Craft Avenue news letter

I just love Craft Avenue news letter

They love Primitive,Folk Art !

This newsletter is just slammed full of intrestimg artists and information..check them out!!

http://www.craftyavenue.com/news.html

Creative Times Magazine - May/June Issue

Creative Times Magazine - May/June Issue
is ready for down load!!!
http://www.creativetimesmagazine.com/current_issue.php

The Art Of Primitive Dolls Challenge from ADQ magazine

Click to in large
The Art Of Primitive Dolls Challenge from ADQ magazine
I am so excited to here about the The Art Of Primitive Dolls Challenge from ADQ magazine.It has been my goal of 10yrs to help Preserve the Artist's of YesterYear and Today, To gain the recognition of the Prim Artist's they deserve for their works of Art. This is a huge step and I am doing the Happy Dance for sure Hugs Sherrie

New Magazine called "PRIMS" by Stampington and Co. They are looking for
Primitive Artists to submit their dolls for the 2010 issue. They want primitive,
rustic, historic, early Americana Styles and more. It is awesome exposure to for
all of us who wish to give it try!!
So if you have any questions or want more info. on it go
to: http://www.stampington.com and look up "submissions"
http://www.stampington.com/html/wanna_get_published.html or contact their
submission dept. about it.

Giveaway!!! Old Blue eyes! Chalklet Chicky @ wingsandpawsprimitives

Mo of Wings and Paws Primitives is having a fantastic Give Away
http://wingsandpawsprimitives.blogspot.com/
Mo is giving away "Old Blue eyes" he is one of her original "Chalklets"
Run on over to http://wingsandpawsprimitives.blogspot.com/
Drawing will be This Sunday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Embroidered Pocket Dolls

Hi all..I thought these Embroidered Pocket Dolls were just the sweetest!
Their a free pattern I find through CraftMagazine.com..
you will find this cute and wonderful tutorial By Lauren from GoodyGoody.typpad.com Blog
http://goodygoody.typepad.com/goody_goody/2009/03/pintsized-pocket-pillows.html
Lauren has the coolest tutorials on her blog she so kindly shares with us all.Thank You Lauren!!
Hugs Sherrie

what Iam working on

On my Presbyterian cloth doll challenge dolls
I have their faces flesh painted and sanded ready to paint the features.
Just been waiting for the right time, I am really scared
to try this new type of face. But I will do it!
At least I am happy with the chosen fabric I picked for their dresses and bonnets.

Finally finished my Raggedy Family..
Dad and Mom and 3 Girls and 1 Boy!! Just need to take some good pictures now!

Here is what all I have got going ..these 3 are ufo's
but have started working on them once again.The two large black dolls with the gorgeous faces were painted by doll artist Krista Harris, I bought them from her through her eBay auctions about 5 years agao, I am making new arms and legs for them,plus extra body parts :)
My goal on the large ones.is to give them breast's and hips and dress them as Hattie McDaniel Mammy - O'Hara House Servant from Gone with the wind Movie and Butterfly McQueen Prissy - O'Hara House Servant
The largest will be 5 ft and then 4 ft.It has been a long time dream about 3 yrs of dreaming of making them. I am want to dress them as in the American civil war.. Red Petticoat and all!
Prissy will also be dressed fine! They will be just wonderful for the Holidays and every dau through out the year.They are my forever dolls:)
The doll on your far left with the round head
My goal for him will a 1800's black child Boy.I'd love to dress him in velvet. I am working on them slowly, Only when I am in the mood.Goal is to have them all finished by this Fall.

These two cuties are new in progress Mother and Son

So I have been busy..Plus been creating two new patterns, and writing two new articles..Taking my time and not under any pressure, in fact I find it relives allot of stress!
plus making two aprons for a swap I'm in..Isn't it great to create!!

I have both their arms and legs finish ready to attach, Then hair and dress them.

adding pictures and writing about my goals really helps me stay focused.seeing and then reading,,and adding updated progress for me personally helps me allot

it puts in a second person thingy like I am a another person seeing the progress through their
eyes , and I can be critical and open minded.LOL hope this makes sense,

Challenge would any of you like to join

A Tisket, A Tasket

Twelve Months of Baskets!

A Free Mystery Block of the Month from Bunny Hill Designs!

My daughter and I are doing a personal challenge to complete a 12 month project doing some thing we have never done before !!
When I say "Challenge" It is a self Challenge ..not a challenge to each other..It is a discipline challenge a challenge of an accomplishment.kinda thing ..Hmmm Hope this makes sense..
would any of you like to join us??
We both love Bunny Hill Designs A Tisket , A Tasket blocks and have never made any thing like this..So we are in a challenge NO pressure..Just as long as we are finished in 12 months..
We both plan to do this when ever we want , like of an evening watching tv with family, or sitting out side ,or even while sitting for an appointment....vacation...what ever and when ever..We are doing it by hand so it is some thing we can take along with us if need be..
What are we doing ???
We are doing the Bunny Hill Designs A Tisket , A Tasket
We have just started our first block...

Bunny Hill Designs

A Tisket, A Tasket

Twelve Months of Baskets!

A Free Mystery Block of the Month from Bunny Hill Designs

Join us as we work on our newest free pattern! Each month, for twelve months, you'll find a free block right here on our web site. At the end of 12 months we'll give you the directions to assemble your surprise. Be sure and click on the link below for the directions to get started. Sign up for our newsletter on the home page, just under the slide show, to be notified when a new block is available, or check back around the 5th of each month.
http://bunnyhilldesigns.com/dynamic/?page=Free%20Patterns

Eclectic Halloween Artists Group UpDate!!

Eclectic Halloween Artists Group
Did you know that EHAG
{ Eclectic Halloween Artists Group }
is hosting our second giveaway?
*********
Well, we are... and it starts on Monday, January 26th, but if you’d like a sneak preview… please check our blog out now!
The theme for our give away is…
~ The weather outside is frightful! ~
Several members from our talented group of Halloween artists have graciously offered to give a special Halloween collectible art pieces to a group of very lucky winners!
In order to enter, simply click on EHAGArt's blog link below and leave us a comment and your name will be entered in the February 3rd drawing!
http://www.ehagart.blogspot.com/

It's okay to comment anonymously, but please be sure we have your email address so we can notify you in the event you win. If you prefer not to leave a comment you can also email us at ehaagartists@hotmail.com
This last bit is very important, because if we can't reach the winner(s) after 7 days we will draw another name.
The giveaway contest will be going on all week, so check back on February 3rd to see if you won!
In the meantime, you will have a chance to peek at the various art offerings on our blog and on eBay. Why eBay you may ask?
We are also hosting a group challenge of the same theme this week too.
You can find a link to our current auctions here EHAG on eBay.
Wishing everyone who enters wicked good luck!
~ The EHAG artists ~

Vintage Cloth Doll Making (Group)

I wanted to let you all know about the Vintage Cloth doll making a yahoo group is having a really awesome challenge actually two options challenge..I have decided to do the Presbyterian cloth doll challenge..It is really a fabulous pattern created by Lucinda C. Durbin (Cinders)
I hope you all will think about joining too..This is a incredible group of doll makers,,Warm friendly always right there to help in any way..This group has been around 10 years I know of..I feel like their all family..

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/VintageClothdollmaking/

here is the info on both challenges......
Our current group challenge has TWO options!
First Option: To recreate a historic Presbyterian cloth doll using a pattern created by Lucinda Durbin. (Lucinda used her original Presbyterian cloth doll in creating the pattern!!)

According to Linda Edward, on page 28 of her book Cloth Dolls From ancient to Modern - "The First Presbyterian Church of Bucyrus, Ohio, started making rag dolls in 1885 as a fund raiser. These dolls measure about 17 inches (43 cm) and have hand painted faces. Their bodies are made of unbleached muslin which is stuffed with cotton and they are jointed at the hips and shoulders. The mitten shaped hands have fingers indicated by stitching. Their feet are stub shaped. The dolls and their original clothing, consisting of an ankle length dress and prairie bonnet, are all hand sewn.

In 1956 the church again made these dolls using the original patterns, however, the differences in the finishing and fabrics make them readily discernible from the older version. The hands of these latter dolls do not have the fingers stitched and the oil paint used for the face and hands is very heavily applied. The fabric used for the clothing is also easily identified as being from the 1950's."

You will find the pattern and pictures of Cinders' doll in our files:


You may also want to refer to her photo album for some progress pictures of her own Prysbella coming to life!


Second Option: To create a molded face doll-could be a Kaethe Kruse,Helen Pringle, Izannah walker , or Lenci type.
If you choose this option, be SURE your outer layer of the molded head is cloth, to qualify.

Linda Edwards gives quite an extensive presentation in her book about Lenci dolls, starting on page 86.
Her Izannah Walker discussion starts on page 21.
The Kathe Kruse presentation starts on page 34.

DEADLINE FOR COMPLETION: APRIL 5, 2009!!!

Be sure to post progress pictures of your dolls while you're working on them. Share your tips/thoughts on construction techniques you've used. We all need to learn from each other along the way!
Have your pictures placed in the challenge folders by midnight April 5, 2009 to qualify

I'm excited to see what you all come up with for this challenge! MaryColgan

I have been Tagged

I have been tagged - thank you, Flora http://boneheadstudio.blogspot.com/
so now let me see hmmmm..... I must share 5 things about myself that you didn't know. This is hard because welll the above pic says it all it is so me!!!!

1.) I met my sweet hubby when I was 16 yrs old,He also was 16..We were both in High School, We graduated June 1969, We got married July 1969.:) Funny I can honestly say we just keep falling in love every day.

2.) I was adopted at the age of two,

3.) I would love to live in the Mountains of TN with at least 5 - 10 acres and enjoy the four seasons;:)

4.) I can not carry a tune. absolutely zip null void not a tune in me, My Dad told me when I was about six yrs old, He would buy me a gold bucket to "Carry" my tune in:))) I'm still waiting!

5.) I love Jesus, Life, Family and Friends ,and I love Creating so many wonderful things, !

This was harder than I thought. I really had to think, I really don't know much about myself LOL

Now I'm suppose to pick people that I would like to know more about, so tag you're it! Please list five things about yourself & then tag five other friends.

Dawn:http://fourfiftythree.blogspot.com/

Lauren:http://www.specklednest.blogspot.com/

Mica Garbarino :http://garboodles.typepad.com/garboodles_soup/

Kai:http://thepartyinkaishead.blogspot.com/

Yvette :http://ydaydream.blogspot.com/

Luisa Old Fashion Doll of YesterYear

be sure to click on all pictures to enlarge them:)

Luisa is my offering for January 2008 at The Humble Arts;

be sure to check out all the Artists Offerings January 1, 2008!!http://www.thehumblearts.com

Luisa is a Old fashion doll "YesterYear Style" Like the Mothers from Yesteryear would have made for their daughters.

Luisa is 16 inches from the top of her head to the bottom of her feet,I created her using Judi Wards double dart pattern for her head and body, Luisa's arms and legs are my own design .Using the double darts gives a chin a bit of depth to her face.

Luisa's has been aged and sanded for a real yesteryear feel, Her face is hand drawn using artists pencils and then sealed. Just look at her gorgeous blue eyes!
Her dress is awesome.Tight fitting bodice to her waist with a wide waist
band that cinches her waist, Along with nice puffy sleeves.
The fabric of her dress is just beautiful ,The pictures just don't do justice.Lusia wear stockings with hand painted slippers, and a red velveteen petticoat Lusia has a boxed bottom and she sits very nicely

Izzy Belle

My newest baby just in time for Christmas! Isn't she just awesome..
I did not create her I won her on eBay from Doll artist Deana Rossman of PurtyCountryThangs
http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQsassZpurtycountrythangs
I never thought I would win her but I did tada~~
Many reason why I wanted this baby..I have never seen up close or touched a clay doll head and wanted to see it what it is all about, This type of doll is on my dream list to hopefully create one day.When I saw Izzy Belle oh my she just reached out and touched my heart,Isn't her gown beautiful..I adore her facial expression also
She came with her own vintage Cradle!
Look at her bonnet!

Here is her Description from the auction:

I love how she turned out. Izzy Belle is made from
my own design and measures approx. 17" tall and her dress is a couple of inches longer. Her
body is from a knitted vintage doll form and I've added her hands made from needle
sculpted, painted muslin (she even has tiny painted nails) Her head is sculpted from clay and
securely attached. Her eyes are inserted black glass beads at the pupils and then the iris
painted around them. Her eyes seem to follow you around the room. I added extra texture
to her hair giving it more shape and waves. Her dress is an antique baby's dress in near
pristine condition. The two little ties in the back are original and it has pretty blue stiched
smocking at the bottoms and sleeve cuffs. I made her pantalettes and sweet bonnet out of
some vintage fabric that has soft white embroidery and pintucks. Izzy's little bear "Night
Night" is a purchased item. He is approx. 4 1/2" tall and has jointed arms and legs. The
inspiration for Izzy Belle was actually this vintage wooden, rocking cradle. I found this at
an estate sale. I've covered the mattress board with a piece of an old cutter quilt. I know
you will fall in love with little Izzy Belle. She will come with a decoratve hang tag with her
name on the front and signed and dated by me on the back.

Thanks for looking at my sweetie Hugs Sherrie

Howdy Hey All *The Cats Pyjamas* Doll challenge is open yippie!!

What we were to do was use one of *The Cats Pyjamas* patterns and

create our own dolls with it..

Every One used a different pattern.. any ways it is now open for votes ,

I would so appreciate it if you would go vote for the doll of YOUR choice

*Remember*: vote for the doll of YOUR choice

DO NOT vote for mine if your like another one , just please vote

I'm NOT advertising for my self..Im sharing with you about this little doll challenge!

I hope others too will have doll challenges cause it is fun!

There is only a couple gals that entered I feel bad because they have worked hard getting their dolls made for this challenge! So please tell your friends to vote too !!!

Alrighty and Thanks So much Sherrie http://www.thecatspyjamas.com/pages/dollchallenge2007.php