"le messager hesitant"... The Reluctant Messenger!

Well... my (not so) little misfit messenger 

is finally coming all together!

He stands 23 inches tall (without his top hat)!

He wears a waist-coat made from a very fun, nubby 

wool fabric remnant that I found at a resale shop.

Underneath is a vintage crochet lace vest... 

and he holds a small box 

with two vintage "special delivery" stamps affixed.

TO DO LIST:

paint and crackle his head and hands...

give him a proper gentleman's paper collar...

attach some old bone buttons down that vest...

and add some laces to his shoes.

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!)

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!

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!

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

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

A Journey Within A Journey!

This was a personal journey;

 acknowledging the past and embracing the future.

 The long journey home:

• a childhood memory; where family still resides.

• a “distant country”–– where we raised our children.

• a promised land, where eternity will unfold. 

A Sneak Peek... The Journey's End!

What an adventure this journey has been...

working on "Phaeton #2"

I finished him this evening  and hope to post 

a few more pictures in the next day or two!

More about the journey... later!

Blessings... Daryle

"Phaeton #2"... Is the Whole Greater Than the Sum of the Parts?

All of the "parts" seem to be falling in place,

for "Phaeton #2"

His boat is finished...

I made a paper clay black crow 

sitting on a perch, to hang from the mast.

He still needs a coat of gesso and some paint

on his head and hands...

and then I will add a crackle finish.

His arms and wings need to be wired on,

a few vintage buttons and trims

and he will be ready for that "Long Journey Home!"

True North... an update!

I am plugging away, a little bit at a time on "Verus North!" 

I found a little knit sweater that suits her... 

and this wild purple metallic fabric; just for fun!  

I still have to gesso the entire head...

 but added a few freckles with my pencil,

 just to see what she would look like.

True North... truly a WIP!

I found time over the weekend 

to put a little mouth on "Verus North"

and finish her paperclay hair!

I still need to basecoat the entire head with gesso.

Impatient me... I added a bit of Prismacolor pencil 
detail and watercolor blush... just for fun! 

New PRIMS Magazine

I just heard that two of my folk art cage dolls will be in the premier issue of Stampington & Company's newest magazine: "Prims" The dolls are: "Oh Glorious Anthem" and "Forget Me Not" Both dolls have fabric bodices attached to a wooden "cage" skirt. "Oh Glorious Anthem" is a paper-clay head over fabric with paper-clay arms and hands. "Forget Me Not" has a wooden head with paper-clay facial features and wooden arms and hands (with opposable thumbs). If you would like to take a "sneak peek" at one of the promotional pages from the magazine, you can use this link: http://www.stampington.com/html/prims_spring10.html

You can also find a few earlier photos back in our blog... Enjoy... Daryle

Underground Railroad Cage Doll

I often marvel at what a basecoat of color can do! Here, a bit of Burnt Sienna just breathes life and adds some personality to her face. (a rather pensive stare!)

I attached the neck and wood head to a duck cloth canvas bodice, that is firmly stuffed and nailed to a piece of wood on the top of the wired skirt.

Some wooden wings with reproduction vintage papers adhered, a bit of vintage lace over the shoulders and a button for a brooch... Yikes...she has no arms! She definitely needs arms! They will have to wait for another day! Enjoy! Daryle