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"

Scraps of fabric can be used to create rolled beads. Here’s the simplest version. You’ll need fabric, white glue and water, and something thin to wrap the beads around. This can be a thin dowel, toothpicks, shishkebab skewers, thin cocktail straws, or… Well, see what you have around the house. You could even use heavy … Continue reading "Easy Rolled Cloth Beads"