Mmmmmmm.................

life just got in the way!!!To say that things were busy in the latter half of 2012 would be a major understatement.
On the work front, the pace was hectic. It has been an interesting year to say the least, probably the most difficult of my working life due to a couple of very difficult staff members, but also the best due to the arrival of 3 amazing colleagues and some fabulous opportunities that came my way. I am very proud to be a teacher in public education and at the end of the school year I was incredibly tired but immensely satisfied with the achievements of 2012 in a truly wonderful school. 2013 will present some difficulties with a few unresolved issues, the wheels of justice are turning slowly, but I have complete faith that justice will be done ~ karma is a real bitch and is going to bite hard!!
On the creating front, things have been moving slowly.
Dolls seem to fill my thoughts and Pinterest has become an invaluable source of inspiration. I have been continuing to develop my sculpting skills through online learning, and by doing and redoing and redoing..............................

Anyway, here's to hoping I am back in blogger land.................

Hugs........................Leanne

It's Been a Long Journey....................

but I think I am finally there.
After doing several 360's, revisiting a variety of techniques and mediums, the visions that have been dancing in my head but eluding my hands have come into reality.
Tonight I am feeling a sense creative satisfaction that I have not felt in a long time. I have been struggling with what I wanted to do and being able to achieve it ~ to the point that at times I was so distracted that I was unable to create!! I am now settled on using polymer clay over a foil armature for the head, creating my own polymer clay eyes rather than painting them onto the doll, a cloth body and polymer clay limbs that are jointed at the shoulders/hips and elbows/knees.
The first 2 girls have come to life this weekend

I have coloured their faces tonight and made the caps for their wigs, but the light was too dull to photograph. They are looking divine with their faces on!!
I have been desperate to learn felting to incorporate into the costuming of the dolls and last Thursday night I had the opportunity to work with a local felter ~ OMG it is the best technique and totally addictive. Yesterday I pulled out some bits and pieces and made my first piece of felt:

This piece will feature in the costume of one of the dolls above.

Hopefully I am now resuming normal programming................................

Hugs.......................Leanne

Element Challenge...........

Kat over at Cloth Doll Artistry has been hosting a challenge in the Art Doll Studio where the inspiration was one of the four elements ~ earth, wind, fire or water. I chose fire and this is the result:

BLAZE

Her limbs are wrapped with sari silk and metallic thread. Her dress is created from 2 pieces of fabric I created using the solvy technique and adorned with vintage velvet flowers. Her wig is handmade and the result of an online class over at A for Artistic.

Currently enjoying the mid year holidays. Spent the first few days in Sydney at the Teachers Federation Annual Conference and have spent the rest of the week "playing" around with dolls and completing some yard jobs that were put on the back burner.
Off to play some more. Think I have finally reached a decision on the direction I am heading with my dolls.

Hugs......................Leanne

Painted................

Have had a lovely day playing. My elements challenge doll isn't finished, but not much more to do. I have been working on her wig using a new technique which I am very pleased with.
The girls are painted:

Off to bed, big day craft shopping tomorrow!!

Hugs................................Leanne

Update..............

a busy week here due to mid year assessment and reporting, but as I have a little play in cyberspace, I am pleased to say that my reports are all completed for this half year.
I have had some time to sculpt and start to try out new ideas. These are the 2 dolls I have in the works:
 
 
I learnt the fabric covering technique at the workshop. Learnt a few things in these experiments: can not have long thin necks or the neck set back too far from the chin ~ note to self for the next model.
I have painted the faces this morning and just waiting for them to dry. I'll take more photos this afternoon.

This is the doll I made in the workshop.

That's all from me at the minute. Hoping to finish my element challenge doll this afternoon and I am off to a Quilt and Craft fair tomorrow..................happy days!!

Hugs........................Leanne

Today was......................

the day Santa died in our house :-). DS informed me that he had looked up Santa in the dictionary and the definition confirmed his suspicions. Still I am thankful that we got to eleven years before the mystery disappeared. We've had a discussion about the magic of Christmas and all is good.

Hugs......................Leanne

A Little Catch up..................

I'm still here. Have been busy, busy, busy, unfortunately not so much with the sculpting. I am enjoying a couple of weeks long service leave and thought I would spend my days playing, but life has gotten in the way!!
I am heading to Melbourne tomorrow with my Mum and Dad to visit with my sister and her family and to do a doll workshop with world renowned artist Susie McMahon. You can see her work here:
http://susiemcmahondolls.blogspot.com.au/
and this is the doll I am going to create:

Despite all that however, I do have few things to show. In paperclay I have these three country raggies awaiting completion:

and I am working on this girl for an elements challenge:

I have made some pieces of fabric using solvy and textile art techniques to costume her.

I do have a confession to make though, I have gone to the dark side and have started working with polymer clay. I have a yearning to work in small scale and found the paperclay too clumsy for the finer detail. I recently completed a workshop with Bobbi Lambert and loved the result:

Currently refining the techniques learnt in the workshop and developing my own style: This is the direction I am heading in:

Love this style, so am going to continue to refine the techniques for this size. Think they will be fairies????
Looking forward to the Wanda the Witch workshop

with the Whimsie Mamma Christy Meyers over at Artful Gathering.

Okay, so that's where I am at, Melbourne here I come, but need yo get off here and pack

Laters...............................Leanne