ETSY OR ARTFIRE....WHY NOT BOTH!

COLORFUL, WHIMSICAL KNITTING FAIRY

I've just added this newest creation of mine out on my new ARTFIRE - DZFANTASY studio. Being a curious person, I decided to go ahead and open an ARTFIRE studio to see what it is all about. I will be listing some of my work out there, but my Etsy, DZFANTASY shop will still be my main focus for selling my creations. I feel it is good to keep an open mind to all possibilities!

If you'd like to see more photos and learn more about this delightful "knitting fairy", click on the link below.

DZFANTASY ON ARTFIRE

A "WHIMSICAL KNITTING" FAIRY!

WHIMSICAL "KNITTING" FAIRY
my newest creation

I've beeen working on this delightful knitting fairy for the last several days before I finally finished her today!! You wouldn't believe how long it took me to knit the start of the teeny, tiny scarf using the pair of needles I made for her. Did you ever try to knit with tiny toothpick needles!! I must say...it was quite a challenge!


I also made her the tiny knitting bag with the Swarovski crystal handle, so she could put her balls of yarn in there for safe keeping as she knits. The bag is fabric, which I then hand-painted a sparkling lavender color, and added the Swarovski crystal handle. A very magical bag, perfect for a fairy knitter!

Her bag can be displayed as show in the above photo, or you can set it up on the box next to the fairy!

The fairy comes sitting on the wooden, hand-painted "keepsake" box, and the box's handle supports the fairy sitting on the box. The fairy is NOT attached to the box, but needs to be displayed sitting on the box.

The box makes a wonderful little "keepsake" box, where you can store your treasures with the fairy as guardian! Below is a photo of the inside of the box. I created a tiny cushion for the inside of the box, using the same fabric as the fairy's body/wings.

She was such fun to design and create, and she is hoping she will find a good home in which to spread her fairy magic.

She is currently available in my DZFANTASY shop on Etsy

DZFANTASY

"ART DOLLS" and the ARTISTS WHO CREATE THEM!

PRINCESS OF THE SEA

Fiber Sculpted Mermaid

by, Donna Ziegler - DZFANTASY

WHAT IS AN ART DOLL?

A brief description might be....an art doll is a one-of-a-kind, 3-dimensional, figurative sculpture, designed and created from various mediums such as polyform clays, paper clays, fabric, wood and/or a combination of any of these mediums. The figures can range from human form, animals, fantasy figures and more. The only limitation is in any artist's imagination! What is YOUR description of an "art doll"?

The "world of art dolls" is a fun, magical world to belong to, and I wouldn't trade it for anything! Happily, the "art doll" has made great strides in being finally accepted for what it is....AN ART!!

While gathering together the "art doll" artists represented here, I found that a common "thread" links us all together, no matter where in the world we live....it is the "passion" to bring our imaginative creatures to life!! It is as important to us as the air we breath! I know it is for me!!

Here you will find a delightful mixture of "art dolls", and the artists who create them. Enjoy the photos, read the artist's words, and get lost in the world of "dolls"!

If you find an artist whose creations you'd like to learn more about, just click on the links below each artist's paragraph. I'm sure they would be more than happy to answer any questions you may have.

Original Art by Griselda Tello

GRISELDA'S SPIRIT ART DOLLS

Although painting is my first love, assemblage and art dolls has become an essential spiritual practice. I love the process of sculpting with polymer clay and working with textiles, yarn, fibers and beading, creating a context where magic begins. I've been inspired by many cultures where dolls were made symbolic of the sacred...full of meaning and creativity, I feel there is an element of reverence and solitude that guides me gently into that type of art. This is for me a form of meditation...a beautiful dance with creativity, where Spirit moves me to find inspiration in nature, myth and life itself. My only hope is that people may find in my art a sense of peace.

THE ART SPIRIT GALLERY

SPIRAL SUN

COBWEB

I started experimenting with art dolls just over a year ago as a result of acquiring a copy of Patti Medaris Culea's excellent book on making cloth dolls. I've always worked with textiles because I love the medium of fabric, the textural and sensual qualities of cloth, and I love the act of stitching. Going from two dimensions to three seemed like a natural progression. I've heard it said that every art doll you make is a self portrait, whether you intend it or not. For me, art dolls offer a way of exploring the other-worldly, magical qualities we all hold inside us.

Cobweb is based on one of the fairy characters in Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, which is one of my favourite Shakespeare plays. Making art dolls is something I keep coming back to after a period of two-dimensional work, and I find there's nothing quite like the satisfaction of seeing a unique individual slowly taking shape before your very eyes.

SPIRAL SUN BLOG

STAR SHINE GALLERY

Mildred's Christmas Shopping
Exhausted Art Doll Sculpture
by Patricia Bill

As the Christmas season begins, we find Mildred out at the mall carrying her heavy bags filled with gifts through the crowds of Christmas shoppers. Someone should tell her about the new and improved way to shop, on Etsy.com!

Mildred is a unique one-of-a-kind sculpture. An art doll creation by artist Patricia Bill. She has been hand crafted of kiln fired clay, wood and paper mache. Hand painted in acrylic paints and detailed with velvet and faux fur, she stands over 16 inches tall. Sure to become a treasured heirloom. She can be found in my Etsy shop - STAR SHINE GALLERY

SERENDIPITOUS WINKS

"MAPLE MOON" by Megan

I create OOAK faerie sculptures using polymer clay over tiny wire armatures. This one is titled 'Maple Moon' and she is part of my private collection. I also sell faeries in my shop and do commissions if requested.
Each faerie begins as a faint whisper in my mind. She slowly develops into an idea over days or weeks--can't rush the creative Muse. When she is ready, she pours out of my mind and hands and into the clay and transforms herself from the figurative into the literal. I might work for days or weeks, and for hours and hours at a time on each sculpture until I am finished. I can become quite complusive about my sculpting and their detailing--barely stopping to eat, drink or rest, as I apply their hair, and hand paint details and sew them clothes. My sculptures come from my inner being and are meant to invoke joy in others. I am naturally drawn to the magical realms and my art has always reflected my love of faeries. These days, now more than ever, it is critical to nuture the magic in our lives.

CW POPPETS

FLOATING MARKET
by Christine

I started making miniature dolls in 2006 when I found James Carrington's book "1/12 Scale Character Figures for the Dolls' House". My first doll wasn't really good, but from that time on I was hooked. So I practiced and experimented and still do... My art dolls are between 6"/14 cm up to 10"/25cm. They are made primarily in polymer clay with some bodys made from air drying clay.While making my dolls I can also indulge in my love for fabric/sewing, history, old paintings and traditions.

OLD WORLD PRIMITIVES

by Stephanie

The doll pictured above is a primitive folk art Santa doll made of muslin that I painted, sanded, coffee stained and sanded again to give him a time-worn look. His facial features are entirely hand-stitched. His beard is made of wool that I purchased raw and hand-washed myself, and the sweet annie that fills his stocking was purchased from a living historic farm that is still operating just as it did in the 1800s.

ART FEY STUDIO

Wendy Dreams of Neverland

by Zaryana

Art Doll making is a big part of my life (and even part of my personality) that gives me an opportunity through the creative process to dream away from everyday life into the wonderful world of fantasy. I am passionately in love with creating Art Dolls and for me it is as important as fresh water and fresh air.

The process of creating itself has many wonderful aspects to it like: research and brainstorming, sculpting and painting, picking colors, fabrics, and accessories and designing a costume, finding right color, texture, and designs for hair and overall creating a character. The other thing that I really like about Art Doll making is that there is always a room for learning some new and exciting techniques. Also, hearing from my customers that my creations bring joy and happiness to their homes makes me a truly happy person.

FAERYSPELL CREATIONS

SAMILOVA - Fall Fantasy Fae

by Jennifer

Samilova, the Spirit Of The Forest: Slavic Goddess of the woods who is the fierce protector of all animals. She has the ability to shapeshift into a falcon, horse, snake, swan or a whirlwind and would not hesitate to cause harm to anyone who threatens her creatures. She lives deep in the woods and has great knowledge of plant medicine.

I am inspired to create my Faeries and mythic creatures through my fascination with the ancient lore and legends of the Faerie People of all lands. My artistic inspiration comes from Nature, first and foremost. I also love and greatly respect the work of artists such as Brian and Wendy Froud, Alan Lee, Arthur Rackham and Edmund Dulac. In addition to these, my inspiration as a doll artist comes from my love of old world dolls and old fashioned marionettes. I love the quality of a doll being doll-like, and yet seeming as if it could come to life at any moment. I believe this influence shows in my work, and is a part of what makes my dolls unique. My dolls truly seem to me to form themselves--I am only the medium. They emerge from the clay, each with his or her own distinct features and personality--they are always a surprise to me!

PAULETTE CARR

This is one of my favorite dolls. She is also my first "art doll". I was inspired by a pattern in Patti Culea's Beading for the Cloth Doll book. She was a challenge for me, but what a learning experience! Her clothing is made from silk fibers that I stitched between two layers of soluble stabilizer. I then hand dyed lace to match the color of the silk. The flower in her hair is recycled from an old hat!

ADVENTURES IN FIBER (Paulette's Blog)

CAYA'S CREATIONS

"Petite Poupees"

"Hi, my name is Catherine Gabriel and I live in Australia. I have been making miniature teddy bears and animals for the past 5 years and have recently ventured into cloth doll making. These dolls are called "Petite Poupees" and stand at 6 inches tall. They are made out of pimatex fabric with soft tibetan lambswool hair. The faces and clothes are drawn with watercolour pencils and pigma pens. I have designed these dolls to look almost like an illustration that has come to life."

CAYA'S CREATIONS

MYSTIC REFLECTIONS

HONEYSUCKLE MYXIE

by CARALYN

I have always enjoyed fantasy art, and have been drawing characters since I was really young...especially fairies. One day a fan told me something that changed the way I approach my art. She said, "I love your drawings, they have so much life, but I wish I could pull them off the page and hold them in my hand." I started thinking about what she said and decided to try a different way to give life to my ideas, and after some research, decided that I would try working with polymer clay. I had sculpted before in high school but never with polymer clay, and I found it was really easy to work with and my "Myxie" fairy sculptures were born. Once I have the sculpture done, I paint their features with acrylic paint and then add hair and make clothing to fit their personality. Honeysuckle is one of my favorite Myxies... I sculpted her using glow in the dark clay mixed with beige polymer clay, and was able to create a soft honey color for her skin. Usually when I am sculpting a myxie, it takes on a form as I go and doesn't turn out as I originally pictured, but I am always happy with how they turn out because they all have their own look and are truly one of a kind. Honeysuckle is special because she is one of the few that actually came out exactly as I envisioned her.

I hope you all enjoyed your visit with all the delightful "art doll" artists that I was so lucky to have participate in this post. We'd all love to hear any comments you may have!

HOW TO CREATE A FUN, COLORFUL HAIRDO FOR FAIRIES, MERMAIDS AND OTHER FANTASY FIGURES!

FINISHED FAIRY WITH HER NEW HAIRDO!

Read below to see how she arrived at looking so pretty!

With all the wonderful, colorful, many textured yarns out there...it is such fun and easy to create beautiful hairdos for fairies, mermaids, or many other fantasy creations. This is a follow-up article on an earlier post I did showing how I create hairdos from my fiber sculpted fantasy figures using the different yarns that are available.

Below is a photo showing our fairy waiting to get her hair styled, and the two yarns I used to create her hairdo.


For her short, fluffy hairdo I used a hair loom, which I purchased about 10 years ago. I know there are other style looms that can be purchased from various sites that handle "doll making supplies". It has the two wooden ends, with metal rods running through. You can adjust the size by removing the screws and placing them in the different holes which are in each of the wooden ends.

The holes are spaced 1 inch apart, and are numbered, as you can see in the photo above. I used a spacing of 3" for this fairy's hairstyle. To start the hair, you tie your yarn onto the outer metal rod, as shown in the photo below.You then wind the yarn around both rods, keeping the yarn very close together, as shown below. I gauge about how long to wind the yarn on the rods, by determining the figure's head size, and how full I want the hairdo to be. If you find you have too long a piece, you can always cut it off. If you end up with too short a piece you can make another smaller piece to fill in the back of the head. I used about a 4" piece for this fairy's hairdo.

After you have the length of yarn to where you want it, you center the piece of yarn, (still on the loom), into your sewing machine, as shown below. Starting at one end of the "piece", start stitching down the center until you reach the other end. Use the smallest stitch that you have on your machine. This is important, so that it holds the yarn together when you do the next step of twisting it This is done after you have taken it off the rods.
After you have sewn down the entire length of the yarn, you need to unscrew the screws and slide the "piece" off the metal rods.

Below is a photo of my "piece" of yarn after I took it off the metal rods. The next thing I do, is twist the yarn, starting at one end, and ending at the other, so that you have it looking like the photo below. It is then ready to be stitched to the center of the fairy's head.


The above photo shows the hair "piece" after I stitched the center to her head. To style and shape her hairdo, I then stitch the yarn in place at different points around the head to secure it in place. I also used Fabric-Tac adhesive to shape the yarn around the fairy's face and neck.


Here she is, all finished, with her short, glistening hairdo all in place. I accented it with a hand-painted, organza flower, with Swarovski crystals sewn into the center of the flower. She is now available for purchase out in my DZFANTASY shop on Etsy. Click on the link below if you'd like to see more of her.

GARDEN FAIRY

TOOLS OF THE TRADE - Cloth Doll Making

I imagine every cloth doll artist has their own favorite tools and products they use to create their dolls. I thought I'd share information as to some of the tools, and other products I have been using for the past 10 years, in the creation of my fiber sculpted fantasy creations, and where they can be purchased. If it wouldn't be for these products, I would find it very hard to create any of my fantasy figures.


The first and most important tool, for me, are alligator forcepts, and hemostats. I have several different sizes in each category, and would be totally lost without them! They work like magic when turning my tiny bodies, arms, and legs inside out. They are what I use for stuffing all of my creations. They come in several different sizes. Below is a photo of only a few of the ones I use. I must have about a dozen different ones. The largest works for stuffing my 15" size creations. The smaller ones work great for arms, necks, and legs of my smaller size creations.

The next items I use for bonding are FABRI-TAC, and BOND 527. Fabric-Tac is indispensible for bonding fabrics to fabrics, silk flowers, yarns, and whatever other material in the fabric family. It grabs fasts and is quick to dry! It is a permanent adhesive, and the bottle states that it will bond not only fabric, but lace, trim leather and wood. I myself, wouldn't use it to bond leather or wood.

For that type of material, I use BOND 527. As an example, I use this product when gluing a pin's fabric face to the brass metal backing I use for the pin's back. It will also cement, my mermaids, to wood, or real starfish. It is fast drying, and once it drys will hold fast!! There are a lot of other bonding cements out there, but I have found this to be the VERY best, and have been using it for years. It drys clear! I even happened to leave one of my "fairy face" pins on one of my outfits, which went through the washer and dryer without any ill effects. The pins' face never came away from the brass backing! I NEVER use hot glue on any of my creations. Everything is hand-sewn onto the creation whenever possible, and then a dot or two of Bond 527, to really secure it in place. This product goes a long way, as you don't need that much to secure smaller objects.

I discovered 3D Crystal Lacquer quite a few years ago, and have been using it ever since. I found it gives my creation's eyes a wonderful "life-like", 3-dimensional look and shine. It really brings the face alive! The only flaw, if you could call it that, is you have to be VERY careful to make certain that the tiny needle applicator tip is entirely clean, or the tip will plug up. The applicator tips come two to a pack with a tiny "stick pin" to put in the tip to clean it. I found that it doesn't work all that great, and it is best to use a piece of 28 gage wire. See photo below. That way you can pull the wire back and forth to make sure it isn't sticking, and it is easier to pull out of the tip, when you want to use it again. If you haven't tried this product for your doll's eyes and lips...give it a try! It really makes a difference.

The next product that is essential to the creation of my fiber sculptures is "fabric coated floral" wires. This is what I use for armatures, in the bodies, wings, and tail fins of my mermaids. I also use it in the creation of my "butterfly" pins. The sizes I use the most are 18 gage and 20 gage. For my larger sculptures I use a heavier 16 gage size. I used to be able to find these sizes in most stores, that have a floral section, but the past year or so a lot of these places haven't been carrying this size of gages. I now buy them out on the web at:

CREATE FOR LESS.COM

They have a nice smooth finish, and are a better quality then some Ihave used in the past.

Another product that I would be lost without is the Micron pen! I use the .005 size for drawing the features on the silk, fabric face, and also, for the eyelashes. These pens can be found shops such as Michaels, or any art store. I sometimes by them out on-line if shops in my area don't carry the small .005 size I need. I've found over the last couple of years that some of the supplies I use on a constant basis are getting harder and harder to find in area shops. I do a lot of my purchasing of these items out on the web.

When painting the faces of my creations, I use the two types of brushes shown above. The black and red brush is one I've found to work the best. It is by Loew-Cornell - 18/0 size, called a spotter. I usually can pick these up at a Michaels store. The price is in the $4.00 range. The other brush is also a "spotter" and the size is 10/0. This brush is about $2.00.

Two of my favorite on-line shops which carry just about all the products I use, and a lot, lot more are:

SISTERS AND DAUGHTERS

and

JOGGLES

I may be adding more products and suppliers to this post, so do stop back. If there are any cloth doll makers out there that have special products which they use in their creations, and would like to share them, please feel free to contact me at: dzfairies@msn.com. I will be happy to add your ideas to this article, and also a link to a shop if you have one.