Friday's Favorite!

I hope you take a moment this weekend to stop by and visit kali at:

water.scissors.paper

You will find her work delightful, whimsical, and always thought provoking!
Here's the link:
http://waterscissorspaper.blogspot.com/

A Home for Harriet...

"I had reasoned this out in my mind. 

There was one of two things I had a right to-liberty or death. 

If I could not have one, I would have the other."

-Harriet Tubman

 

My "Miss Moses"... a tribute to Harriet Tubman

has found a home, here in Swedesboro.

She makes her new home 

with a woman of equal strength and godliness. 

"Her price is far above rubies."

Birdhouse Shrine Doll... Day #2 and-one-half!

 

I decided last night (at about 10 p.m.)

to add some papier mache shingles to the roof,

giving it a bit more interest and definition.

And he has wings... of course!

We found this carton of real quail eggs

at the Philadelphia Flower Show three years ago...

they have been sitting on my work table all this time; waiting!

Some are whole, some are broken... some are missing!

"The window of the soul..."  

I cut the wooden arched window using 1/4 inch craft plywood

and inset it, after cutting the opening with my scroll saw.

I love his little vintage shoes!

As always, thanks for stopping by!   Daryle

Birdhouse Shrine Doll

On our drive into Salem this morning, we stopped at the

ARC Thrift Store... this four-legged birdhouse was in the window.

I walked out of the store... empty-handed!

After lunch... I came to my senses and we went back 

and picked it up!

My question is: "Where do these ideas come from?"

I mean, really... I took one look at this birdhouse on legs 

and saw a whimsical, winged, celestial messenger!

This paper clay head has been shelf-sitting for about six months

and I just picked up the vintage shoes in Pennsylvania this week!

WINGS... this guy needs a pair of wooden wings!

Joy in the journey... Daryle

Growing Corn... South Jersey Style!

I took the photo this morning, on our way to Salem...

Each day, the sunflowers "follow" or track the sun

 so that by end-of-day, they face the other direction!

For the record... it is 100 degrees in Woodstown at this moment!

Smile... and say: "Vincent!"

A bit of artistic license... 

thank you "Picnik" (free) photo editing!

Happy Anniversary... Us!

Our 37th Wedding Anniversary today...

the card I found for Katie says it all:

We danced dance when we could can.

We laughed laugh more than we cried cry.

We messed mess up daily.

We got get a few things really, really right.

We loved love our families.

We were ARE blessed.

Harvest Moon... nears completion!

The dilemma is: 

to wear the funnel hat...

 or not to wear the funnel hat?

He finally has hands to hold the cracked

terra cotta clay pot that lay in the foreground.

His coloration is, well... like the harvest moon!

And as you can see... he is making a "spectacle"

of himself (pun intended!)  Tsk! Tsk!  Daryle

Gourd Doll Challenge!

The newest issue... Aug/Sept/Oct of Art Doll Quarterly 

arrived yesterday... and on page 65 you'll find:

"The Guardian of Hope"

I couldn't be happier with the article and photography...

The editorial and photography staff at Stampington & Company

 are the best!   My heartfelt thanks to them... Daryle

A Day in Philly!

Our Vermont daughter and son-in-law-to-be took us to the 

Philadelphia Art Museum on Saturday... 

helping me celebrate my "60 is the new 40" Birthday!

(that's them in the foreground...)

We walked up the front stairs to the museum 

("Rocky" fame) three times! Chad ran it once... Ugh!

Later we went back into the museum through the "back door" 

where we found this Jacob Epstein bronze that represents:

compassion, destiny and death...

We spent several hours at the Franklin Institute...

enjoying the new "Where's My Mummie?" exhibit...

We even found time to stop by Independence Hall 

and the Liberty Bell... then had a late (very late) lunch at GiGi's!

It was a thoroughly exhausting... fun-filled day together! 

Bear in Mind...

Every now and again I need a bit of "inspiration"...

(that is to say... a proverbial "kick-in-the-pants!")

Thank you... Jan Conwell from the Hermits' Garden!

   http://twoconwellsplaying.blogspot.com/

She and I have been talking teddy bears in recent weeks...

and I decided to take a few pics of some of my bears!

And the "kick-in-the-pants"?

Well... I am supposed to be working on a magazine article 

about my bears!  So... now I just need to sit down and start typing

(as opposed to blogging... Tsk! Tsk!)

Here is a "group shot" of some of my favorites...

all my original patterns made with German or English mohair, 

using glass or vintage shoe buttons for eyes.

Each bear is fully jointed using traditional crown joints

(cotter pins and discs)  

Some are stuffed with poly-fill, some wood wool and some kapok.

This is "Bruin"... who stands at 21 inches tall... 

though he always seems to be sitting!

This is "Gunther"... his name means: bold warrior!

(he's a big softy at heart)... 

This big boy is made with curly, distressed English mohair.

He stands as the "sentinel" of our dining room...

(he takes this job very seriously!)

Well... as "seriously" as a bear wearing a crown of berries

and an infant undershirt can be taken!

This little guy is a small version of "Vinny"... 

The original "Vinny" was published in the Workman Press

Teddy Bear Calendar... back in the late 90's

And this is (my alter-ego?) "Milo"...

he's always clowning around, making you smile!

He's made using German glass eyes and mohair,

that I lovingly distressed and aged.

Now I must make haste... and get to work on the teddy bear article!

Warm Fuzzies... Daryle

Friday's (Fabulous) Favorite!

Just this morning I was visiting Paula Nerhus' blog... 

her dolls and photography always inspire!  

She is a member of Creative Souls... this Friday's Favorite:

http://creativesouls.ning.com/

God Bless America!