"Baggaraggs"

I've recently added a little extra magic in my life.  Oh the excitement of opening a package from Robin Ridener of "Baggaraggs". 

I started with "Everland" -- a bit of a thing who sits on a ball of twine.  Her story is a dream sequence which is quite haunting and lovely.  

 

Robin's use of embellishments -- oddities -- paper, fabric and thread are just hard to describe.  In fact each time I hold  one of my little trio I discover something else.  The "Wishlist" talks about Christmas -- but I consider it my year-round wish list since I've been wanting one (or more) of Robin's dolls for what seems like forever.

And don't you love "Birdbrain"?  With her burlap wings and a Robin-made bird on her head she makes me laugh.

If you haven't discovered Robin's magical creations -- please hop right over to her shop on Etsy  --  Baggaraggs Etsy Shop . And don't miss her blog where she tells the stories of her creations at Baggaraggs Blog .

"True originality consists not in a new manner but in a new vision." - Edith Wharton

  

Adventures in Stitching

I have to admit - when it comes to handwork - even if it is supposed to look 'a little rough around the edges' I have trouble letting myself completely go.  I'd like to pay tribute to three doll makers whose work speaks for itself. 

Nola Hart's dolls are wonderful and she very graciously gave a pattern to Cloth, Paper, Scissors so that others could make 'her' doll.  In the process of a description of her work she says that when she stitches the outline of her doll's head she doesn't have a pattern or design, she just stitches a shape.  To me that is such bravery -- and even more brave that once its stitched she uses it as it comes out - without worrying about whether there is a good curve here or too abrupt a turn there.

Robin Ridener of "Baggaraggs" creates the most wonderful figures.  Her technique of making the whole doll, staining it with coffee and then putting it into a 200 degree oven - not really knowing what effect she'll see when she takes it out is amazing to me.

Last, but certainly not least is Catherine Zacchino - "Junker Jane".  Her work speaks for itself -- but for me she is the epitome of 'letting go - letting be".  

As I wrote this tribute to these women I realized what was missing in my own psyche.  Growing up in a time where the seams must be neat, the sewing 'well done' and the end product be 'just so', I have a difficult time crossing those barriers into 'acceptance'. Each of these women do their art with their own controls (thus their style) but I don't believe they worry about 'what it will look like' - more the story that it will tell - the feeling that it will convey.  That's my goal as I work along today.  I know I'll never be as 'wild and beautiful' as these women but I think I'll gain a bit of fun along the way if I learn to accept with joy what comes from my hands and stop worrying about what's going on in my mind.

"Imperfection is beauty, madness is genius and it's better to be absolutely ridiculous than absolutely boring." - Marilyn Monroe