**

Setting his beautiful spirit free on Saturday 4th January 2014 on Ben Lomond (near Frew's Flutes)

New Project - New Year

MAIDA  (Dixie Redmond's antique-inspired doll-making group) is hosting a new challenge - this time to re-create an "Alabama Indestructible Baby" doll like the ones made by Ella Smith in Alabama at the beginning of the C20th. This is a lovely little summer holiday project for me - one that I can pick up and put down and work on as I find the time in between the busy stuff of having visitors and family staying during the summer.
This is what the originals were like (they varied a lot!)

Here's my interpretation:

I'm looking forward to the dressing of this doll - she will wear a simple dress with some kind of print pinafore over the top and maybe a bonnet.

By the way, if you are interested in making or even just discussing antique-inspired cloth dolls like those originally made by Izannah Walker, Emma Adams, Ella Smith etc, MAIDA is a great group to belong to.......plenty of stimulating discussion and sharing with a wonderful bunch of doll-makers! Click on the link to take a peek.

Christmas in pictures........Australian style

Season's Greetings!

At the end of a very momentous year for me, I wish you all peace, happiness and all good things for 2014. I am one who will not be sad to see the end of 2013, but I'm moving on with anticipation and plans! Thank you all for your friendship and support through a difficult time.

Two more Sorrydolls

After some days of frantic activity, I got two more Sorrydolls done to replace the ones sold at the exhibition in the Long Gallery in Hobart. (Actually, one should be called a Grumpydoll - see what I mean?) If the little grumpy one is slightly familiar, it's because I used the "Pensive Child" mould I made last year to make her face
So it was a quick trip to Hobart yesterday to deliver them, along with the piece I completed last week "Geranium Kiss". I decided to take the bus, as I find driving there and back in one day very tiring. And it was going to be 37 C in Hobart. And the air-con in my car is not working. And I can read on the bus. Enough reasons not to drive? I think so!

Geranium Kiss

This is #8 in the "Sorrowful Songs" series - maybe the last, I'm not sure. The title is "Geranium Kiss"...........words stolen from Bob Dylan's "Sad-eyed Lady of the Lowlands" off the Blonde on Blonde album.

And as a work-in-progress:

New Beginnings........

Firstly, the Tamar Valley Art Trail was launched on 9th December:

Here's the motley crew with the State Premier, Lara Giddings (she's the one with the signature scarf). Great launch at Velo Winery.

And then it was down to Hobart to set up my work in the "Images of Tasmania" exhibition in Salamanca's Long Gallery. Great opening on the 12th......a real buzz! Not quite sure about champagne at 8 am, however.....still pondering that one!

Leila and Laurence - my 17 y.o. grandchildren (cousins)

All Done!

I've completed the final piece for the "Images of Tasmania 16"  exhibition. The work goes up next week, with the opening at 8:00 am on the 12th of December. I've managed to get a lot done......but I had to burn the candle at both ends a bit to do it. Now I can relax a little before the Christmas shenanigans begin!

This is "Windsong"

This is the raw sculpt.