Hoffman Doll Finished!

And I will be paying for Express shipping. Again.

This is "Emmaline." She's made of original Doesuede fabric (some that I'd hoarded a number of years ago.)  She's 16 inches tall. I used Skor tape to make the fabric beads that embellish her bodice and skirt hem.

Hoffman Progress

Today's the absolute last day I can send my Hoffman Challenge doll Priority Mail and have her make the deadline. I still have so much to do on her. I'm pretty sure I'll be spending a small fortune to send her Express Mail...again. Thank goodness I pulled out the application form, or I wouldn't have known the deadline is much earlier this year!

 

In working on her costuming, I had absolutely no end goal in mind. I've just been adding pieces here and there and seeing where it goes. I'm quite happy with the fabric bead embellishment. I bought some Skor tape from Joggles, and thought using it to make beads would be far superior to using glue - what a mess that would have been! Before starting this doll, I'd been planning to have my grandson Ivan make a beaded necklace for his mommy, and had the epiphany about the tape while brainstorming this craft project. 

 

I'm not sure what I'll use for her hair yet, or what kind of shoes to give her. My next post should be the finished doll - check back again!

 

For any dollmakers with Hoffman dolls - please send photos to me at blueheron61@charter.net to have them featured on my dedicated Hoffman pages:

 http://www.blueherondolls.com/Hoffman%20Challenge.htm

Getting Started on my Hoffman Challenge Doll

My stay-at-home vacation starts today, and the next thing on today's to-do list is to get SOMETHING done on my Hoffman Challenge doll. So I've dug through my unfinished doll basket and pulled out one I think would work well and fit within the size limits.

I think this doll was started in 2008 (she never made it into the doll log/notebook I started when I first began my dollmaking adventure.)  She was intended to be a commission for someone, but the project fell through. You can see the Hoffman Challenge fabric on the left, and two coordinating fabrics as well.

Enough procrastinating!!!

Life Book 2013 July Lessons

Just finished this lesson today, taught by Tamara Laporte. I may still add a life ring to the boat, but am still thinking about it.

 This one by Jane Davies was really be out of the box for me! Not my favorite, but it's done.

This lesson presented by Danita. I had fun with watercolor paints - though I need TONS of practice. I ended up using some flesh color acrylic paint to touch up her face, and colored pencil to outline some of the elements.

This fun fast journal page was taught by Dina Wakley. Since taking this photo, I added a translucent yellowish border around the outer edge. The figure in the center was made from a home-made stencil, the silhouette from a Google image.

 

I finally finished this last lesson of July (in mid August). Taught by Jeanette Maisy House, I learned some new techniques. I really enjoyed this one.

 

More Art Journaling Explorations HERE

Helper Doll for ODACA Day

ODACA Day is at the end of the month in Washington DC, during the UFDC Convention. I won't be able to go this year, but have sent off a Helper Doll for the Luncheon raffle. I sent her a little late, because I suddenly remembered that she had no underpants - couldn't send her off in that condition! So I quickly made her some bloomers. I also added another row of wefted yarn to her hair to fill it out a little more. 

Happy Independence Day!

Wishing everyone a fun and SAFE July 4th. 

Don't get too crazy out there!

Effy Wild's Book of Days

Effy Wild, art journal maven extraordinaire, is opening the second session of Book of Days on Monday. She's offering a few free spots in the course, so visit her blog to read more, sign up, or a chance to win!

https://effy-wild.squarespace.com/blog/2013/6/27/its-giveaway-time-plus

Effy's also got a YouTube channel with lots of art candy: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxPRj6M-LaZaXCFdp3G7_9A

New Craftsy Classes - an on-going obsession

I've just signed up for a couple new Craftsy classes [as if I had all the free time in the world]: Quilt-as-you-go Patchwork Bags which looks fun and easy:

And Hand-Embellishing Knit Fabric [thanks to my friends Christine Shively and Ute Vasina for turning me on to this technique]:

 

Thankfully, I have access to these classes forever, because I'll not be getting to them any time soon. Still so much on my to-do list:

 

On-going Lifebook lessons

Fiona's birthday quilt

Hoffman doll

Helper Doll for the ODACA Luncheon

Cecelia doll for Marti

Santa doll for Mike

Other Art Journaling projects

Several unfinished quilts

 

 

There are tons of free patterns, too:
Free Quilting Patterns at Craftsy                                                      
Free Sewing Pattern at Craftsy

Life Book 2013 June Lessons

This art journal page lesson was taught by Tam Laporte. Lots of fun! The cat looks like our Arthur, though you'd never catch him in a dress.

 

  

I had fun with this lesson, taught by Kelly Hoernig. The advantage of drawing just one eye is that you don't have to make a second eye that exactly matches! I mucked up my stencil, so added a butterfly to hide my shame.

This week's lesson is by Michelle Kral (Mitsi B). It's a large panel page - 6 watercolor sheets taped together, that will be folded into the journal. Below is side 1 of 2.

Below is side 2 of 2:

With a close-up of what the top page will look like once folded (actually, turn that up on its side and that ill be correct):

 

  

I just finished Joann's lesson this morning (7/17), though I may decided to add some gel pen embellishment to the stencil area. It was a fun lesson, but not my favorite.

 

More Art Journaling Explorations HERE

Life Book 2013 May Lessons

I'm so behind on my Lifebook lessons, but AFICC took priority for awhile. I'll write about the conference in another post. Another obstacle has been music practice for Nurses Week. Tomorrow my husband, a friend, and myself will be playing at a potluck to celebrate nurses. I'm not too nervous right now, but just wait 'til tomorrow!

 

This week's lesson is by Shiloh Sophia McCloud. It took me all day, but I enjoyed every minute of it.

This lesson was taught by Effy Wild. I decided to use fabric for the leaves to be a little different (and Lord knows I've got plenty of fabric).

 

This lesson inspired me to work on a tree project with Ivan.

This week's lesson is by Dion Dior. My Divine Color is orange.

 

More Art Journaling Explorations HERE