2012/365 - Day 293

manikin's tail (so far) -- edited post


At first I had nothing to show today -- no photos -- and I sort of griped about it.  Then I sat here and a glint of scrap aluminum foil caught my eye -- I was thinking it just might work for a tail for the Go Figure manikin.  I worked with it for a little bit and now I am editing the blog post for Friday.  (This took place between midnight and midnight:45.)

I wanted to cover up the rod that the manikin is supported  by.

Some scrap aluminum foil might do the trick.

Oh -- and a small piece of bubble wrap.

Okay...no, not so much with the bubble wrap...taking it back off.  

Now I am trying to use the wadded/unwadded/rewadded again scrap piece from the scrap of aluminum foil to make the curly tip of the tail.

Hey -- not too bad for a first try -- I will need to tweak it in the plaster cloth stage.

Yeah...it is starting to take shape!















ALSO -- earlier today I called to make the appointment to take my Holiday Gift Market items to PCCA -- so now I have a solid deadline for those.  The Holly Dolly will be delivered at the same time.

Deadlines are quickly approaching!

365 Day 105

It's finally here! (updated at the end of the post with a link to photos)
Tonight is the Opening Reception for Come Play With Me -- a juried exhibit of dolls, toys and games by Michigan artists -- at Paint Creek Center for the Arts in Rochester, MI.

I am so excited I can hardly stand it -- the waiting/anticipation is excruciatingly fun.

I swiped the info below directly from PCCA, because they say it best:
"Works in this show include a variety of hand sewn dolls and soft toys; a selection of toys made from old books; ceramic dolls and robots; a set of bottle cap figures; a beautifully crafted hand-cranked flip book toy; the King Kong Panic Playset; a refrigerator magnet set complete with refrigerator door; a collection of marble games and puzzles; wooden animal pull toys; paper doll sets; an elaborate marble game construction that may be played alone or with multiple players; masks and a headdress made from found objects and small toys; a visual game based on fictional Tall Tales about the origins of Detroit landmarks; a Grey Gardens board game; a pair of simple but challenging flash video games; surrealist games made up of objects and small parts that hold their own absurd logic; and the lovely Chime Cat Visits Cloud City, a musical pull toy featuring an oversized cat on a wheeled cart. Participating artists range from veteran artists familiar to many in the Detroit area, to newcomers exhibiting their work for the first time. We’re excited to see the sheer variety of approaches to the theme, and the excellent craftsmanship that went into all these beautiful toys."

Here is the list of participating artists -- I cannot be-lieve I am in such extraordinary company!
(I have included a link to the artist's website/Etsy shop where available)

• Madeleine Barkey -- Ferndale, MI
• Jeanne Bieri -- Grosse Pointe Farms, MI
• Loralei Byatt -- Detroit, MI
• Sandra Cardew -- Royal Oak, MI
• Renee Dooley -- Detroit, MI
• Took Gallagher -- Northville, MI
• Marcia Hovland -- Royal Oak, MI
• Amy Kelly -- Hamtramck, MI
• Andrew Krieger -- Grosse Pointe Farms, MI
• Andy Malone -- Royal Oak, MI
• Michael McGillis -- Royal Oak, MI
• Joey Merchant -- Ferndale, MI
• Ryan Molloy -- Ann Arbor, MI
• Juana Moore -- Ferndale, MI
• Scott Northrup -- Dearborn, MI
• Jaclyn Novak -- Canton, MI
• Catherine Peet -- Royal Oak, MI
• Teresa Petersen -- Detroit, MI
• Gina Scolellaro -- Amherstberg, Ontario
• Mike Sivak -- Ann Arbor, MI
• Doug Spalding -- Royal Oak, MI
• Starr Williams -- Berkley, MI

And...as if that wasn't enough:
"As part of this exhibit, we’ve scheduled a Saturday afternoon Play Date for Saturday, April 30th from 1:00 – 4:00 pm. Come on in and play with the toys the artists have created. Children accompanied by their parents are welcome to participate. We’ll also have some materials and ideas on hand for kids to make their own toys and games."

I will do my best to take as many photos as possible tonight!

Update: here is a LINK to the photos I took.

365 Day 66

I did it!

Today my friend Juana and I hand delivered our submission CDs for "Come Play With Me" out to Paint Creek Center for the Arts in Rochester, MI. This is the toy-themed show I have been referring to and it is another "first" for me. PCCA invited Michigan artists to submit original dolls, toys and games for a playful exhibit. Submissions will be juried by PCCA's Exhibition Committee.

Here are my photos -- this is "Chime Cat Visits Cloud City"


















and the accompanying detail shot.


















Chime Cat is 3 feet tall, 14 inches wide and 19 inches deep. It weighs about 30 pounds.

I still need to tweak some of the painting of the cat. Also I want to add clouds to the cart and I have a wooden piece that will serve as a handle for the pull strap. Then I need to seal the whole thing really well.

I am nervous and excited about it. Artist notification takes place between March 14-19. Keep your fingers crossed for Chime Cat!

For the remainder of the evening I will be working on Tookies, adding the flat ribbony yarn to the tops of their heads. I have about 30 to go, then I need to trim up the "hair" on all 100 finger puppets and put them into the boxes and add the acetate/cellophane...then they will be ready to ship to Art-o-mat HQ. I think probably Thursday at the latest...most likely before then. Yay!

365 Day 63

now it's up to me



Matt came over to finish attaching the frame/trim to the cart today. I am so grateful for his help with this project!
















Now the rest is up to me -- the painting and embellishing and finishing. I need to take photos for my submission CD and I should probably come up with a title for it. Juana and I will both run our CDs, paperwork and entry fee to Paint Creek Center for the Arts on Monday. I hope we get to be in this show together!



















Here is the first finished Tooky from this batch of 100 for Art-o-mat. I gave this one the ribbony yarn "hair" and trimmed it and came in to blog about it now because I am afraid I am going to fall asleep in my chair in front of television while I am working on the rest of the Tookies and miss my midnight deadline. I don't know what's with me, I keep nodding off. But it is only a little after 9 and there is no way I am going to bed for the night right now...LOL.