Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Miniature Top Hat

I took a class at Quilt Festival this year with Gilbert Muniz:  Make a Mini Mad-Hatter Topper.  This was a fun class & Gilbert is a great teacher.  I've made hats for dolls, but this one was not doll sized.  More like half scale human size.  It was great because I learned millinery techniques and used supplies I've never used before.
Clockwise from back:  buckram, french elastic, petersham, millinery wire.
The only one of these I've used before is buckram.

I wanted to do a "Christmas fantasy" hat, and here it is:

If you ever get a chance to take a class from Gilbert, I highly recommend it!

Monday, November 7, 2011

Houston International Quilt Festival 2011

Another Quilt Festival has come and gone. The doll exhibits looked wonderful this year with new signs indicating the different exhibit categories, and a third tier for display area.

I was fortunate to have a doll in each of the four parts of the exhibit.

This was my piece for the invitational portion:


Maiden Mother Matriarch



My Material Girls entry:

Marina and Starla


TAODA Storybook Doll:

A is for Apples


Gypsy Challenge:

Henry's Masque

My purchases this year were lots of greens and autumn colors.

Silks and wools, trims and beads

  I'm thinking of the Green Man and Forest Dwellers......