Intuitive Character Design Continued

Good Morning...been busy with that intuitive doll designing I mentioned in my previous post. I love when synchronicity happens...I have been wanting to make a Badger doll for ages...but I didn't have a pattern for it...well...when I do my Intuitive Doll designing I never know what I am going to end up with...I just fool around with pattern shapes...sew them up...then see what they remind me of. One of the heads that happened to come into existence was exactly what I have been wanting to create...a badger. This wasn't planned...it just happened & I love that!!! So I looked up some British Badger pics, ( I love the look of British Badgers...think "Beatrix Potter", "Wind in the Willow's" & "Brambly Hedge") I printed them out...got some great reference photos & was on my way to designing a brand new character doll.

Now I just want to think up a body for him...thinking pot belly with little feet & biggish arms...I just ordered some glass eyes...I made him some little Badger ears & now I need to think up a paint job for him...thinking mixed media painting with an aged look & patina...maybe some black funny fur for the stripes on his face...stitch on the fur...don't hide the stitches want him to look real folksy, hand made...not perfect...couldn't do perfect if I wanted too. He's gotta have an outfit...hobo looking...a little rough around the edges with patches & a few sewn up tears here & there. A little dirt too..badgers are dirty anyways. Will post my progress with the wee guy...he's not so wee though...the head is quite big...can't wait to see how he will turn out.

Made this Rabbit as well...the head is an intuitive process head...designed the body out of mix & match pattern pieces...had a lot of arms & legs...bodies floating around....tried this & that until I came up with what you see below...his character is already coming out even though he isn't painted yet. Going to live with him in his naked state for awhile...ponder the possibilities...that's half the fun when making these critters up.
Until then...go visit your imagination station & have some fun.
Susan

Play Time at the OK Corral

My name is Pea's

I am a figment of Susan's Imagination

Well....been back from the cabin for a few days now...not much to report on that front as the weather was the &^%%#$% ...only got to the beach one evening for a swim...was the only person there...which was kinda weird but exhilarating at the same time. Swimming by yourself is very peaceful, but I wasn't alone for long cause as soon as I got out I was swarmed by those hateful horsefly's. I spent my entire walk back to the cabin. whipping my towel around like some wild possessed banshee trying to swat the flys away...anyways, I am at home again & have been in my studio playing around with round head doll shapes. I call it my....aww crap...whats the word for it....intuitive doll making....not having a plan, but letting the shape come out naturally with out any preconceived ideas about what it will end up as. I like doing this as it frees up my creativity...I don't have to follow any kind of pattern. I needle-sculpt away & then step back to see what I have...maybe a badger, a bear, rabbit, who knows...some kinda Frankenstein doll concoction...I like to paint them, but not in a realistic way...I like the naive look to dolls...want to have fun with color, shapes, texture & patina. They end up being a figment of my imagination...some kinda imaginary thing made up of bits & pieces. I have to do this every once in a while as I get a trapped feeling if I work to long on the same thing...like wee mousies & such. I have some photos for you of some heads I have been working on & also an older finished piece that I couldn't part with....the weird rabbit looking thingy with pinkish spots & green skin...he keeps me company in my bedroom...I named him Peas & want to create a few companion pieces for him called Sweet Potato & Corn. Three pieces in all. After I am done my mandatory playing I will get down to more serious business...
till then...have a good day...play....smile...& be a kid once in awhile....
Susan

Lost Touch With Reality

I watched a program yesterday called Penny Revolution that really touched my heart...it made me realize that I have lost touch with how a vast majority of the people on this Earth live...I feel ashamed of how I take my way of living for granted...sometimes we just need a wake up call. One women in particular really touched me, she got a micro-loan of about $25.00 to start up a 2nd hand clothing business...she did really well, so well in fact that she was able to rebuild her old kitchen into the kitchen of her dreams...(this is what really got to me)...her dream kitchen consisted of moving her old kitchen, which happened to sit on top of a swamp, to the other side of her house which was on higher ground. The new kitchen was nothing but a 2X4 shack...she was sooo proud of her new kitchen...she pointed to the right & said with a huge smile...this is my new kitchen counter...a board attached to the wall with a round cut out to place a plastic basin in to wash dishes. She then walked over & proclaimed...I am so happy, this is my new cooking area....another small board with a 2 burner plug in portable stove...& last of all, we have space to sit & eat at our new kitchen table...a small plastic deck table...I didn't see any chairs but I did notice the dirt floor. My God... we are so spoiled. I truly felt humbled as I looked around at my new apartment...my kitchen consists of a granite counter top, stainless steal appliances, a gas stove, custom cupboards & a tile floor...& yet it still isn't perfect...I want a tile back splash too...I have to do something...I told my husband..this is pathetic I exclaimed!!!
I live in the lap of luxury & it still isn't enough!!! I vowed then & there that Iwould do something about it...I want to give back...for all the things I am blessed enough to have in my life. I want to research working holidays...& I want to find some volunteer programs...but most of all I want to be more aware of my environment, & think more before I complain about anything...be more thankful, be more giving & compassionate.

Wee Mouse - Primitive Pete

Wee Pete is Sold
My TDIPT Mercantile page
Happy Monday...thought I would introduce you to Primitive Pete...he is going to be available for adoption July 1st on the TDIPT Mercantile website along with the Wee Woolly Rabbit pictured below. Pete is a tiny fella at only 31/2 " inches tall...in total this piece is 7" inches tall. He is a hand-painted wool felt spotted mouse with glass bead eyes & chenille stem feet. He is sitting on a linen pin cushion that is attached to a wooden spool threaded with hemp cording...I have accented the pin cushion with two circles of wool felt that have black embroidered details...I think this whimsical mouse would feel right at home keeping you company in your sewing room or perhaps sitting amongst your other folk art collectibles. Wee Pete will be priced at $65.00 US plus $12.00 US for shipping to anywhere in the US or Canada. Price includes insurance. Please email me if you should have any questions. Thanks for popping by & have a Mice Day!
Susan

Cottage Style Wee Woolly Rabbit

Wee Woolly Rabbit with Vintage Donut Cutter Pin~Cushion

Wee Woolly Rabbit is Sold
My TDIPT Mercantile page
Hi all...thought I would give you a gander at one of the items that will be available for purchase July 1st on TDIPT Mercantile. This Cottage/Primitive Style Wee Woolly Rabbit is all done up with a Cream & Dusty Pink striped coat with collar & cuffs...don't forget the wee row of bead buttons down the front. The cushion he is sitting on is made from quilter's cotton & I have placed it in a vintage Donut Cutter...love how this turned out...you just can't beat that tarnished tin look...On the bottom of the tin I have placed a cardboard cut~out to which I have collaged a piece of Vintage sheet music which has been aged to perfection. This One of A Kind piece is 8" inches tall & will be priced at $65.00 US plus $12.00 US for shipping to anywhere in the US or Canada. Shipping price includes insurance. If you should have any questions please feel fee to contact me anytime...I would love to hear from you!

I will be posting more photos of available finished pieces in the next couple of days.

Its Christmas in July on the TDIPT Marketplace starting July 1st.
Stop by for some Christmas cheer & take a lookey lou at all the wonderful offerings our TDIPT artists will have available for purchase.
. HO . HO . HO .

Sacred Space - Bedstead Photos

I took these pictures last weekend at the Western Development Museum in North Battleford, Saskatchewan, Canada. My brother, an avid photographer was visiting from Vancouver...thought I would take him to the museum as there are multiple places to take great photos. Needless to say...I too was snapping away at a furious pace.
The museum is made up of old buildings that they have been saved & moved. You can go inside them & see the way in which different classes lived & the belongings they would have used. There are little vignettes in every room...& I was particularly taken with the bedrooms....the mood in them was perfect...quiet, soft, peaceful.

http://www.wdm.ca/nb.html

Bedstead Photos

. Rock A Bye Baby .

Bedstead Photos

. Rest .

. Peace .

. Quiet .

Bedstead Photos

. Sweet Dreams .

Saskatchewan Ghost Town of Arelee

Made a friend along the way

My Husband & I went out exploring on Sunday...took a little road trip down some big old empty highways. Saskatchewan is a sparsely populated province of Canada...the trend these days...is to shut down the little town schools because of dwindling populations & the cost of keeping these schools going. This has resulted in an exodus of families with children moving to the bigger cities in order to have access to education & other services...as a result, Saskatchewan has a huge number of abandoned towns, ghost towns...loosely populated by eccentric folks looking for peace & quiet & inexpensive living.
If you are looking for a unique holiday full of history, great photo opportunities & the chance to learn a little about Saskatchewan...then I suggest you get an atlas & start planning your trip...cause you will have loads of fun exploring these dusty little places. There are abandoned towns & farms around every corner...the photos here & below are from a town called Arelee about 1 hour west of Saskatoon...I had a blast wandering around here snapping photos...could of stayed a lot longer but my stomach was growling & a prairie pic-nic awaited me...

Arelee Photos

Coming to say hello

Arelee Photos

Beauty in Chains

Art In Artifacts

Open Your Eyes to Pattern Color Repetition Balance

Arelee Photos

Home Sweet Home

Arlee Photos

Forlorn & Forsaken...

I sit empty & lost

Where are my people...

Possum Post Update

I fuzzied up little Nervous Ned... a good grooming with the old toothbrush & he is is all fluffed up, & I am hoping...looking a little more possum like. Oh yah, gave him a bit of a wee shower with the old spray bottle & then scrubbed his back...under his arms...no soap though...he's new... so he's not to stinky yet. {do possums smell...I wouldn't know} The weee shower & scrub lightened his coat up just right... I then went back in with some white paint here... a little pink there and last but not least, gave him a wee tuffet for his little fuzzy behind. He is a custom piece for a gal who has been called possum since she was a little girl... a sweet endearment for sure.

I hope this little guy finds a warm place in her heart & home...

Susan

Opossum or Rat...what do you think?

Nervous Ned

http://www.aaanimalcontrol.com/cuteopossums.html

Good morning....Need your help...I just finished making this wee guy last night... I
think he looks like an Opossum...or does he look like a rat? I have posted a link for you to check out...it's a gallery of possum photos that I used as my reference pics for creating this guy. You won't hurt my feelings if you say he looks more like a rat. Thought it would be fun to hear your thoughts & it would help me next time I want to make one of these critters. One last thing...do you think I should put him on a tuffet/cushion some type of stand or should I leave him as is? Thanks for your help & have a great day! Susan

MerMouse Magic ~ Under the Sea Swap

Below you will see a sequence of photos showing the steps I took to make Mermouse Magic.

Fabric choices, hmmmmm

Seashells by the seashore

The final details...adding the sparkle

"MerMouse Magic"

Well...I finally mailed my Mermouse out today...Carisa should receive her in a couple of weeks or so...I had a heck of time deciding what to make for this project... but in the long run I decided to do what I do best...make mice...LOL! I could of made a rabbit/mermaid but it just didn't jive for me. Merrabbit....aahhh,maybe next time. I had a lot of fun creating this new pattern & I spent a good few hours trying to figure out how to give my mouse a mermaid tail. I decided to needle felt blue wool roving onto the tail extension, I then took a leaf shaped cookie cutter & proceeded to use that as a mold to needle felt the two fins, which I later attached to the mouse tail by needle felting them on with additional lengths of wool roving. Shhhh, clear as mud I am sure. I now know how hard it is to needle felt...it can take hours to finish a piece this way & your wrist sure takes a beating...I like how it looks & it has given me an additional way to add details to my finished pieces.

I am pretty happy with how this project turned out & I am looking forward to taking part in more swaps...a great way to connect with other artists & make new friends.