Sunday, November 21, 2010

Doll Challenge at Cloth and Clay...

A new doll challenge is brewing as part of the Cloth and Clay Doll Workshop. Voting is currently underway for the kind of challenge and the suggestions are great: Angel dolls, dolls based on nursery rhymes, anthropromorphic dolls, modest women, winter wonderland and so on.  There are many suggestions and all sound exciting.
I suggested the challenge be based on characters from children's stories.  This is the book I had in mind - wouldn't a doll based on one of the fabulous illustrations from Fern Bisel Peat be wonderful? As the images below show, some of her characters are drawn as doll-like to begin with. The doll I would make would have a cloth based with an application of paper clay and paint.  It would probably stand on a base.  Cannot wait to see whch challenge it will be.  If it is not the characters from books, I will have to find another subject. What fun !

Saturday, November 20, 2010

My Favorite Season

The end of November, just before Thanksgiving, is beautiful. The air is crisp and chilly. The sky blue and bright but silent as the loudly honking geese in their famous V-formations are long gone. The lawn is covered with Juncos, sparrows and chickadees as they sprint about grabbing seeds from the dried garden flowers. The trees are bare; their leaves all curled and folded on the ground. Their bright colors all but gone. The crunch of the leaves under my shoes is a joyous event; so familiar and welcome.
It is dusk at 4:15. Throughout the year Cardinals linger at the feeders and call. It is the same now except the Blue Jays jostle for the coveted position of last bird at the feeders. 

Late fall is the very BEST season. (But then, I say that with every season)