I have been working hard on my craft since 2004, and I think I have a skill level that shows in my work. I am the do over queen and there are many heads without bodies to suggest that these mistakes drive me to the perfect end. The finished doll always seems to lead to the next doll, one is born out of another. This is why I love making dolls. It is the air I breathe and pretty much defines me. I am a doll maker.

This may sound strange but these bodiless heads and headless bodies speak to me. I have control over the parts and pieces individually, but the position involved in the connection is revealed at the moment the pieces touch one another for the first time. The head moves me to sew it in a certain pose, same with the hands and arms. The whole doll forms itself to be expressive according to its idea of itself.

Thursday, April 30, 2009

Secret Angel

This is an Art Doll that I created in 2008. She was inspired by an idea that there are "Angels All Around Us"

I believe in the "Law of Reciprocity". You get what you give, what comes around goes around. You reap what you sew, Do unto others and Karma, whatever you want to call it, this is the way natural energy works. So one of the ways to put good out there and have good come back to you is through prayer.

Prayer is a good way to put others first and to be a blessing to this world. Also a great way to stay in touch and show your love and reverence to the BIG GUY.

She is on Sale now at my Etsy Store
artdollsbynat.etsy.com

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

"The Orange Floral Tie"

Now On Sale at my Etsy Shop.

This is one of my new "Floating Head" series.
She is titled "The Orange Floral Tie"

The piece stands 10" tall x 7" wide x 7" deep.

She has a needlesculpted face, her hair is made of dyed twine that has been twisted. I am always surprised with the hairstyles I can execute. It is scary to start cutting into a weave that has taken hours to sew in. But I really like
her asymmetrical style.

Please visit my Etsy shop and take a look.
http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5271522

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Somewhere in Lower Alabama

One of Rosie's road trips was just a few miles away from home. We visited Fairhope, Alabama. Fairhope is a coastal town on Mobile Bay with many fine restaurants, galleries and shops to enjoy.


We visited the Fairhope Pier with its rose garden and great view.

Wonderful day. Much more to come, so keep coming back. . . . . . . . .

I am getting use to the funny looks I get while photographing, but Rosie and I don't care. We just carry on like we are the only ones around, laughing and joking. We have too much fun.
. . . . . . .

Friday, April 17, 2009

Sharing Art Dolls Only


I belong to ADO which is an ever growing group of very talented and wonderfully creative artisans who share in the love of making Art Dolls.
Here are three such artist:

Jacqui

Monday, April 13, 2009

Dark, Darker, Darkest

At first these eyeless faces kind of left me wanting more. But now I think they are something to look deep into. I find myself very absorbed in the nothingness.


I think I could go even darker with the eyes. I use watercolor pencils, so I am able to get a smudge and blur around the edges, but sometimes the dark doesn't stay dark enough. Not sure if there is some better way to get dark. I am always scared to make the first experimental stroke with anything, but maybe you all have some thoughts.........................

Something about that face. I know it from somewhere..........................................

Wednesday, April 8, 2009

The Dress . . . . . . .

This was probably the second or third doll that I made. I was going for a distinct looking face that could in no way be thought of as attractive.


She was to be balanced out and transported to the attractive side of life, by a beautiful designer dress. A Cinderella idea.


So I think the doll's face was easy enough to style for the sad side of her life, but the dress was my first attempt to make something pretty and feminine. If ya'll only knew how much I hate to wear dresses and to even come close to high style fem is way out of my realm, but I do appreciate beauty in whatever form it takes. And I do enjoy making my dolls beautiful with feminine clothes.

This dress is just a bunch of separate pieces that have been saturated in fabric stiffener and then forced into a wavy wrinkle shape. They were then assembled in to a skirt by sewing them to the waistline of the doll. I thought it came out well and this doll encouraged me to continue past all the frustrations that never became dolls.

Sometimes I fear that all those doll parts that I hid away in boxes will come out and drag me under the bed one night . . . . . .

Saturday, April 4, 2009

It Has Been a Long Winter

Late last October, once the melting heat of South Alabama finally gave in to Autumn, my girl Rosie and I set out on adventures. Rosie is a recluse and so am I for the most part, except for my visits to Hobby Lobby and thrift stores. Well Rosie talked me into being a brave action figure and we visited a few spots around the area. Gas was up to $4 so we did not go far off our dirt road.


This is BW the black and white cat. What else would his name be. He chose us, and he is very loyal and loves to fight. He is no longer a lover and can not make more black and white cats. He is not responsible.


This is the USS Battleship Alabama. It sits on the other side of Mobile Bay, stuck in the muck.


The skyline of Mobile, Al. New is not what old Mobile is about. Below these pillars, old downtown Mobile still stands. Mostly empty, but still something to enjoy.

Rosie and I intend to get back out now that the sky is blue and the interest in our pursuit of action is back.

Thursday, April 2, 2009

My First Art Doll . . . . . . . .

That I liked . . . . . . . .


The doll is titled "Yellow". Yellow is quite different from the dolls I do today. My understanding on how to construct the body was in its initial stage. The torso and heads were one piece and I had no idea on how to handle arms, so I left a hole in the shoulder of the torso and shoved a wire through to be support and then shoved the wire into the arms. Lots of shoving involved. I still do lots of shoving come to think of it.

Her face is basically a mask made of sculpey. It is stuck onto the fabric head. She is a bit stiff, but I love her. She will always be the one who told me I was an Artist and I should keep making dolls.