April 2019 Phoebe Meeting

Spring is here at last! So many Phoebes were able to make this Saturday meeting at Sally's. It was a beautiful day spent with friends. We enjoyed admiring Sally's wonderful paintings and art, and her lovely plantings. The highlight of the day was Linda's "make and take" where she supplied all the materials for us to make one of her adorable pins like the one above.  So much fun for all! Thank you, Linda.

Calendar of Events 

April 27, (Saturday), 1:30 to 4:30 P.M., Art and Wine Intertwined at the Bankhead Theater in downtown Livermore. Featuring "Wearable Art" which will be modeled on the runway beginning at 3:30 P.M. Admission and appetizers are free; wine tastings available for $2 each. Go to www.lvpac.org for more information.

May 4, (Saturday), 10 to 3 P.M., Doll and Teddy Bear Show, Alameda County Fairgrounds, Pleasanton. Go to www.crossroadsshows.com for info.

May 16, (Thursday), 1 to 4 P.M., Phoebe Meeting at George Mark. Daisy will be presenting a "make and take" session.

June 22, (Saturday), 9 A.M. to 4 P.M. Barbara Willis Mold-making Workshop at Barbara's Studio.

July 20, (Saturday), 1 to 4 P.M., Phoebe Meeting at Marcella's. Flat doll challenge will be due.

August 17, (Saturday), 1 to 4 P.M., Phoebe Meeting at Marcella's.

September 14, (Saturday), 1 to 4 P.M., Phoebe Meeting at Marcella's. This will be an activity event with three activities to participate in: fabric origami; how to wire tins; book binding. Bring a bag lunch.

Show and Tell

Three people brought their completed Frida dolls from the Leslie Keeble workshop to the meeting. Above is the second doll Daisy made (see last month's post for number one). Below is Sue's, so beautiful with her special Hawaiian touch.

Marcella's cute Frida is above. They all turned so unique!

Daisy has finished another two totems for the Girl Scouts get-together. It is totally amazing how much work she puts into this event every year! And, below are two whimsical owls she also finished just for fun.

Anne exhibited four more of her amazing tin dolls. The tins she finds for their bodies are always unusual and sometimes rare and hard to find. Each doll is one of a kind.

Marcella shared her "Raggedy Rabbit" with us. So cute!

This is just one of Sally's extraordinary mixed media collages she has been turning out. The composition, the colors, the details... so impressive and successful. 

Sharon is also working on more mixed media collage compositions. This is one in her "Happy Towns" series and is midway to completion. Can't wait to see it finished.

Above are more of the miniature mermaids in sea shells Sue learned to make in Stephanie Blythe's workshop last year. These, however, feature Sue's original sculpted mermaids, and her own designs.

Zanaib and her friend (and Phoebe member) Sherrye are continuing to feverishly exchange art and ideas back and forth the across the country. They are incorporating origami shapes, embellished borders, and various collaged materials to make cards and decorated envelopes. There are so many possibilities!

Former member Zoe dropped in for a surprise visit as a guest of Daisy's. Zoe is the "knitting queen" and brought some cute examples of dolls she has knitted. It was great to see you again, Zoe. You are looking fabulous! Hope you will join up with us again.

Suzanne's dear friend Carol made this amazing quilt, which she sent to Suzanne as a Birthday and Christmas present. In tribute to Suzanne's many, many hours served as a volunteer docent at the Oakland zoo, this gift obviously took many, many hours to complete. Lucky Suzanne to have such a marvelous friend! 

March Phoebe Meeting at Barbara's Studio

This photo of Phoebes who attended the March meeting does not include all who attended. Everyone was so excited to visit Barbara's newly completed detached studio that members filled a double row of seats around the large work table, and were in awe of the perfectly organized storage bins and the beautifully displayed dolls Barbara has created. We were also thrilled to see Barbara's recently renovated 1920's house, completely updated with hardwood floors, granite countertops and more, and decorated beautifully with antique furniture and items she has lovingly collected on her trips to France. Truly a dollmaker's own dollhouse to live in. 

Calendar of Events 

March 14, Leslie Keeble's Workshop, at Michael's, Union Landing.

March 16, (Saturday), 1 to 4 P.M., Phoebe Meeting at Barbara's. Please bring a folding chair if you are attending.

March 23, (Saturday), Phoebe Make and Take at the Castro Valley Library, 10:30 A.M. to 1:30 P.M. To volunteer, contact Suzanne.

April 13, (Saturday), 1 to 4 P.M., Phoebe Meeting at Sally's.

May 16, (Thursday), 1 to 4 P.M., Phoebe Meeting at George Mark. Daisy will be presenting a "make and take" session.

June 22, (Saturday), 9 A.M. to 4 P.M. Barbara Willis Mold-making Workshop at Barbara's Studio. 

July 20, (Saturday), 1 to 4 P.M., Phoebe Meeting at Marcella's. Flat doll challenge will be due.

Barbara's Studio

Below are a few photos showing the fabulous displays of Barbara's work inside her studio. Her dolls, both flat and sculpted, are made with combinations of clay, paper, fabric and trims (exquisite and vintage, mostly French). Her work also includes many collages using those materials, as well as vintage ephemera and embellishments. It is truly a sight to see and admire.

Show and Tell

Anne displayed her latest creations... ceramic heads expressing the range of emotions currently experienced by many as a result of the social and political events and trends of the times. I think all of us have reacted on many occasions over the past several years with these same expressions. These are sure to be snapped up at her upcoming art shows.

Anne purchased this "Carrot Mama" cone doll made by Leslie Keeble, who taught the doll workshop this month. Below is the "Day of the Dead" cone doll that Daisy completed at the workshop. 

Colleen finished two cone dolls from Leslie's class. They are stunningly fashioned with fabrics and trims in Colleen's favorite colors. 

Daisy brought two more of her completed bird totems which will be used at the Girl Scout jamboree to represent different teams of girls. She yearly devotes so very much time and energy to make sure the event is a special and memorable experience for all!

Colleen has just acquired a torch and wants to create beautiful lamp work beads, and well as her beautiful fused glass pieces. Quilting, fusing, lamp work, dolls (to name a few of her current interests)—she's an amazing lady!

 Harlene discovered a piece of floral printed fabric on the donation table at the last meeting. She took it home and carefully cut out the flowers and applicated them on a new vest. Her vests are so lovely and creative. 

Zanaib and Sherrye have been madly sending art and challenges back and forth across the country. Here are some examples of items and embellishments they have made using twigs and dried floral stems from day lilies they have gathered and painted. They are always coming up with unique ideas and materials to incorporate into their art. Very creative!

February 2019 Phoebe Meeting

The meeting this month was held at Kathy's in Berkeley. Over 20 members attended and were extremely impressed by her fabulously decorated and colorful home filled with wonderful art. A highlight of the day was Betts' special enrichment session featuring collages made using many of her treasures of lace, buttons and ephemera, which she has largely collected in France and surrounding areas over the years. In rapt attention are Sharon, Anne, Barbara and Harlene. Betts continues to be one of the most inspiring members of our club. Thanks again, Betts, for sharing your amazing collection and your knowledge.

Calendar of Events 

March 14, Leslie Keeble's Workshop, at Michael's, Union Landing.

March 16, (Saturday), 1:15-4:30 P.M., Phoebe Meeting at Barbara's. Please bring a folding chair if you are attending.

March 23, (Saturday), Phoebe Make and Take at the Castro Valley Library, 11 A.M. to 1:30 P.M. To volunteer, contact Suzanne.

April 13, (Saturday), 1:15-4:30 P.M., Phoebe Meeting at Sally's.

May (date to be determined), 1:15-4:30 P.M., Phoebe Meeting at George Mark. Daisy will be presenting a "make and take" session.

Heart Challenge

The challenge due this month was to make something incorporating hearts. Two of Anne's most recent ceramic wall hanging figures certainly met the requirement. One has a darling heart-shaped mouth, and the other a sweet little heart on his head.

Bonnie is still working on her very ambitious book filled with many pages of heart-themed collages. Each page is a unique design featuring a variety of heart shapes.

Donna has been finishing more of her embellished silk hearts, which can be made into a pin or a necklace. They make nice "thank-you" gifts, too.

Elizabeth felted her heart and trimmed it with colorful felted balls. Caroline cut her heart from a lovely vintage embroidered cloth.

Harlene made the beautiful "stuffed envelope" filled with glittered hearts (shown below) for the challenge, but she also modeled her latest vest. This one was sewn from an innovative and clever pattern she found on line. It is the perfect showcase for all of her colorful embroidery work.

When we saw the charming heart-shaped bound book Jennifer made, we all wanted to make one just like it. We are hoping she will demonstrate its construction at a future meeting.

Even though Jo has been extremely busy with the fabulous quilt show at Bay Quilts in Richmond, she found the time to make these two small squares with hearts. Loved the show... loved these hearts!

Linda not only created a wreath made of hearts, she made the beautiful heart necklace from vintage embroidered silk and sewed on a beaded edging using tiny seed beads. Lovely!

Mary shared her sketchbook pages of designs for dolls to be made using the wonderful polymer clay heads she has sculpted. Their costumes would be constructed from heart-shaped pieces of fabric. Mary's a great artist and a very creative lady.

Sharon brought samples of some of her beautiful paper heart ornaments. At the center of each is a doorway graphic and sweet vintage photos. 

Flalt Doll Challenge
Bonnie handed out a pattern for the flat doll challenge which will be due in June. The pattern shapes can be assembled in any configuration and modified and embellished in any way one desires. It will be exciting to see the different approach each artist will take. Below are samples of Bonnie's work for inspiration.

Show and Tell

Anne wowed us all with this assembled piece made using faucet parts, a vintage Brownie camera, a sink strainer, chalk tin, and tea pot top. It is sure to sell at one of her upcoming art shows.

Caroline's show and tell was this beautiful fiber necklace in her favorite color.

Daisy is gearing up for the next big Girl Scout event. The theme this year for the various teams of girls will be California native birds and each team will have their own symbol. So, Daisy is working hard to make 5 to 7 different birds. Shown here are the Condor, Quail, and Western Tanager. 

While several members brought "crinkles" they had made to donate to George Mark, Anne went above and beyond the call of duty by presenting a huge plastic bag of over 100 flannel and ribbon crinkles she made for the cause. George Mark, a hospital for critically ill children, dispenses the crinkles to the babies, who are amused by the sound the plastic inside makes, as well as by the bright colors and ribbon tabs. They are disposable, so they go through a lot! Thank you so very much Anne for your extremely generous donation of materials and time. 

Elizabeth shared with us this skillfully carved little house she recently purchased from an artist in Grass Valley. It even has a tea light in it for an inside glow.

Donna has been dabbling in watercolors after a 16-year hiatus from painting. Above is her first painting... a small original attempt to paint a face, hair and the steampunk crow she made from fabric.

 This is a small study painted from another artist's work...just to try to remember how to paint washes and petals.

And the third is a study of work by the artist she will be taking a class from next month, Jeannie Vodden, who will be teaching various techniques, including painting metals in a work with a steampunk theme. 

Our hostess for the meeting, Kathy, brought out these quilted pieces she has been working on. She is using scraps from men's silk ties... a very tricky fabric to work with. But, just look at the precision sewing of the shapes and the beautiful colors! Can't wait to see the finished quilt.

Zanaib, our Crochet Queen, has been making various motifs to paint with metallic and glitter paints, using Sharon's techniques for painting lace. Looking forward to seeing them on her upcoming creations.

And, last but certainly not least, above and below are photos of Zanaib's "border clusters." She discovered this idea on Pinterest. Certainly they will be beautiful on greeting cards, stuffed envelopes, and so many other possibilities!