Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Dragon Musician Miles the Trumpeter

 Miles doesn’t mind tooting his own horn – he’s a trumpet player, so that’s his job. He’s marching down the street playing jazz just as loud as he can.  He can hardly wait for Mardi Gras.  And for New Year’s Eve.  Or for any party where he can play his music!

 Miles is about 7 3/4” tall, and 13 1/2” by 10” wide. His body was created around a devil’s claw seed pod.  His arms and legs are wire, his wings are made of glimmer gauze, and he has faceted glass eyes.  He’s playing a 3 1/2” gold-tone trumpet.

You can see other photos on my Etsy shop:
www.MagicSeeker.com 

or on his own page:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/105759639/dragon-musician-art-doll-miles-turquoise

Sunday, June 17, 2012

Taliesin, the Dragon Musician

Taliesin is the best dragon musician in all the SCA – in fact, he’s the best in all the world! His friends think he’s better than his human namesake from the original middle ages. But Taliesin honestly doesn’t care. He just wants to sing and play his music.


Taliesin is about 4 1/2” tall, and 10 1/2” by 5 1/2” wide. His body was created around a devil’s claw seed pod. He’s playing what we’re calling a lute, but it’s really an Oriental string instrument.






You can visit Taliesin in my Etsy store at www.magicseeker.com,
or at his own page on Etsy


Taliesin will be glad to see you!

Saturday, June 9, 2012

Daffodil, a Fairy Dragon

Daffodil is a one-of-a-kind dragon art doll by Deb Salisbury, of MagicSeeker Dragons.


Daffodil came down to walk along the beach with her best friend, but when he disappeared, she got nervous.  What’s that sound behind her?  Is it a monster, or her friend playing a trick? It’s time to run, run, RUN! Is Daffodil fleeing as fast as she can run, or is she flirting with her friend?

Really, she’s so pleased with herself she’s glowing. Literally!  She glows for a few minutes after you turn out the lights.


Daffodil is about 8 1/2” tall at the wing tip, and 6” by 11” wide. Her body was created around a devil’s claw seed pod, which means she has two tails.  Her arms and legs are wire, her wings are made of glimmer gauze, and she has faceted glass eyes.  Her shape and coloring were created with fabric paint.  One foot is standing on a seashell.
You can visit Daffodil at www.MagicSeeker.com,
or go directly to her page at:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/101772185/fairy-dragon-art-doll-daffodil-dragon

I'd love to hear what you think of her.  Do you like the idea of Fairy Dragons?

Saturday, May 26, 2012

Iris the Fairy Dragon

Iris the Fairy Dragon by MagicSeeker
The sun is barely rising, but Iris the Fairy Dragon is up and playing in the dawn-lit dew.  She’s found a lovely pink flower that complements her coloring, and she’ll dance until dusk if she wants to.
Iris the Fairy Dragon by MagicSeeker


Iris the Fairy Dragon by MagicSeeker 





A one-of-a-kind dragon art doll by Deb Salisbury, of Magic Seeker Dragons.

Iris the Fairy Dragon by MagicSeeker
Iris is approximately 9 1/2” tall at the wing tip, and 8” by 9” wide. Her body was created around a devil’s claw seed pod, which means she has two tails.  Her arms and legs are wire, her wings are made of glimmer gauze, and she has faceted glass eyes.  Her shape and coloring were created with fabric paint.  She’s standing on a pink ceramic flower.

You can visit Iris on Etsy, at 

Or visit my MagicSeeker site on Etsy at

Monday, April 23, 2012

Dragon Days - Glowbug

Glowbug is fascinated with light bulbs. But when he tries to add them to his hoard they don’t light up anymore, and he’s getting frustrated.
“What makes it light up?” He really wants to know!
Glowbug is about 7” tall, and 9” by 11” wide.  His body was created around a devil’s claw seed pod.  His arms and legs are wire, his wings are made of gauze, and he has faceted glass eyes.  His shape and coloring were created with fabric paint.  He is sitting on a dome light (batteries not included), and holds a small light bulb.
You can see more of Glowbug at
http://www.etsy.com/listing/94514863/devils-claw-dragon-art-doll-glowbug-what

And see my other dragons at:
or at
www.MagicSeeker.com

Sunday, April 15, 2012

Dragon Days - Fabian, the Carousel Dragon

Fabian has landed his dream job - he’s a dragon on the fairy-circus carousel. He can barely wait for the music to start.



 

 


Fabian is approximately 9 1/4” tall including the stand, and 5 1/2” by 6” wide. His body was created around a devil’s claw seed pod. His arms and legs are wire, his wings are made of gauze, and he has faceted glass eyes. His shape and coloring were created with fabric paint. His carousel stand is stained red oak color.
 


 
You can see more of Fabian at my Etsy shop:

And see my other dragons at:
or at
www.MagicSeeker.com

Saturday, April 7, 2012

Happy Bunny Day!

This post was inspired by B.E. The Writing Spectacle II posted her bunny photo.
So here's my dragon, Robbie the Rabbit - not your average Easter Bunny.


 Robbie isn’t really a rabbit, but today he’s playing the Easter Bunny. Dragons aren’t fond of chocolate – at least, white and furry dragons don’t like it because it sticks in their fur – so he’s delivering beads for the baby dragons to hunt.




Robbie is about 10” tall at the top of his upper wingtip, and 8” by 10” wide.  His body was created around a devil’s claw seed pod.  His arms and legs are wire, his wings are made of fake fur, and he has faceted glass eyes.  His shape and coloring were created with fabric paint and fake fur. He’s wearing bunny ears, tied on (permanently) with a bit of ribbon, a white plaid vest, and he’s carrying a basket of beads.

You can see more of Robbie at Etsy:

And other dragons at:
 www.MagicSeeker.com

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

The Prologue: Love It or Hate It?

Laura asked our question for the Sisterhood of the Traveling Blog:

The Prologue: Love It or Hate It? Are there times when it's necessary to have a prologue?
 
I'm not a fan of prologues.  I'm embarrassed to admit that as a reader, before I started writing again, I generally skipped the prologue.  They often confused the issue for me, and sometimes ruined my enjoyment of the novel.

When I started studying how a novel is put together I discovered there are good reasons to have a prologue.  If it's used right, it's a brilliant tool.  It can set up the tone of the book, and it can give years of backstory in a page or two.  I even wrote a couple, though I tried to disguise them as the first chapters of my novels.

Unfortunately, prologues are generally poorly designed, in my opinion.  They give away too much, or they start with a minor character - or worse, with a non-character who never shows up again.  Sometimes they're used to start at an exciting point in the story, and we-the-readers must go into the past for chapter one.  (How I dislike that type!)  Usually, the author could leave the prologue off altogether, and the work would be stronger without it.

Of course, some genres almost demand the use of a prologue, especially mysteries. And mysteries have made much more sense since I started reading the prologues.  Imagine that! ;-)

What do you think of prologues?  Do you like to read them, or do you ignore them?  Do you use them in your own work?

Sunday, March 25, 2012

Making a Dragon - Elegan

Elegan had a long hard day stealing jewelry for her hoard, and now she’s settled into her bathtub to relax.  She’s just blown out her candle, and she’s ready for a good long soak.  Hoard enhancement is such hard work!
 When I found this bathtub, I knew I needed to create a dragon for it.
 Dragon making is like sausage making - most of the steps are messy and a bit bizarre.
Once Elegan's wings got attached, she was ready to relax in her bathtub and have a good long soak. But first she needed a proper bath assembly! It took three weeks before I found a washcloth that complemented her coloring. It didn't occur to me to look in the baby department, but my sister dragged me along until we found the perfect one.
You can visit Elegan at:

And please see the rest of my dragons in my MagicSeeker shop:

Thursday, March 22, 2012

Making a Dragon - Donagal


Donagal has found the perfect ornament for her Christmas tree.  Unfortunately, it’s well attached to the pine cone, and she’s going to have a battle getting it off.  But knowing Donagal, she’ll have it on her own tree in just a few minutes. She's an extremely stubborn dragon!

 She started out as a devil's claw seedpod. I added a wired head, arms, and legs.
Black fabric paint gave her shape, and she was later enhanced with green glitter and orange-red faceted glass eyes.


Shining green wings were added - after a minor battle.

But now she's happily perched on a glittery red, sequin-covered pine cone.

You can see more about this dragon at:

Sunday, March 18, 2012

Making a Dragon - Caramia


Caramia is a bit vain. Right now she’s trying to check her reflection in the back of a pair of costume gems, but she’d have better luck looking into the mirror she’s standing on.

 She started out life as a seedpod, wire, and paint.
Twisting the wire gave her arms and legs.
 Silver lame' and more wire gave her wings.
Here she's too busy primping to say hello. She can't wait to get hold of a proper mirror!

Please take a look at her on my Etsy shop,

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Making a Dragon - Belulah


Belulah, the Disco Dancing Dragon

Belulah loves to dance, and her favorite music is disco.  When her human neglects to play her favorite songs, she dances on a disc to send a hint.

 She started out as a simple devil's claw seedpod with a wonderful neck and perky (and very sharp) claws.

Next I added wire legs, here attached with white thread.  Miles of white thread.  Not very efficient, but it held everything together.  I also discovered that Belulah loved to dance, and that she could balance on one foot for ages.  Quite a trick for a little dragon!
She soon informed me she wanted to whistle while she danced, so I installed a red seed bead for her lips.
"Liquid Gold" and black wings and gold neck spikes complete her ensemble.  And a disc, of course. :-)

She is glued to her disc, but I felt bad doing so.  She enjoyed standing on one foot, even after her wings were attached.
For more photos, have a look at my Etsy shop, MagicSeeker:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/94433932/devils-claw-dragon-art-doll-belulah

Sunday, March 11, 2012

Making a Dragon - Anajad

Meet Anajad, my first dragon.

His body is a devil's claw seed pod, seen here covered in paint.  Fabric paint, of all things, but it's a material I know well and enjoy working with.
His arms, legs, and wings are made of wire, and his wings are covered with a double layer of gauze. 
His eyes are faceted glass, and he's looking up in defiance. He's found something he wants, and no mere human is going to stop him.


You can call him a jewelry thief if you like, Anajad doesn't mind.  He has a hoard to build, and a lady dragon to impress.



See more photos at:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/94433615/devils-claw-dragon-art-doll-anajad-the jewelry thief.