"Make It and Take It" Quilling at the July Meeting

Our featured artist at the July meeting was
Michelle Johnson, who demonstrated paper
quilling techniques. See "Special Presentation"
below for photos and details.

Calendar Of Events 

 

August, Phoebe "Frog Prince" Exhibit at the Book Shop, on B Street in Hayward. This is perhaps the best one yet—be sure to see it!

August, Contemporary Art Exhibit, Richmond Art Center, featuring art by artists with disabilities—baskets, quilts, clay structures, etc. Go to www.richmondartcenter.org for details. Closed on Mondays.

August 7-9, Bead and Boutique Art Show, 10 A.M. to 6 P.M., Hilton Hotel, 1970 Diamond Blvd, Concord. $10 admission; 200 booths.

August 20, Phoebe Meeting, 6:30 P.M., Alameda County Office of Education, 313 W. Winton Ave, Hayward, CA. The paper cone challenge will be due at this meeting. Also, bring your envelopes made from the pattern Sally handed out at the July meeting.

August 28, 29, 30, Annual Rummage Sale, Episcopal Church, 1700 Santa Clara, Alameda. 9 to 4 on Friday and Saturday; Noon to 3 on Sunday. This event is held at Daisy's church each year, and the treasures and bargains make this a "must attend" event. Sunday is super bargain day—you can get a bag full of wonderful things for only $2.

September 17, Phoebe Meeting, 6:30 P.M., Alameda County Office of Education, 313 W. Winton Ave, Hayward, CA. The Tilda dolls, along with story lines and accessories will be due at this meeting. 

September 26, Halloween and Vine, 9 A.M. to 3 P.M., Hermann Sons Hall, 860 Western Avenue, Petaluma. $5 admission.

October 3, Tinsel and Treasures Show, 10 A.M. to 4 P.M., Veterans Building, 400 Hartz Ave, Danville. Phoebe Sharon Martin will have fabulous items in her "My Little Friends" booth. 

 November 7 and 8, Christmas Craft Show, 10 A.M. to 5 P.M., Goose Cottage, 1610 Minturn, Alameda. Phoebes and former Phoebes will have wonderful gifts and decorations for sale.
 

November 9 and 10, and November 12 and 13. Two Kate Church Workshops, 2-days each. Class space is limited to 8 people per class. Contact Daisy at daisybkdoll@comcast.net for information.

December, Phoebe Exhibit at the Book Shop, B Street, Hayward. Betts will be in charge. More information later.

January 2016, Phoebe Tilda Doll Exhibit at the Book Shop, B Street, Hayward. Sharon will be in charge.

January 21, 2016, Elinor Peace Baily "Me, Myself and I" Doll Workshop, 9 A.M. to 4 P.M. at the Education Building, Hayward. Contact Colleen at colleen.patell@gmail.com.
 

Special Presentation

 



 

Our evening was definitely a new kind of enrichment, quilling. Michelle Johnson, shown here demonstrating a technique to member Marjorie, gave each of us a generous kit of colorful paper strips, tools and other necessary items. She led us in coiling and manipulating the strips into flowers and an assortment of designs and shapes. It was a relaxing, magical experience and I'm sure while most of us will not proceed toward mastering quilling, we certainly considered using this technique to make cute 3D embellishments for future paper projects.  

 

This photo and the three following ones are examples of the quilling techniques Michelle has mastered over the years. Look at each carefully, as the intricacy of her designs are truly amazing. 

 

 

 

Each item is truly a work of art and we give a great big "thanks" to Michele for sharing her knowledge with us and inspiring us to try a new and different art medium.

Challenge

The challenge for this month was to take one of the cigar boxes Sharon handed out in June and turn it into something wonderful. Some people wanted to embellish the box and use it as a container for small treasures, mementos, or a place to keep artist trading items from past exchanges.

 

This box is beautifully embellished with fairies.

This one is embellished with birds, butterflies and flowers.

Linda turned hers into a stand alone piece with an Alice in Wonderland theme.

Marjorie also made a circus wagon, but her theme was Pinocchio.  

Rosie used her talented graphic skills to make a mosaic design of colorful figures.

Here is a second box she is painting and it shows the painting stages as they progress.

Suzanne used her cigar box to make a birdhouse. She drilled out an entry portal and added driftwood and an A-frame roof.

 

Show and Tell

 

Daisy has already finished her Tilda due next month. Not only did she make a Tilda, but she made the whole family, including the cat! She entitled the piece "Popcorn,"  which the family is no doubt enjoying as they cuddle together to watch TV.

Stephanie also has finished her Tilda doll. So sweet... so many layers... a darling coat... an amazing hair style... and tiny painted slippers. Wonderful job, Stephanie!

Stephanie's jewelry making has taken a new direction this past month—button bracelets. Lovely! Each is constructed with wire and seed beads to make the bracelet base.

Barbara brought the doll she made in a Nicole Sayers workshop. Such a nice design using the drawer base. This lucky lady is dressed in finery made with those vintage Europen laces and trims Barbara is famous for collecting and using in her creations.

This close-up shows more clearly the intricate painting on the face. The interpretation of the face is clearly identifiable as Barbara's style and aesthetic. She always makes truly beautiful dolls.

Barbara also shared with us some of the dolls she has collected. These Egyptian mummy cats are so exquisitely embellished. Each is signed by the maker (see below).

And last, but by no means least, above is the amazing traveling doll, who accompanied Barbara on her last trip to France and Belgium. We followed the doll's European adventures on Barbara's Facebook page... viewing the sights, the people she met, and the wonderful vintage treasures purchased at the Paris flea markets. We were all so envious!

Bonnie brought her "Embellishment Queen" panel which showcases many of the multitude of techniques Bonnie has perfected and used on her dolls and jewelry over the years. I'm thinking I heard that Eleanor had a part in this, too.

Colleen always literally stuns us with the amount of items she can create in a single month. She is hands down the most prolific of our group. Above are some of the ceramic faces she recently made, as well as several of her fabulous ceramic balls.

And, here are two of Colleen's latest assemblages. These are made from a combination of original ceramic pieces, drill bits, shoe lasts, and other assorted found objects and wire.  The results of one of the most creative minds we all know.

Harlene, also a prolific artisan, shared with us her beautiful necklace made with polished semi-precious stone chips.

Kelly is busy preparing for her up-coming Christmas craft show at Goose Cottage in Alameda. She has been making more of her Cernit polymer clay fairy babies, as well as mermaids and elves.

This is one of Kelly's adorable sleeping elf babies sculpted from polymer.

Rosie completed her polymer clay girl from the Anne Klocko workshop. The details are off the chart! Intricate designs on the clothing, and even a cute pet bird. Wonderful!

 And, Rosie is busy, busy, busy... making polymer members of the choir singing Christmas carols, which she will be selling at the Goose Cottage Christmas Sale.