I received my complimentary copies yesterday. I always get a little queasy when I see myself or my stuff in print. Guess I am afraid it will make me look goofy. The article is 3 full pages long and has lots of big close up pictures. It had been edited a lot but did keep the “flavor/intent” of what I was trying to get across. Originally the idea (sculpting doll heads on Halloween skulls) has been accepted by Art Doll Quarterly–they changed editors and the new editor rejected it. I had been wanting to get into other publications so sent the idea to Doll Crafter and Costuming..that editor gave it the green light. Happy ending after all. The publishing world works in their own mysterious way and it is different from magazine to magazine (we-Scott and I–have been learning this over the course of the last year–see his blog for the magazines/books he has been-or will be-in.)
The trip to the beach for our birthdays was fun. While the weather at home was 100 degrees plus, the temp at the beach was in the low 70′s. Kids played and played on the beach–they found out that you can get sand in the most unusual places LOL. As a surprise, we bought Mimi a horse ride on the beach. It was her favorite part of the vacation. I will post pictures in subsequent posts.
Well I made it home in time to sign for our new camera. After unpacking boxes and boxes of packing material and instruction booklets (added all up, they are about as thick as War and Peace!!!), the new camera emerged from the box into our happy waiting hands. After the battery was charged, off we went to take pictures. So far it seems that the big $$$ we spent was a worthwhile investment–the pictures seem a lot clearer. What do you think???
This is my mannequin challenge doll. I added paper clay to the head, hands and feet. She has been painted and has “drawers” on.
I was going to make her dress out of old hankies (clean of course!!!) but could not help it, the skulls with the button eyes fabric called to me and when a skull talks, you must listen LOL! Her hair is mohair…I like how her braids stand up on top of her head.
She is sitting in a chair I made out of foam core board–I’ll take final pics when the chair has been completely decorated.
When my daughter and I went to the doll and teddy bear show, I bought an american doll jointed doll-she is a Goodreau with a Rumour head. She is not resin but vinyl and while this makes her cheaper, she still was not that cheap. I have become endeared with these type of dolls because the whole idea is to “customize” them; add different eyes, repaint them (called a face-up), change wigs etc. As a doll maker the idea of a doll that I can constantly change (and is meant to change) is very appealing. I made the wig out of a sheepskin rug I bought as Ikea. It was bugging me, her cold looking bald head. When I am done with the few projects that are sitting on my desk I will make her clothes (I am toying with the idea of calling her Lady Door from the book Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman.)
Posing on the cabinet (being her is a Mark Ryden children’s book–believe it or NOT!). I have added blush, eyeshadow and made her lips wider (oh, and added my trademark mole!)
A close up of her lovely head and perky lips, LOL!!!
I can hardly wait to change her eyes to something light blue!!!
Here is my next doll to be done. The head again is molded on a plastic Halloween skull. She was going to be a Sphynx but I kept envisioning a doll with bat wings. I could “see” how I was going to do the wings so this is her armature. She will be aprox 18 inches tall..I want to do her with grey hair (hence, old bat) and am picturing a torn/worn wedding gown (I have a wonderful vintage table cloth that is in a rough state that will be perfect for this.) I am thinking about doing her feet like she is suspended in the air–this is really a bold step for me because I think bare feet are hard–but hey, I can either cut them off (ewww) or make boots (LOL).
Gypsy doll is now on her way to Houston for the quilt market. Lessons learned:
1)When a doll is to be sent, make is as SMALL as possible!! Shipping is EXSPENSIVE!!!!
2)UPS does a better job at packing an doll than me and even if it costs, when they package it they guarantee it.
3)Think 2x about entering a challenge that you really don’t have a good vision for (this means that no matter how much your Dh gives you the puppy eyes and the ”good idea/it will be lots of fun” talk go with your gut and say a polite “no”.)
4)Did I mention that shipping is expensive? Now factor in that you have to pay return on that too, ARGH!!!
I am considering when to post pics of her…should I wait till she is at the show, when she is back or now (it is too late for anyone to copy my interpretation)? If anyone is in Houston for the Quilt Market/Show let me know because I would LOVE to have pictures!!!!
Next; I got my newest tattoo and will post pics (and an explanation) when I get a chance….it is the Phoenix that I had mentioned in an earlier post.
Now, onto sad things…our beloved cat (of approx 15 years) has gone AOL for almost a week. I suspect that she has gone to that big cat box in the sky (she was VERY loyal so we don’t suspect that she left us). On Tues. when Noel was driving to youth group the kids watched a neighbor cat get hit by a truck (the driver just drove off, grrrrrrrrrr)…very yucky. We all cried lots. And a lady that I work with had her house burn down while they were taking their oldest son to college–looks like the house is pretty much destroyed.
My Satyr is finally finished. I was having terrible problems getting his picture taken to my liking, so I took him to my garden trellis and got some better shots. Dh and I are planning on investing in some serious $$ in a camera and equipment and perhaps that will help(–eek, is it possible that it is operator error?!) Anywhoooo, the doll is approx 18inches tall. Papr clay hands, hooves, and head. The body is wired so he can be positioned differently. As I mentioned earlier in my blog, I had bought some bone earring thinking I could wear them but they were just too big so they worked out perfectly as his horns. The head was built upon a plastic Halloween skull.
He somehow offended Dionysus. There was a dispute over who made the best wine. Well, personally I would not argue with a god but this fellow did and you can see what happened. Dionysus decreed that his eyes would be plucked out by ravens to feed their chicks. He has been reduced to begging and playing his pipe for his supper. Some other forest people took pity on him and made him a robe to keep warm in and to cover up his “judgement” when he feels the need. He sits along woodland paths listening for foot steps of kind hearted souls that will give him a few “pennies” for his bread. If you run in to Dionysus, remember this poor fellow and ask if the god would relent and restore his sight, he has learned his lesson.
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.
