Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Did he say "Laurel and Hardy?"

Two new angels that I am working on...
The taller of the two: "le messager hesitant"
Translated: "The Reluctant Messenger!"
Doesn't he look a bit reticent? I thought so...


And then the second angel: "dieses und das"
Translated: "This and That!"
He is literally made from a little of "this" and
a little of "that" (left over's) from other doll failures!

Thank you for stopping by, on this brisk March night!
Daryle



Sunday, March 27, 2011

Music Box Angel Assemblage... Coming Along!

I have base-coated the doll's head
and just for the moment, added some vintage 
millinery flowers to a netting and ribbon "hat"...

The lyrics to Brahms Lullaby have definitely given
some momentum and direction to this doll assemblage!

An added element of surprise: 
the door hinge and door-key-hole...
I had this vintage photo in my stash of "long lost souls"
It seemed to fit perfectly!

Details... details... it's all about those little details!
Here's a look at where I am heading with this doll assemblage!
I have already changed the printed letters for "angel" 
with some old, warmly worn scrabble letters!
Thank you for stopping by... 
Wishing you and yours a blessed week! Daryle (and Katie too!)



Saturday, March 26, 2011

A New Angel Assemblage: A Music Box!

What does a reclaimed music box with a key, 
a repurposed doll head with a cloth-overlay,
and a vintage key-hole share in common?
"Folk Art that is Functional" 

I have started working on a new doll...
The Music Box Angel Assemblage!


Friday, March 25, 2011

The Funky, Functional Folk Art Angel is Finished!

Tick... Tick... Tick... goes the wee vintage clock!
I love the fact that the the name 
stamped on the clock face is: "united"
I added the rusty heart, a vintage time-piece gear
and a brass key...   Sigh!


Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Meet "Miss Moses" in the spring issue of PRIMS!

"Miss Moses" is my tribute to Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad Movement.  The complete article is on pages 82-85 of the spring issue of PRIMS.
My heartfelt thanks to the editorial and photography staff at Stampington & Company for the joy of being published in their spring issue! 
I've include some collage pics of her "journey" from a wooden ball and some paper clay, to an inverted wire container!
The copy of "Uncle Tom's Cabin" is a publication from 1894, out of Philadelphia.  I found it at a local Goodwill Store!  The vintage quilt square has "a story" of its own... all retold in the PRIMS article.  Enjoy and blessings... Daryle

Monday, March 21, 2011

Folk Art with a Function...

I made the decision to add several washes of acrylic paint
to the head and then use a one step crackle medium.
(I'm hooked on that stuff...)
And a clock it is!   a.k.a. "functional" folk art!
I purchased a quartz movement clock kit that
I will attach to a wonderful old clock face 
that Katie and I found at a local flea market.


  

Sunday, March 20, 2011

My Bruin... Her Brunette!

Katie and I spent some time at the
New Castle Farmer's Market yesterday afternoon...
and we came across this 23 inch tall doll.
I picked her up, the vendor said "$10.00"...
and I put her back down!
Then he asked; "How about $5.00?"
She came home with us! 
While cleaning her up (her face was a mess!) 
I noticed that stamped on the back of her head 
was the name: "Jane Zidjunas" and the date 1991,
as well as the doll's name:  "Elise" 
She wears a drop waist dress, pantaloons, 
a full length slip, long stockings, and leather shoes.
She has a mohair wig and (scratched) glass eyes.
We think she looks perfect sitting next to one of the
mohair teddy bears I designed and made, years ago...
(even with his crooked, wire-rimmed spectacles!)

Friday, March 18, 2011

Angel Assemblage... Day 3 or is it 4?

Have added some color to both the canvas and the wings...
verdis green, terra-cotta clay and metallic gold!  Yikes!
And now I am thinking... after Judi's post (Olde Time Dolls) 
that perhaps I should 
add some FUNCTION to this piece of FOLK ART!
What about a funky, fun clock face right in the center?
Hmmmm... I'm loving it    Thanks Judi!  

What do YOU think?  Let me know... drop me a note!
Warm Wishes (70's here in south jersey today!) 
Daryle

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Angel Assemblage... Day 2!

I dedicated several hours to working on this angel today.
With a dry base coat of flat black over the entire piece,
I then began layering and gluing some scrap-booking papers.
Next... I recklessly painted gesso over the entire piece: 
papers, doll head, wooden legs, etc. (getting "brave" in my old age)
Then... I immediately wiped it off using a rag dampened with water.
I am so pleased with the effect; 
sort of a weathered, white-washed look!
I am planning of painting the cloth over-lay head, 
adding something to the wooden wings and also 
some color to the legs... I originally had thought
that I would add wood finial and paper clay arms... 
now I'm not so sure.
Thank you for stopping by... enjoy this day!  Daryle

Monday, March 14, 2011

A New Direction: an Angel Assemblage Doll!

I began working on this assemblage doll
late last night... applying cotton stretch fabric 
over this thrift shop find doll head.
I've had the 9x12 inch chunky artist's canvas
sitting in our workspace for about a year 
and figured that it was time to use it!

The PLAN:
I am thinking that I will base-coat the canvas, head, wings,
and wood turnings in black... and then begin to add layers 
of papers and textures... and some of the "found" objects 
that I temporarily tacked on for this photo!
I just love his skinny little articulated legs!
(Hands!  He will need some paper clay hands!)
Cheers! Daryle 

Sunday, March 13, 2011

The "new" us!

We just found this adorable vintage photo
and had to post it here... as the "new" us
on our profile!  Daryle & Katie
(the ears give me away...)  Tsk! Tsk! Daryle

Saturday, March 5, 2011

Pennsville Flea Market

Katie and I stopped by the Pennsville Flea Market
again today... much to our delight!  
One of the vendors has perhaps a dozen tables 
set up with cardboard signs ($1, $2, etc.)... 
He is one of our favorite vendors!  
Today we picked up three vintage doll dresses, 
a pair of pink little doll shoes 
along with three pair of stockings, 
the wonderful antique clock-face hand stamp, 
a hand tied table runner, a beautiful doll head 
(that I will use for making a mold)
 and eyes that will find a new "home"...
And in the background a "perfectly well-worn"
leather coat that will soon be repurposed 
into teddy bear pads and doll shoes!

Thursday, March 3, 2011

Do You See What I See?

I see a Queen Anne Style cage doll...
an attic set-aside santos, small waisted
with pale completion and glass eyes.
I found this wonderful vintage birdcage
at a new flea market, about six miles
from our home... 
It has a spring-loaded door and the bottom
tray/door is hinged and flops open too! 
And the color... is it perfect, or what?
Katie found two 19th century color 
lithographs by German illustrator, 
Fedor Flinzer... they were 25¢ each!
Here's a peek at a section of one: