Another ADQ Challenge

I think my sewing skills may be improving.  A little, anyway.  My research re; the Middle Ages left me wallowing in costume confusion.  Seems the current generation isn’t the only one to push the fashion envelope.
Things I’ve learned: there’s an art to working with real fur – and I haven’t learned it.  My little sewing machine wouldn’t handle even the thinnest pelt – so I glued it in place with fabric glue.  So my doll’s costume looks very elegant – so long as the glue holds.

Burnout

. . . . . akin to writer’s block, I suppose.  It’s when ideas or solutions to problems just won’t work or your eye-hand coordination seems to have taken a holiday.  It’s when you keep making one mistake or bad judgement after another until there is nothing left to do but walk away from whatever it is that seems determined to defeat you, no matter your deadline.
I’m in burnout mode at the moment.  I’ll recover, always do.  This is why I always have several projects going at a time.  It’s always good to step back from a project and look at it with a fresh eye.

Earning a Badge

My bride doll was published in the Art Doll Quarterly which thrilled me to pieces.  In addition, it was a first for young photographer Bria Broadwell who made a CD of the bride photos I sent to ADQ.
When a doll artist’s work is published in ADQ, the publisher always sends the artist an extra copy of the issue her work appears in. The artist is also frequently sent via e mail, a ‘badge’  she may copy and paste into her blog or web site – anywhere she wants to announce that her work has been published in a prestigious magazine.  So far, I’ve managed to irretriveably delete all but one of my badges, which I will now attempt to add to this post.  The badge is simply the cover of the issue in which the doll appeared.                                                                      

Flynn, armed and still in her shift

I have my grand daughter’s permission to present her D&D ‘persona’ doll at the In Celebration doll show. We plan to have persona Flynn Hollysharp armed and beautiful by show time.

Stay indoors!

Good grief, I can’t believe how COLD it is here in the ‘Deep South’! I’d stay in and sculpt like crazy if I could, but the heat pump chose yesterday to freeze up. Seems the defrost panel and sensor gasped their last. Hope to get them replaced today. Meanwhile, I think this would be a good day to make some bread and cookies and – - anything I can make to keep the oven going.
I’ve been working on my ADQ Medieval challenge doll. Still have details to add to the figure – ears, hands, etc. but the costume pattern making is moving along very well. (so far). I’m fortunate to have seamstress friends who donate ‘leftovers’ to my fabric stash.

A Friend indeed!

Yesterday, my friend Joyce arrived from California to spend a few weeks with me while she house hunts. I mention her because she is the angel who sent me a LARGE box of pure silk fabric she had purchased in Singapore years ago. Of course, what I got was left overs from her dress making, but one doesn’t need yards of fabric for doll costumes. Joyce also sent a smaller box of ribbon, lace and trims which will last the rest of my life. It is good to have creative friends.

Treasures of the Gypsy

Yesterday, I received my entry package for this annual doll show held in Houston each fall. This is always an exciting surprise, because although I’ve known the theme of the show for months (it changes each year) and may have even made costume sketches – the fabrics and trims in the entry package have the final say.  The fabric pieces are  are small, about 12″ by 18″, the trims 12″ to 18″ long as well.  And each fabric and trim MUST be used – along with your own fabrics and trims.  Depending on your personal ‘stash’ of fabrics and trims, this can add up to some awesome costumes! This year’s theme is Mardi Gras, so you can bet the show is going to be mind blowing!!