December - In The Niche

If you know me then you know I love folk art.  When we lived in Stow, OH, there was an art gallery that sponsored Charles Wysocki every year.  We stood in line one year to have him sign the print we bought, our first, but it was such an ordeal!  After 3 hours in line, a little girl waiting with her mother and grandmother accidentally knocked over an original oil that Wysocki had for sale.  Mr. Wysocki was so upset by this that he ended the signing and walked away.  We were only one person away from meeting him and we were both so disappointed.  He ended up signing all of the prints that had been purchased but in private.  After that we would buy the print and have him sign them without standing in line.  Our house is loaded with Uncle Sam figures, stars and American flags in every medium including our area rugs.  Like I said, I love folk art.

December brings our first Christmas in the new house in Denver.  We decorated like mad for a week but I knew right away that the Santa Folk Doll would be in the Niche place of honor.  I made this doll two Christmas' ago and is another Leslie Molen design.  Go to the link to read the story behind the design.  I used a French General solid fabric for the hands and head and I went through my stash of scrap fabric including quilting cottons, silk and rayon velvet, satin and upholstery fabric for the patchwork squares.  The beard and eyes are hand embroidered as well as his mitten hands, sleeves, some of the squares and the flowers on the front of the doll body.  The flowers are hand appliquéd with the same silk velvet that is in the coat and hat.  The doll was a challenge but oh so worth it!

Three doll friends in Ohio are making this doll as a group project this year.  Carolyn, Teresa and Paloma, how are your Santa Fold Dolls coming along?

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas!

In The Niche

I love our town home.  It has a very modern design with angled walls, open concept, open stairway, 10 foot ceilings, unusual windows and my favorite design feature is an art niche in the main living area.

I use it to display dolls I've made.  This month I have my Santos Cage Doll featured.  I made her in a class taught by Leslie Molen at Artistic Figures in Cloth in 2011.  Leslie is such a wonderful teacher.  She inspires me to put my own personal voice and details into her original designs.  My Santos doll is in memoriam to my beloved dog companions.  I stamped their names between the slats and added a copper heart picture charm for each of them above the velvet embroidered heart.

In The Niche will become a regular monthly post here on my blog.

Not As Easy As Apple

I am having some Blogger learning curve issues.

Fall in My Neck of the Woods

I live in the Westerly Creek area of Stapleton right across the street from Central Park.  It has been a glorious fall here.  According to long time residents, fall came late this year.  If so, I hope it's late every year.  Here are some pictures I took on an afternoon walk last week.

I have no idea what these pod like sculptures are but they make me wonder if they are communicating with alien space ships to land HERE!

Some interesting yard art.

Westerly Creek Primary School is viewed through this sculpture.

It's Halloween today and it's warm and sunny.  I am going to post a video of what Halloween Trick or Treat is like here in Stapleton.  It was taken last year.  In two hours and 45 minutes this family gave out 1200 pieces of candy.

We have one bag of candy which has 125 pieces.  When it's gone, it's lights out.

BACK TO THE BLOGESPHERE

A year ago I lost my website and blog when Apple stopped Mobile Me for the iCloud.  I tried for a year to find a blog platform that would be just as easy as Mobile Me.  I missed posting about my artwork and my life.  I joined Facebook but it wasn't the same.  I love following favorite blogs and again, I missed posting.  Since losing my blog I have moved from Akron OH to Denver CO.  From a semi-country setting to in one of the fastest growing parts of a city that used to be a major airport.  From a single family home with a large yard to a town home with none.  From gray skies and humidity to sunny skies and almost no humidity.  From hills to mountains.  It has been a HUGE change in my life and I really missed sharing it on my blog.   Have I mentioned how much I missed my blog?

Since most of my friends use Blogger, I decided try another blog.  I also signed up for an online class called Blogging Your Way that starts on Friday.  So, I needed a blog pronto!  I will be working on the design and content as I go along.  

Put your tray tables up and buckle your seat belts this could be a bumpy ride.

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