Wednesday, July 30, 2014

Gotta LOVE Mixed Media Art Dolls


For the last two weeks I have been having a blast taking my 5th class at Artful Gathering. The class is ART-S2-307 The Imaginarium: Anthologies of an Art Doll with Mary Jane Chadbourne and it is a delightful mixed media art doll class.

I'd been anxiously awaiting the start of this class as I have never created mixed media art dolls so it was going to be an adventure for me. And, adventure it was. I never realized how much fun this was, how much work was involved in creating mixed media art dolls and all the different supplies you would need.


I had decided to buy one of Mary Jane's art doll wood kits and to try and accumulate all the art supplies and printables I would need ahead of time. The wood kit contained the wood needed to make 3 different art dolls.


The doll pictured above was the 1st mixed media art doll I made. She took the longest amount of time to make as I couldn't decide on the different papers and fabrics I would use for her outfit and what other embellishments I was going to add. I knew I wanted to make a doll using blue colors (just to drive my baby sister crazy as blue is her favorite color)  and wanted to incorporate a printable of the blue rose graphic I had created for some of my Victorian Era fabric designs.


I had found a wonderful graphic to use for the faces of two of the dolls so one would be brown eyed and one would be blue eyed. I used the brown eyed face here. Her back and side are painted blue and then stamped with a black flower design. Her message is "to listen is to learn, and to understand is to inspire" so I named her "Compassion."


My 2nd doll was easier to make. She had beautiful blue eyes so I decided to make her outfit a combination of darker blue papers and fabrics. I had also decided to utilized two green butterfly printables I had found and some of the silk floral and lace embellishments I had. Her sides and back are painted dark blue. I added a layer of crackle paint which didn't crackle the way I thought it would. Instead of cracks I got a marble type of raised design.


Her message is "believe in possibilities" and "begin with yes" so I named her Melody.


My 3rd doll had a small body, but a large head. I had found a wonderful whimsical graphic to use for the face but when looking at the finished doll now I think her face could have been a little smaller. Oh, well. Live and learn.


I had decided that this doll would be a whimsical angel of sorts so I added a green and white checkered paper bow to her back to serve as wings. Her sides and backs I embossed with a flower design which gave it a three dimensional look.


I had decided to use the message "Trust Your Heart Song" and had found a whimsical green frog playing a violin that I wanted to incorporate in her design. As the frog was green I decided to make her outfit a combination of green, peach and black/white papers and fabrics. To this I added white outlining and black raised painted dots. I named her Ophelia.

Mary Jane's class doesn't just cover the making of the mixed media art dolls shown above. It also includes information on making mixed media artist trading cards and 3 tiered wood block art dolls. I'm working on those now and will post pictures of them when I'm done.


I thoroughly enjoyed my mixed media art class at Artful Gathering.  Mary Jane Chadbourne is an excellent teacher who provides a tremendous amount of information on her videos as to the different techniques you can use and different forms of mixed media art dolls you can create. I absolutely loved her class. It was a total blast. She's a great teacher and the class provided a lot of fun filled interaction with the rest of the class participants. If you're looking for a great class with a lot of student activity you don't want to miss one of Mary Jane Chadbourne's classes.


Saturday, July 19, 2014

Started My 5th Artful Gathering Class - YIPPEE!


I have been looking forward to taking my 5th class at Artful Gathering for several months.  It's ART-S2-307 The Imaginarium: Anthologies of an Art Doll with Mary Jane Chadbourne and is a mixed media doll class.

My class started on Wednesday and I can already tell it's gong to be a fabulous class.  Fantastic teacher and wonderful group of students.  I just know I'm going to have a blast.

I've never created mixed media dolls before so this will be new for me.

Don't worry - I'll be sure to blog about my creations.

YIPPEE! My 5th Artful Gathering class started.

Tuesday, July 15, 2014

Punkin Ornaments Are We! - Free Pumpkin Ornaments E-Pattern



I decided to try and make some of my seasonal e-patterns Free

My problem is that it's so hard for me to decide. Which ones?

I don't know about other designers, but I tend to get very attached to my creations - even the patterns. I suspect other designers do get attached to their creations, too.

It doesn't have to be something that took me forever to create and make. For me it can be something as simple as a pumpkin. Sometimes the simpler - the better!

So, I thought maybe the free e-pattern I would offer would be something just in time for the Fall. And, what could be a better choice for Fall than pumpkins.

Punkin ornaments are a fun group of "crazy guys" to make for the Fall. They are 2" cloth pumpkin ornaments with embroidered faces who just like to hang out just about anywhere. Hang'em up! Stick'em in a bowl of potpourri! Line them up on a shelf or even add them to a fall wreath. I hang some of mine from the door knobs in my kitchen and line others up in a long bowl surrounded by miniature cinnamon pumpkins.

They may be similar in size, but their diversity of color and the position of their embroidered faces make them unique. It's okay to be similar and part of a trio, but they each have there own personality which is reflected in their color and their face. The punkins are happy about that.

For all my pattern creations I usually only make one or at the most two dolls. One is to support the pattern and the other is usually to sell. This was one of the rare times when I did make more than 2.

LW161 Punkin Ornaments Are We! A Trio Of Ornaments Free E-Pattern - 2" Pumpkin Ornaments - Pattern Classification - Beginner

To view and download my free e-pattern please CLICK HERE. You'll be brought to Google Drive where you can view our free e-pattern. Then just download our free .pdf e-pattern by clicking on the down arrow in the top center.

For more information on all my free e-patterns, e-printables and e-books please CLICK HERE.

Please respect My Terms of Use:  All patterns, e-patterns, printables, e-printables, e-books, graphics, tutorials, how-to's, articles and other e-products © 2004-2023 Linda Walsh Originals-Designs by Linda Walsh. All rights reserved. Commercial selling or reselling by any means prohibited without the written consent of Linda Walsh.

Patterns, e-patterns, printables, e-printables, e-books, graphics, tutorials, how-to's, articles and other e-products are for personal use only. You may not modify, photocopy, download, upload, post, transmit, display, perform, publish, license, reprint, create derivative works from, mass duplicate, re-sell, digitize, and reproduce in any other form (print, digital or electric) or commercially apply, embed, share, Email, or redistribution in any other means. Use of any of the above is prohibited without the written permission of Linda Walsh.

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Items made from Linda Walsh Originals E-Patterns are intended for personal use for fun or small scale personal and business profit as long as you credit us with the design. Large scale commercial use (i.e. mass production) of items made from Linda Walsh Originals E-Patterns are by permission only.

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Copyright © 2004 - 2023 - All Rights Reserved - Written By Linda Walsh of Linda Walsh Originals and Linda's Blog. Linda is a doll maker and doll pattern designer.

Friday, July 04, 2014

Another Baby Alpaca Cousin For The Dollies



Mom "Zinnia" and her new 1st baby "Petunia"

Petunia standing on her own.

Petunia just after being born.

The "dollies" have been on pins and needles for several days as Zinnia was due to deliver her first baby the first two weeks of July.  They were placing their bets on a 4th of July baby alpaca cousin, but Petunia had her own schedule in mind.  She decided to come a day early.  

Given that it was Zinnia's first baby my sister was a little apprehensive as to how Zinnia would be handling this.  She came through like a trooper and to my sister's delight was very attentive to her baby.

Here's what my sister had to say, "She is here! Rock Garden Alpacas Perucoyo Petunia! Dam is Rock Garden Alpacas Perucoyo Zinnia and Sire is Accoyo Cuba Libre of Ideuma Creek Alpacas. A special thanks to my good friend Denise at Ideuma Creek for talking me through staying calm as Zinnia is a first time mom and I was not sure it was moving along as it should."

Welcome to the world Petunia.  Great job Zinnia.


Tuesday, July 01, 2014

Crowin Mike Primitive Scarecrow E-Pattern


There are scarecrows and there are SCARECROWS! And, then there is "Crowin Mike!" You're probably wondering what's so different about "Crowin Mike!" as I'm sure he looks like any other scarecrow. In fact, he looks quite charming and harmless. Well, you'd be wrong. You see "Crowin Mike" is a primitive scarecrow ornament with a penchant for witches, ghosts, and goblins. Hang out with crows! Oh, no - not "Crowin Mike!" They're just a bunch of birds. He wants to hang out with the "villains" of the Fall season - the ghosts, goblins, and witches. Why, "Crowin Mike" even claims to be friends with Frankenstein and Dracula. In fact, his favorite movie is "The Headless Horseman!" Oh, My!

What kind of a scarecrow is "Crowin Mike?" Well, actually he's quite the actor. He had you all fooled - didn't he? He really is an adorable scarecrow. Amiable, kind, and willing to lend a hand where ever he can. He's even willing to help the ghosts, goblins and witches do their thing. Fooled you again, - didn't he?

"Crowin Mike" is not your average scarecrow. Oh, no - not "Crowin Mike!" Scarecrow? Not a scarecrow? Actor? Not and actor? Bad boy? Not a bad boy? Just what kind of scarecrow is he? Based on his name you'd think he'd be "crowin" about what he is - but, he won't. Crowin Mike's lips are sealed.


Copyright © 2004 - 2023 - All Rights Reserved - Designed and Written By Linda Walsh