Twelve Yards of Muslin: Projects: Projects 2, 3, 4, and 5

Here are the next finished projects out of my twelve yards of muslin. I was watching this wonderful program on TV, one of the stories they were featuring was about a doll artist. Of course, that caught my attention.

She had been laid off from here job for several months and started out making jewelry that her husband took to work to sell for a little extra income. I'm not sure how she made the transition from jewelry to doll making but she said that when she made her first two dolls they sold immediately.

I was so intrigued by her dolls' simplicity yet they were so detailed in portraying African cultural dress. She used small imported masks called African passport masks for the dolls faces. I wanted to make my own version of these dolls. I knew that I would have to be pretty resourceful in re-creating the dolls faces since I don't have access to the passport masks that she used.

I gathered the materials and the tools I needed. I had almost everything I needed already in my craft and art stash. I started out with a few rough sketches of what I wanted to create. My next step was to make an armature frame to build the doll on.

I always smile at myself when I pull out the power tools and hardware to make an art or soft art project. This project required my drill, wire cutters, 14 gage wire, pliers and wood glue.

I also got a chance to use up a lot of my leftover quilt batting scraps. I never throw anything away.

Here's where the muslin comes in. I used lots of 1" by 36" strips.

I wrapped the armature with the batting first and then the muslin strips. I got this little mummy like doll body ready to be costumed.

I love the way the wire frame makes the arms able to be posed in a variety of gestures.

My favorite part of any doll making project is the costuming. I guess it's because it takes me back to my theater roots. For this project I used burlap, (very itchy to work with) cowrie shells, African textiles, feathers, found objects and broken jewelry. I used enamel paint on fabric to paint the faces to substitute for the masks. This was a great project for my creative spirit because I could let my imagination run free. I came up with so many design ideas and these are the four I decided to make. They are the leaders of an African village.

"The Chief"

"The Elder"

"The Griot" (storyteller )

"The Merchant"

They are available for adoption at the Brickhouse Gallery in Sacramento. Can't wait to make more!

The Brickhouse Gallery Quilt Show

I am proud to be a part of the Brickhouse Gallery's first annual quilt show. I entered the two pieces shown in the middle of this photograph. The top piece is called "Plum Blossoms"

and the bottom one is called "Moon Watcher".

I was very humbled to be among so many extremely talented quilters. These artists are very serious quilters who devote their creative spirits and many long, long hours to these extraordinary works of art.

I am happy to share some of their work with you here.

If you are in the Sacramento area, this show runs until February 29th.

The Brickhouse Gallery

2837 36th Street

Sacramento CA 95817

Thursday & Friday 12:00pm to 6:00pm

Saturday 12:00pm to 7:00pm

Twelve Yards of Muslin: Project 1

Here is my first finished project out of my "twelve yards of muslin."
I decided to make a fabric art piece. I used the plain white muslin and fabric paints and pens to create the background.




My hairdryer is my favorite tool when I use paint. I always want to get my projects done quickly and this saves drying time between the painted layers.

The white muslin is a perfect blank canvas so that it can become anything.

I made a pattern for the design I wanted to applique into the piece.

Next I pulled out embroidery thread...

...and lots of colored glass beads...

I used beads to add some detail...

...and make the piece come to life.

I used embroidery thread to hand quilt the background...

...and the finished piece is called

"Talkin' To The Moon".

This is not the first time I've created this piece. I designed it for the first time about 18 years ago. It was so popular that I sold it immediately at a craft show I was selling at.

I love my first finished project out of the twelve yards and I've already started the next one. Can't wait to share it here with you.

My Granddaughter's Hat

My youngest granddaughter Maya bugged me all summer to make her a hat. Usually, I try to do anything I can to make my grandchildren happy but I just didn't have a design for a hat in my creative bag of tricks.

































Every time she would ask I answered 'yes sweetheart, grandma will make a hat for you' but truthfully, I didn't have a clue where to begin. As the months went on, every weekend Maya came to me and said 'grandma, did you make my hat?' Five-year-olds like elephants, never forget. I was beginning to feel guiltier and guiltier every week because I knew I was putting her off. About two weeks before Christmas, I found this great yarn that had so many wonderful colors in it. I remembered that I used to crochet a little and of course, the light bulb came on. Here was the basic ingredient for Maya's hat. I added some matching ribbon flowers and some rhinestones to give some "Bling". These are my granddaughters Maya and Relena wearing 'original' Cre8tiv Glory hats.

Twelve Yards of Muslin

My creative spirit kind of went into hibernation after the holidays. I couldn't seem to get inspired to begin anything new. I decided to go shopping last week at all of my favorite fabric, craft and art stores to see if I could jump start my creative spirit with some new materials.

I bought some fabric pens and some watercolors from Utrect Art Store and then visited a few fabric stores and bought some half yard pieces of print fabric that I thought would inspire me, I sat in the car and looked at my purchases and thought 'now what?' I decided to go to Hancock Fabrics on my way home.

I walked around the store with that 'I don't know what I'm looking for but I'll know it when I see it' attitude. They had a great sale going on but there wasn't anything I really wanted. Then I saw a sign that said $1.00 off all cotton muslin fabrics.


I found a bolt of bleached white cotton muslin for $1.99 a yard. The bolt hadn't been cut yet. The fabric was a close weave, sturdy and had a good weight and there was 12 yards on the bolt. Suddenly, I could see all of the possibilities that this plain white bolt of fabric could become. Instead of white, I could see rainbows of color and prints.

Who knew that this was the inspiration I was looking for and what a great bargain. With the $1.00 off per yard, I got all twelve yards of 45" fabric for $12.00. I couldn't wait to get it home.

I pulled out all of my paints and supplies and instead of thinking 'now what?' I was thinking 'what first?'

I am beginning a new creative journey with my 12 yards of muslin. I can't wait to see what and how many projects my plain white cotton fabric will inspire.

I will share my creative journey here with you. I'll keep you posted on each new project.

A Finished Project

In the midst of all of the craziness, I managed to finish another doll. She was inspired by the singer Beyonce. She turned out so pretty but decided to call her "Sasha Fierce" who Beyonce says is her alter-ego. The singer says that she is basically a shy person and sometimes has to reach inside of herself to be the beautiful star that she is. She calls her alter-ego "Sasha Fierce" who is the talented, strong, out-going woman who lives inside of Beyonce.

A Non-Traditional Thanksgiving

I can't believe how long I've been away from one of my favorite things...this blog. The last few weeks have been busy, hectic, sad, crazy, stressful, informative, enlightening, joyful, successful and so much more.

Business at The Market Place has been phenomenal. This time last year, we were praying for customers and they just weren't coming. This year we have people who are literally waiting at the front door before we open.

My boss weathered the storm through a bad economy, the negative opinions of other people, sabotage, frequent bouts of bad luck and The Market Place is stronger than ever. I am very proud of her. Her faith and perseverance have rewarded her with success.


Because we've been so busy, I've been
working six days a week and on my only day off I've been trying to make my own business grow. I finally did open displays of my dolls, cards and Christmas items at two other locations. Some of my dolls are now happily living at "Studio 5 Art and Design" in Sacramento owned and operated by Jan Hollins who is a fabric designer and an interior designer. Her husband, Lawrence Sullivan is an amazing fine artist who paints unbelievable portraits and murals. I will share some of their work on this blog in the very near future.

The third location that will now be carrying "Cre8tiv Glory" designs is "The Flower Collage & Lifestyle Design" at the Brickhouse Gallery also in Sacramento. More about them in the near future as well.

Needless to say, the work has been non-stop and the holidays slipped up on me before I knew it. Thanksgiving was pretty sad for me. I'm having some family problems at home so instead of staying at home and grieving about it, I decided to take one of my mini-vacations to a place that has always had happy memories. I drove 2-1/2 hours to the Bay Area to Coyote Pointe. We had

so many family picnics and get-togethers at this beautiful place. I wanted to put my feet in the 'salt water'. When my kids were small and I was a single parent the car we had wasn't in the greatest shape but I could get us to Coyote Pointe in about 30 minutes. My kids always felt like we had really been somewhere when we went there. Sometimes it was only peanut butter sandwiches and kool-aide in the thermos but we were someplace different than being at home. Later, when my boys were much older, we had huge family get-togethers with cousins, aunts and uncles, grandparents, nieces, nephews and tons of family friends. My mom and I would buy and freeze hot dogs, hamburgers, and chicken legs for a few months until we had enough to feed everyone. We had baked beans,

macaroni & cheese, potato salad and anything else that anyone wanted to bring.

So, on Thanksgiving day it was cold, wet, raining, cloudy, windy and absolutely wonderful. A few quiet tears remembering the past and lots of joy reliving the same memories. I felt alive and hopeful for the future that is in my own hands.




I would love to know what these two are talking about???








Could this be another alien abduction?? Just boots, no body.

There is a peaceful symmetry in the shades of white and blue and the repetition of the masts.

These folks also took a less traditional route for Thanksgiving by going fishing.

I wonder if these birds are giving thanks for not being Thanksgiving dinner.

In the midst of so much rain and gray skies, this beautiful sunflower stood out like the sun itself

Even the fungus seems to be celebrating the day.

Gorgeous coy fish in a scientific environment.

The doorway to the future??

Love and celebrate your families with every opportunity you can get. Never let anyone or anything come between you and your families. They are the most valuable thing have.