Back From Kalamazoo

Linda, Nancy, Tammi, Me, Linda, Sue, Donna.  Samples infront of me.  LOVE all the variety. 
That's what this class was all about!

 Back from teaching a wonderful group of ladies my latest doll which is tentatively titled the Queens though I may call it "Two Queens, A Witch and a Ghoul were talking"  Too long a title?  Here are pics from the class.
Left is Donna and her doll, dressed needing her head, hair and shoes, but beautiful!  Right is Nancy who is a new dollmaker and her gorgeous silver, pink Lavendar confection.  Almost all the fabrics were dyed including the feathers on her slip!




Sue on the Left with her lovely Sun queen.  Right is Linda with her awesome creation.  Though she didn't modify any fabrics, she did lots of layering.  Very Alexander McQueen!  For some reason I don't have pics of Linda and Tammi's dolls though I remember taking them.  May be on my iPad.

Here are some of the finished heads, Lots of steps to them and they all came out lovely.  We started with cloth, put a layer of paperclay to define the features, then fabric, then messy mix.  Linda and Tammi didn't finish thiers but they were looking very good!

Upcoming Classes

I will be in Kalamazoo teaching a Collage Purse and The Queens dolls from May 16th to May 18th.  I love this wonderful group of ladies!  In the area?  Check for seat availability here http://dancingwithdolls.com/-spring-workshop.html

I also have some book classes - new and old coming up at the Artsy Soul in 59 N. Main Street, Manahawkin, NJ th 609 549-6350.  Call the shop to schedule.  Should all be fun classes!

New Class and Finished Book

When I teach a book class, I also make one to demo on.  This one I got as far as stitching one of the signatures in.  Colleen was making hers a Rose book and I loved that idea so I stole it.  Originally was going to put a trellis on the front with the roses climbing up it but decided a house would be more fun to make.  The book cover fabric and pages were colored with Dylusions sprays, Distress Stains, and Viva Decor Modeling Paste (LOVE this stuff!!!)  The Sprays are usually VERY intense colors, but watered down and applied with a sponge brush, they are very soft.  The house is cut from a soda can with Sizzix Alterations die Dwellings, used the Movers and Shapers to add the windows.  Embossed with Sizzix Alterations Brick embossing folder, colored with Ranger Metal Patinas, and then sealed with Judikins Clear Glaze.  The pictures in the windows are from various Graphic 45 papers.  The roses are paperclay, colored with Viva Decor Inca Gold (it comes in many colors and has Mica in it so it shines) Rose, Gold and a mix of the two.  They were made using molds Colleen imports from Japan.  They are so detailed!  And so many sizes of roses!  The little leaves are cut from doubled Aluminum tape cut with Sizzix die #657017 Frame, Leaves & Flower.  I love these dies - small items but steel rule die so they cut metal, chipboard, etc. besides just paper.  Got lazy and wanted to do something different with the strings so twisted and glued them together using Tacky Gel clear glue (my favorite) and then twisted it into a rose, added some more leaves.  The leaves were colored with Ranger Metal Patinas also.  The outside cover leaves were done with a stencil byBalzer Designs, Leaf Frame.  I used Pearl Molding Paste colored with Green Perfect Pearls.  Just love how it came out!

Next item I finished is an altered book (National Geo Journal from Michaels which are on sale at my store for $2 ea!).  I made one initially with a small doll on the cover and was asked to do a class so I needed to streamline the class a bit so we could get it done in one day.  As it is, I seal the covers with the Gel Clear Tacky and that needs to dry overnight then add a coating of Distress Rock Candy Crackle Paint.  Students will have to do that at home. 

The inside endpapers are from printed cheap scrap book paper.  It is the perfect weight and size.  I like altering this paper.  I used two methods, the method on the left is using clear gesso, and clear embossing powder, the method on the right is clear gesso and Picket Fence Distress Stain.  Both were done with stamps.  Like the stain because it is semi opaque so the original design of the paper shows through, but not much.  Color on top is Ranger Adirondack sprays and Dylusions sprays spread with a foam brush. 

Here is the book outside done.  The fabric cover is muslin colored with Dylusions sprays in a rainbow.  The letters are from Sizzix Alteration Word play die cut from chipboard with book pages glued on.  The center book plate is from Alteration Large Tag die.  The word Art is paper clay letters molded using a mold I have had FOREVER!!!  Colored with Viva decor, first a layer of Hematite to fill in the letters, excess wiped away with a damp cloth, then Rose, Violet and Blue added.  The back work is a Sizzix Alterations Movers and Shapers die. edged with an Alterations border die.  After all the letters were in place, the entire cover was covered with Tacky Gel Clear Glue.  I stuck some charms in to fill in where needed (most colored with Ranger Patinas).  When the glue dried, a layer of Crackle paint was added.  I think we will have fun with this book!  Class is Thursday, June 6, 2013 at the Artsy Soul, Manahawkin,  NJ.  Call 609 539-6350 to schedule or email them at artsysoul@yahoo.com.

Finishing up new pattern

But first it is a class! This is another version of the new pattern which will include the Sun Queen, the White Witch, Bella and The Red Queen. All the same doll, different variations on the costumes all using the SAME pattern pieces. This one is the same as the White Witch just in shades of black and night colors. She is Good Ghoul Gone Bad (have had that idea in my head for years! Original sketch which is very different was done in 2009). Not quite done- she needs a bat or two or maybe a few spiders. Still need a name for the pattern. Working title The Queens

Last face - Cloth over Clay over cloth with Messy Mix

I know!  Lot of layers.   This is as close to making a clay face as I get! LOL  Also for the Pattern.  Now to finish one of the dolls - either a fairy version or a Goth Witch.  Decisions Decisions! Think I need to trim those eyelashes more.  Took 50+ pics of each face as I was sculpting and coloring.  Think I'll make mosaics of each head and each step since the coloring is pretty much all the same.  She definetly has attitude. 

Working on New Pattern

I will be teaching a class in Michigan in May (http://dancingwithdolls.com/-spring-workshop.html ) and am working on finishing the pattern.  I find that the pics I took during the initial design process are never enough and wind up making another doll or two.  I wanted also to have a incomplete doll with me so I can use her for demo purposes.  I will be teaching a cloth over clay over cloth head with messy mix finish so had to make at least one of them too.  So here are the heads in process.  The first one, flesh toned, is from Soughern Belle, the other two, white, are from Pimatex PFD (prepared for dying) which is washed and preshrunk.  Amazing how much stretch is in the unwashed fabric!  I may have to include a resized head if using preshrunk fabric!

The two uncolored heads are for a new witch.  One of them is going to be for the clay over.  Can you guess which on?

Here are two heads done.  The flesh colored one and the new witch one.

Now to finish the last one.  Just applied the messy mix and waiting for it to dry, then a little sanding with brown paper and adding color.  I am really not the best with clay, but So far, so good!  Like anything else, it takes practice and I haven't made a new sculpted head in months!  Yikes!

Verna - Bead Joint Doll Class At the Artsy Soul

A few weeks ago, I taught this doll to a wonderful group of ladies.  We all had fun with the doll and the ladies were all very creative in their costuming.  I premade all the body parts and the ladies added the shoes, strung them, stitched the fingers, added hair and drew and colored the faces.  I was making a doll along with them for demo purposes but also because I needed a little something for a gift.  I decided to make a few "alterations" to Verna and with the aid of Distress stain and ink here is the result.  Her necklace is a small ring of skulls - how cool is that!!!! from the Artsy Soul .

Here are the  Altered version and the original Verna,  and some close ups of her face and necklace.

Believe it or not, her body fabrics are the same.  Amazing what a little black ink will do.  I also blacked the back of the confetti dot fabric on her underskirt.  It was originally red, like the dots!  I painted the beads and caps with Ranger Black metal patina.  Don't you love the little clay bows on her shoes?  Colleen was kind enough to mold them for us from one of the molds she sells.  So Cute! Her Fascinator is a large bead cap with tulle threaded through and feathers and a gem added.  Her hair is two layers of wool, first is black llama the second is dyed sheeps wool.  I just LOVE those skulls!!!!