Intuition versus reality

I knew what I wanted to do.  I knew I wanted to rescue a design, rework it and make it become something else.    I began knowing that I would change the arms of the earlier design.  Sounds easy huh? Well, many hours, several designs, attaching and detaching as I went along and getting a huge case of the 'frustrations' and I was still working on arms.

Finally, in a fit of peak I decided to not use arms at all.  So there!  Take that you hard-to-deal with piece of cloth and stuffing!!  Of course she looked bare and barren.  It finally came to me -- since she is supposed to be a 'spirit' of sorts why not give her wings.

At this point I'm sure the poor thing was getting a bit worn.  I'm not sure she's learned to use her wings because there she sits.  Perhaps she's wondering how she can 'seek beauty' while sitting on the shelf of my studio.

"Cease trying to work everything out with your minds.  It will get you nowhere.  Live by intuition and inspiration and let your whole life be revelation." - Eileen Caddy

The Process

 

Before going on holiday I drew, cut and stitched bodies, arms and legs.  At least I got that far.

Upon returning home I spent many quiet hours stuffing all the 'parts.

 

 

Then came the fun of painting - first with off-white and then aging by using watered down acrylics.



And soon the true fun begins -- creating identities and fashions for each and every one of them.


"Just when the caterpillar thought the world was over it became a butterfly." - Proverb

"Capriccio"

 

 

Let me introduce "Capriccio" my version of the musical definition: "a quick improvisational, spirited piece of music."  At times while I worked on him it seemed we were making quite a lullaby -- other times a cacophony of sound roared in my head. 

Who would think that making a simple cloth doll would take so many steps (and because of my lack of skill and/or foresight several steps done over several times)?

There was the head which I thought was finished only to discover that it was too narrow for the features to be used.  Back to the drawing board.  There was a hat that I completely discarded after working on it for several hours -- hated it.

There still lingers arm issues which I finally just 'accepted' with note-to-self to improve that part of my future creations.

I have made many cloth dolls before, but this time I'm feeling quite unsure in creating my own pattern, incorporating features that have to be learned and mastered and in knowing what I want - like reaching into a still pool of water it seems to get disturbed with each reach I take.

Meanwhile I'll continue to make music -- while trying to bring my dreams to life.

"A dream is the bearer of a new possibility, the enlarged horizon, the great hope." - Howard Thurman

Body Parts

 

I've been working on doll 'body parts' -- drawing on muslin, stitching, stuffing and painting.  My least favorite part?  Definitely stuffing and yet it is one of the most important jobs in making cloth dolls.  A poorly stuffed doll will lose shape, or not even develop the shape you were aiming for.  Its worth the time and patience to stuff well - as probably every cloth doll creator has discovered.

Painting is my favorite thing -- it means the stuffing is over *smile* and looking at freshly painted bodies, arms and legs awaiting further attention is exciting.  From this point on the 'fun' part of creativity enters the scene.

"Arrange whatever pieces come your way." - Virginia Woolf

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