Spilling Over

Pencil drawing.

Putting Things Together

Here are a couple of starts for pieces I hope to finish this week. As you can see, I like to start by assembling all the component parts to work things out before I finally put them together. It's quite a long process sometimes.........I find that I need to try different things and mull over them for a few days before achieveing the final picture that I have in my mind.

 And these are yummy little parcels made with a savoury filling of spinach and tomatoes (from the garden, naturally!) with pine-nuts, garlic, onion, herbs and feta all wrapped in puff pastry and baked.....kind of Greekish, but I couldn't get filo pastry, so I improvised!

Funny Food?

Well.......these might look for all the world, like a tray of funny cookies, but they are actually face-masks to be used in the "Zozie" class I am teaching tomorrow. These are made from paperclay and they will be popped into a low oven for a few hours to dry out.

And look! It hasn't been particularly cold yet, but Autumn is definitely on the way.

Introducing Sue McFadden

I'd like to introduce you to one of my all-time favourite dollmakers, Sue McFadden.

Since I discovered her dolls and her blog several years ago I have been taken with the quiet poise and wonderful craftsmanship of her dolls, most of which are made entirely from wool felt. Sue quietly goes about making her dolls and her other art without too much fuss, but really, these stunning works of doll art deserve much more exposure!

Sue has decided to offer an online class in felt doll-making, which is wonderful news indeed! If you want to find out the details of the class go to Sue's blog and while you are there check out her galleries with lots of lovely finished dolls to drool over!

                Sue kindly allowed me to use some of her photos of her dolls - aren't they fabulous?

Progress

Here's the "Kaethe Kruse" head that I started a few weeks ago - I've added more clay and started sanding it - next step is adding the cloth layer. I studied lots of pictures of original heads to try and reproduce the nuances of form that are evident in the originals and which I find very appealing. I've drafted a body pattern that I think will work, but since I am leaving for the US in a few weeks, I think this project may have to wait until my return to be completed.

Felicity

Finally finished! Felicity is a vintage-inspired cloth doll. I made her a crocheted cotton apron and cap and her dress is made from green and tan checked cotton fabric. Her hair is made from hanks of mercerized cotton which were impregnated with glue and adhered to her head, then painted. She looks quite satisfied with her lot.

More Eating Fresh!

Here's what I harvested and cooked for myself last night, continuing my mini-challenge to only eat what is in the garden...........well, OK, I cheated a little with the dessert - I didn't grow the watermelon, but it was already in the 'frig, so it seemed wasteful to let it spoil and have to throw it out. BTW, the blackberries and raspberries with the watermelon drizzled with lemon juice and a sprinkling of sugar were divine!  The main course consisted of oven roasted potatoes (pink firs), beetroot and parsnips - they were roasted in fabulous olive oil from a local grower (Lentara Olives) along with carrots with parsley and creamed spinach with garlic. It was very tasty!

For those of you who live locally, I will be teaching a one-day "Making Zozie" workshop on March 26th at Calico Crossroads here in Exeter a couple of weeks before I leave for an overseas teaching trip. (More about that in a future post.) Contact Pauline for details - I think there is room for a couple more. This workshop is great fun and you will end up with a unique little doll to keep or give away as a gift to someone special.