Unapologetic Alterations

Recently I have been working on quite a few dolls for various swaps and blog challenges, but especially the samples for the Creative Retreat 2011 where I will be offering a workshop "It's A Wrap" - wrapped armatures made from discarded and found objects. Candy Flossie ( pictured above) is the result of wrapping a polystyrene ball and timber armature with a sample piece of wet felting , some fabric, recycled paper ribbon from a present, adding a polymer clay face, and swirly beads, toothpicks and some bright pink paint. This doll started from a bargain box reject snowman like this one below. I didn't like them at all and had no intention of "fixing" them , but somehow gave into the temptation and bought two. Honestly, who could resist this for $1? I am unapologetic about the alterations to the first one - off went the hat, scarf, buttons and shoes and voila- snowman to fairy floss girl!

Candy Flossie is now ready for the Blog Party at Papillon Bleu's birthday party - amazingly early!

Most of you probably know that I also like to 'collect' quotations and wise sayings, and I write them down in a book whenever I hear or read something a bit poetic or inspiring. I have for a while included them mostly as inspiration in my doll making, but here are a few of my "discard" message stick dolls - made from sticks and wrapped with discarded bits of fabric, yarn, knitting, felting - whatever finds its way to my 'throw away" bag. These sticks are also altered without apology. On each message stick doll I have written a quotation which I felt was appropriate... Can you match the three quotations to these doll message sticks?

1. " Nature does not hurry, but everything is accomplished" - Lao Tzu

2. "Live in the sunshine, swim the sea, drink the wild air" - Ralph Waldo Emerson

3. "Autumn is a second spring where every lead is a flower" - Albert Camus

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Empress Wu Designs with Wilma

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