Mistique, my new workshop doll, is published in Doll Collector!

I was so pleasantly surprised to open the September issue of Doll Collector and find a picture of Mistique, my new workshop doll inside the magazine.  Although I have had other photos of my dolls in Doll Collector, it is always a thrill to see one of my creations in the magazine that started my journey into figurative art.  I never knew that dolls could be created as an art form until I picked up my first copy of Contemporary Doll, which many years later became Doll Collector.  Believe it or not it was before Google existed!   While I opened each page of each new issue of Contemporary Doll I was so inspired by the works of Robert McKinley, Antonette Cely, Lisa Lichtenfels, E. J. Taylor, Nancy Wiley, along with many other talented figurative artists.  This inspiration led me into designing and creating my own dolls that now appear inside the pages of the very magazine that started it all.  How Cool is that? 

The Mistique Workshop that I am teaching on A for Artistic is starting July 23rd.  You can find out more information about it and sign up for it if you choose by clicking on this link
http://www.aforartistic.com/Mistique.html

Warm Hugs

I was very moved by a website I found while surfing the net during the winter holidays.  It is called Enchanted Makeovers and its website is http://enchantedmakeovers.org/    The organization transforms homeless shelters for women and children into spaces for individuals to thrive in, not just survive.  It sets the stage for individuals living in the shelters to become empowered during the process.  I was so moved by what the organization was doing that I contacted Terry and asked her if it would help to create a pattern and tutorial for a cloth doll that her organization could use.  I wanted to develop a pattern that was very child safe, easy to make, and very warm and cuddly.  I couldn’t think of anything better than a pattern of a kitten made out of fleece called Warm Hugs.  I have spent the past few days of my 51 days of art creating the pattern for Warm Hugs.  The pattern is not complete but I wanted to share what I created so far.  I still have to try out the pattern piece for the tail and develop clothing for Warm Hugs.  Once the pattern and tutorial is developed I will also be sharing it for free with anyone that would like to make the dolls to donate to organizations that could use them to brighten a little ones life such as police departments, hospitals, safe houses, etc.  I will keep you posted on the progress!

Day 3 of 51 Days of Art

 Today I decided to join in on a challenge on Cloth Doll Studio called Make a Face Challenge.  A pattern for the face called Queen of Hearts designed by Sharon Mitchell must be used for the challenge.  I traced the template, sewed around it, and cut it out.  I’m not quite sure what I will make with it yet but will keep you posted!

Day 2 of 51 Days of Art

I started off day 2 of my 51 days of art by taking a nice long early morning walk.  As I returned home I walked to the back of the house to take a peek at my gardens.  The long stemmed rose in the picture that I used as a subject for my watercolor journal page was picked from one of my rose gardens.   I never tire of the beauty and fragrance of a rose!

One may live without bread, not without roses.
Jean Richepin

Day 1 of 51 Days of ART or the Shell of a Nut left Upon my Doorstep

A few weeks ago I found this open walnut shell on the back steps of our screened in porch just sitting there waiting to be picked up.  As you can see it has the shape of a heart inside of it.  I brought it inside and after showing it to my husband; placed it on a shelf for the day that I would have time to use it as a subject for a watercolor painting. Today I took the walnut shell off of its shelf, poured myself a cup of tea, and started a watercolor journal page using the shell as the subject.  Today is the first of 51 days that I have chosen to take off from my day job and follow my heart and dreams of creating art every day. I thought it befitting to start this journey of the heart making a watercolor sketch of the heart within the shell that nature left for me to find.   I invite you to join me on this quest, follow your heart, follow your dreams, and share with me the tales you have to tell of your travels as I will share with you mine. 

“ Sometimes you gotta let your heart lead you, even if you know its someplace you know you’re not supposed to be”         -Van Wilder 

“Let yourself be silently drawn by the strange pull of what you really love.  It will not lead you astray.”       - Rumi, Essential Rumi

I was very Honored to Receive the Award for the Original Doll Catagory at the Figuartive Artists Consortium!

I just wanted to share that I was very honored to receive the award for the original doll category of the Figurative Artists Consortium Competition in Ottawa last Sunday for my new workshop doll Mistique!  The award itself is a beautiful work of art created by my friend Diane Blewett.  And to top it off it was presented to me by my friend Peggy Wilson.  I met Peggy at the very first doll making retreat that I attended many years ago.  At the time I didn't know how to needle-sculpt but was bound and determined to learn by the end of the retreat!  As I was trying to figure it out Peggy kindly pulled two stuffed doll heads out of her bag and asked me if I would like to sit with her and needle-sculpt one together.   She made the process of learning how to needle-sculpt so much more understandable and fun.  I have continued to develop my skills since then and have started to teach what I have learned in the hopes of continuing to promote doll making as an artform and to share the joy that I experience each day when I set out to create something new.
If you are interested in my new workshop Mistique you can find out more information and sign up on this link if you wish
 http://www.aforartistic.com/Mistique.html

Mistique is on A for Artistic!

You can sign up for my new online class  by clicking on  Mistique Workshop   It will bring you to the A for Artistic website for a course outline, description, and to sign up if you would like. She is a 17" cloth ball jointed, needle-sculpted doll inspired by the beautiful 1920's boudoir dolls.   I can't wait for the class to begin!