WITCH CRAFTS

WITCH CRAFTS

Monday, December 31, 2012

Day of the Dead Mermaid

I just finished my "DOD" Mermaid:
She was a lot of fun to make, and a challenge. I've never soft-sculpted a rib cage before.

Thursday, December 20, 2012

"DEAD" MERMAID IN PROGRESS

I've been slowing down a bit these past 2 months, working on other things. But, I have started on a new "Day of the Dead" Mermaid commissioned piece for a friend.

Here are the pieces I've finished:
 
Needle-sculpting the chest/rib cage was something new for me. She's going to have yarn hair and a flower lei when she gets finished.

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

New "Madame" & another Can Can Skeleton

I just finished a "Madame" doll, commissioned by a friend.

 
I gave her a black feather boa before I sent her off.
 
Plus, I finished another "Dead" Can Can dancer:
 

 
I don't have any plans for these dead dancers. I'm just playing around in the studio. After working so hard to finish the dolls for the Houston Quilt show, I'm kicking back and having fun. (I'm also getting a lot of cleaning done around the house & studio.)


Monday, November 12, 2012

MINI "DEAD" DANCERS

I know it's after Halloween & Day of the Dead, but I was playing around with these little plastic skeletons (from the dollar store). I was posing them, and making them dance on the table, so I decided to make some Can-Can Dancers.

LOVE the Can-Can! I love the costumes and the fun dance poses they are in."Moulin Rouge" -(both versions- the 1952 John Houston, and the newer 2001 Baz Luhrmann films) are favorite movies.

Here's a work-in-process. I have to cut up the skeleton and hot-glue it back together. I glue a wire up the supporting leg, up the spine, all the way to the head to support her. I started painting her (I'm only painting the parts that show):
 
These skeletons are about 5-1/2 inches tall. Here's a finished one. (I put my hand in the photo for scale.)


 
I plan to make a whole chorus of them. Fun, but a little creepy, huh?

Thursday, October 18, 2012

MORE CANDLESTICK DOLLS

I just finished these last 2 candlestick dolls to go to the Houston Quilt show.

Here is a "Glamour Witch" Diva. She is the first witch I've done with pale skin.-- Usually, I prefer green skin for my witches. (Does that sound racist??)


 
My other doll is something new for me: a male Day of the Dead figure.
 
 
Most male figures I've seen are either grooms or Mariachi musicians, neither of which are very colorful - they're both dressed in black. So, I came up with this costume to complement my other DOD Catrina I made:
 
 


Don't they make a cute couple? They look like they're ready for a Sunday promenade!

Monday, October 15, 2012

NEW CANDLESTICK DOLL

I just finished another "Candlestick Diva" doll. I call her "VAMP DIVA". She's based very much in the Art Deco period - very Erte, yes? (Erte was a popular illustrator in the teens, 20's & 30's -- do a search of his name.)
 

She has false eyelashes -- which I love to add to the eyes. I don't do the eyelashes too often, as they are fragile, and don't ship too well. I really have to glue them down with several coats.

 

Thursday, October 11, 2012

New Catrina

Finished a new "Catrina" candlestick doll:

 
She's very "girl-y" with her spring colors, no?
 
Okay, back to work. I have 2 more candlestick "Divas" in the works. These are all going to the Houston Quilt show at the end of the month.

Friday, October 5, 2012

WITCH DOLL

Here's a new Candlestick doll, "DEFY GRAVITY". It's based on the Elphaba character from the show "Wicked". This is the powerful moment in the show where Elphaba makes the life-changing decision to "defy gravity", not wait for people to accept her & start living the life she has dreamed. She emotionally, and quite literally, FLIES!

 
I got the idea for this character when I was pulled out all my candlesticks that I've been collecting all year. This one was the tallest of the bunch, and very gothic looking. I've not used this candlestick before, because I thought it was too tall for one of my dolls. That's when I got the idea to use it for this character, as she is floating high above the stage when she is singing this number.
 
This doll was a challenge for me, as an open-mouth on a cloth face is very difficult. I was able to add a little dimension to it with some needle-sculpting and building up layers of paint.

Thursday, September 27, 2012

DAY OF THE DEAD FRIDA

I just finished a new Day of the Dead Frida Kahlo candlestick doll. I'm getting dolls ready for the Houston Quilt Show at the end of Oct.

Monday, September 10, 2012

GOBLIN ART

I JUST MADE THIS WONDERFULLY CREEPY, LITTLE GOBLIN ARTIFACT. IT LOOKS LIKE A FOSSIL OF A GOBLIN, OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. IT'S MADE FROM CHEAP PLASTIC HALLOWEEN ITEMS I GOT AT THE DOLLAR STORE (GOTTA LOVE THE DOLLAR STORE!!).
THE BASE IS A 5" x 7" CANVAS BOARD.
 
I MADE THIS PIECE BY FOLLOWING A FANTASTIC TUTORIAL, BY AN AMAZING & CREATIVE ARTIST: MARILYN GIRLING FROM CANADA.
 
IT'S REALLY EASY, AND I DID IT IN ABOUT AN HOUR (WELL, 2 HOURS, IF YOU COUNT THE DRYING TIME).
 
MARILYN HAS AN INCREDIBLE BLOG, AND OFFERS LOTS OF TUTORIALS. MAKE SURE TO CHECK HER OUT:
HER BLOG IS HERE
THIS TUTORIAL IS HERE
***************************
 
THIS PAST WEEKEND, IN ALBUQUERQUE, THERE WAS A SMALL ART FESTIVAL. LOTS OF VENDORS SELLING HAND-MADE ART, PLUS FOOD, GAMES & MUSIC. BUT, THE BEST PART WAS A PERFORMANCE BY A TRIBAL BELLY DANCE GROUP, CALLED THE "ROGUE BINDIES".  (I LOVE TRIBAL DANCING - THE COSTUMES ARE SO WONDERFUL)
 


 
 THIS WOMAN HAS THE MOST AMAZING TATTOOS ON HER BACK! I'M SURE SHE DESIGNED HER TOP JUST TO SHOW IT OFF:
 

 
I'M GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE A FULL LENGTH TRIBAL DOLL ONE OF THE DAYS.......
 
 


Thursday, September 6, 2012

MORE FORTUNE TELLERS

HERE'S MORE PHOTOS OF MY STUDENTS' WORK FROM MY FORTUNE TELLER CLASS.
THIS IS BY ROBIN KRATKY:
 
 
THESE ARE MORE DOLLS BY ROBIN, USING MY "FAIRY GODMOTHER" PATTERN:
 


ISN'T SHE CLEVER?

HAVE FUN!

Thursday, August 30, 2012

NEW PATTERN

 
 I'VE JUST FINISHED A NEW PATTERN, "MADAME ROSA, FORTUNE TELLER", BASED ON MY RECENT CLASS OF THE SAME DOLL.
 
THE PATTERN INCLUDES INSTRUCTIONS FOR BOTH THE DOLL & THE FORTUNE TELLER'S BOOTH.
 
THIS SAMPLE IS MADE FROM FABRICS & TRIMS FROM "TREASURES OF THE GYPSY". IT WILL TRAVEL WITH PAMELA TO SHOW IN HER BOOTH. IF YOU'RE GOING TO THE HOUSTON QUILT SHOW IN NOVEMBER, MAKE SURE TO STOP BY THE "GYPSY" BOOTH AND SAY "HI" TO PAMELA FOR ME.

THIS PATTERN IS AVAILABLE ON MY WEBSITE FOR $13.25 HERE.

Monday, August 6, 2012

FORTUNE TELLER CLASS

I JUST GOT BACK FROM AUSTIN TX, WHERE I TAUGHT THE "GYPSY FORTUNE TELLER" CLASS. EVERYONE OF MY STUDENTS DID A GREAT JOB. ONCE AGAIN, I FORGOT MY CAMERA, BUT ONE STUDENT SENT ME HER FINISHED DOLL:

THIS IS BY MARLENE SLOBIN:

THE LADIES HAD SO MUCH FUN ADDING THE EMBELLISHMENTS & JEWELRY TO THEIR GYPSY DOLLS. ON THE LAST DAY, WE MADE THE BOOTH FOR THE DOLL TO SIT IN.

Friday, July 20, 2012

NEW CANDLESTICK DOLL

I'M GETTING READY TO GO TO "ALL DOLLS ARE ART" CONFERENCE IN TEXAS NEXT WEEK. I MADE A NEW CANDLESTICK DIVA TO SELL. HER NAME IS "TRIBAL DIVA". SHE IS BASED ON THE TRIBAL/FUSION BELLY DANCERS.

I'VE SEEN THIS NEW FORM OF BELLY DANCE PERFORMED, & I LOVE IT. THE COSTUMES TEND TO BE MORE ETHNIC THAN THE TRADITIONAL CABARET-STYLE BELLY DANCE.



I'VE CONTINUED THE COSTUME PAST THE TOP EDGE OF THE CANDLESTICK. THIS IS THE FIRST CANDLESTICK I'VE MADE THAT HAS A FULL SKIRT ON IT. (USUALLY I STOP THE COSTUME AT THE HIPS AND HANG BEADS & FRINGE ON THE EDGE OF THE CANDLESTICK.)

Sunday, July 1, 2012

MORE MERMAIDS

AFTER VIEWING MY POST OF MY "MERMAID" CLASS IN ALBUQUERQUE, A STUDENT FROM THE SAME CLASS I TAUGHT IN SAN JOSE SENT ME HER FINISHED MERMAID.

THIS IS BY STEPHANIE SMITH:


SHE'S SO COLORFUL! GREAT JOB STEPHANIE.

Monday, June 25, 2012

MERMAID CLASS

I WANTED TO SHARE THE MERMAID DOLLS MY STUDENTS MADE DURING THE CREATIONS-IN-FIBER CONFERENCE.

MOST OF THESE DOLLS WERE MADE TO HANG ON THE WALL, SO THEY LOOK A BIT ODD LYING ON A TABLE.

(MY APOLOGISES TO THE LADIES I DIDN'T GET A DOLL PHOTO -- PLEASE SEND ME A PHOTO SO I CAN POST IT)









I AM SO PROUD OF ALL YOU LADIES-- EVERYONE IS SO CREATIVE & TALENTED! I COULDN'T HAVE ASKED FOR A BETTER GROUP OF STUDENTS.

Monday, June 11, 2012

SHOW GIRL

JUST FINISHED THIS "SHOWGIRL" DOLL. IT'S A COMMISSIONED PIECE FOR A FRIEND OF MINE (WHO HAS BEEN WAITING FOR 2 YEARS!!! -- SO SORRY NANCY!)



IT DIDN'T REALLY TAKE ME TWO YEARS TO MAKE HER, -- IT JUST TOOK ME TWO YEARS TO FIND THE TIME TO MAKE HER!

SO, I'M GETTING READY TO GO TO THE "CIFI" CONVENTION, AND HAVE THESE DOLLS SITTING ON MY TABLE, READY TO BE PACKED. ---- WHAT AN ECLECTIC GROUPING THEY MAKE!

Friday, June 8, 2012

SEA HAG FINISHED

RACING TOWARDS A DEADLINE, I GOT THE "SEA HAG" PRETTY MUCH FINISHED. THERE'S LOTS MORE I'D LIKE TO ADD, BUT WILL DO THAT LATER, IF TIME PERMITS.

HERE'S THE FINISHED COAT. IT'S MADE OF SEVERAL LAYERS OF SHEER METALLIC FABRICS, NETTING AND LACES, WITH AN OLIVE SCRIM FABRIC OVER EVERYTHING (PLUS, "TENDRILS" OF SCRIM HANGING ALL OVER.)


IF I HAVE TIME, I'LL GO BACK AND "DIRTY" IT UP & AGE IT A BIT. (MUCH TO CLEAN FOR AN OLD HAG!)

HERE SHE IS, ALL DRESSED:



YES, I KNOW, --- SHE LOOKS A LOT LIKE THE OLD CRONE FROM DISNEY'S "SNOW WHITE" (ALL SHE NEEDS IS A POISON APPLE). BUT-- THAT WAS NOT MY INTENTION. OH WELL........

SHE'S NOT COMPLETELY FINISHED. I STILL HAVE TO ADD LOTS OF "WITCH-ERY" THINGS HANGING HERE AND THERE. SHE NEEDS SOME PENDANTS, AND SOME POTIONS HANGING FROM HER BELT. ALSO, I'D LIKE TO ADD SOME SEA SHELLS AND HANG BITS OF SEA WEED ALL OVER HER -- TO DISTINGUISH HER AS A "SEA HAG", RATHER THAN YOUR AVERAGE FOREST CRONE/WITCH