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

Art Doll Quarterly Challenge... I'm in!

The spring 2011 issue of Art Doll Quarterly

invites doll-makers to find an unusual bottle

and then incorporate it in the creation of an art doll!

I have challenged my friends at Cloth and Clay Dolls

to join me in this creative venture!

After living in Vermont for twenty-eight years, 

one of the things I miss most are the sugar maples in the fall, 

with a full harvest moon rising over the Green Mountains. 

When I recently came across this wonderful dark amber, 

veined maple leaf bottle at a Goodwill Store (marked $1.99)... 

I knew I had found my bottle for the challenge!   

“Harvest Moon” is dedicated to all those romantics out there, 

who love to sit under the light of the harvest moon! 

Let the challenge begin... Daryle 

The Sentinel... Sent to Laguna Hills!

I am delighted with the entire process... The "Sentinel of Winter" really took on a life of its own in terms of the design, fabric choices and the final "look!"  I was able to make use of some vintage buttons, fancy bead-work (on the hat), and that recycled wool blanket that Katie and I found at a thrift shop in Vineland. 

I used FolkArt's raw sienna acrylic paint for my over-glaze coat on the crackling.  I love the warm, rich, patina that it left.  Sigh... what's next?  Thanks so much for stopping by... Daryle

A bit of whimsy...with Winter's Sentinel!

I labored over this one... How might I introduce a bit of whimsical joy into this particular piece? Ahhh... snow! Sparkling.. White... Snow! 

My stash of German glass glitter to the rescue.  This tiny blown glass jar with a cork stopper, along with an itsy-bitsy coffee-stained tag became the perfect answer: "Snow Seeds!"  How whimsical is that?  The mittens are sculpted from paperclay, then painted and crackled.

"Die Wache Winter!"

The "Sentinel of Winter" was mailed today... looking for a spot in the Winter issue of Art Doll Quarterly's "milieu challenge."

"The Sentinel of Winter!" an Art Doll Quarterly Challenge...

The deadline for this particular Art Doll Quarterly Challenge is in ten days...Yikes!  It's the "Milieu Challenge"... choosing an environment or surroundings for a particular doll that you have designed. I have placed "die wache winter" in a 15th century guard house, similar to those used by the "Beefeaters" who protect the Tower of London.  The house is made with foam board, wooden finials and scraps of pine and cardboard.  All covered in paper towels soaked in white glue, adding texture.  

 

My sentinel is dressed in an off white wool coat with a separate wool hat... made from a thrift shop wool blanket.  The remaining clothing and scarf is made from a textured wool men's sportscoat (also a local thrift shop find).  

TO DO LIST: Paint and crackle the head, add some eyes, wire the arms and add mittens.  Sew those buttons on! Glue some scrap-booking papers inside the guard house, paint it, "winterize" it... and get it in the mail!  Say a prayer! Daryle