Did You Know.....

....that Lori Brechlin of NotForgotten Farm used to do some of the illustrations for the catalog of former doll, art, craft company Holly Berry Hill??  Yup, Kris Miller also knows and posts that fact on her web site so check it out and you read the list of credits artist Lori has.

In one of these issues is also a doll pattern offered by my friend Shari Lutz.  She has plans to retire very soon to enjoy rug hooking instead of dollmaking.

At one time these catalogs were the rage and collectors items.  I actually saved mine for inspiration, plus having purchased many of the doll patterns when HBH was in business.  Goodness, I've not made a doll in a few years but every once in a while get the urge to make one.  But then all too soon that urge dissipates and another rug is begun.

Have a good evening everyone.  Heat and humidity was horrid today and will be worse tomorrow.

Please be kind to one another.  Hurry back Lori!!

Saundra

Here Comes Santa Claus

There really must be a Santa Claus, because here he is.  Actually, this is a Santa that my talented doll maker and hooker friend Shari Lutz has  created for a customer.  Do you believe the talent that woman has to create such a lifelike face?   The face is NOT from a mold, but is hand sculpted by Shari using sculpy and glass eyes.

If you wish to see other items she creates, click on her name and it will take you to her web site.  She does other folk art, not just Santas.

And speaking of Santa....I've had a marvelous time hooking today when I should have been cleaning.  But hey, it is just me and Ben here and tomorrow I'll be at my son's house with family so just may as well enjoy my Christmas eve the way I wish, right?  That's what I thought you'd say (think).

Once I started hooking Santa realized I'd messed up on my drawing (after comparing it to the antique again) and made a re-deux.  If you compare this photo with the previous post you will see what I mean ~ the deer chest and Santa coat/arm area.

And this is what I accomplished today.

It was fun checking my bags of left over wool strips to see what I could use in this one as it is rewarding to know that the leftovers are being used up little by little.  The eyes were left over blue strips as were the lips, nose and cheeks.  Santa has a wind burn, har har, he does look a little tan and for that used a wonderful wool that makes a nice primitive flesh.  Most of his beard was also left over strips.

Since there are no plans to change the dimensions or border of the piece have sewn my pre-binding line.  So now all I have to do when the hooking is done is steam and trim off the excess backing before the binding.

As you can see from the note at the bottom of the design, it measures 23" x 25 1/2".  I'm sure the antique was larger but this is the size I wanted since there are no plans for it to be a floor rug but rather something to pull out and place on the harvest table at Christmas.

Have a marvelous holiday.  Peace be with us all. 

Saundra

Santas and What I've Been Doing

It has been fun looking at Ali Strebel's blog and checking her daily Santa collection postings.  I've made and sold numerous Santa figures during my craft show life and of the many sold don't have pictures since they are on the 3.5 diskettes which are now antiquated.  So here are a couple Santas I was able to obtain pictures of with the use of newer data. 

This one someone inquired on my blog if it was for sale....and it was.  However, the person couldn't receive my response because she did not put her e-mail address on her profile page so it was a "no-reply" blogger.

And this one was made using part of a cutter quilt.  And when I say "cutter" it really was destroyed before I used it.  Often I will find quilts in a thrift shop which I CAN NOT cut up.  They are brought home and I enjoy them.  Hmm, think that is another day of blogger posting I'll save.

So now what have I been spending time doing since it isn't obviously rug hooking?  That would be making a wig and mustache for my grandson's class project where he transforms into Albert Einstein.  Of course there is much work that Zach is doing himself, but grandma has the resources to make the wig.  Items cannot be purchased, as in going to a costume store to buy or rent a wig.  All items must come from the home.  If only he'd gotten Abraham Lincoln.....sigh.  Just a top had would do.

To make the wig I started out with a lined shower cap and cut away the plastic so that what was left was the lining.  Then I proceeded to cut wool in various lengths and using a needle stitched 3 strands at a time into the wig base and knotted off a couple of the pieces of wool at the base to secure. 

This is Icelandic carded and spun (not twisted) wool from their sheep. When I was a hooking fanatic my Icelandic girlfriend would purchase it for me.  So this was great for me to use to make Einstein's hair. The grey was three ply but the white was only one ply so adjusted accordingly. 

Here I placed the partially done wig on a stand of sorts, so I could see how full it was.  Oh my but such a long way to go.  (by the way, the doll to the left is from my doll artist friend Shari Lutz and the one to the right is made by my dear friend Frannie Meshorer.

The wig and mustache are done, and eyebrows IF he wants to use them.  Not sure if the class project is tomorrow or Friday but his mother has PROMISED me photos of him in full dress before he is dropped of at school.

This has been fun helping and sharing in classwork with my grandson.  BUT, like him, I'm glad it is over.  Hey, I already went thru school already, worked already and now I'm retired and it is time for this old broad to play and have fun so I'm ready to get back to playing with my rug hooking again.  But can't wait to see pictures of him which I'll share.

Have a most marvelous evening everyone.  Grandma is going to play tonight with her Antique Hearts and Swags pillow.

Saundra

Santa at his Desk

Yes, even Santa has administrative duties ~ he makes a list, checks it twice....... 

This almost life size Santa was made by my very talented friend, Shari Lutz, who also hooks rugs.  This Santa was a special request order, as most of her life size Santa orders are.  The desk belonged to Shari's customer's father when his father was a boy in the 1930's. It is a Christmas gift for his wife who is quite ill.  Shari said that when the customer saw it he was in awe.

Shari hand sculpts the face and hands herself, she also created the book, created some envelopes which Santa would have received from children and tucked those into the desk cubby as well as around and under the book.  She also made a tiny mouse which can be partially seen at Santa's cap.  

Of course there were some handmade cookies, handmade candy cane, there's an ink bottle, pipe and other objects that Santa would need ~ Shari is very good at detail in her works of art and that is why she is in such demand. 

You can see part of her studio and tools of the trade in the back of this next photo.  I can see some hemostats which she and I use for stuffing our dolls.  While I make dolls too, I don't have a smidgen of the talent that Shari does.  If you look at Santa's right hand it appears to me there are even veins showing in his hand...detail, detail, detail.

Shari also shared with me that she sent a Santa to a customer who wanted replicas of her 3 children on it. She included sweaters that her children wore as toddlers ( her kids are now grown). Shari said the customer called sobbing and was so happy with it. Shari said it was things like that which make her feel so good and makes all the hard work worthwhile.

If you would like to see more of Shari's works, check out her web site: 
http://www.sharilutz.com/store/Default.asp