Hand stitching has begun

I absolutely love this part.  I'm using an applied method for the clothes.  Yup, it's just what it sounds like.  Hold the fabric to the body, adjust to your liking, pin, cut and sew.  

Summer time

Summer time is always a busy time and since my studio is upstairs, it tends to get quite warm. I really haven't worked on my troll since May.  Yesterday I pulled her out because I do need to finish her.

With that said............I will share some pics of what has been happening this summer. 

I'm always making something.  Crocheting, Art, Sewing.... you name it.  I also did a little canning.  Made some yam. Attended several concerts and am just enjoying life.

Oh the hair

Yesterday I worked on what kind of hair this lovely lady would like to have.  I dug through my wool roving and found the perfect white long Karakul.  Ready to weft. I made up some sections and pinned them to her head.  

Not real thrilled?!?  

Then I looked up yarn hair, that was OK but still not what I wanted. 

Lastly, I ended up using scraps from a T-shirt, cut 1/4" strips, pulled it and voila.................................that was it.  It's just pinned and I will have to figure out how I want to attach it.  Plus I will need to make some tail hair.  Then off to the shoes and maybe a few more treasures on her head.

Still working on z clock

Hope you're not getting too tired of all the pics.  Today I secured all the heads inside the clock.  Stuffed it with spare body parts.

Made a back, which is still drying.  Glued on some watch parts.  Time to let it sit for a few days, as I have other things to do.  Such as work my turn at the Gallery and get ready for AFICC.

Never a dull moment.  Thanks for looking and your kind words.

Last head...............yeah

Now the hard work begins................keeping the heads in place.  I have put a tab on the back of three of the heads and then have a wire rod going through the tab.  That way the head doesn't fall out of the hole.

I have to do that to the last two.

The head with blonde hair is needle sculpted using an old T-shirt and was quite a bit darker than what I normally use.  So far I'm real happy with how it all looks.

I'll be adding some gears to the front of the clock case and then I need to figure out what to do with the back side.  I have a few ideas.  More soon!

Four Heads

Wow, four heads in one hole and I have one more to go.  Wasn't sure if I like the last one that I added but it's growing on me.  He/She definitely has attitude.

The eyes are bought from an artist on Etsy, sorry can't remember her name, but they're pretty wicket.  I have one more head to work on and add.

Stay tuned............

Today I tried something totally new.  I painted the eyes and then used 3-D Crystal Lacquer to seal the eye. At first I thought I had ruined the eyes, but I like how they turned out.

Added an ear and some crazy hair and her you have another head.  I have two more heads to do.

I'm having some great fun with this project.

More to come..........................

Recycle and re-use

I have always wanted to take a leather bag and paint it.  And today I did just that.  I found this bag at the flea market for $3.  I was so thrilled, it's a Gap bag too...............!  Today I finally did.  I splattered the paint in layers , letting each layer dry.  Then I used some of my bird stencils to draw the outline of the birds and branches and painted those with black paint.  And here it is!!

Artful Fun

What a fast couple of days! Went to CREATE Mixed Media Retreat in Costa Mesa, CA. Took a class with Alisia Burke entitled Larger than life. Had a great time creating some large canvases of layered Paint, stencil and other stuff.

In the evening I was set up to vend.

On the way home Nola and I stopped at this awesome Art Supply store in Westminster.  OMG! They had everything!

Then headed over to the museum in Santa Anna to see the exhibit and Janice Lowry. It was amazing!!

 Traffic wasn't too horribly bad on the way home, but I'm sure pooped! It was all good.

Life is good

I spent the last four days with some dear friends of mine.   Carol and her husband Bobby are driving across the country and they stopped into see us.  We took some time to go to a couple Presidential Libraries.  On Monday we went to Ronald Reagan's Library and on Wednesday we went to Richard Nixon.

It was very interesting to learn about each one and it was great fun! We shared stories, did a little shopping, ate good food and just had a good time.

Today I made new hands for my class Steampunk Oddfae class.  It's so warm that the clay gets soft really fast, but I managed to get the hands sculpted and baked.  Then I attached them to the armature and painted the face and hands.

Tomorrow it's back to pattern instructions.

Journal Pages

I'm almost done with my journal!  Been thinking about a theme for my next one?!?  Thinking that a black and white one would be awesome to do, just don't know how hard it would be to execute?  Guess there is only one way to find out?!?

Also been thinking about my poor troll.  What to do, what to do?????????????????

So many Sewing Machines

It's been a great week!  My daughter is here for her Spring break from College.  I miss her a lot!  So when she comes we get crazy and this week was no exception.  Not even the rainy weather could stop us.  We did a lot of shopping..........and yes I think I'm shopped out for a few days. 

Yesterday we went to Santa Monica.  There's a great new Mall and so much too see and it's right by the Ocean.  It wasn't until we were leaving that we walked by this store and literally all three sides of the store windows were lined with floor to ceiling sewing machines.  It was a very up scale clothing store.  I didn't go in I just drooled over all the machine.  

It was great fun and I hate to see it end.

Other creative venture

Today I got side tracked with my journal pages. Still being creative, but just in a different way. This process of layering different types of papers, stickers and color is just amazing and very addictive. Since I have taken the class with Kelly Kilmer I have spent a little time each day on my journal. It makes it fun to write in it when the pages aren't all plain and white.

Collecting for the next project

Well as we all know............that sometimes I make other things than Trolls.  So I'm collecting for the next project!  This will not be my only project but something to keep my mind occupied.  So.I bought some plain colored fabric yesterday, brown, turquoise, light blue, olive, gold and Khaki green.  Guess what I'm getting ready to start soon?

 I bought this book several months back and although I really wanted to use the stash of fabric I have............I just don't buy plain fabric.  I'm hoping that now I can get started.  I'll keep you posted on the progress.  Ha-ha-ha and hope that this doesn't turn into the quilt from hell.  It seems when ever I start a project that is not Troll related it reeks all sorts of havoc on me. LOL

Wish me luck!

Sketchbook Challenge

Today I decided to join the group of Artists who are doing a Sketchbook Challenge.  What a great way to start the new year.

To learn more http://sketchbookchallenge.blogspot.com/  Should be fun!

Creative spirits have left

In the last two weeks I have made 10 heads!!  A couple ended up in the trash, all the others are in a basket.  None of them spoke to me.  Then I started a Christmas present for my Grandson, can't say what it is just in case, but that too was not flawless.  I've also been working on a pumpkin and I can't say that I love it.

What to do?!?  I want to start on my new Troll, but someone or something is holding me back at the moment.

Last Sunday at the swap meet I found this awesome acorn, got very excited............maybe the direction has changed and this is where I'm supposed start first?!?  A smallish, fat little Troll, who found this magnificent treasure and he/she wants all to him self, not to share with anyone.

Cactus Bloom

Yesterday I noticed that there was a bud on my Cactus.  This morning when I woke up and looked outside the Cactus was blooming.  What a beautiful sight.  So I quick grabbed my camera, so that I could capture it.

The bloom only lasted til about noon and then it was gone.  I'm always amazed at the amazing blooms of a Cactus.

So I thought I'd share it with you.  Thanks Dianne for giving me this awesome Cactus.

Embellished

Inspired!!  I got out my Felting Machine and played.  The piece was larger when I started.

It was great fun to do something different.  And as usual things always look easier then they really are.

This piece measures about 5" x 6"  I'm not sure if I'll add something else or leave it the way it is.  Maybe I'll just hang it on my Bulletin Board for inspiration.  Maybe I'll find a little frame.  Who knows?!?  It was a good way to spend a few hours thinking about nothing.

Love all the pattern pieces

FINALLY!! Today I started with the instruction for Peter the Pack Rat Troll.  I'm always amazed how much thought and time goes into making the instructions.  I'm taking pictures as I go, cause this may just be an on-line class too.

Does and don'ts............mishaps that happen along the way.  Some  good, some not so good.  Others ...........well, I always call them a happy mistake.

Pattern pieces are sewn and ready to be stuffed.  This is were a lot of writing and drawing happens.  It's all good!!  Cause it sure feels good to make something again.

Norman will be part of the Petaluma Art Center Exhibit

Yeah.........I just found out that one of my three dolls submitted for the "Art of the Doll" Exhibit at the Petaluma Art Center made it.  I feel honored to have one of my dolls as part of that exhibit.


Norman was selected......what a lucky guy!