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!!

D.C. Big Flea

Come see us at the D.C. Big Flea, at the Dulles Expo Center in Chantilly, VA. We're located in Aisle I Booth 489.

Back From the Folk School

What a wonderful week at the John C. Campbell Folk School in North Carolina. Mostly Sunny and warm. Good and Plentiful food. Good times had by all!! Old and new friends, sage advice, and new skills (techniques). I want to take another class this year and a class for sure next year.

"Best Ever" was our class theme and this was the "best ever" class, "best ever" students (Joanna, Rita, me), and course...the best ever teacher Leslie Molen. I will highly recommend any of her classes anytime. In the past I've made a Santos Cage Doll and a marionette with Leslie--so this was my third class. We made a Chinese inspired needle sculpted doll-- Ling Li-Hua or Chun Woo. The basic doll is the same--it was the costuming that's different. I made a "hybrid" of sorts with the costuming--I made Ling Li's coat, shirt and pants and I made Chun Woo's hat and shoes--it all came out very cute. The new things I learned were needle sculpting the face, adding hand painted small wooden bead mounted on a toothpick into a socket, adding an overlay that covered the stitches and the eyeballs and then cutting away over the eyes to make the eye lids. Now I'm trying to figure out how I can use what I've learned with my bears!!

My plan is to sign up for a "Muppet" style puppet class in September.

 

 

-Me and Leslie

Next up for me and the bears will be the completion of my gallery piece for TBAI. Also my next show will be the DC Big Flea at the Dulles Expo Center in Chantilly, VA July 20-21 2013. Check us out!!!

Some New Things and Updates

I'm really excited about my upcoming trip to the John C. Campbell Folk School on May 19-25. This time I'm taking a class with Leslie Molen...the 3rd time (Santos Cage Doll the first time, and Marionette the second time). She's a wonderful teacher, and I always have a good time!! And I always learn something new and I come home inspired creatively!! I can't wait!!! Mark is coming with me this time...he'll be painting. When we get back his mother will be visiting. It's always nice to see her. I'll also have to finish my gallery piece for TBAI. More about that later. So much to do, so little time.........

Here are some of my newest creations  that debuted at the D.C. Big Flea Antiques and Collectibles Show. They are still for sale: If you are interested in purchasing any of my bears or bunnies send me an Email for more info, or give me a call at (703) 263-0622:

"Bunting"                                                                                          "Dashwood"

"Jane Russell" 

                  "Ozma"

"Prim Tiny-Companions (T.C.)"

        "Rory"

 

                                                           *He can sit in these different poses*

"Russell"

"Suede & Berry"

 

"Suede Russell"

"Nougat and Tatoo"