Archangel Michael

With my upgraded spirituality after the 11 - 11 - 11, I've noticed - with the help of my photo camera - I started to get fantastic photos which prove (for all of those unbelievers) the existence of something way higher than ourselves!

For two occasions I was able to get a blue orb on two different photos (with a week space between them)

Can you see it in the middle of the door?

So for me, at this present physical and spiritual experience, I consider the blue orb to be the presence or a sign of Archangel Michael - the archangel of path, strength and protection against evil or bad energies.

Out of this two ... "apearences" made me to go back to a doll I started last year of Archangel Michael but had left it to finish "one day"

The day was now!

The inspiration to do this doll came from a painting by a huge baroque painting master - Luca Giordando - and its final result out of the figurines designed for the baroque French composer Jean Baptiste Lully's ballets and Operas.

So yes, in the end we don't understand if its a representation of Archangel Michael or a stage figure.... It looks rather belligerent and angry ...

No wings though, true ... Angels have no wings anyway (neither they have bodies also, but still ... )

My wish for 2012 is that evil might be vanquished for ever!!

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Death of the "Conquistador" 11-12-1582

News on the death of  D. Fernando Álvarez de Toledo e Pimentel, 3rd duke of Alba.

In 1580 he's appointed, by king Philip II of Spain, supreme commander of  the troops sent to Portugal in order to gain the throne after the death of his uncle Cardinal King D. Henrique I

Entered in Portugal, fought and won the Battle of Alcantara against D Antonio Prior do Crato, stacks Lisbon and after his own installation he is designated High Constable of the new conquered realm . He died only two years after ... Punishment?

Do you have a favourite historical or living character that you would like to have it portrayed?  Talk to me!

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The King is dead! THE KING IS DEAD!!!

God was pleased to call to his Holy Glory today, era of Our Lord Jesus Christ of one thousand one hundred eighty-five, the venerable D. Afonso the First of its name and first King of Portugal .

D.Afonso Henriques died with such an unimaginable age for the epoch after a lifetime of battle against whoever to establish a new kingdom for Christianity.  In his marriage with the Italian princess D. Mafalda de Sabóia wasn't happy despite the vast offspring... And after the great disaster of Badajoz where he ends up wounded and arrested it was the end of his warrior... From then on and assisted by Prince D. Sancho , D. Afonso dedicates his time onto the administration of the conquered territories and in 1179 achieves, finally,  the papal recognition as King of the independent kingdom of Portugal. He was buried in the Church of Santa Cruz at Coimbra.
May his Soul be held in the hands of Angels, the glory of Paradise as we all one day, Amen.

Do you have a favourite historical or living character that you would like to have it portrayed?  Talk to me!


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Guess who!

So this is the figure! Can you guess who it is?

Ok, I'll give you one clue! ;)

He's from the art world! But ...

... don't believe in everything you see ! :p

Do you know who is it?

Yeap, you're right! It's yours truly! Me myself and I on period clothes!
As I love the seventeenth and eighteenth century history and fashion I decided to portray myself as so!

Here's a picture doll versus human, you'll be the judge!

You can have yours if you'de like! For 100 euros plus shipping costs, male or female, any epoch you like, talk to me! ;)


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Fado - Immaterial Heritage of Mankind

Amália Rodrigues - Portugal's fado diva

Do you have a favourite historical or living character that you would like to have it portrayed?  Talk to me!


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29 - 11 - 1807

Putting in practice a plan that had been thought since the XVI century, the fleet that would take the Portuguese Royal Family to Brazil left today due to threat of Napoleonic invasion.


D. João, the Prince Regent, considered weak, fearful and indecisive achieves, however, that the Bragança Royal House may be the only ruling family not "swallowed"  by the forces of Napoleon Bonaparte.


"He was the only one who tricked me!"  Napoleon reportedly said in his deathbed ...

Their royal highnesses the Prince Regent

On this evocative "cameo" I decided to represent D.Carlota Joaquina de Borbon with a  headdress whose "invention" is related to this voyage. It is said that the Court, forced to shave their heads due to a lice infestation, created these lavish ornaments out of luxurious fabrics, feathers and jewels that were carried on board. The result was that when they arrived in Brazil everyone looked even more exotic than the local inhabitants of the so called New World ...


Do you have a favourite historical figure that you would like to have it portrayed? Or even yourself! Talk to me!


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D. Catarina de Bragança - Her birthday's ephemerid

Born today 373 years ago, at Vila Viçosa, Infante D.Catarina daughter of duke of Bragança ( future king D. João IV) and his wife D. Luisa de Gusmão.

If some say that she had a submissive temperament due to her almost conventual education , others would say that she was rather witty... Either way, the truth is that this princess who will take, after the death of her older sisters, the title of Princesa da Beira, will end up by marrying with Charles II Stuart, king of the restaured England in 1662... She will become on of the great ladies of her time!

(copy of an english seventeen century cradle whose structure is made entirely of cardboard, newspaper and wood glue, then lined with toilet paper and finally painted. It took me two days to do it! :))

Do you have a favourite historical or living character that you would like to have it portrayed?  Talk to me!


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Coup d'Etat, November 24, 1667

With his minister fired and abandoned by his wife, queen D. Maria Francisca de Saboia, king D. Afonso VI is exonerated and exiled first to Azores and then to Sintra where he would die from a severe stroke while he was hearing mass in 1683 ...

After this coup d'etat the queen would get her marriage dissolved and she would remarry her ex husband's jailer, his own brother D. Pedro.
Ironically or not their marriage wasn't a happy one, they only had a daughter and died just three months after her previews husband, D. Afonso...

Do you have a favourite historical or living character that you would like to have it portrayed?  Talk to me!


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D. Maria II

After a short but socially and politically difficult reign  (even, maybe, more than today!), dies at the age of 34 D.Maria II - 31st Queen of Portugal - due to a troubled delivery 158 years ago...

Do you have a favourite historical or living character that you would like to have it portrayed?  Talk to me!


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XVIII century Madame for sale

The figure represents a Madame dressed in XVIII century fashion reading a book.

Measuring around 30 cm this doll, like all my works, is made out of wire structure, sponge, pressed paper, moulding paste, toilet paper (!!), paint, cloth, beads, etc - Doll, dress, shoes, book - all sewn by hand, all hand moulded- all handmade!

Price 85 euros plus delivery. How about it? Interested? Send me an email!

(The figure is perfectly capable on standing but if you'de prefer to input a base or a glass dome its entirely up to you.)

Would you have a specific epoch or historical character that you would like to have it on a doll? Talk to me!

How to make an early XVIII century wig

for starters you must make a t shape form from a soft cloth and then sew the edges until you get this:

Then you add a roll from the same cloth to make that kind of raised  fringe in the end...

Now the hair, made of shredded sisal, is glued to the figure's head and then stitched back towards the roll up front .

For the curls I've moulded them using a small brush stick which I wrapped it with strings of sisal until the glue dries a bit and took it off. You'll have to make a series of them if you want a very curly wig!

Then with needle and thread you start to stitch the curls on the cloth

depending on the form you want you kind of "play" with the size of the curls you have...

Continue to "play" on stiching the curls on untill you finish by completing all the cloth area.

After having everything covered with the curls I wasn't really satisfied with the fringe bit so I added a little triangular shape made out cardboard and then glued to the figure's head. But still not satisfied, it looked too messy... Even so I've painted it in white (simple water based paint)

While I left it to dry  I've cut a strip of paper and on it I glued more sisal which after being dry, turned and glued it back ending with something remembering a ... moustache! 

After the glue being dried I gave it coat of white paint too.

Then I just had to glue this bit into the wig and this was the result!

Finally everything was glued on and dried, I then gave a general layer of hair spray and blew talcum powder over it just like in those times! Et voilá!

(this wig's figure relates to a previews but remodelled post,

http://myroyaldolls-eng.blogspot.com/2011/11/1755-lisbons-earthquake.html)