To Everything... There is a Season!

About four weeks ago, I (Daryle) was diagnosed 

with having a slow growing type of cancer.

Never the news you want to hear, but for this... I am thankful:

It was detected early and the prognosis is very encouraging!

I continue to have no symptoms and am feeling really good!

So good... that we're going to spend this week of Thanksgiving

with our whole family... gathered up in Vermont!  How fun is that!

When we get back from Vermont... I will meet with the oncologist

and together, we'll make some decisions about treatment plans.

I am in good hands... and believe with all my heart the truth

expressed in Roman 8:28

"And we know that God causes all things             to work together for good  to those who love God, to those who are called  according to His purpose." My game plan is to take some time off, here at Woodstown Whimsies and just take care of myself for a while! Thank you for your thoughts and prayers... Blessings to you and yours, in this season of much joy! Daryle

Santos Cage Doll... Comin' Along!

Have you ever had "one of those weeks"... 

that too quickly turned into "one of those months"?

I found some time today to finally apply a coat of paper clay

over the duck cloth fabric armature!

I did manage (two weeks ago) to stain and add several more 

decorative features to the wooden cage.

The arms are articulated... jointed at the shoulders,

elbows and wrists.  I will apply paper clay to them,

and add fingers eventually.  I hope to work on her face

this weekend.  Those are German bead eyes in the sockets.

I have cut out a metal mesh Victorian corset, using an

old window screen... it is soaking in a vinegar and bleach solution,

to give it a worn, rusty patina.  The plan is to hand stitch the

parts of the corset together, add some dribbles of paint 

and give it that "old world" appearance... a vintage "find" from

another time and place.  Blessings... Daryle

Artful Giving & Spirited Surprises... a juried show!

I just heard several days ago from the folks at 

Riverview Renaissance Center for the Arts...

that two of my book faeries will be in the juried exhibition

at the gallery in Millville, New Jersey 

November 18th through December 30th, 2011

I couldn't be more excited!  

This is a celebration of fine artisan furniture and furnishings

from the tri-state area: Pennsylvania, Delaware, and New Jersey.

I invite you to stop by and/or take a look at the gallery:

http://www.rrcarts.com/index.html

Newest Issue of Art Doll Quarterly...

I hope you will take a moment to look at the newest issue of ADQ...

I had the joy of having an article that I submitted published: 

"Folk Art Dolls That Are Functional!"

You'll find the article on pages 58-62...  

Warm Wishes during these, crisp, cool November days!  

Daryle

Santos Angel

With this Santos... I have decided to sculpt clay of 

over cloth. The cloth I have chosen happens to be one of my

 favorite fabrics. It is a rugged 10 oz. duck cloth cotton canvas, 

that is unbleached. Duck cloth and I have a "long history" of 

working together... going all the way back to our earliest days 

up in Vermont. Kingdom Krafts... which was the name of our 

little registered cottage industry became associated by name 

with "canvas folk art." When folks heard "canvas folk art"... 

they often thought of Kingdom Krafts.

Well... having said that; that was then and this is now!  

I just plain enjoy working with a sturdy duck cloth!

The fabric is nailed with 9/16 tacks to the wooden cage frame,

also a squirt of Elmer's wood glue here and there for strength.

I'm hoping to introduce some old rusty screening by fabricating a 

metal corset over and/or into the paper maché and paper clay.

Happy Sunday evening... Daryle

Friday's Favorite... rachel whetzel

It's going to be a perfect autumn day, here in South Jersey...

boatloads of sunshine, a bit of a breeze, and we're approaching

peak color as the maples, ash, and sugar gum trees drop their leaves.

It's also a perfect day to stop by and visit rachel whetzel...

at her blog, website, and shop!

http://www.minetothine.com/ 

Her dolls have been published and featured in 
PRIMS, Art Doll Quarterly 
and other wonderful publications... 
rachel's blog: "Memories of Mine to Thine" 

is a good place to start... 

You'll love her steampunk doll found on the October 7th post!

Have fun and tell her that I said "Hi!"   Daryle

Perfection...

This past Friday morning the car was packed and we were ready to 
walk out the door...  leaving for a wedding in Olean, NY.  
It would be a seven hour trip from Woodstown.

The phone rang... it was 6:00 a.m.

 "Hi Dad!  The contractions are coming every five to eight minutes...

we're on our way to the hospital!"

And at 12:55 p.m.   our second grandson was born!

Jonathan... "a gift from the Lord"

We arrived in Olean, well before the wedding rehearsal on Friday.  
The ceremony on Saturday was a testimony  to the glory of God, 
and the reception that followed was a hoot!

Katie and I danced the night away... returned to the B & B in Allegany 
and enjoyed breakfast the next morning with the groom's family. 
We arrived in North Jersey by mid afternoon on Sunday... 
(more than ready to see that family of ours) and just in time to snap a pic 

of big brother Ryan holding little Jonathan for the very first time!

We think they're going to be best friends!

Life is good...   Daryle & Katie