MAGPIE'S MUMBLINGS

A blog about my interests, which include fabric landscapes and various and assorted other artsy pursuits and sometimes known to contain mumblings of a random nature.

Friday, August 14, 2015

more looking back

Today I want to mention a really great embroidery newsletter that I've been getting and perhaps you might like to sign up for it yourself.  There's a very excellent embroidery magazine published in Australia called 'Inspirations' and they issue a bi-weekly (or perhaps it's weekly?) online newsletter that is often filled with wonderful embroidery inspiration.    They also can be found on facebook with tons of pictures of absolutely beautiful embroidery.  Unfortunately I can't give you a link to that...can't get it to work properly.  (Oh...and just as a sidenote - remember my rose-themed hussif?  Well, they published it a few weeks ago....not only on their facebook page but also in their newsletter!!   Did you see my buttons popping??).

Now, back to the looking back series....  Yesterday I showed you my naked Shudayra doll as she looked setting off into the world.  Well, here she is as she looked upon her return...



She came home riding on a beautiful horse and her lovely auburn hair was protected by her very own parasol.  The horse was created using a plastic version, which was then covered with paper mache.  To say I was thrilled was the understatement of the year!!


UPDATED TO ADD:  This doll was done in a round robin and visited several other doll artists all over North America before coming home to me.


 There are just so many incredible details that the girls added to her and I never cease to be blown away when I look at her.  Right now she resides on top of my bookshelf in my studio and oversees all that I do.

Here's another doll that you might like to see as well.




This one I called 'Key To My Brain' and she was created as a result of a challenge in the doll group I belonged to at the time.

Her body was a metal Christmas tree and her torso and head were from a dollar store doll.  I gave the poor thing a lobotomy  (oooh - mean, mean person I was!!) and re-created her 'brain' using electrical wires and keyboard keys.  She was painted silver and her 'dress' was a piece of metal mesh ribbon.



Here's a closeup of her face and head...













Well, poor ol' 'Key To My Brain' wasn't destined for a long life and one day, not too long after her creation, I entered my studio to discover this...





Yep, she'd had enough of this earth and threw herself off the shelf and beheaded herself.  Poor thing.  Sad really.

Today I have another anonymous quote.... "You have to take the good with the bad, smile with the sad, love what you've got, and remember what you had.  Always forgive, but never forget.  Learn from mistakes, but never regret"

12 comments:

  1. Congratulations! I am so happy to hear your hussif was recognized by Inspirations! It is such a beautiful piece! I am also WAY behind in my blog reading. Let me just say, I have enjoyed all of your eye candy in your looking back posts. I do hope you are feeling better. (When I was little, I got a horrible, horrible case of bronchitis every year. It took a few years to figure out it always happened when I stayed over at my grandmother's house. My allergies to her cats and dogs did me in. So, I feel for you!)

    I want to make a crazy quilt for my bed. I have been thinking it would have to be stitching only (possibly only the seams) so I could make it machine washable. The idea of using lace motifs never occurred to me. Thanks for the idea!

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  2. Your dolls were fantastic, Mary Anne. Shame about the self-destructing one! Congrats on being in Inspirations! Have a super weekend. Barbara xx

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  3. More amazing projects, were you in a class setting when you did these?

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  4. WOWEE what fabulous mixed media art creations these are.
    And your special doll on the horse traveled through the mail from one artist to the next? What a thrill to have her return home.
    Really fun post Mary Anne!
    oxo

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  5. WOWEE what fabulous mixed media art creations these are.
    And your special doll on the horse traveled through the mail from one artist to the next? What a thrill to have her return home.
    Really fun post Mary Anne!
    oxo

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  6. OK I got ahead of myself...very sorry for the sad end to your wonderful doll.
    Hate it when stuff like that happens.
    Your quote is perfect
    of course.
    oxo

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  7. Beautiful dolls Mary Anne and thank you for the link to that lovely embroidery magazine... I have signed up for the newsletter! :) x

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  8. Congratulations on your hussif being published. Your dolls are truly amazing. How sad that "Keys to Your Brain" beheadded herself. Creative Bliss Dear...

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  9. Congratulations on the publication in Inspirations Magazine.That's quite an achievement!

    Love your dolls.I didn't know you were a doll maker until recently!Love your quote(s).

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  10. so cool that you were published. AND in the perfect mag...INSPIRATIONS..because you have been a huge inspiration to me. Congratulations on receiving World Wide recognition.

    Love the dolls. Poor little Brain baby. Perhaps her parts have shown up somewhere else in this world and has been given a second chance...I'd like to think so!
    xx, Carol

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  11. Dear one, hope your feeling better in a jiffy! Love all your work! And what a nice surprise this morning to see you've won Suzi's giveaway. Are you taking her new book class too?
    Hugs to you, and hope for a 'breathe easy' week!
    Chris

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  12. I just signed up!!

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