Craft Show Mania

Well, here we are at the end of summer and ready for fall!  There is a crispness in the air, a fresh breeze and cooler days and nights.  This is the perfect time of the year!

I have been busy getting ready for the fall craft shows.  In fact, the first one is this Saturday, and Etsy Canada one day event at the Da Vinci centre here in Victoria, BC!

I thought I would share some the the ornaments I am making for this year: first are the Christmas bunnies, all about 5" tall

Frida Bunny

The bunnies are my own design, made of white wool felt with felt clothing that is hand embroidered, front and back.

New this year are the Christmas Kitties which I made using woven fabric, then painted with acrylic paints.  They are also about 5" tall and are jointed with thread and are wearing felt jackets and slippers.  They were such fun to make!

Here are the beginning 6 kitties with painted faces and bodies:

 The finished kitties all took on a personality of their own!  I placed a wee tea cup in the photos to give you an idea of size:

 Just like the bunnies, their coats are hand-embroidered on the front and back ( I do get obsessed that way, lol)

 I even knitted some of the kittens wee toques and scarves!

 Oh yes, this kitten has a kitten of her own made in white felt!

I made a sixteen kittens in all and I have a hard time picking a favourite!

Well that is all for now but I will be back with photos of more of my work after my first show of the year-which is this Saturday-yikes!

Frida - Spread Your Wings

I am thrilled that I was accepted in the Summer/Fall 2017 issue of Art Doll Quarterly for my "I Am Woman" art doll, Frida Kahlo! 

 I love this magazine as it is dedicated to art dolls made by international artists in all media.  It is an honour to be published and to be able to share my art dolls with my peers and all art doll enthusiasts.  Art Doll Quarterly is available in all major book stores such as Chapters/Indigo.  

I would encourage anyone that loves to see the art doll format to either subscribe to the magazine (e-magazine subscriptions are available as well) or pick up a hard copy in your favourite book/magazine store.  You will not be disappointed and you will be supporting doll artists everywhere!

I am proud (and a little sad) to say that Frida is now in the home of a doll collector.  Frida was shown at the 2017 Sooke Fine Art Festival in Sooke, BC and she was snatched up during the first day of the show.  It was very rewarding to learn that collectors love my work enough to purchase my art dolls for their own home.  Thanks so much to the Sooke Fine Art Show and to Art Doll Quarterly for featuring my work.

Kitty Ornaments

I have finished my first batch of 16 kitty ornaments and thought I should share the results.  As many of you may know, I like to participate in one or two craft shows every Christmas and my followers have come to expect some ornaments from me as well as my "Wooly Critters" and art dolls.  Who am I to disappoint?

I made up my own wee pattern for the cats that involves a head and body made of woven cloth that is then gessoed and painted with acrylic paints to capture the face and upper body of the cat.  The limbs are from wool felt as it is easy to work with and comes in "kitty" colours.

Once the cats are assembled I add felt and tulle clothing and even some hand knitted hats and scarfs.  Finally the final touches may include jingle bells (to warn the birds), lace, embroidery and snowflakes or wreaths.  They are about 4" tall and can stand on their own, although I have added a fishing line loop to each one so they can hang on a tree as well.

I loved making them and hope you enjoy the results;