Please tell us about yourself. What is your name? Where do you live? What makes you tick?My name is Bonnie Jones and along with my husband and Scottish Terrier, we live in Natchez, MS which sits on the bluffs above the Mississippi River. We are both retired and enjoying life to the fullest. When we retired my husband had a studio built onto the back of our home so I could enjoy my sculpting (while he played golf). I love to read good action packed political novels and always have a good book around. Beautiful flowers, music and artwork all fill my life and make my later years so enjoyable.
When did you start making dolls? Why did you start making dolls?I started making cloth dolls back in the early 80's. I have always been creative and at that particular time in my life I needed a new direction and discovered cloth dolls at a craft show and decided to give it a try. I ended up having my own pattern line for awhile, but because of so much copying, I decided to cease the patterns and make OOAK cloth dolls using antique lace and fabric. These were sold locally in gift shops and craft shows. When I first purhased a home computer and started searching the webb, I found the websites of some of the top art Doll Artists, one being Marilyn Radzat. When I saw her work I almost fell off my chair. I knew then that I wanted to learn how to sculpt. I took a class with Jack Johnston and Barbara VanNoy and am still learning and will always be learning...that is the best part of this wonderful journey.
Who or what influences you? Inspires you?Oh my goodness, there are so many wonderful art doll artists..they all inspire me by just looking at their wonderful creations. Books, paintings, sculpture, people, gardening and of course who cannot be inspired by the European Renaissance Era.
Tell us a little about your dolls and your process for making them. Materials, preliminary sketches, inspiration, etc.
I do not sketch much because drawing is not my strong suit; but, once in awhile I will "draw" a figure and color it with pencils so I will know what colors to use in their costumes; but, a monochromatic color scheme is my favorite. I use Puppen fimo polymer clay and also Creative paper clay..I love both and it just depends on my mood as to which one I will use to sculpt a figure. I also love to use apoxie clay to strengthen my armatures and to decorate my bases.
My bases are usually decorated with mosaic tiles, found objects and apoxie clay. As for inspiration, a picture, fabric, ribbons, buttons, or something new I may find at the craft store will inspire a new figure.
Do you have a favorite doll? It can be handmade by you, handmade by someone else, or even (gasp) mass production.My idol is Forest Rogers and anything she sculpts is automatically my favorite.
Besides making dolls, what do you do? Job, other creative pursuits, hobbies, etc.I enjoy reading, traveling, gardening and watching good movies and I am a political junkie. I guess my other hobby would be creating with mosaics. I am retired after working for 35 years as a secretary.
What are some of your favorite: movies, books, websites, magazines, foods, TV shows, music? (Any or all!)Italian food is my favorite food. As for reading...mysteries, political fiction and a good romance novel. Movies fall into the same category as the books..of course I loved Alice in Wonderland.
TV...watch too much news, love "Dancing with The Stars", "American Idol "and "You think You Can Dance". My music is a mixed bag because I will listen to classical, jazz and country.
If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?
A quiet place by the sea...specifically the Atlantic ocean or the Gulf of Mexico. Just seems so peaceful.
Where do you see yourself in one year? Five years? Ten years?Ha, ha..well, I will be 75 this month and at this age you just take it a day at a time.
Where can we find you on the internet? (blog, website, Etsy shop, eBay, et al.)E-bay: Bonnie Originals
