FREE on-line class

To improve the process for you - just click on the Yahoo join this group to the right and I will be able to approve your interest to join the class from there - thanks - from Linda who has lots to learn about the computer still!!!!

FREE on-line learning class

I made this pattern up a while ago and it has appeared in a couple of magazines - so you may have seen him before. However I have written up a 4 lesson online class now and I am offering it for FREE. I want to show you all how great on-line classes are and how easy they are. It is a self paced class that you download the lessons and work on in your own time. I have set up a yahoo group for the lessons, class discussion and uploading pictures to share. You can only access the class by invitation so you will need to click on the button to join (best way) or contact me by email and let me know you want to join. You can find this info on my picturetrail link above as well. The process is simple and I will aim to get you invited into the classroom as soon as possible. Once in, I will around for you to ask questions of and help as best I can. Hope to see you there - Kind regards, Linda.

Take Flight

Finally a new doll to post! Take Flight is the sister to Flight and will be my new on-line class doll. She is jetting off from a little fat bird in a nest - he looks quite surprised!

standing still

This is "standing still" - something we all do not do enough of, me thinks!
After selling the previous collage I was inspired to put a few more words down.
I really find the collage process a calming one and a joy how the colours and patterns intermix.
They aren't perfect but I am enjoying the way they develop.

new collage

Here is my latest collage

felted hairbands

Thought this made a pretty picture - little felted hairbands made for my daughters friends as gifts at her birthday party....better than lollies don't you think!

pixelated pictures

I just had to put a pic of this cool new (to me) tool. It takes one of our photos and enlarges it to be printed out of A4 paper - giving one great big as you want wall art. I can see a lot of pictures heading my way to be printed...and even transfer prints......and so on. My head is spinning.
This one is my gorgeous girl Issy in my studio.
i think I might just start papering the walls at our beach house with pics of the kids and beach....
It is an old place so no harm will be done and the walls have panels so I can paper up in between - guess what I'll be doing this weekend!
http://homokaasu.org/ is the site I got it from.

Dream

This is Dream and I am going to attempt to make the doll to match!
The collage is the easy part - but I figure if painting her face on the collage is just like how I do my dolls faces then why shouldn't I be able to reverse the process!
I think getting the form of the body movement might be the harder part - so suggestions are welcomed!....please

New class

Just posting in to say that I have a new class starting on http://www.dollstreetdreamers.com
It is "Imagine"....a collage class. I found that I have really enjoyed the challenge of transferring some of my doll making skills to canvas and know that I can help others do the same with a few good, simple techniques and ideas. Class starts in May and if you sign up now you will also get a copy of my "Sporty Sam" pattern in PDF to make. So what are you waiting for.......??????

LooK

This is LooK. The latest of my collage work. She will live at our beach house. She is quite a large work for me so I found that a challenge - need to get a easel for a start! Her face is done mainly with pastels and a little paint.

"For my children"

So February is nearly over and I am settling down into the year. School is back and I have been working on a new doll. She is called "for my children" and is made of fabric and paperclay. You may recall her face - she started life with a lamp shade base but, you know , sometimes you just can't get the stride going. Anyway, she morphed into a light base that one of the kids had owned - still wanting the light to shine through, so to speak! Around her base are the words which refer to collecting and putting things in order so that my children will understand.....a mothers role but with the value of recycling integral to the meaning. I have used many found objects that the kids are familiar with to re-enforce that visual knowledge. She has a Silver eye bird on her arm - a local dweller - and computer part hat and I have created the fabric for her clothing with the embellisher machine and free machine embroidery. As too, the fabric in her hand.
Paperclay legs are a new step for me and overall I feel that I have achieved my intention.

Collage

Yes, another collage! JOY
The next one I will attempt is going to be with fabric as the collage material. This one is still paper.

Well I have been collaging again and here are my efforts......having fun with this!

Finella

Here is a full pic of her. I really enjoyed the textile techniques I used with her body - always good when an idea works out!!
I love how she has a textural feel as well as look.

Finella

Well here is a quick pic of my latest doll made for a workshop I will be teaching later in the year. The focus on this pic is the Kingfisher bird which I have needle felted - both by hand and in combination with my needle felting embellisher machine. What fun it was to be able to combine the 2 methods - so much faster, easier and it allowed me to add machine stitch as well. I will posta pic of the rest of the doll shortly. I need to get some good light to photograph her.

Well 2008 is here and another year is rolling into full gear.
The sun is shining, the kids are at the beach and I have some quiet time here at home in my studio - life is great!
I started playing around with some collage papers last night after seeing an article in the last Cloth Paper Scissors mag by Kelly Rae Roberts. I loved the look of her work so I followed her lead and have done one of my own. I loved the easy way I was able to colour the canvas and can see that I will be doing some more of these....maybe with fabric as well as paper and who knows .....maybe even some stitch and embellishment. Anyway, here she is...what do you think?
Now I must away and make the intended use of my freedom....a new doll for a retreat in Fraser Island (AUST) that i have been asked to teach at later this year...I am soooo lucky!

fish, fish oh lucky fish!

The last ..for the moment of my felting frenzy.
Lucky fish. A touch of shimmer in their scales and away they swim...

hearts

Here is another group of brooches for Christmas selling.

felted brooches

Hi there, I have been playing again and having fun with my felting machine. I have even tidied my studio...very productive day LOL! These little brooches are made on the embellisher and then free machined - just LOVE how easy that machine is to use and how in combination with my sewing machine one can create some neat things. I know there is a whole world of ideas out there just waiting to be explored in this process......so I had better get to it.
Thanks all who have left comments on my blog...the threads of life that unite us! -Linda.

shoe fun

Okay, I said I have been playing with painting shoes - got some leather textile medium from Di at www.fabricaddictions.com and some yummy pigment powders so I had to have a little fun. Now remember these are OLD shoes and I am experimenting with them. Saying that, however, I must say it was fun and I will do more after I have worn these shoes a few times to see how it lasts. A couple I have used gel medium over - not sure yet if that is a good idea or not.! ! pair I did one shoe with gel med. and 1 without - so I have a test case......myth busters look out!!!!!

This next pic shows how i have gone back over with the needle felting machine on the reverse and pulled some texture back to the right side. Starting to get the look I want - lots of texture and interest!

Finally finding a minute to post LOL! Where does the year go?
I have another class running with Classheaven http://ClassHeaven.com. The Owl and the pussycat - needle felting fun. I think it is really useful to have other crafts to compliment my dollmaking...and yours!! It is much nicer to be able to place something you have also made into the arms of the doll......well, that is what I like to do. What do you think?

Another step completed! I really love drawing the face and seeing the spirit come alive - it encourages me to get the rest done.

Finally got around to posting some new pics. This is the doll I am working on at the moment using 2 recycled lampshades. So far I have sculpted a head and shoulders in paperclay and made a torso which has then been attached to the 1st wire lampshade base. The other 2 shots are the next step with fabric layered over the sculpt and a rough face drawn to give me a guide to the final look.
Next is to cover the work with an underglaze, more sanding and then the final paint.
So, what do you think? She is an elongated head shape and I have a whimsical costume planned for her with some layered textile techniques. She will also have a light bulb under her skirt so I intend on making the light shine through!