OWOH Event Winners!

Congrats! to numbers 27 -  Vintiquities Workshop and 191 - E Makes Art.

Thanks so much to everyone who stopped by my blog and left a message.  And what a nice surprise from A Whimsical Bohemian!  I hope to see you again at next year's new event!

Art Doll ~ Susan

I didn't plan on it working out this way but this doll's face ended up reminding me of a dear friend whom I've lost touch with a couple of years ago.  Even her outfit looks like something she would wear.  Here is Susan.

Susan stands 11 1/2" high in a dark orange and burgundy print dress with a soft "knit" short sleeve sweater.  She also has a pretty gold necklace and two gold bracelets.  She comes to you with a classic jester jack in the box.  

Art Doll ~ Kathleen

One of my favorite movies inspired this doll.  I named her Kathleen after the character played by Meg Ryan in "You've Got Mail".  Her outfit is based on the best scene in the movie.  It is in the ending when NY152 reveals himself to be Joe Fox (Tom Hanks); the very person she once hated but eventually came to fall in love with.

Kathleen stands 11 3/4" high in a caribbean blue pinch pleated dress and a summery shear sweater.   She comes to you with her laptop ready to send her next AOL email and a small bunch of daisies wrapped in a red bow.

Art Doll ~ Lesia

So many things inspire my art work; films, paintings, books, clothing and lately even children's cartoons (probably because that's all I get a chance to watch nowadays).  But my mind goes crazy with ideas when I walk into the clothing and home accessory store, Anthropologie.  Their website description is right on point with how I feel when I visit their stores, "Anthropologie offers a one-of-a-kind and compelling shopping experience that makes women feel beautiful, hopeful and connected."  Getting their catalog mailed to my home is a nice "quick fixe" for when I can't make it to the mall.  One photo in the catalog struck my attention in particular.  Here is the photo and the doll it inspired me to make.  I named her, "Lesia".

Lesia stands 12 1/4" high in a long teal dress with lime accents, a pair of summery espadrilles, and a colorful scarf decorates her beautiful dark brown hair twists.  She comes to you with a cherry wood box in which she holds her five gold bracelets.  

New from M Ann M - Art Dolls

~ 2011 marks my 10th year in business.  Through those years I have experimented with so many art mediums and I have probably purchased items from every isle in the craft store.  For the past several years I have fallen in love with and stuck to paper arts.  I started with greeting cards, then paper mache jack in the boxes, then paper mache hot air balloons and now I am introducing my one of a kind art dolls.  Since time is still hard to come by, I can only make one or two dolls a month; but for this week I will offer four dolls.  Below is the first doll whom I named "Paris".  ~

Paris stands about 12" high with striped shirt, pleated skirt and red neck scarf.  She sports thigh high fish nets and tall black boots with silver buckle accents.  Hair long brown hair can be worn with or without her accompanying baret.  She also comes with a camera that she carries on her shoulder or around her neck.

Tomorrow night (Wednesday, February 16) I will post another doll and then another on Thursday and Friday.  On Friday night they will all be available for purchase on Etsy for up to $175

Here are some details about the dolls...
The dolls are made using paper mache with a paper clay overlay.  They have a wire armature running throughout their bodies including their hands and feet.  The arms, legs and head are movable as they are connected to the body with nut/screw joints.  They are painted with professional quality acrylic paints and sealed with a matte sealer.  Their clothes, hair, accessories and accompanying "gifts" are made entirely of paper (ie; paper mache, paper clay, cardboard, mulberry paper, paper tape, etc.) (unless otherwise noted) or they are painted on.  The clothing is not removable.  Dolls are signed and dated on their bottoms which may be hidden by their clothes.  Each doll is about 12" tall and comes with her own coordinating cardboard stand.   

Care and use of dolls...

Since these are art dolls, they are not made for children.  Especially due to the fragile nature of paper, they are to be handled very carefully.  Imperfections in construction and execution may be visible and should be expected since they are handmade.  They should not be placed in direct sunlight or in humid environments.  They should not be held by the arms or legs but by the waist or the behind.  The dolls can sit and be posed with careful and delicate attention to their clothing and hair.  They should not be forced to sit or move if there is resistance as this could cause a crack in the paper clay or a tear in the paper.  Keep clean with a dry cloth, paint brush, duster or dust it off with a cool hair dryer every now and then.   Please note that the more they are played with, the less resilient they become.   (Excuse me if I sound overly cautious; the dolls are sturdily made so with proper care they should last over a lifetime.)