Decay of Society

First off, thank you, Cody Goodin, for many things. I snatched this photo right from your site, yep I stole it, so I thank yu. And special thanks for the tres' faboo classes you taught at AFIC, (Artistic Figures in Cloth). Cody is a treasure and if you haven't checked out his site, run right over and take a gander. Click on his name in the column on the left to go to there. Incredile talent and he's just one of the nicest folks you could ever want to meet!
I took 2 classes taught by Cody at AFIC earlier this month. I called this doll, "Decay of Society", and was made "her" in Cody's "Wire, Myth and Magic" class. The class explored using wire armatures and artistist's mediums in assemblage doll making. (Cody, correct me if I've described it poorly.) The doll hearkens back to some of my earlier statement dolls. For me it represents how we may end up one day if we don't learn a gentler way to live in a world with others of differing opinions, cultures and attitudes, if we don't learn how to respect one another, if we fail to love our neighbors (OK, everyone you know, or don't know, is your neighbor). We must spend wisely, live greener, litigate less, (a lot less), volunteer more, love more, and most importan, we must pray more.
This doll won't be everyone's taste. It's certainly a far cry from Calliope. She's about using art to make a statement and not to look pretty. Indulge me in that, please.

Decay is made of found objects, bone, beads, cloth.

Caroline's Fairy becomes...Calliope!

I have been absent a very long time. A broken foot and a multitude of other perceived barriers have kept me away. But I am back, and with things to show you!

At long last, Caroline's Fairy has been completed. I had a terribly hard time getting her done when my dear friend, Diane, noticed I seemed not to be connected to this doll. Perhaps because I knew ahead of time that she would go away to live elsewhere. And also perhaps because I chose not to name her. Interesting thoughts. About 4 weeks ago, I sat on the couch, the fairy in hand, and all of a sudden the word/name Calliope popped into my head. "She's Calliope!" My family all gave me one of "those" looks. You know the one, the "by golly, the crazy artist really is crazy" looks. I was off and running and the fairy was born. I hope you enjoy her. She is off to live now with Caroline, who is about to celebrate her 1st birthday.

Gertie Games and Fairy Making

I spent the day doing laundry and playing with felt. I set up shop in the dining room, perfectly situated just a step or to from the basement door. I could run down the basement steps, move over a load of laundry and dash back up to my felt.

I've been working on "Caroline's Fairy". (I can't wait for her to be delivered into Caroline's arms so I can finally know what her true name will be. I won't name a doll if I know it will be travelling on.) I haven't been thrilled so far with the two bodies I'd already made, so I brought out my gertie ball and started again. A nice warm bowl of soapy water, some beautiful multi-colored merino called "daffodil", the gertie ball and ahhhh...felting magic! Hmm, not today. It just wasn't coming together. The felt ended up being lumpy and uneven. The beautiful daffodil color was still beautiful but the variegation in it created a pattern that just didn't look right. And horror of horrors...I wound up with a hole in one spot. I guess I need to work on my technique of laying down the wool and pulling the pantyhose over so the wool doesn't shift. Sometimes there are more mechanics and chemistry than most would imagine in the creative process.

When it's dry, I could do something with it, but it wouldn't be a body for this fairy! Back to the original bodies. The muse speaks up. "Grab a bag of angelina, a strand or two of roving, felt that beautiful shimmery stuff right on to those bodies." Luscious, just what was needed and I am not so far off the mark anymore.

See some of the process in the photos above and an in-progress photo of the face with the base structure of core wool only. Next will be to add the "skin" of flesh tone roving and the wet felting.

Words That Touch

Sunday, my favorite day for blogging, football, art and most of all, praising God! Whatever your spirirtual leaning or affiliation, remember to stop regularly to pray and praise...everything is so much easier if you do.
I stopped by Cynjon Noah's blog this morning, http://cynjonnoah.blogspot.com/ He shared the following from one of his blogger friends, Dneese, http://dneese.blogspot.com/ I thought I would follow along, hoping you will too.
"The idea: We have words that touch us, move into our hearts and resonate, creating a feeling, taking us some place- past, present, future- perhaps some place we have never been and may never go, but for whatever reasons, the words pulse in our blood. Meeting new words, new poets, new poems, new ways for my heart to beat, is an intriguing concept. Want to go on this adventure with me? It will be easy to travel along.Many of us already do this sharing; this idea is just to help us find each other and hear the words we have to share.
The Plan: on your blog, post a poem that moves inside you, touches you, reaches you. (quotes and song lyrics welcome). Include the author (or composer or musician) and source (book, album) no explanation required, no other revelation necessary.
The Request: If you are intrigued enough, post on your blog about this Day of Sharing Words- encourage your friends to post. Who couldn't use a few new poems in their treasury or new songs in their hearts?"

I pondered this a bit. What came to my mind is a verse from the bible that always reminds me of the power of God moving through my life, so I chose to share this:
Psalm 40:1-2 I waited patiently for the Lord; God inclined to me and heard my cry. 2 God drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure.

Okay, you're turn!

Crusher gets eyes...yuk

OK. Crusher got his eyes. I took them out and added them back in and I still do not like them...so I have put him away for a bit. Maybe I just looked at them too long on Saturday. Maybe when I take him back out, I will change my mind. In a few days I'll look at him again and see if the eyes stay or go...what do you think?

He has lock on his back now too but my camera pooped out before I could get the snaps of it. Stay tuned.

Stitch and Bitch Saturdays

Once a month, a group of Pittsburgh doll makers and fiber artists gather for a few hours of creating. This generally involves good food and a lot of laughs as well as creative support and the occasionally venting of whatever may be happening in our lives. (that would be the bitching part of the Stitch & Bitch!) Occasionally, we go for a full twelve hour session with folks floating in and out throughout the day. We all met at Emily's this weekend. Here we are; sharing the day. Get a look at this fabulous Curry Cauliflower & Potato Soup Em served. Perfect for a damp, fall day in Pittsburgh.

Caroline's Fairy Progress

The body is wet felted and stuffed, the hands/arms are ready for felting....This little fairy must be completed by Christmas so Grandma Deb can give her a home with Caroline. Her unstuffed body, felted on a Getie ball, is shown a few posts back. Stay tuned and watch her come to life!

Donald

From time to time, I just have to post a picture of my beloved Donald. He's almost a year-old now...and really big!

Doll Sketches

I've started drawing my doll ideas. For a long time, I thought I didn't think I could draw. My attempts never looked as polished, or as good, or as creative...oh me. Now I've decided I have a bit of a unnique stroke or line and I am learning to like it. In order above, these are: "Angry", "I Have Issues" and "Caroline's Fairy."

When Fairies Get Mean

Are there fallen fairies like there are fallen angels? I imagine so. I am not an expert on fairies but this guy is my idea of a fairy gone to the dark side. I created him in a recent needle felting class at the Society for Contemporary Craft in Pittsburgh. I picked up a lot of new skills and another doll came to life. As I created him I realized that it will be one of the 4 dolls I am making (forever!) for the online Barb Kobe class I'm taking. I think it screams for some rusty, jagged embellishment so check back . I've included some sketches, too, something I only started doing in my doll making.

And, let's go ahead and count this one as part of the 100 Art Doll Challenge. This is only doll number 3! Geez, I better get moving!

Crusher continued, almost there

Crusher seems to be taking his sweet time to "become". Sometimes dolls are like folks, ever evolving and changing, always in a state of "becoming". Recently, Crusher told me he'd like a facial nip & tuck. So...here it is, a whole new profile and almost finished. He still needs his eyes and some de-fuzzing. And there will locks down his spine. Keep looking here, he'll keep showing up. Check out earlier Crusher posts to see his before face.

Hearts & Hands, a Creative Ministry

A crochet & knit minstry recently started at our church. We've named it Hearts and Hands. We'll be using our crochet and knit skills to make items for those who could benefit from a prayerfully made gift. Right now we are working on lap blankets for our shut-ins and winter scarves for the youth at Glade Run Lutheran Services in Zelienople, PA. (http://www.gladerun.org/) Here are a few photos from our first meeting. Notice all the interaction. This is a great group of folks! Stay tuned for updates on our progress and keep us in your prayers.

Felt work in progress

I recently purchased a Gertie (inflatable) ball to try felting over. I wanted to stuff some felt dolls rather than felting them all the way through. Here are a few "in progress" photos. If you felt and haven't tried this, give it a whirl. It was great fun!

Renovations and Being Absent

Orange Crusher is coming along and will be completed in a week or so if I can maintain my pace.
Blogging however has been a difficult thing of late. When I feel particularly creative and productive (like I am now) I find all my attention streaming into that...leaving little for the ole blog. My latest felting craze has totally usurped my attention! I find myself getting home an practically tripping over everything so I can pick up Crusher and add some more to him.
But the blog is always in the back of my mind, just waiting for a new post. When I opened it a few days ago, I realized I need a revamp in the worst kind of way. Once Crusher is complete, I will begin to clean up and revise, retake and replace photos. In general, a good dusting off and sprucing up....keep a watch out for both!

Orange Crusher and my return

I am back from being, well, on an emotional deep freeze of sorts. I suffer from chronic depression and have been slogging through a new bout. Having been here before I was able to recognize it coming, but I still fell into a space of wanting to do nothing but sleep. Creating was on the back burner. A bad place for me to be, creating is vital to my emotional well being. It is part of who and what I am. Cutting it off is like cutting off a limb. I need it to stay in tact. Fortunately, one afternoon I looked down and saw my pile of wool and felting needles and the need to create lifted me up above depression long enough to begin a new felted project. I suspect my muse has been working overtime trying to wake me up! Orange Crusher is the result of the new call from the muse. I am posting pics of his progress so far, he has a ways to go but he's far enough along that I am ready to share him. This is my first attempt at a fantasy type character, he sort of popped out as I find dolls will do. He is needle felted wool roving over a wire armature. You can see in the photos I have used stuffing wool under the colored roving to build up the under structure.