Wednesday, April 11, 2007

Enticing my Muse


I suppose by now I ought to have stopped being surprised by my inability to stick to a plan... This project was supposed to be a simple piece, a "quick and easy" just to get me in the mood to create again. I guess I was more in the mood than I thought!

"The Peacock" is a wall doll is based on "Enticing the Muse", a pattern I found on the internet. I expected she would be a piece of cake, a 2 day project at most, as the original doll had no face, mitten hands, and very little embellishment. I chose a remnant of my one of my favorite quilting cottons and made the little mini-quilt for her body, adding the fine binding just because I could. I even remembered how to turn the little mitered corners. I guess quilting might be a little like bike riding... you don't forget what your fingers have learned.

Once having created such a pretty little quilt, I HAD to give her fingers and a face. What good is a muse if she can't look you in the eye??

Because I still believed I was just messing around, I decided to attempt something different for her face. Using Sherry Goshon's face painting book, I followed the instructions to create a face with African American features. I see by the photo that I need to darken and shadows and punch up the highlights, but all in all I am happy with her. One of these days though, I will learn to resist the temptation to keep making the eyes bigger and bigger and bigger...

Then I got out my beads. And some more beads. And then yet more beads. Finally, with the addition of the wrapped wire wristlets, she looked balanced and complete, which is good because my eyes have had enough of threading the miniscule hole of that oh-so-fine beading needle!

10 comments:

Judi W. said...

This is absolutely gorgeous. I love that fabric - it's to die for! You are so good at beading - the wrist cuffs are beautiful. I really, really like this piece.

Anonymous said...

She is wonderful Judi! Yep gorgeous is a better word!

Anonymous said...

I concur. A muse must have an identity. The eyes aren't too big, and the left hand is wonderfully expressive. Now you've got me wondering what the pattern looked like without a face. How could this doll go without a face?

MaryO said...

Super, super work, Judi, I love everything about her. The fabric is exquisite and the beading is pretty wonderful too. You do such excellent work!

Jacque Uetz said...

Judi , she is fantastic!!

Kai said...

You have created an absolutely gorgeous piece! All that beautiful detail on such a tiny 'canvas' amazes me! You never cease to impress me with your artistic abilities! I truly believe you can do ANYTHING and do it superbly! I love this muse!!!!!

Yvette said...

She is just beautiful!

Gorgeous!!! Fantastic and wonderful!!!

Mo'a said...

She is lovely...I love your beadwork...now I need to read more of your blog.
Thank you for stoping by at my blog :)

SympleTymes Cloth Art By Sherrie Nordgren said...

Judi She is wonderful, I LOVE her colors, She says so much !
I really love her,
Sherrie

Linda Fleming said...

Judi, she is fantastic! Love her! I love the colors and all the gorgeous embellishing on her.
Linda F from FL