Shoes!

by Waxela (wa-shay-la) Sananda aka SpiritMama

We love them, we desire them, we must have them. There is something about the sole of a shoe that completes the soul of the character we portray. And so it is with our dolls, the shoes are the final touch that completes the personality, bringing a doll one step closer to life.

"Kitty Rawr" by Eva Buchala

I have had a fascination with shoes for a very long time. I used to sculpt tiny shoes out of polymer clay, before I made art dolls with tiny feet to place them on. Here are a few miniature shoes I made when I was 10 years old:

When making shoes for an art doll there are many things to consider…

Fairy shoes…

1. Fairy shoes by Nikki Brown
2. Fairy Shoes by Annette Emms

Boots…

1. "Lucy" by Caroline Jones
2. Faerie with a Baby Dragon by Cheri Voellmann
3. Sarah Lost her Lover by Waxela Sananda

High heels…

"Spring" by Diane Paone

And sometimes it's best just to go with some warm, cozy socks...

1. "The Girl" by Nicole Johnson
2. "Niche" by Sarah of ArchetypalTheatre

However we choose to sole our dolls, they have an amazing ability to walk you through fantasy worlds, fairy realms, ancient times, unknown lands, sorrow, joy, fear, and silliness.

If you'll just take a moment to walk in their shoes.

"Alice" by Sleetwealth

"Wind" by Victoria Mock

New Members spotlight!

As our team keeps growing I am completely blown away by the incredible talent I am seeing!
I just wanted to introduce some of our newest members....

*for more information about any of these incredible artists, click the picture.

Inspiration

Hi everyone! I'm Ky and starting next week, I will be conducting an interview of sorts with one of our ADO members. This week, however, I am going to talk about inspiration. I'm doing this for a couple of reasons. One, I am inspired all the time, and by the smallest things. I carry a tiny notebook with me everywhere so I can sketch, write or take notes as needed. I get them for fifty-ish cents at CVS, which is important. I tend to not want to use my more expensive, fancy Moleskines; I worry that I will wreck them somehow, or that my doodles and random thoughts aren't perfect enough for the perfection of a Moleskine (welcome to my neuroses!). The other reason I'm not doing an interview this week is, uh, I didn't get my act together quick enough to give my interviewee enough time to respond.

So! Inspiration! Where do YOU find it?



I looove being out in nature and take my dog for walks all the time. Clearly, this picture was taken last September before nine million feet of snow fell on Massachusetts. ANYWAY. I like to bring my little point-and-shoot with me when I walk the dog and snap pictures of things I think are pretty.



I love looking at my favorite pictures books from childhood. Eloise is one of my absolute favorites; her character alone is inspirational, and Kay Thompson's words and Hillary Knight's illustrations complete the magical picture.

Sometimes, I sit and squash clay together until my fingers begin sculpting things of their own accord. But more often than not, I need to work at it a bit more. I need to soak in images and thoughts and words. I need to go grab a book of poetry or put Pandora on. Or I hit up flickr and search for things like "happy" or "sigh" or "anxious" or "love."

Where do you take your inspiration form?

[Please note: when I look at different things for inspiration, it's to absorb a feeling, a moment, a sliver of an idea. It's NOT to copy someone else's creative out look and/ or expression. I do suggest you take the time to bone up on copyright before you start making things to sell. And if you're already a seller, I highly recommend (re)reading it anyway,]

One World~One Heart paticipants from the ADO team!

This is such a fun event! bringing bloggers together across the world.
I just wanted to share with you who from the ADO team is participating. I can not believe the incredible pieces up to win!



look who is participating from the ADO team!

the One World~ One Hearts participants from the ADO team.
click on the picture to be taken directly to the doll and enter your name to win one of these fabulous art dolls!

Super-Simple Polymer Clay Doll Eyes Tutorial

By Waxela Sananda (that’s pronounced wa-shay-la) aka SpiritMama


I originally saw a similar eye tutorial by Susan Spinks on “the clay store . com”, and I decided to try my own version of it, simplified.


Materials:
white polymer clay
wire
acrylic paint
2 wood dowels (optional)
small paint brush (or tooth picks)
clear glaze


1- Start with some plain white polymer clay and roll two balls the same size. If you want to make several pair of eyes at once, roll lots of balls and pair them up.

2- Stick a small gauge wire into each eye, it doesn’t matter how long the wire is because you can cut it to the right size later. Stick the wire end of the eye into a chunk of clay and bake.

3- Now you’re ready to paint the eyes. There are a few different ways to do this. One way is to get two different diameter wood dowels, one for the iris and one for the pupil. The other, less exact way is to wing it (this is the technique I prefer : -)

If you are using dowels, dip the larger dowel into your desired color of paint. This will be the colored part of the eye. It could be green, blue, grey, gold, maybe purple, whatever you desire. Stamp the dowel onto the eye, and let it dry. Next stamp the smaller dowel (the pupil) with black paint in the center of the color and let it dry.

If you want to “wing it”, take your white eyeball and dip the end in your colored paint. I like to have a damp cloth next to me so I can wipe the paint off and try again if necessary. When the colored paint is dry, dip into a tiny bit of black for the pupil, or if you want more control, just paint the pupil on with a tiny brush. It may take some practice, but I really like the results I get with this technique.

You can add stripes or dots to the irises for special effects, I always add a tiny spec of white on the pupil to look like a light reflection. You can also try vertical striped pupils for cat eyes, or sideways stripes for frog eyes. Hint- I use a toothpick to paint on the stripes.

If you want glossy, wet looking eyes be sure to glaze them with your favorite clear glaze or sealer.


I used this technique, including stripes on the iris, on my ADO Broken Heart Challenge Doll:

If you try this technique and use it on a doll, be sure to send me a picture at waxela22@yahoo.com, write ADO tutorial in the subject, and I may include it in a future post!

New Team...First team Challenge!

Jacinta

by Holli

the deadline for our first team challenge is fast approaching.
here is a peek at some of the works in progress and finished pieces.

Barry the Hearbreaker

by Lady Artisan Dolls

Bella by Troll Tracks

Adelle by LoopyBoopy





work in progress
by Pumpkinhaus

Remembrance

by art Dolls by Nat




Mary and baby
by Mealy Monster Land




work in progress on Duncan and Jude
by Wooded Woods

Departed

by Studio at Crow Haven Farm

Sarah lost her lover
by SpiritMama

hope you enjoyed viewing some of the incredible pieces from our first team challenge
Broken Hearts.
What a great range of interpretation the team has offered.
If you are a artdoll maker and seller, you may be interested in joining our group.
For more information
ADO team

♥for futher information on each piece, click the picture and you will be directed to the seller.