Merry Christmas!

Levana

Levana is one of Gothville’s ghosts. She can often be heard laughing and singing in the stillness of the cemetary, as she plays hide and seek among the headstones. She likes to play tricks on people and many have felt her tug their hair as they pass by her tiny grave …

 

This gothic ghost doll is approximately 7 inches tall. She is made from pure white cotton, with deep blue button eyes, a full head of blonde yarn hair, and delicately hand stitched features. She is dressed in white crushed velvet and lace, with a tulle underskirt, and wears white velvet shoes tied with satin ribbon. Levana is supplied with a signed certificate of authenticity. Like all Strange Little Girls, Levana is suitable for vegetarians and vegans, as she contains no animal products such as wool, silk, or leather.

 

To purchase this doll, visit the Strange Little Girls online shop. If you would like to add a ribbon choker with a silver plated pendant for £2, all you need to do is select a pendant from the drop down list before clicking ‘add to bag’ and it will be added to your order.

Kali

Kali has had enough. Nobody hurts her friends and gets away with it. There must be something she can do. Now, alone in her Grandmother’s attic, a thought becomes an idea and an idea becomes a plan. Kali wipes the dust from an old, heavy book, the one she was told she must never touch. It smells of damp cellars and some herb she can’t quite remember. This may be just what she needs …

This gothic art doll is approximately 14 inches tall with black button eyes, red and black hair, red and black striped legs, and hand stitched detail to her face. She is dressed in black crushed velvet and deep red satin trimmed with black lace. She wears a leatherette corset and black velvet shoes. Kali is supplied with an A4 signed certificate of authenticity. She is available to order here priced at £45 plus p&p.

Guinevere

Guinevere lived in Gothville many years ago, before she was lost to the mechanical monsters and the dragons of industry. Now those monsters are long gone, but Guinevere can still be seen wandering through the morning mist in Gothville cemetary as though searching for the child she never had chance to hold …

This unusual gothic ghost doll is approximately 14 inches tall with beautiful green button eyes, blonde hair and hand stitched detail to her face. She is dressed in white crushed velvet, and white satin overlayed with spiderweb lace. She wears a shawl of spiderweb lace and white velvet shoes. Guinevere is supplied with an A4 signed certificate of authenticity.

Guinvere is available for sale priced at £45 plus p&p. An optional white ribbon choker with choice of silver plated pendant can be added to her outfit for an additional £2. To order Guinevere, click here. A choker can be selected from the drop down list on the right of the product details.

Gothville News!

‘The Strange Little Girls live in Gothville, an old mill town in the North of England with winding cobbled streets and ancient stone buidings that harbour creepy gargoyles, who crouch among the pigeons, watching people pass by. Nothing is quite as it seems in Gothville. Everybody who lives here has a story to tell, each of them different, each a little strange …’

It’s been rather a busy week here in Gothville. There’s so much going on! Firstly, the Children in Need auction has sparked quite a lot of interest. If you haven’t already seen Ophelia, she is a stunning 14 inch one of a kind gothic doll and she is now on Ebay. At the time of writing, there is a week to go and bidding stands at £36. Remember, one hundred per cent of money raised will go to the BBC Children in Need appeal!

Secondly, I have been busy working on a brand new range of goth dolls, which will be released on the website next week. Four new 14 inch dolls and two 7 inch dolls will replace the current standard range. They don’t have names yet, but photos, names and background stories will be posted here as soon as they are ready.

Thirdly, as the dolls are becoming more popular, I have decided to phase out the accessories and jewellery and focus on what I do best, i.e. making lots more goth rag dolls. The purses and Alchemy Gothic jewellery I have left in stock can be found in the stock clearance sale. Also, if you are a follower of Strange Little Girls on Facebook, this weekend you can get free delivery on any available item in the Alchemy Gothic album when you order via the Facebook contact tab. Normal delivery charges apply to items ordered from the website and the offer ends at 22.00 GMT on Sunday 13th November.

That sums up the news from Gothville this week. Have a great weekend! :)

New OOAK gothic doll on Ebay ~ All proceeds go to BBC Children in Need

A brand new, one of a kind gothic doll by Jo Hards is now being auctioned on Ebay. What makes this auction so special is that one hundred per cent of the money raised will be donated to the BBC's Children in Need appeal! At 8pm (GMT) on Friday 18th November, one lucky person will become the proud owner of Ophelia.

 

Ophelia is approximately 14 inches tall and is made from pure white cotton. She is dressed in deep red velvet and satin, with a leatherette corset, red velvet shoes and silver-plated cross necklace. As with all Strange Little Girls gothic dolls, Ophelia contains no animal derived materials, so is suitable for vegetarians and vegans. She is supplied with an A4 sized certificate of authenticity printed on decorative textured paper, bearing her name, character description, and the artist's signature.This stunning gothic doll will not be repeated and remakes are not available.

 

 

Many details including the decorative stitching on her face and dress are lovingly hand stitched, making her a truly unique work of art.

 

The corset is made from cruelty free leatherette material, with decorative lace detail to the front. It is re-enforced and laced at the back with black satin ribbon, emphasising the curves of Ophelia's waist.

 

 

The deep red velvet and satin dress is edged with black lace and lined with a black tulle underskirt. Ophelia's legs are made from black and white striped polycotton. On her feet she wears deep red velvet shoes, fastened with black satin ribbon.

 

 

In her hair Ophelia wears a row of three antique silver effect metal roses. These are each stitched in to place  individually. Her hair is made from pure black 100% acrylic yarn - No animal derived materials or allergens to worry about!

 

BID ON OPHELIA NOW

The queen of vampire fiction gets her very own Strange Little Girl!

Horror and fantasy author Sam Stone is best known for the Vampire Gene series. Killing Kiss was published in 2008 and was followed by Futile Flame, Demon Dance, and most recently, Hateful Heart. Sam's first novel Gabriele Caccini won the silver award for best horror novel at the ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year Awards in 2007. Futile Flame and Demon Dance were also shortlisted for awards, so I was delighted to be asked to make a custom 'Sam' gothic doll for her. You can find out more about Sam's work at www.sam-stone.com

Sam's doll is 14 inches tall and dressed in purple crushed velvet and satin with a beaded ribbon choker and leatherette corset and shoes. You can order your very own custom gothic doll by visiting www.strange-little-girls.co.uk/custom-gothic-dolls/

A busy week in the strange little workshop!

Wow, I’ve been so busy with custom orders this week! I haven’t had much time for blogging, so I thought it was time I tore myself away from the sewing machine long enough to give you an update.

Those of you who follow me on Facebook will have noticed I have a sale on at the moment. The Alchemy Gothic jewellery is going fast, but I still have some beautiful necklaces left, all well below RRP. The handmade purses are all reduced, as are gothic dolls Amelia, Raven and Sapphira. Remember, I will post anywhere in the world and delivery is currently only £2.99!

Amethyst and Adelpha are still available to adopt, priced at £70 plus p&p. All dolls are now supplied with an A4 sized, decorative certificate of authenticity, with the doll’s name, character description and artist’s signature.  I also have lots of new ideas bubbling away in the back of my mind, so expect to see some new dolls soon.

Not many people have made use of the reviews page as yet. I would love to know how my dolls are settling in to their lovely new homes, so please feel free to leave a comment. You don’t have to be star journalist to write a review. A few words will do  

If you haven’t been over to the facebook page yet, please pop in and say hi. I’ve met some lovely people on there, many with fantastic pages of their own. I’ve been overwhelmed with the support from people all over the world and the page now has almost 500 followers (not including other business pages!).

Phew, I think that covers everything. It’s Saturday night here in Gothville and there’s a bottle of beer with my name on it! Enjoy the rest of your weekend whatever you’re doing

Amethyst & Adelpha

Amethyst always wanted a little sister. Now she can belong to her forever …

These one of a kind gothic rag dolls by Jo Hards are lovingly crafted in pure white cotton and dressed in purple crushed velvet and satin trimmed with lace. Each wears a silver plated ‘skull and crossbones’ choker, black cotton corset with hook and eye fastenings, and purple velvet slippers. The largest doll measures approximately 15 inches from head to toe. The smaller doll measures approximately 8 inches.

Amethyst & Adelpha are available to adopt now priced at £70 plus p&p for the pair.

Doll stands not included.

OOAK gothic dolls by Jo Hards ~ Amethyst and Adelpha

Adelpha by Jo Hards

Amethyst & Adelpha by Jo Hards

Gothville Girls

So Arachnia has gone to her new home. It’ll be a little quiet here in Gothville without her, but Lucretia and the rest of the Strange Little Girls are still around.

Lucretia ~ A OOAK gothic doll by Jo Hards

Lucretia lives in a tiny house of blackened stone at the end of Gothville churchyard where her father works as gravedigger. Sometimes she thinks she sees a ghostly girl in white drifting among the gravestones. She wishes she could be her friend …

Lucretia is an original, one of a kind, gothic doll by UK based artist Jo Hards. She is approximately 15 inches tall and is dressed in black crushed velvet, satin and spiderweb lace, with a leatherette corset and velvet slippers. She wears a silver-plated cross on a ribbon around her neck. The corset is laced at the back with black satin ribbon. Much of the detail on this doll is hand-stitched, making her a unique work of art. Lucretia is available to adopt for £50 plus p&p.

Arachnia

Arachnia lives in the spooky little house, deep in the dark woods on the edge of Gothville, home of the Strange Little Girls. She rarely comes out in the daytime and nobody dares to go near her house, where the knee high grass and creeping brambles harbour an army of spindle legged spiders …

Arachnia ~ A OOAK Gothic Doll by Jo Hards

Arachnia is a OOAK original gothic doll by Jo Hards. She is approximately 16 inches tall and is dressed in spiderweb satin and lace, with a leatherette corset and shoes. Around her neck she wears a ribbon with a silver-plated spider pendant. She is available to adopt here for £50 plus P&P.

What's in a Name? Part One ~ Lucretia

When I’m making a ragdoll, sometimes I have a name in mind before I start. Sometimes they take on a personality as they develop and seem to tell me what they should be called. Lucretia was one of the latter.

 

Lucretia - OOAK Gothic Rag Doll

 

I knew I wanted to give her a beautiful gothic dress and corset, but didn’t know exactly how she would turn out. I decided to let her take on a life of her own … and she did. The look of steely determination in her black button eyes and tightly stitched mouth called to mind one of my early gothic influences, Patricia Morrison of The Sisters of Mercy. In my teens, I was in awe of her and spend hours in my room perfecting the iconic goth make-up and back-combed hair. It was also Patricia who  inspired me to pick up a bass guitar. The first song I learned to play was Lucretia My Reflection.

 

Patricia Morrison - Sisters of  Mercy Bassist and 1980's Gothic Fashion Icon

 

So, as I sat stitching the hair to my latest gothic rag doll, it seemed fitting to name her Lucretia, in honour of the musician and the song that stitched a little piece of goth into my being that never left.

 

 

Brand New Online Shop at Strange Little Girls!

The Strange Little Girls website now has a brand new shop page, where you will find all of the available gothic dolls (including OOAK dolls), accessories and Alchemy Gothic jewellery. To purchase an item, either click on the picture and click the ‘add to bag’ button, or simply drag the item to the shopping bag. If you don’t see the item you’re looking for, it may be temporarily out of stock, so please keep checking back. Custom dolls can still be ordered via the contact form under the ‘Contact Us’ tab. I’m also in the process of adding some pictures of custom work to the website under the ‘Custom Gothic Dolls’ tab. I’m always trying to improve the site and it is updated regularly, so don’t forget to  ‘like’ us on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news.

Chaostar

Had a busy week? I know I have. Don’t fight the chaos, embrace it with the Chaostar pendant. This unusual piece, which would make an ideal gift for a male or female loved one, is handcrafted in fine English pewter by Alchemy Gothic. It measures approximately 5cm in diameter and comes supplied with a nickle free, silver-toned chain. The Chaostar is available to buy now at www.strange-little-girls.co.uk for £12.50.

Alchemy Gothic Jewellery

I’m so excited  to tell you about the newest additions to the Strange Little Girls website! I now have chokers, pendants, necklaces, and earrings by Alchemy Gothic in stock and ready to ship. Prices start at just £8, so there’s something for everybody’s budget.

One of the most stunning pieces in the collection, is the Garden of Dark Desires necklace  ‘A cascade of glittering tears drop from the velvet-black roses of karmic love.’  A  row of three black pewter roses with a sparkling clear crystal at the centre of each hang seductively from a dark grey ribbon, secured with an adjustable metal fastening.

The Garden of Dark Desires necklace is priced at £30 (RRP £32.99).

New Website!

I’ve spent the last couple of days giving the Strange Little Girls website and Wordpress page a fresh new look. The layout is basically the same, but the old patterned border has gone and Vermillion adorns the header bar! I have also added instructions for how to buy OOAK dolls to the website’s FAQ page. Please have a look and let me know if you have any problems viewing the site. All dolls and accessories are currently in stock and I’m expecting a delivery of Alchemy Gothic jewellery very soon!

Vegan Dolls???

“How can a doll be vegan, isn’t that to do with food?”

This is a question I was asked recently, so in case anybody else is wondering the same thing, I’ll try to explain. At this point, I should point out that I am vegan, which means I believe that animals shouldn’t be harmed for enjoyment, fashion, or convenience. Part of veganism is to do with food. I don’t consume any animal products. This includes meat, fish, dairy, eggs, by-products like gelatin, whey, etc, or honey. I get everything my body needs from a healthy, balanced, plant based diet.

However, veganism doesn’t stop at food. I don’t use cosmetics, toiletries, or cleaning products that contain animal derived ingredients. I don’t buy clothes or materials made from leather, wool, or silk, and I don’t use animal derived materials in any Strange Little Girls product. There are so many great quality alternatives these days, I don’t need to! I also avoid products which have been tested on animals.

So, if you are vegetarian, or vegan, you can be sure that no animals were harmed in the making of my dolls, or anything I sell on my website. If you would like to know more about any of the points raised here. Plenty of reliable information can be found on the Vegan Society website.

Lucretia My Reflection

Introducing Lucretia ~ The latest OOAK gothic doll by Strange Little Girls. Lucretia is 15 inches tall. She is dressed in black crushed velvet, satin and lace, wears a black leatherette corset, velvet shoes and a silver plated cross. Lucretia is priced at £50. If you would like to adopt her, please send your request using the contact form on the website.

‘Revenant bitten, always smitten’

If you’re looking for something special for a Halloween party this year, the Bitten choker by Alchemy Gothic may be just the thing. This soft velvet band choker features two crimson Swarovski crystal ‘bite marks’ and cascading crystal ‘blood’ drops. The Bitten choker and more Alchemy Gothic pieces will be available to buy at Strange Little Girls very soon!

 

 

Amelia

I’m busy at the moment working on a brand new OOAK gothic doll, but in the meantime remember there are still some 14 inch and 7 inch gothic dolls available to buy on the website. 

The very first gothic doll I created was Amelia. At 14 inches tall and made from soft white cotton, Amelia is puzzled by the world. Bright lights hurt her eyes and she hates it when people shout, so she hides away in the shadows and loses herself in her music. Some people think she’s scary, so she doesn’t have many friends, but all she wants is to be loved. Amelia is dressed in black crushed velvet and crepe fabric, overlayed with spiderweb lace. She can be yours for £25 plus p&p.

Gothic Dolls and Accessories For Sale

Strange Little Girls is a range of creepy, collectible gothic dolls and original gothic accessories, designed and created by Jo Hards. Strange Little Girls products contain no animal derived materials, so are suitable for vegetarians and vegans.

Collectible Gothic Dolls

Each gothic doll is made individually by the designer, using an original pattern. Their faces and full head of hair are lovingly hand stitched, giving each one a unique personality, so no two will be identical. They are made from pure white cotton and stuffed with soft polyester filling, no wire or glue is ever used. Please note, Strange Little Girls gothic dolls are collectors’ items and should not be given to a child due to small parts.

Gothic Accessories

Strange Little girls gothic purses are designed and individually crafted by Jo Hards with the same care and attention to detail as given to the dolls. Also, we will soon be stocking Alchemy Gothic jewellery! The range is constantly growing, so find us on Facebook or Twitter to get the latest news and see new products as soon as they are released.

Find us at www.strange-little-girls.co.uk