OT Sunday/Saturday again

Saturday night here, Gwen, and I am about to go upstairs for a long soak in the tub. It has been muggy here all day, and I could use it.

Katherine

Sounds good - I volunteered today at two different booths at our community festival (two hours in each - 2-4, 4-6) It was warm and sunny and I am thinking that a cool soak would do a world of wonders. I am hoping for sunny weather again tomorrow, though, as my two sons and some of their friends are coming over to barbeque a big salmon and play pickle ball in the backyard. They youngest is celebrating his

Oh, that sounds like fun!

Katherine

Good morning /evening all,,,, our Festival was a great success ,,, in 3 days we had over 10.000 visitors ...we were open thursday 17.00-22.00, friday 10.00-16.00 and Yestrerday Saturday , 10.00- 22.00. And to think it was organized inless than a month, had minimal budget,

it is AMAZING. One can divide the Artistic dolls showb , into 2 maingroups. Those with Sculptured heads [clay, some polymeric or papier mache ]] and mostly [quite traditional ], wel tailored clothes, either with historical connections [ period clothes, ] or with Mytholygical connections [vampire , witch etc,,] , And the second group , of more freely formed dolls , [who might also include historical costumes and/or classical mythological costumes] . But their heads were made of cloths , mostly embroidered and /or shaped with the help of needle and threads, and they seemed more personal. My friend Sara`s dolls are a category in themselves... she is using old dolls Whole or many a times parts of old dolls , which she than assembles into whole bodies, and than builds her assemblages of cloth , beads embroidery etc,,, over it. A whole group of dolls like that are assembled into a wall carpet a 3d `quilt` Which we hung on one wall , than we arranged a huge table which converted into an imaginary Scenery with velvets of various colors, onwhich we arranged the dolls so that one could see them from all sides,, than on the other wall we hung my [very plain compared to Sara`s work ," Crowd On Hand", a group of seemingly handpupets whose heads are made from Shoulder pads . Both Sara and me felt the elaborate dolls and my `plain` crowd complimented each other. [I had one local lady comment my work was ugly , and 2 of the Scultured doll makers comment i should have elaborated the work more!!]. And we seemed to have been right , Everybody came into the room in amzement , and went out with a BIG SMILE , many head Tears in their eyes, many came back several times ,,, if we had a $ for each photo taken , we would have become Millionairs overnight. Many a Girl , will now have in her photo album , a photo with the Dolls Wall rug. And many women performed a new Athletic excercize , while looking at my work ,,, most laughed aloud and touched both their shoulders and said ;And i have thrown those out just like that !!!!" or "I have a sack of them , Do you want them ?" , many asked for the adress of my site,,, another excercize was touching one shoulder Smiling widely and than touching the other ,,,, smiling more ,,,, It was amazing but after the first 400 , i just accepted it that it touched sme deep thread in the female heart,,,,and quite some men as well. Than i had the gueses since all types were different , i had parents and kids guess if it was a family ,,,,who was who in this family , others decided it was some kind of group , ,,,, children leaped to say ,:," this is.... that is."... Most people were marvelous!!! a few were less nice, In spite of all warning [ and as it was a `festival` and there were food stands outside on the grass, some people came in with food, [soft] drink and/or cigarette. Some children could not resist touching as did some Grown ups,,.When politely asked not to touch we had this reactions, Most grown ups and parents .. said "sorry " and moved their hands or took care their children won`t touch,,, A few , but enough to see that it wasn`t a singular person`s reaction, When told not gto touch, heaved their shoulders and leaved the room with an insulted face , or with a [unkind] comment . More than a few , Grownup and/or parents, when aked not to touch, Denied they touched it ,,, but the fluidity of the velvets showed movement of moving hands,,, Some of those not only denied but felt the need to be rude as well . One the rudest of all , [Open soft drink and some junk food in hand of kid, trying to grab one of the dolls ] i politely asked child , not to touch and be careful and not spill the drink, The mother And another woman with her became furious , according to her Boy didn`t touch anything , as to the open soft drink , i could after all wash the dolls, and anyway who am i to tell their little well behaved boy what he should touch or not, why don`t i take my neurotic problems somewhere else , people should be locked up etc,,,,, My colleague was out of the room , but i had 2 guards with me as well as a photographer who came to take a photo of me. He told the mother that i had every right to ask the boy to stop touching the dolls, which only resulted in more abusive language. Of both women ,, A guard was called and he ushered them politely outside. Later the other woman , came back to tell me i was wrong in `acussing` the boy and that i should appologize. But the photographer , who was still talking with me , assured her firmly that she was wrong !!! and should better leave. And as i wrote most parents were great about it and most parents reminded their children not to touch. Besides this ,,,, We had the MOST wonderful time , but TIRING . People stood in the room and call friends and family on their cellular phones to Quickly come and see it .... And at 22.00 there was no way to stop people from coming . I have exaplained more about fiberart , in those 3 days than in years.

many people asked about courses [ almost none of us felt ths is something one can really teach, only guide maybe] .. But it was as it was meant to be a Festival grapher came back , and told the woman he has it on tape s and went to call another guard I came home put a big cushion under my feet and slept like a log . Good Sunday ,,, Luckily i can`t do much in the house since our electricity company wil make reprairs ,,, so no computer as well ,,, Have a Nice DAY ,, mirjam

Wow, sounds like the Doll Festival was a big success Mirjam! Will you be posting pictures anywhere so we can see it? I know what you mean about rude people and their *touchy* kids. Some people don't have any manners and of course if they don't, their children don't learn any either. It's been hot here, 114F (48C) and expected to stay hot for a few more days. Going to try and stay indoors whenever I can. Taking a little break from working on the aran sweater to finish up the socks I'm making out of a self patterning yarn. Have a good day everyone. Marie and the hot cats

Marie i get hot just thinking about 48c - I cannot imagine how you survive - maybe it is a dry heat ?? that would help a bit - I do hope it cools down for you soon God Bless Gwen

Marjim this sounds like a wonderful festival with all those different kinds of dolls God Bless gwen

Of course this is why many exhibitions put textiles in glass cases. Of course then you have to clean nose prints off the glass. Sounds like a wonderful exhibit Mirjam. Dora

Thanks for the great report, Mirjam. I am so sorry that you had to deal with some rotten people, but isn't that always the way? Fortunately, they are in the minority.

Katherine

Good afternoon everyone,

It just turned to 12:01pm here in upstate NY and DH and I have decided not to go to brunch today, but will go out for dinner. It's raining and very humid, but no complaints as we need the rain.

Mirjam thanks for the story on the dolls, and yes it takes all kinds of people now days some more rotten then others.

Hugs,

Nora

Yes, wonderful report as usual, Mirjam! You definitely make readers feel as though they are there with you. :o)

I agree that it is a real shame that you had to deal with some nasty people, but very good that there were more of the nice people around to visit with you and your friend throughout the festival.

I sure hope someone gives you some pictures that they took, as I know we'd love to see the dolls and your shoulderpad sculptures. :o)

Peace! Gemini