Nice Day Today

I went to the Catawba Quilter's Guild Show today in Hickory, North Carolina. It was really nice. 278 quilts were judged and on display. I saw every quilt but only took a few pics. And went to most of the vendors. I got some fabrics for upcoming projects. Some felted wool fabric and some cottons.

From the quilt show, I went down the hall to the woodworking show (which was free, can't pass up a free event) put on by Klingspor's Woodworking Shop. Years ago, I used to do woodcarving. I really liked it and want to get back to it. I'll have to figure out how and I did find out there was a woodworking club right here in town. I met a lady who had a table there who just wanted to show people what she did which was making her own rubber stamps. I couldn't believe the detail she got in her pieces. She let me try and I made my first rubber stamp using my own drawing. So many ideas are crowding my head.

Is that cool or what?

#quiltshow #fabric #feltedwool #rubberstamp

Mavis Ready for Mardi Gras

Say hello to Mavis.  She started out as a bunner, then a pirate, and now she's a dancing skellie.  I have been looking at her armature for several months now, wanting her to be a pirate.  But she wasn't going for that.  I had her and her friends out in the open so I could constantly see them and they taunted me.  Only, not as pirates.  I didn't have a clue as to what they wanted to be, so I left them alone.  I knew not to put them away because I have a very good habit of keeping things safe and not being able to find them again.

Her body is needle felted.  See the previous post.  Her finges have pipe cleaners in them so she can hold her maracas.  Her eyes are felted, her nose and mouth are embroidered.  She's got such a sweet smile.  Her sandals are also needle felted.

I almost went crazy with the beading.  Almost.  She also has a beaded bracelet on.  I did add more earring gear.

She is the first doll I've made showing movement and I love it.  Thanks to a wire armature.

She is at the Hampton House Gallery, getting ready for her debut at the Small Art, Big Heart art show & sale.  Part of the proceeds benefit the AIDS Care Service.  This is my third year participating.  So far, all dolls have sold from that show.

Growth
I've learned something working on Mavis.  Besides waiting until the last minute to finish her.  For many, many moons now, I've worked on cloth dolls.  I really like them but it's time to move on.  To expand my creative horizons and see what else I've got.  I knew I wanted to do more 3D pieces and started my experimentations.

I have done porcelain before and I love the final result, it's just at this point in my life, I don't have the room to do it.  I've carved wood pieces and I don't have what's needed to keep my tools sharpened.  Polymer clay has a beautiful look to it.  Very flesh like but again, I don't have a separate oven for baking, and I don't care how safe they say it is, I don't like the smell.  I haven't totally given up on it but in the scheme of things, it's not high on the list.  I have also tried air dry clays.  Several types.  Even though it's messy, it can be painted, sanded, drilled, and whatever you want to do with it.  I have found several places for instruction and help.

For right now it's needle felting.  Not so quick, but relaxing in a strange sort of way.  The up and down motion of felting can be soothing and you can always get some frustration out on the wool.  I'm still learning how to manuever the medium and so far I like my results.  There are artists who make dolls completely out of wool, which is cool.  I, am a costumer.  The body is a place to put stuff.  It's still cotton, but that will change soon to some silk, satin, and other fancy material.

My flat cloth dolls were easy to dress.  Most would be sitting propped up or hang on a wall, so I really didn't have to pay too much attention to the back.  Once I started making things more 3D, I had to consider the other side.  It started when I made Koji, and then the Bunners.  It wasn't until I made Mavis that it hit me.

The basic forms are totally different.  From flat cloth to round neelde felted.  It was a little scary at first, but I continued and got a kick out of it.  I had to rethink how I was going to do a basic shirt.  The underpants needed more room in the seat.  Pieces had to be cut bigger to go around.  It was a challenge, my head even started to hurt a bit because I was using another part of my gray matter.  I do believe my brain has grown a bit because of this one simple exercise.

I am looking forward to Mavis' friends coming to life.  They are quite excited too.  Breakthroughs are awesome.  I hope you have some too.

Last Show of 2010

I had my last show for the year and it went well.  It was a small craft affair at a local coffee house.  I took two dolls and a lot of ornaments.  It wasn't a doll crowd and that's okay because now I can book a table to a show in May.  Very happy about that.

Here are two fish ornaments on a tree.  Sold quite a few of those.  They are made of felt and I have ideas to make some more detailed ones.

I hate this new layout that they have.  Can't figure anything out and nothing works.  Here is a colorful clutch of felt fish ornaments.

I also did some in more real colors.  I loved using some of the thousand buttons I have on hand.  I really should get them organized more.  I'd like to put all of one color in individual containers.  I don't know if I want them in jars or plastic.

Why won't the font stay the same?  Why does it go back to a default font?  Here are the two Santa ornaments finally painted and stained.

 And last but not least, the Strolling Santa all painted.  He sold the first day of the fair.

Wood Pieces

I mentioned before that I use to carve wood.  Here are two pirates carved from wood eggs.  I'm going to put eye screws in the top of their heads so they can be ornaments for a tree.  I haven't decided if I will keep one but they are slated to be on my holiday craft show table this weekend.
 

This little Santa is ready to be primed and painted.

I found two more Santa heads that also need painting.  They will get eye screws to be turned into ornaments.  The two on the right have key rings.

The unpainted ones will first be scrubbed cleaned of wood fuzzies and pencil marks.  Allowed to dry, sprayed with a fixative and then painted.  When that is dry, they are sprayed again and then a stain is applied.  I am looking forward to this show and will be posting more pics soon.

Cassa

Here is Cassa. In a previous post, she was 'No Name' because I just didn't have one for her. But now that she's done, I've blessed her with the name Cassa the Elf Seer.

Many moons ago I carved. I took a workshop where I designed her, she was cut out on a band-saw and then carved. She didn't come out like my drawing but I liked her enough to have kept her. I've carried her around for four years and she's finally done, with a marble for her 'seer ball'.

I knew I wanted her to be a red head and her gown was to be green. I was thinking at first a dark, forest green but then went for a more olive color. I think it works. She's happy and so am I.

The dark spot by her shoulder is wood grain.

I remember when I was carving her, she almost lost her pony tail. She is just the right size for 3/4" scale. Right in between Barbie/GI Joe size (11 1/2"- 12") and dollhouse size (1"=1'). I really wanted to get to doing some dollhouse size pieces but with the older eyes, it may not be possible. Then I discovered 3/4" size and may go with that.

A grown female would be 8", like Cassa, and a male would be 9". She will make a great to scale model.

No Name

A couple of moons ago, I use to do wood carving. I designed this little miss and she got stuck in the "Land of Finish Me". I pulled her out after having rearranged my closets and decided to change her fate. Will I ever get back to wood carving? I don't have a clue but I can finish her. She needs to be painted and will have a marble in her hand, a crystal ball of sorts. I think I had some elf maiden in mind.

I wanted her in an emerald green dress with gold and red belt. She was also going to be a red head. If anyone one wants to try naming her, please be my guest.

I watched the opening Olympic ceremonies and really enjoyed them. My boss said that she felt as if she was invited in. I agree, that's Canada for you. It was like being in their home. I wish all the athletes the best of luck. #12 on my bucket list is to attend an Olympic opening ceremony.

My art reception was last night too. A lot of people showed up which was great. The food was really good and I had a great time. I also had a few inquiries about Koji. I am ready to make the next Koji Bear. After dinner tonight, thar will be skulls to deal with. See ya.