TRUTH OR DARE

TRUTH!
This is my drawing table/light table/work table. It sits on my bathroom counter directly on top of my sink which I now don't use.
Truth: In the photo below you can see my laundry pile. It is truthfully towering over my work table.
Question: I ask myself "What is more important? Laundry or Art"?
Truth: Art


On my workdesk this day of What is On Your Workdesk Wednesday, are wings I am making for my artdoll prim fairies. They have removeable wings which tie on, made of tulle, with found text applied and made fancy with sequins, beads, etc. I cannot describe the enjoyment I get in making these. Hours of enjoyment. They take hours to make if you can imagine!! Finding the text is what eats up the time.


Here's a closeup of a wing with text. I am imagining a face in the style of Suzi Blu for this doll.

Thanks for dropping in! *smiles* Norma

Grace Under Fire

Found words on her removeable wings read:
"she still wore her black hair in an old-fashioned bun at the nape of her neck.
Because she had been complaining, between tight-pressed lips to express her feelings.
People would shout and wave right in front of the old lady.
and because she was certain
All will be lost but for the dignity of the black intensity,
she sat transfixed for the first time.


Well I am coming closer to what I wanted to do with this artdoll prim. She has all limbs and a decent dress (needs tweaking at the neck) and her hair is way scaled back but I think still too bold. I am going to try a more subtle color, or if I use this wild red then the hair 'do' needs to be more controlled I think. I am very pleased with her face. It hasn't had the 'encaustic' treatment yet and while I was working with it I managed to tear the left (her right) eye in two. Such is the fate of artdolls I guess. She stands a grasshopper head above six inches. Her dress is seersucker in a pastel polka dot. Her wings are tulle with sequin trim and with found words applied to used tea bag paper and then attached to the tulle.

Well I'll call it a day as it did take me all day to make her. Every stitch was done by hand with a needle and thread and I love not having to worry about sewing machine tension or threading the bobbin, etc.
Nice to visit with you, and we'll talk soon! *smiles* Norma

A bit of magic...

Well you know how the muse works! Surprises everywhere...today is another mystery. I am supposed to be working on a paper artdoll. I have started to paint the face and I've got the dress designed in my head so it's off to a good start. The dress (skirt at this point) is made from used tea bags (paper) and I've sewn the outline of a plum blossom on it using music paper as a base. Lately I've been noticing the use of tea bag paper and let me say I'm speechless with excitement about using it, and often I am thinking. The first experiment was the skirt of my paper doll and as I said I'm off to a good start. Except that I looked at something on line (a blog I follow) that talks about using Pine Sol cleaner as a transfer technique. Somehow I got off on a different path altogether (this is the surprise part). The transfer technique didn't work at all (this will be another blog post), but here is what designed itself. Where it came from is a COMPLETE MYSTERY to me. My muse is at work here.
This is a wee bird pretty much the same size and shape as my paper inspirational bird (small size), but is made of used tea bag paper that was doubled over for strength. Encased inside are some fennel seeds which are believed in some folklore to ward off evil persons but I am using them to ward off evil thoughts. Sequins decorate it and chicken feathers (oh I am feeling the voodoo vibe here) feature in the tail. There's a small bell for the idea of sound and the bird hangs on a gold cord.
I am calling this a paper bird talisman to ward off evil thoughts. It is a complete prototype and I've used sequins and cord that were readily available so have given no thought as to color. It is stamped with the rubber stamp which says 'aspire to BE' and this talisman will hang by my computer screen to remind me that I would like to be a person who has more positive thoughts going on.
Now it is back to the paper doll. Have fun everyone! *smiles* Norma