Saturday, February 11, 2017

February 2017 Newsletter

February 2017 Newsletter

Upcoming Meetings

February 18 - Andrea - Needle sculpted hands
March 18- Prep Needle books for AFICC, Make Tiaras - Virginia
April 15 - Prep for AFICC Tiaras, Tarot Dolls Due
May 20 - Joint meeting with River City Group, Tarot Doll Challenge, Field Trip to Indiana State Museum
June 17 - Katie-Lingerie, Sue's UFO Challenge dolls due
July 15 -  Charity Doll Workshop, Swap meet
August 19 - Kathryn- Dorset button demo
September 16 - Andrea - History of lace
October 21 - 2017 Challenge Doll Judging
November 18 - Annual Show and Sale
December 16 - Annual Christmas Party

Member Birthdays
Doll making birthday wishes go out to Julie G. and Liz this month of February.

January Meeting Minutes
Members present for our January meeting were Sue, Jude, Ann C., Joan, Denise, Kathryn, Nita, Julie G., Ron, Andrea, Ann R., Katie, Julie W., Vicki, Virginia, Jennifer, Janet, and Leslie.

Show and Tell
Virginia finished her Funky Fish beaded soft sculpture, a design of Dot Lewallen.  Very impressive, Virginia!
Virginia's Funky Fish


Nita completed a very lovely UFO challenge doll from the pattern, Gather Ye Rosebuds, by Colleen Babcock.
Nita's Gather Ye Rosebuds

Kathryn brought in her original design "Tinman".
Kathryn's Tinman


Leslie brought in a doll she had made several years ago from a pattern by Carol Lee Creations.  She also shared some Tiny Town Dolls from the era of 1940-1950.
Leslie's Tiny Town Dolls
Leslie's Carol Lee Creation Doll



Janet showed us a finished bird from a pattern she is providing for our new Pattern Book that Sue is putting together.
Janet's Bird


Business Meeting
Our 15th Annual Doll Show and Sale on November 18, 2017 was discussed.  The hours will be changed to coincide with those of the other group that is having a sale in the building that day.  We may have to either change our current signs or make new ones to give the new hours.  We will again be donating to the preschool auction at the Irvington United Methodist Church.  If you would like to donate, it should be something affordable that perhaps a young child might like.

Leslie is working on who to have for our fall workshop.  The date will be set when it is decided who will be doing our workshop.  Most likely it will be July, August, or September.

Sue is working on getting our doll pattern book together. Janet, Kathryn and Nita are submitting new patterns.  Thank you ladies!!  Your contributions are much appreciated.  If you did not complete your pattern and just need a little more time, let Sue know.  These will be going to print shortly in order to have them available to sell at AFICC. 

Several of our members are attending a retreat at Threads of Time in Danville, IL in February.  Some of them will be creating "Fleur" in a workshop with Barbara Schoenoff.
Barbara's Fleur


Nita and Kathryn were unable to make the December meeting so they did  their Christmas exchange in January.  The Holidays just never end!

We voted for our 2017 Doll challenge.  The winner is a character from a nursery rhyme or picture book and is due October 21, 2017.  You will create a doll based on a character from a nursery rhyme or a picture book.  A picture from that rhyme or book must accompany the doll.  Also the name of the book with author and artist/illustrator need to be included.

Programs for 2017 were discussed.  These are posted at the beginning of the newsletter.

We will have a "Round Robin/Brown Bag Doll"  exchange this year.  If you would like to participate, you will submit a blank doll body you have made placed in a brown paper grocery sack or similar sack.  Also in the sack include a journal that you have started for your doll's journey. You will include photos to also document this amazing journey your doll will make.  Please leave the head unattached as it is easier for the person doing her face to not have it attached. Do not sculpt the face as that will be the step the next person will do.  We will have the first exchange at our February meeting.  If you cannot make it to the meeting, give it to another member who will be attending that day and they will exchange for you. At the following intervals the bags will be exchanged with another participating member and by the end you will get your completed doll back with stories of his or her adventures along the way.  You will not see your doll after the first exchange until the end of the exchanges.  The tentative exchanges are as follows:
  • February-naked body with head unattached and no sculpting
  • March-face with needle sculpting
  • April-hair
  • June-clothing
  • August-shoes
  • October-embellishment/accessories
We have done this exchange in the past and it has been a lot of fun.  You never know what you will end up with.  Your fellow dollmakers will add their own personal touches and you will be amazed!
In October you will get your doll back along with stories of his/her adventures along the way in the homes of you dollmaking friends.

Andrea has challenged members to having an article in Art Doll Quarterly published.  This is quite a challenge, but we have some very talented doll makers in our club.  What an honor it would be to have this happen.  Good luck to those who are up to the challenge!

Andrea asked us to explore places that we might display our dolls to promote our club.  Perhaps you know a store or business that would work with us.  It would be a great opportunity to share our passion with others!

For those interested, Niada will be in Nashville, TN August 28 to September 3. Go to the link for more information.

Next Meeting
Our next meeting is February 18, 2017.  Andrea will present a demo on needle sculpting hands.  If you would like to sew along with her, bring in a stuffed hand and basic needle sculpting supplies (i.e. needle, thread, scissors).  Reminder:  Pay your dues is you haven't already done so.  Bring your naked doll body and head for Brown Bag exchange.  Last chance to submit a pattern for the Zoo addition to our Pattern Book Expansion.

Upcoming Challenges and Events

April 20-23 - AFICC in Columbus, Ohio
May 20, 2017 - Tarot Challenge with River City
June 17 -  Sue's UFO Challenge
August 28-September 3 - NIADA Nashville, TN
October 21, 2017 Challenge Doll Judging
November 18, 2014 Show and Sale People's Choice selection of the Challenge Dolls

February Checklist

  • Nametag
  • Basic needle sculpting supplies (needle, thread, scissors) and stuffed hand if you want to sew along
  • Dues if you haven't already paid
  • Show and Tell
  • Brown Bag Exchange Doll