Leaf Elves

I've been working on some leaf elves for the Fall Open House at Lucia's Garden.

Dyeing Silk Habotai for the leaf bodies

After dyeing the fabric with some fall golds and reds, I took the damp fabric outside and sprinkled on dry rit dye right out of the box.  This will give it some grainy spots - a trick I learned years ago from doll artist Dawn Kinsey.

Here are their little faces, which have been needle sculpted.  The darling little bunny pin cushion in the background was made by doll artist Leslie Molen.

Faces are painted

Here is "Autumn's Last Dance"

and "Maple Leaf Shim Sham"

 Shim Sham is a kind of shuffling soft shoe tap dance.  I think that looks just like what he is doing.

Lucia's Garden Fall Open House

Lucia's Garden is hosting a Fall Open House on Sunday, October 2, from 1-5 p.m.  I will be bringing Pumpkin Folk, Leaf Elves, friendly Witches, Harvest Angels, Autumn Elves and more! 

Lucia's Garden is located at

2360 W. Alabama

Houston, Texas 77098

713-523-6494
http://www.luciasgarden.com/

Lucia gave me my start in selling little Halloween witches at Lucia’s Garden many years ago.  Now I’ve come full circle and I will be bringing Halloween and Fall dolls to Lucia’s Garden for sale this October.  I’m honored to be back!



The Houston Area Fiber Artists will have our annual gallery show next month.  I'm excited to be one of the artists on the postcard !

 There will be a silent auction at the gallery show as well.  This is "Elodie", which I have donated to the silent auction:

Pumpkin Men

My website has been updated and I would love it if you would take a look when you have a moment. New work includes some framed hanging pieces, a couple of vintage bathing beauties, and my love affair with silk fusion continues…. www.janetbodin.com

 

I am holed up in the studio these days working on some fall projects, which is a good place to be in this 100 degree weather we are having here in Texas. I’d like to think working on pumpkin men and leaf elves will hasten the arrival of fall! I’m preparing for a Fall Open House October 2 at Lucia’s Garden in Houston. I was thrilled to be invited to show my art dolls at this beautiful little shop on West Alabama. http://www.luciasgarden.com/about.htm

 

Work in progress:

Dyeing Fabric for Pumpkin Men



Beginning to Sculpt Pumpkin Head

Sculpted Head Covered with Orange Cotton Lycra

Painted Features

Stitching the Head on the Body

Stitching the Stem on the Head





Textile Center

I got a nice surprise in the mail today.  The Textile Center in Minneapolis used a photo of my doll Forest Canticle on the cover of their annual report.  This piece was in the Figuratively Fiber exhibit there earlier this year.

ADAA Conference

I just got back from the All Dolls Are Art Conference in Austin, TX.  TAODA had several tables in the vendor area with lots of wonderful dolls for sale by Neva Waldt, Marlene Slobin, Tina Forester, Adriana Esqueda, Annette Money, Theresa May, Karin Otto-Burfict, and others.  I had to get one of Neva's little flower peeps - he's adorable!

His little head pops up out of the flower - too cute!

I also purchased some great fabrics, trims and doodads from everybody's favorite gypsy, Pamela Armas.  Of course Pamela and her Treasures of the Gypsy booth will be here in Houston in November for the Houston International Quilt Festival.  I always make a bee-line straight to her booth on preview night!

I got some neat things from Jeweled Treasures (also coming to Houston for IQF in November!):  some little blown glass baubles (don't know what I will do with those yet), some wire mesh ribbon, and other little treasures.....

Goodies from Jeweled Treasures

Lauren Vlcek had a great booth with patterns, supplies, and some wonderful cloth nesting dolls.  Of course they don't really nest, but are varying sizes and shaped like the Russian nesting dolls. I couldn't resist.....

Lauren does wonderful faces as you can see.  Lauren taught a class at the conference and I peeked in to see some fantastic butterfly fairies in progress.  I also got to peek in another class being taught by Lisa Renner, who does really interesting work. 

Last, but not least, I picked up some black and white striped fabric from Barb's Quilt Nook which will be perfect for some Halloween dolls I'm working on.

I'm so glad I attended.  It was a fun day.  I saw lots of friends, old and new, and even one I hadn't seen in many years - the wonderful and talented Annie Hess!  Amy Nelson did a wonderful job organizing the conference and says that she already has plans in place for next year's conference at the same location.

Go Figure Two!

Last night was the opening for Go Figure Two! at Las Manos Magicas in Houston.  TAODA has been blessed with so many gallery shows lately.  This one is in a folk art gallery, which is a different and interesting venue for us.

a view of one of the gallery walls

the reception getting under way

my contribution:  fruit kabobs

I have three pieces in this exhibit:

The Tempter

Vespers

Wisdom

"Wisdom" is a cloth figure over a wire armature. The under tunic is made of hand dyed silk habotai, stamped with circles and swirls. A scattering of sequins are sewn on. The over tunic is made of many pieces of hand dyed silk gauze. These pieces were computer printed with the same Bible verse (“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives to all men generously and without reproaching, and it will be given him.” James 1:5), then the edges were burned and foiled, and lastly sewn together.

The wings are made from artificial flower petals, cut apart and hand painted, then reassembled into wings.