Dollies in Their Underwear and a Funny Comment

My 17 year old daughter made it back from Nicaragua. She was home for one day and then left for camp (she is a counselor). She and my camera (again) will be back this weekend!! Her trip was, as I had hoped, life-changing. Every time she talks about leaving her new friends there, she cries.

I have been working steadily to complete the latest Dollandia Girls.  I had to use Bailey's camera (not good...not her camera...but me using her camera!!)  I will post better pics this weekend when I finally get my camera back!  But here is a little sneak preview anyway!

I have been working so hard to complete these girls.  All the arms and legs are ready and the bodies are ready.  I just need to make skirts, put them together and get wigs done.

Here's the funny comment:  (Keep in mind that a small amount of insanity runs in our family!)  My 15 year old daughter, Bailey, came into the studio today.  She was intently looking at the dolls and she said, "People need to be careful.  Their necks are long and I'll bet they could be broken easily."  I said, "No, there's a wooden armature in there.  They aren't really fragile."  Her answer?  "Yeah....but I feel like I would love to pick one up and just crack her head off!"  I couldn't help but laugh.  There's not much that could stand up to THAT!!  Truly.. .they aren't fragile.....but if you get one....please don't crack her head off!  Ha ha!!!

A new little painting and some bags

First things first!  Thank you so much to my wonderful friends Erin Hardin  and Kylie Fowler for their sweet blog posts about my art!  Sorry it's been a little while since my last post.  My daughter has my camera in Nicaragua!  I did think to take a couple of pictures just before she left.  The first picture is a new painting in a very different style.  It was such fun to paint!  It actually wasn't finished when I took the picture but I wanted a picture at this point.  I have since attached an antique bottle which will hold a wild flower (I'll take a picture this weekend when my camera (and daughter!) are back.

On the subject of my daughter's trip:  She is helping build 2 houses and teaching VBS in a tiny village in Nicargua.  I can't wait to hear all the stories when she returns.  I know she will have a different world view.  I went by the church the day before they were to leave and found out that the participants would be needing to keep their passports (literally) on their bodies at all times.  They needed some little passport bags that they could tuck into their shirts...sooooo....I went home and got busy!  I made 17 little zippered bags.  By the end, I was a little tired...but happy that I could help.  They really seemed to like the bags and I have gotten a kick out of seeing one here and there in the pictures that are coming back from Nicaragua.  The bags are below:

Artfest News and New Items!

I just got the fabulous news that I will again be teaching at Artfest in 2012!  For those of you who aren't aware of this amazing event, it will be held March 28th-April 1st, 2012 in Port Townsend, WA (on an island outside Seattle).  I will post the website details on August 1st (when the site goes live again).  For a little sneak preview....below are the projects from the 2 classes I will be teaching.

The first class is called "Cuff Me!".  It will cover needle felting, paperclay button making, embroidery and putting it all together.

The second class is called "Story Pieces".  My daughter and I started writing just the ending parts of stories in our journals a couple of years ago.  I thought it would be cool to incorporate these story pieces into paintings.  The class will cover background painting, painting the colorful little children of your mind and writing and adding in the story pieces of your own.  Below are the first 3 of the series.  They are painted on wood:

Artfest is an annual event.  I think it is in it's 16th year and is the largest retreat in the country (I think I even heard in the world!).  If you have never been, you should start making plans now!!  It is so creative, so supportive and the most fun event I have ever attended.  It starts on Wednesday and runs through Sunday.  It is held in an old Army fort with the beautiful Puget Sound as a backdrop.  Deer sometimes even walk by as you walk to classes! You will make friends that you keep in touch with throughout the years.  This will be my 5th Artfest year.

Onto other fun things!  I just finished a series of 6 small journals.  These journals have been a big hit at Artfest, online and locally.  I only make them a couple of times per year.  They measure 5" x 7".  Each journal features 15 pages (30 front and back) of Canson 140lb watercolor paper (it can handle any medium and is my favorite paper).  I have made them to lay mostly flat so they are easy to write or paint in (although I have not broken them in....I'll let you do that yourself!!)  The little charms on the spine are handmade by me and the lovely fibers are Italian and French yarns. I will only be selling 3 of the 6 (whichever 3 sell first).  The rest will go to Artfest.  They are $40 each + $5 to ship.  If you are interested, please email me at Sunnycdolls@aol.com to reserve yours!

The above group each feature a small original painting.  One has a brass bee, one has a pebble with the word "curious" showing through.

If you have any questions or would like additional pictures emailed to you, please let me know!  Thank you all for reading and for your lovely comments!!  xoxo