I DON'T KNOW . . .

I was thinking earlier this evening about the difference between how I make my dolls and how other doll artists make theirs.  I don't "do" fabric dolls so that leaves "the others" - the ones who use polymer or other clays.   I've never mastered  polymer clay, so that leaves me with air dry clay.

Economics is the guiding force behind my choices.  Air dry clay is inexpensive in comparison to other clays,   Chop sticks and kabob skewers can be purchased at the supermarket.  And I found an excellent recipe for an air dry clay I can make and keep in the refrigerator for months.    

Perhaps a half dozen of my dolls have been published in the Art Doll Quarterly but with few exceptions, I've tried to keep my method statement to one brief paragraph.  I realize now that someone may pick up a copy of ADQ, read how I construct my dolls - and wonder what the heck I'm talking about.  I mean, some people don't know what a gourd is.  

But here again, we're talking economics.  A small, egg shaped gourd sells for anywhere from twenty five cents to a dollar. A half dozen each of medium and large "eggs" (check the size of the eggs in your refrigerator) will last me a year or longer. I also use small zucca gourds as the doll's torso.  A zucca gourd the size I use most, will run about a dollar each.  Add the cost of some very special glue which will also last me a year if I'm careful - and you do the math.  For about five dollars or less, I can build a 16 inch tall doll.

And then there are the costumes.  Oh, dear!  I'm almost as bad as the quilters I know; they are fabric addicts.  Fat quarter junkies.  They grow faint at the thought of an entire bolt of coveted fabric for half price, never giving thought to the groceries, the air-cushioned, light-up, autographed sneakers, etc that will be sacrificed to feed her addiction.    But as I said, I'm ALMOST as bad.  When I  let neighbors know I was making dolls and would love to have any fabric scraps they would part with - VIOLA!  Not one, but TWO Fabric Godmothers appeared - both experienced dress makers of long standing.  Suddenly, I had died and gone to Fabric Heaven!  Fortunately, ( I guess?)  Hobby Lobby  has moved out of my neighborhood to way th'heck out by the airport!!  I loved their fabric department.  Not large but chock full of goodies.  My impulse buying has been severely curtailed.

So I shall spend the next few months with a group of quilters, hopefully learning to sew much better than I do now.