New cloth doll pattern available

Meet Phoenix Dreamer, my latest cloth doll pattern. She was inspired by my love of all things Steampunk. That's reflected in the colors I've chosen and the Victorian patterns in the prints.

Once my artwork was published in Zen Doodle, I was motivated to get this design out to the world. it has taken far too long. But you know how life intervenes...

I wanted to create a costume for my Tilly pattern, which many of you may have. (It's a free pattern you get when you sign up for my newsletter) So I went about it in a whole new way: by draping. With this pattern, you'll be making the doll, (included in the pattern) and then draping her costume on her in a unique way. It's all based on rectangles and circles! Now I've got your interest, right?

The pattern is fully illustrated with diagrams and photos, with alternate ideas for shoes and boots. So, depending how adventurous you are, you can make boots in polymer clay, or ribbon shoes. You can order it from my Etsy store, Not Carved In Stone.

This pattern was also featured in an Etsy treasury! I am always thrilled when this happens, as it brings my work to a whole new audience. Here's the link to the Treasury. The curator is Jeans To Jewels.

Who else is into Steampunk?

What's your favourite color?

Mine is green. This guy began life a long time ago.  He was gong to be Oberon and I had him dressed all in woodland green. I loved his boots and his pants, but somehow, his costume didn't get much further than a shirt. So he sat. 

I also realized his head was too small. 

Then along came my interest in steampunk and he came to light again. You might say he stepped forward!  I could cure his too small head with a big hat! So I made a big hat. Nice!  Lots of hair and facial hair, enlarged his face and head. Success! I love it when a loose plan comes together. 

I had this green velvet and made him a frock coat. My friend Wendy had made a doll with a telescope, so I was inspired to add one to this guy. I call him Dr Scopic. I think ,keeping with my green theme made him successful. 

Does the green work for you?

Crank

Meet Crank. I finished him for the show I did last weekend. He didn't sell, so he's now for sale in my Etsy store. The show was a bust as far as sales go, even though I had fun wearing my steampunk costume and hanging out with Choleena.

This guy is small, almost 11", with the base. He has polymer clay head, hands and feet. I used flocking to add texture to his hat and shoes. I wanted that true eccentric/ mad scientist look. His pants are too big, he has altered himself with a mechanical eye. He's a crank, so look out! 

Steampunk fun!

This Saturday, I was a vendor at the Ottawa, Valley Crafts and Collectibles Show, along with my friend, artist Choleena DiTullio. Since we both love steampunk and had created art along the theme, we decided to dress the part.

 

I had created a corset and a bustle. Choleena had some fun antique jewellery for us to wear. I found a couple of vintage blouses to complete the outfits. We had a little rehearsal, organized our headgear and we were ready. I made a mini hat for a doll making demo I did last month. Choleena took it and gave it a makeover into a fascinator. 

Here are the results!

Here's a sample of Choleena's unique paper mosaics. 

Art journal

Here's another stage of my Steampunk Journal. I've been noodling away at these two pages this week. It is amazing what one more little doodle will do. I found this great quote from  Jules Verne. Which other author best represents the Steampunk genre?



Here's the other side of the page spread. I love this diver image. he's so underneath it all! I can't imagine wearing such gear and trusting it to keep me alive!



The creative process is alive and well! Making the substrate and then the book, began the journey. I've been journaling in purchased books until now. This adds another dimension! People ask, who are you doing this for? This is just for me! Hey, if someone wants to buy it, I'll sell it, but I am of the mind that I stretch myself best when I have no intention behind the work, other than to explore and do the work.

Do you journal? Would you sell it if asked?

Art Journal

My husband was away for a week. Not one to waste such an opportunity, I got out my paints. The dining table was covered with a picnic cloth and I laid out my freshly purchased sheets of water color paper. I was inspired by an article in Cloth, Paper, Scissors on how to prepare an art journal. Sorry, can't recall the author. It may have been Dawn deVries Sokol.

So I sprayed on paint, rolled and marked away, following the directions. I had in mind an art journal to celebrate Creativity, which you know is a favourite theme of mine, and then a steampunk Journal. You could have guessed, right? Enamoured with Steampunk, this journal will seek to answer the question: What is steampunk?

So above is a picture of the Steampunk journal in progress. It's primarily blues and steely grey. Then I decided to age the pages, so edged each one with Burnt Ochre. I've added various images, here you see a diver, I added steam trains and there will be some fashions too!!

The Creativity Journal is yellows and greens, with the odd butterfly and leaf to denote growth. Spring is coming, after all!

This will be such fun to complete. Now Hubby is home, the paints are away. I plan to stamp it this weekend, then get out my pens. Our doll club is having a morning of play, to work on whatever. Sculpting is planned, but maybe I'll take my journal...

Has anyone else been inspired to make a Journal like this?

Wordless Wednesday

Steampunk by Choleena DiTullio

Local artist at work, Choleena DiTullio

Exit Lobby of Canadian Tire at 330 Coventry Rd., Ottawa. The manager of that store loves art and has partnered with OSA to bring art to everyone needing car oil. On now until Mar. 5, 2013.

Choleena DiTullio is a friend and fellow West End Studio Tour artist. Her recent work using paper mosaic is just stunning. Choleena is also a steampunk fan, as am I! You'll see the influence in the picture above.

Here's a link to an article to tell you more about this innovative artist. Read about Choleena.

Steampunk jacket

Is this not the coolest jacket ever?? I'm all set if I should go to a steampunk event. meanwhile, I'll wear it anyway. it's sure to get noticed!! I love the period feel that it has!

Jacket by Top Shop, UK

Steampunk defined.

I had to share this video, since I am keen on the Steampunk aesthetic.

Exciting News To Share!

I am so excited. I had to share the news. Meet Dr Con Traption. Last month I sent him off to Columbus, Ohio for the Artistic Figures In Cloth Conference. He was part of a Steam Punk Challenge mounted by Doll Street, an online community.

Dr Con Traption and his Personal People Transporter won First Prize!! The dolls, 15 in all, were judged by The ladies from Dollmakers Journey. Second Prize went To Inez Brasch and People's Choice to Laura Lunsford.

All the dolls were fabulous. I wish Icould have been there myself. Maybe next time, in 2013!! My thanks to Judy Skeel, for organising the display and Cindy Sieving for organising AFIC.

Here's views of the back, showing the People Transporter and  aclose up of the front. he's needle felted and then dressed in a Cashmere suit. Paverpol fabric wings and metal found object contraption.

Flat doll challenge

Marie Antoinette

Here is the flat doll I am making for an online swap. The theme is Marie Antoinette. I had a lot of fun dressing her, using bits of sari fabric. She is on her way to the next swap partner now, for more trimmings.  I could have sold this doll last week!!

Mine has a steam punk theme and I have made one for myself, to see how it went. I am still deciding what to do with the chain. She will also lose the hair and get a helmet of some description.

Steam punk doll

I like the challenge of a flat doll. No fussing with detailed finishing or fit. Just put the idea into motion. This doll was jointed at the knees. I love the hair treatment and can't wait to see what happens next with that.

Flat doll #3

This is the last one to do. I need to add some shoes and accessories. her dress was made reversible!! So She may need extra shoes!! This is just like when I used to play with paper dolls! Confess: who played with paper dolls and loved it?
We are also creating some extra dolls, to send to our dolly friends Down Under, who were affected by the floods and quakes.