Skip to main content

Christmas Countdown Local 2022 #7/25 : Gumnut Dollies Tree for Charity



In a previous post, I featured some of the Trees for Charity, displayed at the Wesley Uniting Church,Hamilton ( Newcastle NSW)... and today I return to show you how my local doll making group, Gumnut Dollies  Newcastle  decorated our tree to raise funds for cancer research. 


We decorated with handmade dolls - dotee dolls ( simple basic shaped dolls with no arms or legs, but with a beaded decorative "tail") If you want to know about dotee dolls - check out my previous blog post  Throughout the year, many dolls were created, so the decorators had plenty of choice ... perhaps you have already spotted a favourite? 







Gumnut Dollies Newcastle has been participating in Trees for Charity for many years, with the only  the last two years missed because of the Covid restrictions. This has been the initiative of one of our founding members, Dolores, who each year works tirelessly to raise funds for cancer research and other charities. 

This year , Dolores was happy to have a visit, while she was decorating, from our local Member of Parliament, Sharon Claydon, Member for Newcastle. Sharon always takes an interest in community activities and even though this is such a busy time of the year, it is great to see her supporting charities in the local area.  Thank you Sharon. 


Merry Christmas from Gumnut Dollies Newcastle... 



Photo credit - some of these images were taken by Gamarna , member of Gumnut Dollies Newcastle 
 

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Fish and Sticks : Art Dolls

This week I've been working on fish and sticks ....  The sticks are the message stick art dolls which were very popular, attracting some attention and a few orders at the Wise Women exhibition. Each of the message stick dolls are from the Wise Women series, each with her own personality and  message of wisdom, handwritten on a handmade timber tag. I gather the sticks during my walks around my neighbourhood and the tags are made from special bits of timber, some collected by me or  my husband or from off cuts gifted to us  from another doll making friend whose husband makes bagpipes. These dolls start off very simply with a wrap around a stick, in the general shape of a body. 'Naked" message stick dolls - strips of wadding wrapped around found sticks.   Then I usually wrap other layers of fabric, wool, and/or fibres, over which I do some simple embroidery. I sculpt  or mould small face masks for these dolls. I really like using "sari ribbon" as w...

Wednesday's Child /2

Work in Progress - 3 of the 193 for "Stitched Up"- Wilma Simmons   The work for the "Stitched Up " Project  continues. See the previous "Wednesday Child" post for the background to this art project celebrating the 150th anniversary of the Newcastle Industrial School. I have been documenting the progress of my work, so I thought it might be interesting to share some of the early stages of the "stick dolls" ... Here are some of the beginning steps.. Sticks collected while walking the bushland in my neighbourhood  Drying and getting rid of any insects - oven heat 75 degreesC for approx 1-2 hours.  Trimmed and cut if necessary  Ends sealed with matte sealing solution.  Drying  - solution goes on white but dries clear.  First wrapping - foil to create a body shape  Second wrapping - stretch fabric.  Third wrapping - fabric strips  Some stitching - more stitching and embellishment to ...

Christmas Countdown #25envelopes/22 - Christmas Cockatoo

  22 December Christmas Countdown #25envelopes - Christmas Cockatoo . This embroidered fabric collage on an old dyed doily is stitched on a recycled envelope . It is inspired by one of this year’s beautiful Australian stamps which features the Madonna and Child surrounded by Australian animals and birds . The sulphur crested cockatoo caught my eye the moment I saw this envelope and stamp. I see these cockatoos most days in our neighbourhood.  Last week, I commented on how Christmassy this scene looked -the cockatoo looked like a decorative ornament in the tree. Today’s exercise took a lot longer than the half hour I usually allocate as this one was also the work for Textile Artists’ Stitch Club workshop by Mandy Pattullo - all hand stitched.