Friday, February 20, 2009

She Finally Flew!!!

This day has been a long time coming and *today* is finally here!!! I am so excited that I can finally share with you something I have worked on, on and off, for a long time. I started beading my first doll, almost one year ago, for a sweet friend whose heart is as big as her talent. Her energy and zest for life spills forth in all she is, everything she does, and all she creates. When you swing by and visit, you can't help but smile and leave with a warmed heart. This doll was made for Monica, from one heart to another. When she arrives in *Sweet Home Alabama* and Monica finally gets to see her, my biggest hope is that it will have made the wait worthwhile. If this gift brings a smile to her face, I will be happy!

Her doll is about 7" x 7" and 11" long including the chain and fringe. I made the face from a commercial mold with copper polymer clay, sealed it three times, and stitched the heart form with black wool felt. It is beaded with 15/0, 11/0, 8/0, and 6/0 seed beads. I used black vintage diamond-cut seed beads, two antique french faceted glass sew-on's, vintage nailheads, vintage disc? (I believe) beads, copper beads and leaves, teardrop beads, bugle beads, pillow beads, a hand-crafted copper art deco heart pendant, sequins, and copper chain. I used many Swarovski crystals that were 2 mm round, 6 mm bicone, and 9x6 mm drop beads in copper, olivine, and amethyst.


I have learned so many lessons on this journey! Notes to myself. . .

1) Do not tell your friend you are making her a gift. . .let it be a surprise!
2) Do not pick the biggest doll you've made in your tote box and think you can "whip one up in no time" like Grace can!!! ;-) A doll form that is a bit smaller in size would be just as thoughtful!
3) Remember that beading an entire doll with a curved needle is a 'scosh' slower than stitching with a straight needle!
4) Do not begin your doll with thread catchers again, i.e., leaves around the face, etc.!
5) Remember that crystals really can cut your thread!
6) Remember to quit crowding the beads. It really is okay that a 'smidgen' of fabric is showing!
7) Remember that you are not so sure how you feel about 6/0 beads because they seem to have a mind of their own and flop around. Next time you'd like to use these beads, remember the slight conniption fit you began to have when they weren't all lined up nice and straight like they had been and that overwhelming feeling that maybe you should just rip-it-out!
8) Remember that you can not say *yes* to every fun thing you see in blogland when you have prior obligations!
9) Remember to start another (smaller) doll immediately and keep on practicing! ~wink~

Even with some lessons learned...I hope this doll will always bring a smile, be happy in her new home, and 'sparkle' in that southern sunshine!!!
















I shared a few different views for you to see. The best shots, again, seemed to be those taken outside. I did share one from the light box.


I also want to share a beautiful gift that I was so fortunate to receive from the talented and thoughtful Recca girls...Cathie and Sabrina! Cathie made *the coolest* peace sign tote bag and Sabrina told her mom that she felt they needed to make a journal to go with the bag too. Cathie made the bag using a giraffe print batik and the peace sign and lining is a beautiful red Kaffe Fassett fabric. Sabrina made and stitched the heart journal! I absolutely LOVE and adore them both! I know they will get rave reviews! Thank you both for sharing your beautiful heart art with me!

Back to stitching and catching up on the BJP. Whatever your plans, I hope you have a great weekend! ~Lisa

22 comments:

GraceBeading said...

I'm going to take a guess here and say that it was WELL worth the wait! It is drop dead gorgeous Lisa! I love all the elements and stitches you've incorporated into the doll.

The 'notes to self' had me howling, oh how those can be painful lessons!

Thanks so much for sharing all the glorious photos - it is truly spectacular!

Camilla La Mer-Soul Art Dolls said...

This doll is amazing! Thank you for sharing in such great detail and with so many photos of it. It is so much fun to experience the process of others! Wow! I love that you photographed it outside as well...

Erin Gilday said...

wow lisa! that's totally amazing. I love the spiral in the back and the 3D effect around the face, especially. keep 'em coming!

*~tabby~* crooked heart art said...

lisa lisa LISA!!!!!
all i can say is FANTASTIC!!
and well worth the wait
you did a beautiful job
~ from one heart to another~
it is a true treasure i bet it feel wonderful in the hand~i am speechless
i know monica (who is so darn deseriving!)will love it
many many thanks for sharing
ok whats next-giggle giggle!!
x's & o's

*~tabby~* crooked heart art said...

me again
oh and the prezzies from cathie and sabrina!! so cool and fun
that sure is one talented mom and daughter team
how lucky we are to know all these women
enjoy your day
tabby :)

beadbabe49 said...

oh. my. dear. What a labor of love you've created for monica...well done! She is just amazingly beautiful and I know will have a loving home to go to!
(great lessons learned too...shall I remind you occasionally, lol!)

The Lone Beader® said...

You know, I start out beading with a 3" straight needle, and it ends up being curved! LOL

girlgonethreadwild said...

OH MY GOD!!!! I'm still chanting, fanning my face... trying not to FAINT! This cereal-ously MINE???

I'm not worthy, I'm not worthy...

BUT they'll have to pry it from my GRIPPING hands!!

I absewlutely love YOU and your FIRST ever doll? Really, this is your first? As in one? of? a? kind? *yippeee

Please stop by to see it had flown the coop there only to find a perfectly nestled corner of Alabama to live in...

THANK YOU so much for your generosity of time, TECHNIQUE, and above all else .. your friendship.

My heart is FULL thanks to you!

XO, me :)

girlgonethreadwild said...

p.s. the USPS must love you!

And from my husband, my dad, and myself I THANK YOU also for supporting the postal wave (lol) as it pays for both of their paychecks.

*smooches*

girlgonethreadwild said...

(FEDEX ok too)

LAUGHS

The guy had to drive in to the post office to deliver it...

lololol

3rdEyeMuse said...

Monica just posted about this amazing piece of magic that you created for her - I've already commented there, but just HAD to see the other pictures ... I, for one, cannot believe this was your first beaded art doll ... REALLY - it looks sooooo incredible. (I have the one I started this time last year and it is only half done, at least half the size of yours & resembles a ghost from a box of cereal from long ago ... you've inspired me to at least finish it and think about trying again).

I send a standing ovation your way.

... and thanks for your "reminder" tips. they'll come in handy for me, too.

Unknown said...

Wow! That is absolutely gorgeous! I blog hopped over hear from Monica's blog and I'm just in awe of your beautiful talent! What a sweet gift. Lucky Monica!

Now, I'm off to see the maker's of that cool bag! :)

Sharne Gregory said...

WOW!!!! I love it! what a lovely gift.

Our Hands For Hope said...

This is beautiful and what an amazing gift of time and love.
Monica is a derserving soul.
My hubbie grew up in Silverton Or and sis in law lives in Woodburn. It is really beautiful up there.
Terisa

Evidence of an Artistic Life said...

These are fabulous!! So much detail!!
chris p

Maggie R said...

Hi Lisa,
I can see you had as much pleasure creating this piece as Monica did receiving it...It absolutely beautiful...
xoxo
((((hugs))))
Maggie

Unknown said...

Hi Lisa! I just came back over to say thank you so much for your very sweet comment on my blog! :)

Lisa said...

Your list of things to remember made me smile. It sounds amazingly familiar. :) It's so beautiful! I saw it on Monica's blog and came to see what else you'd been up to! Now I'm going back to look some more. Such gorgeous work!

JKW said...

Hi Lisa,
I saw the 'doll' on Monica's website and had to see someone who could take beads and turn them into a beautiful work. That you said the heart is a doll goes to my heart. I am in love with it. The patience of beading mystifies me. I love your work and appreciate your time and talents.
Thank you for sharing
Jan

The Lone Beader® said...

This is really beautiful! I love that it is a heart-shaped doll! And, you are so right - they take a lot of time. I made only one beaded doll so far, and it took ages! I think I broke about 5 beading needles in the process, too! Now, the doll lives in Germany!

Anyways, thank you so much for all your sweet comments! They made me smile! I didn't know about the beer in Oregon thing... I will have to remember that! And, glad you like my motorcycle! *blush* :D

Happy beading from Boston! :D

KV said...

Gosh, I am so late in catching up with this! You did an absolutely marvelous job on this dollie, Lisa!!! And I gotta tell you, those notes to yourself sure made me grin, too . . .


Kathy V in NM

Cathie said...

I absolutely cannot believe how beautiful this is. I've been by many, many times to look at it. (also to see what's new as it's been a while since you've posted - naughty girl!) But I do see a new post now and am off to read it. As always I am in awe (and extremely jealous) of your delicate beading, your impeccable taste and your artistic vision. And, of all things - this was a gift! It wasn't even for yourself. What a generous and special soul you are. And what a generous and special soul Monica is. What a perfect match!
XO