that one of the local critics was so offended by the Heap's maudlin portrayal of the love-struck couple he added some "foreign" ingredient to the prop vial of poison to enhance their performance. How sad! The local newspaper quoted the murderous critic as he was dragged away in shackles as saying, "Here's to my love! O true apothecary! Thy drugs are quick. Thus with a kiss they died." Can you believe the fiend had the gall not only to misquote Shakespeare, but to confess in iambic pentameter!

It can be said that Minerva is destined to be quite an actress herself. Already she is prone to overly dramatic interpretations of the mundane and occasionally will faint is she does not get her way.

Minerva Heap is a one-of-a-kind doll and made right from my own patterns. She is made out of cloth and paperclay. Her dress is made out of cotton and embellished with black galloon and tiny glass black beads. Two black grosgrain ribbons adorn her curly blond locks. She holds a tiny handcrafted polymer clay book entitled, "Complete Works of Shakespeare." The book is pinned into place. Minerva may sit on her own or stand with the assistance of a doll stand.

Potential Parents click here.

Lorinda "Ladyfingers" Bean by thetreadler

Adoption Notice

Mrs. Blathersby's Orphanage seeks immediate placement for young, oddly white-haired and rather cinder-dusted orphan girl. She was found this past week hiding in the chimney where apparently she has been residing for gracious knows how long. We at MRSBO run a tight ship and do NOT look kindly upon young vagabonds who take advantage of our generous, good nature by tucking themselves into the nooks and crannies of our warm bossom.

Sadly, for Lorinda "Lady Fingers" Bean, (the orphan child in question - L.L. Bean for short) it is virtually unheard of to live "off the books" and undetected at MRSBO. She was discovered after only 2 years hiding out in the fireplace chimney of the Great Hall. She'd have been discovered even sooner if anyone were ever allowed to go into the Great Hall.

She's in perfectly good health, although rather sooty. Apparently she was able to negotiate meals from the orphans in exchange for puppetry performances. The children eagerly reward a good laugh at the staff's expense...

Lorinda "Lady Fingers" Bean auction link

MRSBO Adoption: Matilda the Tiny Angel by Coppermouse_Dolls

Welcome to this week's adoption. May I introduce to you Matilda. She is three years old and has quite the sweet tooth. Better hide your candy canes and Christmas puddings or else it will disappear before anyone else gets to have bite...not even the fruitcake is safe. We've taken to locking up the sugar, brown sugar (both light and dark), and chocolate in Mrs. Blathersby's office safe, which really annoys our cook. You might think those bells on her dress are pure ornamentation, but they actually serve a purpose. If she is sneaking around in the kitchen, we can hear those tiny little bells. At the moment, Matilda is working on a tasty gingerbread man.

Matilda is made out of sculpted cloth and paperclay and is hand-painted with the finest acrylic paints and sealed with acrylic varnish. From the top of her head to the tips of her brown boots, she measures 10 inches tall. Her red dress is made from 100% cotton and is trimmed with tiny light green ric-rac. She wears tiny muslin bloomers with a matching petticoat. Her green and cream stripped stockings and boots are hand-painted and sealed with acrylic varnish.

Her little wings are made from unbleached muslin and are hand quilted with shiny red thread.

Matilda has hand sculpted little spit curls and is crowned with a gigantic red bow.

Matilda's gingerbread man is made out of polymer clay and is the idea of a very talented friend of mine,Teresa Clayton (ebay id: thetreadler). The gingerbread man is glued to Matilda's hand.

You will need a doll stand or chair to display her. She can sit on her own. Be careful with her though, she is still somewhat fragile.

Potential Parents please click here.

MRSBO Adoption: Pamela Pumpkinhead by Coppermouse_Dolls

Welcome to this week's adoption. May I introduce to you Pamela Pumpkinhead. She is five years old. The story goes that five years ago, a magician from Mr. Pringle's Society of Feeble Prestidigitators was challenged to enchant a pumpkin into a hammer. Somehow, he changed the pumpkin into some sort of little baby girl. The magician was greatly disappointed (he really wanted that hammer) and brought the wee baby gourd to our orphanage.

So why on earth is that child holding an axe, you say? That is easy to explain. Pamela does not want the other children at MRSBO to chop off her head and carve a jack o' lantern out of it. We cannot blame the little tykes their mischief. It is getting close to Halloween after all. However, we are not barbaric here at MRSBO. We decided to give Pamela a fighting chance and allow her to carry an axe for her own protection. Perhaps the best protection for Pamela is if you can bring her home with you.

Pamela Pumpkinhead is made out of sculpted cloth and paperclay and is hand-painted with the finest acrylic paints. From the top of her pumpkinhead to the tips of her black boots, she measures 10 inches tall. Pamela comes with a tiny axe made out of paper and a wooden dowel. It gently fits in her hand. Her dress is made from 100% cotton and is my own original design. She wears tiny muslin bloomers with a matching petticoat. Her black and white stripped stockings and boots are hand-painted and sealed with acrylic varnish. You will need a doll stand or chair to display her. She can sit on her own. Be careful with her though, she is still somewhat fragile.

I certainly enjoyed making Pamela Pumpkinhead. She is inspired greatly by my adoration of Edward Gorey (and a somewhat strange predilection for evil children). And since Halloween is right around the corner, why not include Pamela Pumpkinhead with your decorations.

Potential Parents please click here.

MRSBO Adoption: Abner by The Whimsical Goblin

__________________________________

Abner is from the town of Millwood. His parents died unexpectedly, long ago.
After his parents passed away he was sent to Mrs. Blathersby's Orphanage.Abner has been at the Orphanage for a very long time. No one seems to remember how long, especially Abner.

When he came to the Orphanage, the only possession he had was his teddy bear.

Abner is a very unhappy little boy, no one seems to be able to make him smile.
What causes this sadness, one wonders.

Abner is special.

Abner absorbs the sadness from those around him.
And living at the Orphanage, well, there is lots of sadness there.
__________________________________

Potential Parents please click here to view Abner.

Ebay item # 280161133894

MRSBO Adoptions: Bella and Donna

Welcome to this week's adoption. May I introduce to you the twins, Bella & Donna. They currently reside at Mrs. Blathersby's Orphanage (MRSBO) and cannot wait to come home with you. A little history about Bella & Donna. They have only been with MRSBO now a few months. They are very quiet and take excellent care of their plant "Lulu" (we think they are calling it "Lulu" but it comes out "roo-roo"), You know, now that I think about it, ever since they arrived with that plant, I swear we no longer have any problems with vermin (not that MRSBO is plagued with pestilence) or stray cats either. Weird, huh? But I digress, the twins are very neat. One would never know they were just in a room. They make their beds, wash their dishes and do all of their chores without ever having be told to do so. Bella & Donna are only four years old and require very little in life. All they need is a loving home (preferably one without pets or younger children). Besides, just look at those darling faces. How can you resist?

On a side note, it is not that big of a deal really; however, it is worth mentioning. I strongly recommend that you do not try to take away their plant. Sister Mary Mole from the Order of the Holy Wretched tried to throw away their plant "Lulu" one day and, thankfully, now has recovered the use of her right hand. So whatever you do, leave Lulu alone. It really is not anything to worry yourself about.

Potential parents click here.

Happy Dollmaking,
Melisa