Craft Stamping Quartet: Here Come The Girls!

Thanks everyone for the warm reception you have given the blog and for your very kind comments on the finished projects. We never imagined we would draw so much attention.

It's now my turn to choose our next project from the March issue of Craft Stamper and I have decided on the fantastic art dolls by Sue Roddis. These can be found on pages 50-52 of the magazine.

I've always liked the idea of making an art doll, although I've never really known where to start. Sue's work has been a real inspiration to me since I read my first Craft Stamper several years ago. Taking on this project, I feel I have permission to make something which doesn't have to be pretty or to suit anyone but me. I have several ideas already and I'm not sure which one will pass the final audition so my sneak peeks might include body parts(!) that find their way elsewhere. I'm really excited about this particular project. With wooden cotton reels being so hard to find, one of the biggest challenges will be finding a base for my doll. Sue says in the article "I don't think the question should be 'what should I make an art doll from?' but rather 'what can't I make an art doll from?'" so I am going to try not to be too predictable with my materials.

Have fun with this one, girls!

Welcome to Our New Blog!

Elaine, Jo, Judith and Lesley are four crafters spread across the country, united in their love of crafting. They met over the Internet through the Graphicus Guild, a group set up for crafters by Glenda Waterworth owner of Graphicus and manufacturer of Elusive Images rubber stamps. After some discussion, they decided that they would like to 'craft together' in spite of the distance between them. To accomplish this ambition, they decided to choose one project each month from Craft Stamper magazine, and allow themselves the following calendar month to complete the project. Each person would take it in turn to choose a project. The four participants would then post 'sneaky peeks', progress reports and mini tutorials throughout the month. At the end of the month, they would then post their projects, hopefully producing four very different finished items.

Elaine

Elaine lives in the rural South of England, in a small house with a huge, wild garden and many of her craft projects are inspired by the natural world. She has been crafting for several years, mainly making cards and some mixed media projects with a strong focus on using rubber stamps. She now also enjoys making book based projects and is just starting to dabble in art journals. Elaine is a bit of a perfectionist, with many of her projects never seeing the light of day, but she is working on being more relaxed about her artistic endeavours!!!Elaine has a serious craft stash addiction and treasures the precious times when she can meet up with her distant crafty friends.

Jo lives in the East Midlands. She loved papercrafting as a child, but only rediscovered it as an adult in her work with children, and then again when she had children of her own. She'd promised herself that one day she would try some grown up 'cutting and sticking'. So when her work pattern changed in 2006, it seemed an ideal time to find a new hobby. She started a major collage project, (still unfinished of course), and then got sidetracked into playing with polymer clay. This in turn led to her watching rubber stamping demonstrations on television, and stamping has been her passion since that time.
She loves to travel to craft shows around the country and still hasn't lost the sense of wonder at what can be achieved with ink and paper. At one time she may have gone home from her job in child care with messy hands, now she is as likely to arrive with them looking that way!

Judith

Judith lives in a Norfolk village with her husband and son, while her daughter is at University. She keeps chickens. She has always been a crafter in one form or another, knitting, sewing, etc, being taught by her Mum growing up, and finding inspiration from others as an adult. She has been making cards for about eight or nine years, and runs a small card making class from home. In the last year, she has discovered mixed media, and her focus has moved very much towards dimension, layering and texture. Rubber stamping is her passion and she is a serious stamp collector! She also makes jewellery which allows her to indulge in a love of all things shiny. She enjoys blog hopping, and keeping in touch with her crafty friends.

Lesley

Lesley lives in Nottinghamshire and has always crafted in one way or another from about the age of 7. At one time she took a City and Guilds Fashion and Design course (just for the fun of it), which involved quite a bit of Art in different forms, as well as designing and making garments.
She discovered cardmaking about three and a half years ago, and after seeing Glenda Waterworth, the owner of Graphicus and Elusive Images on a craft TV channel about a year later, became hopelessly addicted to rubber stamping. A closer association with Glenda and her company in the form of workshops and open days over the past couple of years, has led to a growing obsession with different media that can be used in conjunction with rubber stamps.

Lesley is thoroughly excited to be a member of this little group of friends whose enthusiasm is so infectious. She is also very grateful to be around in this age of technology that enables a group such as this to come together with such ease to share ideas and give each other support and encouragement.

7 comments:

Aquarius said...: I will be watching this space!!; 6 March 2010 at 08:39
craftimamma said...: This should be an interesting challenge for us all Jo. I haven't looked through my old chocolate tin full of cotton reels yet but I'm hoping I might have an old wooden one that I've inherited from somewhere.

Well, I think I'm definitely starting this one with a very 'blank page' - in my head as well as on paper, Lol! What will eventually emerge, I have no idea at the moment, but I'm looking forward to it.

Lesley Xx; 6 March 2010 at 09:29
judith@poppy cottage said...: Well Jo, I have never made an Art Doll before either! I have lots of ideas, but who knows if they will work out or not? I am really looking forward to getting my teeth into this project and tackling a completely different set of challenges, that's for sure! Good choice, crafting buddy, Judith x; 6 March 2010 at 09:38
Elaine said...: This is going to be a great challenge for us all Jo, I am mulling all sorts of ideas for my project, but I have never made an art doll before so I am going to be well out of my comfort zone - but in a good way.

Now I know I have some old cotton reels which I inherited from m Grandmother who trained as a milliner. Whether I will be able to bring myself to use one of them?!

Elaine x; 7 March 2010 at 12:13
Sue said...: What a great idea for a blog!! Am looking forward to seeing your art dolls when they are done......I am so chuffed to be your inspiration this month :)
Sue; 11 March 2010 at 08:18
Suzanne C said...: Sounds interesting and looking forward to what you ladies come up with.; 12 March 2010 at 02:44
Paula.Crafty Cow said...: luv your work its so inspiring, i have becime a follower.
Why not pop over to mine and check out the candy on offer.
Thanks Paula; 14 March 2010 at 14:19

Craft Stamping Quartet

Friday, 5 March 2010

Here Come The Girls!

7 comments:

Welcome to Our New Blog!

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