2017 AFICC ( Artistic Figures in Cloth and Clay)

Sorry it has taken so long to post to my blog.  We sold our home and moved to a smaller place in January so some things just didn't get done as soon as I would have liked.   However, things are returning to some state of normalcy so I should be able to post more now.  

The first activity after our move was to get a doll ready for the 2017 AFICC Convention which was held at the end of April in Columbus, Ohio.  The challenge this year was based on the poem "Monday's Child".   We were to choose a day of the week and make a doll that represented that day.   I chose "Thursday's Child Has Far to Go".    As a child and teen, I rode my bicycle everywhere and since I have many memories surrounding that activity, I chose to put my doll on a bicycle.   I found a bicycle that was painted all gold and repainted it to look less like a home décor piece and more like a real bicycle.   I chose bright happy colors because I wanted the doll to reflect my happy memories.   Of course, I never had flowers in my basket or gift boxes on the back but it sure makes me happy to look at it. 

She is an original cloth doll with a needle sculpted face that has been hand painted.  This is the first time I have tried to needle sculpt and paint an open mouth smile on a doll, but I'm happy with the result.  I made the hat from 1/4 inch narrow straw braid and then added flowers for interest.  

I was honored to win 2nd place from the judges in the Original Category and People's Choice over all.  I named her "Joy's Journey".    I hope you all enjoy her too. 

   

Fun with Fur

Lately I've been experimenting with up-cycling vintage furs.   I hate to see the furs go to waste.   A lot of them have damage or wear that don't make them usable in their original style but there is still some good fur to be used.   In the past I've made neck warmers but this year I tried something different.   I wanted to applique fabric on the fur to make it more fun and casual. 

For my first project I chose a fur 3/4 swing jacket.   I don't know what the fur is but it is really soft and curly....very unique.   I found some fabrics that I liked and then I sketched a design so that I would have some idea where to place the fabrics.   To begin the project, I took out the lining and then the sleeves.   I saved the lining so that I could make a pattern from it.  

The pockets were completely shot, so I remade them.  Next came the fun part, how to get my idea from paper to fur.    My first step was to make the blue shape that wandered from the front over the shoulder and onto the back.  Once this shape was cut I added bias binding to the edge and then sewed it onto the coat.   Then I place the flowers and circles on the the coat and sewed them on.  I used raw edge applique technique for this project.   After the designs were sewn on, I added the lining and finished the edges with a striped bias binding.   

I had enough in the sleeves to make a cool purse.  

  

Threads of Time Australian Fabric Challenge

On July 24 the Threads of Time Fabric Shop and Sewing Retreat in Danville, Illinois sponsored a Doll Show and challenge for the Indy Cloth Dollmakers.    The challenge was to make a cloth figure using Australian themed fabric.   Here is a picture of the 13 entries.   The people who viewed the exhibit voted on their favorite which was then awarded the "People's Choice Award.   

Camira- People's Choice Winner

My entry was Camira which is an aboriginal name that means "Of the Wind".   I wanted to create a doll that showed the pride and free spirit of the Aboriginal people.   She is a totally cloth doll, even her head.   Her head is needle sculpted cloth which was then painted.  Her hair is made from novelty fringe.   The bodice of the dress is beaded with tiny seed beads and her wrists and ankles are adorned with beads.  
   

Often I begin the doll making process with a sketch.  This way I can see how the pose and costume fit together before I begin.   Below are sketches of Camira.   

For those that are curious about the face sculpting process, I am including a couple of pictures that show the face before it is painted.  It's strange but often pictures will show features more clearly than if you are looking at them in person.  If I see something out of balance I can change it before it is painted.  

New adventures with on-line classes

Clay Armature

I've been busy in the past few weeks with on-line classes.   What a great way to learn something new when it's convenient to my schedule.  I continue to try to squeeze 6 lbs into the 5 lb bag, I call my life.   But as they say that's just the "way I roll"....I think it may be hopeless at this time to try to change me.....especially since I'm having so much fun!!!

Although I've done some polymer clay sculpted heads before, I've never done the body.  So I took a class to learn how to build the armature (think skeleton and muscle) for a polymer clay doll.  The method used here allows you to pose the doll before you do the final sculpt of her body.   I think this is an ingenious idea.  Helps eliminate trying to figure out the pose as you are trying to sculpt.  The teacher is Deb Wood on the A for Artistic website.  http://aforartistic.com/classroom   She has promised to follow up with another class so we can finish what we started.   I still have to do the skull but here is a picture of the "posable" clay armature.   Note how you can bend it at the joint areas...... 

Drawing on Fabric

Angela Jarecki has an on-line class called "Windows" where you draw a face on cloth and then build a cloth frame around it.   Although I have drawn faces on cloth many times I thought that this would be a good opportunity to learn new techniques from another doll artist.   She had us start by shading in the shadows of the face rather than starting with the features.    I had never done it this way before and I found it to be rather enlightening.   I chose not build a frame but to actually incorporate it into a small 9 x 7 crazy quilt.   I also didn't want to draw a person that anyone would know so I chose a fashion photo as my inspiration.   I tried to mimic the pose in the photo and then embellished so that it actually makes it an abstract of the photo.   This mini art work will end up on a purse...

 

Amanda--A Victorian Doll

Amanda

I have three sisters and I have now completed a doll for each of them.   My sister, Sharon, who lives in Maine, requested a Victorian doll.   She was a fan of the PBS show, Paradise, (they have since discontinued the series) so I took one of the fashions from the show as my inspiration for Amanda.   

Amanda is an original all cloth doll that is about 20 inches tall.  She is clothed from the inside out complete with corset, bloomers, bustle and petticoat.   Of course, you can't see all of them after she is clothed, but after all, she is a LADY.   However, I took some in process photos to share with you.  

        

I also took pictures of her shoes which I also made.  They have leather soles and I used polymer clay to make the heels which I then covered with fabric.  

  

I needle sculpted her face and then painted it with acrylic paint.   Here are some before and after photos of that process.  

And here she is with face paint and no hair.   I used Tibetan Lamb for her hair but I curled it on straws to help with the styling.  

So now you have it...all the under the covers stuff and the before and after.  I hope you enjoyed the process.   

Coming Soon.....pictures of Camira....Aborigine fabric Challenge doll.  

2015 Sewing Projects

Over time I've collected several patterns for sewing projects that are not garments and not dolls.   I know it might be hard to believe but I even had fabric purchased some of these projects...LOL...   So to start the new year off I decided to make some of these projects...in fact I've been so busy that I didn't even take time to post them on my blog.   Well, now I'm going to try to catch the blog up with the projects.  These aren't in the order in which they were made just in the order in which I'm taking pictures....

The Beatle Bag
The first is Abbey Lane's Beatle Bag--Grab, Go and Sew.   It's a kit for a handy sewing caddy that has plastic zip pockets, pin cushion and extra cloth pockets for odds and ends. 
It called for Soft and Stable (Foam Stabilizer) which I had never used.   Couldn't find it locally at the time so I bought it on line at www.ByAnnie.com.    Since then a couple of local quilting stores are stocking it.  This product takes the place of batting and I found it quite nice to work with.  It has a little more body than batting but is still very light weight.   I think I'll use it when I make purses in the future.  

Travel Duffle Bag
I fell in love with some fabric which had panels of sewing and art ladies that were sort of steampunk.   I've used some of the panels in purses and garments but I originally bought it to make a travel bag.   I had to use borders on the panels to make them fit the pocket sizes and an I used a complimentary border print on the top of the bag.   There is a pocket inside that is divided into 3 sections when you stitch on the strap.   I didn't make the fabric covered straps since my bag was black.  This bag also uses Soft and Stable for the stabilizer.   The pattern is on www.ByAnnie.com.   The bag is 21 x 13 x 8 which is a pretty big bag.   They have a smaller one on the website too.   There are 6 exterior pockets; two with zippers.  I would buy the hardware and zippers from the website to save some time as they are hard to find.   I couldn't find the right size hardware anywhere locally so I ended up buying a used messenger bag from goodwill and using the hardware from it instead of paying $15.00 for the hardware kit on the website.   The end seams on the inside of the bag are bound and proved to be quite cumbersome to do.   I would probably make a more rounded corner if I were to do it again.   That would make it easier to bind.  

Iron Caddy 
If you travel or go to sewing retreats then this project is one you might like.   This cute iron caddy fits travel irons and opens out into a pressing surface.   The patter is by Sisters' Common Thread and it is called Caddy Pad Jr.   Makes me wonder if the Sr version if for a full size iron.  Anyway, it was a quick project and turned out really cute.   It's lined with insul-brite and heat resistant ironing board cloth.  

12th Annual Show and Sale a Big Success!

In spite of a few rain showers, the Indy Cloth Dollmakers 12th Annual Show and Sale was a big success with record numbers in attendance.   I would like to thank all who came and supported our efforts.    There were eight fascinating and  creative entries in the Fairy and Habitat Challenge.   We had a record number of ballots cast for the People's Choice.   My entry, Petal and La Belle Faerie Boutique,   was the winner of the People's Choice and will be featured on next year's publicity post card and brochures.   

It was really a great experience making the habitat as well as the doll.   The boutique started life as a vintage doll wardrobe.   It is metal and had been painted fire engine red.   The transformation started with a can of gray texture paint.   I created three dimensional windows with small strips of wood, a thin sheet of vinyl, fabric curtains and a picture to create a view into the shop.    I covered the interior with fabric to resemble wallpaper and then added shelves, lights, and a chandelier.   I hinged a piece of wood to one side to act as another wall and then added pictures, signs and mirrors.   I handmade everything except the metal sewing machine, the sewing chair base, and the little bookshelf unit.  Everything was painted white and then distressed for the "shabby chic" look.    The boutique also has a dress form and a dressing screen.  

Boutique all stored inside case

Exterior Window

Close up view of hats, shoes, garlands and necklaces

Interior view of Boutique all ready for business

Petal custom makes clothes for all her fairy friends so her shop is complete with rolls and bolts of fabric and boxes of trims and petals.   I made shoes, hats, garlands and necklaces so that her customers have all the proper accessories to complete their haute couture look.  

Petal, is a garden fairy, so her skin tone is green and she is clothed to look like a flower. Her face was hand painted to blend in with her body tone.   Her hair is curly mohair that was needle felted onto a piece of felt and then shaped and styled to fit her head.  I added a garland and earrings to complete her look.    I had cut petal shapes from pink organza and sewed them together to make the skirt.  I then sprinkled beads and tiny flowers among the petals.   Tiny flowers and beads also adorn her bodice.   

Petal

Petal working in her Boutique