Getting Older

It's a great Sunday afternoon today, a bit over cast, which has not been seen in a while, but today, Isabelle and Grizzly, are enjoying the shade together. The Labrador and Chihuahua are the same age believe it or not, they've been together for 10 years, giving us humans, love and devotion daily.

Clock Image ~ pretty neat

Route 66 thru Upland, CA.

As some of you may know, I moved last year (2008) from Anaheim, Ca. to a quaint little town called Upland, CA. Well, being in south county most of the time, I didn't make it out to the Inland Empire much, so didn't think much went on here, until almost, exactly, one year later. The first time was about three months ago when I got to meet a mentor of mine by the name of "Cesar Millan" the famous Dog Whisper, on the National Geographic Channel, here in Upland, at the Pet Expo.  Huge surprise.

I started thinking, maybe this town has a bit of history or something that made it somewhat historical.
So,  I looked it up and found that George and W.B. Chaffey were brothers with a purpose. The year was 1882 and they arrived in California from Canada seeking a new place for a colony. The wide stretch of green against the foothills was lush and fertile and they knew they had found what they were looking for.  Knowing that one of the streets I drive on, every day, established in 1882, and carried pioneers, settlers, and rustlers in covered wagons, makes me stop and take a closer look at where I live. 
Likewise, this mountain behind my house, it's called Mt. Baldy, it's top drawer in the ski season.
Surprise appreciation, came knocking on my door through the "Belle Armoire Jewelry" art magazine. This quarterly publication post articles in beadwork, mixed-media, claywork, and wirework.   In the Autumn 2009 publication story "Fragments" by Melanie L. Doerman;  awareness of new mixed-media approaches, design aspect, as well as products, beads, fabric, and other various materials.

Continuing to read, then smack-dab in the middle of the 2nd paragraph listed "The Garden of Beaden", in Upland, California. I was in shock. I had to read it two more times to make sure it was really in Upland, CA. The very same Upland, CA that I was living in.   The next day I visited "The Garden of Beaden", got to meet Irene Sanchez, the talented owner of this wonderful bead shop of eleven years and shared my story with her. We chatted for quite a while, she shared lots of facts, and techniques' with me. She mentioned how surprised she was, when the article was published, the customer who has been coming to her shop for years was the featured artist in the magazine. New customers like me have been keeping  "The Garden of Beaden" front doors revolving more then usual lately. Irene likes to share her techniques, and encourages everyone to try new things, when every you get the chance. 
I signed up for the soldering pendent class. What I knew about soldering, you got to use a torch, that's awesome. Guaranteed fun with metals and a flame, couldn't go wrong here. 

Our class was small and intimate with very talented ladies all empowering each other with there own pendent technique. Our instructor "Dana Hudson Primavera" inspired us to go beyond what we originally had in mind to create.  The pendent consisted of picking a image, using nickel/copper sheet, resin, torch, and metal stamps. Finishing up the pendent project was pouring "resin" over the image to make it appear shiny, and magnified, then it needs to sit for a couple of days to dry.  We get to pick up are pendents, on Monday. 

I'm happy to say, this little town of Upland, California is growing on me,  I look forward to more opportunities, Upland has to teach me.


Much Love ~
Andrea 

Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.

~ Theodore Roosevelt (1858-1919)

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

First Mermaid

Wow, I finished a real three dimensional doll. She took me one whole week from the time I got up in the morning with a tall cup of coffee, till late into the evening just hearing the crickets. Shuss, it was a lot of fun :-)

I got to get the pattern from Seaside Doll Club portfolio book. Found some great fabric from a couple of weeks ago when I spent hours in a fabric store, sat myself down and picked’ thru the scrap barrel for hours.Pick up some great hair for her, had the shells from Bolsa Chica Beach and I got started. It was quite a journey and I loved every minute of it! I'm learning how to use freezer paper, but I've really embraced it. I do like the tracing paper onto the patter then on the Manila file folders; this is just part of the process so I'm embracing it by making sure I take my time to cut each pattern piece slowly and carefully. (Not really, I don't like this part at all) Ok, another thing was turning the pattern right side out. Wow, what a feet this was~! especially with the hands and fingers. I jacked up the first hand & fingers pretty good, then I said to myself, okay just take it more slowly on the 2nd hand & fingers and it should be okay.

NOPE, I jacked the 2nd hand & fingers even more then the first! It took me a whole day to get the fabric for the arms again, trace the patters for right & left hands & fingers, sew them together, and with way more patient this time, turn the hands & fingers right side out. Whew......lots of work on this part of "First Mermaid". I did mess up a little bit on both, but not nearly compared to the first time around. And I was able to hide the small seam tiers in the side fingers by putting "white pipe cleaners" in each of the fingers and created rings for her out of seed beads for her to wear. Even Mermaids would love to enjoy some bling!!! So, I was happy with the fix.

The next thing that sticks out in my mind is the stuffing. Stuffing, Stuffing, Stuffing is an art form in it's self. I've read two chapters on this topic of my doll books "General stuffing Techniques" & "Specific Stuffing Techniques" and I almost went crossed eyed when I was done. Then I was so rattled that I was almost afraid to give it a go, but I forged forward and had my own experience with it. What I can advise you of is you’ll need stuffing forks and the best you can afford of “polyester fiberfill” and a whole lot of patients and you’ll get thru it just like I did. It’s bound to get easier, right? I’ll keep you posted.

"First Mermaid" is 14’ tall and has moveable hands, fingers, and arms. To stuff her it took almost a bag and half of stuffing.... Who would have known, I would have bet the farm this would not had been the case!

Anyhow.. The next dilemma was drawing the face, such a large space for her face to see every mistake in her eyes or nose or lips it was endless worrie on my part. I did draw lots of drafts on scrap paper and fabrics until I got the results somewhat better then when I started. I did reference techniques from a book called "Lets Face it" by Elinor Peace Bailey and "Cloth Doll Couture" by Patti Culea both of these ladies have great dolls and here books are pretty good reading too. Both ladies suggest that you keep some kind of small note book or pad of paper with you at all times to draw small faces everyday to help with this practiced skill. I do need to get better at this, and I do think it’s true. You’ll only get better with practice.

Gosh…..now the real fun begins with accessories, her dress, lace, finger nail painting, necklace making, gluing, sea weed hair, headband beads, sand dollar top, etc. What a blast this was to put on “First Mermaid”. It was weird thing, I almost heard her talk to me, but not in voices that you and I communicate in, it was full blown intuition, as I was fussing over her so much. “First Mermaid” was a hoot to create, and put together, I recommend it everyone!!!!

You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, “I lived through this horror. I can take this next thing that comes along."  Eleanor Roosevelt (1884-1962)