It's Halloween

It's that time of the year when the weather starts to get cold and the days get shorter. The children are celebrating Halloween by dressing up in costumes to go out for trick or treat. We grown-ups who play with dolls will make dolls to reflect the Holiday. It's one of the favorite holidays for doll makers and crafters. The doll club I belong to decided to make a witch as our project for the month. The pattern used would be whatever we chose to use. I used a free pin doll pattern from Mary Tressler's site for my witch's head. I enlarged it and made the rest of the parts myself. I really like the nose which is why I chose this particular pattern. I embellished her with some cob webs and a few spiders for a little pizazz. Neither show up in the photos very well though. I had fun making her. Well, that's it for now. I'm finishing up another project I was commissioned for so I'll be back soon to tell you about that one. Until then.........Happy Halloween!

Mermaid On A Rock

In my last post I mentioned having a few things in the works. Well, I finally finished one of them. I've been fighting a cold and haven't really felt up to doing anything but I'm better now and was able to finish one of my projects. This one is from a pattern called Mermaid On Rock designed by Susan Barmore of Frowning Francis Folk Art Patterns. What's interesting about working with this pattern is it is all painted and the parts are assembled with glue. Another thing I found interesting is the face is actually 2 parts. One part is a regular pancake style face pattern. The second part consists of the forehead and nose which is glued to the face above the eyes after they are painted giving the face dimension. The pattern called for the eyelashes to be drawn, but I decided to use the individual lashes you can buy from a beauty supply shop. I thought they would go well with how the face is assembled. I enjoyed making this doll and it appears more difficult than what it really is. After making this one I sent a photo to Susan Barmore. Most of the designers like to see your interpretation of their design and this was Susan's response to me. " Hello Venus, Thank you so much for showing me your work. You did an amazing job with the mermaid. I think she is beautiful and the best job I have seen to date. I also looked at your blog and the charmed cobra is incredible. What a wonderful design and your execution is just flawless. Your work has a deep spiritual glow to it. Thanks again for thinking of me to share your art with, you are a very talented individual. Susan"

Needless to say I was flattered.

Well, I'm off to get started on my other items. I have to make a witch for my doll club project. I haven't decided if it will be a good witch or a bad witch and I also have to make a pincushion for a swap with one of the online groups I belong to. Decisions, decisions.......be back soon!

Finally My Ethiopian Queen

In my last post, I left off with having another doll completed. Well, I finally got around to getting a few photos. I don't think this doll wanted to be photographed. I say that because I took several photos at different times of the day and somehow the lighting was always wrong. I finally gave up a kept the best ones out of the bunch. That's what took me so long to post her. Well even though she didn't want to be photographed, she was a delight to make. She's a pattern designed by Kookie Davis in the May 2005 issue of the Soft Dolls and Animals Magazine. I used the quilters strip piecing method on a muslin base to make the body and robe. I used a paperclay face mask which I painted to suit the costume. The mask used was designed by Sandy Pine and used for her Miranda the Mermaid pattern. It had the expression I wanted so it went perfectly after painting it. The staff was made from a twig found in my own backyard. It had already dried out so all I had to do is sand it a little and give it a coat of varnish. Once it dried I wrapped a portion of the staff with suede laces and added a few beads to embellish. This doll looks more complicated than it is to make. As for her name. I didn't get the chance to name her. She actually had one of my friend's name her. I was told by a friend who saw her photo, her name is FuWenne' (Fu-way-nay). So Fuwenne' it is!

I have a couple things in the works right now and I'm doing a little experimenting. I hope to come back with something interesting. So until then..........