Here you will find art dolls, marionettes, beaded icons, journal quilts, as well as various creatures and creations that inhabit my world. And because I am intrigued by all sorts of creative endeavors, you can never really tell what may end up here. Some of these artistic expressions are for sale, some are not, but all have a story to tell--I believe art is a form of communication--it can shout for joy or can cry, but it all has something to say. So listen with your eyes. All images/art work copyrighted Linda Hansen 2006-2008.
This Bone ValBone. A direct result of just “messing around” with the bag-o-skulls I bought. He is holding a little plastic sword–it makes him feel more powerful. When you are as thin as he is (AND he didn’t drink his milk like his mother told him to) you stand a great chance of breaking something.
I am a BIG Terry Pratchett/Disc World fan. If you have seen the movie “Hogfather” or read the book then you will understand when this next guy will be. He will be “Death” dressed up as the Hogfather. I intend on putting a pillow under his coat (just hanging out so you can see it).
Ok, bear with me on this one…..when I was at work one day (my son and I clean a craft store 3 nights a week), I saw these skulls in a bag. My first impression was that I could make some dolls out of them…then as I was sitting in my studio my muse visited me and whispered that perhaps I could sculpt over them.
I use air drying clay (they are primarily made of paper–I will never use the poly clays due to the potential toxicity–now off my soap box). When I and other doll makers make heads and bodies you must put a light inner core. This help to keep the weight down as well as help the clay cure thoroughly. I have tried aluminum foil (as per Jack Johnson) and most recently Styrofoam eggs (per my Dutch Touch class). Both give passible results but I am always looking to improve. These skulls are hollow plastic and have the built-in right dimensions. I added the paper clay to a head and this is the result. Yes, the photo is fuzzy-I have been having a heck of a time with my camera (anybody got any suggestions for a good one?? And where to get a good deal??) I really like how the head turned out, it seems appear more “real” to me. I am now working on his body.
I am stuck on my gypsy doll–I am waiting for Scott to quilt her skirt. I was going to work on the “frog” doll but was getting frustrated with his size (I WILL go back and make him, I always do. I rarely leave a project unfinished, yes, that is strange for an artist isn’t it???) But when I got going on this head it just seemed to “fall” into place and I can hardly wait to work on him. He will be a blind centaur–I bought some earring at the State Fair out of bone and they are too big for my ears but they will work perfect for horns on his head. I have been wanting to make a centaur for a long time but have been distressed by how “demonic/devilish” a face with horns looks. I will post more pictures of him as I progress…I am trying a different body constrution too, I want him to be sitting. And then there are his hooves to work out, hmmmmm.
Yes it is true–what you see is a 2 headed teddy bear. I got the idea one day looking at a magazine and my poor my-optic eyes thought it was a 2 headed bear. My thought was, “hey, cool!” But, upon putting my glasses I realized that I had seen it wrong–but what the heck–I can make my own right???
The rabbit is my attempt at a pattern variation–I am thinking an elephant would be good too.
My plan is to get my butt in gear someday and make up the pattern to sell. But in the mean time–they sit in my studio and keep me company.
On a personal note: our rat is till wobbling around. Some days are good and some days are bad–I just can’t seem to decide the quality of life for a rat. She “seems” to not be in pain. So we let her be, the kids handle her carefully (and we check often to see if she has “passed” in the night.)
My cold is gone–yippee! Fall is here and the squash and cucs are in abundance. I started my blackberry cordial last week so it will be ready to give as gifts for Christmas. We went to the Evergreen State Fair (in Monroe) this last weekend. Max got a second for is picture (he was disgusted with that), Mimi got a first for hers, Scott’s quilt got a second (something about the binding–it will be in a book this fall), and my Dutch Touch doll, Cyril, got a “runner up” Judges choice award/ribbon as well as a first ribbon…just goes to show that it is the “pretty” dolls that get the most attention.
Well, it was a looooooooooong week last week. I came down the the “cold/flu” from hell. At least I think it was a flu like thing–I couldn’t seem to find the thermometer, duh?! How dumb is that???? Anway, I was tired and weak all week long–and then the last few days of the week we had temps here in the 90’s. ARGH! I could not get into my studio because I either was too sick or it was too hot (our studio is upstairs so it get stifling). As much as I wanted to create I just could not seem to drag my butt up there. Ontop of that I am feeling really stalled on this gypsy doll–it is bigger than I wanted, and I am afraid it will not turn out how I have envisioned (it will be just plain ugly ;0(
I got my cat doll back from Art Doll Quarterly and am disappointed that 2 of her finger nails fell off and what-the-heck, her finger was ”blown” (in fabric doll this happens when the finger material gives out at the tip and the stuffing/armature comes out.) Now, I KNOW for a fact that she did not leave that way and how could they have possibly have handled her so her finger would blow out??? I understand her losing her nails (well, kinda). So I fixed her and just chalk it up to the price you have to pay when it leaves your hands. I did put my Dutch Touch doll in the fair. I usually don’t do that well (I think it is because I live among philistines–this not an arty community), but I think this doll is very “pretty”. If this doll does well it will prove my point–that they are prejudice against “ugly/strange” dolls. HA!
We took the kids to my mom’s to visit (Whidbey Island), spent the night and onto the water slides in Blaine we went. Today my butt is killing me (bruised) from being tossed around on those slides. We all did have a good time though. So now today I have decided to put away the gypsy doll for a while and work on the “frog” doll I have in mind. I feeling more energized about getting into the studio after I made that decision. The frog will be oriental and I plan on using some kimono sleeves that my mom gave me in the costume. Ha, wish me luck or perhaps “may the muse be with you”.
Ahh friends..what would a girl do with out them??? Got together with some girlfriends to “play art” together. The girls showered me with lots of handmade art goodies (aren’t they just the best!!) and this amazing chocolate cake. Truth be told, I did not just turn one year old but the amount of candles that it would require, would fill a grocery sack, LOL . Notice that grey on my old head? Jeanette is laughing in the corner–Lesley’s batteries died just before the picture so I had to “pose” blowing out the candle. Can you say pucker???
That is Jeanette on the left, then Lesley, me and then Connie (the hostess with the most-est). I bought a book on making crowns awhile back, (every girl should have at least one!)… and we had a play date where we made some. Poor Lesley could not make it so we made her one and sent it to her–here we are all posing wearing them. Sigh, the time just flies when you are having a great time ;0)
Yesterday was warm-mid 80’s (finally-we’ve had rain for the last week and temps in the upper 60’s to low 70’s, ARGH!!!). I tootled out to the mailbox hoping my issue of Mary Jane’s farm was there (it seems to be VERY late in coming, hmmmmmmm). No magazine, but what I did find was better ;0) It was a check for $100 from Art Doll Quarterly–payment for printing pictures of my cat doll. Whoopee!!!! Scott has now informed me that I am now a “professional”…I have sold my dolls and art before but he seems to think that this adds extra stature to my resume LOL. Does this mean I have to act like a professional? What does that look like?? Should I buy a “Hillary Clinton” pant suit LOLOLOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This is to let you all know that I will be selling my zine collection (Scott begged me to NOT sell my Teesha Moore ones). It includes: issues 1and beyond of the Gleaner, there are some early Artitude’s, Dogged Earred, Collage Cats, Artella and lots more. Some are one shot zines, there are 2 in pdf form, and some early ones by people who now have become well known. I will be posting these in lots to be sold on my ETSY site in the next week. I am selling them to buy a better camera (the one I am using is just not good enough for the photos I need to take) and I need room in my side of the our studio.
Here she is as of Aug. 1st. The skirt (actually this will end up being her slip) is an old slip I had from my days running/owning a vintage clothing/antique shop. It is made out of some fine satin fabric with very close pleats but the pleats are shredded in some areas but I liked the look anyway. The material next to her is some of the material I got from Pamela Armas..(in this challenge you send her $20 and she sends you a package of trims and material to use on your doll-at least “some” of it must be used in the doll to qualify). It will become a vest that I will bead upon. The shirt is some raw silk that my mom found at a garage sale and again the sheer fabric over her sleeves is more of the challenge fabric. I am in the process of beading her cuffs. The scarf over her head is just one I had sitting around. I think it looks good so it may end up on her in some fashion (is covers her baldness–she is very shy about it).
On a sadder note: our pet rat, Oreo, is dying. From what I understand, rats don’t live that long and this seems to be the case. Like most of our pets she was a rescue rat—one day Dh found her on the sidewalk in a “plastic container” in front to his work (it was a hot April day)…just abandoned. She was young and no one else wanted her so we took her in and the kids just adored her. Now it is almost 2 years later and she is not looking very well. We all cried over her one night and then she got better–well now she is VERY unwell again and the kids are asking me to put her out of her misery. I said, “just how do you suggest I do that???”. No one has any good ideas–now this is where I get kinda sick, but I thought about putting her in the freezer so she would just get real sleepy and die. But argh—I can not do that because I think–how do people not know that that is a painful way to die?????? Sometimes I think she is dead because she is very “still”….anybody got any good ideas????
Last weekend my daughter and I were doing the bi-weekly shopping and came upon a barn-sale. We stopped by and bought a few treasures. One being this tin doll house. I have read somewhere that when you have 3 of something, then it is a collection-so now it is official, I collect tin/metal dollhouses. Now, I digress here. When I was little (o.k. till I was about 25) I was what is called in polite society a “big girl” or “chubby” (ohhh, I hate just even writing that, grrrrrr). Anyway, sometime before the age 10 my parents gave me a metal doll house such as this for Christmas. Later in life my mom informs me (several times) that she had to throw it away because I sat on it and crushed it. This story (and her other “gems”) made me fell “large”….I hated it. I am no longer classified a “chubby” but still feel ”large” at times. When I bought my first metal doll house (actually Dh let me buy it–he’s sooooo sweet to me). It was my way of healing that memory and kinda ”thumbing my nose” at my mom, ”see, I am NOT that person anymore!!!”. Call it weird but it has helped. And it doesn’t hurt that I think the graphics in them are so sweet and nostalgic. (again, there are squatters in it–my daughter has moved some of her furniture in–sigh, real estate at my house doesn’t just sit around!)
These are called “globe thistles”. This flower/plant is just a bit taller than I am and I am 5′ 8″, so yes..they grow very big. My husband is baffled why I have a lot of these in my yard and garden, so here are my reasons: they are pretty, the bees love them and bees are good (can you see the bees on the left pictures? Every time I was trying to get a shot of them they would move to the other side–very camera shy. LOL), they are easy to grow, the deer don’t like them, and the birds love the seeds. In front of my kitchen window where I do dishes (by hand) is a big patch, when it is fall/winter the finches will do all sorts of funny acrobatics to eat the seeds right in front of me–very fun to watch.
These pansies are “volunteers”. This phrase cracks my best friend up. I have only planted these once and now years later they keep coming back. It is neat to see all the color variations that appear. Some I leave in the rocks or veggie patches, some I replant in other places. My danish Grandfather loved pansies so when ever I see them I think of him–I suppose that is why I have a soft spot for him? Do you have any flowers that remind you of someone??
Birthdays–I turned 49 (!?) on the 29thof this month. July is always a stressful month for me. I can ignore the dysfunctionin my family most of the time but when it comes to holidays then I am forced (!?) to deal with it. This year my dad has forgotten my birthday, sigh. He only has 2 children so there is really no excuse (and there is along list of other slights). I don’t think his emotional distance has effected me much until I don’t hear from him and then I feel the rejection and hurt all over again. I did have a good dinner with kids and husband–we went out for Thai food (oh so very yummy), Noel bought me (with his own money–he was VERY proud of himself) a big box of really good truffles (I am saving those for mommy quiet reading times), Max, Mimi and Scott bought me lots of batik fabric (I have a weakness for batiks) and my darling honey bought me a tattoo gift certif. He says this is the last one–so he figured that he better bless it since he knew I had my heart set on it. This one is to be a phoenix. Ii is a sign of death, rebirth and renewal (my role as a mother/homeschooler is coming to an end in a few years and I will embark on a new “career”, my daily walk with Christ (I am daily crucified with Christ and His renewing work on my mind and heart), and my continued healing of my past.)
My daughter’s birthday is on the 30th and this day went much better…I took her on a surprise trip to the Rosalie Whyel Museum of Doll Art . It was a very fun trip…the museum is next to the Bellevue library and she was most puzzled that I would take her to the library for her birthday. We spent 3 hours there and could of stayed longer but we were getting hungry. If you live in the area and like dolls I would highly recommend it. The off to do lunch and some shopping with her birthday money. Then home to have dinner with Grandpa and Grandma H and family. She had a very good day and it was good to concentrate on making her day special (and I had a good time too ;0)
