Linda December 23rd, 2008
I emailed Staci Dumaski at Art Doll Quarterly about my Gypsy doll and Satyr doll, here is her reply:
“I had a look at your Satyr article today, and think that you’ve hit upon a fabulous idea that I’ll be happy to share with the readers of ADQ. You can look for the article in the Summer issue!”
This means though that I will be in the summer issue 2x-once for the satyr “how-to” article and the Travels of the Gypsy article. Very exciting stuff.
On a more personal note: it has snowed here considerably. I am struggling with depression right now (and this is on meds too!). I have always had a hard time with this time of year–why? I honestly don’t know, perhaps it could be the lack of sun light or even just lack of “bonded” family. While the world is celebrating jolly good cheer–I am working on getting by and not having too high of expectations. Pitiful huh?
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Linda December 16th, 2008
It has snowed here in the last few days and while it may only be a few inches the weather has turned VERY cold (well if you live in the Pacific Northwest that is!). It has not gotten above freezing during the day and I think it was in the “teens” last night. I have been wrapping presents, baking and “finishing up” my shopping. We are told that it is supposed to snow in the next few days–so we have me home bound (which does not bother me in the least.) I can tell xmas is almost here by the way the kids are getting antsy. Max’s b-day is on the 18th so there is that to plan for too. He will be the big 13. Ahh, how time does fly.
I have put my bat doll on hold during this time and am looking forward to showing what I have been making doll dress wise (and needle felted monkey). Expect lots of pics after the first. Cookies and kids are taking the majority of my time right now–now to try and not let the cookies take up most of my pants!!!!
I have noticed that I am approaching the 100th blog mark The trend seems to be to host a give away to celebrate this–I will have to think if I want to follow the pack ;0) so stay tuned. I may be in the mood to give one of my dolls away.
Linda December 9th, 2008
Below is the link to the show that the gypsy dolls (2008) were in:
http://www.materialgirlsdollclub.com/quiltshowinfo/2008/index.htm
Linda December 4th, 2008
As promised, here are pics of her painted, wigged and “wrapped”. Her hair is mohair. The flash must of been set because she looks washed out. Sorry, still trying to figure out this camera–but love it non-the-less.
Linda December 2nd, 2008
I have been busy making Xmas presents (I will post pics after Christmas-my daughter some times looks at my blog!!!!) But in between I have been working again on my “Bat”. The hands have been sculpted as well as the “feet”. The feet will be “wrapped” in cloth so I have not bothered to sculpt them. She has a “shoulder plate”. I am trying a new way of doing a chest–I want to be able to make a dress with a lower neck line–yeah, she look strange LOL! Where I have added the hands/forearms and feet, I wrapped the wire with floral tape and then added plumbers putty (the gray areas). It add strength as well as adheres the wires.
These are pictures of her with a cloth stocking type of body (ala Jack Johnson). She will be a “hanging” doll as opposed to one that stands. Her fingers are rather thin and I am hoping all the reinforcement will help. I have since painted, sealed, and wigged her. I dyed some cheese cloth and wrapped her hands (showing her fingers), feet and head. It will be easy to see when I post the next set of pics. What am I trying to communicate with this doll? I really don’t know, all I know is, I want her to look worn and shabby. An old bat–no pun intended, really!
Linda November 24th, 2008
I was asked about the contest so here is the update. Unbeknown-est to me, there were 2 categories—one was for customers and one was for employees. Now sometimes they don’t consider me an employee–technically I am a contracted to them–I clean the store 3 nights a week, and sometimes, as is the case with this, I am an employee, go figure, sigh. I did win first place for the employee category. It was a nice $40 gift card, which I promptly spent on employee shopping night (stocking stuffers for Scott and more art supplies).
I am also working on the bat doll…I am now getting to the fun part. She has a “body” of sorts. I have finished painting her features and details and will begin on costuming her. I am not sure how far I will get before Xmas as I have some projects that I want to do–doll clothes for Mimi’s doll, perhaps some felt slippers, a felted monkey from a kit for Max, and Xmas cookies to bake. (And the gypsy doll to pack back up and send off–AGAIN!)
I will post pics of the bat doll in the next few days.
Linda November 19th, 2008
I always find it interesting to see where creative people create (besides in their brains–don’t want to see that now do we??!!). This is my corner of the studio–I am in the midst of sculpting the bat/woman doll so I have a lot of “body” type books sitting out in front (and beside) me. When I sit at my desk I think it is so clean and well organized….and then when Scott loaded the pictures, all I could see was a mass of shapes and colors (and THAT is even WITH my glasses on LOL). I adore my desk…I got it free from down the road–it was sitting on someones porch with a ”free” sign on it…it is huge. It probably was a library desk, it has lots of bumps and scratches on it–very lived in. You can see my doll Jaynie (my BJD) sitting on my tool box encouraging me.
This picture is a closer look at my desk/command center. The black and white book on the left, I bought from a library book sale and has lovely big pictures of glamorous movie stars in it. It is good for getting close up looks of noses and things.
Linda November 18th, 2008
Just text, no pictures. Gypsy doll, Longo Drom, came home on Ffriday–I was able to restore her to her original position. Now if she is bent, she REALLY is broken. I also received in the mail a letter from Pamela (the lady who in charge and originated the gypsy challenge). In it she indicated that she had picked out some dolls from this years show that she wanted to have sent along to Art Doll Quarterly to be part of a “Gypsy Doll ” article. Life does take funny turns doesn’t it??? So again this doll will be traveling off, this time to Calif. to make another appearance. I guess she really is a gypsy?!
Linda November 17th, 2008
This is my most recent w.i.p. (work in progress). Yes, it is a bat, well sorta. I am still doing anthropomorphic dolls and since I am soooo high tech. I am drying the paper clay on the register in my studio. She is busty…normally I don’t do busts on dolls because I don’t want it to detract from the sculpt. I am trying to do a “breast plate” type of doll so yes, she looks kinda odd.
Linda November 14th, 2008
Here is Mimi’s newest line being modeled by Gene….. click on each image, then click on the thumbnail that pops up for a better look!
Yo, it’s me Mimi, and Gene here, I’m here to tell you about the clothes above. Yes I made them, me, not mom (Linda as you call her) all me with no help! (I’m so proud). Well any way, I first started with the apron because ya know Agnes? Gene’s her mom ,and you know all moms have to cook, so she cooks in style! (and I had a little mixing bowl that was the right size). Next came the long dress. I thought that she needed something dressy even though she doesn’t have a boy friend ( that would be fun!). My grandma makes barbie clothes ( I don’t know what she’s using but, they ALWAYS end up way too big) and they fit Gene (the purple one and flag one) then a month had past and was October (HALLOWEEN YAH) and I thought she needed an outfit too, so she’s Tinkerbell and the last one is the outfit she came in.
the end
HISTORY OF GENE
It’s me again, now I’m telling about the history of Gene. It all started when mom got Agnes. I wanted a bjd (Ball Jointed Doll) too! So at my birthday time, I saved up a lot of money ($60 bucks) then mom took me to my first doll show. We looked around and bought stuff and then I saw the table with all the bjds. I gawked in “aw” then, then came the prices (bap ba bom) $100 dollars to $500 and the sale one were $70 then my mom showed me Gene at another table and the price was $30. (hallelujah!) A few months later her arm (sniff) at the elbow (sniff) SNAPED (waaaaaaa). Then mom miracalously fix it (hooray). But its has a little mark there.
The end (again)
