Hands can say a lot....

Every hand has a story to tell. One of the body parts that I love to watch. Be it a new born flexing those tiny fingers, or the gnarled hands that have worked the fields. A piano player, carpenter, dancer, an artist, you name it. There is an amazing story in each of us. Every movement creating a story.

So when this swap came up over at iATC's I wanted to join in. There is one other in this swap that I know of who's hands are as big as mine (just over 8"). That's impressive, I should have been a piano player. Hah! Destiny had other plans. So here they are.

All are collage papers, inks, markers, some trinkets.
...see, told ya I've been creative.

Wow! What a weekend...

I have two things to share with you today that kept me busy over at AFA from Friday to Sunday. The Great Goodie-A-Thon II that started at 5pm. This is where we posted images and traded with one another for goodies in our private stashes. So much to drool over, so many trades. Both events went until midnight Sunday.

A Learn-A-Thon that started at 12 noon. We were free to work on or practice on anything of our choosing. Some were trying out new things for the first time. And you could drop in at any time.

We worked on perfecting our mad skills, encouraged each other, had fun, and showed off what we did. Everyone worked on something different.

Here’s some of what we worked on and shared

Drawing techniques
Pergamano
Peeled paint backgrounds
Color wash on vintage papers
Friendly Plastic
CitraSolv and magazine backgrounds
Shaving cream/ food coloring backgrounds
Modeling paste on corrugated cardboard backgrounds
Brush strokes with Chinese water colors
Image transfers
Rubber stamping
Fabric cards
Collage

I worked with Friendly Plastic pellets and image transfers using Omni-Gel. First time working with these products. Had tons of fun discovering new things and chattin’ it up in the Learn-A-Thon. Will definitely do this again.

My Friendly Plastic adventures

Image transfers using Omni~Gel

Dolls...new and revisited

Well now, my hands have stopped itchin’,
for the moment at least.
Been itchin’ to create a new collection of dolls.

There is so much inspiration out there. Started on some plushies last month (finished those) but could not get the goddess dolls out of my mind...I used to create soft dolls and toys back in the day when my daughter was in her toddler stage and I was a stay at home mom. Life happened, the dolls were exchanged for other types of creations and I started working outside of the home.

This collection is called Create (that’s what the charm says). Simple, huh? Made to inspire creation for the one who holds her.

Each goddess is 7” tall with a beaded charm necklace.
Their faces are made of air dry clay with a third eye chakra for clarity.

The purple one was made for a personal trade,
and the others will be given as gifts.

The hair is a very soft chenille yarn. The fabric for the body was hand picked and printed from my computer using InkJetPrinting cotton sheets from Jacquard. I added a bit of sweet grass in the feet for healing and peace before sewing them closed.

So now I want to go into the archives to introduce you to some old friends...

The King and Queen, now there’s a pair.
He still likes to hold her hand.

They are 15 years old! See, told you it was back in the day. I made all kinds of dolls and toys then, but these are my absolute favorites. They are 24” tall. I did not design the body pattern, but I did design the matching costumes, hats, and sandals for them. The nose ring that the Queen wears is my original nose ring from 1974/75. Her dress is lined and her duster is reversible. She’s even wearing bloomers. *giggles* I wanted the King in the patterned costume. He wears a two piece set with a sash.

The hair is braided (Queen) and wrapped with gold ribbon to match. You may wonder why they have no faces… at the time they didn't need one, and they still don’t.

There are so many ideas running around in my head for more Goddess dolls. But I will give it some more time and get back at them soon.