WITCH CRAFTS

WITCH CRAFTS

Sunday, December 4, 2011

Craft show

I DID A LOCAL CRAFT SHOW LAST WEEKEND, AT THE MONTE VISTA SCHOOL. I WANTED TO MAKE SOME SMALL PRICED ITEMS TO SELL. SO, I CAME UP WITH THESE EXOTIC "TURKISH" PINCUSHIONS:

MOST PEOPLE DIDN'T UNDERSTAND THEY WERE PINCUSHIONS - JUST "SQUAT-TY" DOLLS WITH NO FEET!

HERE ARE SOME  BUBBLING CAULDRON PINCUSHIONS LEFT OVER FROM HALLOWEEN:



HERE I AM WITH MY FRIEND, KIT STEIN -- WHO MAKES WONDERFUL HOMEMADE SOAPS & HAND CREMES. TO SAVE MONEY, WE DECIDED TO SHARE A TABLE TOGETHER. AS YOU CAN SEE, I MADE SOME MORE SOX MONSTER DOLLS, AND BROUGHT ALONG SOME CATRINA & DIVA DOLLS TO SELL.



Sunday, November 20, 2011

ART BOX CHALLENGE

8 MONTHS AGO, 7 MIXED MEDIA ARTISTS GOT TOGETHER FOR AN "ART BOX" ROUND ROBIN. WE ARE A GROUP OF FRIENDS THAT MEET AT THE STAMP & PAPER SHOP, "CHINA PHOENIX 2" FOR A WEEKLY "OPEN STUDIO DAY", HERE IN ABQ, NM.

THE CHALLENGE WAS TO GET A BOX, DECORATE IT,  AND PICK A THEME FOR YOUR BOX. EACH BOX WAS PASSED AROUND EVERY MONTH, SO EACH ARTIST CREATED A WORK OF ART FOR EACH OF THE BOXES. EACH ARTIST HAD TO CREATE ART THAT WENT WITH THE THEME OF THE BOX THEY WERE GIVEN.

THE THEME I PICKED FOR MY BOX WAS "PANDORA'S BOX". THE IDEA WAS FOR EACH ARTIST TO CREATE SOMETHING ABOUT ALL THE EVILS HELD IN PANDORA'S BOX THAT SHE LET LOOSE ON THE WORLD.

MY HOPE WAS THAT EVERYONE WOULD MAKE SOME REAL "CREEPY" ART WORK --  THEY DIDN'T DISAPPOINT!

SO, HERE'S THE BOX I MADE:
IT'S MADE FROM A WOODEN BOX I FOUND AT HOBBY LOBBY. IT ALREADY HAD THE LATCHES, BRASS CORNERS, AND HANDLE. I ADDED THE (FALSE) KEY HOLE, STUDS, & "STRAPPING" (MADE OF FOLDED TEXTURE PAPER). I APPLIED VARIEGATED GOLD LEAF, STAINED WITH MANY LAYERS OF BLUES & GREENS.

AND, THE INSIDE, WITH SOME OF THE ARTWORK SPILLING OUT:

THIS PIECE WAS MADE BY NANCY HINES, A FIBER ARTIST, AND A POET. ON THE BOTTOM IS THE GOLD CORD THAT THE BOX OF EVIL WAS WRAPPED IN, AND A DEMON SPEWING THE TROUBLES & SORROWS OUT OF HIS MOUTH. NANCY
 COLLAGE-ED  MANY ELEMENTS OF FIBER, YARNS, METALLIC THREADS, PAINT & PAPER.


THIS PIECE WAS MADE BY KIT STEIN, DEPICTING PANDORA HOLDING THE BOX'S KEY, AND THE HOPE, (WHICH STILL LIES AT THE BOTTOM OF THE BOX). KIT USED LOTS OF TEXTURES WITH PAPER & GAUZE, & COMBINED MANY ELEMENTS OF STAMPED IMAGES, PAINT, JEWELS, & FABRIC.


NEXT, FROM ELIZABETH FORBES,  A STAMP ARTIST,  THE SIN OF "VANITY" -- AND, HOW, NO MATTER HOW BEAUTIFUL YOU ARE, YOU CAN'T TAKE IT WITH YOU! LIZ USED A COMBINATION OF STAMPS, EMBOSSING POWDERS & JEWELS FOR HER IMAGE, ALONG WITH A PIECE OF ROTTING VELVET SHAWL, DISTRESSED PAPER TRIM, AND VINTAGE BEADED TRIM ON THE EDGE (I LOVE THAT SOME BEADS ARE MISSING!)

THIS PIECE IS BY NANCY YOSHIMOTO, A WONDERFUL STAMP & PAINT ARTIST (AND, OWNER OF "CHINA PHOENIX 2"). HER PIECE DEPICTS PANDORA OPENING THE BOX, AND THE 7 DEADLY SINS ESCAPING. NANCY SAID SHE WANTED TO USE A COLOR SCHEME THAT WAS PURPOSELY "UGLY & DISTURBING".

NANCY KREISHER, BOTH A MIXED MEDIA & DOLL ARTIST, MADE THIS PIECE TITLED, "JUST A PEEK". NANCY CREATED LOTS OF TEXTURE WITH TISSUE PAPERS & PAINT. ONE STORY OF PANDORA STATES SHE HAD A JAR (NOT A BOX), SO NANCY INCLUDED A DIMENSIONAL MASON JAR HOLDING IMAGES OF EVIL.

HERE'S A PIECE BY STAMP ARTIST CHERYL VALADEZ, TITLED "SEVEN DEADLY SINS"  REPRESENTING: WRATH, GREED, SLOTH, PRIDE, LUST, ENVY, & GLUTTONY. SHE ASKS THE QUESTION: "WHICH SIN IS YOUR FAVORITE?" CHERYL LOVES LAYERING STAMPED IMAGES, WITH LOTS OF DIAMOND GLAZE & GLITTER FOR ACCENT.

AND, LASTLY, HERE'S MY PIECE FOR MY BOX. IT'S AN IMAGE OF AN EVIL SPIRT FLOATING OUT INTO THE WORLD. I WANTED TO USE A TECHNIQUE FROM A MAGAZINE, USING GAUZE, GLUE, & PAINT TO CREATE A "SPIRIT" IMAGE.


Monday, November 14, 2011

NEW DOLL FOR "AMBER WAVES" CLASS

I MADE A NEW SAMPLE DOLL FOR MY "AMBER WAVES" CLASS IN OHIO NEXT YEAR. THIS ONE IS ON A CANDLESTICK (INSTEAD OF POPPING OUT OF A CAKE).

Thursday, November 3, 2011

CANDLESTICK DOLLS

HERE ARE 2 CANDLESTICK DOLLS I MADE TO SELL AT THE HOUSTON QUILT SHOW.
"AUTUMN"




"SPRING"



Tuesday, November 1, 2011

NEW PATTERN

THE "FAIRY GODMOTHER" IS FINSIHED AS A NEW PATTERN (AVALIBLE HERE).

I MADE SOME CHANGES IN HER FACE, AND BOUGHT A WIG FOR HER (INSTEAD OF MAKING ONE MYSELF).
HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Friday, October 28, 2011

MORE WITCHES

I'VE BEEN REAL BUSY GETTING DOLLS FINISHED TO GO TO THE HOUSTON QUILT SHOW. YOU CAN SEE MY DOLLS AT THE "TREASURES OF THE GYPSY" BOOTH. SAY "HI" TO MY PAL PAMELA WHEN YOU'RE THERE.

HERE'S A WITCH HEAD I FINISHED FROM MY CLASS A FEW WEEKS AGO:
FUNNY, SHE HAS PURPLE FEATHER HAIR, BUT MY CAMERA MADE IT LOOK BLUE?

HERE'S A DAY-OF-THE-DEAD WITCH ("LA BRUJA") FOR THE TOME GALLERY IN LOS LUNAS, NM:
HER BASE IS A BLACK CANDLESTICK. (SORRY ABOUT THE BAD PHOTOS -- I HAVEN'T LEARNED THE TRICK TO PHOTOGRAPH BLACK AGAINST WHITE - BUT SHE'S ALL CLOTH- INCLUDING THE SKULL & HANDS)



Monday, October 3, 2011

WITCH CLASS

I TAUGHT A "WITCH HEAD" CLASS THIS PAST WEEKEND AT "CHINA PHOENIX 2" STAMP/PAPER STORE.

I MADE SOME SAMPLE HEADS TO DEMONSTRATE EACH OF THE STEPS. THIS HEAD I SCULPTED IN CLASS:

THIS HEAD I USED TO DEMONSTRATE PAINTING:

THIS HEAD I ALMOST FINISHED IN CLASS. MY FRIEND, EMMA, TOOK THE CLASS AND ENDED UP BUYING THIS HEAD, SO I TOOK IT HOME TO FINISH IT UP FOR HER:

HERE ARE SOME OF THE STUDENT'S WORK:

HEY, ANYONE HAVE THE CLASS GROUP PHOTO? EMAIL IT TO ME!

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

TEATRO DE LOS MUERTOS




JUST FINISHED THIS TODAY. TOTAL HEIGHT IS 21". THE LITTLE SKELETON PUPPETS ARE 5" TALL.


Tuesday, September 27, 2011

NEW PUPPET DOLL IN PROGRESS

I'M WORKING ON A NEW DOLL, TITLED "TEATRO DE LOS MUERTOS" (THEATER OF THE DEAD). IT'S INSPIRED BY THE WONDERFUL WORK OF DOLL ARTIST NANCY WILEY.

HERE'S THE BASIC CATRINA BODY, WITH HEAD & ARMS PINNED ON, AND THE HAND-PAINTED BACKDROP FOR THE PUPPETS:


HERE, I'VE ADDED THE SKIRT WITH TRIMS. THE WRITING ON THE BACKDROP SAYS "LA GUERRA ENTRE EL BIEN Y EL MAL" (THE WAR BETWEEN GOOD AND EVIL), WHICH IS THE NAME OF THE PUPPET PLAY THE CATRINA IS PERFORMING.


THE LITTLE SKELETON PUPPETS ARE MADE OF WIRE & PAPER CLAY:


HERE'S THE BODICE & SLEEVES FINISHED:

Saturday, September 24, 2011

NEW CATRINAS

I JUST FINISHED 2 MORE CATRINAS FOR THE TOME' GALLERY IN LOS LUNAS, NM. THEY ARE HAVING A "DAY OF THE DEAD" SHOW AT THE END OF OCTOBER.

Sunday, September 4, 2011

FAIRY GODMOTHER

OKAY, SHE'S PRETTY MUCH FINISHED. I PINNED SOME HAIR ON HER HEAD, TO GET AN IDEA. THE WIG SHOULD BE COMING NEXT WEEK.

Friday, September 2, 2011

NEW DOLL - FAIRY GODMOTHER

I'VE STARTED A NEW DOLL - A FAIRY GODMOTHER. I'M MAKING THIS FOR A CLASS PROPOSAL FOR NEXT SUMMER.

HERE'S THE BASIC BODY -- THE LEGS ARE CUT "IN ONE" WITH THE TORSO.


ADDED BLOOMERS & A PETTICOAT MADE OF COARSE NETTING.

HERE I'VE ADDED 2 SKIRTS -- AN UNDERSKIRT OF LIME SATIN, AND AN OVER SKIRT OF A SPIDERWEB NETTING IN GREEN WITH FLECKS OF METALLIC AND COLORED YARNS IN IT (VERY COOL FABRIC - I FOUND IT YEARS AGO AT HOBBY LOBBY, I THINK.)

HERE I'VE ADDED SOME HIP "POUFS" (THE CORRECT NAME ARE "PANNIERS" - IT'S FRENCH!) IN AN ORANGE ORGANDY. THE BODICE IS OF ORANGE SATIN WITH A FRONT INSERT (IT'S CALLED A "STOMACHER") THAT I'VE LAYERED WITH AN OVERLAY OF SOME GREEN SHEER SEQUIN RIBBON, AND ADDED SOME CRISS-CROSS LACING. ALSO ADDED SOME GATHERED ORANGE LACE AROUND HER WAIST.

--SHE'S GETTING VERY ROUND AND PUFFY!

SORRY -- I WAS IN THE "ZONE" AND FORGOT TO STOP AND TAKE SOME MORE PHOTOS OF THE BODICE IN PROGRESS.

I'VE SEWN THE ARMS ON, AND ADDED THE SLEEVES, MADE OF THE SAME ORGANDY AS THE HIP POUFS. I'M WORKING ON THE PATTERN FOR HER CROWN THAT I'VE PINNED TO HER HEAD.

NEXT, I HAVE TO DO THE NEEDLE-SCULPTING AND PAINTING OF THE FACE, AND ADD A WIG.

Friday, August 26, 2011