Tilda Tells Her Story

The dolls made for the year-long doll challenge were due at the September meeting.

Part of the challenge was to also create a story line and accessories related to that story. Above is Linda's Alice in Wonderland doll, who is seen reading from the classic book. The dolls will be on exhibit at The Book Shop for the month of January 2016, and also at the Castro Valley Library in March of that year. Check out the challenge photos below to see the dolls that have been completed to date. And, watch for more in upcoming months.

 

Calendar Of Events 

 

September 24, 25 and 26 (Thurs., Fri., Sat), Pleasanton Quilt, Craft and Sewing Festival, Alameda County Fairgrounds, Pleasanton. Free admission. www.quiltcraftsew.com

September 26 (Sat.), 10 A.M. to 4 P.M., Artistry in Fashion Event, Canada College, 4200 Farm Hill Blvd., Redwood City, 94601. $10 admisision ($1 off coupon available at  http://artistryinfashion.com)

September 26 (Sat.), 9 A.M. to 3 P.M., Halloween and Vine, Hermann Sons Hall, 860 Western Ave., Petaluma, 94952. $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. Go to www.tinselandtreasures.com for photos of many items on sale.

October 3, Big Indoor Fall Flea Market, 8 A.M. to 1 P.M., Kenneth C. Aitken Senior & Community Center, 17800 Redwood Road, Castro Valley. www.haywardrec.org

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

November 9 and 10, November 12 and 13, and November 16 and 17. Three Kate Church Workshops, 2-days each. Class space is limited to 8 people per class. Contact Daisy at daisybkdoll@comcast.net  for information.

November 21 (Saturday), Susan Else 3D Fabric Sculpture, 9 A.M. to 4 P.M., Marin Needle Arts Guild meeting, Aldersgate United Methodist Church, 1 Wellbrock Heights, San Rafael (Terra Linda). $35/$20 materials. She will be teaching quilting and collage techniques for creating fabric flowers, vines and leaves. www.susanelse.com/workshops_lectures.php.

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 

 

 March 2016, Tilda Exhibit at the Castro Valley Library. We will again be conducting a one-day  "make it and take it" event for library patrons to come and assemble and adorn stump dolls... a free event for all ages.

 

September 23 to October 25, 2016, Petaluma Doll Exhibit. Phoebes have once again been invited to participate in this prestigious event. Participants will include E.J. Taylor, Wendy and Toby Froud and Kate Church, to name a few. Theme is a fairyland of "Dolls and the Stories They Tell, both Light and Dark."

 

Tilda Challenge

 

Anne's Tilda loves to garden. She is holding her tiny watering can. Love her red hair!

Barbara chose to make Tilda a flat doll, constructed on backed canvas. She is the perfect illustration of an original interpretation inspired by the possibilities shown on the pages of Barbara's favorite Tilda publication of doll ideas and patterns.

Another flat doll—this one a paper doll—was created by Betts. The "words" of her story are represented by the text printed paper used in creating her body. 

 

Bonnie is a well-known doll artist who is famous for her original embellishments that often feature buttons as their focal points. Above is her "button collector" Tilda, fashioned from new fabric and exquisite vintage lace, accompanied by a button box for collecting buttons, wherever she might find them.

 

The palette of warm, bright colors are a tip-off that this Tilda is created by Colleen. The crowning glory is her wild fiber hair style.

 Daisy is supremely inspired by Zentangle designs and batik fabrics. So, of course her Tilda would be created from a lovely batik embellished with tattooed patterns.

Donna's Tilda has just purchased a mannequin and is assembling a new frock on it—using her sewing basket full of necessary sewing tools.

 

Over the years, Tilda publications have featured patterns in various sizes. Thus, the sizes of the Phoebe dolls also vary. The largest one so far, Harlene's, was inspired by a pair of pink satin ballet shoes and naturally features a tutu and matching pink slippers.

 Our biggest collector of Raggedy Ann and Andy dolls, Marcella, shows her "Ann" doll toting her own collection of dolls and related books.

 

Marjorie created two Tildas enjoying themselves at the beach. Smart girls in this very hot weather we have been experiencing in the Bay Area! 

 Mary's Tilda is relishing a bubbly soak in her bathtub. A maven of style, she is wearing her Marie Antoinette lace hat to add a touch of drama.

 

Sally created a petite jeune fille, wearing the latest Paris fashion. So diminutive and lovely.

 

And concluding the September runway show is Suzanne's angel Tilda snuggled in a cone and embellished with lovely feather wings.

  

Show and Tell

 

Sadly, there are not photos of all of the wonderful show and tell items. Noteworthy among the omissions are Sally's upcycled creative and stylish shirt made from one of her husband's dress shirts... of which she has many now that he has retired! Also, Shawn's fabulous quilt and her beautiful vest embellished using so many creative techniques. And, Tani displayed a doll from India she had purchased in her travels. However, below are a few of the other wonderful items we got to see at the meeting.

Colleen was back from her travels and brought a doll created with the cone we received in a recent challenge. The doll rests on a vintage shoe form and we love the cloth sculpted head. What a sweet expression!

 Marcella shared with us a doll she had made using a copy of the original pattern of the very first Raggedy Ann. With such a happy face... no wonder she went on to be endeared by so many children.

Daisy has also been having a great time lately creating birds in many sizes, shapes and poses, using her favorite techniques.

This fanciful bird is giving one of Daisy's signature figures a free ride! 

 

August Frog Prince Display at The Book Shop in Hayward

 

I hope everyone will have had the opportunity to visit our window display before it comes down on August 31. As usual, it is very difficult to photograph due to the reflection on the window glass. These photos do not do justice to the intricate display of mirrored ponds, lily pads, and plants that complete the scene.

All the Frog Princes were made from Betts Vidal's pattern. She has taught two workshops on this doll to Phoebes over the years. Included in the display are frogs by present as well as former members. Each one is an original interpretation of the pattern by the maker.

 

 

The reactions of the viewers and customers of the shop have been amazing. People have insisted on leaving notes for us, stating which frog is their favorite, or complimenting the display. We owe a big thanks to Sharon and all of her team who did the set-up of this display and contributed items that helped complete the scene.

 

And, thanks to all of you who contributed your wonderful frogs!

 

August Meeting

Sharon handed out paper cones at the July meeting and challenged us to make something from one. Daisy is shown here holding her decorated cone with a pop-up doll inside.

  

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 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. A Board meeting will be held before the meeting, starting a 6 P.M. The Tilda dolls, along with back stories and accessories, will be due at this meeting.

September 19 (Saturday), Barbara Redemer Doll Lecture, 10 A.M., Marin Needle Arts Guild meeting, Aldersgate United Methodist Church, 1 Wellbrock Heights, San Rafael (Terra Linda). Free admission.

September24, 25 and 26 (Thurs., Fri., Sat), Pleasanton Quilt, Craft and Sewing Festival, Alameda County Fairgrounds, Pleasanton. Free admission. www.quiltcraftsew.com

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. 

October 3, Big Indoor Fall Flea Market, 8 A.M. to 1 P.M., Kenneth C. Aitken Senior & Community Center, 17800 Redwood Road, Castro Valley. www.haywardrec.org

 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, November 12 and 13, and November 16 and 17. Three Kate Church Workshops, 2-days each. Class space is limited to 8 people per class. Contact Daisy at daisybkdoll@comcast.net for information.

November 21 (Saturday), Susan Else 3D Fabric Sculpture, 9 A.M. to 4 P.M., Marin Needle Arts Guild meeting, Aldersgate United Methodist Church, 1 Wellbrock Heights, San Rafael (Terra Linda). $35/$20 materials. www.susanelse.com/workshops_lectures.php. She will be teaching quilting and collage techniques for creating fabric flowers, vines and leaves.

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

 

Bonnie has been so busy creating wonderful envelopes and decorating them with amazing embellishments... her specialty! She brought a big box of them to show us the endless possibilities. Many sizes and shapes... they can be used for greeting cards, notes, or gift cards. Thanks Bonnie—you always inspire us with your original ideas.

 

 

 

 

Cone Challenge

 

Here are photos of the results of the cone challenge that

was due at this meeting.

 

 

Above is a fun little red French dunce cap Betts made by covering her cone with fabric and upholstery trim.

 

 

Guest Diane Lapp, who also attended last month's meeting, made a decorative ring holder that cleverly hides under her decorated cone.

 

 

Harlene's cone holds a colorful doll with a very cute face and bright orange hair.

 

 

This is a close-up of Daisy's pop-up doll. She made the hair by cutting up mesh garlic bags and attaching the pieces to the head.

 

 

Linda also made a pop-up doll in a beautiful cone decorated with precisely cut paper trims, and then she made a stand to hold it—incorporating an old bed spring she found in her friend's yard.

 

 

Marjorie had downloaded a Tilda pattern from the Web and found it was really too small to use for her Tilda doll challenge. So, she used the body parts on the cone and made a lovely standing doll. 

 

 

Zanaib decorated two cones by adding tapa cloth, bark cloth, knitted trims, beads and fibers.

 

Show and Tell

 

 

Sally brought sheets of canvas fabric (above) she had painted with layers of colorful acrylics—some of which she will use to make lined purses. She also displayed the gorgeous large quilt she designed, which she is in the process of finishing.

 

 

Guest Diane Ladd has put so much work into these fabulous gifts for her cousin's daughters. Each canvas mesh cross stitched box contains a doll and an individual wardrobe of tiny outfits made just for it. And, she decorated the tops with beautiful Irish crochet and butterflies.

 

 

Above is a photo of the same style cast resin bird as the one Elizabeth purchased from California artist Joanne Callander and brought to the meeting. Joanne's amazing original works can be seen on her Web site.

 

 

We were all so happy that Judy was back from Florida and could join us for the meeting. Above is one of the beautiful necklaces she recently made from copper wire and beads. This one features the coiled wire buttons she so cleverly makes.

 

 

Rosie shared with us the very cute polymer figure Judy had made and given to her. Rosie definitely is a "Queen of Art."

 

 

For example, Rosie continues to make a multitude of Christmas decorations, many to be used as gifts this year. She brought some of the members of the choir to the previous meeting, but her favorites (and ours, too) are these adorable nuns. 

 

 

Marjorie has just completed a doll she made from a Barbara Willis pattern. What a beautiful job she did!

 

 

Marjorie has already completed two Tilda dolls for the January window display. These are examples of the "pleasantly plump" Tildas.

 

 

 

 

Linda has been making tassels and woven fiber cords. Above are some of the beautiful examples of tassels she has made using a loom made from a small photo mat. They have seed beads added to each strand.  

 

 

Harlene discovered these pretty filigree pieces to add to her latest necklace of beautiful beads.

 

 

 

Former Phoebe Shawn Dubin paid us a surprise visit. It was wonderful to see her latest art projects, including this colorful quilted vest she is making for herself.

 

 

Above is a "gazing ball" yard decoration Donna made at former Phoebe Shirley Herring's mosaic studio. Several Phoebes and former Phoebes attended and learned so much about materials and techniques from Shirley. They not only had fun, but were so pleased with the finished projects (see below).  

 

 

Below are three necklaces and a bracelet Donna strung after attending a bead show in Pleasanton and finding some great bargains on bead strings and pendants.

 

 

  

 

  

 

The pendant in the necklace above represents Kwan Yin, the Chinese goddess and protector of women.

 

 

And, Donna also brought a collage she made at one of the numerous art play days she held for her thirteen-year-old granddaughters. They made similar ones to hang in their bedrooms (see below).