Fabric Art

In January 2005, I had the great good fortune to interview paper doll artist JJ Buch. She’s one of my idols, because her art has a very clear “voice” and her concepts are consistently innovative and often delightfully witty. Here’s the interview*, on two pages: Q. How did you get started with paper dolls? A. … Continue reading "JJ Buch – Paper Doll Artist interview – part 1 of 2"

Q.  What’s your greatest influence today?  Do you get your ideas from other dolls, other art, or something else altogether? I read Soft Dolls & Animals, Art Doll Quarterly, and I belong to several internet doll lists. I love all of these, but things and people influence me the most. Things?  Well, here’s an example:  … Continue reading "Alice C. W. Dennis – doll artist interview – part 2 of 3"

Do you have a collectible Barbie® doll with “green ear”? Here’s how to remove most of it safely. I haven’t found any product that removes ALL “green ear” and does it safely. Also, I wrote this article years ago, so there may be better products for this kind of project. My Barbie / Green Ear … Continue reading "How to Remove ‘Green Ear’ from Barbie Dolls"

Altered dolls usually (but not always) start with ready-made, store-bought dolls. They may be modified or even deconstructed to make a different art doll or mixed-media figure. These can include anything from themed, customized BarbieTM dolls, to Raggedy Ann gone wild, to McD’s doll toys that are made into jewelry or chess pieces. However, that … Continue reading "Altered Dolls"

This is one of a series of pin dolls that I  made by hand. First, I create my doll collages digitally, using antique photos and illustrations. When I’m pleased with the design and colors, I print each doll onto iron-on transfer paper. Next, I apply each doll design to cotton, usually unbleached muslin, raw silk, … Continue reading "Annie Faerie Dolls"

This is another project started in the mid-1990s and not completed.  Clearly, even good projects are sometimes put aside. Basically, I was going to make myself a bunch of great wearable art pinafores. Note: In the States, a pinafore is called a jumper. I grew up calling them pinafores, because… well, that’s what my family … Continue reading "Rust and Teal Pieced Bodice"

I’ve always loved the color purple.  Almost every shade of purple delights me. This is an original one-of-a-kind jacket that I created around 1992, using a Vogue designer jacket pattern. The fabrics are all 100% cottons. On half of the front, I have hand-beaded with glass bugle and seed beads. I’ve also painted it with … Continue reading "Purple Fabric Art Jacket 1"

The fabric art  jacket in the photo at right was made in 1991. I have always loved everything related to Disneyland and DisneyWorld.   Late in the 1980’s, I started collecting Disney fabrics for a “someday” wearable art project. This is the jacket that I made with those fabrics, around 1991. The sleeves are a … Continue reading "Disney Fabric Art Jacket"