Harvest Effigy Wrapped Doll

is finally finished. I tried different faces, even a leaf masque, but it just wanted to be the yarn-wrapped face. DH says you can see all sorts of faces in the yarn patterns, so it actually works better that way.

It is totally done with wrapping, and the base is a small wooden spoon, with arms of mountain laurel that had died with the drought, wrapped with multi-colored yarn, and leaves made from grunge for the body bottom.

It is holding beaded raspberrys and beaded Fall leaves at the ends of its arms, and has pheasant feathers, oak leaves, grass flowers, and golden wheat for the headdress.

It was fun, it was faster than beading, but I think I still prefer the slower beaded method of creating...I will have to try another one and see.

The leaves were created as a challenge from imaginationartprompts group ( see link in links section) and the tribal doll challenge from crazyartdollz group (ditto).

Effigies are important to tribal life, as they represent that which is important, and cherished, within that lifestyle.

This effigy shows a bountiful harvest, combined with the beauty that is Fall, and the coming of the Restful Season. It clearly shows great Joy in celebrating these ideas.

Water Garden Elements

I have four of them, which I cannot sink, as I usually do, as we have been renting ( I HATE renting, but it's better than living in one's car!). They are putting out lots of new growth, despite the cold weather. I think they are happy that it isn't 100+ degrees.

The daddy longlegs was hunkering down, hiding from the mama longlegs! Maybe she wanted him to rake leaves! LOL!

The ladybug is the Asian variety that most folks around here curse, as they are so prolific, find their way inside homes, and proceed to die and stink up the place. They have a very specific odor when crushed, dead, or alive. I love them, however, as my home is a jungle, and they keep the aphids away from the impatiens and Key Lime tree.

Elements for a challenge, which grew and grew

Pics of the Russian Leaves, first for an imaginationartsprompts challenge, and now for the Tribal Wrap doll, which has become my Harvest Tribal Effigy....doll pics to come- still have the masque to make

Pics of Fall in the Great Smokies

the Beadin' Path's Masque 'Contest'

which I find more of a challenge, was full when I tried to enter it a few weeks back, as they had limited it to 70 participants.
Then it was re-opened, and was to be 100 participants! Even though the deadline was oct 31, you betcha I emailed Heather, and now I have a lovely full-size masque, dead-white, to express my inner self by next April.
Funny, but the idea for this one must have been rattling around in my head already, because I envisioned how I wanted it to go right away. Not all the details, but the main idea and focus!
That's a first!
I got hooked on making masques about 30 years back, when some friends and I bought plaster of paris and bandage material, covered our faces in vaseline, then laid the material over our faces til it dried enough to remove. We then cut the masques out while they were still slightly damp and easy to cut with large scissors.
I glued sequins on mine, added some ties, and it was a piece of art that I carried everywhere until it got squashed in the move to the mountains.
I also made 'arms', by covering the tops of mine, but never embellished them. I just laid them below the masque as part of the 'exhibit'.
You better believe I have alot more aspirations for the upcoming challenge!

All work and no play

Sure does put a crimp in any sort of creative venture!
This is the fourth 'day off' in the last two weeks, that I wandered into the store, intending to drop off the bank bag and mail, and just say 'hi' to my friends working there, when all Hell broke loose! Today it was three trucking companies, with furniture and rugs.....you would think they would call ahead, to let us know they are coming, but that actually costs an extra $20 per shipment!
So, instead of coming home, finishing my tribal wrapped doll challenge or the last panel for the COPS exchange, I was sweating and grunting..
Guess I will just be glad that I am healthy and strong enough at 54 to do so, and get a shower, read a bit, and go to bed.
The rain has begun once more, a soft pitter-patter that is lulling me, and luring me off to slumber land, where, as Shakespeare put it, I will knit up the raveled sleeve of care.