Valentine's Day Doll ~ Angel

It's Saturday morning and just finished Valentine's Day Doll number 3. Although I didn't finish her by class time, she is complete now.  

And I now have to incorporate "time management" into my projects. 

I did know this in the beginning, however ~ time has a way of sneaking up on ya ~ and it got me. 

So I dedicate today going forward to ~ getting things completed in a timely manner ~ Sounds good on paper but will see...

Much Love to you ~ Andrea 

Love each other deeply, because love will cause many sins to be forgiven.  Open your homes to each other, without complaining. Each of you has received a gift to use to serve others. Be good servants of God' various gifts of grace. 

1 Peter 4:8-10

Upcoming New Project(s)

Wanted to share with you two projects that I've been working on this holiday week. It's taking me to extreme directions in making cloth dolls and my un`supervised soldering craft. Anyhow, I've found time to squeeze both projects this week.  Between assistant cook on Thanksgiving and Xmas decor team leader.

What I've found out is that both projects show me ~ how to utilized each techniques into others craft areas. For the soldering and wire project, it's the use of color (picture in pendents) with metal.

The cloth doll, I've used the wire in the arms and fingers, (no pipe cleaners this time) as well as color coordination of attire (stocking and boots) and new eye lids technique. Small half moon shape fabric sew on the lids of her eyes and stuffed with a small amount of polyfill. Adds a completely different de-mention to the face of this doll.

Both project are not completed as of tonight, kids back to school tomorrow, and award Volleyball banquet in the evening.

But I do get to meet with June tomorrow,  she is the daughter of her late mother who was a professional "porcelain doll maker" and she wants to give me her doll molds, or she was going to throw them in the dumpster. I couldn't let her do this, it breaks my heart.

So ~ I'll keep you posted on the next adventure, of this crafting journey that I'm on ~And loving the ride.

Cherish all your happy moments; they make a fine cushion for old age.

~ Christopher Morley, 1890-1957

Much Love ~
Andrea

Thanksgiving Primitive Pilgrims

Happy Thanksgiving ye all ~

Just finished my primitive pilgrims this afternoon, and wanted to share them with you, before the actual day of Thanksgiving. This project was a lot of fun, the stuffing was becoming a bit boring, but had to forge thru it, because the embellishments are so fun to add to the dolls. New technique learned on this project as well, tea dye fabrics. Ten bags of tea in 2 gallon of water and soaked the fabric for several hours and dried them in the bathroom shower.  The male pilgrim is darker then the female pilgrim due to the dyeing process ~  One bolt of fabric was left in the tea dye longer then the other one.

But  ~ back in the 1500's - 1600's hundreds, the male pilgrim was out getting the wood and food, and the female pilgrims were in the covered wagons providing for the family, and not getting so much sun.

Well, that's when these pilgrims told me ~ "if you will"

             Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family ~ enjoy the love you share with each others.

Nothing is permanent in this wicked world - not even our troubles. ~                            Charlie Chaplin, 1889-1977

Much Love ~
Andrea

"Treasures & Junk" The Affordable Antiques Mall

 "Treasures & Junk"

Located at 215 S. San Antonio Ave.

Ontario, CA 91762

Space # 55

This day will be unlike any day that ever was or will be. Every moment is an invitation to live; to live it up, to live like it matters, to live life to its fullest, to live the life you dream about, to embrace life. Not just to get a life, but to create your life. 

Much Love ~

Andrea

Darcy ~ a tree faerie <3

Last weekend I had a chance to attending a 2 day session with Cyndi Mahlstadt to make her

"Darcy ~ A Tree Faerie". Cyndi had lots of students waiting eagerly to attend this sold out capacity class.

"Darcy" is a 12" beautiful and whimsical mixture of fabrics, wire, beads, natural materials, and found objects. We learned lots of  techniques, like "Darcy" head, its a press mold that Cyndi created made out of Apoxie Clay. We got to paint her wonderful little face of smiles, she is so cute. We also got to create delicate vines using wire for her arms, added beads; designed and creating awesome wings, wire fingers. As well as sharing with us some embellishing tips and tricks that can be used on lots of other projects.

And here's my version of "Darcy ~ A Tree Faerie" I love her.....enjoy <3

We only go around once. 

There's really not time to be afraid. 

So stop. 

Try something you've never tried.

         Teach it.

         Do it.

         Risk it.

                
                         ~ Jon Blais

Fall Inspiration Sept 09

So far I've learned how to make a beginning doll, sizes vary from, 4' to 7'  and 8' to 11' inches.  Now with this intermediate doll pattern, 12' to 14' tall, it has a bit more shape to the face and body. As well as the foot starts to take on a more realistic shape.  

Which fabric should I choose for her body? So many options. For now, I stick to 100% Muslin, I like this material due to the strong weave it has. It can take lots of pulling and stretching and has the ability  to endure when I get frustrated and start getting rough with her, I know she can handle it.  I notice this picture her hair was pinned on the first time after I gave her the first hair cut, and pinned scrap fabric and lace to so she didn't sit on the sewing table naked during the work in progress. 

This doll becomes more like a puzzle, she has very sexy legs, posable arms and fingers, and a two demential head.  I really enjoyed creating the fingers on this pattern and she also had time to get married as you can seen. Looking at her at the draft stage, I remember how excited I was copying the pattern, tracing, and finely getting to cut her out on the Muslin fabric, then stepping back and looking at her like this for a couple of days. It's like giving birth, or getting something new, of acquiring something that you've always wanted. Kinda weird or for you new doll makers, like me, pretty amazing.

Once I got the legs, arms and head on her, it was off to see what she was in the mood to ware. Since autumn, fall, and halloween are coming up, most of the fabric stores had these colors in stock. I love fall colors and gravitated to the richness of silks, and oranges, browns, greens, tans, etc.  It's nice to know I can get the nicer fabric because I only need small amounts to dress the dolls, which makes it more exciting to me. I loved the challenge of sewing the fabrics right on the doll, to make her blouse, her cuff links, and stockings, shoes and skirts. Once that was done, I wanted to give her more pa-zaz, so I added beading. This was so much fun, but I had to stop! It was to much over kill and she could of ending up drowning in it.

Her hair, at first her hair was really long, I gave her braids but it was to much hair, then I got a pair of scissors in my hand and starting to cut, the more I cut the better I could see her face, then I knew she was going to have some type of a "shag". Remember that hair style? I do.  Then it was the face, I'm still in the stamp phase of doll making, and I admit it's getting much less intimating to take a stab at it and do it over again, and again,  until I like her features.  The next doll has to be a sculpted face project.

Yikes...did I say that?

Till next time, lets continue to aim for the moon...not because it is easy, but it is hard. And because it is possible.




Much Love,
Andrea

Evie Mae Doll

Last weekend I finished a terrific two day workshop with Cyndi Malhstadt at Piecemakers in Costa Mesa~~ Here is a picture of Cyndi and me at the end of class day two. This gal has been doing craft projects for years, vist her blog at www.Mcyndimahlstadt.com/blog or www.MeadowBugStudio.com to see her wonderful work. 

"Evie Mae" is a little fairy with an inverted silk rose as a skirt who hangs on a cool stand. Absolutely no sewing~~amazing. Guess who else was in the class? 

Patti Culea, &  Barbara Willis~ that's who....

I was lucky enough to get them to sign their books for me and snap a picture with them too.  I was so excited to see these talented teachers still learning.  These ladies are authors of unique books in doll making. Did I tell you I used a whole bottle of Tacky Glue! I also signed up for Patti Culea's class Nov. 7 and 8. Would anyone else like to come? It is to make an doll you like from her books~~she will be teaching techniques,  tricks of the trade, if you well.    Check out Piecemakers.com, click to classes, then click to dolls. You will find all the classes for the month of Sept. and a new quarter post of classes should arrive before the end of this month.

Bon couture!

"Creativity is inventing, experimenting, growing, taking risks, breaking rules, making mistakes, and having fun."

~ Mary Lou Cook

Cloth Doll Making

I had the opportunity of attending the "Seaside Dolls Club" in Long Beach, Ca. on Sunday, May 31, 2009. I got the chance to make a cloth doll. The class started out by introductions of each new student and then the Seaside Dolls Club members. Most of the students had some type of sewing experience for several years, however all participants were encouraged to forge forward with this unique craft. We started out by picking out a bag with a pre-cut fabric doll pattern, that contained one body & head, two arms, two legs. Then we stuff them, (there is a specific way of stuffing dolls, who knew?) After stuffing, we had to hand sew the limbs together, as you can see, I got to get her put together, which I was so happy about! I still get to give her a name, put hair on, and clothes her, which I will be getting to this week. I had a great time doing this project and have already ordered some cloth doll books and beginner patters! Yupiee!!!

I was excited that I was around such artistic ladies, amazing work these gals have harness over the years. These gals are a hoot, not to mention that the Chair person and member is my old LKWD HS, home economics teacher Polly Frank-Womack. As well as being the Chair person for the LB Chamber of Embroidery organization. These ladies shared wonderful stories with us all, and after a day with them I decided to join "Seaside Dolls Club", can't wait to share more with you all.

Don't forget every one is creative, just give it a try!