The "Sentinel" is a small sprite dressed in bits of nature. Each little imp has a set of real wings. Photos by Dan Kvitka "The Waltz" features a courtly bunny and a dainty fairy. This is one of the best examples of the whimsy that Stephanie Blythe captures in her art. Photo by Michael Puff 106 SUMMER 2017 Then in 1979 a bee sting led to a meeting that was the start of a partnership that lasted over 15 years. After being stung Stephanie went to the home of a friend where his fiancé, Susan Snodgrass, was sorting antique lace. Stephanie loved fabric and trims. She actually had made and sold small fabric dolls with hand-painted faces while working in New York. Susan was already established in the world of miniatures; in fact she needed some help painting wallpaper for her current project. She asked Stephanie's help and the rest is "doll-world" history. At first they made exquisite and detailed dollhouse dolls in the one-inch to one-foot scale. Stephanie is a perfectionist when it comes to the finished project, so each doll was meticulously researched and constructed. This made for very happy clients, but it did leave the artist in Stephanie feeling that there was something lacking. A perfect period piece doesn't leave much room for creativity.