December Newsletter

Upcoming Meetings

December 20- Annual Christmas Party

January 17- Swap Meet

February 21- Charity Doll Assembly Line

Julie G's Midnight in the Garden

Member Birthdays

 We have lots of December Girls in our club.  Maybe that should be Barbara's next pattern...  Happy birthday to Ann C, Jude, Janet K, Sue, and Leslie!

Katie's Petal

November Meeting Minutes

Members Present: Erin, Julie G, Ron, Julie W, Mary M, Janet L, Vicki, Ann C, Maggie, Sue, Virginia, Katie, Jude, Leslie, Andrea, Mary Jane

Janet's Zentangle mug

Show and Tell

We of course started with the Fae and Habitat challenge dolls, which have their own post here. Go back and see the wonderful entries into this year's challenge.

Maggie's name tag and the Hoffman challenge fabric

Janet made black and white birds to sell at the Show and Sale, and also had a beautiful mug made of one of her zentangle doodles.  Andrea brought a gift from her Scandanavia trip for Mary: a cute little troll, and not one of the 80's dolls.

Maggie made her name tag pin doll, she is adorable!

Mary's troll from Norway

Katie had books, patterns and magazines to turn in to a lending library.  If you borrow one, read it and bring it back to the next meeting to share with others.

Andrea's Bookmobile- The fairy is out!

Thanks to Sue, we got to see the 2015 Hoffman Challenge fabric! Very interesting, I see some nice pieces that can be used in a doll costume.  There is also a secondary challenge in 2015 to include Aurifil thread in your Hoffman piece.  Entries are due in July.

Business Meeting

We discussed the logistics of setting up the Show and Sale, which was the following Saturday, then moved on to planning for next year.

The instructors we are reaching out to for 2015 will be:

 Lillian Alberti

Ute Vasina

Angela Jereki

and Dot Luellen.

Consider who you would like to take a class from, depending on their availability of course.

We set the programs for the first few meetings of 2015, starting with a swap meet and then a charity doll assembly day in February.  We have some ideas for the rest of the year, but need to get the schedule set.  If there is something you would like to teach or learn about, don't be afraid to speak up.

Leslie's Scarlet

And, it's my favorite time of year!  When Andrea pulls out her Challenge Doll Idea list and the white board, and we narrow down the theme for next year's challenge.  We had lots of ideas, from Andrea's log as well as ideas thrown out during the meeting.  Ethnic costumes, Bodies in Motion, and Music were just some of the themes.  We voted and narrowed the themes down to:
 Leather and Lace (doll must include leather and lace somehow),
The Dark Side (a dark doll that is a little subversive),
Come As You Aren't (the anti-version of you, your alter ego),
American Historical Costume (any time period in American history),
Fairy Tales (any character from a fairy tale),
Sue's Squishy Bags (Sue-or someone - will put together supplies that everyone has to use in their doll) and
Anime (Japanese cartoon style).

Andrea and THE LIST

We will vote on the final theme at the December meeting.  If you aren't able to attend, email me and I will stuff the ballot box include your vote.

Ann admiring the pared down list.

Odds and Ends
Janet won the name tag drawing, congrats!

We were contacted by The Bartholomew History Center to see if anyone would like to sell dolls at their gift shop in Columbus.  Let me know if you are interested.

Jude's machine embroidered wings

Next Meeting

Our Christmas party is always a great treat. We will have a pitch-in brunch and (optional) gift exchange. Maggie will bring the plates and silverware, and Andrea will provide drinks. Everyone else bring a dish to share.

You may also bring a doll related gift (limit of $20), which you can purchase, gather from your stash, or make. Looking forward to celebrating with everyone!

Julie W's Bonnie and machine embroidered butterfly

Upcoming Challenges

2015 AFICC Club display - A Bar Scene - Create a character (about 14-16 inches tall) that you might meet in a bar or nightclub.  You may create just the doll, or include a setting like a corner booth or a bit of dance floor.  We'll display them together at AFICC in Columbus, OH in April.

2015 Paint Chip Challenge- Choose a paint chip with coordinating colors and make a doll that includes those colors. This will be due at our next joint meeting with River City in May of 2015. If you haven’t received a chip, you can get one from Andrea or find one you like at your hardware store.

2015 Australian Fabric Challenge- Choose a fabric from Threads ofTime’s Australian collection to use in a doll. Doll is due in Danville, IL in June of 2015. There will be a People’s Choice award.

Maggie's Fern

December Checklist

• Nametag
• Covered Dish
• Gift

Virginia's Frost Bites (mooning over Legolas)

Everything Else at our Doll Show

Here's a proper close-up of some of the fabulous dolls on display at our 2014 Show and Sale.

The Snowflake Maker by Sue (with snowflakes by Virginia)

An early Jan Horrox doll by Shelby, and Secret Keepers by Sue and Virginia

Shelby's accordian book doll, and Sue's lovely 'ugly fabric' doll

Dolls by Shelby, Nita, Martha, and Mary

A whole bunch of dolls by Sue, Virginia, Shelby, Nita, and Leslie

A Jill Maas design by Nita, and Shelby's three sisters - Mildred, Alma, and Astrid in paperclay

 

One of Nita's cute raggedies in vintage lace

Class Dolls and Sandy's Kings

At our Show and Sale... Check out the wonderful displays of dolls created in various classes, workshops, and retreats this year. The January Girls were created in a class with Barbara Schoenoff at the Threads of Time retreat in Danville, Illinois.

January Girls by Jude, Katie, Nita, Julie G., ?, Sue, and Ann C.

In March, Kathryn Walmsley taught a sculpting workshop - Punchinello scultped paperclay heads

Punchinello heads by Leslie and Ann R.

This small collection of Downton Abbey dolls travelled to another Threads of Time retreat in June.

Downton Abbey dolls by Ann C., Katie, and Julie G. 

In August we had a very fun workshop with Lucy Landry.

Lots and lots of Bridget dolls!

Sandy brought a wonderful highlight of our show this year; she brought The Three Kings from her denim nativity set.  The doll body patterns and costuming are entirely original, created from recycled jeans.

Shown below is the King from the East, bearing his gift of myrrh and robed in classic kimonos.

The second King has fringed sleeves and zipper embellishments on his chest piece and crown, and carries a casket of frankincense fastened with an overall buckle.

The third King has bias-swirled robes and wears a cloak crocheted with strips of denim.  The bowl holding his gift of gold is created of coiled belt loops.

Doll Show Overview

Our annual Show and Sale was a blast, with several amazing displays and sales booths.  Over the next few posts, we will take you on a tour of the Show.  First, the main display.

This is the view as you entered the auditorium; a lovely mix of individual dolls created over the last few years.

Dolls by Shelby, Katie, Sue, and Virginia

Dolls by Shelby, Katie, Nita, and Mary

Here's a long view from the back of the room...

In this group, we have the obsession of the year, boudoir dolls from Barbara Schoenoff's pattern January Girl.  

And finally, an aerial view of the foot traffic at our sales tables.  Thank you to everyone who visited this year, and especially to those who come back to see us every year!

People's Choice Award, Fairy Habitat Challenge

We had a wonderful Show and Sale yesterday... our 12th Annual!  Thank you to everyone who attended, and to all 120 people who voted in our People's Choice Award.  Our challenge this year was officially called 'Fae Folk and their Habitat', to leave room for a variety of creatures.  As it turns out, all the challenge entries were fairies, with wings and all, so I'll just call these fairy habitats.

Here's a view of the display, with all of this year's challenge entries.

The winner of the People's Choice Award was La Belle Faerie Boutique, by Katie Jones.

Katie re-purposed a doll wardrobe and other furniture, and installed her original doll as the seamstress of this exclusive shoppe, filled with fancy accessories.  The doll is cloth, with a needle-sculpted face that has been gessoed and painted.

The second place in the People's Choice, and the winner of the judge's critique, is Leslie's doll, Scarlet.  Scarlet is dressed in hand-colored muslin leaves, and lives in a comfortable home under the shelter of a large broken garden urn.  Her house is complete with a bed, table and chairs, and a fireplace, and a walnut-shell wall to keep it cozy.

Next was Virginia's doll Frost Bite (is in love with Legolas).  Frost Bite (from a pattern by
Barbara Schoenoff) hangs out in a cozy tissue-mache pumpkin, lined with photos of her true love Legolas the Elf.  Her icicles and fairy lights add to the frosty ambience.

Andrea submitted Adelidae the moth-girl librarian, in her traveling bookmobile.  Andrea converted drawings and measurements of old gypsy wagons into a dollhouse-scale pattern made of fabric-covered plastic canvas, and designed a 4" fairy to live inside and lend books throughout Fairyland.

Maggie's entry is Fern, the Fairy Godmother of Pumpkin Seeds.  Her house is made of fabric and beads, and is - no surprise - filled with the wonderful stringy seeds you'd expect to find inside.  She is responsible for the abundance of pumpkin patches all over the world.

Julie W.'s doll is named Bonnie, and she is a baby flower fairy who lives in a flowerpot with her friend Roger the Friendly Frog.  Roger's eyes are beautiful vintage buttons, and there are living plants in the pot beside the doll.  Both patterns are by designer Arlene Cano.

Jude used an Allison Marano pattern to make Azura, and she has just flown in with a new delivery of books for her reading nook. The Hoffman Hut (from a McCall's pattern) is named for the beautiful Hoffman challenge fabrics it is created from, and inside is a snug but well-lit reading room.

The last entry is this year's challenge was also our judge's favorite of the bunch -- Midnight in the Garden by Julie G.  Both fairy and house are made from patterns by Julie McCullough, from batik fabrics and fancy yarns.

Congratulations to all our dollmakers who finished this year's challenge!

November Newsletter

Upcoming Meetings

November 15- Challenge Doll Revealed

November 22- Annual Show and Sale

December 20- Annual Christmas Party

The 2015 AFICC classes.

Member Birthdays

Happy Birthday Maggie and Edie, we are so thankful for your friendship!

Nita's Bridget from the Lucy Landry class

September Meeting Minutes

Members Present: Virginian, Sue, Katie, Martha, Vicki, Andrea, Julie W, Erin, Janet, Leslie, Mary, Maggie, Ann C, Jude, Nita, Julie G, Ron, Ann R., Dot, Cyndy, and Mary Jane.

Business Meeting

We had two special guests this month, Cyndy from Cyndy's Dolls and Dot from Speadie Beadie.  They were in town to show us some of the dolls being taught at the 2015 Artistic Figures in Cloth and Clay convention. We are all very excited about the offerings, as we always are! Visit Cyndy's page to sign up for AFICC. We will have at least a few members attend, and will be teaching Artist Trading Cards at one of the get-togethers that weekend.

Nita's Lizzie lady

The One Stop Shop Hop was great, and was a great opportunity to display our work. Jude gave me some wonderful pictures of the event, and I will give those their own post.  We will also display more dolls at the Irvington Library to promote the Show and Sale. 

Janet's first doll- great job!

Show and Sale- It's time to start preparing for the Show and Sale on November 22.  You may set up your booth or bring dolls for the large group display on Friday November 21 between 3 pm and 5pm.  The library will also be available to us at 9 am on Saturday November 22, then the doors will open up at 10 am.  

Ann C's finished January Girl

This year it will cost $10 to have a full or half table in the Show.  Maggie had a the great idea to use yellow tags for dolls for sale that will be in the group display. If you have a doll you'd like to sell use a yellow name tag to indicate it's name and your name, and the pattern designer (if any). We'll include the doll in the large group display.  

Vicki's ornaments

Julie and Andrea will be working on inviting the guest artist for 2015, so we need to decide who we'd like to learn from. I know, it's hard to choose! Ute Vasina and Lillian Alberti have both expressed interest in coming to Indy, and Angela Jarecki also has some amazing doll we'd like to make.  Anyone who has more ideas, contact Andrea soon.

Janet's bird

Our 2015 slate of officers is set, with Julie G. being promoted to President, Andrea becoming V.P., and Maggie taking over Publicity. We will approve the slate of officers at the December meeting.

Maggie's "Ruthie" won a blue ribbon!

The monthly programs for 2015 need to be set soon. We have some ideas, and need more!  So far the list includes beading, tiny fingers, book making, painting with paint medium on fabric, and tips on steampunk accessories. Email Julie G. with more ideas!

Katie bought great fabric at the One Stop Shop Hop

Katie's meta fabric

The challenge dolls are finally due at the November meeting.  If you are participating in the challenge, bring your doll and house and a tag with the following information:

the doll's name

pattern designer/ original design

materials used (i.e. fabric, paint, yarn, wood, found objects)

a short story that tells the judge anything you'd like her to know about your projects, such as back story or a technique you'd like to highlight.

Do NOT include your own name.

Virginia's January Girl

Show and Tell

I'm going to blow through this ladies and gent.  Not because I don't love your show and tell, but because I need to get back to my fairy!

Julie G's charity dolls

Nita brought two wonderful dolls; her finished Bridget and a sassy doll from a Jill Maas Slightly Weathered Ladies pattern.

Janet finished her first human doll, from the Jan Jorrox books, and brought a little bird with a polymer clay beak.

Maggie brought Ruthie who won a blue ribbon at the State Fair! 

Andrea brought her felted puppet Brody and wants us to know that the Indy/ Marion County Library has craft magazine subscriptions available on Zinio.  

Ann C. finished her January girl and she is lovely!

Dot's Koggies

Vicki made beautiful Christmas ornaments with fabric and fusible fleece.

Martha helped her husband make a new zeppelin reproduction.

Katie found some cute fabric with fashion and doll illustrations.

Sue has a doll in the Cincinnati fiber art group show.

Virgina made a January girl for a friend who doesn't like the painted look, so she drew the face on the fabric without gesso and paint.

Dot brought some Koggies- not cats and not dogs- a pattern she has available, some beaded rabbits as well as the beaded fish she will be teaching at AFICC.

Julie G. brought some charity dolls that she made from one of Cyndy's patterns from Soft Dolls and animals.

Dot's fish and rabbits

Finally, Vicki won the name tag drawing and Erin gave a presentation about making hand puppets.  If you are interested in making a foam hand puppet, visit Project Puppet for some great patterns.

Erin, Tucker, Brody, and Andrea

Upcoming Challenges

Fae Folk and Habitat Challenge- Our yearly challenge will be a fairy house and a cloth fairy to live inside. The doll and habitat will be due on November 15, 2014.

2015 AFICC Club display - A Bar Scene- Create a character (around 14-16" tall) that you might meet in a bar or nightclub. You may create just the doll, or you may add a setting of your own, like a corner booth or bit of dance floor. We'll display them together at AFICC in Columbus, Ohio, in April of 2015.

2015 Paint Chip Challenge- Choose a paint chip with coordinating colors and make a doll that includes those colors. This will be due at our next joint meeting with River City in May of 2015. If you haven’t received a chip, you can get one from Andrea or find one you like at your hardware store.

2015 Australian Fabric Challenge- Choose a fabric from Threads of

Time’s Australian collection to use in a doll. Doll is due in Danville, IL in June of 2015. There will be a People’s Choice award.

November Meeting Checklist

• Nametag
• Challenge Doll
• Write-up for the Challenge Doll- doll name, pattern designer's name, materials used and a short description of the doll or techniques used