PA Field trip to the Stacy Clark Doll Exhibit

Last Sunday and Monday , Tery, Stephanie and myself took a trip to Heidi's house in Pennsylvania. We had a beautiful lunch that Heidi made for us along with Stephanies famous totellini soup!! Actually Heidi made a fantastic soup with potatoes and kalbasi..I had both!

Our main plan for the get together was to visit the Schwenkfelder Library and Museum to see a doll exhibit by an artist named Stacy Clark. When we arrived...Stacy was there to meet us. WOW....you must "FEEL' this exhibit...that is what i did when I saw it..I "FELT" the Artist's energy and creativity.... As Stacy explained how she Might touch people of all ages with Her "Fairy Tale" dolls.... my eyes filled up and I got a lump in my throat..because I understood so clearly that the younger children BELIEVE , and the Older people REMEMBER , and the "tweeners" in between are HOPING and CREATING. Every where you looked tyhere were dolls, and when you thought you saw them all...you magically found another to see. Stacy used some very cool techniques to create texture in her dolls and animals and clothing. The Visit was breathtaking and inspiring and i'm so happy that I made the Journey. Check out the pictures, but you need to go see this !!!!

We went back to Heidis...oh, we stopped at DQ by my request, and then we ordered Pizza for dinner.....followed by a Ribbon Rose class that Stephanie gave...little kits and all!!! It was a real Party!!! haha

But on Monday we went to a "two Guys" type store named JoMar....(remember Two Guys)"??? ...and much to our amazement...we found some awsome fabric, lace and trims. at "amazing " prices!

Pocono Sew and Vac Bernina "Brush up" class!

Last Monday...I met my good friend and artist "Heidi" at the pocono sew and vac in stroudsburg PA. This is my favorite sewing store in the "UNIVERSE"!!! They carry every Known machine and there is someone in the store that specializes in each machine to demo it or even help you after you bought it!!! They never make you feel uncomfortable when you need help...they are always there...like "family"!!! Any way, "lovely" Ellen taught the class and I walked out of there with a lot of knowledge...we had a "blast" too!

My favorite Power seller salesperson...PAUL...was there to make us smile. Paul...WILL sell you any machine for the BEST PRICE possible!! Here he is hanging out in the store!!

Varrigated acid dying at the Spinnery

Last friday..i took an acid dying class at the "Spinnery" in Frenchtown NJ... The store is filled with all kinds of beautiful fibers in their natural color, just waiting to be dyed! Of course there are tons of vibrant and "textured" yarns also, along withdying, felting , knitting and spinning supplies !

There were only two students in the class...so we got to explore a little more and had a lot of extra attention! We learned some varigated dying techniques, and Betty, the owner enthusiastically shared all of her knowledge.

Shoe Tutorial Prt two!!!

ok...so now your soles are made...place your dolls foot onto the sole, making sure it will work...i always make sure the shoe is a little bigger that the foot...i dont like chopping their feet off because the shoe is too small (which i have done...doesnt feel right!)

ok..so now..i take a paper towel and drap it over the sole, giving it plenty of room for the foot to go in, then i trace the upper shape , following the sole shape, but making it a little bigger, so that i have

fabric to glue to the inside of the sole.

I cut out those pieces, also

cutting the hole in the middle where the ankle will be. Then I clip very small cuts so that the fabric will lay nice and "mold" smoother. I start at the toe of the shoe with a dot of fabri tac or zap a gap, depending on what type of fabric i am using....and glue the "right" side of the edge of the fabric...then i follow around the first side....the second side will be trickier...this is where i use a "a long needle tool" (oh yeah i sell these $ 2.00!!! Hmmm...) anyway, to get inside of that shoe and press the edge NEATLY onto the sole. You can get fancier, using two pieces of seperate fabric for the upper...or make an easy slip on., Boots.....ENDLESS POSSIBILITIES!

Shoe Tutorial...Kind of!!!

OK...lets try this again!..I have a written insruction that i can email whoever wants it, Tracy, I already sent yours printed out...!

Roll your clay out on the THICKEST setting, use whatever color you choose for the sole, i usually use a brown taupe or natural ivory and let the actual "shoe" be the color part...it looks more lifelike...but FANTASY is good too!!!

I trace around my dolls foot on a piece of paper, adding an extra border so the "shoe fits"!! Then I use a piece of flexible craft plastic and copy the sole onto that..cutting that out ...(this makes a nice template that when tracing around it with your exacto knife, gives you nice support and you can save it for future soles . Follow the pictures.......

So at this point you can just bake them and have a "flat" sole for a ballerina like shoe...or you can take it TWO steps further and add an ARCH and a HEEL.

For the heel. i just jot a line on my "PLASTIC SOLE" and form a littl heel using the line as a guide...i either use one layer of rolled clay or double it. Then cut the heel out with your exacto knife, and place it on the bottom of you sole, blending the clay as smoothly as possible (but dont worry, because you can use your grinder tool to sand it to "perfection"!!!

At this point i work on a little tile so that i can put it in the oven, without disturbing the shape. Now with your heels attached to the sole, use a small dowel, butt it up against the heel and push the sole flat. creating a "lovely" arch!

ok..we are going to part TWO because i'm getting nervous because this is where i lost the whole thing last week!!! Colleen