Art Doll Adventures

Hey Dolly Friends,

Well the opening approaches and I have no idea what to wear! This is a members opening and its FREE for the members of the Canton Art Museum – all others are welcome, but have to pay $10.00.  OR you can join and it will be free.  Support the arts in Ohio!

I am also joining the digital age with my patterns.  The first one is a revamp of my angel doll pattern and will be available on dollstreet any moment now.

Birdy Sketch Book Cover finally finished by Li

So far, this summer has found me deep in the throes of intense horticultural noodling that far outstrips my mini-former-apartment-dwelling-aggi-expertise.   That and the fact that Bob Marley seems to be haunting me with his “everything is going to be alright” chillin tunes hasnt inspired me to clean up the studio.  Why does that matter, you ask?  Well I cant make dolls if I cant find the fabric!

BUT

I do know where the machine is, and my art supplies are here somewhere… So I made this sketch book cover just to get my hands dirty with something other than dirt, and to force myself to step away from the computer.  There was another impetus tho… I discovered that my neighbor is the famed LaLa of Paper Allure in Canton, Ohio.  She was having a Driveway Sale and I scored big time!  Boxes of beads, Juicy scraps of fabric that I would never think to buy but are glistening examples of perfection, and pieces of this and that rich with possibility!  I couldn’t let the loot just sit there now could I?

Visit Paper Allure’s link here.

Also, shoot on over to Mary Ann’s store and get some patterns to make some funky dolls this summer!

Akua'ba Doll Pattern by LI Hertzi

Although some of the comments I have received – full of truly nasty and often bizarre pictures – could be inspiration for a doll, I am not ready to go down that dark alley.  So, if you want to comment, you must sign in. But while you are filling out the forms and declaring yourself neither nasty or bizarre, enjoy this Spam Moment.

The Blue Bird of Happiness is right after the Goddess of Eureka!

The weekend before Christmas, after 3 aborted tries, I finally got to take a glass bead making class.  Lampwork is the official term, mostly referencing the original oil-fueled lamps used to melt the glass.  The kit I got included a map gas canister with a special nozzle just for bead making, a bunch of richly colored glass rods, a cookie pan (for protection of the table) some mandrills (steel rods that are used to spin the glass on) and some stylish goggles… yellow very protective stylish googles.

This craft has been around since ancient Syrian times – that would be the 1st century – old stuff!

Last night, I stayed up late making eyeballs… still working on that… but what could be better than truly BEADY eyes!

Are you the Martha Stewart of your house hold?  Then you just have to make a bunch of these little fabric balls!  They are fun and easy to make up, and offer loads of options for embellishing and playing!

You can use them as a delightful accent to your decor or as charming holiday ornaments. However you choose to use them, you will find that they are great for showing off the magic of your Bernina Sewing Machine and your personal creative genius!

In this class you will learn:

• Basic Construction, sewing on the curve, sewing a 1/4 inch seam and turning and stuffing with ease.  (foot # 1 or #3)
• Couching   (foot # 43)
• Fabric Collage  (foot #3)
• freehand machine embroidery  (foot # 24)
• Cording  (foot # 22)  and more!

Beginner to Advanced

Where?: Angelics A Quilters Haven

Now that I live in Ohio with a pair of sofa-nested-bird-watchers and Meeme, the cougar of Stayman Avenue, (a Ragdoll Cat) I am acutely aware of the array of feathered distractions to be had!  So with that in mind and the fact that I made several versions of “the blue chickie of happiness” from my book and still have them in varying stages of finishedness around the studio, I am bird obsessed lately.

This one is pearched on a twig in a sparse forest of the smaller twigs.

Long ago I painted lots of different things with black and white stripes because my friend Laurel was always decked out in stripes – you never know how you are going to effect the people in your life – and recently I have cycled around to them again.

If you want to try this birdy, or one like it, check out the book!