New Year Thoughts...

It is the time of year when you may turn thoughts towards making changes, of setting new goals, and looking forward to positive possibilities waiting in the coming new year. 

There are those who trivialize this by going down the common lists of "New Year's Resolutions"; always made but seldom realized in past years. I believe its important to always strive toward something better and a new year is just the right time to do it! 

I find, for me, that instead of making a list of things that need "correcting" (like that ever present pounds that I would like to loose, yes, exercise more etc), I choose to a word that I will help me strive to be an all over better person. 

So this next years word is going to be Kobayashi Maru...ok I can hear you now- what the heck does that mean??  In a sense it means: A no-win situation caused by a set of rules that can only be won by changing the rules.

...and yes, it IS a term from Star Trek but still it can apply to life (in the real world). But basically, I believe that is means to think out side the box..get creative!! So we will see where this word takes us this year...and yes, I do have some things up my sleeve where this will apply.

Happiest and Brightest New Year to You All!

and realize your star is in reach...you may just have to change the rules to get there!

Merry Christmas to All!

Pillows for Christmas...

ok ok...a little crazy here...Most every year I like to make slip covers for my pillows...and not just at Christmas but Spring/Summer and Fall/Winter...

I found this darling fabric online and had to get it...

So went to my local fabric store for cottons and matched it up with these!

So here and there and late at night.. I sewed and sewed and made a bunch of pillow slip covers...isn't it funny that sewing for a living and I still have to squeeze in projects I want to do!!

Started with the couch and made these...adding ric rac trim and velvet jingle bells to the small pillow in front!

Moved onto the two side chairs and made two of these with red cording trim...

So now into the bedroom and made these for the seating area chairs...

And finally I made pillow cases for the two pillows and a slip cover with fabric I had for the long pillow!!

Link here to find instructions for quick and easy pillows cases!!

Let me know if you make any pillow slip covers or cases! Have Fun!!

Swan Lake

Last week I posted about the ballerina Pointe shoes...this week here she is Swan.

What a pleasure it was to design this doll for such dear friends! I find so much enjoyment when I create for people I know...Debby was a dancer, so her husband came to me with a special request for her birthday- A ballerina doll...we started with the images from Degas and went from there..

Stone Clay jointed head overlayed with Silk Crepe, Silk Crepe body

Costuming of silk, tulle, swarovski crystals, marabou feathers

 

 

of course I had to add in a music box to the hand-made stool because isn't that what the ballet is- beautiful visual and audio to float by...Swan Lake . I just love the delicate sound of the tuned teeth of the small little music box. It is light and airy just like this doll.

Detail Photos:

Close up of costume detailing

View from back

Face close up

 I love the close up photo, where you can see the texture of the silk fabric and the sparkling painted eyes. I always find this part of my photography sessions with Mark Mortensen, so interesting...and even though I wear super-duper readers the camera sees all, I am always so amazed that things come out as gracefully  and accurate as they do!

Fabric lends itself to the softness of the tint of color...I just love working in cloth!!

Stats:

Artist Name: Leslie Molen
Title: Swan

One of a Kind 

Year: 2011
Size: 16 inches seated
Description:
Doll: Stone Clay jointed head overlayed with Silk Crepe, Silk Crepe body, costuming of silk, tulle, swarovski crystals, marabou feathers.

Stool: Hand-made wooden stool with music box playing Swan Lake
 

Pointe Ballet Shoes

I always find creating dolls as a continuous education. My latest commission piece included ballet slippers...I have noticed as I grow in my work, the details start to become all so important and all of sudden more clear that they are even there!

My eyes have opened to delve further into the details of each piece I create. So when I set out to make these little ballet slippers... pointe shoes where the only ones that would do! Ok...Pointe shoes- where to begin, I knew that they were soft pink or skin tone satin, had ribbons and a toe box...internet here I come!

First off What are Pointe Shoes? 
Parts of a Pointe shoe.

A Pointe shoes tightly stretched satin exterior 
exposes the shape of its underlying toe box.

The sole is thin and covers only part of the bottom 
of the Pointe shoe so as to remain inconspicuous.

Ribbons and elastic band used to secure a Pointe shoe to the foot.

ok, so now we have what they are...

How do you make a Pointe Shoe?
I found this video on making pointe shoes!

With a little modification I used basically the same technique with different materials and came up with Petite Pointe shoes for my doll! It was so fun and challenging to make these wee 2-inch shoes!!

More photos of the complete doll to come later....