Cloth Paper Scissors DOLL

Did you see the crazy wacky doll pattern in the latest copy of Cloth Paper Scissors? Well I am not a doll maker... but I do love funky looking women...have done a lot of art quilts with funky unique women featured so I just had to try and make this doll. The pieces are long and skinny and very hard to turn. She lost her thumbs in the turning process. If I thought turning the pieces inside out was hard...stuffing them was even harder...and then trying to slip stitch up the holes and still keep the stuffing in was another unique experience. After stuffing you paint her. The paint soaks into your fabric...and it takes for ever to dry. But the finished pieces are wonderful...I see so many different characters. I see adjusting the pattern for different shaped women. There are so many possibilities.

Here is my first effort...still needs a face, her clothing, and her body connected:

My suggestions for the future:
* I would replace the side opening for turning on arms and legs to the top area where they are connected....those side openings are really tough to slipstitch closed and keep the stuffing from hanging out.
* I would paint with gesso before adding a paint cover...less soaking in of paint. (I am also thinking why not use the fabric the color you want the doll in the first place?)

She is a real cutie...so I recommend if you get the issue try it...you may become hooked.

the curse has been broken

The curse has been broken...the sewing room is now OPEN and messy again. I am doing a 12 by 12 art quilt class in February for our local Cultural Art Association. I have to have samples of what I hope to teach. I came up with a choice of sea creatures that they could use and have finished up one sample. I had to keep in mind that my students aren't art quilters, they don't do free motion stitching and they probably don't have a stash of fabrics to choose from. I am going to take my bags of GoodWill Clothing in as fabric choices for them to use. All they will need is a blue piece of background fabric. Now on to sample two. It is good to be back in the creative mood.