Monday, November 28, 2011
Sunday, November 27, 2011
New Member Spotlight - Debbie Smith of DebiDesigns
Happy Sunday Morning, ADO readers!
Today our New Member Spotlight shines on Debbie Smith of DebiDesigns.
Debbie is a doll artist who says that she came into her creativity in her late 30's and is trying to "catch up"!
I just love that quote! She says her "creative mind is never in rest mode." After checking out her work, I have no doubt about it! In addition to art dolls she also works in fiber arts, florals, quilting, embroidery, and jewelry making. Her beaded fairy imp pins are particularly charming!
Get to know Debbie and check out all the wonderful work she does by visiting her Etsy shop, blog, website, flickr stream, and twitter feed!
Welcome to the team, Debbie!
Saturday, November 26, 2011
Thursday, November 24, 2011
ADO Featured Artist: Bari Read
Happy Thanksgiving!
This week's artist feature is Bari Read of Bari's Fairies.
Please tell us about yourself. What is your name? Where do you live? What makes you tick?
My name is Bari Read and I live with my husband, my dog and a pack of formerly stray cats in Mesa, AZ.
When did you start making dolls? Why did you start making dolls?
Probably 10 years ago I started exploring polymer materials - I currently use Cernit. I would say that the dolls I make now are an extension of the figurative sculpture I had been doing in clay. I'm not sure that I consider myself a true doll maker -- I think I'm probably just a sculptor that likes to work in polymer...
Who or what influences you? Inspires you? Tell us a little about your dolls and your process for making them. Materials, preliminary sketches, inspiration, etc.
I normally work with an aluminum wire armature, reinforced with skewers so it only bends at the joints. Most of my dolls have polymer head, hands/arms, feet and legs with soft, stuffed fabric bodies. I like the flexibility of having a soft body so that they can be re-posed (one of the big advantages of dolls over clay sculpture).
I never do sketches, and have no idea what will inspire me from one moment to the next. I usually have an idea about something that made me feel a certain way, and eventually I'll come up with something that will allow me to recreate that feeling.
I did do a ball jointed doll in Ladoll paperclay, but I can't say that I love the material as much as I do polymer. I may try another ball jointed doll in polymer if I can figure out how to do it a way that makes sense.
I'm not really a doll collector or even a doll lover although I have seen some dolls that I love. I just like to create them.
Besides making dolls, what do you do? Job, other creative pursuits, hobbies, etc.
In addition to doll making, I try to work with clay from time to time - I've got some hand building for functional ware scheduled for next month, which should be a nice change of pace from tiny detailed faces and hands.
What are some of your favorite: movies, books, websites, magazines, foods, TV shows, music? (Any or all!)
I'm an avid reader -- Larry McMurtry, Ann Beattie, Laurie Colwin, E.L. Doctorow, John Irving, Kaye Gibbons, Barbara Kingsolver are a few of my favorites and I try to re-read all the Jane Austin novels as often as possible because you just don't get dialogue better than hers, although Larry McMurtry is also awesome.... I'd be hard pressed to name movies, because I can rarely remember titles. We love to watch foreign films though -- I think it's because they tend to be more 'slice of life' focused and not 'slice of exceptionally rich and amazingly gorgeous people's life' focused, as so many American films are. I also love pretty much anything with Will Ferrell. Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy, anyone?
If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?
I haven't been everywhere, so I don't know where I'd most like to live. I live in Arizona now, and while I don't love the heat I do love the sky. It's huge and nearly always amazing looking.
Where do you see yourself in one year? Five years? Ten years?
I don't know what the next few years will bring -- I imagine I'll still be sculpting, still making dolls and still playing in clay every chance I get. In 10 years I will hopefully be retired and living somewhere with a bigger studio so I can work spend all the time that I spend now making a living, making art.
Where can we find you on the internet? (blog, website, Etsy shop, eBay, et al.)
My etsy store is Bari's Fairies. I also have a website - bariread.com. No blog, I'm too boring for that, although I do enjoy reading other artist's blogs.
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Facebook Fan Page Photo Feature
Thank you so much to Abenaa Rukiya Montsh for sharing her spectacular doll the wisdom child...she made the disk from black and red thread black and white bone beads. You can subscribe to Abenaa's Facebook feeds by clicking HERE.
Please continue to share your art dolls on ADO's FACEBOOK whether it is a MMC doll or ADO Quarterly Challenge doll, or your latest art doll creation! Please note: there is no guarantee that all non-ADO members' dolls will be featured our ADO's blog. Thanks so much and keep sharing your dolls! :o)
Monday, November 21, 2011
Sunday, November 20, 2011
New Member Spotlight - Anastasia Georgiu
Hi! Welcome to another New Member Spotlight from the ADO team. Today we focus our spotlight on Anastasia Georgiu of DoDoDolls. Anastasia lives in Greece and she says that for her, "doll making is a reflection of my inner world..every experience in my life, a favorite song, a dream, a secret desire is a reason for me to make a doll." Her dolls are beautiful, delicate creations with an air of wistfulness about them that pulls you in and creates a story. You can see more of her work in her Etsy shop, and in her Flickr feed..so go take a peek. Welcome to the ADO team Anastasia!
Saturday, November 19, 2011
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Wednesday's Question
Monday, November 14, 2011
mmc for 2011 october, Tragic endings!!!
Poor, poor little dolls!
This month, our own Brigitte Doerner hosted the challenge about those young lives too soon taken away, too soon ended in dramatic circumstances...beautiful and terrible, or beautiful because of the tragic ending , how inspiring!
I hope you will enjoy these dolls, they are so delicate and lovable in their own way each!
"The litttle match girl" (Andersen tale) by Sahaya James from Radical Miniatures
"Lizzie Siddal", by Natasha Morgan
Shakespeare's "Juliet" by Evelyn Santiago from Evelyn's Wonderland
"Beatrice the Creep" by Athena Workman from Miss Millificent
" The little Mermaid, Ariel" (Andersen's tale)by Rosanna Pereyra
"Anne Boleyn" by Lisa Johnson from Skunk Hollow Country Store
"Madame Butterfly" by Anastasia Georgiu from Anastasia Dododolls
We will be hosting dolls for a Child's dream next month, happy dolling!
Sunday, November 13, 2011
New Member Spotlight - JoEllen Laurita of BeFruiTFuL KReaTioNS
Happy Sunday morning, ADO readers!
Today we are shining our New Member Spotlight on JoEllen Laurita of BeFruiTFuL KReaTioNS.
JoEllen is a self taught artist who works in a variety of mediums. She says this keeps her fresh and she loves "learning and growing in the arts". Her designs run the gamut from paper mache to rug-hooked dolls and from animals to mermaids. She says "the sky is the limit with what I might try my hand at making". And, I noticed that she sells patterns for many of her wonderful dolls in her Etsy shop.
JoEllen and her husband recently sold their house and hit the road in their fifth wheel trailer, but she says this
hasn't hindered her creativity one bit! I should say so!!
Get to know JoEllen and see more of her work by checking out her Etsy shop, blog, website, and twitter feed.
Welcome to the team, JoEllen!
Friday, November 11, 2011
Tips & Tricks for your Handmade Gifts ~ Tips & Tricks Friday
Well I hope you got more treats than tricks last month but this month I'm guessing you've already gotten started on those handmade gifts for Christmas. So, I'm thinking you might prefer some tricks this month. Here goes!
First, if you've got a vinyl cutting machine you will love me for this first one. LOVE. I suspect you hate buying the transfer paper for your vinyl projects. I further suspect (or at least I hope I'm not the only one) that you've tried to get by without it and failed miserably. Furthermore, why isn't transfer paper SEE THROUGH? Wouldn't that be so helpful?!
Solution: Glad Press & Seal
Feel free to contact me with gifts and cash prizes for that little nugget of info. (You can still use it even without sending me gifts and cash. It is the season of giving after all)
Gorgeous Graffiti
You might've seen these gorgeous canvases from Gorgeous Graffiti. You might have coveted a couple or 12 of them and then you might've seen the price tag and died a little inside.
Well, have no fear! You can DIY it. Yes you can!
There's a really lovely and oh so smart lady, Virginia, who has figured out possibly the greatest trick known to man.....er woman. Whatever.
First, pick your font. Type your word(s). Print it out
Second, place wax paper over your print-out.
Finally, Go trace over the font onto the wax paper with puffy paint. Let it dry. (You gotta be patient here, you're almost done!)
Once it's dry, glue it to your canvas. You can spray paint the whole canvas once you've got the letters on it if you like but it's totally optional since you can just use white puffy paint.
Of course, you can always just buy the little wooden letters from the craft store, glue those on to your canvas and spray paint. It costs a good bit more than the option above but it's still a ton cheaper than buying them already made (and way more fun!).
Personally, I like Virginia's version because you can choose your own font. I like choosing my own font. I like fonts. Don't you?
You can find Virginia's project, here.
Happy Holidays to you and yours,
First, if you've got a vinyl cutting machine you will love me for this first one. LOVE. I suspect you hate buying the transfer paper for your vinyl projects. I further suspect (or at least I hope I'm not the only one) that you've tried to get by without it and failed miserably. Furthermore, why isn't transfer paper SEE THROUGH? Wouldn't that be so helpful?!
Solution: Glad Press & Seal
Feel free to contact me with gifts and cash prizes for that little nugget of info. (You can still use it even without sending me gifts and cash. It is the season of giving after all)
You might've seen these gorgeous canvases from Gorgeous Graffiti. You might have coveted a couple or 12 of them and then you might've seen the price tag and died a little inside.
Well, have no fear! You can DIY it. Yes you can!
There's a really lovely and oh so smart lady, Virginia, who has figured out possibly the greatest trick known to man.....er woman. Whatever.
First, pick your font. Type your word(s). Print it out
Second, place wax paper over your print-out.
Finally, Go trace over the font onto the wax paper with puffy paint. Let it dry. (You gotta be patient here, you're almost done!)
Once it's dry, glue it to your canvas. You can spray paint the whole canvas once you've got the letters on it if you like but it's totally optional since you can just use white puffy paint.
Of course, you can always just buy the little wooden letters from the craft store, glue those on to your canvas and spray paint. It costs a good bit more than the option above but it's still a ton cheaper than buying them already made (and way more fun!).
Personally, I like Virginia's version because you can choose your own font. I like choosing my own font. I like fonts. Don't you?
You can find Virginia's project, here.
Happy Holidays to you and yours,
Thursday, November 10, 2011
ADO Featured Artist: Marcie Hart
This week's artist feature is Marcie Hart of A Work Of Hart Fine Art Dolls.
Please tell us about yourself. What is your name? Where do you live? What makes you tick?
My name is Marcie Hart of a A Work Of Hart Fine Art Dolls.
I live in a beautiful area in the mountains outside of Boise Idaho with my husband and menagerie of animals.
What makes me tick is a combination of creative endeavors. I am not content with just making dolls. I would go stir crazy if that is all I did. I create in many different fields such as oil painting, needlework, graphic art, mixed media, doll restoration, furniture restoration, and interior decorating to name just a few. ;-)
I feel that they all contribute to one another in many ways and that is what keeps my art fresh and unique.
When did you start making dolls? Why did you start making dolls?
I have been sculpting and creating dolls since the late 1980’s. I first started with cloth dolls which I still love to this day and still create whenever I get the chance. I sold in local shops, bazaars and my own little business for a while. Then one day I came across an old doll reader magazine which featured an article and the works of artists such as Linda Kertzman and Anna Abigail Brahms. I was intrigued by the beauty of the work in which they were creating. As time went on I discovered other doll artists that were creating in similar ways and after that I wanted to learn everything I could about sculpting a OOAK doll. I read everything I could get my hands on which at the time wasn’t very much and worked at it every day. I was determined to make something come out of that clay that I would be pleased with.
I have always loved dolls from the time I was little, but to see these ethereal fairies and whimsical, mythical creatures which were geared towards grown-ups brought back that passion I had as a child. To be able to incorporate all of my passions into the making of a doll was very exciting to me.
At the time I was helping my husband with his business and raising our two boys I needed something of my own in which I could make some extra money and to fill that ever ending void for the “Need to Create” that was constantly in my soul. Whenever I could get a free moment I would grab the clay and start sculpting. I worked in between football practices, bookkeeping, commuting from our home 35 miles away whatever and whenever I could steal a few minutes of my own. There were many frustrations, tears and joy along the way. I just kept at it because I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Who or what influences you? Inspires you?
Many things influence my work. I never know where it will come from but when it strikes I know it. I am eager to get started on the new idea I have swirling around in my head. I love paintings from the old masters, children’s book illustrators such as Arthur Rackham, Jessie Wilcox Smith, Scott Gustafson and many more. I have an extensive collection of vintage children’s books that always keep the creative juices flowing. I also read a lot and sometimes out of nowhere something from a book will stir a new creation into reality. A beautiful piece of fabric can sometimes be the inspiration for a particular doll. Inspiration comes from everywhere and I am sure glad it does. It is what keeps everything humming along like it should be if it isn’t I know I am having a “OFF” day and those are no fun at all! ;-)
Tell us a little about your dolls and your process for making them. Materials, preliminary sketches, inspiration, etc.
Well…it is a little different for each doll. Depending on the size of the doll I will either do a full body sculpt with wire armature or a fabric wrapped and stuffed armature underneath. It really depends on the doll itself and the particular scene or action the doll is doing. I always start with the sculpting of the head. Once the doll appears and is to my liking, I then proceed on with the armatures. Most dolls start with a diagram that I have printed out for the skeleton of the doll to determine the length of the wire. I have many of these diagrams for different sized dolls. From there the process begins whether to have a wire/cloth armature or go on to a solid sculpted body…it just depends on the particular doll I am working on. I mainly sculpt with Fimo clay. I have worked with it for years and have found it to be the best medium for me. I think mainly because I am used to it…trying other clays seems more difficult for me to work with. I do love cernit, and on occasion will work with it too. My latest piece “Sarette and her Fairy Attendant” is sculpted out of cernit. The fairy is out of fimo. I do some preliminary sketches when I am working on a piece such as shadow boxes etc. Odelle’s Opera Dream had many sketches done as I was working out the dimensions of the box, doll and items in the box in which she would be sitting. All these things had to be worked out ahead of time to make the whole piece come together as it should. Most of my tools are the same as most polymer clays artists. Good clay, brushes, paints, and sometimes the odd tools that we pick up along the way work better than the expensive tools we buy in the stores.
Do you have a favorite doll? ? It can be handmade by you, handmade by someone else, or even (gasp) mass production
When I was little I loved my Troll dolls a lot! I sometimes think that maybe they had a lot to do with my desires to create faeries and magical creatures. But I loved a doll by Madame Alexander doll called Kitten along with other dolls and many stuffed animals. I still have almost every doll I ever had as a child. I took very good care of them which I am glad I did now, and plan on passing them down to future generations if they want them. I am currently in love with restoring old composition dolls from the 1920’s – 1940’s and I have a wonderful collection of antique german bisque dolls that seems to be ever growing! As far as my own dolls…yes I have kept a few of my own dolls. A friend of mine told me once that I should keep a few of my own dolls for one day I may not be able to create them and it would be a shame not to have at least a couple. We never know what the future holds but I thought that was good advice. As of right now my favorite is Princess Sarette and her Fairy Attendant my most recent piece. I am very pleased with the way she turned out and her face to me seems like what a true princess would look like. She is serene but innocent at the same time. She incorporates everything that I like about doll making, faeries, princess’s, antiques, beautiful fabrics and trims. Some of my favorite things!
Besides making dolls, what do you do? Job, other creative pursuits, hobbies, etc.
My day usually starts with a morning “Hello” to our 3 horses, checking their well being and mucking out their pens. From there I attend to our yard which consists of about 1 ¾ acres. I love gardening and my husband and I have created a little utopia here on our property with a pond, waterfall, gazebo and many flower beds. It was totally bare ground when we moved here years ago…every rock, tree and plant has been hauled in by us. We transformed it into a wonderful place to sit back and have a barbecue or a glass of iced tea and enjoy the vast array of birds that come to visit our waterfall. It is tirelessly hard work but we enjoy our efforts tremendously. Living in the mountains we have a lot of wildlife that pop in from time to time such as elk, deer, bear, coyotes and wild turkeys to name a few. We love the country and can’t imagine our lives in the city…it is ingrained in our souls. I love horseback riding and we ride whenever we get the chance in our beautiful Rocky Mountains. I also bought an old 1960’s era travel trailor 3 years ago and totally remodeled it inside with a cowgirl/retro look to it. We like to go camping in it whenever we get the chance. It is a cool little vintage trailer with a lot of character… our home away from home!
What are some of your favorite: movies, books, websites, magazines, foods, TV shows, music? (Any or all!)
There are many favorite movies, books etc., but some that come to mind are, The Horse Whisperer, SeaBisquit, Last of the Dogmen, Secretariat. I love stories about horses but I also love movies like Marie Antoinette, Tim Burtons wonderful movies, Somewhere In Time and many more.
As far as authors go…I love Susan Vreelands books. They are based on artists lives back in the Renaissance era and are wonderful , creative reads that make you feel like you are right there living with them in that time period. You can almost smell the paint in the artists studios as she takes you along in her books.
I love inspirational books, the Bible and many, many more!!!
I am crazy about magazines….currently some of the ones that are on my coffee table right now are: Mary Janes Farm, Where Women Create, Digital Studio, Imagine FX, Corel Painter, and off course Doll Collector and Dolls magazine along with Art Doll Quarterly. Can’t have too many magazines!
My favorite foods are bruschetta, pizza burgers, and huckleberry pie! Right now I am making lots of batches of bruschetta as our tomatoes are going to town! I am known by friends and family for my bruschetta recipe! Yummm…. LOL ;-)
When I am working I listen to a lot of different kinds of music. I love country, classical, jazz, classical guitar and rock. Some of my favorite musicians are East Mountain South, Tingstad and Rumble, Brad Paisley, Patsy Cline, George Straight (yea I know…I am a true hick) lol ;-D , Allison Moore, Kim Ritchy, Matchbox Twenty and many, many more. I also love to listen to my son Westin play. He is a great musician and plays the mandolin and guitar beautifully!
My favorite TV shows are the Home and Garden channel and PBS stations. I also love old classic shows like I Love Lucy.
If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?
I have thought about that and yes I would love to experience living in Italy or perhaps France for a while but when it comes right down to it I am very happy right here where I live now. I have many happy memories here. We have raised our family here, and grown to love this place we call home. Every square inch of it has been tenderly formed and cultivated into the place it is now. I am most content working with my horses, in my garden and especially in my studio with my pets underfoot. It is here in my studio where I find the most contentment, and can be totally at ease in the process of creating.
Where do you see yourself in one year? Five years? Ten years?
One of my favorite quotes is “Always Saddle Your Own Horse” I think it has fit my life well over the years. No one can live your life and live it the way you want except YOU. It is up to us to make the most of each day, pave our own path, be independent, strong and find our happiness. I hope to still be riding my horse, creating dolls and working on new projects all along the way. Staying active and working hard is a trait that runs deep in my family roots and I believe… is the key to living a long and happy life.
As my dad used to say…..”HOLD THE REINS IN ON HER”
Thank you for the fun interview!!
XOXOXO
♥´¨)
¸.•´¸.•*´¨) ¸.•*´¨)
(¸.•´ (¸.•´♥ Marcie ♥
Where can we find you on the internet? (blog, website, Etsy shop, eBay, et al.)
Website: http://www.marciehart-aworkofhart.com
Blog: http://marciehart-aworkofhart.blogspot.com
Etsy Shop http://www.etsy.com/people/aworkofhart?ref=si_pr
Ebay: http://myworld.ebay.com/aworkofhart
Please tell us about yourself. What is your name? Where do you live? What makes you tick?
My name is Marcie Hart of a A Work Of Hart Fine Art Dolls.
I live in a beautiful area in the mountains outside of Boise Idaho with my husband and menagerie of animals.
What makes me tick is a combination of creative endeavors. I am not content with just making dolls. I would go stir crazy if that is all I did. I create in many different fields such as oil painting, needlework, graphic art, mixed media, doll restoration, furniture restoration, and interior decorating to name just a few. ;-)
I feel that they all contribute to one another in many ways and that is what keeps my art fresh and unique.
I have been sculpting and creating dolls since the late 1980’s. I first started with cloth dolls which I still love to this day and still create whenever I get the chance. I sold in local shops, bazaars and my own little business for a while. Then one day I came across an old doll reader magazine which featured an article and the works of artists such as Linda Kertzman and Anna Abigail Brahms. I was intrigued by the beauty of the work in which they were creating. As time went on I discovered other doll artists that were creating in similar ways and after that I wanted to learn everything I could about sculpting a OOAK doll. I read everything I could get my hands on which at the time wasn’t very much and worked at it every day. I was determined to make something come out of that clay that I would be pleased with.
I have always loved dolls from the time I was little, but to see these ethereal fairies and whimsical, mythical creatures which were geared towards grown-ups brought back that passion I had as a child. To be able to incorporate all of my passions into the making of a doll was very exciting to me.
At the time I was helping my husband with his business and raising our two boys I needed something of my own in which I could make some extra money and to fill that ever ending void for the “Need to Create” that was constantly in my soul. Whenever I could get a free moment I would grab the clay and start sculpting. I worked in between football practices, bookkeeping, commuting from our home 35 miles away whatever and whenever I could steal a few minutes of my own. There were many frustrations, tears and joy along the way. I just kept at it because I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Who or what influences you? Inspires you?
Many things influence my work. I never know where it will come from but when it strikes I know it. I am eager to get started on the new idea I have swirling around in my head. I love paintings from the old masters, children’s book illustrators such as Arthur Rackham, Jessie Wilcox Smith, Scott Gustafson and many more. I have an extensive collection of vintage children’s books that always keep the creative juices flowing. I also read a lot and sometimes out of nowhere something from a book will stir a new creation into reality. A beautiful piece of fabric can sometimes be the inspiration for a particular doll. Inspiration comes from everywhere and I am sure glad it does. It is what keeps everything humming along like it should be if it isn’t I know I am having a “OFF” day and those are no fun at all! ;-)
Tell us a little about your dolls and your process for making them. Materials, preliminary sketches, inspiration, etc.
Well…it is a little different for each doll. Depending on the size of the doll I will either do a full body sculpt with wire armature or a fabric wrapped and stuffed armature underneath. It really depends on the doll itself and the particular scene or action the doll is doing. I always start with the sculpting of the head. Once the doll appears and is to my liking, I then proceed on with the armatures. Most dolls start with a diagram that I have printed out for the skeleton of the doll to determine the length of the wire. I have many of these diagrams for different sized dolls. From there the process begins whether to have a wire/cloth armature or go on to a solid sculpted body…it just depends on the particular doll I am working on. I mainly sculpt with Fimo clay. I have worked with it for years and have found it to be the best medium for me. I think mainly because I am used to it…trying other clays seems more difficult for me to work with. I do love cernit, and on occasion will work with it too. My latest piece “Sarette and her Fairy Attendant” is sculpted out of cernit. The fairy is out of fimo. I do some preliminary sketches when I am working on a piece such as shadow boxes etc. Odelle’s Opera Dream had many sketches done as I was working out the dimensions of the box, doll and items in the box in which she would be sitting. All these things had to be worked out ahead of time to make the whole piece come together as it should. Most of my tools are the same as most polymer clays artists. Good clay, brushes, paints, and sometimes the odd tools that we pick up along the way work better than the expensive tools we buy in the stores.
Do you have a favorite doll? ? It can be handmade by you, handmade by someone else, or even (gasp) mass production
When I was little I loved my Troll dolls a lot! I sometimes think that maybe they had a lot to do with my desires to create faeries and magical creatures. But I loved a doll by Madame Alexander doll called Kitten along with other dolls and many stuffed animals. I still have almost every doll I ever had as a child. I took very good care of them which I am glad I did now, and plan on passing them down to future generations if they want them. I am currently in love with restoring old composition dolls from the 1920’s – 1940’s and I have a wonderful collection of antique german bisque dolls that seems to be ever growing! As far as my own dolls…yes I have kept a few of my own dolls. A friend of mine told me once that I should keep a few of my own dolls for one day I may not be able to create them and it would be a shame not to have at least a couple. We never know what the future holds but I thought that was good advice. As of right now my favorite is Princess Sarette and her Fairy Attendant my most recent piece. I am very pleased with the way she turned out and her face to me seems like what a true princess would look like. She is serene but innocent at the same time. She incorporates everything that I like about doll making, faeries, princess’s, antiques, beautiful fabrics and trims. Some of my favorite things!
Besides making dolls, what do you do? Job, other creative pursuits, hobbies, etc.
My day usually starts with a morning “Hello” to our 3 horses, checking their well being and mucking out their pens. From there I attend to our yard which consists of about 1 ¾ acres. I love gardening and my husband and I have created a little utopia here on our property with a pond, waterfall, gazebo and many flower beds. It was totally bare ground when we moved here years ago…every rock, tree and plant has been hauled in by us. We transformed it into a wonderful place to sit back and have a barbecue or a glass of iced tea and enjoy the vast array of birds that come to visit our waterfall. It is tirelessly hard work but we enjoy our efforts tremendously. Living in the mountains we have a lot of wildlife that pop in from time to time such as elk, deer, bear, coyotes and wild turkeys to name a few. We love the country and can’t imagine our lives in the city…it is ingrained in our souls. I love horseback riding and we ride whenever we get the chance in our beautiful Rocky Mountains. I also bought an old 1960’s era travel trailor 3 years ago and totally remodeled it inside with a cowgirl/retro look to it. We like to go camping in it whenever we get the chance. It is a cool little vintage trailer with a lot of character… our home away from home!
What are some of your favorite: movies, books, websites, magazines, foods, TV shows, music? (Any or all!)
There are many favorite movies, books etc., but some that come to mind are, The Horse Whisperer, SeaBisquit, Last of the Dogmen, Secretariat. I love stories about horses but I also love movies like Marie Antoinette, Tim Burtons wonderful movies, Somewhere In Time and many more.
As far as authors go…I love Susan Vreelands books. They are based on artists lives back in the Renaissance era and are wonderful , creative reads that make you feel like you are right there living with them in that time period. You can almost smell the paint in the artists studios as she takes you along in her books.
I love inspirational books, the Bible and many, many more!!!
I am crazy about magazines….currently some of the ones that are on my coffee table right now are: Mary Janes Farm, Where Women Create, Digital Studio, Imagine FX, Corel Painter, and off course Doll Collector and Dolls magazine along with Art Doll Quarterly. Can’t have too many magazines!
My favorite foods are bruschetta, pizza burgers, and huckleberry pie! Right now I am making lots of batches of bruschetta as our tomatoes are going to town! I am known by friends and family for my bruschetta recipe! Yummm…. LOL ;-)
When I am working I listen to a lot of different kinds of music. I love country, classical, jazz, classical guitar and rock. Some of my favorite musicians are East Mountain South, Tingstad and Rumble, Brad Paisley, Patsy Cline, George Straight (yea I know…I am a true hick) lol ;-D , Allison Moore, Kim Ritchy, Matchbox Twenty and many, many more. I also love to listen to my son Westin play. He is a great musician and plays the mandolin and guitar beautifully!
My favorite TV shows are the Home and Garden channel and PBS stations. I also love old classic shows like I Love Lucy.
If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?
I have thought about that and yes I would love to experience living in Italy or perhaps France for a while but when it comes right down to it I am very happy right here where I live now. I have many happy memories here. We have raised our family here, and grown to love this place we call home. Every square inch of it has been tenderly formed and cultivated into the place it is now. I am most content working with my horses, in my garden and especially in my studio with my pets underfoot. It is here in my studio where I find the most contentment, and can be totally at ease in the process of creating.
One of my favorite quotes is “Always Saddle Your Own Horse” I think it has fit my life well over the years. No one can live your life and live it the way you want except YOU. It is up to us to make the most of each day, pave our own path, be independent, strong and find our happiness. I hope to still be riding my horse, creating dolls and working on new projects all along the way. Staying active and working hard is a trait that runs deep in my family roots and I believe… is the key to living a long and happy life.
As my dad used to say…..”HOLD THE REINS IN ON HER”
Thank you for the fun interview!!
XOXOXO
♥´¨)
¸.•´¸.•*´¨) ¸.•*´¨)
(¸.•´ (¸.•´♥ Marcie ♥
Website: http://www.marciehart-aworkofhart.com
Blog: http://marciehart-aworkofhart.blogspot.com
Etsy Shop http://www.etsy.com/people/aworkofhart?ref=si_pr
Ebay: http://myworld.ebay.com/aworkofhart
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Facebook Fan Page Photo Feature
Thank you to Ilona of Lightpainted Doll for sharing her beautiful art dolls on ADO's FACEBOOK page. To see more of Ilona's work CLICK HERE for her website, CLICK HERE for her Facebook page, and CLICK HERE for her Flickr.
If you would like to perhaps see your doll's on ADO's blog, be sure to share them on our Facebook page. Be sure to include links to your website, Etsy shop, ect. so that we can include them in the blog post. We especially like to see doll makers participate in our MMC's or Quarterly Challenges. Please note: there is no guarantee that all non-ADO members' work will be featured on ADO's blog. Thank you so much, and please keep sharing your work on ADO's Facebook page!
Monday, November 7, 2011
Sunday, November 6, 2011
New Member Spotlight - Trudie Averette
Hello and welcome to another New Member Spotlight. Today we shine the spotlight on Trudie Averette of TruCreations. Trudi lives in South Africa (don't you love how ADO artists are from all over the world?!) and she says she "spends every free moment creating art dolls." Her delightful polymer clay dolls are full of personality and charm so we can be very glad that she finds the time, despite being mom to 4 children, to create them! You can find more of Trudie's work in her Etsy shop, on her blog, and in her Flickr feed. Welcome to the ADO team Trudie!
Saturday, November 5, 2011
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Wednesday's Question
It's also been terrific to see so many people participating in the challenges...how do you think these challenges have inspired you and what was it about these challenges that made you take part?
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