On the Radio!

http://wfdd.org/programs/tauc.php//pl1329717600/cal1329976800

Here's the link to my radio interview. Hope it works for you.

Weird Wednesday

I know some bloggers have a wordless Wednesday but they usually show pictures instead. I don't have any new pics, just yet. But I wanted to blog anyway. Maybe it's the weather, it's been horribly freaky this winter and it doesn't look good for the summer. Possibly hot and extra humid down here in the south. Yuck! Hot is okay, hot and humid, not so much. And then there are the bugs. It hasn't been cold enough to kill them or their spawn. Most creepies I can take but some, like the Stink Bug, just creep me out. So even though I don't like snow (I did move from Michigan), I want a huge dump and constant cold for at least a week.

Onto creative things. After my nice restful weekend, I thought I'd be ready to get back to work, seeing that I'd been the creative crazy person for a little over six months. The apartment is back in order so that I can mess it up again. I'm well on my way to booking the spring with doll classes and the summer with doll related happenings. I have three doll making classes on a spring schedule and have my class descriptions written up. Now I have to do some supply lists and get patterns copied. In July I have a kid doll camp scheduled and that should be a lot of fun. I'll throw in a puppet too. I'm working on getting more classes set up for the summer and into the fall. I'm so excited about these new events.

But... I'm behind. I tell you, having a regular job takes things out of you when all you want to do is create. It's okay. I'm working on making my life the way I want it to be. I'm ready to have fun on my terms. My program. My first booth show is March 24 and I'm sharing a booth with an artist friend. So grateful for cool friends. I've been invited to put a piece in a spring show the first of April and hope the doll classes get students signed up so they can take place. My next big booth event is in May in Philadelphia and I will be looking for more shows after that. Hopefully something closer.

So, I will be a sewing fiend for the next couple of months. Did I mention I had a commission to do and need to restock shops I have my dolls in? Yep. That too. I'll get pics up as soon as possible. I'm going to rock 2012.

Brunson Elementary School

Last week I went to speak to 5th graders at Brunson Elementary School. I showed many dolls and spoke about my creative process. They loved it. My dolls and me. I had a lot of fun and have been invited back.

I started with some cloth dolls I had made, went into polymer, and then needle felting. I'm working on a small project for them to do.

On the Radio

I along with Joyce Stamps and Carolyn Mills Allen were interviewed by David Ford at 88.5 WFDD on Monday. The interview will air on Saturday, February 18, 2012 at 8:50 AM. It's an NPR station and you can also go to their website to hear the interview.

Me, Joyce, and Carolyn.

David Ford, our interviewer.

Emma

This is Emma. It's one of my grandma's name. She started out with a stuffed head and needle sculpted face. I then put Rigid Wrap over her face. When that was dry, I put on a layer of Creative Paper Clay, then painted her features.

She is cute. I like the Paper Clay, I'll have to work on getting a good brown color. I don't like the stuffed head underneath though. That was a learning curve. Her hair is wool from Gypsy Wools in Colorado. I made her bonnet which was a lot of fun.

Her dress and apron are made from reproduction Civil War fabrics.

Is that bonnet adorable or what?

Her boots and stockings are painted, along with the detail of the buttons.

Loved Through the Years: Three Centuries of Black Dolls

 The opening to my show was February 12, 2012. It was wonderful. There was a nice turnout and all my work has paid off. There was also a reporter there from one of the local newspapers, so I'll be seeing my face again.

Here I am with Lee Mecum who helped put this together, and Carolyn Mills Allen who had her collection of contemporary dolls at the exhibit.

The Delta Arts Center people did a wonderful job setting up the dolls.

Here's my group of dolls. They are for sale.

Joyce Stamps had her collection of dolls mostly made by slaves. They were so beautiful.

One of my large dolls. I will tweak the pattern and make some a little smaller.

Here's Emma, the last doll made for the show. She almost didn't make it.

I even spoke about my doll making journey. My ongoing journey.

Joyce Stamps.

  Dolls from Joyce's collection.

I so love this one in this beige dress. So simple but very cool.

Carolyn and her collection.

There were some dolls based on the Hitty character.

I love this little doll with her mirror. I was able to get her reflection in it.

More of Joyce's dolls.

Carolyn's dolls.

This doll is made from a whisk broom. I don't even know if they still make those these days.

I so love this little doll. She's a puppet doll. You stick your hand underneath her dress and your fingers go into her head and arms. I've got to get a more detailed pic of her. I love puppets.

The tall doll is a door stop and the oldest in the group. Her base is a can and filled with probably sand. Her face is embroidered silk and is showing wear. She was made around 1800.

I love her little face and her blue dress.

Tilly

I so need a new camera and a new camera card. I do apologize for these pictures. She looks better in person. I tell you, I get to a certain point of making a doll and Bad Wendy starts talking mess. But Good Wendy says to keep going and when the face is on a doll, they really come to life. That's when I fall in love and it's difficult to part with them. But she's now at the Delta Arts Center, waiting for her closeup.

Tilly is a stump doll. They are great to make if you don't want to worry about legs and feet. They can be dressed simply or elaborately. I'm going with the inspiration of a doll made by a slave for her.