Needle Felting

These are the little creatures I needle felted to add to my second project for the hope of entering the Fine Arts Show here in Sidney.

Also included is another fairy. She is made of polymer clay and a wire armature body.

 

Storyteller Diorama

This is the second project I submitted to the adjudication panel for the Fine Arts Show in Sidney. I will find out on or before Wednesday if this and “The Fool” will be accepted to the show in October.

“The Storyteller” is a woodland scene with the main character being  the Fairy who comes to read to the woodland creatures and little fairies that live there. All the characters are needle felted, while the fairies  are made with polymer clay. The moss in the center area is from my yard where it’s growing on a large stump tucked in a corner. The other green and purple mosses are purchased. I’ve included all the mushrooms and grasses that I made from polymer clay.

There are books, a lantern, a few little bits and pieces here and there. The base is covered in felt to protect a table top. The wood is cut from logs in our woodpile and I’ve pieced them all together to attempt the look of a little meeting place for everyone that comes to see the Fairy and listen to her stories.

The pictures below of the base are before I added to it with more circles to make it a bit wider and longer. The size of the base is approximately 21” long, by 13” deep and 13” tall. It stands about 2” from the table top.

This is where I was organizing what should go where and is the larger version of the base.

This is finished Diorama

And now for the closeups. ;o) The fairies and creatures are very attentive to the storyteller and sit quietly as she reads to them. Do they understand what she’s saying, well maybe not, but they seem to like her being there.

Scattered around the fairies and creatures, are acorn tops, nuts and mushrooms, lichens and even a pond.

The Fool

There is a Fine Arts Gallery Show in Sidney in October. It’s just three days but it’s for artists from far and wide. We had to submit our forms and payment in July so I had to decide whether to try this or not. I haven’t entered a show like this before so it’s a big deal for me and I think it’s good to challenge yourself. 

On the 8th of September, we have to take our pieces to the center and leave them for three days to be juried. I’ve been told to not be disappointed if they aren’t accepted as the judges may or may not recognize art the same way we would. It’s all subjective and I know that. I choose to be cautiously optimistic, and it’s probably a better way to think than to allow any kind of negative thoughts to come in.

Here is my first piece, “The Fool”. He is inspired by Ciro Marchetti, a graphics artist who designs Tarot cards and more. He gave me permission years ago to create a doll from his inspirational art. I am including the image that inspired me in the first place.

And here is my interpretation of Mr. Marchetti’s work. I will be in touch with him once I know one way or the other if I’m showing it.

The Fool stands 31” tall from the table to top of his head. The box I used is 8” square. It’s a nice solid pine box. The feet are from my small Tim Holtz stash. I knew somewhere along the way, they would come in hand.

The charms on the sides, are the same Zodiac symbols as shown in the original artwork. I used 6 of them on two sides and the remaining 6 on the sleeves of his costume.  

The sides of the box are covered in a faux gold leather. I applied Mother of Pearl Shell Laminate, that comes from Australia. There is red in the center and a mustard/gold colour on the edges. I used a mini black/gold trim around the lid and sides of the box. To finish the embellishing, I’ve used gold matte lentil beads around the top edges of the lid.

On the front of the box, I used another Tim Holtz item to frame the name of the piece and attached on the front.

The hat, mask, vest, pants and boots are made with leather. The cuffs are a heavy ribbon, the neck ruffle is a light wired ribbon (wire removed). There are a variety or beaded trims, gems, velvet ribbon, wire and cloth roses, and metallic trims. The vest is lined with cotton.

The look is finished with the staff he’s holding. The legs each have brass tubes from the inside base of box, up into the top of the leg on the left side, and on the right side, the brass rod goes up to the chest.

Enjoy and thanks for stopping by.

New Project–#2 the fairy storyteller

This is the main character of the project I’m working on. She is just called “The Storyteller”. She has come to the forest to read to all the forests inhabitants. She is dressed in white to let them know she’s there and to come to the gathering.

It’s a little chilly so she always wears her coat for her visits, also if anyone wants to curl up with her to keep warm. Her coat is made from minky fabric and there is a hood on it. She has some pretty sparkles as all fairies should. There is beadwork on the bodice and a few little glass orbs in her headdress.

I have made her body with cloth and a wire armature. Her head, hands and shoes are clay. The pants are made with a sparkle fabric. Her dress is made with different widths of lace and sewn to the body.

In her lap she holds a storybook. Of course she also has nicely manicured nails, you can’t have a fairy without pretty hands.

Her locks were originally very long but after making the coat and dressing her, it was time to add her hair. I could have it over the hood, that doesn’t work. I tried to have it down her back between the dress and coat, nope.

So I ended up wrapping it up onto the top of her head, and keeping a few ringlets down the sides of her face. Some of the hair is poking up a little from the center of the headdress. At the end you’ll see her little pointy shoes, and on them there are glass orb type beads like in the headdress. You can see the beads in the picture above.

New Project– #1 fairies and books

I’m starting a new project. I don’t know how long it’s going to take, but I do have a time limit and there is one more project after this one.

This first one involves many parts and I’ll continue to post the different parts as I go along. I’ve never tried this before, another learning curve and challenge I’ve given myself. Trial and error are the best teachers there are.

These little books measure at the tallest, 2 1/2”. They are different types of leather covers, the green is a heavier leather, the middle book is a faux leather, the brown is a soft leather. The inside pages are images to go with the story I’m creating.

These little cuties are pretty tiny, at least by my estimation. The fairy in purple is wearing a soft leather tunic and wrapped with bits of purple and white lace around her body and arms. A tie of yarn around her waist. Her hair is a faux fiber. Her shoes are three colours of polymer clay and molded onto her legs. She stands 5” tall.

The little fairy in green is wrapped in ecru lace pieces. Her tunic is made from handmade paper and tied with yarn. Her hair is yarn tied in knots, and her little shoes are made of three colours of polymer clay molded onto her legs. She sits 3” tall.

Much more to come over the next little while, so come back and see what’s new.