Friday, December 9, 2016

December 2016 Newsletter



December 2016 Newsletter


Upcoming Meetings
December 17 - Annual Christmas Party
January 21 2017 - TBD
February 18, 2017 - TBD

Member Birthdays

Happy Birthday to Sue, Leslie, Ann C., and Jude.  Have a wonderful upcoming doll making year!

November Meeting Minutes
There was no official meeting in November as we had our annual Show and Sale that day.  We thank the Irvington United Methodist Church for allowing us to use one of their rooms for our show.  It is such a nice place to show off our dolls and set up our sales tables.  Thank you everyone who helped make this happen!

We had seven entries in this years' Elements Challenge for judging and those plus three more for the People's Choice Award. In the judging Andrea's Quark was FIRST PLACE!  Not only that, she also won the Peoples' Choice Award!!!!  Congratulations, Andrea.  She is beautiful! 
Andrea's Quark

Congratulations also to our second place winner, Jude's Copper.
Jude's Copper

Third place congratulations go to our tie duo of Nita's Flame and Leslie's Ta-da.
Nita's Flame
Leslie's Ta-da
We also have a Judge's Choice award that goes to Sue's Lady Arsenic.
Sue's Lady Arsenic
Other entrants were Virginia's Fa Yuan Li, Julie W.'s Airyana, Kathryn's North Wind,  Julie G.'s Earth Wind and Fire, and Martha's thought provoking Oxi.
 
Virginia's Fa Yuan Li
Julie W.'s Airyana
                                                
Kathryn's North Wind
Julie G.'s Earth Wind and Fire
                                   
Martha's Oxi
Great work everyone. This was a fun challenge and so interesting to see every one's interpretation of an element!  We are so fortunate to have so many talented doll makers in our club!

Jelly Roll Challenge Dolls
Members' tables
                            
Next Meeting

December 17 is our annual Christmas Party!  It will be a pitch in brunch and (optional) gift exchange.  We will be choosing a 2017 challenge, voting on officers and revealing Sue's UFO challenges for December, We don't have a list of those who were going to do Sue's UFO challenge so all new show & tell dolls (must be a doll) will get a prize! 
If you would like to participate in the gift exchange, bring a doll related gift (limit of $25).  This could be something from your stash, something purchased, or something made by you.  Our exchange is optional, don't feel obligated!
Most of our officers are willing to serve again next year,  However, if you would like to serve, the positions of vice president and publicity chairman are up for grabs!
Bring your ideas for our 2017 challenge.  There were many good ones last year. Let's see what we can come up with for next year.
Think about your favorite doll makers and let us know who you might like to have as a guest teacher for next year.  This is a busy time of year for us all and there will be several of our members with other commitments on the day of our meeting.  If you cannot attend, but have suggestions for our challenge or guest teacher, please email one of the officers.


Upcoming Challenges
May 20, 2017 - Tarot Doll Challenge with River City Dollmakers

December Checklist
  • Nametag
  • Covered brunch dish
  • Ideas for 2017 Challenge
  • Ideas for teacher
  • Completed UFO for Sue's Challenge
  • Nominees for officers
  • Gift (Optional)






Friday, November 11, 2016

November 2016 Newsletter

November 2016 Newsletter

Upcoming Meetings
November 19 - Annual Show and Sale
December 17 - Annual Christmas Party

Member Birthdays
Happy Belated Birthday to Maggie!  Hope it was a great one!

October Meeting Minutes
Members present for the October meeting were Janet, Virginia, Sue, Martha, Katie, Maggie, Julie G., Ron, Ann C., Anita, Ann R., Erin, Julie W., Andrea and Jude.  Also present was Maggie's guest and friend Terry.  Hope you had a good time at our meeting, Terry!

Show and Tell
Sue and Virginia told about their trip to Chelsea, MI to the Ghoultide Gathering.  Sue found a fantastic witch she couldn't,t resist buying and brought in in for us to see.


Julie W. brought in "Jilly" that she made for the Jelly Roll Challenge at Threads of Time. "Jilly" was adapted from a pattern in Patti Culea's book "Creative Cloth Doll Making".
Cyndy Sieving came from Columbus, Ohio to judge our Elements Challenge Dolls.  There are seven entrants that Cyndy judged and she admitted it was quite a difficult task.  The winners of the judging will be announced at the November Show and Sale. 

At the November Show and Sale there will be a table with these entrants and possibly a few more.  If you have completed an Elements challenge doll that you would like to enter for the People's Choice Award please bring it or send it with some one who is coming to set up for the show. If you have an entry for the People's Choice Award that is not pictured above, please email Andrea at least 3 days before the show.  She needs your name and the doll's name.  There will also be a table for our workshop dolls Patience and Grace, Jelly Roll Challenge dolls, and any new dolls you have completed this year.

Cyndy  brought her sample dolls for the 2017 AFICC that will be April 20-23, 2017.  Be sure and visit her web site, http://cyndysdolls.com/, for more information about classes and instructors.  These instructors are extremely talented and have a variety of techniques to be learned.

Business Meeting
Details of the November Show and Sale were discussed.  If you have a table to set up or dolls to display at the Show and Sale, please come to the church on Friday between 3-5, or Saturday at 9am. Maggie is arranging to have all the tables we need for you.  Katie had emailed us the flier we can print out to distribute and brought in the postcards for us to mail to family and friends with last year's three winners.  Thanks Katie!  The flier and postcards look great!

Irvington United Methodist Church
30 N. Audubon Rd.
Indianapolis, IN 46219

Julie G.  will be taking our contributions for the silent auction for the pre-school at the Irvington United Methodist Church where we are having our show and sale.
Erin will be taking our charity dolls to the Children's Bureau nearer Christmas time. 
At our December meeting we will be voting for officers for the coming year 2017.  Nominees for 2017 are:
President: Andrea
Vice President - ?
Secretary - Julie W
Treasurer - Jude
Publicity - ?
Show and Sale Committee
One of the duties of the Vice President is to help organize workshops for the year.  Our publicity chairman promotes the club by advertising our events and the Show and Sale committee takes  care of the details for our November Show and Sale.  If you are interested in these offices let Andrea know.  Katie will offer guidance as much as she can for publicity.

While the judging was being done on the challenge dolls, Virginia tied us up with fingerweaving.  This could become addictive!  Thanks, Virginia for teaching us this technique.  It has many possibilities for embellishing our dolls!





Next Meeting
There will not be a formal meeting on November 19.  Come join us at the Show and Sale and see all the fabulous dolls our members have created.  You can shop and don't forget to vote for the People's Choice.  You will also get to see who the Challenge winners are!

Upcoming Challenges
May 20, 2017 - Tarot Doll Challenge with River City Dollmakers

November Checklist

  • Nametag
  • Challenge Doll and Display Dolls with nametags
  • Items for Sale
  • Money for making change














Saturday, October 8, 2016

October 2016 Newsletter

Upcoming Meetings

October 15 - Virginia - Finger Weaving,  the Challenge Doll reveal and judging
and Cyndy Seiving with AFICC samples
November 19 - Annual Show and Sale
December 17 - Annual Christmas Party

Member Birthdays
Only one birthday partier this month!  Have a good one Barbara!

September Meeting Minutes
For our fun meeting in September, the following members were present:  Sue, Virginia, Kathryn, Julie G., Leslie, Maggie, Nita, Katie, Jude, Sara, Vicki, Julie W., Andrea, Mary, Ann C., Erin, Janet and Jennifer.

Show and Tell
Virginia shared that she has finished her schooling and has a job!  Way to go, Virginia!

Nita brought her finished pin doll that she worked on at our September workshop.  How cute!
Nita's pin dol

Janet finished a new black bird from a design found in the book "the artful bird" by Abigail Patner Glassenberg.  Good job, Janet!
                            
                                  Janet's Blackbird
Janet's Bird Book
                

Congratulations to Vicki who is a new great-grandmother!

Business Meeting
     Ideas for programs for next year were discussed including ways of doing faces, constructing undergarments for dolls, lace making, and how to put metallic sparkle on fabric.  If members have suggestions please let us know at the upcoming meetings or email one of the officers.
     Maggie has a sign up sheet she is compiling for the November Show and Sale.  Tables will be $10 per person.  Email her if you have not already signed up and wish to have a table.  We will be setting up for the show on Friday, November 18 from 4-6.  Maggie will be there before that if you need to come earlier.  Man power is needed to carry tables if anyone can bring that power source!
     Katie will be bringing our photo postcards to this next meeting.  If you can't come but want to get some postcards to mail or post somewhere, contact Katie and arrangements can be made for you to get some.  Katie will be stepping down from being publicity chairman this coming year.  She has done a great job and will share as much as she can with the new chairperson.  Let one of the officers know if you are interested in this position.
     Julie G. is collecting items for the silent auction for the pre-school at the Irvington United Methodist Church where we are having our show and sale.  If you have something you would like to donate for the auction, please give it to Julie G. by the October meeting or if you can't come to the meeting, contact Julie G and make arrangements with her.
     Sue is collecting names of those who will have a pattern to contribute to the addition to our Pattern Book.  The pattern doesn't have to be a doll and any size pattern may be used.  These new patterns will be due at our January 2017 meeting.

Program of the Month
Katie presented a demonstration and work-a-long on her technique for needle sculpting eyes.  She adapted her technique from techniques by Gloria "Mimi" Winer and Barbara Schoenoff.  Mimi is a fabulous dollmaker and has tutorials, CDs and DVDs available at Dollmakers Journey.  Her CDs and DVDs are very well done and detailed for dollmakers of all levels from beginner to advanced. Katie highly recommends her DVD entitled "Needle Model a Pretty Face".  Barbara teaches online classes at A For Artistic and has patterns available at Dollmakers Journey.  Both of these ladies are wonderful dollmakers and we can learn so much from them.  Be sure to check out their patterns and classes.  Thanks Katie for such an informative program and sharing your technique.  It definitely is one to try on one of our future dolls!
Katie's Demo
Katie's Demo


One of Katies' doll faces
Applying the overlay





Next Meeting
     You won't want to miss our October meeting.  Our Elements challenge dolls will be  revealed  and then judged by Cyndy Seiving.  She will also be bringing AFICC sample projects!  If you are bringing a challenge doll, please provide something with its' name and a short description including any special techniques you may have used.  Do not put your name on this description.
     While she is judging the dolls, we will twiddle our fingers with Virginia who will teach us her finger weaving techniques.  She suggested you bring scissors if you are participating in her demo.

Upcoming Challenges
October 15, 2016 Indy Cloth Dollmakers Challenge - The Elements (for Judging)
November 4-6 - Jelly Roll Challenge and Retreat at Threads of Time
November 19, 2016 Show and Sale - People's Choice selection of the Challenge Dolls
May 20, 2017 - Tarot Doll Challenge with River City Dollmakers

October Meeting Checklist
  • Nametag
  • Show and Tell
  • Elements Challenge Doll
  • Scissors for Virginia's fingerweaving






Saturday, September 10, 2016

September 2016 Newsletter

Upcoming Meetings
September 17 - Katie - Eyeballs and Nose techniques
October 15 - Virginia - Finger Weaving,  the Challenge Doll reveal and judging
and Cyndy Seiving with AFICC samples
November 19 - Annual Show and Sale
December 17 - Annual Christmas Party

Member Birthdays
Very Happy Birthday wishes for September to Mary, Kathryn, and Denise.

August Meeting Minutes
Members present for our August meeting were Mary, Sara, Janet, Sue, Virginia, Kathryn, Julie G., Ron, Joan, Jude, Julie W., Andrea, Ann C., Martha, Katie, Ann R., and Jennifer.

Show and Tell
Sara brought a traveler notebook she had made to show us.
 
Sara's Notebook

Janet's Bird

                                                                
 Janet has been busy making her fine feathered friends.

Sue brought her Troll Queen from a pattern by Arley Berryhill which won first in its' category and Best of Show at the Ohio Sate Fair!  She also brought Lady Anise which she made from an online class with Angela Jarecki and her Secret Keeper from a pattern by Julie McCullough.
Sue's Troll Queen

Lady Anise

Sue's Secret Keeper
  
Virginia brought her Benny which won 2nd in its' category at the Ohio State Fair and her Freya doll from a pattern be Janet Clark.
Virginia's Bunny
Virginia's Freya

Kathryn finished her Grace doll from Sue's class.
Kathryn's Grace
Julie G.'s Mushrooms
                                                    
Julie G. has been busy making mushrooms from a design she found on Pinterest.

Joan is teaching a class on making small books.  They are fantastic!
Joan's Books
Jude's Wings
                         
Jude brought a butterfly she digitized and embroidered on Angelina Film.  Great job, Jude!
Julie W. showed us a pincushion she made from a mannequin pattern with a base from a broken antique stair spindle.
Julie W.'s pincushion


Business Meeting
Our UFO challenge has been postponed due to the other challenges that are also coming up soon.  We will do it at our December meeting, so you have more time to get everything done.  Please email a photo to the group so we know what your UFO looks like now.  Julie G. plans to complete her Gwendolyn doll from a class she took with Allison Marano.  Martha will finish her doll from Sue's class and Julie W. plans to finish her Dancine from Fran Meehan's workshop. 

Our November show and sale is coming up soon.  Maggie is head of the committee, so we will need to let her know who will be having a table.  Don't forget about the charity auction for the pre-school at the Irvington United Methodist Church where we are having our show and sale.  If you have something you would like to donate for the auction, please give it to Julie G. by the October meeting.

We will be adding an expansion to our Pattern Book.  New patterns will be due at our January, 2017 meeting (?Zoo Edition).  Patterns can be for any size doll or animal, but keep in mind they will be printed on 8 1/2 x 11 paper. 

Classes for AFICC 2017 can now be seen online.  Dream of the Tiara you will wear!  For Demo night we are planning to do a stamped face needlebook.

Several members brought in decks of Tarot cards to help us think of what doll we would like to make for the Tarot Challenge with River City in May, 2016.  Thanks to those who brought the cards!  It really helped to give us some great ideas!

While we were busy with Show and Tell and our business meeting, Mr. Odell was hard at work photographing dolls some of the members had brought in.  He spent a lot of time on each photo to show off the dolls at their best!  Thank you Mr. Odell for coming to do this for us!
Mr. Odell, photographer
Mr. Odell editing
             

We also had a swap meet after the meeting was over.  Thanks to all who brought in their wonderful stash of different supplies for doll making.  No doubt many of the items will show up in someone's doll in the future!

September Labor Day Weekend Workshop
Our two day workshop on Sunday and Monday of Labor Day Weekend at the Irvington Library was so much fun and productive that we are considering doing it again in the future.  Everyone worked on whatever they wanted at whatever pace they wanted and it was amazing what all each person accomplished in the two days!
Labor Day Weekend Workshop
Hard at work
    
Martha completed six Scribbles to add to the ones already collected for our charity contribution to the Children's Bureau.  Great job, Martha.  They are adorable!
Martha's Scribbles




Next Meeting
For our meeting on September  17, Katie will do a demonstration of her eyeball and nose techniques. You will need small amounts of stuffing, but Katie said she would bring enough for everyone. If you would like to work along, bring the following:
 
Supply list:
Firmly stuffed head with needle sculpted nose bridge
stretch overlay either 1 or 2 way stretch will work
fabric marker
sewing needles and thread
3 or 4 inch long doll needles
strong thread
needle nose pliers or hemostats for pulling needle (optional)
pins



Upcoming Challenges
October 15, 2016 Indy Cloth Dollmakers Challenge - The Elements (for Judging)
November 4-6 - Jelly Roll Challenge and Retreat at Threads of Time
November 19, 2016 Show and Sale - People's Choice selection of the Challenge Dolls

September Meeting Checklist
  • Nametag
  • Show and Tell
  • Supplies as listed above for Katie's Demo