Carolyn's Kimekomi Doll

Carolyn has advanced to a high level Kimekomi Doll class.  This is her recent project.

Kimekomi Doll is believed to be started by Takahaski Tadashige, a priest some 260 years ago.  Over time, it became a part of Japanese culture.

You may notice the red fish head.  This is called Ebisu Doll which means "God of the Sea".  

A very detailed doll, this is the back.

The fish is a focal point.  

The art of Kimekomi Doll making is recognized by the Smithsonian as a folk art.  Here is a video posted by the Smithsonian youtube channel:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3BeOu96w7GY

Pointed White and Ruby Eye White

These are Casey's two Satin Angora juniors in the white group.   Yes, both are considered as white, just different kind of white.   The one on the left is ruby eye white, abbreviated as REW, the one on the right is pointed white, abbreviated PW.

In the genetics series, the "C" series is the most complicated.  The series has 5 components: C, c(chd), c(chl), c(h), c.  The order of dominance is show in the sequence: C is the full color, the most dominant; c(chd) is the dark chin, recessive to C but dominant of the other three; c(chl) is the light chin or the sable gene, it's exactly in the middle of dominance.     c(h) is the himi gene that is responsible for the PW while c is the most recessive that make REW.

Genetically, this black PW is:

aaB-c(h)-D-E-

It's possible to have agouti A but such a PW is considered as a disqualification.    

The REW is like a white sheet covers all the other colors, it's genetics are:

----cc----    Other than knowing that the cc gene, the rest are unknown.  One can infer from the parents to fill in the blank but by looking at the rabbit, the best one can do is ----cc----.

This is a black pointed white English Angora doe from Betty's herd long ago.   How long? 30+ years.

This is a blue pointed white French Angora from Charlotte, photo taken in the 2013 ARBA convention.    She was the BOB French Angora that year.    Genetically, it's aaB-c(ch)ddE-.   The difference between the blue point and the black point is in the D series.  The black is the "dense" color thus "D-" while blue is a "dilute" thus "dd".

Pointed white is accepted in English Angora, French Angora and Satin Angora but not in Giant Angora.  The only color that is accepted in the Giant Angora standard is REW.

An Unusual Art Form: Porcelain Panel Painting

Read about a 90-year-old artist Sun Chao (Sun is the family name) who specializes in Porcelain Panel Painting.   

It's a complicated process that takes a life time to perfect.

There are some mass produced paintings but Sun's paintings are purely art form.

Sun is considered as a master and a national treasure.

Once a while Sun would make some porcelain vase.

And porcelain display dish.

If any of the creations are not perfect, Sun discards them.  His wife who is a jewelry designer would use the broken pieces to make beautiful jewelry pieces.

Sun designs his own kiln that he named it "Tianxin Kiln" (means kiln in the middle of the fields).

Casey's Satin Angora Juniors

A couple of days ago we featured one of Casey's white Satin Angora senior does.

We are introducing some of the juniors.

The black junior has very nice color.

They initially look a bit like the French Angora juniors but the sheen will develop as they age.

In the litter there are also ruby eye white and pointed white.

The litter has a good variety.     There has not been a lot of Satin Angora in California in recent years.  If you wish to start raising Satin Angora, it's a good timing to contact Casey at Angoracj@gmail.com

Look At Me Now!

Remember me?  I am the itty bitty Love You boy.

I still love you, and mom gave me a name: McBryde.

That's me now, would you have recognized me?

I am very handsome.

I am very outgoing.

I love to be the photo model.

I am good looking even on the side.

Casey's Beautiful Satin Angora "Gnawin' On It"

We have not featured Satin Angora much recently.   Thanks to Casey's sharing of pictures of her white senior doe "Gnawin' On It".    The name comes from a Bonnie Raitt song.    If interested, here is a video of Bonnie's live performance of this song:    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LpTOVnd-9gA 

White Satin Angora, Satin and Mini Satin all have a slight yellowish tint on their fur dur to reflection.  Since the Satin Angora only have fur on the face, the rest are wool, the yellowish tint is more evident on the face.  The wool is very shiney, gorgeous for spinning.      

Chocolate and Chocolate Agouti Grown Up

Here are two French Angora newborns.   Left is self chocolate and right chocolate agouti, a bit lighter in color and the most important telltale sign is the pink ears.

A couple of weeks old, the chocolate agouti is on the left and the self chocolate on the right.

Chocolate agouti: A-bbC-D-E-

Chocolate: aabbC-D-E-

The difference is in the "a" series: A- is the agouti and aa is the self.

At 3 months old, chocolate agouti on the left and chocolate on the right, they are easily distinguished.

Just became seniors, the chocolate agouti on the left has the reddish/orangish tints all over but not the self chocolate. 

Left to right: Self chocolate wool vs chocolate agouti wool from the back at 3 months old.

Left to right: Same two French Angora self chocolate wool vs chocolate agouti wool from the back.   

Chocolate Dream on the left telling her brother George: They are talking about us!