FIRST MEETING OF THE ATLANTA DOLL MAKERS GUILD

Saturday February 16, 2008

4:00 pm @ Intown Quilters

See you there!  Please bring dolls for Show and Tell.

PEACE

Basic Doll Kit

Greetings from cold Atlanta! Yes, we are wimps when it comes to snow in the south. I lived in Michigan and Upstate New York and learned not to blink when it came to snow and cold. Now that I am in Atlanta I don’t want to go outside. Go figure. Well, at least this weekend gave me plenty of time to stay in and work on dolls and quilts.

If you look above at my tabs you will notice that I have added two page tabs. One describes the new doll guild I have started in Atlanta and the other will be a running list of challenges and projects that the group is working on. I have already thrown in a few to get us started. Several doll buddies have written to me from other states asking if they can play along with us. My answer is most definitely YES. I just ask that you send me photos of what you are working on so that I can post it for everyone to see. Below is a list of basic supplies for your a basic doll kit. Please jump in and tell share what you love to use in your doll making and why. Especially if you think I missed something

A Doll maker’s Kit (remember that there will be variations in these kits depending on the types of dolls you make)

• scissors for both paper and fabric
• sketchbook or loose sheets of drawing paper
• colored pencils, watercolor pencils
• sharpened pencils
• ruler or dressmaker’s tape
• freezer paper
• micron (or your favorite brand) pens in brown and black
• ultra fine point sharpie
• Fabric brush pens (like Y&C Fabricmate)
• Crayons (like Crayola, Caran d’Arche)
• Glue stick
• Dollmaker’s needles, #3 and #5
• Sharps or other hand-sewing needles
• Size 7 darner
• Quilting an/or button and craft thread
• old (or new) panty hose
• paperclay, polymer clay, found objects
• Stuffing. I use three type: Polyfil, Mountain Mist and Airtex

Favorite Books for Doll Art Part 1

Often people write to me to ask about doll making tips, favorite supplies and my favorite doll making books. Over the next several months I will share lots about doll making tips and favorite supplies. Today I would like to share a bit about books. As with most artists I have multiple passions. Books, and if I am honest, magazines too, are big interests of mine. In fact, books probably run neck and neck with my passion for art and art supplies. When I am not working on making art I am reading about art and artists. So, without further delay here are the titles of books on my doll shelf:

[Every book I mention here I have read and continue to use.]

Susanna Oroyon

• Fantastic Figures: Ideas and Techniques Using the New Clays
  This is her first doll making book as far as I am aware. It is out of print and a bit expensive now but it is worth the hunt. This was the first doll making book I ever bought. I still reference it. It contains info about moldmaking, armatures and how to shape patterns with darts.

Anatomy of a Doll: The Fabric Sculptor’s Handbook
I believe this is the second book in the series. It is full of fantastic images of completed dolls and sketches of dolls in progress. Lists of supplies and sculpting how-tos are found in this book also.

I also have:

Designing the Doll: From Concept to Construction and

Finishing the Figure: Doll Costuming, Embellishments, Accessories I use these books over and over again.

Next to Ms. Oroyan the doll maker that most influenced my early style is Elinor Peace Bailey (no relation). Her dolls are fun, funny and FULL of personality. Her book The Rag Doll: From Plain to Fancy is one of my early doll books. She explores the pancake pattern in this book and gives basic information for making doll clothes and accessories. I could not find this book online so I am afraid it is probably out of print.

SPirit DoLLs

I make several lines of dolls. Marisol is from my spirit doll line. For me spirit dolls hold a special type of energy. I usually make these when I have a need to work something out for myself or I make them to bless someone else. Most times my spirit dolls are abstract representations of the human form. The other type of spirit doll I make is more representational like Marisol. I loved making her skirts and hand stitching the baubles and charms to her clothing. Every time I look at her I hear the sea.

2008 Goals for UrbanWIldlowerDOlls

Every year during the last week of December I begin to contemplate what I want to accomplish for the coming year. I have split my list a bit. Half of my goals for the year can be found here. That list is related to my studio art quilts and my painting in general. The goal list you will find here has everything to do with dolls, DOlls, DOLLS!

Expand and Explore. I love to work in fabric. I also love clay and found objects. This year I want to dedicate more time to playing in other media in addition to fabric.

• Get a membership at the local clay studio to rebuild skills in handbuilding
• Develop new patterns from sketchbook drawings
• Play with shapes, sizes and textures for dolls. Create the unexpected.
• Create prototypes for new lines.
• Teach new doll classes at the store and at local quilt shops.
• Draw every day.
• Attend more openings.

The Business of Art.

• Print new mailing labels
• Develop promotional packet using new logo
• Launch the new and improved website with shopping cart
• Host launch party for site
• Plan show schedule for the year.

Last Post of 2007: Looking Back

I have been in the zone today. It rained most of the day in drought striken North Georgia (thank you Jesus for the rain) which gave me the perfect excuse to put on a fresh pair of sweats (okay, I really put on another pair of pajamas) and play. I drew, painted, stitched and sewed to my heart was full and content. This is the first time I have been able to work without a heavy deadline looming over my head. Today I was able to begin new work for the coming year. Yeah!

So, I was prompted to write the looking back part of this post after reading Alyson Stansfield’s blog . Her blog has been a wonderful resource for me. Anyway, she wrote an entry on her blog called Plan Your Wins. Basically she is talking about art goal setting for the coming year. Now goal setting is something I have always done. What made me pause after reading Alyson’s take on this is that she first suggests that we acknowledge, dare I say CELEBRATE, the completion of these — our wins (apologies to Alyson for reducing her concepts here). Selected wins for 2007:

1. Taking UrbanWildflower Dolls to the next level by giving her a new look and opening a small boutique (THANK YOU to everyone who have made the last six months such a success for us!).
2. Was the subject of two newspaper articles and one online magazine.
3. Debuted a holiday collection that SOLD OUT.
4. Taught 5 quilt and/or doll workshops.
5. Organized studio office and studio to improve creativity and production.

I thank God for life, love and ART. Here are a few more dolls from my holiday collection. Wishing everyone Peace and Prosperity in the New Year. the urbanwildflower

A FeW DoLls from my Holiday COllEctiON

Here are two examples of dolls that were a part of my 2007 holiday collection. 2007 has been a great year for us. Here’s to praying that the wildflowers will go to even greater heights in 2008.  PEACE!

What I am Reading when I am not EATING! (ugh)

   

 Greetings everyone! I am off on the first leg of my Christmas vacation.  The last few weeks have been exciting and exhausting as I have been fortunate enough to participate in a number of holiday shows in addition to increasing my inventory at the boutique.  I am taking a little break to enjoy my family and, it would appear, to eat, eat, eat.  There are too many dang good cooks in this family.  BUT, since I have already committed to my new workout schedule for the end of this year beginning of next year I am giving myself permission to enjoy myself within limits.  

On to the point of this post: My absolute favorite thing to do when I am not In the Studio is to read.  I often have to force myself to back away from the sewing machine and to put the paintbrushes down so that I can recharge.  So, without further delay here are a few of the books I am currently enjoying.  Feel free to send titles of some of your favorite reads.  Wishing you peace and blessings during this holiday season and in the coming new year!   More dolls coming in 2008!     the urban wildflower.

 

1. 500 Handmade Dolls: Modern Explorations of the Human Form  (Lark Books)
2. A Whole New Mind: Why Right-Brainers Will Rule the Future by Daniel H. Pink
3. Fabric Art Workshop: Exploring Techniques & Materials for Fabric Artists and Quilters by Susan Stein
4.  The Painted Quilt (Paperback)
   by Linda Kemshall and Laura Kemshall 
5. The Uncommon Quilter: Small Art Quilts Created with Paper, Plastic, Fiber, and Surface Design by Jeanne Williamson  

Holiday Show and beginning Thoughts about art in the NewYear

I have been busy doing shows and placing new stock in the store for the last few weeks. It has been a busy but rewarding time. I am looking forward to taking a small break for the holidays and then starting up in January to pursue new designs and new techniques. For the last three years running I make a list of art goals that I want to accomplish in the new year. It’s a loose list as priorities and interests change throughout the year. Still, I think I typically accomplish about 80% of what I strive to do. My list tends to focus on three areas: enhancing my skills by focusing on process and technique, growing my business by better serving customers, and a continuing to develop my individual style through various media. This year blogging and developing my marketing tools have been central to growing. I also did a lot of painting this year on paper and fabric, dolls and quilts . Next year I am pretty sure I want to do a bit more with clays –especially combining paper clay and fabric. I also want to try my hand at encaustics. We will see how the year shapes out. I would love to hear from others who set art goals. What do *you* plan to do?

Creative Zone

In the last few weeks I have finished two art quilts and have two more on my table. Dolls have been really front and center too. I have restocked my boutique at Beehive (1831 Peachtree Road Atlanta, GA) and I have launched my new line of decorative home accessories which compliment urbanwildflower dolls (stay tuned!). Can you say busy?!! Busy but loving it. Nothing is more exciting than being inspired by new work. A friend of mine used to call it “muse abuse” — that thing that happens when your creative mind just won’t let you rest. I go to bed with new designs in my mind. I usually have to get up to draw and make notes in my sketch book before I can go to sleep. I know some artists talk about creative block. I have to say that this condition has always puzzled me. I guess I am fortunate that all I have to do is pick up an old sketchbook and I am off to the races. The more I draw the more ideas I get. Here are a few dolls I completed recently for customers and for the store. As always, I welcome your response. thanks for looking 8 )