Needing more physical projects in my largely online world, I’ve been pootling around making various things, indulging my enthusiasm for anything artistic or craft-based
The messenger bag I talked about a couple of weeks ago (here), worked well on its maiden trip to Wellington last weekend, and I’ve finally got around to photographing one of the dolls I made as a result of a workshop with my friend, artist Claire Delaney.
I love the doll-making process. Not only does it involve different techniques and processes (clay-sculpting, armature-making, fabric construction); it’s also wonderfully iterative. At each stage I’m surprised by something and often have to change direction in the project to accommodate what has evolved (especially at the clay-sculpting stage).
The boy-child claims I’ve used him as inspiration for my choirboy doll — but I can’t imagine what he means. Hehe.
Claire is a talented artist, and a very good teacher. She began making dolls as an aid to illustrating the children’s book she has written and published. Little Wing is a lovely story, beautifully illustrated. It is letterpress printed and hand-bound — a true labour of love.
Find out more about Claire’s art.
The making of Little Wing
How wonderful. I love these forays into the offline world. I spent my morning today setting up my planners for the week ahead. So therapeutic.
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Nicely creative, Su! Good for the endorphins, I’m sure….
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Wonderful little choirboy ( most of whom are from angelic as far as I can tell). Lovely to see the making of Little Wing. Have you tried book binding? It always looks so satisfying.
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Thanks. I have made books in the past. Another friend did a course, then shared her knowledge. I’m not very precise in my work, so they always looked a bit wonky. I do remember making a fold-out book for my son when he was quite little. It was shaped like the Great Wall of China, and I wrote a little story about walking the wall on it.
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That would have been a great little book. I am not very precise either. The only books I made were very clearly scrap(py) ones. 😀
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🙂 I guess we’d get better with practice. And I do love the hand-made look and feel. A friend who’s an academic and does a lot of travel (for research purposes 🙂 hehe) used to make a new journal before every trip. She is an ethnographer and I just love that the ideas she was exploring in her writing were being recorded in books she had made at home. And on a practical note, she always had books the right size and shape for her needs.
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Oh they must be beautiful journals!
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Yes they are. She is very talented.
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I never knew this about you, Su. Not just an excellent photographer, then.
janet
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Thank you Janet. Photography is a recent passion; I was one of those little kids always surrounded by construction paper and glue, madly making things — and I haven’t changed really. 🙂
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When I was growing up, I drew, played piano and clarinet, wrote, and took not very good photos. I chose piano over clarinet for going on with but have no piano now and no room for one, don’t draw, but still write and am much better at photography. 🙂 I used to make Japanese-style cards from handmade paper, but have let that slide. I’d like to get it going again.
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I think when we are allowed to develop our creativity in childhood, it never leaves us — just finds new outlets. I’d love to see your cards. I have seen some beautiful paper art and I guess it is something that doesn’t take up a lot of space. Did you make the papers as well? I had a go at paper-making once, but never managed to get nice thin sheets. It tended just to look like lumpy papier mache. 🙂
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No, I bought it and I still have sheets and sheets of beautiful paper just waiting for me to get off my bum and to work. 🙂
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😃 when you do find time to start again, I’d love to see photos posted on your blog. And hand-made cards are such a beautiful, thoughtful thing to give.
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hahaha! You clearly found your muse nearby 🙂
I have to say you are a woman of many talents!!
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Thanks Joanne. I think what I’m realising about myself is that I have to keep making things and learning new skills or I go crazy with boredom. 🙂
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I know the feeling 🙂
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We need a “love” option like Facebook has. This little guy goes way beyond a mere “like.:
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Thanks so much Mary. 🙂
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The boy-child surely has a point!
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You think? It’s that iterative thing. I didn’t even start out to make a boy. I just knew that after a couple of doll heads which could most kindly be described as “strong women” I wanted to try and make something cute. But that is part of the fun — seeing where I end up from my original concept. I think the boy-child is just secretly grateful I didn’t try to make him into a choirboy!
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Yup! Knew it as soon as I saw the doll. But, yes, can see why he’s grateful the choirboy bit is just in your imagination.
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😃 yes! Quite apart from the fact that singing isn’t one of his super-powers.
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Love the video. Love the message.
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I’ll confess that as soon as I saw the doll, I thought of the boy-child. But as a mother of two redheaded boys, it’s probably only to be expected my brain would automatically go there. 😀 I think the doll is absolutely marvellous and you’re amazingly clever. 🙂
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Thank you so much Heather. The hair was such fun to make, though it is a bit brittle so I’ve created that thing absolutely hated by all children — a doll you can’t play with! 🙂
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Aww – I’ve been so hoping to see one of your polymer clay works! 🙂 And how very, very beautiful this doll is, Su! I just love the combination of different materials to make it all work. It’s a true masterpiece! 😀 I really need to see more!!! 🙂 xxxxx
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Thank you so much. I am kind of proud of him. I realised while I was making his white robe-thingy that I had probably spent more time, and taken more care with that little costume than I did making clothes. 🙂 I’m messing about at the moment trying to figure out how I might make a Klimt-inspired doll. xxxx
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As you well should be – he’s gorgeous!! 🙂
Oh wow! Now you’ve made me curious! A klimt-inspired doll! That sounds just sooo awesome! Can’t wait to see it and wish you enormous fun creating it!! 🙂 xxxxxxx
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Thank you Sarah. It’s the challenge of creating those wonderful patterned “fabrics” that really excites me. I’m not sure if I’ll paint fabric or try to use coloured clays. I love the problem-solving aspect of all this.
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However you’ll solve this lovely problem I’m so looking forward to see it when it’s finished!! 🙂 xxxxx
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Thanks Sarah; I’m hoping to find some time this week to experiment with coloured clays. Hope you’re ha ping a good weekend xx
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Loved your video! Both the doll and the source of inspiration are adorable.
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Thanks Inese. I can’t claim credit for the video; the artist’s daughter (herself a very talented artist) made it. I love the way creativity feeds on creativity.
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Yes, the video is wonderful. Creativity craves new challenges.
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Wow!! Awesome
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