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Friday, September 19, 2014

A New Year for Phoebes Begins in October



Harlene wowed us at the meeting with her batik vest
and matching yoyo necklace. The vest is adorned with
sparkling little butterflies she painstakingly cut from
another fabric and fused onto the vest. Beautiful!
 
Calendar of Events for 2014
 
September 19-21 (Fri., Sat. and Sun), Harvest Festival Art and Craft Show, Alameda County Fairgrounds. www.alamedacountyfair.com

September 26, 27 and 28, Pleasanton Quilt, Craft and Sewing Festival, Alameda County Fairgrounds, Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 10 A.M. to 5 P.M.

September 27 (Saturday), Crossroads Doll and Bear Show and Sale, Alameda County Fairgrounds. www.alamedacountyfair.com

October (all month), The Book Shop Window Display, A Halloween treat created by Betts Vidal and Sally Lampi. Be sure to go see it!

October 4 (Saturday), Tinsel and Treasures Craft Show, Veterans Hall, Danville, 10 A.M. to 4 P.M. Phoebe Sharon Martin will be participating. See a sampling of her work in this post under Show and Tell. Don't miss the show!


October 12 (Sunday, 8 to 4), Pleasanton Antique Faire, Veterans Hall, Main Street, Pleasanton. Go to www.pleasantonantiquefaire.com

October 16-18(Thursday (4 to 7), Friday (9 to 6), Saturday (9 to 3), Serendipity, Alamo women's Club, 1401 Danville Blvd, Alamo. Sharon Martin will be participating in this boutique of handmade items. 
 
October 16, Roxanne Padgett's Surface Design Workshop, 9 A.M., Education Building, Hayward. Contact Stephanie at smitharts2002@yahoo.com for details and to sign up.

October 16, Phoebe Monthly Meeting, 6:30 P.M., Alameda County Office of Education, 313 W. Winton, Hayward. Roxanne Padgett will conduct an Enrichment Presentation, which will include a make-it-and-take-it project. Remember to bring your craft supply/tool kit to the meeting! The postcard exchange theme is Egypt. Please participate!

October 16 through 19, Pacific International Quilt Festival, Santa Clara Convention Center. Thursday through Saturday from 10 A.M. to 6 P.M., Sunday 10 A.M. to 5 P.M. Admission $15 ($13 on Sunday). www.quiltfest.com

October 23 through November 16, Altered Barbie Exhibition, Shotwell 50 Studio, San Francisco. Opening Party on Thursday, Oct. 23. Go to Chatter Box Arts International for details.

December 2014, Annual Christmas Window Display at the Book Shop in Hayward. All Phoebes are invited to participate.


September Phoebe Meeting

 The September Phoebe meeting was well attended, and although we were so disappointed that Pame Rose was ill and unable to give her "All About Me" talk, we are wishing her a speedy recovery and hoping to see her return soon.
 
Sally announced that she and Betts were putting together a window display for The Book Shop in Hayward for the month of October. The theme is, of course, Halloween. Knowing them and their talents, we know it will be amazing and a must-see stop for all of us. They will feature a large witch who is sitting at her dressing table admiring herself. Below is a sampling of one of the many other items these talented ladies with include in their tableau.
 
This is Sally's polymer sculpted head she has turned into a "pumpkin man."
 
 
Post Card Exchange
 
The theme for the post card exchange this month was China. Four people participated and did an outstanding job on their cards.
 
Sharon received this beautiful card from Marcella.
Fabulous job, Marcella!

Donna was the proud recipient of Harlene's card.

Marcella recived Sharon's card, which included
two tiny pairs of sandals.

Harlene received this card from Donna.

 
The Challenge
The last club challenge for 2014 was due at the September 18 meeting. Mary had handed out a small paper bag containing jigsaw puzzle pieces and a small doll. Below are photos of the original solutions to this challenge the members brought to share.
 
Elizabeth created a beautiful crown from stiffened lace
which she sprayed with glitter. The puzzle pieces
were used to embellish the front.
Marcella used her puzzle pieces to make a card—a homage to Phoebes and their love to gather, craft together,
and inspire each other. Lovely idea!


Marcella also made a coaster for her coffee mug,
incorporating the puzzle shapes.


Mary created a necklace from a length of lace and used the puzzle pieces as charms. She also used them to decorate the top of a small box.

Maudell assembled an amazing piece by first creating the charming bird with pencil legs and puzzle piece feet. A stork! The small doll was adorned with bits of lace and glitz. Great job and so original!

Suzanne was inspired by the current trailer for the upcoming movie Box Trolls, which we are all dying to see. She removed the arms from her doll and attached them to the sides of the box. She attached the puzzle pieces to the front of the box and used a head from another doll to finish her piece. Very cute!


Rosie created earrings and pins from her puzzle pieces. They are embellished with graphics, text, jewels and beads. Love them!


Zoe used her granddaughter's favorite colors in assembling a piece that represents the need for increased awareness in the growing prevalence of autism in children and the dire need for research and development to find solutions to all aspects of autism.
 
Show and Tell
It's always great to see what other Phoebes are working on. Here are some of the items shared at Show and Tell.
 
Diane W. brought her plastic bag storage dolls. She makes these for family and friends. They are designed to hang on the wall and make grabbing a plastic bag a simple task. Their faces are absolutely adorable!

Here is a sampling of one of the many, many items
Sharon will have in her Tinsel and Treasures Show
in Danville on October 4. This is an altered book 
with its cover removed and lavishly embellished. 

Another ornament beautifully created by Sharon
for her show. She will have a few Halloween items,
many Christmas items... all of them are exquisitely gorgeous.

Stephanie brought her newest cloth doll. Her dolls
keep getting more adorable all the time. This one is
so dainty and precious.

Donna has taken a little break from yoyo necklaces
and switched to these pendant designs. Her personal
challenge is to just use items from her stash. This one
is made from a graphic printed on fabric, vintage Japanese fabric, and even rubber tubing

Another of Donna's pendants made with small
fabric scraps, a very old tassel, a broken earring,
and some old beads.
 

Sunday, September 14, 2014

It's Membership Renewal and Election Time For Phoebes

These are two of the dolls Diane Willis brought for her
"All About Me" presentation. Read all about it in this post.
 
Calendar of Events for 2014
 
September 2014, Phoebe Doll Exhibit at the Castro Valley Library, 3600 Norbridge off Redwood Road (closed Friday's). The exhibit runs through the 30th. A must-see, beautiful exhibit. Phoebe "Make It and Take Event" at the library on Sept. 20, 10:30 A.M. to 1 P.M. Contact Diane Joseph if you would like to volunteer to help with the event.

September 18, Phoebe Monthly Meeting, 6:30 P.M., Alameda County Office of Education, 313 W. Winton, Hayward. We will be voting on the slate of officers for the coming year. Be sure to attend, or give your proxy vote to someone who is going so your vote will be counted. If you have not yet mailed your dues to Marcella Hardy, please pay them at the meeting. We need to get the membership booklet published in a timely manner this year. The postcard theme this month is "China." The highlight of the evening will be "All About Me" by Pame Rose. Don't miss this meeting!

September 19-21 (Fri., Sat. and Sun), Harvest Festival Art and Craft Show, Alameda County Fairgrounds. www.alamedacountyfair.com

September 27 (Saturday), Crossroads Doll and Bear Show and Sale, Alameda County Fairgrounds. www.alamedacountyfair.com

September 26, 27 and 28, Pleasanton Quilt, Craft and Sewing Festival, Alameda County Fairgrounds, Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 10 A.M. to 5 P.M.

October 16, Roxanne Padgett's Surface Design Workshop, 9 A.M., Education Building, Hayward. Contact Stephanie at smitharts2002@yahoo.com for details and to sign up.

October 16 through 19, Pacific International Quilt Festival, Santa Clara Convention Center. Thursday through Saturday from 10 A.M. to 6 P.M., Sunday 10 A.M. to 5 P.M. Admission $15 ($13 on Sunday). www.quiltfest.com

October 16, Phoebe Monthly Meeting, 6:30 P.M., Alameda County Office of Education, 313 W. Winton, Hayward. Roxanne Padgett will conduct an Enrichment Presentation, which will include a make-it-and-take-it project. Be sure to bring your craft supply/tool kit to the meeting!

December 2014, Annual Christmas Window Display at the Book Shop in Hayward. Stay tuned for more details.

"All About Me"


 
 
Diane Willis gave us a wonderful opportunity to get to know her better and view some of the beautiful dolls she has created, many of them from Phoebe workshops she has taken in the past. While attending a local doll show, she was encouraged to take her first class—from Phoebe VonZetta—followed by a second one from Barbara Willis. Since then, she has created many beautiful dolls and now teaches doll making herself at a local senior center. Below are additional photos of her lovely creations.
 

 

 

Show and Tell
 
Elizabeth brought her doll for the Nola challenge. She named her Emily and gave her a very sweet clay face.

Zanaib made a paper doll for her Nola challenge. Delightful! Love the leg tattoos!

Zanaib also finished her frog from the Bett's workshop. His name is Professor Dapper Frog and sports a very dapper costume.


Rosie made "Nola Sisters" for the challenge—Lulu and Loopy. Their adorable hand-painted faces, stick legs, and girly costumes made them a hit.

Stephanie sculpted the head and painted the face on her Nola doll. So feminine with her hat, purse, and lacy dress!

Stephanie also brought two of the ghost dolls she is making for her Halloween window display for her barber shop. Her seasonal window displays filled with her dolls, puppets and bears have been a delight for the neighborhood for years.

Donna made two dolls for the Nola challenge. The Steampunk Fairy has a cloth sculpted face and the Harajuku (Japanese Little Lolita street style) doll has a hand-painted non-sculpted face.

One of the two beautiful vests Harlene made from recycled fabrics she got at FabMo in San Francisco. This one has lovely hand-stitched lace motifs.

Harlene also shared with us a gorgeous chunky necklace she created. Her jewelry is always a hit at the numerous craft shows and fairs she participates in each year.

We were all so thrilled that Geri from Petaluma could join us at the August meeting. She brought a few of the many amazing tags she has been making using Julie Nutting stamps. She puts so much work into each one and each one is an unique work of art.

Anne continues to wow us with her clay and metal art. She was busy preparing for her annual prestigious art shows coming up in the Bay Area. Her shows are always a great success.
 

2014 Phoebe Doll Exhibit at the Castro Valley Library



On September 2, 2014, Diane Joseph and her helpers set up a most impressive Phoebe doll exhibit at the Castro Valley Branch of the Alameda County Library. Members were encouraged to participate by using a Nola Hart pattern previously published in Cloth, Paper, Scissors magazine. The challenge was to re-size the pattern no more than 10% and make a doll that was an original adaptation of the pattern. Body parts could be re-shaped to some degree.

The Phoebes will be also be conducting a make-it-and-take event at the library on September 20 from 10:30 A.M. to 1 P.M. The librarian is so excited about this and is eagerly publicizing to the community. Like the wildly popular Alameda County Fair free event the Phoebes offer every year, participants will be able to choose a stump doll, clay face, and a large assortment of embellishments to design and assemble a doll of their very own to take home.

The side wall of the foyer of this beautiful library is comprised of glass shelves in glass cases. They proved to be a perfect place to showcase the dolls made by Phoebe members for the recent club Nola Hart Doll Challenge.


This is an original doll by Nola Hart, purchased from her by Barbara Willis. Nola's wonderful dolls
served as a source of inspiration for the challenge. 
While the glass cases and the reflections coming through the front entry proved a challenge to the photographer, I'm sure all will agree the following photographs demonstrate the creativity and doll-making talent of Phoebes. The dolls are each so unique and true expressions of their makers. Club members were also allowed to submit one additional doll they had created in the past.