The following photos were taken during production of items for CELEBRATIONS! - the 2011 R. John Wright Convention.
The Peep & Posey eggs are molded in the custom press
The complex process for lining the eggs with colored felt
The pristine airbrushed molded felt egg shells
The ribbon is applied to the eggs
Daughter Lillian works on the felt egg boxes
The egg halves are carefully fitted together
Completed egg boxes with applied felt flowers
Assembling the delicate silk and felt roses for the Rose Fairy
Several stages are required for each rose
The rose petals are artistically curled
The roses are fitted and arranged on their bases
A group of completed Rose Fairy bases
The Rose Fairy is carefully arranged on her base
The Rose Fairies are lined up for final inspection
Mary Frances' cape is sewn of felt, silk, and alpaca plush
After sewing, the silk lining is carefully ironed
Mary Frances gets ready for the Victorian Dinner event
A tray of dressed dolls await their bonnets and muffs
Production begins on the Scootles souvenir doll heads
An RJW associate hand paints the Scootle faces
A group of heads await airbrushing
Construction of the molded felt torsos
The limbs and head are attached to the torsos
A group of fully jointed dolls
Each doll is artistically airbrushed
Celebration Scootles awaits costuming
The souvenir dolls pause to smell the flowers!
The hand-dyed organdy party dresses being sewn
Tiny silk ribbons and bows are applied
The trim is applied to the party hats
A group of dolls in their matching organdy panties
Daughter Emily helps to dress the dolls
The completed dolls await their shoes
Dolls with applied wrist corsages
Buttons are added to the Scootle boys' hats
The hats are made of fine cotton and silk velveteen
The leather baby shoes are skillfully formed
Each shoe receives its final polishing
The Celebration Scootle boys are costumed
A group of happy little Scootle boys await boxing
Each doll is carefully packaged
A Celebration Scootle boy ready to meet his new owner
Dorothy's portrait face is molded out of all-wool felt
The body parts (legs shown here) are sewn together
The felt is wrapped around molded buckram torsos
After covering with felt, the torsos are molded again
The legs receive their airbrushed coloration
The hands are carefully finished using a mini ironing tool
Dorothy's eyes are artistically hand painted
The mouth is painted in several stages completely by hand
Styling the hand-knotted wigs of custom-dyed mohair
A tray of completed Dorothy heads
The mini-sequin fabric for the Ruby Slippers is sewn to leather
Each heel foundation is molded of a composition material
The metal shoe lasts and ingredients for Dorothy's Ruby Slippers
After sewing, the shoe uppers are prepared for forming
The slippers are formed and the heels applied
The leather sole is neatly positioned in place
A tray of completed Ruby Slippers!
The many pieces of Dorothy's dress are precisely cut
Dorothy's ruffled slip is sewn
After sewing, the seams are ironed flat
The blouse is sewn of Italian organdy with miniature ric-rac trim
The buttons are sewn onto the completed dresses
A group of Dorothy's await their new owners!
Each head is constructed of a single piece of felt
The face is meticulously hand painted in several stages
Hand painted heads lined up on a production tray
The fine mohair wig is hand styled
"Mickey" spots the Witch's broom on the light table
The custom-turned hardwood broom handles
Each decorative stripe is carefully painted on
The broom straw is cleaned and sorted
The fibers are lined up and grouped
The broom straw is sewn together on the machine
The straw groups receive their airbrushed coloration
Leather lattice work and custom pewter rings
Completed brooms
The individual fingers are stuffed and wired
The molded hands receive their final detailed finishing
Hands await application of the tiny fingernails!
The Witch's fingernails are applied to each fingertip
Each fingernail is individually hand painted
The Witch's manicure continues!
The hand receives its final airbrushed coloration
The Witch's slip is sewn of fine black cotton batiste
One of several ironing steps for the Witch's dress
The panels are inserted on the Wicked Witch's waistcoat
The waistcoat receives its metal eyelets
The Witch doesn't like being laced up!
The Witch's pocketbook is sewn together
A special wooden tool is inserted to facilitate ironing
The purse's decorative dangles are handsewn
The purse is attached during dressing
The Witch's hat is sewn of cotton and crinoline
The hat brims are ironed smooth
Each hat has millinery wire inserted in the brim
The top of the hat is assembled to the bottom
After final blocking, the fine silk veil is attached
The shoe uppers are sewn on the industrial machine
The shoe upper is put on the metal last for forming
The Witch's shoes are skillfully formed
A group of finished Wicked Witch shoes
A coven of witch's await shipping
Sugar's nose and mouth are hand-embroidered
The resin hands and feet are wired and inserted
Each RJW mouse has a fine leather tail!
The finished mice await dressing
The sewn felt gumdrops are stuffed with cotton
After stuffing, the ends are gathered and closed
Each gumdrop is molded in a heated metal mold
After molding, the gumdrops are airbrushed
Each gumdrop receives its faux-sugar coating
Tiny strips of felt are braided for the hat
Each hat tassle is hand sewn together
The tassels are attached to each corner of the hat
The completed hats and mice lined up together
Putting the hats on the mice
Finally, each mouse receives her Christmas treat!
The finished mice undergo final inspection
Preparing for boxing
Each mouse is carefully packaged for shipment
Little Jack Horner's silk suit is precisely sewn
Silk ruffles are added to the outfit
Details are flattened with a heated mini-ironing tool
The felt piecrust is hand gathered
Crust is added to the top of each pie
The pies are lightly 'browned' with an airbrush
A group of mouse-sized pies - cooked and un-cooked!
The tip of each leather tail is sharpened
Little Jack's felt hat is molded
The hats are delicately shaded with yellow ochre
The hand-dyed marabou hat feathers drying out
Each feather is curled into shape
Custom-dyed silk ribbon is added to each hat
Silk bows decorate the tiny hats
The gay feather plume is attached
Incredibly tiny shank buttons are sewn to the outfit
Dressing begins on Little Jack Horner
Dressing continues with the addition of the trousers
Each mouse receives its numbered edition tag
The mice are carefully accessorized
Ready to be packaged for shipment!
Baby Grace's silk and felt bonnet is precisely sewn
Wooden ball joints are inserted in each leg
After molding, each limb is cleaned and finished
A tray of wigged and painted Baby Grace heads
The molded arms are attached to the torsos
The coat sleeves are turned inside out
Each bonnet is gathered in the back by hand
Materials for the Victorian wood push sleigh
Various parts of the complex sleigh production
The braces for the bottom of the sleigh are rounded
The contours of each brace are sanded
The sides of the sleigh are precisely cut
The curved dashboards of Baby Grace's winter pram
The felt cushion for the sleigh seat is sewn
Each cushion is filled and sewn closed by hand
The sleigh blanket is sewn of cotton plaid and alpaca plush
The shoes are skillfully formed of custom-made leather
Each shoe receives its tiny leather sole and heel
Baby Grace is carefully dressed for winter
Don't forget your red leather shoes!
Baby Grace looks cosy in her handsome sleigh
