Meet the Girls!

Hello and welcome to my much valued followers and crafty friends! A couple of weeks ago I  take my very first online course! I signed up for a six weeks of classes with Mary Jane Chadbourne at the Artful Gathering. I was apprehensive - would it be difficult to learn online; would I feel isolated and uninspired? I need not have worried! The classes have been so much fun. I've learned lots and met some incredibly creative and talented people online. Some names I've recognized from comments on popular blogs and others are fast becoming new, crafty friends. One thing we all seem to have in common is that we are now addicted to creating art dolls: we just can't stop! Here is my first girl, on her way to Venetian Carnival. I am now working on two others!

Mary Jane's videos are superb and she also offers graphics and wooden kits for the dolls. However, living in the UK and joining the course not long before the start, I felt it would be a long wait with postage from the States being what it is! We had the kids' old bunk beds in the loft, so I decided to put them to a crafty use! I've now learned how to use a jig-saw and an electric sander to cut my own shapes! About a year ago I made a memo board from MDF this way, but this has been a real adventure! It would not be fair to give step by steps which are on Mary Jane's videos, but my dear Magpie Cousin, Dianne has asked for some detail shots of my first doll so here goes. Here is her fan,

Here is her face...

A side view...

I used a Wendy Vecchi stamp for her mask and then painted on the rest of the face myself. This course has really inspired me to start painting faces again! Here is the dress in a little more detail...

 Creating this doll has really taken me back to wonderful holidays in the past, dreaming by the canals of Venice and reading Jan Morris' beautiful book about this magical city! Mary Jane is a truly inspirational teacher, so if you have the opportunity, I would strongly recommend taking a course with her! What I have loved is that each doll seems to weave her own story as you make her! I have called this one Perdita because she looks a little lost and dreamy as befits a Venetian! Thank you so much for stopping by today. I hope you have enjoyed meeting the first of my girls! Have a lovely weekend wherever you are and whatever you are doing!