ADO Challenge - Preliminary Drawing

This is one of the working drawings I have done for my interpretation of 'Air' for the ADO 'Elements' Challenge. (www.artdollsonly.blogspot.com)

The head is sculpted and with a glorious un-busy-with-other-stuff weekend looming before me, I plan to get a lot done.

Goodbye Amy!

I'm saying goodbye to this doll - "Redivivus" Amy - she's off to live in London, so I made her a new hat and bag for the trip.

Amy is one of two "Redivivus" dolls I made last year to enter a design award using recycled stuff. Amy and her un-named sister were made from sawdust and glue compound amongst other things. I did a fairly hefty submission with lots of research to accompany my entry and I was the lucky recipient of the award! You can see a picture of Amy with her sister if you scroll right down to the bottom of this page - last photo. Different fathers?

New Works-In-Progress

Well.......I'm back at work. I've re-opened my Etsy store http://www.susiemcmahon.etsy.com/ and that has been keeping me busy. I'm going to be introducing some new products over the next few weeks - I had plenty of time when I was overseas to come up with some new ideas.

I' ve also sculpted this finished head and wigged it with some beautiful Tibetan lamb (given to me by Kate Erbach). I have some ideas on how to finish this head, but first I must make a body. The other head was sculpted this morning - still lots of work to do on this one. This is the beginning of my ADO 'Elements' Challenge. She will be based on 'Air'.

And last But Not least...........

A little doll I made in 2003 - he had escaped me before being photographed.......got him now!

A wonderful old artist's mannikin.

A well-kept secret - the rather fabulous train station in Los Angeles.

I was able to spend a few days with my dear friend, Georgia, in San Diego. Georgia was the wonderful angel who looked after me when I got desperately ill there in 2003........without her looking out for me, I don't know what would have happened.

Georgia is a wonderful dollmaker - she hides her light under a bushel a bit, but here is some of her work and a few other bits and pieces.

More pics from trip

The stunning view of rural Maryland from Rose's front window.

Kate's gorgeous little girl.

Celia and her wild red-head!

Doris with her beautiful fairy

Ellen's little cutie

At Gettysburg

More............

Annie's Zoziedoll

"Lunar Priestess" - managed to make this piece while 'on the road'

A visit to the "Glitz" in Kentucky

Stone sculpture by Linda Apple

More..........

The famous Apple Chocolate Martini

Beautiful Weeds

Linda Apple goofs off, while Gloria is amused!

Yours Truly and Gloria Winer at the 'Hats 'n Heels Banquet' at AFIC

Water

This is the incredible polished steel sculpture in Millenium Park in Chicago. I am inside it looking up - you can make me out as the small figure in the lower centre of the picture.

Home Again!

Wonderful as it is to travel, there is nothing finer than arriving home after a long trip!

I had a great two months travelling and teaching: met some wonderful new friends, and renewed some friendships of long standing. Thanks to all the great people who took me into their homes, made me welcome and nurtured my body and my soul. Thanks to Stu, Guy and Sandy, David and Rosie, Apple, Gloria, Annie and Michael, Rose and Mike and of course Ted and Georgia in San Diego.

I'm still processing my experiences (and recovering from jet-lag) but here are a few pics - more later.