Upcoming ART DOLL QUARTERLY Challenge

  The next ART DOLL QUARTERLY Challenge is HAUNTED FAIRY TALES.  The challenge is to put a haunted twist on a fairy tale character.  This challenge has me excited as fairy tales and Halloween are two loves of mine. As an elementary teacher, I always enjoyed fairy tales with my students.  The deadline is March 15th, so I feel I have plenty of time to be creative!  Today I started my first haunted fairy tale character. 

Saint Nicholas

A Christmas creation I made for myself!

Edith Flack Ackley

          I treated myself to a wonderful Christmas present.  It is a book written by Edith Flack Ackley titled DOLLS TO MAKE FOR FUN AND PROFIT.  Edith wrote the book in 1938.  She writes in a simple delightful way with her love of dolls abundant throughout the book. 
     In her book, Edith provides patterns for dolls ranging in size from eight inches, thirteen inches, fourteen inches, and fifteen and a half inches. Her cloth doll patterns are basic and the size could easily be adapted.  She also provides some simple costume patterns.
     I love to collect doll books and Edith's book is a wonderful addition to my collection.  Her love of doll making speaks to my heart.  Perhaps I will use one of her doll patterns and adapt it with a clay face.  Or maybe an Edith Flack Ackley doll is just what my little granddaughter Eliza needs! 
     Pictured below is a photo from the book featuring Edith and some of her doll creations.

SNEAK PEEK

     Meet Rachel Wall, the first American woman pirate.  She is off to enter the ART DOLL QUARTERLY Pirate Challenge.  Rachel is sculpted from paper clay and is trimmed in vintage fabrics.  I'll be able to post full photos after the challenge!

Self Portrait Doll

I am happy my Self Portrait doll "Lori" was published in the November 2017 issue of ART DOLL QUARTERLY for the Self Portrait doll challenge.  My doll is titled SIMPLE PLEASURES.  She is created from paper clay.She represents my love of the simple things in life and holds an antique silver thimble filled with flowers from my Iowa gardens and a yoyo quilt fashioned from vintage fabrics.

Peg Leg Joe, the Pirate Kitty

Peg Leg Joe studies his map leading to untold treasures. He is a paper clay kitty which I sculpted and dressed in mulberry papers with vintage trims. He measures approximately 7 inches tall as he dances upon his box of treasures.  Peg Leg Joe is headed off to the Art Doll Quarterly pirate challenge.  Wish him luck!

Pirate In Process

     I am progressing ever so slowly......Some color is being added to my pirate Rachel Wall! Yikes, she needs some clothes!

LADY PIRATE

PIRATE IN PROGRESS

My lady pirate began to come to life today.  She is being created from a wire armature and paper clay.  Her base is a brass ship's anchor.  She is being created for an upcoming  ART DOLL QUARTERLY challenge.

Self Portrait

SNEAK PEEK!

     I am excited to be working on a self portrait for the upcoming ART DOLL QUARTERLY challenge.  Here is a photo of my self portrait in progress.

Mary Anne

I created this doll for Mary Anne, my best friend since the age of 3.  We shared our childhood with the world of dolls and forts.