Creative Process

As I am working on a new doll for a class, I had a spark of an idea which brought me back to...

Where do I get my ideas for my dolls?
Good question~

Each doll brings with it inspiration from different sources...

Sometimes it is in the words:

Moon Rabbit- from a Japanese folk tale

note: rice moon ball in hand
and fabric from Japan

Sometimes it is in the fabric:

Flora Fairie- pre "ribboned" fabric
note: ribbons on skirt
and silk petals

Sometimes it is in the season:

Autumn-Pumpkin Girl
note: seasonal fabric choices
including wool felt for head and hands
velvet leaves and ribbons

Sometimes it is in the technique:

Phoebe- needlesculpted folk style
note: stylized placement of features
including elongated nose
and simply patterned fabric

and with this new doll "the Santos Cage Doll"
it is in the style...and the re-designing/re-creating it.

An example of a Contemporary Doll

A Vintage Cage Doll

I have studied the Santos a bit and have found the Cage Skirt to be of great interest.

Originally, these "dolls" where once upon a time found in Portugal and Spain, Santos cage dolls were used in Catholic religious processions —frequently dressed in elaborate gowns and crowns. The cage body was traditionally used to display photographs and flowers to represent celebrations.

As I have been rolling this doll around in my head, I have thought over the basic design of the cage- long vertical slats...how would these slats relate to the garment for this creation?

I have been waiting for my inspiration to come to me...and it did in the form of a rug!

As I sat thinking about the doll and the slats I looked down and saw a woven rug...there was my answer right in front of me...a woven piece that would enhance or even mimic the slats...

I am still in the creative working process for this class doll ...

I will share with you the final results in the month to come!

Chinese New Year

Chinese New Year (according to the lunar calendar) started on February 14th 2010 and is celebrated by the Chinese all over the world. It heralds new beginnings and a fresh start.

One important tradition is that families clean their houses from top to bottom to sweep away any bad fortune and to make way for good luck in the coming year. Red is lucky, and houses are decorated with splashes of the color, the most popular themes being “happiness, wealth, and longevity.” At a social level, it is very much a family affair, a time of reunion, forgiveness, sharing and thanksgiving.

a clean swept house

In readiness for the New Year, the house must be decorated with live blooming plants as these symbolize rebirth and new growth.Flowers such as pussy willow, azalea, peony, water lily or narcissus symbolize wealth and high position in one's career.

After the flowers have been placed, then comes the fruit. Oranges and tangerines are two very symbolic fruits in the celebration of Chinese New Year. They are symbols for abundant happiness. The color of oranges and tangerines represents gold.

This is also a time to renew protective talismans that are used to expel evil. To achieve this, people will decorate the home with auspicious couplets and emblems with the additional aim to summon good fortune. These appear on paper printed in red or with a red background. To the Chinese, red is a life giving color.
As important is the sharing of meals.

orange cookies

moon cakes

2010 is the Year of the Tiger.
People born in Tiger years -which would include 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998 and those who will be born in the coming year, 2010, are said to have certain traits.
As you might expect, considering what kind of animal the tiger is, tiger people are brave, sometimes a little too impulsive, ambitious and tend to dislike authority. On the positive side, they are loyal, generous and honest. If some of the tiger’s negative traits get the better of them, they can be quick to anger and too quick to act without thinking about the consequences.

May you find much happiness and prosperity in this coming year!

Love is in the Air!

Valentine's Day- my favorite Holiday...it IS all about Love!

This week I am away teaching my darling students
in California- not to worry- much love there...Mark and I have set a date when I get home...

Until next week....Have a sweet Valentine's Day....

Zakka Things

As I delve into things Japanese, my love of zakka grows. The beauty in the simple...and isn't that what my blog is all about?

lunch bag

Zakka (from the Japanese 'ak-ka'（雑貨）or 'many things') is a fashion and design phenomenon that has spread from Japan throughout Asia. The term refers to everything and anything that improves your home, life and outlook. It is often based on household items from the West that are regarded as kitsch in their countries of origin.

camera cozy

But can also be Japanese goods, mainly from the fifties, sixties and seventies. In Japan there are also so-called Asian zakka stores; that usually refers to Southeast Asia. The interest in Nordic design or Scandinavian design, both contemporary and past, is also part of this zakka movement. Zakka can also be contemporary handicraft.

clothespin bag
-note the Scandinavian influence
of the embroidery and little horse

Zakka has also been described as "the art of seeing the savvy in the ordinary and mundane". The zakka boom could be recognized as merely another in a series of consumer fads, but it also touches issues of self-expression and spirituality. "Cute, corny and kitschy is not enough. To qualify as a zakka, a product must be attractive, sensitive, and laden with subtext."

house shoes
-the Japanese culture believes in removing
your street shoes to enter into a home,
with this you remove the grime
and negatives from the outside world.

egg cozy

bags

placemat

pincushion

pencil bag

the zakka book I own

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My favorite etsy vendor

More: Japanese craft books