Anyone know?

I'm working on a Life Book lesson from earlier in the year ~ drawing knick knacks using my non-dominant hand.

So I picked a couple old figures I bought on eBay years ago. Not much information was included in the auction description as I recall, so I was hoping someone out there would know something about these dolls. They're not very big, the faces are sculpted, and the bodies are pipe cleaners. I fell in love with them.

 

Oh, and here's the drawing (each figure done separately). I'm definitely right handed!

 

More Art Journaling Explorations HERE

Finally! Amandine paper pattern available

I finally received the cover paper for my Amandine pattern today, and got the cover photos attached and everything folded. I also stopped by PayPal to generate an "Add to Cart" button to my website.

Anyone interested in either paper pattern or e-pattern, just drop by my website. It's all updated!

http://www.blueherondolls.com/blue_heron_patterns.htm

A Productive Week!

In addition to finishing my Amandine pattern, I managed to finish three journal pages for Life Book 2014 this week. I'm on a roll!  Still very behind, but making progress.

And now there's been an announcement about the teacher line-up for Life Book 2015! Each of the teachers is giving away a spot in the year-long course. Today's blog hop stop is at Effy Wild's site.

 

Here are the pages I finished this week. At this point I've just been jumping around to get to the lessons:

 

More Art Journaling Explorations HERE

Done!

I'm finally done with my Amandine pattern!!!

 

 I put in an 11-hour day today, and boy is my back killing me ~ I didn't exactly use good body mechanics while drawing the pattern pieces. I still need to get cover photos for the traditional paper pattern, but the e-pattern is ready to go. Well, maybe I should proofread it one more time.

That being said, I don't think I can stand another minute in this studio to update my website or Etsy store. I'm so done!

 

The pattern is now up at my Etsy store, on Craftsy, and on my Website

Slowly but surely...making progress

My Amandine pattern instructions are nearly done. It's been such a tedious process, as this pattern is full of progress photos. What better way to help illustrate a step?

What's left? The wig, the hat, the shoes. Oh, and drafting the actual pattern pieces onto paper (instead of paper towels, etc.

 

I went with colors I don't usually use, which is nice for a change. Next, I'll be going through all my Tibetan lamb to find a color that works for her.

Life Book 2014 September Lessons

This is the month I play catch up. I've got most of September, and if I can manage my time I'll be able to get so much done.

And though I'm falling more and more behind in Life Book, I want to finish my Amandine doll pattern before I start working on my journal pages. But just think...if I could do a page a day, that would be so cool!

I may need to add some more viney things to this page.

Here's my take on an artsy abode:

I still haven't done Carla's lesson, which is a series exercise.


This is my take on Flora Bowley's lesson. This style is way out of my comfort zone, but I'm glad I did it. It's always good to stretch your skill set!

Struggled with this one. It may or may not be finished.
Taught by Alena Hennessy: http://www.alenahennessy.com/

http://www.fracturedangelics.com/
It took me the better part of two days, but I like the outcome of this page. I used a copy of my sketch from Kate's earlier lesson.

More Art Journaling Explorations HERE

Amandine progress, testing new app

I used to have a way to post to my blog from my phone, but with this newer phone it's not working. Trying this new app.

Here's a quick photo taken this morning as a test. This is a far as I've gotten with my second Amandine doll (my Hoffman doll was the first), and the instructions with step-by-step photos are done up to this point. Very time consuming!

Next comes the face sculpting and painting instructions/illustrations/photos, and then the costuming. Whew! 

Sewing today and stuff

I did a little sewing (and typing) yesterday, making a teensy bit of progress on my new doll pattern "Amandine." Today I have the challenging job of selecting the print fabrics for the costuming. I think I may use fabrics from this collection called Fiona's Fancy by Riley Blake.

As I look out the studio window this morning and see some of the leaves beginning to change color, I'm thinking it might be appropriate to make a Halloween or Fall related doll. I designed a witch pin doll a number of year ago (in 1999!), and haven't made another for such a long time. In fact, the last cover photo was taken at least three digital cameras ago, so it's about time for an update. If you're interested in this pattern, check it out at my website's pattern page (at the bottom): http://www.blueherondolls.com/blue_heron_patterns.htm

As much as I'd like to jump into an autumn project, I'm going to try to stay on task today and complete the Amandine project. Ain't I responsible?

Rebellion

I am rebelling and refusing to do my laundry today.

Instead, I decided to finish one of my Life Book art journal pages. I'm working out of order to use my time most efficiently - so this one is from week 30, which employed a clever contact paper transfer technique taught by Carissa Paige:



Then I decided to get started on another page (this one Week 25, taught by Effy Wild, done over a period of days). There are several layers here:

 

Experimenting with a figure for the page:

 

Blocking out the figure:

 

Finished:

 

More Art Journaling Explorations HERE

Life Book 2014 August Lessons

It's a new month of Life Book, and I've got a lot of catching up to do. While I worked a little on a journal page background for one of July's lessons yesterday, my primary focus has been working on a pattern for my Hoffman doll, Amandine. I anticipate weeks of work ahead of me.


Finally finished this one in January (2015), taught by Micki Wilde.

http://www.tworzysko.blogspot.co.uk/
For this one I used an old family photo, but as I didn't want to sacrifice it scanned and printed it then covered it with contact paper.

http://cattgeller.wordpress.com/
Here's my tribute to play

I enjoyed this interview.
Visit her blog: http://jennibelliestudio.blogspot.co.uk/

More Art Journaling Explorations HERE