Honoring Wanda Fudge and Her Fabulous Art

 

The September meeting was highlighted with a homage to our long-time Phoebe, Wanda Fudge. Over the years she had attended our meetings, inspired us with her amazing artistic creations, invited some of us to craft with her at her Goose Cottage (see above), planned art exhibits for us there and at other venues in the San Francisco Bay Area, and kept us in stitches with her hilarious tales and jokes. There was never a dull moment until she had a stroke two years ago and was under special care and unable to join us. During the past year her loving son and daughter found a way to transport her to our meetings. This month she wanted to share some of her fabulous art with us, which some members had never seen before. You will find pictures of many of them in this post. Pay special attention to the very fine details in all of her art. We are all so happy to have her join us again.   

Calendar

On October 11th the Phoebes will be meeting at Marcella's to celebrate our 38th Anniversary. 

We will meet around 11:30 A.M. and will be enjoying a catered lunch. Look for details in the minutes and emails from Jennifer.

Wanda's Art

 

This is the Frida Kahlo cloth doll she needle sculpted.

Such a lovely combination of beautiful fabrics, lace and jewels.

Pay special attention to all the fine details.

She also made these cloth dolls of Frida, and the love of her life, Diego Rivera, with whom Frida had a tempestuous relationship and a shared passion for art and political radicalism throughout her life. Many of the Phoebes were inspired to make an assortment of items featuring Frida, using fabrics, mosaics, paper, paints, clay, and more.

Wanda made so many wonderful mosaics, as well as many fabulous pieces of art to display in her always beautiful and magical garden at Goose Cottage.

Last month, in anticipation of Wanda joining us in September, members were asked to bring items she made that were in our homes. Bonnie brought Wanda's flower necklace.

Wanda had a period when she made many, many purses of all kinds, which she sold. Daisy bought this one from her. It includes Japanese Sashiko stitching.

And Donna purchased this one made from Japanese fabric.

Wanda sewed many of these darling cat hot pads and gave them away to friends. Donna received this one for her birthday. It says Happy Birthday on the back.

Wanda led us in a Halloween card exchange, and this is the one Donna received from her.

Wanda also had a hot pad exchange, and this is the one Donna was so happy to receive from Wanda.

This purse that Bonnie cherishes was also a Wanda creation.

Show and Tell

Bonnie displayed some pages from one of her wonderful journals.

Three Phoebes displayed the folded books they completed after Sally's enrichment session last month. Suzanne, our favorite Oakland Zoo docent, decorated her front page with a rabbit. Caroline chose abstract faces, and Jennifer added trees and flowers. Wonderful!

Betts had stenciled a webbed pattern across two pages and added glued French paper ephemera. 

Betts also displayed her completed mermaid, as well as a "hanger" that included mermaid related items. Always wonderful!

She also handed out numerous blank tags for us to decorate as a challenge for the October get-together, as well as pieces of ephemera we could attach. These are some of her samples to inspire us. 

And, she also brought the mermaid chair she had assembled. 

Bonnie displayed her Tilly Tea Pot, a cloth doll she made in the past. More similar items were published in 

Daisy's last newsletter. Check them out!

Another recent challenge was to make a story board for an art project. Daisy created this adorable cloth bird with a hat, glasses and very cute shoes. Below is the story board she assembled beforehand. 

Enrichment

The September enrichment was led by Jennifer and Caroline, who brought many boxes of beautiful decorative yarns and taught the Phoebes how to make lovely necklaces with them. 

Jennifer handed out boards to wrap with the yarns and fasten them together. It took some manual dexterity and patience, but it was well worth it. 

Here are a few of the completed necklaces. Aren't they beautiful?

 We were so thrilled that Rosie was in the Bay Area and could join us. And she and Suzanne were obviously thrilled to complete their necklaces and display them for all to admire.

 BEAUTIFUL!