tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-85426180017353853902024-03-05T10:03:35.170-08:00shreds and tattersone artist's perspective ...Marshahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14452962509766072822noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8542618001735385390.post-43268631345484121112016-10-19T08:13:00.000-07:002016-10-19T08:13:03.887-07:00so much technology, so little time ...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAQSxBlnjdK5jQbPz9Y77iFprqtR78wQjuFDPrs-WQsEgA9xQOOat9vGUZ54_xVmJuykg2bBi267sVYGgwU-M5fS1bdkbMUQZsoGYtMZ4Jxq23CvZxM5y2s6udDMB75cjRsz-Ocdw9uQ/s1600/toolmaking.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAQSxBlnjdK5jQbPz9Y77iFprqtR78wQjuFDPrs-WQsEgA9xQOOat9vGUZ54_xVmJuykg2bBi267sVYGgwU-M5fS1bdkbMUQZsoGYtMZ4Jxq23CvZxM5y2s6udDMB75cjRsz-Ocdw9uQ/s200/toolmaking.JPG" width="150" /></a>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!<br />
<br />Marshahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14452962509766072822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8542618001735385390.post-51267287657063281592016-09-20T13:26:00.001-07:002016-09-20T13:26:34.677-07:00rainy days and mondays<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig270u9Tt2YgeUYI8iB17SHMTD6FboPRaUrP5Sb8JoaEj3R7CRQNnasQcWJza7Y7b57ljgX26V5kIJjkaxrnbooT4wuosWXXguZolVNbkpyvJSbGcqXNGmSfBKhujLg5hEtIjlkcyQZg/s1600/Marsha+Krohn+Rainy+Days+and+Mondays.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig270u9Tt2YgeUYI8iB17SHMTD6FboPRaUrP5Sb8JoaEj3R7CRQNnasQcWJza7Y7b57ljgX26V5kIJjkaxrnbooT4wuosWXXguZolVNbkpyvJSbGcqXNGmSfBKhujLg5hEtIjlkcyQZg/s320/Marsha+Krohn+Rainy+Days+and+Mondays.jpg" width="133" /></a>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.<br />
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<span style="text-align: center;">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.</span><br />
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<span style="text-align: center;">Rainy Days and Mondays ... as sung by The Carpenters</span><br />
<span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span>
<div class="verse">
Talkin' to myself and feelin' old<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
Sometimes I'd like to quit<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
Nothin' ever seems to fit<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
Hangin' around<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
Nothin' to do but frown<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
Rainy days and Mondays always get me down<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="verse">
<br /></div>
<div class="verse" style="box-sizing: border-box;">
What I've got they used to call
the blues<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
Nothin' is really wrong<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
Feelin' like I don't belong<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
Walkin' around<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
Some kind of lonely clown<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
Rainy days and Mondays always get me down<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="verse" style="box-sizing: border-box;">
<br /></div>
<div class="verse" style="box-sizing: border-box;">
Funny, but it seems I always wind
up here with you<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
Nice to know somebody loves me<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
Funny, but it seems that it's the only thing to do<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
Run and find the one who loves me (the one who loves me)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="verse" style="box-sizing: border-box;">
What I feel has come and gone
before<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
No need to talk it out (talk it out)<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
We know what it's all about<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
Hangin' around (hangin' around)<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
Nothin' to do but frown<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
Rainy days and Mondays always get me down<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="verse" style="box-sizing: border-box;">
<br /></div>
<div class="verse" style="box-sizing: border-box;">
Funny, but it seems that it's the
only thing to do (only thing to do)<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
Run and find the one who loves me<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="verse" style="box-sizing: border-box;">
What I feel has come and gone
before<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
No need to talk it out<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
We know what it's all about<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
Hangin' around (hangin' around)<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
Nothin' to do but frown<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
Rainy days and Mondays always get me down<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
Hangin' around (hangin' around)<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
Nothin' to do but frown<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
Rainy days and Mondays always get me down<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="writers" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility;">
<strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility;"><span style="color: #292929; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 8.5pt; font-weight: normal; text-transform: uppercase;">SONGWRITERS</span></strong><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 8.5pt; text-transform: uppercase;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
PAUL H. WILLIAMS, ROGER S. NICHOLS<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="writers" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility;">
<strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility;"><span style="color: #292929; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 8.5pt; font-weight: normal; text-transform: uppercase;">PUBLISHED BY</span></strong><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 8.5pt; text-transform: uppercase;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
LYRICS © UNIVERSAL MUSIC PUBLISHING GROUP<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Marshahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14452962509766072822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8542618001735385390.post-24808152817263554152016-08-30T17:47:00.000-07:002016-08-30T17:47:51.466-07:00as 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.<br />
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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.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdAyrNBhBHnruslnGo9f3peuyaQbEaRo8Gzt0GepzaUXLfVUde-eg300sPtsLQgQIqGhDV9tDLOzNgK6mYfkXKbAs5ele20pXBqbWosAgi7MlnednnUp7v5neKupyD0HaaNt4Tz4Ib2w/s1600/Marsha+Krohn++Out+of+the+Box.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdAyrNBhBHnruslnGo9f3peuyaQbEaRo8Gzt0GepzaUXLfVUde-eg300sPtsLQgQIqGhDV9tDLOzNgK6mYfkXKbAs5ele20pXBqbWosAgi7MlnednnUp7v5neKupyD0HaaNt4Tz4Ib2w/s200/Marsha+Krohn++Out+of+the+Box.JPG" width="125" /></a></div>
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!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR4pQL3a1OA4tZ6HR__y7YSl6N5Nl5pCSaqhrXzCV-NAGEmDqYvAjc0mkx7WsP9rwyi0hNNNUaB8lw3T3BXP2Nfc_hXl_lEKHZ_avcZXPpkqLcc2V7HgOrMFrlQOEqwo83KlMQMFpaSg/s1600/pals--headshot.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR4pQL3a1OA4tZ6HR__y7YSl6N5Nl5pCSaqhrXzCV-NAGEmDqYvAjc0mkx7WsP9rwyi0hNNNUaB8lw3T3BXP2Nfc_hXl_lEKHZ_avcZXPpkqLcc2V7HgOrMFrlQOEqwo83KlMQMFpaSg/s200/pals--headshot.JPG" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHH7vqcXgQ31BYLvIabj8pUfLz9vD2qQ4h7q5b10nG7bE6M-D4sDaLkXx3QRHTtK6cGsc6H0tf88I8uao9lztSo7uCv9lVy2Q3QSKWNkWkgNSPmmX8W6zRqoz1v44yHg3BFrpB8AOihg/s1600/Marsha+Krohn+Pals.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHH7vqcXgQ31BYLvIabj8pUfLz9vD2qQ4h7q5b10nG7bE6M-D4sDaLkXx3QRHTtK6cGsc6H0tf88I8uao9lztSo7uCv9lVy2Q3QSKWNkWkgNSPmmX8W6zRqoz1v44yHg3BFrpB8AOihg/s200/Marsha+Krohn+Pals.JPG" width="100" /></a> </div>
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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!</div>
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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.</div>
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<br />Marshahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14452962509766072822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8542618001735385390.post-80221550021694798762016-08-28T13:37:00.002-07:002016-08-28T13:37:48.194-07:00a little hand holding ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMkl24i3WuWDb0wJdtFTN1WIN-1AEngKFsoL1BgFOjOXua6oGcP-gbXTaPhG7_zYzYdEceVaheW-XdpNpNq7HJz0rBL9HOixOHNrd9neOQnpn8_AgV9J-Y0Sz2NxxMIFymJK3q37EX3g/s1600/palsjackolantern.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMkl24i3WuWDb0wJdtFTN1WIN-1AEngKFsoL1BgFOjOXua6oGcP-gbXTaPhG7_zYzYdEceVaheW-XdpNpNq7HJz0rBL9HOixOHNrd9neOQnpn8_AgV9J-Y0Sz2NxxMIFymJK3q37EX3g/s200/palsjackolantern.jpg" width="135" /></a></div>
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!Marshahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14452962509766072822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8542618001735385390.post-54039745191991072162016-08-25T07:14:00.003-07:002016-08-25T07:14:28.679-07:00hands<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikRvXBgfmc0_V1LNcE1Ues-2bVxj5JLrXTWswGOn-Svzb9JgtytQrcqU1lAOKMb9BbZSMe080nNaKJMQJUWmIMGusie-35wLjYpUn4-xbzhH-aB6VqaMlwkcrMCEPAS0nCke7sVqqtrw/s1600/creepyguyhands.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikRvXBgfmc0_V1LNcE1Ues-2bVxj5JLrXTWswGOn-Svzb9JgtytQrcqU1lAOKMb9BbZSMe080nNaKJMQJUWmIMGusie-35wLjYpUn4-xbzhH-aB6VqaMlwkcrMCEPAS0nCke7sVqqtrw/s320/creepyguyhands.JPG" width="320" /></a>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!</div>
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<br />Marshahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14452962509766072822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8542618001735385390.post-58517181855014427192016-08-15T07:53:00.001-07:002016-08-15T07:53:42.266-07:00Sorry ... another testI 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...Marshahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14452962509766072822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8542618001735385390.post-50198426695943168512016-08-14T13:08:00.000-07:002016-08-14T13:08:34.253-07:00just a test ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYTCogYJHdeYoVXo2gpHAsjo8fJxJ-4zGMqWzXkgW7xS0fu-aknHJ87kzNrU5TEXfTRcfieFuPjtcDbDkJOGJlPlQz9WA236p4fva0o4ByN_pDRif3tucNm0YPvzOO4PrNvdOhTB569A/s1600/halloween+marotte+side.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYTCogYJHdeYoVXo2gpHAsjo8fJxJ-4zGMqWzXkgW7xS0fu-aknHJ87kzNrU5TEXfTRcfieFuPjtcDbDkJOGJlPlQz9WA236p4fva0o4ByN_pDRif3tucNm0YPvzOO4PrNvdOhTB569A/s200/halloween+marotte+side.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
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!Marshahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14452962509766072822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8542618001735385390.post-70448739241399509562016-08-14T09:47:00.000-07:002016-08-14T09:47:34.914-07:00I'm baaack!<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0lRabGdmBGlKepYj3cCTCGrIVVAcrBLoDW5W1Fu7x96YFO0GeCkCm-4HxX_FRGDgPerwZC3S4JgeuTRUCAc1IQuVZ0V6XsETzi7gsTSg-JFAPkBX1RFZ1Mgh2zEE6HQLQdsX_G8Bb1A/s1600/halloween+marotte+front.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0lRabGdmBGlKepYj3cCTCGrIVVAcrBLoDW5W1Fu7x96YFO0GeCkCm-4HxX_FRGDgPerwZC3S4JgeuTRUCAc1IQuVZ0V6XsETzi7gsTSg-JFAPkBX1RFZ1Mgh2zEE6HQLQdsX_G8Bb1A/s320/halloween+marotte+front.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Halloween Marotte<br /></td></tr>
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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.<br />
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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!Marshahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14452962509766072822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8542618001735385390.post-76090836679257512202013-02-20T15:08:00.001-08:002013-02-20T15:08:31.040-08:00hard to believe ...I haven't posted anything here since October. Such neglect will not be tolerated! I have been asked to be special exhibitor at the Texas City Art Festival in April. Putting my display together is in progress, some older pieces together with newer works. Organizers asked for 15 to 20 pieces, and I can do that. I'm required to create and print my own labels to identify each piece and that design is coming along nicely. A sample will be presented for approval next week. <br />
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At a gallery I visited recently, one of the artist displayed a qr code with each of her pieces in the gallery. I thought, hmmm ... I need to find out how to do that. Today I did, creating my own qr code pointing to this blog! Piece o' cake! Just search the net for qr code generator and take your pick from sites where you can get your own for free.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgujsHk2iQA99OZW0QKjP_VannEsK7i2o-iBzNc3whQgGvEdbtADMpuDZEhgD8thtGAeemUeTYtsmFB1XkJhSE6lorqr8dTq_Rz0y6kklvnDtD9g_6wHKMvhdFoT25IAwgyWLFrleDDxA/s1600/qrcode.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgujsHk2iQA99OZW0QKjP_VannEsK7i2o-iBzNc3whQgGvEdbtADMpuDZEhgD8thtGAeemUeTYtsmFB1XkJhSE6lorqr8dTq_Rz0y6kklvnDtD9g_6wHKMvhdFoT25IAwgyWLFrleDDxA/s1600/qrcode.jpg" /></a></div>
Here's mine. I can print it and display it where it can bring folks to my blog. I'm excited, and now I need to get busy for sure and fill up this blog with more of my art ... Please come back soon and nudge me if you don't see any additions!Marshahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14452962509766072822noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8542618001735385390.post-84978483697352997372012-10-14T06:59:00.000-07:002012-10-14T07:05:00.086-07:00and sew it goes ...You win some and ... well you know the saying. I'm not completely thrilled with the piece I just finished. I did finish it by the deadline. That's a good thing. It will be on display at Houston's upcoming International Quilt Festival. That's a very good thing. I accomplished my goals in this piece and met the challenges I set for myself, but something is lacking in the finished product. I'm not sure what it is. It will come to me one day. Or maybe you can see what's lacking. Please let me know if you do.<br />
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Here's a little bit of how my thinking developed on this piece, a piece which is completely out of the box for me. Texas Association of Original Doll Artists is priveleged to mount a display each year at Houston's quilt festival. For this year's exhibit, we were challenged to create dolls with a quilting theme. I wanted to participate and started thinking about the quilting element. I don't make quilts, but I admire those who do. I didn't want to create a doll such as a lady making a quilt. Too ho-hum for me though the concept would make a meaningful doll for some. Ruled that out. I observe quilts are often studies in precise geometry. Such precision in sewing is really daunting to me on a personal level ... but I digress. As I thought about geometry, I was struck with the idea of creating a geometric shape ... should it be a square, cone, rectangle, pyramid? I toyed with the title 'Celebrate Geometry.' Many quilts already do celebrate geometry. The term 'isosceles' came into focus ... I remembered it from high school geometry class. Loving a play on words, I coined 'I*SEW*sceles,' and selected some fabrics from my stash of quilt prints. They were blue. 'I*SEW*sceles Blue' came to be. <br />
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Once my concept was set, it was a bumpy path from start to finish. Early in the process I remembered why it is I do not make cloth dolls. Big 'aha' moment, and I had flashbacks to struggling with stitching and turning tiny fingers. Face and hands are sculpted of paper clay. My method and material of choice, now. How would I attach them to this cloth structure? I wouldn't trust glue. Mechanical connections needed to be secured before the pyramid sides were sewn together ... that meant all the breakable parts would be connected to the fabric as it went through the sewing machine ... a daunting prospect for me, but it worked okay. I had to move my sewing table away from the wall to make room for this awkward, stiff assemblage to pass under the presser foot. I don't think I'll be making another solid geometry project any time soon. But I won't say 'never' ...Marshahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14452962509766072822noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8542618001735385390.post-20275239251057854462012-09-18T07:11:00.001-07:002012-09-18T07:11:54.345-07:00hypocrisy<div class="_1x1">
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<span class="userContent">"Hypocrisy in anything whatever may deceive the cleverest and most penetrating man, but the least wide-awake of children recognizes it, however ingeniously it maybe disguised." ~ Leo Tolstoy</span></div>
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My gallery page now shows my piece titled "Hypocrisy." Please click on gallery above to view him.Marshahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14452962509766072822noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8542618001735385390.post-8036530955277562062012-09-13T06:45:00.000-07:002012-09-13T06:45:00.221-07:00blog progressMy artist statement is now published. Please click 'artist statement' above to read it. Please also consider it a work in progress ...Marshahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14452962509766072822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8542618001735385390.post-50612292074153639882012-09-10T07:39:00.001-07:002012-09-10T12:47:12.262-07:00tinkeringY'all bear with me, please. I want to add a couple of pages to my blog that the viewer can access via tabs at the top of the main page. I've added the pages, which are still empty of content, but can't figure out the tabs yet. I'll keep working on it and you'll hear a 'yippee' when I make it work. In the mean time, let's make a doll! (elapsed time, a few hours ...) Yippee! They're not showing exactly as folder tabs but the pages show at the top now ... 'home' ... 'artist statement' ... 'gallery.' Next step will be to add content. Whew ...Marshahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14452962509766072822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8542618001735385390.post-30283712152200720122012-08-13T14:37:00.000-07:002012-08-13T14:37:13.428-07:00treasureIntroducing my treasure: my mom's old Pfaff 130! I learned to sew on it when I was a teen.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO7M9kifVCMTdK4qeHDW-Tvvd531cpKUaBAmyRAdRdiPk9Y2mivtcpg0MqJhZlpqWasiMpfxjvy6entqx7tdwdHbYfFATdDWY8qe3LA_f8FIrNmOmzXEHrA49EtERWuAFmudwF1M6rpA/s1600/IMG_1017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" mda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO7M9kifVCMTdK4qeHDW-Tvvd531cpKUaBAmyRAdRdiPk9Y2mivtcpg0MqJhZlpqWasiMpfxjvy6entqx7tdwdHbYfFATdDWY8qe3LA_f8FIrNmOmzXEHrA49EtERWuAFmudwF1M6rpA/s320/IMG_1017.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
Purchased new in the early 1950s, it came to my house after my mom passed away last year and I recently found a man nearby who could get her tuned up and in running order. You should have seen his eyes light up when he saw her in the back of my car. He couldn't stop telling me what a treasure I had and how good a sewing machine it is. He put a new foot controller on her, too. She was originally a cabinet model with a knee controller. I never liked the knee controller, preferring to work with my toes! I don't think my mom would mind that I made the change. <br />
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This machine had not been used for years, although the cabinet had been placed in my mom's office to hold her Merlin vision enhancing device at a comfortable height for her to use for bill paying and other reading. Right now the Pfaff is resting on top of the closed cabinet, in the garage, until I can get machine and cabinet up the stairs and into my studio. It is really heavy! I can't wait to get it set up and sewing up a storm. I'll post another picture here when the studio setup is ready to go ... without cardboard boxes in the background. <br />
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You may have read in an earlier post that my other sewing machine, a Simplicity portable, has a name. She is Lucille. The Pfaff needs a name,too, don't you think.<br />
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Thank you again for visiting. Please leave a comment or your suggestion for a name for my treasure. And stop in again soon!Marshahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14452962509766072822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8542618001735385390.post-46084018946586222492012-08-09T15:41:00.002-07:002012-08-09T15:41:36.043-07:00I+SEW+ScelesI love a play on words and this next project is just that, and will be figurative, with a nod to geometry and a little bit of quilting thrown in for good measure. There's a deadline. I sure hope I can pull it off. Here's a picture of some of the major components as they stand today.<br />
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She's going to be a 20" or so tall pyramid standing on a 6" base. Her face is a Creative Paper Clay casting from a mold of one of my sculpted faces, tea dyed and glazed. I may add more coloring as the piece progresses. Her torso and limbs will be appliqued and quilted and free-motion stitched on the front triangle. Will she wear clothing or be nude. I don't know. What do you think. I'm not sure about her hair yet. Maybe it should be piled high to complete the peak of the triangle. Beading and other embellishments are sure to be added.<br />
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The deadline? She's slated to be part of the TAODA exhibit at Houston's International Quilt Festival in a couple of months.<br />
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I+SEW+Sceles? Isosceles. Get it?<br />
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Thank you for stopping by. Please come back to follow my progress.Marshahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14452962509766072822noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8542618001735385390.post-15487815173769344382012-08-02T07:09:00.001-07:002012-08-02T15:45:44.647-07:00taking stockToday I'll be straightening my studio, putting up the clutter left from the mad dash to finish 'a masked ball' before the ODACA Day meeting and luncheon. I'll set up my newly-repaired sewing machine. I'm so glad she's in good operating condition again. I missed her a lot even though I don't sew every day. She deserves a name, don't you think? Lucille ... she'll be Lucille from now on. She was my mom's machine before she came to me. Mother probably didn't name her. If she knew that I have named her now, Mother would look at me like I'm nuts. Maybe I am ... I still play with dolls.<br />
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That photo should be cropped. I'll do better next time. Titled 'a masked ball,' he served as a centerpiece at the ODACA Day Luncheon on July 23 in New Orleans. He was won by one of ODACA's new artist members in a drawing to select winners of all the centerpieces. He has a fine new home. I am pleased.</div>
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I should talk a bit about this blog's title: shreds and tatters. It's really just my philosophy, if you will, for costuming my figures. I love to see raw and frayed fabric edges in a figure's costume. They add texture and life and sometimes just a touch of the unexpected. I'm not opposed to hemmed or faced edges and I use them too, juxtaposing the frayed edges for effect. In recent years, 'shreds and tatters' has been descriptive of my life and emotions. Readers who are acquainted with me personally know why this is so. It is life. Life changes, life moves ahead. I promise not to dwell on this aspect here on the blog. I will resume my original intent here and bring you glimpses into the mind and heart of an artist, figurative assemblage and beyond. </div>
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I'll talk more about 'figurative assemblage' soon. But for now, I'll leave you with a teaser: I.SEW.SCELES!</div>Marshahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14452962509766072822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8542618001735385390.post-69185701730023380912012-06-20T08:56:00.003-07:002012-06-20T09:06:06.227-07:00WooHoooooo .... I'm back!Getting shredsandtatters restarted has been on my to-do list for some time now. You'll note the LONG gap between my previous post and this one. Many changes have come into my life in the intervening 3 years. Many have been difficult. "Shredsandtatters" takes on more meaning than I ever envisioned when I thought it up so long ago. I'm about to get back into art and I hope to post some artful things here. Artist-made jewelry is coming soon. Please check back. I look forward to sharing my journey with you.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8542618001735385390.post-28212005635867967342009-06-15T05:21:00.000-07:002009-06-15T05:44:43.589-07:00bye bye little guy ...<div>It's taken me longer than I planned. I'm thinking it might have something to do with the construction going on here at the house. ... ! ... We've had to empty out one room where all the sheetrock will be replaced, and that stuff is 'stored' in various places around the rest of the house. A few things are out of place in my studio to allow electricians access. Now we're having a grand hold on everything until windstorm inspectors can inspect the new room-in-progress where a balcony used to be. But I digress ... </div><div> </div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347533895818629442" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 214px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifwOGBbXNns06Dpa0yJwiNgbsRUq_XpJpJM5-IkFgoOQBtEBNw0ub0GF4qCRar5QNmJJHv6dT0t3TXvzADRRb1rHMjHzLMrflE4ZdGDaJMTutNoFAwWwHkmfHk8JqRaOYGA-Mu3Vkuh0U/s320/jack.jpg" border="0" /><br />Here he is, finished at last. He stands about 8 inches high, one of the smaller pieces I've made. His head and hands are polymer clay. The bicorne hat is felt and rattail cord with an embellishment of torn fabric and a knot of ribbon. His box is papier mache, painted and glazed with acrylics to complement the fabric of his costume. I haven't named him, but Bonaparte comes to mind... something about the way his right hand is posed.<br /><br />Today I'll pack him and send him off to Atlanta. Happy travels little fella. I know you're going to love your new home!</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8542618001735385390.post-15445891478769256672009-04-28T06:01:00.000-07:002009-04-28T06:13:52.707-07:00back to dolls<div></div><br /><div>Having to cancel my plans to attend ODACA Day in Atlanta this summer made it even more important that I send a helper donation for the event. </div><div> </div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329728834685581842" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8YZtVGlUSnD4hty2JAmK88AZAAaAh8X_yH23Nn4VX0KWyNxx3k04aQmUAox6PvUJpb-DajdMxhjBnkEedQLPqcIJsFqj6hu6OwRQEeX0ZHg3mOZ0W_xIRNx0_Uk-xQhhQnrieKF-9TrY/s200/P1010123.JPG" border="0" /></div><div>I'm working on this little jack-in-the-box-to-be ... as my donation. His box is made of papier mache with a painted design echoing the fabric I'll use for his costume. That piece of felt perched on his head will become a bicorne hat ... Napoleon style. The head and hands are polymer clay for the artist's instant gratification ... paper clay is still my favorite, but for this project it would just take too long! I'm still going to be dividing my studio time between dolls and my new-found love paper arts / collage. Life is full ... check back to see this project finished ...</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8542618001735385390.post-32884193189848070592009-03-30T04:43:00.000-07:002009-03-30T05:11:49.370-07:00old photosI have a new project. I wasn't looking for a new way to occupy my time ... really I wasn't. It all started because I wanted to post that photo of myself at age 2 with the leaf rake. That photo was securely (!) stored in one of my mom's 'magnetic' photo albums that became so popular back in the 60s. I asked her if I could borrow the album for a couple of days, thinking I would just remove the photo, scan it, post it, put it back in place and return the album ... done. Right? Well, I couldn't budge the photo off the page. Couldn't position the whole page on the scanner because the pages are not removable from the album. Googled 'remove old photo from magnetic album.' Read about a couple of methods of removal and used the hair dryer and a flat x-acto blade, and after about an hour of careful, gentle heating and painstaking prying, the photo was free of its prison. Scanned it, photo-shopped out the crease in the middle, cropped it, warmed the color, and there you have me!<br /><br />What is this new project I mentioned in the beginning? Removing all the old photos imprisoned in Mother's 'magnetic' albums. While I was reading how to remove the photos without damaging them, I also learned that those albums are archivally the worst thing that can happen to an old photo. The acid in the pages and the glue causes discoloration and deterioration of the image and the paper holding it, reducing them ... eventually ... to shreds and tatters! (sorry, I couldn't resist!) And it occurred to me that this would be a good project for my mom. My job will be to remove the photos from the old albums since her poor vision won't allow her to do so safely, and she will enjoy putting them in a new, archivally sound album. And that is a great excuse for a trip to Hobby Lobby ...<br /><br />If you have any of those old 'magnetic' albums lying around, you just might want to take a look at the condition of the photos inside.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8542618001735385390.post-85886864880485528932009-03-27T04:40:00.000-07:002009-03-27T04:45:28.123-07:00Since you asked, ... you did, didn't you? Ann Bell is an artist in the Houston area. Her art card class was such fun ... like a day of vacation. You show up on time and get to play in her studio, use her stash, pick her brain, and make new friends! What could be better? Learn more at <a href="http://www.annbell.net/">www.annbell.net</a> or go directly to the art card class information at <a href="http://www.annbell.net/ArtCardClass.htm">http://www.annbell.net/ArtCardClass.htm</a>. Class size is limited so don't delay!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8542618001735385390.post-79545367084788774672009-03-26T08:15:00.000-07:002009-03-26T08:44:01.412-07:00<div>Such a long time between posts! When I started this blog it was going to be a showcase for my dolls. But ... well, I've just gotten into paper arts and it's consuming me! Thanks to a class from Ann Bell, I'm making art collage note cards and trying to figure out where I'm going to store my rapidly growing paper stash! </div><div></div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317516696527663922" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieVWD2HoSmsXPBovYbRcuy-3s1Kpj63abvpYET9Zr7CCBw1k7mfGm1izkf0Xd_gpAKCLIh43fNmJUpGpSfii6dyJkaIgt6aes2lEdBV4-d2BYHVTddcmyBrGeKJ8_vnEVW78bORBe8Rws/s200/P1010110.JPG" border="0" /></div><div><br /></div><div>This is one of the cards I made in Ann's workshop. Now photography isn't one of my strong suits, obviously. I spent a lot of time behind the camera making sure the image was truly vertical and centered in the viewfinder. This is the resulting photo ... sigh ...</div><div> </div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317517936953014082" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCPq1lncmJ06o5gwmHomaAa59OC6S9vEPNYeRa6PXmhYmrmcUaFG1QdObm8XLoUPafr79TH8_fq8539kFecw7dk16Zcr9RAwXhXDc88kFN_fN85Lyv7BnMOyCH1H-Sf1QD3bCdOcTdwKY/s200/P1010112.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div>This next card is also from Ann's class. The card stock is the same color as the card in the first photo. More photography shortcomings! The metallic paper in this card is Joss paper, found in Asian markets ... and now on my 'must have' shopping list!</div><br /><br /><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317518783923239778" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvZ4K9TjH6rH8OkV-4FOr5hzhEiW6wX57I4mohHyC567KY-Ge4ea-OSLT5HhDpFZQiWJGb0yN4-2VPlM7H9cPQmld9NeE95JaMi78cVXus3JxtQYCrqsO-1BjAUhZJRQpm22jb5vAeKl4/s200/P1010114.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div></div>Some corrugated paper, more Joss paper, just the edges, and a snippet of some wallpaper. Again, the cardstock color is the same as the cardstock in the first photo ... just assume that is true for all these images ...<br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317519691216627762" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_cVhJ85zIein9yZOsTrKZFN-OunK9S_Sb92MyQrsUdXI1EQuJka-ZlqVRtgJo-_bBR7iL4pYRx1P_ufrSX3yznuKqNXf5v4kSXZ6cHvNf5bBVdiLWKdN8yx2fsfXR14Rt1TdW7wNrCPU/s200/P1010118.JPG" border="0" /><br />Card number five from the class. Some more corrugated paper, part of a tag, a small figure image from some wrapping paper, a snippet of a page of sheet music ... I love this stuff, and it sure fits in with the 'shreds and tatters' theme I started here. I'll post again ... I promise ... and show you pictures of the cards I'm creating on my own now where I will incorporate images of my dolls and some 'generic' traditional doll images found here and there. More soon ...Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8542618001735385390.post-39614111515638362412008-09-30T14:13:00.000-07:002008-10-01T02:47:58.334-07:00After Ike<span style="font-family:arial;">Wow... two things come to mind today. First, I had intended to add a new post once a week. You can see how long it's been since the first post. Life has been full! Second, and this is the biggie, my title,' shreds and tatters,' ... which took me a long time to commit to, has taken on meaning never even considered before Ike. Galveston could be described as being in shreds and tatters right now. I feel disoriented driving down familiar streets. Piles of debris reduce some streets to a single lane of traffic. Many such piles are mostly tree limbs dragged from yards, twigs and even trunks of ancient monarchs. Other piles contain stained, soggy, broken furniture, rugs, toys, appliances, kitchen cabinets ... remnants of life before Ike. Then there are the piles that used to be houses. This was worse than Rita, worse than Alicia, worse than Carla. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">We are blessed. Flood waters did not rise into our home, or my mother's home. Our home is livable, with all utilities and telephone restored. Air conditioner compressors, outside on the ground were submerged in the salt water storm surge and will have to be replaced. My mom's home has running water only, no electricity, no gas, no telephone; so until all those are restored, she can't move back in, so Rudy and I won't be moving back in either for a while yet. I have some photos I've taken of our homes that I want to show you, but can't get them posted from this computer ... sigh ... my sister-in-law Christy's. It's a great computer, mind you, and I'm so lucky to be able to use it, but, I think that because it is on a wireless network and the upload doesn't seem to take. So if you want to see some amazing shots of Galveston, go here: </span><a href="http://www.galveston.com/hurricaneikeslideshows/" target="_blank">http://www.galveston.com/hurricaneikeslideshows/</a><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">I'll see if I can figure out this picture thing and show you some I've taken. Feeling very blessed ...<br /></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8542618001735385390.post-56435386722758797962008-08-11T05:35:00.000-07:002008-10-01T02:35:21.997-07:00Blog Day 1<span style="font-family:lucida grande;">Well, I've been putting off this thing of setting up a blog. Today is the day. Monday, August 11, 2008, I launch myself and my dollmaking... out there. </span><br /><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">Why did I choose 'shredsandtatters' as my blog identity? I've given the choice of a blog identity a lot of thought over the last few months, and seriously considered a couple of choices. I'll tell you about my other identity possibilities some day, but the phrase 'shredsandtatters' pretty much describes my thought processes these days ... so much to do, so little time. I hope having a web presence through this blog and having to present a modicum of coherence (is that a word?), will instill some order in an often scattered mind. I know everyone has more to do than the time to do it in, so I'm in good company there. </span><br /><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">On another level, the phrase 'shreds and tatters' refers to my style of dollmaking in that I often use torn fabric edges in the finished costumes of dolls I create. I enjoy the visual texture added by a fabric's ragged edges and the air those edges add of the doll somehow being not quite finished with more to come.</span><br />I'm so pleased to tell you that I am one of the 7 new (2008) artist members of ODACA, Original Doll Artist Council of America. (You might like to read more about this journey on the blog of whimsymoondesigns, my good friend Angela's creation that is the inspiration and impetus for me to get blogging.) This application for artist membership in ODACA has been a 9-month journey of discovery, anticipation, jitters, with positive and negative emotions all along, periods of confidence broken often by periods of extreme lack of confidence. What a trip!<br />This new membership is another reason I am taking the step of setting up my blog. As a new ODACA member, I will have a page on their website (<a href="http://www.odaca.org/">http://www.odaca.org/</a>) and really do want viewers of my work there to have a link to another spot on the web where more of my work can be seen.<br />I'll stop for today, this is getting long and I sure don't want to bore you. Now it's time to figure out how to get some pictures up here. I figured it out and it was easy! Marionette Master is pictured below.<br />Pictures of dolls past, present, and future to come ...Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1