Friday at AFIC

Everyone is having a great time.  It's wonderful to get away from the everyday and hang out with a community of doll makers.  The internet service at the hotel is poor so most of the (many) photos must wait until I return home.  Here are a few of the highlights.

Nancy Forsythe, Judy Skeel and Tracey ? at work in susie McMahon's class.

Classes are going well.  Rooms are organized to encourage camaraderie and communication.  My excellent instructor is Susie McMahon from Tasmania.  She teaches the technique and then lets the students apply it as they wish.  The class is a good fit for me.  Feedback from the other classes is good. 

Mimi Weiner the auctioneer.

The live auction of donated dolls to benefit the scholarship fund went well.  It probably raised several thousand dollars.  Mimi Weiner was a ham of an auctioneer.  We were all entertained!  Notice the Treasures of the Gypsies shop in the background.  It was mobbed with shoppers.

Doll Street Dreamers online doll club has a terrific exhibit of steam punk inspired dolls.

Joyce Compton won second place in the challenge to make a doll without a doll stand.  There are two categories.  Original design and pattern interpretation.  Joyce won for this original design of a felted Wild Hare.  I'll post a full list of winners tomorrow.  My Leafkicker doll won second place in the original design division.

A Pattern & an Etsy Shop

For two years I've been making small awards, ribbons and medals to celebrate the creative spirits of other artists.  To date I've primarily given these appreciations to artists that I know.  One of my 2011 goals is to "do something" with these projects.  Lately I've been working on getting them out into the world in two additional ways. I've started an Etsy shop and I've written a pattern to show how to make an award ribbon brooch.

The Etsy shop has taken a lot of time and work.  Creating the shop banner took days.  I had to work on my photography skills to have OK images of my products.  Finally I'm ready to list some items.  I'll be uploading two items a day into the shop until I have about 40 items for sale.  The shop URL is:  
http://www.etsy.com/shop/EmilyEckel?ref=pr_shop

 The first two items to be listed are in these:

The second way that I am putting my awards out into the world is to give away a pattern for making one of them.  The pattern that I've written will be included in the free pattern booklet that Cyndy Seiving will distribute at the Artistic Figures in Cloth (AFIC) Conference in the spring.  I've been trying to publish patterns for years and have always gotten bogged down by the devil in the details.  This pattern is simple but it is finished and ready for use.  This photo is the pattern award ribbon brooch.

It feels good to have done some things that will help me reach this years goals.

Doll Quilt

For several years I've been making, collecting and trading pin dolls and artists' trading cards.  They are now part of an evolving doll quilt.  The quilt base was made by a friend from things found in my sister's hoard, so even that is meaningful.  The quilt is full of memories of people and good times.  I love having it in my home.

Lately I've begun inviting friends to add things to the quilt.  The beaded face doll below is by Chris Fondi.  I'll post updates when I add major items such as Chris' doll to the quilt.

The top of the quilt has larger dolls and reminds me of a costume party or a "hats & heels" banquet.  

Currently I'm participating in a fabric postcard swap with other members of Doll Street.  Those cards will become part of the quilt.  I'm looking forward to their arrival next month.

Some of my awards and medals are sprinkled into the mix.  The doll quilt is fun to make and to have. 

Doll Makers Medals & Ribbons

After attending the doll makers conference in Columbus, I came home full of excitement and pleasure from the fun, creative experience. When I told the people in my life about the experience, most of them said something like: "Oh, that's nice". I realized that people who don't find meaning from making things don't "get" the excitement of a creative experience such as doll making. I suppose they find their creative sparks in other ways.

I took a class with elinor peace bailey who suggested that I make a decorated doll. After mulling things over I decided to make "decorations" for doll makers and artists. I want to recognize kindred spirits with medals and ribbons. The photo shows my train of thought for designing these medals and ribbons. Once I have developed the designs a bit further I will make name the various ribbons and medals. A short term goal is to develop these small projects into a publishable pattern.