Friday, November 27, 2009

Surprise Santos

As many of you know every year here at ROotie StudiO, I hold a class specially created for my students. It is a Surprise Holiday Doll Class. No one knows what this doll is going to be- it is a Surprise!

With help from my sister this year, I did all the pre-work sewing and we put together kits for each person which holds everything they will need to make this project. It is my way of thanking my students for their support over the year!
This year's Surprise Doll was an Angel. I designed her in a Santos or Saint style. I have always loved the Spanish- style of Santos. Usually they are carved from wood and have a feel of folk-art. One of the best collections I have seen is at the Santa Fe Folk Art Museum- the museum itself holds, I believe, the best collection of folk art items from around the world and from a broad range of dates!

A Santos is basically...a painted or carved image of a Saint common especially in Mexico and south-western part of the US.
Everyone arrives at the studio to find the doll under-wraps...we then "unveil" the doll and out emerges their project we will crate together! The everyone finds their "gift" in the classroom area and unwraps their gift to find the pieces to assemble their creation!




Friday, November 20, 2009

Thankful

Each day offers us the gift of being a special occasion
if we can simply learn that as well as giving,
it is blessed to receive with grace and a grateful heart.

Sarah Ban Breathnach

Next week we will celebrate Thanksgiving...next to Valentine's Day it is my favorite Holiday.
What could be better than getting together with family and friends to take a moment from life's fast pace to sit and eat and talk for hours and hours...
But it is more than the food...for me it is a time to think back over the year and relive the moments, people, and things that I am grateful- thankful- for.
I am thankful for:

  • My husband, Mark, who brings me such love, comfort, happiness, and a beautiful life!
  • My family, ever supportive, loving, and always there for me.
  • My little kitty, Issy, who brings me warmth in my heart, and giggles.
  • My students, who bring me happiness in their encouragement, creativity, support, and love.
  • My friends, who bring me laughter, love, companionship, and the closeness of being family.
  • Little Frances, who brings me fortune in being a part of her sweet life.
  • My nutritionist, who has helped in restoring my health.
  • My dollmaking- no explanation needed!

All in all I am a very lucky woman who has been
blessed with a wonderful and very fortunate life...
May your Thanksgiving be bountiful
with all the good things in your life!

Friday, November 13, 2009

Santa Folk Doll

It is a wonderful thing that I have such a devoted and wonderful group of women-students who I get to teach for the full year (and many more to come!) here at ROotie StudiO in Denver.

Recently I have been choosing specific techniques to incorporate into the year in addition to the known dollmaking techniques. This year I introduced piecing (as in quilting) and folk style design into their dollmaking repertoire.


I feel the more techniques you have under your belt the better "dollmaker" you will be- as with anything in life- the more you know the better and more well rounded person you can be!


So for our final patterned class of the year we made Santa with piecing of the fabrics, applique, and embroidery. All this done with the simple design concepts of the Folk Style. Even though these Santas where simple in design- my students would (happily) tell you that they were quite time consuming but well worth the effort!



I am sure we all know- Happy Hands- Happy Heart!


I used Japanese fabrics in colors of linens
and browns to piece the body.


Added in silk velvets from my stash.


Head done in Linen.


Embroidery- stitches of straight stitch,
varied lazy daisy, and chain stitch.


I used silk and linen #5 threads
for the top-stitching embroidery.



Friday, November 6, 2009

Giving Back...

Every year, my students and I do a display for the Salvation Army Doll Tea. This is a nice way to open the up-coming Holiday Season. All the proceeds go to little children in need and dresses them from under garments to warm outer garments.
As this is time of the year arrives, I do get very busy with my doll business and my personal life. I do have to admit that some years I just think that it is just too much to do this exhibit...but then I take just a moment and remember the little children. I am fortunate enough that I am able to be a dollmaker and have a studio. With hard work and great dreams- anything is possible- and so the answer to giving back really is quite simple!

Theme for this exhibit is "Snow"
...and some cats too!


I found while setting up the exhibit this year and bringing out all the dolls from the boxes and placing them together in their groups, that it brought such a warmth to my heart and a big smile...what great things we, my students and me, have accomplished over the years- we all are indeed fortunate to have each other and to share our love of dolls with others!


...and once again it does come down to those little moments in life that are so precious!
Snow Babies

Felted Snowman

Let it Snow

Sparkle Snow

Meow-Meow Neko

So take the time to enjoy the moment- even if it is fleeting!

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