Simone & Elise's Sewing

 “A teacher's purpose is not to create
students in his own image,
but to develop students who can
create their own image.”

I am so very thankful for my gift of teaching..of being able to create...and to share this with others. 

Over the last year, I stepped back from teaching so many to teaching a few.  It has not been without heartfelt loss of such a tight community that we had created, but through this process of stepping back I have come to be more connected within myself and therefore, my hope, is a better teacher.

I would like to share with you some of the dolls made of the last few months from two of my private students* Simone and her sister Elise. (next week Milvi's)

Simone...

We had started with the Fashion Doll, but took a break so Simone could create Etta the Marotte Puppet for her Dad for Christmas.

This stick puppet was originally designed in a Bavarian Costume. Simone wanted to create something within her Dad's birth place of Poland.  She also wanted the doll to have black hair as her Polish Grandmother did.

Notice Simone's hair-do of the day!

Close up of painted formed felt face

Underskirt fabric shows a tea party!

Button in back mimics stitching on bands

peeping under the skirt is the base

covered in sweet fabric.

Fashion Doll

Onward with the Fashion Doll..Simone wanted not only to create this doll and in addition to create a wardrobe for this doll.

In her chemise and pantaloons

 

close up  of hand painted face

 
Part of our process is understanding what direction you want to design, 
so Simone sketched out two distinct outfits with descriptions.

Pale Pink Dress underlined with soft yellow

 

Magenta and Periwinkle Dress

As we were finishing this dress, Simone decided it needed a more defined waistline, this is when we added the gathered ribbon tying into a ribbon bow in the back.

Elise...

Elise has started to take sewing lessons and came to me to make something fun. We decided to make a Scottie dog.

Elise and I discussed colors and then sat down and went through my fabrics to pick out a Valentine's theme dog. 

In this lesson, we talked about creating a dog by piecing fabrics together. If you notice each side is of different fabric choices and the under gusset is of sweet pink hearts.

Lovely!

 a pom pom nose and a bow finishes off this sweet puppy!

*private students: my door at my studio is always open to private students.

if you are interested you may reach me by email for times and fees.

To Thine Ownself...

 

As artists we all try to be at the very least original in our work, to be unique in what we put out there in to the world.  It is a well-earned journey. Most of us, once we have reached that pinnacle, have been copied or even blatantly ripped off...and still...there is a deeper tugging that I would like to talk about.

To do this, I would like to share with you a story about being true...true to your heart...true to what is in it. This is my story and my hope is that it brings some kind of understanding to you to help you be comfortable in where you stand...to be confident enough within your own self to reach out to others.

I would like to share this short beautiful film with you before going on...

With A Piece Of Chalk

I find that once you are out there and established within your own work, there will be many critiques who know better than you. It can be lonely standing there holding your own ground...your own gift.

 

My Story...

Many years ago, I was asked to be part of a teaching event for dolls. Each teacher was given a theme in which to create their teaching piece. I, big surprise, was given Asia...Hurray for that was my first thought. I decided to create a cat doll~Meow Meow Neko. Neko meaning cat in Japanese. Meow Meow- well- cute huh!?!

I also wanted to incorporate a simple but interesting body to put together and bring in the elegant Japanese simplicity of line in the costuming.

And then spring-boarding off of that into detail.

A new eye technique...

 add in vintage pieces in her lace head piece and obi...

and finally a flavor of kimono hime style with the eyelet petticoat...

I took thoughtful time to create this doll. She went together beautifully- a true gift from the Divine.

I presented it to the powers that be. The response was...to say the least...unexpected. They were not at all comfortable with a cat as a class.

I was asked if I could design another head- a human head- so presuming that if the students were not happy with the cat they could have a choice of doing a human head...oh boy...I was caught off guard and took a day to think about it.

My answer came back to them- No. I stood firm in my design decision. Reasoning being; If I changed out the head- it wouldn't be Meow Meow!...???... The entire body would have to be re-designed, in other words I would have to design a whole different doll! I will take the chance- put it on me if the class was not a go. I take responsibility for my designs and my work.

The class was a go - in fact it sold out. And to date, Meow Meow has been hands down my best selling pattern- and I am talking by hundreds!

So what is my lesson- be true. My design was true and my motivation was love- as solid as a rock.

And because of that I have been able to reach out to hundreds and hundreds of people to share my gift with them through teaching and patterns.

I listened to my trueness even though there are moments in time I am still standing there by myself. 

It is when we listen that we can reach our full potential no matter what the world hands us...

Love, Cloth, & Hearts

"One sees clearly only with the Heart.
Anything essential is invisible to the eyes."

The Little Prince

Valentine's Day...as most of you know it is my favorite holiday of the year...why? Simply because it is about Love...for you...for all things.

This year I would like to share with you images of my love of cloth through hearts...

Please note that these are mostly hand-done, new and vintage.
Credited is given to these pieces on my pin boards Hearts & Corazon

 Hearts

 

 

 Hearts with Words

 Hearts in Appliqué

 

Woven Hearts

 

 Corazon

 ending with my favorite!

 
Happy Valentine's Day!
May your Heart reach
out to others today.

Flying Phoebes ~ Ling & Chun

Flying these days can be at best torturous...we all know that.

With my recent trip to San Fran to teach the Flying Phoebes Doll Group, the angels were with me, I was pointed into the pass perk line coming and going- so didn't have to remove or take anything out of my bag, and while flying had a delightful conversation with a gal- Ruth coming in.

Only to be meet at the airport by Colleen, my host, and my dear friend of 20+ years, Christine Shively, who to my delight, was in my class!

 

I taught my dolls Chun Woo and Ling Li-Hua ...right in keeping with the New Year.

Christine and I stayed with Colleen (in her comfy home) on the campus of Stanford - what a treat!

What a pleasure it was to come and enjoy teaching this talented group. They all worked very hard and 99% finished their dolls. Hurray!

Thank you for the doll photos Donna

Here are their darling dolls:

And here are the proud (and they should be) makers 

at the paparazzi photo shoot!