Christine Shively Doll

Our doll club was very fortunate to have doll maker Christine Shively teach "Dress Rehersal" and "Rainbow of Chaos" last fall.  Before taking her classes I decided to make one of her earlier patterns using paper collage.  In order to make the doll a little bit easier I enlarged the pattern by twenty percent.  I added paper flowers using pages from old books. I used crackle medium over the fabric body to give an "aged" appearance. I am very pleased with the result.

Here is the result of the two classes I took with Christine Shively, "Dress Rehersal" and "Rainbow of Chaos".  Christine is an excellent teacher who shares so many techniques and tips with her students.  Her face painting techniques produces beautiful faces every time!

"Dress Rehersal"  She showed us how to make the presentation box.

Rainbow of Chaos

Sock Doll Challenge

Last fall our local cloth doll club, the Cloth-a-Dollics, had a sock doll challenge.  I wanted to make some cool animals.  I finally decided on a cat and a fox.  The cat was made with a white sport sock and a black sport sock.  I decided the cat needed a wee mouse so I used a gray baby sock for the mouse.

The fox was made with a rust coloured hiking sock, a white sport sock and a black sport sock.  I then decided that I wanted to make him steam punk and so I used a plaid tie and made him a vest and a matching hat.  The tail is made with tibetian goat hair.  I  used a metal zipper for his smile.  Enjoy!

In addition to dolls made from socks, I also made a doll wearing socks.  The inspiration came from the book titled "The Sock Fairy" by BC novelist  Bobbie Hinman.  The pattern of the little fairy (minus all the embellishments) is by Sarah Clarke.  I knitted the sock that the fairy is holding and I made the mouse from felt.                  .  

Coast Collective Gallery

I have been accepted to have my teddy bears in the Coast Collective Gallery.  This gallery is an art centre created by a group of five local artists.  The centre hosts juried gallery displays, gives art classes, and has juried art items for sale in the gift shops.  I am very excited to be joining! I would like to share a few of the wee bears (all from 4"-8") that you will see at the Coast Collective gift shops.  Enjoy!

Meet Li-Na and Chen from a design by talented teddy bear artist Monica Spicer.

Meet Duncan as he greets his mouse friend, made from a design by Monica Spicer

Meet Sammi and his chicky buddy.

Meet Peanut in her teacup

Meet Wedgewood the Dragonfly

Meet Buzz bear and his buddy.

Meet Lil Dude and Fluff (Monica Spicer Design)

Well these are just a few of my latest creations that I hoped you have enjoyed.

Puyallup Sewing Expo

This past week my friends and I (four ladies in a van) visited the Sewing and Stichery Expo in Puyallup, Washington (just south of Seattle).  It was my first visit to this iconic sewing show and it did not disappoint.  Since all of us that went are doll makers we were most excited to hit the booths that sold trims, embellishments, and doll patterns!  My favourite booths were Treasures of the Gypsy for the sheer volume of doll inspiration, doll patterns and colourful materials, and Barbara Willis and Betts Vidal's booth for pure romantic, european, old world charm!  Other notables were money was well spent include Reets' Rags to Stitches, Mary Jo Hiney Designs, Wooden Spool Designs, and i-Bead to name but a few.

Needless to say too much money was spent, too much fun was had, and yes, we would do it again in a heartbeat!

Flat Dolls by Barbara Willis for Sale

One of three new patterns by Barbara Willis,  "Prilly"

"Monique"

Final new pattern called "Prudence"

Betts Vidal new paper doll, so enchanting and fun.

Betts new doll, called "Twig" a back to nature girl

Mermaids

For some reason (who knows why) I have been fascinated by mermaids.  Over the years I have made many mermaids from patterns and from my own design.  I decided to decorate my first floor bathroom with the "mermaid" theme and I thought you might like to see how it looks.

The walls as stippled with orange paint and the prints are by local artist Gloria Marco.  I love her simple drawings and bright colours.

This mermaid sits in the corner and is 36".  I made her from an inspiring picture of a mermaid that I saw years ago.  I believe the original mermaid was made by Ruth Landis.

She holds her fish and her starfish protect her.  She is all cloth with a wired tail.

This mermaid chair I made in a workshop with Cyndi Mahlstadt.   Notice the wee merbear and the mermaid pin doll on the chair!

I love this mermaid made in a workshop with Arley Berryhill.  The blowfish is paper mache and floats in front of her.  She sits in front of the window but is intent on seeing her reflection in the mirror she holds in her hand.  The stand is hand made as well using an old candlestick holder.

This wee cardboard and cloth mermaid hold her merbabe and hangs in a corner of the room next to the mirror.

This mermaid was given to me by a friend, she is cardboard and painted (5").

Hanging from a knob on the cabinet, made from card stock and embellished using  art stamps.

I purchased this mirror from a local artist (fused glass).  The pendant is bone and comes from Hawaii (given to me by a friend)

Finally, this is my soap dish (clay) purchased at a local craft show.

I think I cannot fit many more mermaids in this wee bathroom!

I have recently made a couple more mermaids which I will now share

Meet Asha (hope) an oriental mermaid

"Asha" is made using a combination of Arley Berryhill's "La Femme" and my own design, inspired by a picture of a Van Craig mermaid.  She has a shell and bead encrusted head dress with coral growing from the top of her head.

A close up of her hand-painted face with eyelashes.

Here she listens to the sea.

 The next recent mermaid is made using the "Siren" pattern from Karen Shifton.  I used hand dyed rayon velvet for her body and then went to town on the hand embellishments using beads, embroidery and appliqués.

A close-up of her sweet face.  her hair is assorted fibers and she hold a wee cloth mermaid.

The last mermaid for the season of Aquarius is from a pattern by Patti La Valley (a wee mermaid pincushion that stands 9.5" tall)

A close-up showing her beaded bodice and hand crouched algae!

I hope you enjoyed my mermaids.  I am sure that there will be more mermaids later in the year so stay tuned!

Ice Maiden

I have always admired Arley Berryhill's dolls and was fortunate to take a workshop with him a couple of years ago making the Candlestick Diva.  

On Arley's blog site he has a picture of his "Ice Queen" which I love.  I decided to make my own Ice Queen using the Candlestick Diva workshop as my base doll.  I found a great candlestick at a local thrift shop and I cleaned it up, painted it silver and gave it a coat of gloss.  The doll came together well as I have been gathering beaded trim for a while in anticipation of making a winter style doll. Once the Ice Queen was completed,  she demanded to be called the Ice Maiden and I complied (always easier not to argue with one's doll)!

The Ice Maiden herself. She is all cloth.

A close-up of her face (glass eyes and fake eyelashes)

I applied many beaded appliqués to the outfit for a "icy" effect.

A back view showing her fur collar complete with icicles!

The Ice Maiden wishes you all a long and cool winter!