Summer is over!

My Paper Clay/Fabric Children...

A Cat doll created by Stacey and given to me!

Stacey Sewing with her "Shoe" Creation !

Deb's "Brothal" Shoe

I feel like i'm regaining conciousness!!! I feel my blood starting to circulate...Taylor is back to school tomorrow morning!!! PARTY!!! haha!! yeah right!

Anyway....back to business...i'll go back to where I left off...the Stacey Clark class! It was a great "learning" class...Stacey is a truley "creative Being"... and I loved being in her creative energy ... Here are some pictures of the OLD LADY in the SHOE class...

My Prepared dolls for class

So I was able to finish 7 small dolls. Their Head/ Bodices, legs and arms are made out of paper clay...they have fabric bodies. I copied the idea of the doll structure from a tiny old vintage doll that I found Naked at a very old PA flea market! I was able to really smooth their faces by sanding.... I used Hanni Sarris fairy paint...and Duncan matte spray..and they really look kind of vintage!!!

New fairy...and Preparation for class!

ok...back in action...I decided to just be a "starving artist" this summer! I am closing my ebay store next week ...until summer ends...I'll just sell a little mohair when i feel like it!

I already started on a new Fairy ...She ends up having a meek ...gentle disposition, so now i have to decide what she will wear and what she will be doing. Maybe after I "make her face up"..the personality may change...I dont see that happening though.

But now I had to put her aside, to prepare for our upcoming class in two weeks. We will be having Stacey Clark, an artist from Pennsylvania that did a "MAGICAL" exhibit in a PA museum. We were all so fascinated by the techniques she used to paint and texturize her fabric and doll faces and bodies...also her free motion combined with mediums to create beautiful texture on the dolls clothes, accessories and lifelike animals. We asked her if she would come teach...and she was thrilled!

We will be doing THE OLD LADY IN THE SHOE...you know the one with all of the kids?! (UGH!) haha..So I have started my prep work.....I am doing my childrens heads/upper bodice in paper clay...so i get to work in clay, but paint them like they were fabric! Paperclay painted dolls with varnish on them..remind me of "OLDEN DAY" dolls...so that is the look i'm going for..shiny faces!!!

I made 3 polymer heads, and then made rubber molds. I used the molds to create paper clay heads. The paperclay comes out of the mold a very flat...so you have to redefine everything...but its still waaayyyy!! faster than going from scratch...I created 7 new paperclay heads in 2 days...that is BIG for me...i'm kind of slow at sculpting. I then made little upper torsos out of styrofoam and foil. Then i covered them with paperclay...attaching the heads...Check it out.... (Iam learning some of these paperclay techniques from a book i sent for : Dollmaking with Papier mache and paper clay by Doris Rockwell Gotilly. The book is about 10 years old, but it has amazing photos and techniques...i love this book!)

I also found an old pair of black boots at the flea market for 5 bucks! for my shoe..i can alter it to make it look better...BUT I also foumd these very cool OLD she lasts..hmmm. i was thinking...maybe i can cover one with paper mache and make my own shoe!!!! ok..i may not REALLY have time todo that..but it is a very Cool idea!!!

Neptune Doll meeting

Yes..its horrible that i have not been in here posting...so busy! So here is the Neptune meeting that I went to a couple of weeks ago!!! The meeting was fantastic...everyone had something to show and tell about!!! Janice even brought her beautiful daughter...who ended up "adopting" stephanies "lion " doll made from Mary Louises pattern!!

I was invited by mary louise...a fellow Saggitarius doll maker, who was teaching her realistic little "cat" dolls! I flipped when I saw them, and right away, Mary told me that I could join in the lesson!!! See the pictures of mary with her tiny "cats"... (I LOVED them so much...she gave me the white one!!!! WOW )

Jack Johnston Class

WOW!!! I attended the Jack Johnston class this past friday thru Sunday with my New York group girlfriends, Tery from my group and 2 new girls. This was a life changing class! I learned so much from Jack...He is amazing...just put the clay in his hands and it comes to life....again and again and again!!!! Words cant describe the energy that was in the room for three sold days of intense learning! Jack brought Jarret, his beautiful and talented son who also is a fantastic artist and teacher...The two pushed us through this FAST PACED (ugh!!! ) class.....

I Knew the women in this group from previous classes taken in NY...especially Minnie who I have stayed connected with.......but all of us became family again...learning , sharing and "AMAZING" each other, BONDING into this "Art Doll" Journey!!!

I still cannot believe that we got through Heads, Hands, Bodies, AMAZING techniques in Clay shoes, and then actually put it all together and walked out of there with a doll ready to be costumed! I had a little hard time with this (i woud have evened my eyes/nose) more and definatley smoothed my face over another 10 days!! haha...but i got over it!!

(I took it home and added a little and rebaked...then did my hair until late saturday night!! that made me more at ease!!! I learned to not get so crazy so that I can get through a doll... I hope it sticks with me! )

The techniques I learned from Jack and Jarret were life changing for me...and I will continue to practice them !

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!