January Newsletter

  2025 Upcoming meetings

January 18 - Andrea TBD

February 15 - TBD

March 15 - TBD 

April 19 - TBD 

May 17 - TBD

June 21 - TBD

July 19 - TBD

August 16 - TBD

September 20 - TBD

October 18 - TBD

November 15 - TBD

December 20 - Christmas Party

January Birthdays

Joan is our only birthday girl this month.  Wishing you a HEALTHY year ahead, Joan!!!

December 21, 2024 Meeting Minutes

Present for the December meeting were Julie W., Ann C., Julie G., Leslie, Mary, Katie, Deb, Ann R., Andrea, Barbara, and Jude.

Show and Tell

Katie brought her beautiful "Makena".  Her skin fabric is hand dyed.

Katie's "Makena"

Deb brought a doll she had made that the features had bled.  Virginia had showed her how to cover the face with gesso and mod podge, sanding in between and then adding features which would not blead. She was very pleased with the outcome.  Great job, Deb!

Deb's redone face doll

Barbara brought her "Crow Woman" doll made with beautiful fabrics from her stash.

Barb's "Crow Woman" front

Barb's "Crow Woman" back

Business

Our November annual Art Doll Show and Holiday Fair was reviewed.  There were many wonderful dolls, however attendance was down a bit.  Plans for better advertising were discussed as well as the possibility of changing the date.

The possibility of doing another round robin doll was discussed.  It might be something that would start later in the year.

The May meeting may be a joint meeting with another group.  A committee will be planning that.

Our January meeting will be a planning meeting for the 2025 programs.   Some suggestions were how to make armatures, using Gesso for faces, what inks to use in making faces, how to create your own fabric for your doll, how to make accessories (glasses, umbrellas, shoes, etc.), sculpting character faces, how to make anatomically correct torsos.

Our guest class instructor on April 12-13 will be our own Barbara Schoenoff.  She brought her dolls to show what we will be doing.  The dolls themselves will not be done in class, cut the making of the Beast head to fit the prince will be the focus.

Barbara's "Belle" front

Barbara's "Belle" back

Barbara's Prince front

Barbara's Prince back

Barbara's Beast head front

Barbara's Beast head back

One of Barbara's hidden talents is gargling a Christmas song which she demonstrated for us.

Barb's song

Program

Food, Gift Exchange, Challenge for 2025

As always this was a fun Holiday Party.  Great food and what wonderful gifts were exchanged.

Voting for the 2025 Challenge

The category with the most votes and winner for the 2025 Challenge Doll is "Fictional Character" which could be from a book, movie, or play.

Next Meeting

Our next meeting is January 18, 2025, at the Irvington Branch Library at 10:00 a.m.  Our meeting room is on the right upon entering the library.  This will be a planning meeting for the programs for 2025.  We will also confirm officers for 2025.  All current officers have agreed to continue in their respective rolls.

5625 East Washington Street

Indianapolis, IN 46219

Future Events

April 12-13 - Barbara's Beast class

Check list for January meeting

Nametag

Show and Tell

Dues for 2025

Ideas for programs for 2025

 2024 Upcoming meetings  

September 21 - Virginia's Surprise

October 19 - Julie McCullough Day at Franklin Road Library Branch

November 16 - 2024 Challenge Dolls:  In the Woods

December 21 - Christmas Party 

September Birthdays

Mary, Kathryn and Denise are our September birthday girls.  Enjoy your special day ladies!

August Meeting Minutes

Attending the August meeting were Deb, Joan, Julie W., Virginia, Sue, Andrea, Katie, Leslie, Mary, Julie G., and two guests.  Leslie was our nametag winner!

Show and Tell

Sue recently did a sew-a-long with Cynthia Treen and made this adorable little pig made with felt.

Sue's Cynthia Treen pig

Julie W. has been working on a doll from Deanna Hogan's Enigma pattern.  She may be turning her into a Halloween doll.  

Joan has made some items using cartonnage techniques. 

Joan's cartonnage

Joan's cartonnage

Deb completed another doll from Julie McCullough's Snippet pattern.

Deb's "Chloris"

Leslie and Ann R. recently went to a USDC Convention in Kansas City.  The theme was "No Place Like Home".  Leslie found "this Is Me" book by Goldie Wilson.  Ann gifted Leslie with "Goldie and Little Goldie".  The last day was 1/2 price day and Leslie purchased three more treasures.

Leslie's book by Goldie Wilson

Leslie's "Goldie and Little Goldie"

Leslie's 1/2 Price purchase

Leslie's 1/2 Price purchase

Leslie's 1/2 Price purchase

Katie completed an adorable sewing doll she named "Gloria" complete with her shopping bag and purchases of patterns and fabrics.  Great job Katie!

Katie's "Gloria"

August 17, 2024 Business Meeting

The date for our spring class has not been confirmed yet but will be either April 12-13 or April 25-26.  It is time to be thinking about our November annual Show and Sale.  Sign-ups for tables have begun. This year's challenge is "In the Woods".  The doll could be anything "in the woods".  It will be fun to see what members can come up with.  It is also the year of the dragon and we plan to have a table with our dragon dolls made in Amy Felske's class as well as any other dragons members have made.

Details for a future meeting with the local UFDC group next year were discussed.  Leslie will continue to work on this. 

Members were asked to bring Halloween or autumn themed dolls to the September meeting to leave so Andrea can put them in the library showcase for October.

Ideas for the Julie McCullough open house in October were discussed.  We plan to have tables with her dolls, patterns, etc. and perhaps people demonstrating different doll making techniques to visitors.  Sue will be taking signups for member participation.

Program

Andrea presented a fantastic program on making your own kaleidoscope. A few years ago, she took a class at John C. Campbell where she learned the techniques involved.  Kaleidoscopes can be made out of almost anything cylindrical from Pringles cans to flashlights! She provided kits for everyone and showed us how to make interchangeable ends for them. Andrea brought two helpers who assisted members in successfully completing their very own kaleidoscope. 

Thank you, Andrea, and a big thank you also to your helpers!  Your kaleidoscopes were a huge success!

Next Meeting

Our next meeting is September 21, 2024, at the Irvington Branch Library at 10:00 a.m.  Our meeting room is on the right upon entering the library.  

5625 East Washington Street

Indianapolis, IN 46219

Virginia will be presenting a surprise program.

Future Events

October 19, 2024, 10:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m. Julie McCullough Open House at the Franklin Road library branch

November 16 - meeting Challenge "In the Woods" due

November 23. 2024 Annual Show and Sale - Year of the Dragon 9-3

Check list for September meeting

Nametag

Show and Tell

Halloween/Autumn dolls

April 2024 Newsletter

   2024 Upcoming meetings 

April 20 - Deb Martin Rag Doll History presentation 

May 18 - Felt Embroidery - Kathryn

June 15 - Baskets - Virginia

July 20 - Ray Slater faces - Virginia?

August 17 - Kalaidoscope - Andrea

September 21 - Julie McCullough Day at Franklin Road Library Branch

October 19 - Challenge Dolls and show planning

November 16 -?

December 21 - Christmas Party

April Birthdays

Katie, Sandy, and Ann are all another year older but wiser this month.  Happy Birthday you all!

March Meeting Minutes

Present for our March meeting were Leslie, Maggie, Joan, Ann C., Julie G., Kathryn, Sue, Virginia, Andrea, Katie, and Julie W.  Kathryn was our nametag winner.

Show and Tell

In honor of St. Patrick's day, Leslie brought her Leprechaun.

Leslie's Leprechaun

Julie W. brought her completed pin that Andrea showed us how to make at the January meeting.

Julie W's Scribble pin

Katie completed her Sewphie the Stitcher doll from a pattern by Julie McCullough.

Katie's "Sewphie"

Virginia brought some Maureen Mills dolls she had purchased.

Virginia's Maureen Mills dolls

Virginia's original Maureen Mills doll signed by Maureen

Kathryn brought a felt cat she had made and embroidered.

Front of Kathryn's cat

Back of Kathryn's cat

March 16, 2024 Business

Leslie is working with some other doll groups nearby that we might be able to get together with.

We reviewed Amy Felske's Book Dragon pattern. Members are looking forward to her class April 27-28.  

Barbara Schoenoff wasn't able to attend but sent her Beauty and the Beast doll.  Members were excited about perhaps having her teach how to make the Beast.

Barbara's handsome prince

Barbara's prince with beast head

A reminder of the Julie McCullough Open House September 21, 2024, 10am to 1pm at the Franklin Road library branch.

Program

Andrea presented our program on making books.  We of course will need a book for our Book Dragon!  Several members brought in books they had made with various techniques.

Andrea gave us many helpful ideas on making books.  Thank you Andrea for all the great ideas!

Next Meeting

Our next meeting is April 20, 2024, at the Irvington Branch Library at 10:00 a.m.  Our meeting room is on the right upon entering the library.  The program will be about the history of rag dolls presented by our guest Deb Martin.

5625 East Washington Street

Indianapolis, IN 46219

Future Events

April 27-28, 2024   Amy Felske Spring Class

September 21, 2024 Julie McCullough Open House at the Franklin Road library branch

November 16 -  meeting Challenge "In the Woods" due

November 23. 2024 Annual Show and Sale - Year of the Dragon

Check list for April meeting

Nametag

Show and Tell including Rag doll you have made or purchased

Dues for 2024 if not already paid