Finished Projects in Blue and Yellow

I haven't posted in a while. The A to Z challenge was great because it made me connect with my blog every day, but the reality is that life can get in the way of the things we really want to do. I've been busy finishing new pieces and doing some arts and crafts festivals. Art festivals are great once you have the tent and the tables set up and your products are happily enticing customers in and you get to talk to the people you hope will purchase something.

Before all of that can happen you work very hard every week to finish something new so that you can look fresh and new for each show and then you have to pack the car and get to the event and for heaven's sake, don't leave anything at home like your receipt book, tent clips, business cards or drinking water. I've done all of that.

 In spite of all of the careful planning and making lists, I always seem to forget some small but essential item.

In an earlier post I was making some gift items for a Mother's Day show in a blue and yellow palette. It was a creative challenge for myself to see what I could come up with.

 I started with a pile of ribbons, fabrics, lace, thread and decorative papers in a variety of patterns and textures.

 

I came up with some dolls that are different from my usual style but they were fun to create. I also did pillows and some pinc cushion ornaments with ribbons and strips of printed fabric.

 

 

Ikat printed pillow.

 

 

 Another Ikat print in blue and yellow.

 

 

My first "Tilda" doll...Her name is Lu Lu.

 

 

My second "Tilda" doll...Dolly.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Alice Blue

Well, work, illness and family commitments had to come first this year and I didn't get to finish the A to Z challenge. I will try again next year. I'm glad to report that my family is doing much better, I finally kicked the spring cold/allergy syndrome and work has leveled off a bit. I work on my art and my dolls every chance I get, even when things aren't going so well.

This is Alice Blue. She is one of the good things that came out of the cold I was trying to get rid of, so at least something positive came out of it.

Alice has been chasing this little rabbit for days now. Her mother tells her she must be more lady-like but her father loves her adventurous spirit.

Alice has great courage and an amazing imagination. She wants to grow up to be a writer some day.

She's wearing her favorite "Alice Blue" dress and a blue hair ribbon. She also has her little white rabbit tied with a blue ribbon so that he won't get away.

Twelve Yards of Muslin Projects: 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12

I'm still enjoying working with dolls with the armature frames.



The lady African dolls were inspired by an artist from Uganda named Paul Ndebele who paints and creates beautiful batiks that tell beautiful visual stories.

This doll's name is Galimah. I'm not sure what her name means but it was the name of someone that I knew many years ago.

This doll's name is Adila which is Swahili for justice.

I also created more of the African passport mask dolls . The original designer who gave me the inspiration is Sandra Heading Marchand.

This Akili who is a very happy, generous and kindly king. His name is means wisdom.

This is Rafiki.

He is another storyteller or "griot". The first "Storytelller" that I made a few weeks ago along with the doll I named "The Leader" were both adopted from the Brickhouse Gallery the first week they were there.

This is Ndemasi another African king. He has a very strong and arrogant personality.

This is Sister Moon, another inspired piece...

...and Sister Stars.

All of these dolls are ready to be adopted at The Flower Collage gift shop in the Brickhouse Gallery, 2837 36th Street, Sacramento CA 95817.

A Finished Project: More Glamour Sox

Just finished another group of Christmas stockings. I love the shiny reds and greens and golds.

This one is more traditional.

A Finished Project: Glamour Sox Christmas Stockings

Every year I make Christmas stockings to sell. This year, I will be selling my stockings in 3 or 4 different locations in addition to my own space. Keep your fingers crossed for me, I have 2 confirmed locations and 2 pending. Anyway, I wanted to create some very unique designs to compliment the business that will be carrying them. These are some of my first designs for the first location (more info on the location later).

I wanted this set to be beautiful, glamourous and exotic using rich colors and eclectic fabrics.

I had so much fun choosing the embellishments. I used huge rhinestones, beaded fringe, eyelash fringe and animal prints.

I thought about what kind of Christmas stockings would Paris Hilton, Beyonce and Lady Ga Ga buy.

I wanted to share them here with you. Watch for the other collections I've designed for my other ckients.