Merry Christmas!

Well, I've had a great Christmas so far today, hope everyone had a great day also. Last week my doll club, Time For Dolls, had their December meeting which was also a Christmas party. Our challenge doll for the year was a Holiday themed doll and was to be finished and brought to the December meeting for the festivities. Our gift to each other this year were pincushions. We wrapped them up and everyone's name was put in a container and as someone picked your name you gave them the pincushion that you made. We just had so much fun. The pincushions were all so wonderful, but we were all so enthralled with what we were doing, no one remembered to take pictures!! I could not believe it!!! Anyway, a great time was had by all. And, I forgot my camera so I used my new cell phone to take pictures, they came out ok.
                                               This is a picture of an elf that I made.

In the front is a picture of my Tinsel and Wishes, and behind her is Evelyn's doll.

The cute little guy in front is Dot's little elf.

This is a picture of Vera's Santa in his pj's and slippers. His pajama fabric is so great it is a double-sided print that is quilted.

This is Sue's doll. I just love, love the colors, they match my decorations at home!

This is Mickey's, she is called Santa's ho. That's our Mickey! The doll is so cute, even though she is a working girl.

And last is Pam's Santa. Beautiful, beautiful. His coat is patchwork with hand embroidery. And his beard and eyes are hand embroidered. His hat band and sleeve cuffs, also hand embroidered. So much work but well worth it. And, the cute little mouse in front is mine.

I didn't get a picture of Deborah's. She made Patti Culea's Santa in fabulous fabrics, but no head. She promised to have him finished next month so I will take a picture then.

Our club has some great things planned for next year and I'll try to remember to take pictures and post them.

New Doll

 I took an online class by Cindee Moyer and the doll is called Tinsel and Wishes. She was a lot of fun to make and pretty easy. Her underdress is made of satin and her "tinsel" is a banded mylar that is used for making fishing lores. She has red glass beads added to her dress but they are really hard to see. And she is holding some gifts, I wonder what she brought me? Pretty cool. She is very festive and a great addition to my Holiday Doll collection.

Finally Finished!

I took an online class for this doll called "Street Fair" by Cindee Moyer. The class started in July. I really love this piece but I found it really challenging for some reason. I made 2 bodies, 9 heads and 2 plaques. I finally finished today!

 

Finished my troll

 I finally finished my troll from Ute's workshop. This little guy is from Ute's "Little Folk" pattern. It was a wonderful workshop, but I wrote about that earlier. I don't know what I'm going to name him yet.
When I sculpted his face, his mouth fell naturally where it is so he looked like an older man, that is why he has gray hair and a bald spot. His pants are corduroy and I made a shirt for him from flannel. His vest is from a sock that Pam gave me - thanks Pam! I added some rawhide laces to his shoes. He is so cute but he really needs a name - have to work on that.

 

Workshop Pictures

 Here are the rest of my pictures from the Little Folk Workshop from last weekend. Unfortunately it took me a while to finish this post, it was a busy week. The first picture is someones head, didn't write down who's (sorry!)

This is Sue's head and shoes.

 This is Barb's head and shoes.

This is Karyn's head and shoes.

 

 This is Vera's head and shoe fabric, I think she wants to make a different style shoe.

This is Sheila's head and shoes.

 This is Evelyn's head and shoes, body and 1 boob.

These are Dots 2, yes 2 dolls that she finished!!

These are my shoes.

This is a head and shoes, sorry don't know who's they are. But very cute!

This is Deborah's head and shoes.

And this is Carolyn's head and shoes. She is thinking of using green hair, so cute.

I can not wait to see all of these trolls finished. It is so amazing that they all come from the same pattern yet every one of them is so different due to the way they are sculpted and how the face is colored. Hopefully I'll have pictures of finished dolls in the not toooo distant future!

Little Folk Workshop with Ute Vasina

My doll club, Time For Dolls, Akron, OH, hosted a workshop last weekend Sept 17, and 18 with Ute Vasina. We made her trolls, Little Folk. The workshop was fantastic and Ute is such a sweetheart, we all had a great time and learned some great new techniques.

We held our workshop at "Fabulous" Craft Akron. And it is Fabulous! This is a wonderful place in Akron - 1478 N. Portage Path in the Parkwood Plaza and is owned by Martha Lombardi. The first thing you notice when you walk through the door is all the great 50's decor. I LOVE it! Martha finds all these wonderful things to decorate the shop with. This isn't a retail shop although Martha has a few items for sale that may be needed in a class. This is a place to come to take classes, all kinds of craft classes. It is bright and cheery and just a wonderful space to create in. Check out her website at http://www.craftakron.com/ for classes.

Almost all our members came to the workshop - we missed you Paloma! We had 3 ladies from the Glad Rags doll club, Jean, Joann and Phyllis.

This is Jean.

This is Joann and next is Phyllis.

  

You can see all the ladies working away on their dolls. I can't wait to see them all finished.

The ladies from our club who came are pictured here. Karyn and Barb, mother and daughter. Poor Karyn was so sick but she was such a trooper to attend and work on her doll.

Here are Vera and Sheila.

Here is Evelyn.

Then we have Dot, not only speedybeadie, but speedy doll maker too!Next to Dot was Pam, she and I run the doll club together.

Then there is Deborah.

Next to Deborah was Mickey, she can make you laugh all day long!

Here is Carolyn, put her together with Mickey and you can laugh so hard you will cry!!

Then there is sweet Sue, she sat between Carolyn and me.

I have lots more pictures, but they will appear in my next post.

Finished my doll!

I haven't mentioned my doll that I've been working on. I wanted to make sure that I was actually able to get her done. I was asked to make a doll to display at the Houston International Quilt Show. I've never been to the Houston show but I hear it is huge and fabulous. There are also some doll exhibits.

So, a couple of months ago I set off to make a doll, I felt this was a big honor to be asked and wanted to get a doll done. I found this lantern, it is actually made for a candle, and my husband came up with the idea to make a beach scene in the lantern. I decided the beach scene wouldn't travel very well. I saw a glass lamp at Pier 1 Imports and it was filled with shells and knew right then what to do with my lantern. Then the doll came together in my head. She ended up looking almost exactly what I first thought she would look like. It was quite a journey for me considering I never designed a doll before. Five bodies and I don't know how many arms later I have my doll. I did use one of my favorite doll head patterns by Barbara Schoenoff though. So Quennachelle was born, that is Gaelic for Queen of Shells but that isn't what I really wanted to name her. She is more like the keeper of all shells. Her skirt is a shell motif batik, her top has Swarovski fish hanging down and some coral-looking fringe and she has a starfish in her hair and of course her stash of shells in her lantern. I'm pretty happy with the way she turned out so tomorrow it is off to the UPS store to get a box and bubble wrap and get her shipped off to Houston!