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Sunday, July 7, 2013

Khuhula-Akiki: A Creative Companion

 
Khuhula-Akiki
Body approximately 10" H without hanger
 
 
 
So I know I've been off the circuit for quite awhile but plan on sharing my work with you a lot more often and will complete my previous post on my most favorite way of pattern making.
 
In the meantime, here is one of my most recent creations.
 
Khuhula-Akiki is a primitive, tribal African fertility goddess. 
 
She is a totem, a talisman to be used in all things creative . She gives birth to creative ideas and does away with creative blocks. Keep her nearby to keep an endless source of creative rivers flowing through you.
 
Made in a swap where we were challenged to use all 10 items that were sent to us. This is what I received. Everything was used. Nothing was spared. 
 



 
 

The lesson for me was to use the mundane ordinary things in our everyday lives that normally would get tossed away and incorporate them into our creations instead.  It reminded me there is an endless source of materials and inspiration all around us that we overlook everyday. What do you have nearby?
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
You can see the little clay face peering over the gourd baby.
 
 
The wooden piece below acts as a spirit guide to the spirit guide. (I wondered who guides our spirit guides who guides us. Did you ever think of that?) I personally feel the path to reaching them is through out hearts. Their messages and divine guidance always come from a place of love. Maybe a little sappy; but, that's basically how I see it.
 
You can see another two pieces used here: one of the golden balls which reminds me of golden pearls (of wisdom, insights, inspirational gems, whatever you want them to be) and the cloth shoe-like ribbon which was used to make a hanger and an accessory that hangs from her headpiece.  



 The three leaves and another golden pearl adorn the upper corner of her headpiece.
 

 
Wine colored ribbon wraps around her body. You can see more of the golden pearls strung through the hanger and side headpiece accessory.
 

 

Sunday, December 4, 2011

Enter the 2012 Hoffman Challenge!



The fabrics for the 2012 challenge have been announced; and, they capture all the old time romance you may find during beautiful Spring walks with fancy umbrellas or on hot Summer picnic days.

I have to admit I haven't entered these past two years; although, I had every intention to do so.  I'm already starting to prepare now to make sure I have enough time to get everything finished.  I strongly suggest you give it a try, if you haven't already.  What I love about this challenge is it gives everyone the opportunity to have their work exhibit in a traveling show, which is exciting - nationally or internationally. 

A couple of things to remember if you enter:
  • Your work cannot be delicately made because it will be traveling with everyone else's dolls.  The dolls are packaged in a few big bins; but, there is really no room to give special treatment to any one of them. 
  • The stand needs to be strong.  Use a really strong dowel because you don't want it to snap. I've heard many people have had a lot of success with this...Otherwise, try break line from an auto parts store. It's a strong, but very light, piece of metal that comes in different diameters, just like the dowels. You'll need something to cut it down to size.  There is a bolt (male end) at one end of the break line which gets inserted into the 7" wooden base.  You'll  need to drill a larger hole through so you can insert a lock nut (female end) at the bottom and attach the two.  Put a lock nut in the bottom of the wooden base. Then, screw the two together. 
  • Label your doll with your name and address on the bottom of the base so they know who to send it back to and make sure you include the check for return s/h. I always forget this step and have to reopen the box again right before it gets shipped.
  • There are other rules you can read, not too many, by going to their site; but, these are the ones that really stand out in my mind. I have a "Challenges" tab at the top of this blog that you can refer to for easy reference any time. 
Here is a picture of all the fabrics in this year's collection.  The one above is the main fabric that needs to be used for the challenge.  You can buy these fabrics at Quilt Kits Online.  Type in "Hoffman 2012 Challenge" in their search bar.  Hope to see your entries!

Lavender - J8671 70


Lavender - J8672 70


Lavender - J8673 70


Lavender - J8674 70


Lavender - J8675 70


Lavender Pearl - J9000 70P


White Pearl - J9000 3P


Pink Pearl - J9000 12P

Sand Pearl - J9000 62P


Purple Pearl - J9000 14P



Monday, September 5, 2011

Pattern Making: Part 2: Finding Your Face and Putting It Together

 
Photo by Gloria von Gesslein
aka Mrs. Art Doll Maker
Hoffman background fabric hand painted ocean woodland teal between golden scrolls
Additional details - see picture below


Okay, I'm really behind schedule...BUT!...I didn't forget!  Sometimes you just need to step back and focus on other things before you return to what you were doing before.  My sincere apologies.

So, this post will pick up where we left off from Pattern Making: Part 1 - Creating Outlandish Figures:

  • Sew and stuff the soon-to-be-but-I-really-don't-know-what-it-is-yet creature
  • Finding your face - a very easy technique
  • Pics of other WIPs developed from this technique, which is my all-time favorite way of making art dolls
Ready?  Here we go!



All art dolls range from 8" - 20" in height.


Photo by Gloria von Gesslein
aka Mrs. Art Doll Maker
Hoffman fabric enhanced with embellishments
Face - hand painted clay face from push mold
Hair - attached feathers


Photo by Gloria von Gesslein
aka Mrs. Art Doll Maker
Hoffman fabric


Photo by Gloria von Gesslein
aka Mrs. Art Doll Maker
Hoffman background fabric hand painted black between golden scrolls
Face - hand painted clay face from push mold
and Hoffman remant fabrics using fabric stiffener



Photo by Gloria von Gesslein
aka Mrs. Art Doll Maker
Hoffman background fabric hand painted candy purple between golden scrolls


Photo by Gloria von Gesslein
aka Mrs. Art Doll Maker
Hoffman background fabric hand painted yellow between golden scrolls
Face - hand painted and gessoed


Photo by Gloria von Gesslein
aka Mrs. Art Doll Maker
Wrond side of Hoffman fabric used for body
Face - hand painted and gessoed


Photo by Gloria von Gesslein
aka Mrs. Art Doll Maker
Wrong side of Hoffman fabric used for face
and
Right side of same fabric used for body


Photo by Gloria von Gesslein
aka Mrs. Art Doll Maker
info same as above picture


Photo by Gloria von Gesslein
aka Mrs. Art Doll Maker
Hoffman fabric enhanced with embellishments
Face - hand painted clay face from a push mold
Hair - attached feathers


Photo by Gloria von Gesslein
aka Mrs. Art Doll Maker
Hoffman background fabric hand painted candy purple between golden scrolls
Face - Remants of Hoffman fabric, both right and wrong sides used
with 2 crystal button eyes


Photo by Gloria von Gesslein
aka Mrs. Art Doll Maker
Hoffman background fabric hand painted candy fuschia pink
and lime grasshopper mint green between golden scrolls
Handpainted and gessoed face


Photo by Gloria von Gesslein
aka Mrs. Art Doll Maker
Hoffman background fabric hand painted ocean woodland teal between golden scrolls
Handpainted face with attached human false eyelashes
Arms, legs, tail - Additional Hoffman fabric remnants


Photo by Gloria von Gesslein
aka Mrs. Art Doll Maker
Hoffman background fabric hand painted bright azul liquid sky blue between golden scrolls
Vintage pearls with 1 handpainted gold
Face gessoed and hand painted