Happy Fall

The Fall season is now upon us...time to catch up.


I was kept busy this summer...This year  the Teddy Bear Artists Invitational (TBAI) theme was looking back at themes that came before. My gallery piece is still for sale. (I chose "Tribute to Broadway")

 Elphaba and Glinda from "Wicked," for $250 (they are sold as a pair) and will be available for sale at my upcoming shows.

I got another opportunity to take a class at the John C. Campbell Folk School with Leslie Molen. We made a Tasha Tudor inspired doll designed by Leslie. Here is my interpretation and the entire class. blog.

 

Thank you Leslie for all your inspiration. You can check out her beautiful work on her

Here are some examples of my recent print work...
Scott Publications, Just Steampunk Vol. 5, "Edison,"

"Robin Hood" (Picture) for the Storybook Characters in Soft Doll and Animal.

And, Stampington and Company's fantastic current issue of Art Doll Quarterly (out starting today) (Picture) "Nick's List" (the picture below is the one I took, the one in the magazine turned out perfect).

The picture on the right is the Consignment  I took to the Frizellburg Antique Store. The store will be having their annual Christmas in Frizellburg event starting Friday November 14 to November 16, there you can get a head start on your Christmas shopping.


Here is my Show Schedule up to the end of the year

• DC Big Flea NOV 8-9, 2014 at the Dulles Expo Center in Chantilly, VA
• Hunt Valley Bear Show and Sale, Sunday November 9, 10am-3pm, Embassy Suites Hotel, 213 International Circle, Hunt Valley MD
• City of Fairfax Holiday Craft Show Saturday November 15, 10am-5pm and Sunday November 16, 10am-3pm
• McLean Holiday Craft Show December 5-7 at the McLean Community Center 1234 Ingleside Ave., McLean VA

I hope I will see you all at the shows.  Thanks for your support this year!

Winter Updates

Here is a belated Happy New Year!


It looks like spring is just around the corner (albeit a snow covered one).
I have 2 shows coming up!

1. D.C. Big Flea @ the Dulles Expo Center in Chantilly, VA March 1-2, http://www.damorepromotions.com/Chantilly/chantilly.htm
2. Teddies Spring Show, Holiday Inn and Conference Center. I-83 Padonia Road Exit Timonium MD Saturday March 29, 2014

Come and See us!

Happy Thanksgiving

I would just like to wish everyone a safe and Happy Thanksgiving!!

(Just wanted to share this amazing picture taken from this past Sunday. It was so cold in D.C., this fountain by the Smithsonion castle was still going even frozen)

We had such good day in D.C. despite the cold. We'll have to go again in the spring.

Just a note...

Note to those who came to see me at the Fairfax High School Craft Show this past weekend. Thanks for coming and making purchases. I enjoyed meeting and talking to everyone and I hope I'll see you and more at the McLean Show December 5, 6, and 7.

I also got confirmation from the DC Big Flea, and I will also see you there January 4-5

Thanks again.

Fall Update

I've been really busy and I haven't updated my activities for a while...

I got to got to the John C. Campbell Folk School in western North Carolina for a week. I decided to try something new for me and a little outside my comfort zone. I learned to work with materials I don't usually touch...fleece...foam...GLUE!!! I took a hand and rod puppet (like a "Muppet") class from an extremely talented puppeteer, David Stephens. It was hard work and I learned quite a bit. The rabbit I made named "Moxie" was easier to complete.
(David Stepens-Below hard at work)                                                  (Moxie waiting for some personality)

 (Here is my little "Miso" bear helping me put together my puppets)

The 2nd one was a little harder to complete. I played around with a few ideas for characters. It wasn't until I said out loud  "I just took this class to make a generic puppet" that I got my inspiration. I decided to make a generic puppet. I gave him a nose designed from a nose design for a leather nose for a teddy bear turned up-side-down. Then I used 2 plastic egg halves for his eyes. I glued in his tongue and topped his head with a bandanna. His name is "GEN-ERIC!!"

(Gen-Eric's Brain)

 

(Gen-Eric's arms)

(Gen-Eric waiting for ssome personality)

(Moxie the purple rabbit, and Gen-Eric the generic puppet)

(Me and David and the class of Puppets)

Check out David Stephens' websites "David Stephens Banjolicious" and "All Hands Productions"

Now I'm busy getting ready for the rest of my shows...pandas...snowman bears...tiny companions...lucky charms...marionette... etc.

--November 10,

The Hunt Valley Christmas Holiday Teddy Bear Show and Sale Sunday, 10:00am-3:30pm.

Embassy Suites Baltimore North Hotel 213 International Circle, Hunt Valley, Maryland

--November 16 and 17, Fairfax Holiday Craft Show  Saturday 10am to 5pm, Sunday 10am to 3pm, at Fairfax High School, 3501 Rebel Run, Fairfax, VA 22030. 

--December 6-8, McLean Holiday Crafts Show, McLean Community Center.
1234 Ingleside Ave. McLean, VA 22101
Friday, 11 a.m.-7 p.m.
Saturday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
Sunday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m

Come Check us out!!

Fall Schedule

Still getting back into My routine after the Folk School. I post later about that after I collect my thoughts.
Here is my schedule for the upcoming Fall and Winter:

• November 3-4 2013, DC Big Flea @ Dulles Expo Center, Chantilly, VA. Open Saturday 9AM-6PM, Sunday 11AM-5PM
• Sunday November 10, 2013, Hunt Valley Christmas Holiday Teddy Bear Show and Sale. Embassy Suites Hotel, 213 International Circle, Hunt Valley, MD 21030. Open 10AM-3:30PM
• November 16-17 2013, Holiday Craft Show, Fairfax High School, 3501 Rebel Run, Fairfax VA 22030. Saturday 10AM-5PM, Sunday 10-3. Space #61
• December 6-8 2013. McLean Holiday Craft Show. 1234 Ingleside Ave, McLean VA 22101. Friday 11AM-7PM, Saturday 10AM-6PM, Sunday 11AM-4PM. Booth #06 (Lobby)

Updates After TBAI

I recently got back from the Teddy Bear Artists Invitational (TBAI). The theme this year was "Just Imagine" and my gallery piece as a bear marionette.  I made 2 initially because I was a little concerned that I couldn't make it cute enough and I never know whether my pieces will be male or female until I put the faces on them. This time I made one of each...the brown one was a handsome male and the "blond" one was obviously too pretty!!! So, next I set out to "assembling" them. I knew from the class that I took with Leslie Molen about the armature that goes inside, but a bear would be different. When I assembled the upper and lower arms and legs to each other I used a small "patch" on each side which was jointed on with small cotter pins with a space in between, and the neck had a wobble cotter pin joint (this was done to the brown bear). Joining the head to the body on the blond one was the same. Years ago I made Native American bear marionette as a visual aide for Camp Firefly (a Girl Scout Camp at Camp Crowell in Oakton, VA). His joints were all wobbly including the elbows and knees.

For the blond bear marionette I used the same technique as with the "Firefly" bear except I put a small "patch " on the back of the elbow joint and a "patch on the front to form the knee. This seemed to stabilize the joints and I was able to put the string through here. I was very pleased with both applications.

Next came the "styling." I wanted to show off the joints on the brown one and clothes seemed to inhibit his movement, so I dressed him in a stiffened collar with a bow tie, stiffened cuffs with button cuff links, and stiffened spats over patent leather shoes. I dressed up the blond one in a onesie blouse/bloomer combo similar to the piece I made in Leslie Molen's class. In this case I wanted to cover the body with a "costume," but still keep the flexibility. So I added a big skirt, handmade brooch, lace fingerless gloves and a key fob accessory. (I am considering adding a mop cap or head band). She looks like a "Victorian housekeeper" so I named her "Mrs. Hughes" after the character from the PBS series Downton Abbey. (She is still available for sale)

I'm pleased to say the brown one was bought by Susan Quinlan (she also bought my Mary Poppins 3 TBAI challenge/gallery pieces ago). WOW!! I am thoroughly elated!

                                                                                 (Edit Update)

Now I'm off to the John C. Campbell Folk School this week to take a class; I'll blog about it later when I get back. I'll be back just in time for the D.C. Big Flea this weekend Sept. 14-15, 2013. I'll be working to finish more pieces for this show!! See you there!!