Native American Doll Finished.

Yesterday I finished the Native American Seneca woman doll I've been working on. The Eastern Native Peoples had lots of contact with the European Colonists so had access to cloth and beads long before the tribes further west who wore animal hides for much longer until cloth become more widely used. I did extensive research on the traditional clothing and bead-work designs to be as accurate as possible. I'm not a bead artist at all so it was not easy but I am pleased with the outcome. The weather isn't on my side for final photos so I'm showing the shots I took in my studio last night. WIP to the completion.

2nd set of moccasins. I like these much better the the first ones I showed you.

Male and female member of the tribe wore leggings that were beaded. The women's tied at the knees and were worn under a wrap skirt.

The wrap skirt tied high in the waist and was elaborately beaded all the way around. The design would be smaller but just as elaborate on a real person but in order to show the detail the design is larger on this skirt.

Over the wrap skirt a long sleeved tunic with simpler beading and a collar was worn.

A close up of her face and the tunic beading.

Finished front.

The Seneca women wore their hair pulled back into a long braid.

Finished right side.

Finished left side.

Finished back.

UPDATE: I realized I never posted the beauty shots of this piece. so I've updated this post with those photos that really show off this lovely art doll.

 This view gives you a better idea of the beading on the tunic as well as the doll's face.

 A much better view of the whole piece.

 A 3/4 view.

A close up of beading on the skirt. legging and moccasins. 

I hope you've enjoyed seeing this latest creation of mine. I love comments so please do let me know what you think.

Li'l Red

I recently won a sweet little pattern from Ginger Melon's new Fairy Tale Dolls. I got to choose from several and I chose Li'l Red. I spent some time sewing her up yesterday. 

If I make another one I'll enlarge the pattern cause it's just so tiny and I don't much like sewing so small. It turned out cute and I gave it to my daughter who needed something special to cheer her up. She had a nasty fall over the weekend and scraped her face up, almost broke her nose, has a huge knot on her head and has a mild concussion. I'd show a pic but she refuses to let anyone see her until she looks better.

I have finished my Vintage Circus piece but will wait until my ADA group sees if first before I show you all.

I still have lots to do on my Indian doll and the next ADA Challenge is coming up next month too. I've been thinking about my Wonderland piece and I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to make it. I don't think I can afford it right now. I'm hoping to still be able to do a piece for Patrick Gill's Vintage Halloween Challenge if he has one this year. This is an extremely stressful year financially so far. Lots of ideas...very little money. So if you are wondering why I'm not posting projects like I used to, that's why.

Wednesday WIP

This is the wrap skirt I'm beading for a doll I'm making. I ran out of beads and major arthritis pain and insomnia stopped me from working on this last week. Then this weekend I dealt with a broken dryer, my ever clogged kitchen sink, a mutant giant ant invasion and a flat tire no one could get off the car. Everything is resolved except the ants and the dryer, we are waiting for a part to be ordered but at least it has a warranty unlike my kitchen drains. I've been a big crabby pants to say the least.

I've really got to get working on this doll. The white paper are patterns I made for checking the sizing of the beaded pattern before I start beading. The beading is taking longer than I thought. I should have known it would cause I'm such a perfectionist. At least the moccasins are done. After this skirt there is an over tunic dress and beaded collar to do. I gave myself till the end of June and I still think I can make it if I don't have anymore distractions. Speaking of which my nephew's will be here this weekend so I probably won't get too much done. That 3 year old is a handful! His mother refers to him as the Tasmanian Devil and she's not exaggerating!

I am still struggling with what direction to take my art in and what I want to do but for now I'm happy doing this doll.

Update on Sassyland

I haven't blogged in a bit because my mom had knee replacement surgery and all I was working on was those 300 penguin ornament wedding favors. Kind of boring stuff really. Well the good news is my mom is doing really well after her surgery and is back to doing most things again so my time of taking care of her was short. The other good news is that I finally finished those darn penguins! And on time too!

After this project I was feeling really burned out. I have a directionless feeling. Not sure if the path I set myself on is the right one. Should I continue making my felt dolls? Should I spend more time doing paper clay dolls? Should I go back to making plush dolls? So many questions and no answers yet. Do any of you ever feel this way?

After sitting around resting for a few days I felt the itch to start making something. Luckily I had a doll body pre-made weeks ago so I could just dive right in. I set myself a goal to try and have one of my creations published so I grabbed on to that idea to keep me motivated.

Here she is in her glory. Her face is done now but I'm not going to show that yet. But I'll show her shoes.

I'm not a great beader so I'm just trying to give the idea of a.....well it's a moccasin. I hope it looks like one. It took me 2 days to do just this one.

I am still working on my Vintage circus piece too after setting it aside for a month. I made the trick rider for the horse and discovered that the weight of the doll was too much for the horse's legs to support. ARRRGGGHHHH!!!! I re-did the joints and the problem is solved. The horse now has his costume finished too.

Here is the rider WIP. She now has a head but I rushed doing it and she's a very ugly girl. I'm trying to decide if I should re-do her head or just go with it.

Anyhoo just in case you were wondering what I've been up to...there it is.

I'm Still Here...

...even though it may not seem that way. My mom had knee replacement surgery and is doing well. She's able to do a lot for herself now what makes it so much easier on me. The first week was really stressful for us both. I don't think I'm a very good caretaker, but I do try so I guess that's what counts. The 5 months I took care of my step dad about did me in so it was hard to pull the energy together to help my mom.

My mom or my brother usually do the cooking and we all eat together. I'm not a great cook, as a matter of fact I really enjoy watching cooking shows but hate cooking myself. So it's been a struggle to feed everyone. (My brother is working a lot of late hours at work learning a new computer tracking system). Thank goodness some lovely church friends of my mom's dropped by with casseroles and helped us get through.

I've had to put projects on hold again cause I just can't deal with my mom and other family issues and taking care of the entire house, shopping, cooking, dealing with my own medical issues and doing this large penguin order, etc right now. My stress and anxiety level is a bit high right now but I'm managing. I guess I sound like a whiner but really I'm just exhausted. I had much more energy 4 years ago when my mom had her first knee done.

I have 80 of the 300 penguins completely finished!

Here's what I have left to do.

I ran out of the ribbon for the hanging loops and have not been able to find it anywhere. Tomorrow I'm taking a run out to the far away Hobby Lobby cause I hear they have it. Fingers crossed!

I received a package from Fed Ex this morning. From my mom for Mother's Day. She is just the sweetest!

It's that a pretty box? What's inside?

Cookies from Harry and David. My mom rocks!

Well now you know what's going on with me and I hope soon to have more to show than penguins.