The dolls are rolling in and out again

It is so interesting to me how some beaded dolls sit there and refuse to give you a clue as to what they want, and others just jump into your stash of beads and fling what they want at you!

I know this is figuratively, but really-some you can just stare at for weeks, then you pick what YOU want to put on, but don't really know if you are happy with what you have done, or not.

Others seem to whisper into your intuitive ear, and the design flows.

Aline's Persphy, a felt doll, had that wondrous flow. She came with her grape leaves about her face, but they were a bit floppy. Folks at the retreat enjoyed seeing her, but were hesitant to hold her with the loose beads. Sherry noticed her face cabbing was loose, and then the face just popped off.

I reglued it, but the cabbing threads had been part of the same threads for the Czech pressed glass grape beads, so they were loose. Plus, they were not permanent finish, but just gold galvanized, so the gold coloring was coming off to show the clear inside. Used some lapis colored size 8s, then 11s in Toho permanent finish gold, and finished with transparent purple and dk bronze 11s to tie the face to the grapevine design.

That grapevine was the fastest design that ever happened for me. Used a sharpie to do a basic outline, used 6s, 8s and 11s for the base, then went over it with 15s to create the twisted look a grapevine has. Added the grape beads with a separate thread, in case they break it (used 6# Fieline) and went through each 3 times. Sort of kicked myself for not doing to greens swirls under those grapes first, but they actually went very smoothly, not catching on the beadwork except once or twice!

All in all, she is a wonderful Grape Harvest Goddess, and I am happy with how we collaborated on her designs..off she goes in the next round of this RR! The pics show before and after. As always, clicking on them makes them full size.

Mermaid RR in progress

We finally got the Mermaid RR off the ground and into the water! So many of us had health issues this summer, either with ourselves or our family, that it just paid to wait a bit.

Here is Andine- body by Sherry Grove and face by Sharon 'Harry' Solly. I think Sherry gave me the sequins, as well, and the little Czech fish. The button was from Bebee Goddard, so this is going to be full of memories, as well.

I can't wait to see how he looks when he comes home.

Happy Creating!

What to do...

when a friend wants to join in a beaded doll RR, but just finished surgery and doesn't know about keeping to a set schedule with many beaders?? Have a private round robin, that's what!

Stacie (Squirrely Ducks blog - http://squirrellyduck.blogspot.com/) and I are doing just that, and she sent me a form, so the round robin is a sort of sisters exchange.

Here is her doll, which I wanted to stand up. I tried some smaller beads, but the size of her face and the pattern of the material cried out for something larger. We settled on 12mm smokey quartz rounds, left on their original stringing material (which was tied into a tight, glued knot), and then attached with Stealth Spiderwire 10# braided thread at each thread juncture between the beads. Add some 4mm roseAB bicones to fill the gaps and a line of copper-lined 11s over the tops of the beads and she looks as if she has a fancy ruffled edge.

Plus, she stands proudly!

The fabric is so beautiful that I am going to use much of the pattern for beading inspiration....

Click on any photo to make it full-size. Feel free to right click and save, if you wish.

Happy Creating, everyone!

Gig's Love

Form by Sherry Grove of VA. Round Robin at Beaded Art Dolls

Yahoogroup.

Round Robin doll going home!!

The Jungle Dolls Round Robin @ Beaddreamz yahoogroup is coming to a close this Dec 15, and I worked hard getting Jo Adam's doll finished and ready to go home early! There are many gifts I have still in my head that need to come out and get into my hands, so they can wend their way to friends and family, so Orchis, the beads, Diane Fitzgerald's The Beaded Garden and I sat down for a two day marathon, in between cooking for eight! LOL!

I hope you like the results!

Beaders included; Dian, Gail, Jo, Sherry, Ruth and myself.

I can't wait for mine to come home- she is going onto the tree..

Come join the next Round Robin at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/beaddreamz/ and have some beady fun!

And, as always, click on either photo to make it full-size.

Going home

Opal is on her way home to her mom, so she can get the rest of her beady little self together!

I enjoyed the challenge of working with only pastel, opalescent seed and glass beads for her.

Safe journey, Opal!

Opal

is a doll that was created by Dian of AZ, and went on her journey during an ill-fated Round Robin, the last of the Beaded Art Dolls group before that group closed. It finally made its way back to me, and has been patiently waiting beads, along with Ann of OR's doll.

Now is the time, and here is a sneak peek of what is happening. Opal is a birthstone doll, to be done in opalescent colors, which opens an entire palette of soft greens, pinks, creams, blues, purples, oranges and yellows!

I am sure having fun, and hope to have Opal ready to travel back to her mom, for a bit of beading to be added by Dian, before she joins the ranks of the dolls living in Dian's AZ home!

Mysterious Mystique

She belongs to a friend of mine, who lives in VA. In an round robin

on a group I no longer belong to, she 'disappeared', or at least the

person who had received her (thanks to tracking, we knew THAT,

at least) would not return phone calls, emails,nor letters.

Surprisingly, after 3 years, Mystique showed up in a box with her

journal, and a note saying the person had found her and was

returning her! Hooray!

I asked to bead on her, and after her mom and I conferred, realized

the navy blue, white, and christmas green beads did not belong on

her branches...which the person who beaded her thought were arms.

Oh well, off the beads came, as well as the flower beads that were

scattered all over her form. You can see the beads in the bottom shot.

The flowers went to the great multi-colored flower field at the base,

on her back, filling that in nicely. The crystals are being reserved to

go in a dropped swirl by the pink curls at the side of her mask, when

the other bits are finished- nothing like swarovski bicones being pushed

back and forth while the rest is being worked on, to cut their threads!

I have pretty much filled in her face, and now have a sock on it while I

get to her branches....she is going home to Sherry on Thurs, and I want

her to be a good surprise!

Round Robining again!!

You would think I had enough on my plate; a kumi rope and fully beaded doll, representing a 'Woman in Art' to be done by the end of September, plus the Hand and a beaded animal, which have until the end of Oct...and my DH's birthday, looming ahead on Oct 3, but who can resist working on these beauties?? The dolls are part of a Birthstone RR at Beaded Art Doll, with the doll above belonging to Sue O, and named Sapphire- her birthstone. I did her hair, and the part down her back.

This Jester belongs to Jeanne of OR, and she did the scrumptious beading using the swarovski bicones- peridot AB, that I cannot get to photograph true in all the rain we keep having. Indoor lighting just doesn't work for them. I did his left side; the leg, body and arm.

Stay tuned for more pics as things progress!!