Thursday, August 14, 2008

We interrupt this artist...

...with a leg injury. Ouch! I was afraid that I had injured my knee, but it was "only" an acute muscle strain. After a week of wearing a knee brace and hobbling around on crutches, I have graduated to walking with a cane, and can get up off the couch at last! Woo Hoo! I can't wait to get back to normal.

Back-to-School shopping has persuaded me to continue my "no new craft supplies" challenge for now, at least through the end of summer. (Secretly... I'm tickled to be using up old supplies, and enjoying the challenge of coming up with alternative methods. Shhhh... Don't tell my husband!) I've been waiting to finish my Dancing Sprite doll until I could purchase some flesh colored 4-way stretch skin fabric, but I am aching to get back to work on her, so I decided use some of the white I have on hand instead.

Hey, am I not an artist? Am I not AMPLY supplied with paints of all kinds? This is going to be fun. I'm going to give my sewing machine a test drive tonight and see how it goes. I may have to learn to sew left footed...


These are front and back pieces destined to come together and become the head of a Halloween challenge doll. I used Paperclay pressed into a mold used to make sugar skulls for Day of the Dead celebrations in Mexico. Isn't it the coolest thing? As you can see I have some serious sanding and patching to do, but I want to make absolutely sure it's dry before I do anything to them.


I haven't been completely idle while resting my leg. I also got a chance to learn more about levels, selection tools, and blending modes in my Photoshop. The photos I took of Alice were perfect to play and practice with.


I especially love the "Cross Processing" effect on her Next Top Model attitude pic. It's getting easier to remember which buttons to press with each photo I process, and I'm SO grateful to have had my Photoshop to keep my mind busy this past week!

Wow! I just checked my Dashboard, and this is my 198th blog post! Just 2 more posts until I draw the names from my comments for a winner for the beaded doll. I absolutely love it when people drop by and say "hi", so I want to give something back to say thanks for keeping me company in my art and messes. Everyone who has ever left me a comment (except for maybe the person who said I had the worst blog ever) has blessed my life.

8 comments:

Linda Fleming said...

Love the exotic face painting on that head! And the body is looking great. Can't wait to see what you do with that sketlton head. Your daughter is just such a cutie- very pretty girl.

Shashi Nayagam said...

You are doing great with your home found resources. This doll is going to be awesome I can tell and tell your daughter she should go into modelling she is so photogenic.

Nita Butler said...

Judi what a great challenge you have created for yourself. Maybe I should issue the same challenge to myself! Love both of your works in progress! Cannot wait to see them finished!Great pics of your daughter! She is stunning!

Love,
Nita

Anonymous said...

Judi, you are so multi-talented. You just blow me away. I sure miss being around you.

Kai said...

I'm glad you emailed me 'cause it prompted me to check your blog again! Glad you are at LEAST off the crutches! And you really have no idea how many people are now challenging themselves to 'use what they have' all thanks to you! You inspired ME, I challenged my blog readers, others are challenging their blog readers, and so it is that lots of us are being more frugal! It's FUN, 'shopping' in my own stash. I'm betting your doll will end up being especially wonderful BECAUSE you are using things you already have! You will most likely come up with ideas you may not otherwise have had! I can't wait to see her finished! LOVE the pictures with the Photoshop tweaking! You're getting WAY too good with the photography, my little friend!

Judi W. said...

Can't wait to see how you blend your photography and your doll making! Surely that is next!

That little sprite is just the cutest thing ever!

Sue said...

I have to say you are really progressing quickly with Photoshop! I think I need you to sit me down and give me a lesson or three! I absolutely LOVE the photo with the bench, and your daughter's sweet smile, and the way they stand out from the background with that hint of color. Amazing.

So...where did you find the sugar skull mold????

Anonymous said...

Love the photo of your daughter on the bench, I love my photoshop too and although we are doing different things with it, we are both learning lots!