so much technology, so little time ...

Shame on me neglecting this blog while trying to get to know Instagram and use it to promote my dolls.  Hence the title of today's post.   Another detour in the creative process is preparing for the workshop I'll give in a little over a week. Today, my studio time is devoted to making sculpting tools for my workshoppers to use. I made the first of these wooden tools many years ago and they are some of my favorite tools when I sit down to sculpt. Starting with a plain round dowel, I shape one end into a tapered wedge, the other end is rounded. After the basic shape is achieved with my rotary tool, I'll refine and further smooth the surface by hand with fine sandpaper, finishing with a light coating of mineral oil. Rather than a detour, maybe it's an expansion of the creative journey! My work table tells today's story!

rainy days and mondays

On a rainy day not long ago, the lyrics sung by The Carpenters started running through my head and a new figure started to incubate. She began as almost a throwaway project, an exercise in building cloth forms, but I really like the end result. I finished her yesterday, a Monday. Appropriate, I thought. Look for her at the Galveston Art League Postoffice Street Gallery during October. I'll include the lyrics below the photo, just to get you into the mood.

From top to toe this exaggerated figure measures about 22.5". Made from a fat quarter of printed and overdyed woven cotton, some hand dyed swatches of cotton cheesecloth, hand dyed cotton crochet thread for hair, polymer clay face, hands and feet painted with acrylics, embroidery floss and a small assortment of beads. Oh, and a single button making her one shoulder joint. There's some machine stitching and a lot of hand stitching holding her all together. Some may think of hand sewing as old fashioned. For me, it's a time-honored skill always worth the effort. It's art. It's one way I put me into my art. I always hope the viewer appreciates it.

Rainy Days and Mondays ... as sung by The Carpenters

Talkin' to myself and feelin' old
Sometimes I'd like to quit
Nothin' ever seems to fit
Hangin' around
Nothin' to do but frown
Rainy days and Mondays always get me down

What I've got they used to call the blues
Nothin' is really wrong
Feelin' like I don't belong
Walkin' around
Some kind of lonely clown
Rainy days and Mondays always get me down

Funny, but it seems I always wind up here with you
Nice to know somebody loves me
Funny, but it seems that it's the only thing to do
Run and find the one who loves me (the one who loves me)

What I feel has come and gone before
No need to talk it out (talk it out)
We know what it's all about
Hangin' around (hangin' around)
Nothin' to do but frown
Rainy days and Mondays always get me down

Funny, but it seems that it's the only thing to do (only thing to do)
Run and find the one who loves me

What I feel has come and gone before
No need to talk it out
We know what it's all about
Hangin' around (hangin' around)
Nothin' to do but frown
Rainy days and Mondays always get me down
Hangin' around (hangin' around)
Nothin' to do but frown
Rainy days and Mondays always get me down

SONGWRITERS
PAUL H. WILLIAMS, ROGER S. NICHOLS

PUBLISHED BY
LYRICS © UNIVERSAL MUSIC PUBLISHING GROUP

as promised ...

The news is good! I entered two pieces in the Galveston Art League Fall Juried Show and both have been accepted. This show runs September 1-26, 2016.

Pictured first is my entry titled "Out of the Box." He's one of the first pieces I finished since my new love affair with polymer clay kicked in a few weeks ago. Head and gloved hands are sculpted of polymer clay, colored with acrylic paints and chalk pastels. His hair is cotton crochet thread. The box is built of stock lumber, textured with acrylic modeling paste, painted and glazed with acrylics. The lid of the box rests on his head as he emerges.

The second piece is the one I've been teasing you with for the last few posts. I call this piece "Pals." A creepy little guy has found his best friend in a jack-o-lantern. He too is a jack-in-the-box figure. His hands and head are polymer clay colored with acrylic paints and chalk pastels. His hair is also cotton crochet thread, tea dyed. The box is built of stock lumber, textured with texture medium, and painted with acrylics. This piece was awarded Honorable Mention for Works in 3D. I couldn't resist including a closeup of his creepy little face. What fun he was to sculpt!

  

I have to add a great big "thank you" to my hunky hubby who is honing his carpentry skills building the boxes for my jacks! They are just what I need. I'm on a roll. Keep 'em coming!

If you're in or near Galveston this weekend, please plan to attend the Show Opening and Awards Ceremony: Saturday, September 3, 6pm to 8pm, at the Galveston Art League Gallery, 2117A Post Office Street, in Galveston.

a little hand holding ...

As I hoped, I can post an interim photo today, an element of my most recent piece! I can say that because he's finished as of this morning. Whew! I beat another deadline, and it's a good feeling. The left hand, sculpted in polymer clay, is holding a pumpkin jack-o-lantern sculpted from Creative Paper Clay and painted with acrylics. The stem is a small section of sisal twine that's been untwisted a bit. I'll show you the completed doll in a few days. Before I can publish him, though, I need to take him over to the Galveston Art League Gallery on Postoffice Street tomorrow to be entered into the Fall Juried Show. On Tuesday, my two entries along with all the others will be judged. Some won't be selected for this show, and some artists will be disappointed. Most entries will be selected for the show, and a few will even win awards! After Tuesday, I can publish his picture and show you what I've been up to, and let you know if my little guy will be in the show! I hope you'll keep your fingers crossed with me!

hands

A pair of polymer clay hands just finished this morning. I am a couple of days behind schedule. The figure these hands belong to is one I plan to enter Monday in the Galveston Art League Fall Juried Show. I had to tweak the coloring on the hands this morning and it's better now than it is in this photo. The head is done. What's left is the costume and final paint on his base. Then, of coursse fitting it all together. I think I'll make the deadline. Wish me luck. Will post the finished piece here after the judging takes place on Tuesday. Well, maybe an interim photo over the weekend just to keep some interest going... Stick around!

Sorry ... another test

I hope this is the last test for a while ... Just spent about an hour setting up an automatic blog post-to-facebook utility. Crossing fingers...

just a test ...

Here's a little side view of the Halloween Marotte, just to keep it interesting here. The real reason for this post is to test whether I've reestablished all the links and passwords necessary to feed my blog automatically to my Facebook timeline. Ah technology. I'd rather be making a doll!

I'm baaack!

Halloween Marotte

It's 2016 and years have passed since Shreds and Tatters had anything new. Well, here's something new! And ahead of the season, which is a rarity in my studio. I'm working in polymer clay again and LOVING it. I'll be teaching this project in a workshop on October 29 at the Galveston Art League Gallery on Post Office Street here in the island city. And that's another something new. I've never taught a 'public' workshop before. It's about time and I'm looking forward to it.

Thank you for not giving up on this blog! Of course I need to learn blogger all over again. New features have been added since I posted here last, but they do make it easy. It's tempting to say I'll be better and post more frequently ... Time will tell. Send me some positive thoughts!