Sunday, July 18, 2010

Dotee Dolls

"I want to make those!" was the first thing I thought when I learned about Dotee Dolls.  These little cuties are like the well-known peanut.  You can't make just one.   I've finished a bunch and have more in progress.   Then I came across a swap for them on t he Art 42 site and had to join that one.  My swap partner is from Michigan so of course I had make hers with robins from Northcutt's State Bird fabric line from several years ago.   I've created a dozen or so Dotees with this fabric group.   Here's my Robin Dotee all finished and another  photo  in her "traveling case" all ready for her trip to her new home.   The 'doll in a bottle' idea was inspired by an exchange a year or so ago when a group exchanged a bottle full of  mixed media supplies.  And yes, the Post Office thinks its just fine.  A little strange, but just fine.




Dotees were originated by a talented Australian lady named Dot and the rest is history.  Like ATCs, Dotees are not to be sold - only traded or given away.  There's no special pattern or style.  The only rule is that they must be between 3-5 inches tall and have a hanger and a 'dangler'.   Except for that, its up to your imagination to create these delightful little cuties.

So what  can you do with a Dotee?   They make nice Christmas tree ornaments.  Why not make them as small gifts for friends and neighbors insted of the traditional cookies?   I plan to do that this year.  O hang them from shelves, or in a window.    I saw a lampshade with Dotees hung all around the edge.  Someone else uses one of those mesh baskets meant for kitchenware.  She hangs her Dotees from clips under the baskets.   Best of all, just have fun making these addictive little pretty art dolls.   Anyone, even with the most minimal sewing skills, can do it.

Friday, April 2, 2010

Domino Doll from Alice in Wonderland

 We've had so much fun on a Yahoo group for Domino Art that I just had to share the domino doll I made as part of a Make and Share monthly project there.  During March, our theme was Alice in Wonderland.  Loving art dolls and dominoes and Alice as I do, how could I resist combining them?   Here's a photo of my doll, photographed against a page of the book my father gave to me on my 4th Christmas in 1938.  It is one of my greatest treasures.  

 This domino doll is taken from "The Queen's Croquet Ground chapter.  These poor goofy 'Cardeners"have always appealed to me.  There they were desperately trying to daub the roses with red paint because they had planted white ones by mistake and the Red Queen will surely have their heads if she discovers their error.  Here then, is my version of one of these hapless fellows.  



I used a printout of the preview of a digital collage sheet soon to be offered on Etsy by Joy of Papers.  I think these little dolls would be wonderful Christmas tree ornaments or lamp pulls.  

I'll add a .pdf instruction file as soon as I figure out how that works.  Blogger doesn't permit direct links for that.  I'll have to  put it on a different host with a link here.  Meanwhile, why not go read or re-read Alice?  

Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Happy April Fool's Day

Why a fish to say Happy April Fool's Day?  We Americans don't have half the fun with this holiday as our friends in Europe, especially France where you might discover that a friend has pinned a paper fish to your back.    The idea is that witless young fish in April are easy to catch, just like the person who is the target of your April Fool's prank.

Postcards featuring fish were all the rage for April Fool's Day greetings in France in the early 1900's and are very collectible today.  I'm not exactly French (as far as I know, my only French ancestor arrived here in the 1700's) but the idea of April Fool's Fish is too good to resist using it to wish a Happy April Fool's Day to my Land of Blog  friends.

I've visited France many times but was never lucky enough to be there on April 1 when you can buy all sorts of fancy goodies shaped like fish.  This is not France and so far nobody has offered to exchange elaborately wrapped chocolate fish.  Never mind.  I'll just go out and buy myself some Gummi fish in a plastic bag.  And eat them all.  Now you know my secret: I can resist anything but Gummi treats  (well, and Johnny Depp but don't tell anybody about that.)

Here are a few more  Poissons d'Avril cards to
enjoy:

A fishy version of the age-old  "Loves me, loves me not" game.  Looks like there might be some love there in the center. What do you think?



 What's this?   A Steampunk-style fish?  Just goes to show you there's nothing new under the sun.  And they didn't even have Photoshop back then.  Or did they???    Somebody had a grand time creating this wonderful postcard. This one is my favorite.

That's all for today.   Come back tomorrow to see a domino doll I created for a Yahoo group that specializes in domino work.
    And have a Happy April Fool's Day.
    Eat some candy fish and smile!   I did.

Want to learn more about this custom?   Here are some good links:
Poissons d'Avril in France 

Yummy Chocolate Fish

Friday, March 26, 2010

Star Mini-Book to Celebrate My New Camera

I love to make little books so this is a perfect project to show off the new camera my son gave me.  The old one is still hiding but the new one is even fancier.  Thanks Jeff!!!    And it was a perfect thing to create for my husband's birthday.   Each page celebrates something about him.  Some of the pages are interactive.   And the last page is a pop-up birthday cake.  I'll post instructions about making them   Can you guess how I made the little flower on page 5?