Winter Tree Witch

First, thanks to all who commented on my Witches. I am having fun with these and plan on doing "Seasons of the Witch".

We had snow Monday! This inspired me to work on my Winter Witch. I admit, the body was done since I had first planned to use it for the Autumn Witch, but didn't like the blues. It worked perfect for this little lady.

Again, inspired by Colleen, I freemotioned her overskirt and underskirt with swirleys. I wanted her overskirt to look like a star. I also used markers to color the stripes and stars on her arms and legs. Her hat and shoes are this odd fabric I had in my stash - it is like patent leather only very thin and has a plastic coating over it. I think one of our doll club members got a bunch of different stuff from Annie Hesse when she moved from Connecticut to Kentucky. I'm probably way wrong but I'm glad I got to use it though it was hard to get the soles of the shoes to stick! Again, she is made from all stuff in my stash. Her bodice and collar were a large lace motif also a gift from a former doll club member, Bunny Goode. I really love this motif though the beads are only glued on and tend to fall off. I added dark highlights to the yarn for her hair after I wrapped it on a loom with an ink pad! Worked great. Now on to my list of things I HAVE to do then I can start on the spring and summer Witches.

Second Witch done!

I finished the second witch. I probably wouldn't have made her if I wasn't experimenting with the face. She didn't suit "Don't Hate Me Because I'm Beautiful" because she was a bit on the youthful side but I thought she would be perfect on a body like the one I did for the Rag Doll Swap. Here are closeups of DHMBIB - full face and profile.

The second witch is an Autumn Tree Witch. I used only materials and embellishments from my stash. I even collected the branch while walking Diamond. First a close-up of the face, then her in her perch. I want to tweak the profile a little bit around the mouth, but I already have finished a body for a Winter Tree Witch. Who says witches are only for Halloween???? I really like to make variations of the same doll -a personal challenge!

Just in time for Halloween

I have a very dear friend, Colleen (http://dolljourney.blogspot.com/) made the most wonderful "Halloweenies". Check them out on her blog. She sculpted a face and made a mold. Wish she would impart some of that talent with me! Oh Well. In her honor and at her nudging I decided to make a witch or two. Here is the first one - "Don't Hate Me Because I'm Beautiful". She was great fun and I did another head that's sitting waiting. I think I like the green hair the best. I used inks and aloe gel to paint the stripes on her corset - the fabric started as deep navy and ecru. The aloe gel kept the ink where I wanted it and it dried very soft. I saw this demoed at the Harrisburg quilt show. It worked great though I only did the purple stripes. I used orange marker for the orange ones.

New Class At Doll Street Dreamers!

Hi again,

I had a studio class scheduled to make these Treasure Boxes aka Altered Wooden Cigar Boxes but due to my mother's ill health, I had to cancel. Judi W. at Doll Street Dreamers asked for "gift" classes and I thought these boxes would be PERFECT especially since most of the directions were already written!!! And so did she! So check them out! http://webstore.quiltropolis.net/stores_app/Browse_dept_items.asp?Store_id=235&Page_id=17&categ_id=1

October Breast Cancer Awareness Month

About 15 years ago I had a lumpectomy. I was told there was a 90% chance it was malignant. I was very lucky - it turned out to be a benign tumor but as my breast surgeon said it was still cancer and I had to be diligent. I am ever so thankful the outcome was positive. When a very good friend, Victoria Adams Brown asked if I would want to participate in creating an Art Bra for a Calendar, I said of course! That was in 2004. The 2005 Calendar was printed and distributed by Way to Women's Wellness Foundation (also created by Vickie) raised over $50,000 for Breast Cancer Treatment. We did calendars in 2006 and 2007 but by then there were so many other groups also making calendars we decided to turn our attention to another direction - to bring art and joy to Breast Cancer Treatment Centers by creating Crazy quilts for display. I digress, back to the bras. They are currently appearing in various venues. Recently, in Lubbock, Texas. Here is a link to a wonderful article http://lubbockonline.com/stories/100708/loc_341109771.shtml and here is a gallery of pictures taken at the show http://picasaweb.google.com/bwilson266/ATimeForWomen

Vickie can be best described by work of art above created by Leonie Hartley Hoover (blog here) named "Miss Dynamite", created in Vickie's Honor for the Somerset County’s Designer’s Cup Challenge at the Governor Tawes Library in Crisfield, MD October 29, 2008 from 6 - 8pm..

As for the calendars and subsequent touring displays, I created 5 bras the first year, one the second, and three the third. Unfortunately I only have a few pics .

Here is Hot Flash from the first calendar, 2005.


"The Girls - You can dress them up but you can't take them out just anywhere" Yes, that is really a Bra! This is the bra from the 2006 Calendar.







And "She Comes In Colors" This is the actual calendar pic from the 2007 and last calendar.











If your group would like to have the Bras appear at a show near you, please contact Vickie at victoria@ribbonsmyth.com Also, Visit her online store Ribbonsmyth for some GREAT embellishments .


More bras and other incredible stuff can be seen at Barbara's blog, Julie's blog , Mary's blog , Willa's blog , Allie's Blog, and while you're at it, check out the Ribbonsmyth blog too.

Copying

I saw this on Judi Wellnitz's blog and thought it looked like fun, so I did it. Here's how- and I copied this from her

The Rules:
a. Type your answer to each of the questions below into Flickr Search. (Use the advanced search and scroll down and click on Creative Commons License so you use shareable photos!)b. Using only the results on the first page, pick an image.c. Copy and paste each of the URLs for the images into fd’s mosaic maker.
The Questions:1. What is your first name?

2. What is your favorite food?

3. What high school did you go to?

4. What is your favorite color?

5. Who is your celebrity crush?

6. Favorite drink?

7. Dream vacation?

8. Favorite dessert?

9. What you want to be when you grow up?

10. What do you love most in life?

11. One Word to describe you.

12. Your flickr name.

Answers and Credit for the pics:

1. StephanieChamelaucium uncinatum "Lady Stephanie", 2.Peanut butter cup Peanut Butter Cup Heart, 3.Freehold Santa's Clock, 4. RainbowAn Extreemely Rare Rainbow Zebra, 5. harry Potter nick / harry potter and his juicebox - _MG_3189, 6.Chocolate Milk Shake 59 Diner Chocolate Shake, 7. Road Trip Gatlinburg Road Trip Week of February 15, 2007, 8. Cassata, 9. Accepted I accept all kinds of challenges!, 10. Nature Natureza e Agua / Water and Nature, 11. Unusual Color, 12. Apple Blossom

Harrisburg Quilt Show

I am catching up with my posts. I was able to attend this show on September 5th. My Ms. Peacock was there. I also love to see the other Hoffman dolls since they are all so amazing. Here are some pics. Didn't get to see many of the quilts though! I didn't get there until around 2 pm and had my cousin in law and MIL (92 and kept up with us).

The first pic is the second place doll. I also took a pic of her back which is beaded. Love the ephemeral quality the doll in cream with barefeet and of course the Jester is amazing.

What a wonderful lot of eye candy. I was glad we went - it was a 3 hr ride one way! Worth the expense and my Hubbie got to visit with his cousin and her husband.

Another collection of Hoffman Dolls will be at the Quilt show here in March. Can't wait to see them! I am also excited about the fabric for next year's challenge. You can see it here http://www.hoffmanfabrics.com/SuperStore/SuperStore-Assortment.asp?AssortmentID=130 lots of gold which I love!

They are also teaming with Sulky. How exciting!!! Some changes though--maximum height for the dolls drops from 24" to 20". Mine seem to average around 20-21 so this shouldn't be too much of a problem.

Rag Doll Swap

Because I am not busy enough ( DUH!!!), I decided to take part in the Rag doll swap on FOCD. My swap partner was none other than Teri Jones who has a wonderful book Easy to Make Dolls with Ninetheenth-Century Costumes (by G.P. Jones). It's a great book filled with wonderful dolls and costumes - very detailed and authentic. Her doll for me is just beautiful. She has removable clothes and is wearing boots (which are amazing!), bloomers, chemise, petticoat, skirt, bodice, and hat. Here are pics.

Here she is in her chemise and Petticoat which are separate. pieces. The chemise has tiny pin tucks! I know I didn't warn you there would be nudity, but here she is in her pantaloons and boots. Aren't they great???? Love all the little buttons.

Teri also sent with Aneilia Rose (what I named her) her pet cat and her toy doll. Aren't they just adorable?

Here is a close-up her her face. All the features are embroidered as is the hair. She is wearing a Poke bonnet which is reversible. I still marvel at all the little details.

Now I am going to post pics of the doll I sent to Teri which pales by comparison. Her clothes aren't removeable, but she does have articulated fingers and her own chair and is a thoroughly modern miss. She is also holding a small wrapped gift since she is dressed in her party best, but I failed to get a pic. I also didn't get a pic of her standing. Oh well. Per Teri, she said her name is Lacey Monique. She is made entirely from materials left over from other dolls. Her dress fabric was used on Gloe who appeared in Patti Culea's Creative Cloth Doll Couture Book. The legs on her chair were recycled from placques with wall pegs - they are the pegs. Her hair was left-over from a scarf I knit for my DIL.

The trims on her chair were left from items made for my stepson's wedding two years ago. The chair back is recycled Matte Board.

I really enjoyed making her. She is about 16" tall and has a flat weighted bottom so she can sit on a shelf or the chair easily. She also has a pancake face and body and half stuffed arms and legs. Her shoes are painted. I used her as a prototype for another pattern that hopefully will appear in the next issue of Soft Dolls and Animals.

I'll post when and if it is printed.

On a personal note, my Mother is making progress recouperating from her surgeries. However, my husband spent 5 days in the hospital for a kidney stone. He is home and is OK. Just some residual pain but not much. What a way to start retirement!!! He officially retired on August 29, 2008. So now I have two couch potatoes - my husband and my dog! She loves to sit on the couch and sprawl in front of the TV. His influence--not mine!