My photographer e mailed me this evening to let me know he would be able to "shoot" Stella Thursday after work. If I have to cancel my own funeral, I will have her ready - and the set!!
I'm still alive, Stella's been shot and there is fine glitter all over the house. In my effort to make the background moon "glow" I was overly generous with a vial of very fine glitter dust. I just hope the background I set up won't look so amateurish the photos can't be used.
My photographer, a young man by the name of Cedric Bacon, works a night shift then drives across town (in our case, the entire county) to photograph my dolls. Since my living and dining area is filled with stacks of boxes, we had to work in my cramped and cluttered office/studio where I'd arranged the setting on top of the sewing machine. I make sure he gets credit for the photography and my extra copy of any Art Doll Quarterly our work appears in. Having his work appear in an international magazine, looks very good on his resume.
Saturday, February 27, 2016
Thursday, February 4, 2016
STUFF addendum
I must add to the previous post because Juanelle was a most delightful person and her dolls were EXQUISITE ! She brought several of her dolls for me to see and they just blew my mind. Technically, her work was perfect and artistically, it was very obvious that she was very familiar with the human body.
Despite the packing, bits and pieces of what would be an entire day of (gourd) doll crafting are beginning to come together in my head. When I do have time to sit down and put it all on paper, it should be - if not complete - then very near it. Very briefly, it comes down to $60. to $75. per person and they bring a brown bag lunch.. For that price, I provide all materials and instruction sheets and answer all questions to the best of my ability. Because of the move and my need to finish Stella Skelly, I'm going to guess that I can pull the class together some time in mid to late March. Must mark my calendars!
Despite the packing, bits and pieces of what would be an entire day of (gourd) doll crafting are beginning to come together in my head. When I do have time to sit down and put it all on paper, it should be - if not complete - then very near it. Very briefly, it comes down to $60. to $75. per person and they bring a brown bag lunch.. For that price, I provide all materials and instruction sheets and answer all questions to the best of my ability. Because of the move and my need to finish Stella Skelly, I'm going to guess that I can pull the class together some time in mid to late March. Must mark my calendars!
Sunday, January 24, 2016
STUFF, STUFF, STUFF!
I knew I had a lot of stuff, but I seem hardly to have made a dent in it all after four days of packing. The bookcases in my office/studio are empty of books except for the photo albums. I will store them in a plastic container in order to keep them dry.
And yesterday, I braved the TWO fifty gallon storage containers full of fabric, determined to condense them into only one. I succeeded with room to spare by setting aside fabric for Meredith and a roll of remnants to make dolls of every skin color for Paris Freeman of the quilt guild. The guild will get a ton of what's left after my new doll artist friend, Juanelle Marshall chooses what she wants tomorrow afternoon.
About four days ago, I received a note from Juanelle, telling me she had seen my doll the Spanish Dancer in a recent Art Doll Quarterly. She said she loved my technique and would I be willing to teach a class. (of course!) Juanelle also said she belonged to a recently disbanded doll club. (after years of looking, now I learn there actually WAS one ) and would I be interested joining and help to breath new life into the group. Sure, I would, though I don't know how much life I could actually breath into a group of already creative women.
So. I'll continue packing to the point of leaving just enough to eat and sleep here until I actually vacate the house. That will be a huge adjustment after having an entire house to fill with all my artsy-crafty stuff.
Which reminds me, I MUST get cracking on Stella if I'm to have her photographed and to ADQ before the 15th of March.
And yesterday, I braved the TWO fifty gallon storage containers full of fabric, determined to condense them into only one. I succeeded with room to spare by setting aside fabric for Meredith and a roll of remnants to make dolls of every skin color for Paris Freeman of the quilt guild. The guild will get a ton of what's left after my new doll artist friend, Juanelle Marshall chooses what she wants tomorrow afternoon.
About four days ago, I received a note from Juanelle, telling me she had seen my doll the Spanish Dancer in a recent Art Doll Quarterly. She said she loved my technique and would I be willing to teach a class. (of course!) Juanelle also said she belonged to a recently disbanded doll club. (after years of looking, now I learn there actually WAS one ) and would I be interested joining and help to breath new life into the group. Sure, I would, though I don't know how much life I could actually breath into a group of already creative women.
So. I'll continue packing to the point of leaving just enough to eat and sleep here until I actually vacate the house. That will be a huge adjustment after having an entire house to fill with all my artsy-crafty stuff.
Which reminds me, I MUST get cracking on Stella if I'm to have her photographed and to ADQ before the 15th of March.
Tuesday, January 19, 2016
NEW YEAR, NEW LIFE STYLE
The new year has brought a very big shift in my life. I shall soon be going to live with my son and daughter-in-law. This is a move they have wanted for several years - and which I have resisted - but this year (I pray) will benefit all of us. DIL has MS as well as severe pulmonary problems. Son has a hard time cooking, cleaning, maintaining the yard and holding down a full time job. They need help and despite my age and the attendant aches and pains, I'm in better health than they are.
I will no doubt continue to make dolls, but at a slower pace. I can't remember a time when I wasn't creating something, no matter how childish or unrecognizable. The following has become my mantra: "I will make things until I can't make things any more. This is what I do. This is who I am. I make things".
I will no doubt continue to make dolls, but at a slower pace. I can't remember a time when I wasn't creating something, no matter how childish or unrecognizable. The following has become my mantra: "I will make things until I can't make things any more. This is what I do. This is who I am. I make things".
Thursday, January 7, 2016
HOORAY, I'VE SURVIVED ANOTHER YEAR!
The best part was selling (at a deep discount) my Gypsy dolls "Casting a Protective Spell" scene. Read the details on my Facebook page.
2015 was also the year my poor car got minimum maintenance and is now in deplorable condition; it was also the year I was in constant fear of having to replace my air-conditioning unit. It's a good bet it will gasp its last on the coldest or hottest day of the year.
I hope this will be the year Stella Skelly my Halloween Vamp will be published in ADQ. I'd be walking on clouds if she made the cover. But I'm not a "professional" doll artist so that will probably never happen. I wonder when an artist morphs into a "professional"? I suppose when the public gets sick of seeing your work. I think I got started in this doll business too late in my life - I've run out of energy before I could get up a good head of steam.
I hope this will be the year Stella Skelly my Halloween Vamp will be published in ADQ. I'd be walking on clouds if she made the cover. But I'm not a "professional" doll artist so that will probably never happen. I wonder when an artist morphs into a "professional"? I suppose when the public gets sick of seeing your work. I think I got started in this doll business too late in my life - I've run out of energy before I could get up a good head of steam.
Saturday, December 5, 2015
AND MY SISTER WON!
- don't tell ME blonds are dumb. My sister wanted the Spanish Dancer so badly, her first bid blew all other contenders out of the water. And so she shall have it. I've packed the doll as well as I can and pray it will arrive without damage. I will insure it for as much as I can - and pray.
Monday, November 16, 2015
THE SPANISH DANCER -- AGAIN
-- the poor dear has stood on my desk for at least a month with her skirt and petticoat pulled up over her head and her bare bottom exposed to all who visit my studio. I did make her a new pair of knickers (long legged underpants) last week, but had to wait until her paint and finish coat were dry, to sew them on her.
But, alas, when I let down her skirt and petticoat, her hair was in such disarray, I couldn't make it look even half-way acceptable. So, once again, I did a merciless amputation and gave her a buzz cut. I dabbed black paint on her skull and at her hair line and am now gluing more hair to her head. Thank goodness, I have plenty of her hair left.
But, alas, when I let down her skirt and petticoat, her hair was in such disarray, I couldn't make it look even half-way acceptable. So, once again, I did a merciless amputation and gave her a buzz cut. I dabbed black paint on her skull and at her hair line and am now gluing more hair to her head. Thank goodness, I have plenty of her hair left.
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