Valentine Give Away

I'm a sucker for Valentine's Day.  I know its been thrust into the mercenary world of marketing -- but the whole idea of a day devoted to 'love' -- who could not like that?  Love is a function that we, as humans, can demonstrate so very well.  It can fill our hearts, make us change our whole life course, smile, laugh and sometimes cry -- but it is always a very precious gift given to us.

And so - I'd like to offer this little fellow as a my blog giveaway -- someone who just looks like love and was created in love.  Please leave your comment below and I'll announce the winner on Thursday, February 14th, Valentine's Day!

"For small creatures such as we the vasness is bearable only through love." - Carl Sagan

5 Cents Worth

Hi everyone

Here I am at last!  I had to wait for that pushy Mr. Lucky to move aside but it was worth it.  I totally enjoyed my 'coming to life' time.  While Penny likes polka dots, she doesn't usually use them in her work -- but I convinced her that they would be perfect for me -- and, if I do say so myself, I look pretty spiffy.

When the button collection was presented I just had to wear the 'kisses and hugs' button.  I think 5 Cents is quite reasonable, don't you?

I have to admit that my shoes aren't as 'flashy' as Mr. Lucky's but I do like the clay pompoms on the top.  Now the hat was one of 'those' creations and I was a little worried that I might have to appear to you sans hat -- but perseverance saved the day and I ended up sporting polka dots on my head also.

I'm sure glad I was finished when I was because I've noticed Penny going off in a little bit different direction -- whew -- thank heavens she put me up to the front of the line.

"They invented hugs to let people know you love them without saying anything." - Bil Keane
 

Proper Patience

Let me introduce "Proper Patience" -- a new doll design that has developed over the past few weeks. I talked about her in an earlier posting -- at that time she was but a bare foundation.

Working this design helped me to practice and learn a few techniques that I hadn't tried before.  'Staining' her head, legs and arms using a whiteish base and then wiping it with a soft brown acrylic.  Looking at her afterward it was apparent that I'm going to need a bit more practice of this particular technique *smile*.

Putting her together helped me to recognize that the pattern as I had drawn it would need some tweaking -- such as longer arms and legs.  Also the design with its 'waspy waist' ended up being difficult to dress and gave me a very limited amount of space on her body with which to use embellishments.  The clothes became very simple - which is not a problem - but does limit dressing possibilities and what I could do with future clothing. 

Looking at her now it seems that she is way too 'ordinary' and 'plain' for me.  She is missing the slightly whimsical interest that I seek.  She has taught me patience - I'll say that much for her and I appreciate her willingness to put up with my stumbling through each step of her creation.  Hopefully she'll be a guide as I move forward reminding me to let go, relax  and have a lot more fun with the next figure.

"Have no fear of perfection -- you'll never reach it." - Salvadore Dali

"Wordsmith"

Everyday I am surrounded by words.  I listen to them - I read them -I write them - I speak them and sometimes, to the horror of those around me, I sing them.  I'm a word-aholic, loving words -- the big ones and the small ones.  The familiar and the not so familiar.

Thus comes a new 'person' to my studio -- "Wordsmith".  Having some fabric that has letters and words on hand it seemed like a good idea to use it to bring this cloth doll to life.

Having a little 'journal' embellishment -- which I found on a shopping trip -- was an extra addition to the theme.

"We listen to words so we can silently reach into the other". - Rumi

Mlle Fleur

 

We've caught Mlle Fleur in her garden.  She has picked some flowers, still with the early morning dew on them. 

Surrounded by color and life June is the perfect time in the garden. The dragon fly was flitting near the pond. A spotted bird's egg waits..

 

"If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need." - Marcus Tullius Cicero

A Path Often Taken

What draws me back and back to figure/doll making?  For my path always seem to take me that way - or perhaps it is not back as much as sideways.  Like forks in the road, I work on one type of craft for awhile and then take the turn and head back into the realm of figure work.

I am most attracted to work that tells a story of one kind or another.  It can be a story-story or it can be the tale of the artist and the thought of seeing the world through the artist's eye.  For some reason using the figure as my medium always allows me to tell a story -- it forms in my mind as my hands are working.

Perhaps it is the 'personality' that develops as the work progresses.  Perhaps it is the 'mother' in me that wants to shape and create a new 'life'.  Whatever it is - when it hits it is best for me to go along for the ride.

"To learn something new, take the path that you took yesterday." - John Burroughs

"In The Garden"

Are you ready for spring?  I am!!!

Here's my latest doll, already working in her garden.  What will she see as the season comes on?

She'll start with seeds and find a few small stones as she turns the earth over.  She'll see a bright green stem reaching for the sun and later on tiny buds.  Finally, at her feet she'll see flowers. 

She'll literally be surrounded, front and back with all things growing.

"The glory of gardening: hands in the dirt, head in the sun, heart with nature. To nurture a garden is to feed not just on the body, but the soul". -- Alfred Austin

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

Making a "Memory"

The inspiration for this art doll figure came to me from a friend who showed me her art quilt made to honor Alzheimer's patients.  It was beautiful and sad and wonderful and poignant.  Sadly my Mother-in-law has been an Alzheimer patient for many years.  All of my feelings for her were unleashed into the desire to create something of my own to reflect the pain of this disease.

BUT, I found that as I worked on this figure my thoughts on 'memory' went in another direction.  Thinking about memories I realized how much they are with me each day and wondered why I would remember some things and forget others.  Why would a moment when I was four years old and in the park with my Mother come into my mind but something that was probably much more important happening more recently disappear from my thoughts.  What makes a memory?  Why do we remember some events and forget others?  Why do some memories come back to us when we least expect them to? 

All of these thoughts swirled through my head as I added stitch after stitch to "Memory".  What started out as a 'sad' piece of work had turned into a whole batch of thoughts on what 'memory' actually is.  The one true thing that I learned as this piece of fabric became what is it, is that each day I am making new memories.  Some of them will become a part of me and my life and others will drift into nothingness.  Today I have a task to make each memory something I will delight in coming back to in a year or two or three. 

"Yesterday is but today's memory, and tomorrow is today's dream". - Kahlil Gibran

The Book Keeper

She is the keeper of books.  The one who preserves rare old print.  The one who loves to turn the printed page with her well worn hands.  To see the words laid out on a piece of paper. 

She loves to be read to out loud. To listen to a loved one's voice reading pages from a much worn book.  To read out loud a book to a child, even if it means rereading it so many times that the words have been memorized.

She is the one who asks for quiet in the library (not because she doesn't enjoy a good conversation, but because each book is a sacred text to her).

She is the one who curls up in a chair facing the sun and reads for hours, never once thinking that she might be 'wasting' time.

"He that loves reading has everything within his reach". - William Godwin

I've Been Playing

I've been playing, as you can see.  Playing with mixing fabric on a base to create a foundation for this art doll. 

Playing with stitches - this one and that one - running stitch, French knots, seed stitch, buttonhole stitch. 

I have been threading my needle with all manner of threads - wool, silk, cotton - taking the time to savor each and every one of them.

"Remember, this layer of fabrics is only the first layer of color. Various needlework techniques will be laid over the layers to create visual interest". - Judith Baker Montano

"Pomme Fairy" - Challenge Part 2

 

Let me tell you a story.  When I received the challenge picture "Golden Apple Tree" I stared at it and stared at it.  I just knew there was something up in those tree branches, but I couldn't see it.  So I spent several summer afternoons sitting at the base of that tree - quietly listening to the leaves rustle above me.  One day, much to my surprise an apple dropped directly on top of my head.  Startled, I looked up and there I saw a fairy looking down at me.  After verifying that I was not there to take any of her apples she introduced herself to me as "Pomme Fairy" (Pomme being French for apple as she quite proudly told me).  Pomme told me that she is the guardian of the golden apple tree.  After much coaxing on my part she agreed to accompany me to the meeting of the Guild -- but she made it very clear that she is not the kind of fairy who grants wishes, so no one in the room should ask!  Guess she hasn't had that training!

"Come Fairies, take me out of this dull world, for I would ride with you upon the wind and dance upon the mountains like a flame!" - William Butler Yeats

P.S. - Watch, later in the week for pictures of all of the wonderful responses to this challenge.

"Birdsong"

"Birdsong" - She keeps the caged bird company in the hope that she will learn how to whistle.

Ever since childhood I have wanted to be able to whistle - sadly that gene was left out of my DNA!  And so I hum, but certainly wish I could 'whistle a happy tune' once in awhile. 

Birdsong brought several 'firsts' for me.  The embroidered face and using non-encrusted beaded embroidery were new to me.  Both of them presented their very own challenges and I have to say I learned a lot. 

My current goal for art doll figures is to make each one with a 'stage' in mind.  This cage, seemed from first sight to be the perfect place for an art doll. 

The actual placement hanging wasn't quite as seamless as I would have hoped but again, that's part of the learning process.  Without a few challenges I'd soon get bored.

Because I didn't utilize encrusted beading I was able to make this art doll a bit larger than past figures.  I'm also experimenting with limbs, which I didn't utilize in my encrusted beading. 

I wouldn't be surprised to walk into my studio any day now, and hear the sound of a soft whistle coming from the cage in the corner of my studio.

"I'd rather learn from one bird how to sing than to teach ten thousand stars how not to dance". - e.e. cummings

Time After Time

Here is my most recently beaded figure - 'Time After Time'.  As I had mentioned in a previous post -- the theme of 'time' was with me throughout the beading of this figure.  You know how it is if you decide you want to buy a red car and then you see red cars everywhere?  Well many times my beading themes create the same thing with me.  I was thinking 'time' often while beading this figure.  At one point I even got into a discussion of quantum physics with the young man bagging my groceries - not that either of us seemed to know much about it - but we both agreed it has the most interesting and exciting possibilities. 

As my beading has progressed I find that other than my monthly BJP piece I am working exclusively on figures.  Most of the figures I've made so far are mounted on a stand using doweling.  I decided that I wanted to branch out and come up with some new-to-me and perhaps even unusual staging for my new pieces.  Thus the figure mounted on the clock face.  When I went to glue it to the clock I was full of trepidation -- wondering if it would actually stay on.  I was so scared that it wouldn’t hold. Once dry I decided to hang it on the bedroom wall – because of course its going to hold as long as its laying flat – but the test is to have it hanging. I woke up really early the next morning thinking I’d heard it fall and lay there in the dark imagining the beaded piece laying on the floor – having left the clock face behind. When I finally opened my eyes to daylight she was right where she should be, in the middle of the clock face. (If you'd like to see a close up of her face, please check out my posting of May 25th).

And now I'm off to start my next figure --

"What then is time? If no one asks me, I know what it is. If I wish to explain it to him who asks, I do not know". - Saint Augustine 

Desert Dreamer

I am a desert dreamer!  I love living here in the western North Carolina mountains - but my heart is split between here and the desert.  We spent many years in the deserts of Nevada and my son and his family still live there.  These days both my desert longings and my homesickness for family are soothed with all too brief trips spent out west. 

Recently I've gotten interested in the idea of creating beaded figures and after finding the most perfect desert-like button/cab I decided to try my hand at a beaded figure to honor the desert that I love.  And so, "Desert Dreamer" was born.  This was truly a learning experience.  How would I bead her?  How would I 'stuff' her to make her dimensional? How would I mount this abstract figure?  The beading was the 'easy' part and of course the very most fun part.  After some trial and error with finishes I was able to prepare the stand (with the help of my DH).  Before attaching the dowel to the base however I had to put it inside the figure and then stuff around it.  After I had it suitably stuffed I stitched across the bottom of the figure and I was able to put the dowel into the stand and voila - Desert Dreamer was born. 

Now I have my very own desert spirit -- looking at her will bring the rock formations, sage, mountains and mysteries of the desert back into my life.

"The phoenix hope, can wing her way trhough the desert skies, and still defying fortune's spite; revive from the ashes and rise". - Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra