Friday, April 29, 2011

Oklahoma!


I got free opening night tickets to Oklahoma put on by University of North Carolina School of the Arts. Orchestra seats. One of their alumnus, Terrence Mann, directed. The costumes and sets were based on the original 1943 production.

It was great! I had a lot of fun and couldn't believe I remembered a lot of the tunes. I loved the costumes and I'd really like to practice kicking my leg up like those can-can girls. Okay, maybe not. I don't want to hurt myself. I'm not usually a musical person but I like this one. My favorite Rodgers and Hammerstein production is The King and I. I can't even remember the last time I saw a stage production, and I was a theatre major. Yikes! Maybe this is a sign that things will change. It felt good cleaning up to look presentable in public.

Main Movie Dolls

Finally, finally, finally, I can say the dolls for the film are done. They are now on the set and the director, Nathan Ross Freeman, loves them. Woo hoo! What a wonderful experience and two year ride. Any other dolls I make for the set will be icing on the cake. I can't believe I did it.  I'm so proud of myself and I've learned so much about me, my doll making process, designing new dolls.  I can mark this project off my list.

I feel fantastic! I'm giddy with joy and I'm ready for the next big project and 50 thousand little ones. I have amazed myself. Of all the times I could have given up and I didn't because I made a promise to Nathan but also to myself. What was I made of? Well, let me tell you, I'm made of pretty good stuff. I can do anything now.

This is a doll for one of the main characters. She has a choice to make, the armed forces or higher education.



This character has the choice of staying a waitress or becoming a doctor.




I haven't made actual doll clothes in years, at least 15.


This character has issues about childhood and adulthood.


 
Here is the main characters doll that will help her do some not-so-nice things.



This is a pincushion the main character uses. An experiment gone awry. It's pretty gruesome but the character has some issues. Don't you love that word? Issues. I can now move on to other projects. I have a brand new slate to scribble on. First, I'll have to clean up my studio. It think I'll take a nap first.

Empty Bowls


Empty Bowls is a yearly fundraiser for the Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest North Carolina. Ever since I moved here, I'd wanted to participate but hadn't until this year. Not only am I helping those in need (especially during these hard times), I helped myself by allowing me to have fun.


I was lucky enough to get a bowl by Richard Montgomery. It's called a Shino bowl. It's a Japanese style and glaze. I love it and have used it for soups.


Once you pay the donation, you get to pick your bowl. One of many made by local clay artists and students. I also bought a $1 bowl made by an elementary student. I've got to take a pic of that. Then you get soup, a variety made by local restaurants, salad, drink, and dessert. I got served by anchor Julie Luck of Fox 8 News. I also got to talk to the mayor Allan Joines again. This is one of the things I like living in a small place, the local celebrities are very involved in their community.

Oh, I had Chicken Tortilla Soup. Didn't get the restaurant name but it was delicious.

Monday, April 18, 2011

They Keep Coming

I would rather be out in the sun but dolls keep popping into my head. I guess in a way it's a good thing because the trailer to the film I've been working on will be shot at the end of the week. At least the beginning of the shoot. I'm excited to have been a part of the initial process, excited that it's almost over, excited to start new projects.


Here are the beginnings of three pillow type dolls. The polka dot one is screaming circus. There's a frilly lady and a sunbather who will most definitely be sporting boobs.


These will be totem dolls. I will continue to wrap them with fancy yarns, other trims, and beads.

Thursday, April 14, 2011

Voodoo Movie Doll III

Maybe the last of the voodoo dolls for the film. I've been having a blast making these beauties. This little lady has suffered head trauma but it doesn't mean that karma isn't on her side. She's also had a run in with a vampire. I think it was love. Or something.



She is also sporting a medicine bag filled with mustard seeds. All dolls are stump dolls. They started out as empty dish soap bottles and then covered with fabric for the body and head, dressed and embellished with acrylic paint, flowers, beads, fancy yarns.
 

Here she is with her sister and mom is in the background. The matriarch of the family.


Can you imagine being in the kitchen or around the dinner table with these three? Ha, ha, ha!

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Voodoo Movie Doll II

Here's the second voodoo lady. Now they're both waiting for their sister. I'll get her done tomorrow. It was a good creative day today. We'll see what happens tomorrow.



Yes, that is a scar above one brow. She's been rolling around in something.

I'd like to welcome Trudy at www.trucreations.blogspot.com. Hope you like the ride!

Creative Mojo Man II

Finally, Creative Mojo Man has a face. His body has been hanging around for a long time now and he's been patiently waiting to be complete.

He's made out of some funky air dry clay. It's great for large pieces, not any smaller than this guy. It feels weird too. I have seen some really cool work made from this stuff. I'm not that talented.

Skellie Bunnie Postcards

These pics aren't the greatest but I wanted to get them in the mail tomorrow. I finished something ahead of the holiday. Can you believe it?

This is Spring Hat. I think she's about to enjoy those purple Peep like critters.


Cross Carrots. Like skull and crossbones. Get it? Don't you just love his bunny hat with pirate earring?


Have Some Eggs. I don't think he really wants to share. You'll have to be fast. I think he's got a couple in his cheeks already.


Got Carrots! He's got carrots and it looks like he's had too many.  All are painted with acrylic on re-purposed cereal or pizza boxes. Gotta love skellies and pirates.

Friday, April 8, 2011

Boris

Here's a pic of Boris's armature. He looks weird but he's happy that he's been wrapped.

I used wired to form basic feet. I will attempt to keep his legs skinny and make knobbly knees. I can wait to make his little shoes. His sporran will be a skull, of course. Can't wait to make that either. Or, it could be a shrunken head.

Voodoo Movie Doll I

Guess what I did?

I finally finished another doll for the movie. Pic isn't the greatest. Batteries are failing. But I wanted to get her picture up.  I did it. Something finished. She is the largest covered bottle doll that I showed in a previous post.


She was fun to do. I don't know why it took me so long to get her done. Maybe it was because she was screaming at me. Her two sisters are on their way. Now it's time for Script Frenzy.

Updates

Updates, work in progress, you name it. I thought I should do another post, since I had told myself that I would at least do one a week. Time is like a super sonic jet. It's a good thing I have a door to my studio because when I opened it this morning, this is what I saw.


Is this a mess or what? No wonder I can't get anything done. I've got a serious blockage going on.


There are at least five different projects going on on this table. And it's a pretty big table.




These guys are going to be skellie bunnie postcards. Yeah, it's a bit twisted but if you've been reading my blog for awhile, you know.


I went to the fabric store to get buttons for my voodoo doll pins because they had a sale. Of course, I was late and was only able to get small black ones. Guess what else I got? The fabric was on sale too and I was able to use coupons. That rarely happens to me. Can't seem to get away from blues and purples. I'm so excited about the dollie that will sport these.


I am also very much into stripes. Some of these will be tea dyed to tone them down a bit but aren't they gorgeous? I've told myself that whenever I'm out and see stripes in the right width, I was going to at least get a yard. I feel so happy right now.

Sunday, April 3, 2011

Hello, hello, hello!

I'm 6 pages into Script Frenzy. Almost on point with it and I am having fun. Also got two sets of Wandi doll legs stuffed along with arms and bodies. Stuffed eight pairs of voodoo legs too. Finished painting three new postcards that will go out in the mail tomorrow. Started reading a book on Scotland. Not bad for a lazy Sunday.

I call this my Geometric Series. Using basic shapes, square, triangle, and circle and the primary colors to do these. I have used cut up cereal boxes, acrylic paint, sponge. I had sketched them out sometime ago and finally got them done.  The blue one is on its way to Italy.


This one looks like a sun explosion. It's going to Alabama.


And this one is going to Texas. I started with triangles and at the last minute added the words square, and circle. They were fun to do. So I got my creative groove on today.

Friday, April 1, 2011

Hello April!

I am so grateful I get another month. Wow! I don't have any jokes or pranks, except maybe my new list, so I'm starting out the month on an almost even keel. Heh, heh, heh. Part of me doesn't want to reveal the list and of course it's a doozy. The other part of me says to just put it out there and see what happens. Hmm, sounds like Good Wendy and Bad Wendy. I should really make them. Creative Mojo Man's face is on my work table, waiting for paint.

All righty then. I'll give you a little of my list. If I surpass it within the next 30 days, great. If not, you'll never know I didn't. Sneaky huh?

I will be doing Script Frenzy this month. 100 pages of a screenplay in 30 days.
Get more dolls made for the trailer shoot of the movie.
More postcards made. At least 5.
One Halloween painting.
One Hop to It block.
One Southern Album block appliqued.
3 books read.
2 Ghostie Girls done.
10 Voodoo pin dolls.
10 faerie ornaments.
10 Skull ornaments.
1 Kilted Skellie.

That's all you get, for right now. I am so looking forward to beginning. Have a good one.

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