Face Forward

For months now, as some of you know, I've been wrestling with art doll faces.  I have tried beaded faces, punchneedle faces, printed faces, embroidered faces, square faces and round faces.  I have made up templates and I have stitched and stitched and stitched.  Each time, I will make a few and two days later I am back at the drawing board because I'm not happy with what I've created.  I've begun to doubt my sanity *smile*!

For whatever personal reasons I have certain criteria that the face must meet and so far none of them has quite lived up to my expectations.  I want to have a face theme that I can use over and over again.  It must be comprised of fabric and stitchery.  It must not be too cute, nor too sophisticated, nor too somber. It must be simple in design - humble if you will.   It must be somewhat quiet and yet reflect a joy for life.  This is what I've been searching for.

With all of this in mind and with all of my past attempts behind me, I recently began again with what I hoped would be the design.  And I did it!  I accomplished what I was beginning to think wasn't going to be possible. Using overstitching on the base fabric (which has a tinge of color) I was able to give a bit of 'texture' to a simple design. I know that anyone looking at this face would say 'what was all the fuss about' and I really can't begin to tell you.  It was sort of like looking for a piece of furniture and saying 'I'll know it when I see it'.

And so I have finally made a fabric face, simple in design, simple in technique and one that will express the spirit and heart of the art dolls that I hope to make this year.  Could it be that by shear determination I have finally accomplished my goal? 

"It is the common wonder of all men, how among so many million faces, there should be none alike". - Thomas Browne

On a Roll!

After much trying, pushing, frustration, challenge -- I'm finally 'on a roll'.  I've been going through a lot of frustration as I wanted to create art dolls in a new-to-me fashion.  I had several ideas for faces, but most of them didn't work out (after much expenditure of energy and patience - well maybe not that much patience)!

But I finally settled on a face of my own design using the reverse side of punchneedle.  It took a lot of trial and error (error being the key word here)  but I came out of it full of excitement and anticipation.

I've now created five new art doll patterns - designed them and made my templates and I'm ready to go.  The only problem I'll have now - is deciding which one I want to try first - oh and of course what fabric and what embellishments and how I'll put it all together and...  You get the picture -- because I know that each of you often goes through the same thing.  Sometimes the excitement of trying something new pales when you get right down to the long hours of work its going to take to bring it to life.  But in the end, its worth it.

"By perseverance the snail reached the ark". - Charles Spurgeon