Up in Smoke!

If you follow some of my foolishness here at Woodstown Whimsies…

you know that I have an affinity for "coffee-stained" just about anything!

Well… if you have ever asked yourself: 
"Does he ever burn anything while attempting to age it 
and give it character?"  Here's the answer:

My "Hilde" book created for the ADQ Medieval Doll Challenge…

is proof-positive; "Yes indeed… he sometimes sets the world on fire!"

When coffee-staining, I use the microwave to "set" the stain and dry 

the piece I am working on… Well, 45 seconds was a tad too long for

Hildegard's "Simple Book of Medicine"  

Alas… it certainly does look old & worn!

(click on the pic to enlarge and really see the "aging!")

Thank You "Yankee Candle" for your sage & citrus concentrated spray;

totally (more-or-less) eliminating the smell of charred paper!

Tsk! Tsk!  Happy Daze… Daryle

The "Mystery"… Revealed!

Working on the most recent Art Doll Quarterly Challenge has been,

well… a challenge!  But she is finished!  My Medieval Mystery Maiden:

(drum-roll, please…)

Playing softly in the background, while completing my doll 

for the “Medieval Doll Challenge, are the ethereal voices 

of a Gregorian chant.   I am listening to music composed 

by one of the most remarkable and gifted women 

in medieval history: Hildegard von Bingen. 

Born in Germany in 1098, she would dedicate her life 

to serving others; becoming a nun at the age of fifteen.  

During her lifetime, Hildegard of Bingen created an immense 

outpouring of work in music, poetry, and scientific literature.  

She was both a woman of vision and a “visionary” of some 
Biblical and religious texts during the 12th century. 

 

The music, which I have incorporated on the doll stand, 
represents one of Hildegard’s chants: O virtus Sapientiae 
(Strength of Wisdom). I wonder if the text could have been based 
upon this familiar proverbial quote that Hildegard 
would have been acquainted with: Proverbs 9:10 
“The fear of the LORD 
is the beginning of wisdom: 
and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.” (KJV) 

 

 The manuscript sitting on the small side table is a representation 

of her writings on medieval medicine: Liber Simplicis Medicinae 

(Simple Book of Medicine).  The glass jars hold her herbal remedies. 

Hildegard… a medieval lady in waiting! 

(Yes, waiting to be shipped off to California…)
Thank you for taking this creative journey with me! Daryle

Lancaster County…

Katie and I were able to spend the day in Lancaster County

and found a new favorite place to stop, while in New Holland:

Vintage Kollections (adjacent to Carson's in the Cornfield).

Katie picked up some linens and a nice little vintage flower "frog" 

which she will use to keep reminder notes on her desk!

I found some porcelain insulators that will make the perfect

mixed-media doll arms, along with a one-of-a-kind tin funnel (hat?)

some brass drawer pulls and a vintage (circa 1870) 
German Children's Bible Primer… all treasures!

We also spent the late afternoon at Sight & Sound Theatre

where we enjoyed their newest production: "Moses"… with about 45 
other folks from our church family.  It was dazzling and memorable!

Here's a link from the premiere opening:

http://www.sight-sound.com/WebSite/shows.do?showCD=MOS&gclid=CJrfxZvMqb0CFY3m7Aod2wEAZQ#videos?media=media1

Mid-March…a Record Breaker!

It certainly doesn't look like a "record-breaker"… does it?

By late afternoon, our most recent "dump of snow" had settled 

and started slowly melting in the mid-March sun.

It was official though: 

the second snowiest winter on record!

We have Lenten Roses under that heap of snow… with buds on!

Good thing, they are a hearty lot!

Warm Wishes… and keep those snow shovels close at hand!

Snap…Crackle…Pop! (well, "crackle" anyways!)

DecoArt crackle medium does its magic… with a porcelain-like

finish on the Maiden!  Poor thing definitely needs her hair-piece

back in place and the wimple to cover the top of her head.

I used a matte finish sealer to get rid of the "sheen" that was 

left by the application of the crackle medium.

Her eyes are acrylic paint with black pastel crayon/pencil.

I am pleased with her hands, love that bulbous nose…

and am ready to dress her… Ugh!

Medieval Maiden… Meet the Senior Saint!

My "Medieval Mystery Maiden"… 

The rich legacy she has left us was historically much later in her life

than my doll was depicting, and so with that in mind I have 

redesigned her… fifty years older!

Trying to capture her gracious, godly nature with those bright eyes

and that broad smile…  I have also added in the lower pic some

of the "props" which will eventually help to identify her, including:

one of the manuscripts she wrote and illustrated, the herb

drying stand that she made use of (with her little bluebird companion),

A sheet of music she composed, and some amber bottles  of her likening. 

Her upper arms are articulated and move, her lower arms

are wired and can be posed, and her head can turn.

Next:  Base-coat her paper clay head, hands and neck with

raw umber; then design her dress. I'm hoping to work

in both paper maché and fabric for the clothing.

Winter Wants to Hold On… But!

Our snow is all but gone… 

but more is in the forecast today and into tomorrow!

This has been relatively looooong winter for us

here in South Jersey.

Winter wants to hold on… but: I took this pic yesterday.  

Our crocus would have us believe

that spring is on the way.  I also saw flocks and "V's" of

snow geese returning to the area, making their way north!

Warm Wishes… whatever your weather may bring you!  Daryle