Embroidering & Embellishing

Lula what a pleasure to read that , For my March curated Exhibtion, i will get 4 dolls , one is already here peeping at me and 3 are still at their Creator`s house. The three come from an Artist whose power to embelish is the most interesting and rich i ever saw . I should see if i have some picks to send you. From all art objects i collect i always thinkl the dolls are the most Human, When i traveled home with the one dolls, she was in a bag , but i held her on my knees like a baby. While the artist who embelishes her dolls , brought them for me to look at , [ in an opening,, you know where we artists work hard !!] she put them in the back of the car, harnessed them in and covered with a balnket , as i came to the parked car to see them she took the blanklet off and i Giggled with pleseasure and surprise ,,It was such awonderful sight ,, those 4 doll girls on the back seat ... mirjam

Hi Mirjam,

I'd love to see the doll pics! Your descriptions of the dolls in the car was wonderful to read.....I anticipated to "see" them as the blanket was lifted!

I've been fascinated with dolls ever since a very young child. My mother used to twist scraps of fabrics together to make little "humanoid" figures for me to play with.....from that moment I've been inspired to make my own little figures!

My interest in dolls is not so much to make them look like little people but more as an expression or impression of color and design. I love the idea of embellishing or decorating these cloth figures in artistic ways......creating patterns and colors on the figures to express a feeling.....of course some will turn out similar to traditional fabric "dolls" but I'd like to be creative, make dolls with colorful patterns on a theme.

All these ideas are due to cross cultural influences from scrapbooking, collages, quilting, needlework, etc. The dolls are the perfect vehicles to decorate with all sorts of dreams.....one can dress and embellish a doll figure with whatever inspires......

The best thing is dolls don't have to look only like traditional dolls...there is a lot of room for innovation and originality!

One of my favorite inspirations is from a book about Kaffe Fassett's home.......there's a doll in the book with a needlepointed face.....ever since I saw that pic, I've been inspired to make a similar one for myself! Only problem is I don't know how to make clothing! But I could probably wing it somehow...I can start by wrapping fabric around the figure, folding, pinning, cutting and stitching in place.....then to embroider and apply embellishments to hide all the seams!

Wouldn't it be interesting to have a doll making contest similar to those cooking competitions such as the ones featured on the Food Channel or Iron Chef? Where an invited group of artists is to make and embellish a figure with a secret theme within a period of assigned time?

snipped-for-privacy@earthlink.net said

ooooooooooooooh -- wouldn't it be wonderful to have that contest and then auction the dolls for a charitable cause?

Hi Anne,

Do you think they'll be enough interest to get a group of participants, such as a dozen participants? This is a great idea.....it'll be something interesting to get the creative juices going!

Anne,

You can get doll faces from doll books and mags.......Patti Medaris Culea comes to mind....a well known doll maker with some wonderful doll instruction books you'll love if you've not seen them yet. Her latest book is all about creating doll faces....be worth your time to check out her books as she has created some of the coolest, creative dolls I've ever seen. I never get tired of looking at these doll books.....they're full of eye candy and inspiration. Elinor Peace Bailey is another famous dollmaker who has written a small book on creating doll faces. Check Patti's and other doll making web sites for more info.

The other thing is.....you don't have to create a "realistic" type face.....art dolls have all types of expressive faces such as the ones that are beaded, these are especially beautiful & whimsical! I'm truly amazed at the clever faces doll artists have come up with to express the themes of the dolls they're making.

In my case, I've the opposite problem to NOT create a realistic face...I've got a tendency to making my work too realistic & stiff at first. We all have our struggles to create no matter what our skills! The bottomline is the same....we all have to really WORK at what we're trying to express creatively.

I had to hand sew my little Lady Luck doll because I've NO room to use my full size sewing machines for now......BUT.....I found a really nice petite sewing machine by Janome....it's well made, similar to a regular machine.....has several stitches to choose from....weighs only 5 lbs and small enough to put anyplace to use.

The only negative was I bought my petite Janome from Clotilde's catalog for $80 + another $9. for shipping....it was advertised in the catalog as an exclusive which gave me the impression that the machine was specially made to sell only in Clotildes' catalog. Right after I ordered this machine, I happened to go to a Hancock Fabrics' store to check out my fabrics where I saw the exact same model machine being sold for $60.!!!

Well....no matter at this point as I'm in a deadline rush.... I'm keeping my little machine that arrived a week after I ordered. I'm very pleased to have this neat machine to work with. Once I get back from the CHA (hobby & craft) trade show, I plan to put the machine to good use sewing up seams and whatever other light sewing I can use it for.....will save me a lot of time from hand sewing!

snipped-for-privacy@earthlink.net said

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snipped-for-privacy@earthlink.net said

I think you've got a chicken and egg situation: do you line up participants and then find a charity or do you find a charity and then find participants?

Based on my decidely limited experience with charitable auctions, my suggestion would be to find one that has an event where people are willing to spend money for a good cause to ensure that the dolls which could/would take hours and hours and hours go for a good amount. Think corporate buys ;-)

Anne i can`t draw faces , still i managed to weave and embroider them I look at the photo of the person i want to weave /embroider , and sort of see where the darker lines are and the lighter [ you can enlarge it for that purpose] and than it sort of is a matter of laying little splashes of dark over a lighter background ,,, and it happens ,,, mirjam

Lula and Anne , i already collected 4 artistic dolls to be part of my next exhibition , which is about Presents to Biblical ladies. I don`t know what it is `in the AIR` or something ???? but it seems that at least 2/3 of the artists i visited lately , make dolls ..... In Tabernacle Holiday we had a Dolls Festival here in Haifa , And we were overwhelmed by the number of people telling us They too make dolls. I must confess that i made many dolls [ animal and humans] when my kids were small . Than stopped and somehow over the yearsmade little dolls , which i hid well in my closets, since they didn`t look as toys and i wasn`t sure they were Artistic enough.Specially since the last 10 ++ years Israel has been filled with new Immigrants from Russia, who are professional pupeteres and who are making , teaching , selling those extremely PERFECT dolls.... compared to those my dolls looked so imperfect.. Since i curated `Crochet Figures` , where several dolls were exhibited, and since The Festival here I completely changed my views. Al kinds of dolls are welcome. mirjam

Hi Mirjam,

Those professional marionettes and puppets are indeed beautiful creations! I've always admired those type of figures.

However, you shouldn't worry if your dolls are imperfect......IMO, I've always thought of creative projects such as hand made, embroidered and embellished figures, dolls to be much more interesting to look for their very lack of perfection! To me, things that are too perfect looking actually look boring....empty somehow...they lack expression or feeling.....have no character!

Doll making does seem to be on the rise.....a lot more artists are using dolls as another form of expression. I know for myself, making "dolls" is another way for me to use favorite fabrics and embellishments. I love embellishing with all kinds of interesting trims, buttons, beads, etc....basically anything can be used!

In my "treasury" of goodies are bunches of colorful velvet leaves, metal charms, all sorts of beads, buttons and trims......lots of fanciful fabrics such as glittery brocades, silks and so on.....I can hardly wait to use these things to create something colorful, whimsical.....unique....a doll is the perfect choice since I don't want to get involved with a large project such as a quilted panel or anything flat.....I like the 3-D quality of a doll figure.......

Making a doll allows me to combine all the needlework and any other artistic or technical skills I've learned through the years....I love the idea of doing cross over skills, taking what we use in needlework and other art disciplines, combining these skills to create something new......it's so exciting not to have limits. I'm so glad dolls are no longer judged on how realistic they look.

I'll shortly be in Las Vegas for the huge CHA show and hope my little handmade Lady Luck doll will have a good showing among all the other designers' creations!

Hee Lula ! Years ago i recieved a catalog that was called "Art Forms and the Body" published by Wittenborn @ Hollingworth curated by Paul Witteborn ,, 1989 ,, There are 2 phones . Los Angeles [213] 254- 0339,, and [212] 966 -7453 ,, The cover has the most AMAZING work Mexican Jacket by Rivoli Mario ,,, The jacket has several appliqued dolls on it it is indcribable but wonderful .. mirjam

Hi Mirjam,

We just got back from the trade show in Las Vegas and glad to be back to my "quiet" life.....the bright lights, gambling and such are not for me but it was fun to see the sights a little. Overall, we were too tired after a day of work at the trade show to do much of anything. The time difference made the day three hours longer too!

I'm pleased to say my Lady Luck doll was a hit along with the "paper dolls" I made....these were shaped like matroishka dolls and embellished with all sorts of beads and trims, very colorful pieces. One had a painted face....painted with acrylics on fabric and the other had an embroidered face I stitched from silk floss. A company wants to license the doll designs for kits......will see what the details are next.

The jacket you mention sounds familiar, think I saw a picture of the same colorful jacket with the appliqued dolls.....I love handmade, embroidered, appliqued pieces like this. So many exciting dimensional effects....nothing boring about making such a piece and definitely a pleasure to see!

Good morning LULA ,, Welcome back , Am just peeping at my window ,, i will never be able a sight as beautiful as this morning glow , and the morning star is blinking happily above my house ,,,,, Good that you had success , i am thrilled to read your dolls might become kits, and thus spread more happines and joy. Among my aquaitamces i know several who love dolls , but can`t make them , that would be delighted to buy a kit/ All in all , in seems like DOLLS are become the next TREND,, Many artists make dolls, many hobby clubs teach how to make `easy in one hour [not elaborate ] dolls ,,,, For my next Curtaed exhibition , i have recieved 4 dolls [ as presents for a lady in the Bible]. Thus this seems to be the proper time to launch a kit .I am so glad you had success. As to embroidered clothes , i do a bit here and there as it happens ,,, I really need to go back to my artworks and book, i have sort put on hold till this exhibition stands on it`s feet. In the mean time 5 of my works are participating in an Exhbition in Um

-El -Fahem in an All women exhibition ,,, 'Fustanin -Shalmot" It is all Fiber related ,,, mirjam

snipped-for-privacy@earthlink.net said

That's wonderful. I think I might be able to do a kit if the assembly instructions are simple enough ;-)

Will the exhibit have a web site ??? I have often thought it would be nice if special shows and visiting exhibits to some of our museums could have a virtual viewing where one could go to the web site, pay a fee and be given a password or code to then view the exhibit. Good luck with your exhibit.

Socrates speaks to jury at his trial: 'If you offered to let me off this time on condition I am not any longer to speak my mind... I should say to you, "Men of Athens, I shall obey the Gods rather than you."'

Great news about your dolls LULA congratulations. Ruby Socrates speaks to jury at his trial: 'If you offered to let me off this time on condition I am not any longer to speak my mind... I should say to you, "Men of Athens, I shall obey the Gods rather than you."'

As always when the exhibit will stand , my Son who built my site will add it to my curated exhibitions. And thus you will able to see it. This time there artworks of various techniques and materials, [ ceramic, metal, wood , crochet,embroidery, etc.... iyt will be wuite exciting. I have great respect for all the artists who really put heart and mind into those works. mirjam

on condition I am not any longer to speak my mind... I should say to you, "Men of Athens, I shall obey the Gods rather than you."'

Now3 it occured to me that mayvbe your good wishes were meant for the Um-El-Fahem exhibition , they tell the gallery will have something on line, but i haven`t found it yet .... mirjam

on condition I am not any longer to speak my mind... I should say to you, "Men of Athens, I shall obey the Gods rather than you."'