2016 Holiday Cards

I didn't think I'd get them done, but did-60 of them!  Mailed out yesterday!

Up-coming Classes, April in Colombus, Ohio!

I will be teaching my doll using recycled materials at AFICC in Colimbus, Ohio.  To refresh your memory which doll this is here is a group shot.  We will be concentrating on how to do a soft sculpted and clay over face and how to prepare and use recycled materials to create stunning outfits.  I will also be teaching my Rust book which will be a one day class.

New Dolls In my Etsy Shop!

I added the Verna Dolls to my Etsy Shop.  There are three left!  I also renewed some listings that had expired.  Check them out!  Dorothy has gotten some new hair!  She found this great new stylist! Actually, I thought her original hair which was a Tibetan Lamb skin was a bit thin so I replaced it with with beautiful chestnut locks I purchased from a vendor, OldSheep on etsy.  I also added flowers to her base .

New Versions of Verna

Botanical Fairy

Verna was a doll I designed for the soon to be defunct Soft Dolls and Animals magazine.  I also taught this as a class.  I had a few of the kits left over so thought I would finish them - they were all presewed, just needed faces, jointing and costuming.  Since they were all of the same fabrics, I decided to paint over them in various colors of metallic paints.  The dolls are done, and I finally finished their perches (made from Coffee Creamer containers!) and they just need a bit of tweaking before I put them in my Etsy Shop.
Pics of the ladies, Dorothy with Toto, The clock Keeper, Botanical Fairy, and the Green Witch follow.

Green Witch

Dorothy

ClockKeeper

ClockKeeper

Dorothy and Toto On the Yellow Brick Road

Botanical Fairy

Green Witch

ClockKeeper's  Perch

Fairy's Perch

Dorothy's Perch from Eco Dyed and stenciled fabric

Witches Perch

Toto In Basket made from paper

Second Rust Book

The original Rust book is traveling with the class samples for AFICC, Cinncinatt, Ohio , Thursday, April 20, 2017-Sunday, April 23, 2017 when I will be teaching this class.  I had so many ideas in my head and of course wanted to make sure the rusting process was as easy to repeat, I made another book.
Covers, used the real Metal chandelier trim on the binding.

This is the new rusted pages I created and used for the second book.  I also rusted some eyelet while I was at it, just staining randomly.  All the stitching is done by hand, no machine stitching.  I did use my die cut machine for the birds on the front cover and also for the shapes of the houses.  The background of the cover is lace painted with Watercolor paints.  The flowers on the bottom are pearl buttons with crocheted petals,  The back cover is a lace, button and yoyo Mandela.

Back and front covers.

Inside front cover and Page 1

The Sunflower is created from die cut petals from painted and dyed fabrics.  The center is a printed Kaffe Facett fabric that I Silk Ribbon embroidered over the design.  Small clay frozen Charlottes with fussy cut butterfly wings on the bottom.  Bee pin is from my collection.

The butterflies are my "Specimen" page.  The colored outlines are cut with a punch from Tissue paper, glued to fabric then fussy cut.  The small butterflies on the right are metal - a charm, a pin, and one I cut and colored from a soda can.

Pages 3 and 4  The vases are from sheer fabrics layered to give the illusion of water.  Leaves are freemotion stitched left from another project.  Flowers are layers of manipulated fabrics and lace.The tree is from deconstructed burlap, stained and stitched to form the tree.  The pins of the poodle and the red hat lady are from my collection.  The Pearl buttons were stained with Alcohol inks to give them color.

Pages 5 and inside back cover.     The Balloon has layers of fabric strips, embroidery, crocheted pearl button flowers (not done by me but were a gift).  The basket is an awesome Noah's Arc Pin from my collection. The large feathers are deconstructed fabric, the bird's nest is from deconstructed burlap.  The feather on the bottom is from my back yard!

I also created this Mermaid page but didn't think it fit with the rest so replaced it with the Balloon.

Dorset buttons

I have started a new book using some of my eco printed fabric.  While working on the design I thought I would make some Dorset buttons.  Made these once in EGA but must have used them on a project.  Think these may be part of a book!

Rust Book 1

The 

One of the classes I am teaching at AFICC in Cinncinatti in 2017 is a book made from vintage pillowcases.  My MIL had quite a supply of these packed away.  They are made from heavy cotton and embellished with crochet designs.  To give the pages some interest, I decided to try rust!  Here are my pages after rusting and before embellishing.

Covers.  My mother graces the back cover.

Pages, not in order.

The Mandela is made with hand cut leaves, the tree is embossing paste through a stencil on silk.  Sheer die cut leaves.

Die cut teacups, teapot made from eyelet and ribbon.  Picture is a flea market pin and brass filagree.

Basket is needlepunch done years ago as were the cloth beads.

Frayed fabric flowers. Button centers with decals to add design.

Silk ribbon wreath originally a class sample.  Crocheted medallions from Grandmothers table topper.

A few More Recycle Dolls

This is another using lace doilies. I also constructed her teapot and cup from cipboard covered with fabric.  I named her "He/s Late Again!  Tea Anyone?"

















This is "Spot on Dot".  I need to add a large dot to her base.  She is a cloth over head and all the dotted fabrics are from my scrap pile! Purse is more scraps, flowers are buttons.  Just had enough trim to do her ruffles!  it is laser cut velvet and I am pretty sure I got it on the now closed Fabric Outlet of PA.  Her hair is acryllic yarn I wrapped on knitting needles, dampened and then baked.  Shoes were from a piece of ribbon!

Surprise! A new post!

I have been keeping busy doing things for my hubbie.  He had a knee replacement in January and a second on in September.  So I got to be Chauffeur for a bit taking him to and from Dr Appts and PT.  But, I have been working on making dolls!

Since there is no Hoffman Challenge this year for the Doll Category, I figured I may as well get my toes wet and enter the Gypsy Challenge display at the Houston International Quilt Show.  The theme this year was "Once Upon a Time-Past Present and Future.  Gypsy Pamela sends you a packet of fabrics and trims you must use on your doll.  Unfortunately, I neglected to take a pic of my goodies, but they were a lovely pink floral brocade, a deep burgundy organza, a satin finish  bright teal/turquoise satin, a narrow brown and gold trim and a wide Brown?Gold beaded trim.

 Here is the first version of ZombiElla.  You can see the trim on her cuffs and down the center of her corset, the sleeves and ruffle trim on her bodice is the organza, the bodice is the brocade.  Her underslip is the teal satin.  Her overskirt is a dyed embroidered curtain panel border.  I finished her in April and lived with her awhile and decided I wasn't happy.  So in July, I redid her head, changed her hair color, added crystals to her bodice, nipped her waist a bit, added sequins to the fuchia overskirt and underskirt hem and since that wasn't quite enough bling, I also overpainted the embroidery with metallic and glitter paints.  The hair color is perfect but wasn't too happy with the quality - too fuzzy, not enough curls.  So she got new hair and of course a clock  necklace too.  I also added a clock to her base. And of course since she got a new hairstyle, she needed a crown - cut from a soda can!  Here she is in all her glory.







 She is 20" tall and it was quite a challenge to get her balanced and sturdy enough to travel.  Her Armature consists of double hard 16g aluminum wire, a 1/4" wooden down and a #7 Knitting needle!  Then I filled the hole on the bottom of the base with EpoxyScultp to make sure nothing would shift.  Hopefully nothing did!  Haven't heard from the receiving end, but I guess that's a good thing!

I also received an invite to submit a doll for the "In Celebration of the Doll" Display.    Since it was Spring when I did this one, I used lots of flowers and again some recycled fabrics.  This is the same pattern but her head is all cloth.  The pearls are from a garland (flea Market find), the Venetian lace was hand painted.  Her overskirt is from an embroidered curtain panel I dyed.  Lots of silk ribbon roses and posies in the layers of her dress, on her bodice and in her hair.  she has bees on her base, her hand and of course in her hair!   Covered the base with a scrap of faux "grass and also added some flowers.

And the best part - I'm going to the show in Houston!  Leaving Nov 1, back Nov 6 just in time to vote!

Also was fortunate to have my Brides series juried into the Petaluma show in California.  Was double fortunate to go see the fabulous exhibit!

Fabric Beads Tutorial

I am currently involved in a fabric bead swap on FaceBook with  the Rag Bag Gals group.  I have started making my beads - some using ribbon trims, felt and beads.  Following is a brief tutorial on how I make the basic bead.  After I reach this step, I start embellishing with beads.

First, I pick out my trim.  The piece I am using is actually three pieces of metallic ribbon sewed together and it is a scrap.  Don't remember what I initially used it for, but I did save the excess.  I then cut felt measuring against the ribbon to determine the length of the bead.  I then wrap this around a metal Knitting needle (I like size 8, 9 or 10) to determine the width.  I cut felt to this length and width for a basic barrel type bead.  For a contoured bead, I elongated the felt and cut it in a modified triangle.

Next, I wrap the felt around the needle and pin in place then sew it.  You could also use glue but I find the glue at times becomes hard to sew through when adding additional embellishments.

At this point I measure and fit the ribbon around the felt.  I like the gather the edges so all the felt is hidden and found the ribbon was too narrow for the barrel bead, so I added some additional ribbon to the edges.  I usually like to fold in the raw edge, but on the barrel, I didn't leave enough so I left the raw edge.  Make sure you have enough ribbon to overlap so there is no felt showing.  If there is, add a piece of ribbon over the raw edges.  

Pinned

Here are the beads sewed and the edges gathered.  Pull the gathers tight to the needle.  Now they are ready for embellishing.  I recommend you keep them on the needle when you do this so you don't sew the center channel closed.  The bead on the right is not as round as I would have liked.  Next one I will make the piece of felt longer so there are more wraps.

Here is a view of the beads from the top so you can see the opening.

Hope you found this little tutorial Helpful.  I used ribbon for my bead covering but you can use the same technique with fabric too.

Here are some of my finished beads.  The bead in the center was not done with this technique.