Not Carved In Stone

Givaway doll!

2014-09-21T10:13:00.000-04:00

Wee Witch doll making class by June Crawford

Our teachers are so amazing! June Crawford is teaching Wee Witch this month and she is giving away a doll! Read all about the Giveaway!

Fabric sale this Saturday!

2014-08-12T11:02:00.001-04:00

There is so much to offer you this Saturday! Fabric from dress and costume making, silks, laces for bridal wear and trim. Books on dressmaking and crafting, patterns galore! Say you'll come! So many deals to be had!

Cash only, please!

A successful show!

2014-06-30T09:52:00.001-04:00

A big thank you to everyone who came to our Art and Tea in the Garden last Saturday. It was a fabulous day all round: perfect weather, perfect food and tea, wonderful friends dropping by and new people to meet! I was surrounded by inspiration and the warmth of friendship all day. How perfect is that?

To me, these events are a little holiday. A chance to just be an artist for a whole day, to be in the company of other artists, with time to talk; it gets the creative juices going. I look at what I've brought to offer and ideas come. "Maybe I could try this, or make that." I have to keep notes, so I can use them for my next show. That will be FiberFest in Almonte this September.

Since the move had absorbed so much of life, I haven't been to my creativity table much. But that will change! My storage closet has begun to take shape. I am categorizing and sorting my stash. My aim is to have the categories well defined. For the stuff that must remin in boxes a bit longer, I plan to get it all out, take a photo and paste it on the box. It's the best way to keep a visual inventory that I know!

On to the next show! See you there!

Art in the garden

2014-06-10T10:32:00.001-04:00

Won't you join me?

Fairy tales come true!

2014-05-23T09:52:00.001-04:00

Wow! It has been a busy few weeks. You may have noticed my absence from the blogosphere. Moving house has taken up much of my time and I am heartily sick of boxes by now! I can't wait to pack the last empty one into the recycling pile.

Life has not been all about moving. I have also been teaching. The Canadian Embroiderer's Association held their annual conference in Ottawa and I was invited to teach there. I had a fun time with my great group of students! It was like a holiday in the midst of all that's been going on lately. To dip back into my wools and show people the joys of needle felting.

The class was called Fairy Tale Felt Folks. We had two days to get all the wonderful characters to emerge and progress to being finished. I'm happy to report that nearly all of the pieces were finished. That left everyone with a good sense of accomplishment. Me too! It didn't take long before the students opted to stay in the classroom over break times and keep working. I love it when people get keen right away!

So here are the results. My own character was Puck, but while he made a great demo piece, he has yet to be finished!

We had a couple of Puss In Boots, and Crooked Men, some mythical figures and loads of imagination!

Friday pattern review

2014-04-11T10:11:00.000-04:00

This just came across my desk. It's another of Linda Walsh's lovely Colonial dolls. This one is a partner, indeed a twin, to Peter, that I talked about last week. She's 16" tall, a cloth doll with an embroidered face and a pretty costume.

Linda has designed a doll that is simple to make, even for cloth doll beginners. The face is embroidered, so those who love to use their needle will be happy! You could also paint the face, if that's your preference.

The pattern has complete, full sized pattern pieces, with detailed illustrated instructions. Linda also creates wonderful stories for each of her characters.

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So get out those pretty prints and start sewing! Here's where you'll find the pattern.

Let's hear it for the boy!

2014-04-04T09:29:00.002-04:00

In the doll making world, the guys are under appreciated. First off, there are fewer male doll artists. Those who do create dolls are excellent. Then there are fewer male characters produced. I can tell you from experience and comparing notes with my peers, that the male dolls don't sell as well. Even when part of a pair. I can't explain it really. Less glamour than their female counter parts?

Here's a new cloth doll pattern by Linda Walsh. Linda's patterns always come with a complete story for each doll. Peter here is no exception. Dressed in Colonial style with those big brown eyes, who could resist this guy? You can read his full story on Doll Street Dreamers.

Sleeve for an e-reader

2014-04-01T10:36:00.001-04:00

My daughter has an e-reader. Perfect for her trip to Europe. I'm amazed how many apps it has, beyond books!

Anyway, I made a sleeve to protect it from the rough life inside a back pack while touring Europe. I let her choose from some of my quilting cottons and she chose the map print, as a perfect companion for books and travel. She also chose a batik print for the lining.

Back at the studio, and over to my sewing machine. I used a heavy Pellon for the stiffening. The kind you use to back fabric bowls and boxes. I fused the lining to it with wonder under. And trimmed it, leaving a seam all round the edges. Then I folded it with the lining inside and seamed the side and bottom.

At this point, I realisesd I should have sewn the tab on while it was flat. I made the tab with a lighter Pellon inside, turned it and added half of the magnetic fastener. You could also use a button to close it, but the magnets are neat. This I now stitched onto the Pellon. I also glued the lining seam to one side, so it wouldn't roll when I put the cover layer on. A glue stick did the trick.

I wrapped the outer fabric and checked the fit before trimming it, leaving a seam all round. I joined the side and bottom, them slipped this over the inner layer. The other half of the magnet fastener was attached, then I folded under the top edge. I chose to reveal a small amount of the lining fabric, to give the top edge a little jazz. Top stitched it and it was done!

It didn't take long at all and she loved it! Theses simple crafts can be so satisfying. Don't you find?

Easter is coming - are you ready?

2014-03-28T10:15:00.002-04:00

If you have little ones around, or even if you don't, this project is full of the joys of spring. Here is an online class from Kat Lees, an incredibly talented teacher and doll maker. She's even got Photoshop skills, which I am envious of! Her lessons are always beautifully presented with fabulous graphics and images.

Class has just started over at Doll Street Dreamers, so you can still join in. There's a paper mache way to make the Easter Rabbit's candy carriage. The rabbit himself is cloth, with easy needle sculpting and lovely costuming anyone can do.

So hop on over to Doll Street and get ready for Easter and out long awaited Spring!

Pattern review- Calliope

2014-03-07T10:43:00.001-05:00

I just got this pattern in my inbox, from Paula McGee. I thought I'd do a review today. First, it's a cloth doll pattern, which makes a doll about 18" tall seated and 28" tall standing. Her name is Calliope, which is dreamy! The pattern is well written, with both illustrations and photos. Paula's signature face is what gives the doll such fabulous appeal.

There are patterns for the doll and her costume. There's even a template for drawing the face. Along with the photos, even novice doll makers will be able to produce a lovely face for their doll.

The whimsical costume and pink hair top off the doll. I just love the boots! Those are inspirational. Hey, I bet in another color way, it would look positively Steampunk! I digress! Do try this pattern. you won't be disappointed.

Available at Doll Street Dreamers. Order the pattern right here.

Tuesday humor

2014-03-04T11:25:00.001-05:00

Everyday, we all should laugh. It makes you feel good. It makes others feel good. Did you ever try just smiling for a full minute, for no good reason? I guarantee, it will elevate your mood. Even if it's a bad mood, it will be a bit better for smiling through it.

So many songs have been written about laughing though tears; smile, though your heart is breaking, etc. How about a few about the fun of laughter? Can't think of too many just now. Maybe you can. Let me know!

I've heard compliants about jokes people share on Facebook. Sure, it might get to be too much at times, but you have to admit, a smile or a laugh is far better to skim over than misery, complaint or dismal news.

So, here's my laugh for today. I especially like the funny hat. Here's to funny hats!

2014-02-28T14:17:00.000-05:00

It's so great when you find something on sale! Judy has offered us a 15% discount on this class until the end of this weekend! In this class, apart from making a lovely mermaid, you will learn Judy's secrets for making beautiful faces and elegant hands. There's also beading, costume illusions and so much more! Register right here!

Who can resist the siren call of the mermaid? The first stories appeared in ancient Assyria (according to Wikipedia), in which the goddess Atargatis transformed herself into a mermaid out of shame for accidentally killing her human lover. Mermaids are sometimes associated with perilous events such as floods, storms, shipwrecks and drownings. In other folk traditions (or sometimes within the same tradition), they can be benevolent or beneficent, bestowing boons or falling in love with humans. I liek the last part the best!

How about you? Ready to flex your creative fins and create a mermaid?

1840's Bonnet

2014-02-24T11:41:00.001-05:00

I don't call myself a Milliner. I call myself a Costume Specialist. Or a dressmaker, if it needs explanation. But lately, I've been a milliner. It seems the costume work coming my way has got smaller, juts like the budgets at Canada's historic sites. Sigh. What can you do? Our government doesn't value our history.

Anyway, here's my bonnet. It's an 1840's poke bonnet. It presented a few challenges. First, I had a sample - always good. But (there's always a but) it was going to be the same, but different! Let's add a wire brim and change the interfacing and then the fabric...You get the idea.

The new fabric was a moire. It wasn't easy to hand sew, so adding the bound edge was a test for the fingers. I had to use a pair of pliers to pull the needle through.

I'm quite pleased with it. I had fun trimming it. The ribbon is vintage rayon, made in Paris. It came wrapped in delightful brown paper. The feather and roses work well. I have some white flowers I could use, but I'm not sure. One always has to think about who will use it and how it will be taken care of. I've seen a few sad sights, I can tell you.

What do you think? Ready for an afternoon promenade?

The Easter rabbit Himself!

2014-02-24T11:30:00.001-05:00

There's plenty of time to get this guy done before Easter! I love that he comes complete with his Candy carriage! Kat lees is the designer and you can find this online class on Doll Street.

The rabbit Himself is soft sculptured. the carriage begins with paper mache and goes on from there, using molds and various other techniques. So much to enjoy, whether you like getting messy or dressing up a cloth rabbit!

One of the first soft dolls I ever made was rabbit. My niece still has him. Rabbits, Easter, Spring, it all goes together so wonderfully!

10 things you should have in your Sewing kit

2014-02-18T08:36:00.000-05:00

Over at Doll Street Dreamers. we've been discussing what constitutes a sewing kit. You'll get instructions or a supply list for a class and it says blandly: Sewing kit. So, to help clear the fog, here's what should be in a basic sewing kit, in no particular order:

Scissors, one large pair and one small, sharp pair. By sharp, I mean they should cut to the tip. Depending on the class, you may also need paper scissors.
Pins - not those you've collected from packs of shirts. Those are useless for sewing.
Tape measure.
Assorted hand sewing needles.
Thread to match the project you are doing, plus maybe basting thread in another color.
Marking pens or pencils; dressmakers' chalk; maybe a marking wheel and carbon paper.
Thimble.
Ruler- a small, bendy one is useful.
Rotary cutter and mat if you use one.
Stitch ripper.

I store my basic class kit in a pencil case - the kind that goes in a 3-ring binder with clear pockets. You can see what's in it. I have several of these for different purposes. One for my travel painting kit, one for doll tools, etc.

I hope that's helpful for you, next time you do a class. Speaking of classes, my dear Marilyn Halcombe of Sydney, Australia has one starting this Friday. It's Walter. He's such a charmer! Marilyn is a master at cloth dolls making and needle sculpting. Believe me, I know. I have one of her mini elves sitting on my desk and admire him every day!

Cloth doll making for beginners.

2014-02-10T11:30:00.000-05:00

Sherry Goshon shares her expertise to get you started with cloth doll making. This e-book is full of handy tips. Order it online today and download it today!

Boudoir dolls are back

2014-01-28T09:00:00.000-05:00

I am very excited about this class. Shelly has designed a wonderful doll and presents it two ways in this class. The doll is jointed for posing, with a paper clay mask and a vinyl body. This alone intrigues me - how will that be made? You'll see when you take the class.

Shelly's dolls recently appeared in Just SteamPunk ll. I am so glad Shelly will be teaching for Doll Street Dreamers. Look at that fabulous hat! I want to make one! Don't you?

Here's the place to register. And here's another version of the doll. Isn't she grand?

Moving house

2014-01-24T10:09:00.000-05:00

After nearly 29 years in this old house, we are moving. So the boxes have piled up and been shifted to the new place. I am getting more ruthless as we go along! Clothes I haven't worn, shoes, old bags and bric-a-brac. Gone!

The new bungalow has lots of cupboards, but I can see we will soon fill them all. We also have too much furniture for two levels, having 4 right now. So I am a little stressed out! If anyone you know wants to buy an fine older home in Old Ottawa South, let me know!

I am going through my stash and did chuck out a bunch of stuff. Then I thought some more. I should have a sale! So I have shifted some of my stash to my studio and will organise a fabric sale for the early spring. It's so cold here, no-one will come out shopping now! So stay tuned for the date!

Meanwhile, I find being at the studio peaceful. No lists of things to pack, just my work. Right now, I am making an 1840's bonnet and dress.

Doll Street Dreamers is keeping me busy and this week I have added some new patterns and classes. Colleen Babcock has converted one of the classes she taught live into a pattern. It's Finders keepers. I took this class with Colleen and it's a really fun doll to make.

Maybe this doll can find some of the things that are getting misplaced during this move?

Order the pattern at Doll Street.

Valentine's postcards

2014-01-21T10:57:00.000-05:00

Don't you miss the mail like it used to be? That peek in the mail box to see what letters came today? I do. I am moving house and while packing up, I keep coming across old letters. Some are stuffed in books, some are filed away in drawers and boxes. It was a poignant moment to read one from my mum, written when I was expecting my son. Sigh. Opening the mailbox used to be full of anticipation. You remember, you'd been thinking about a distant friend and the next day, there's a letter form her in the mail box! That was fun!

Valentine's Day used to fill the mailbox too. Now we probably get more e-cards than anything. My friend Judy Skeel has the right idea. She's making fabric postcards to send. Right back to hand made, that's the spirit! Better yet, she's leading a class and teaching all sorts of fun tricks and techniques for fabric play and manipulation. Using paint sticks, Angelina fiber, tyvek and more! Let's make some fabric art with Judy!

You can join the fun right here!

Divas rule!

2014-01-17T09:30:00.000-05:00

I'll be teaching online again soon. At the end of January, Doll Street will host another needle felting class. Create your own Diva! I will take you step by step through the technique of needle felting and show you how to sculpt the face with wool fiber and create and develop the body parts. Finally, we will make interesting poses, like the diva shown here.

I'm also offering a kit, for those who need one. Just let me know the color you want. I always advise against making a flesh tone diva. using a non-traditional color takes the pressure off trying to make a realistic face and body.

Class begins January 31, 2014. Follow the link to register today.

Pas de deux online class

2014-01-14T12:03:00.000-05:00

I am excited about this online class from Barbara Schoenoff. Barbara is a master cloth doll maker and shows it with this lovely couple. The class will lead you step-by-step through the making and costuming of each doll. So it's kind of a two-for-one deal, since the class creates both dolls.

The dolls are dressed in 18th century costumes and the couple both are wearing powdered wigs and make up.

Class starts February 7 on Doll Street Dreamers. Follow the link to register.

I've been published!

2014-01-10T09:30:00.000-05:00

Soft Dolls and Animals has published my Flat Felicity article in their Feb/Mar 2014 issue. I'm so excited!

It all started with a swap on Doll Street Dreamers. Our online doll club decided to do a Flat Stanley Round Robin. Our group has doll artists all over the world joining in. We each made a flat doll, designed to go in an envelope with a journal to accompany it on the journey. Each month, we get a doll, add one item to it, write in the journal and send it along to the next person. It may be a year before we get our well traveled dolls back! Oh the things they will do and the places they will see!

Flat Felicity is based on the doll I put into my envelope. So now she is available to share with you, via the magazine. maybe you'll start your own swap? It's a lot of fun!

Doll making adventures!

2014-01-07T10:03:00.001-05:00

Doll Street is presenting a new designer this month: June Crawford. I found this talented designer on Etsy. June is bring this fabulous class to us, which uses polymer clay and old books to create this imaginative doll.

Register by clicking this link to the class.

Here's a little about June, in her own words:
"I am a mostly self taught artist, unless you count the art classes in high school….where my teacher often looked at what I had created and, scratching his beard, would say... "Interesting". A unique classification he used when he just couldn't label it anything else.

But coming from a creative family, it was just something natural to do. My father's Mother was a quilter who created the most amazing works of art, as had her own Mother. I have knit lace that my Great-Grandmother made just after the turn of the last century and I have a needlework set she had begun, but never finished due to her untimely passing. Her daughter, my Grandmother, stitched and she passed that knowledge to me. My grandfather drew and painted in water color. He also was a musician, as were all of his brothers, something I wish I had learned more about. My own Mother never learned to knit or make lace, but she took up sewing and ceramics. My sister and I have somehow become a conglomeration of all of that past. From an early age I was making pots and statues from mud…as I've grown my tools have changed, now I use polymer clay so those things will be far more durable and much less dusty. Anything is game ….I see magic in almost everything and I am passing that on to my own son and daughter who are artists in their own right.

People often ask me how I am inspired. I wish I understood myself. Shadows of the leaves playing over a rock, on a sunny day. The sound of the birds chirping waking me before dawn on a spring morning, the new green of spring grass, wild violets, the giggle of a child….light, color, texture...everything is inspiring. Somehow, somewhere in the ether of my mind, those things mix together and eventually end up a new project. Often I begin with no more than a desire to create. Sometimes I have a very vague idea of what I want the end product to be, other times I see the finished piece clearly before I begin. And sometimes, what I end up with isn't at all what I had in mind when I began. I think, for me, it isn't so much about what is created as it is the process of creating. It's almost like you bring a tiny piece of your soul to the physical world when you do that. And the greatest reward of all is seeing how that can touch another person. "

Happy New Year!

2014-01-01T08:00:00.000-05:00

FREE printable 2014 planning calendar for you

2013-12-27T09:00:00.000-05:00

With the help of Miss Tiina, I made my own blogging calendar for 2014. I had one last year which really kept me organised. you may use it for way more than blogging, as you will see.

Enjoy! It's my gift to you!