Doll Artist and Teacher: Preserving the art of making dolls and Artist Member of the Original Doll Artist Council of America (ODACA).
What's Next?
Hello Reader,
I hope you'll excuse my ruminations, but I've got a choice to make: what do I do next? Too many choices can be paralyzing at times, especially when free time is at a premium. I suppose I should look at this with triage in mind. What are the priorities?
- I can begin preparing for ODACA Day in Bellevue later this summer, which includes making dolls for the Sales Room as well as creating a doll for the ODACA Luncheon Raffle:
- Related to ODACA Day (optional), make a doll for this year's theme: A Midsummer Night's Dream
- Start working on my Enigma online course
- Finish Amelia Earhart (currently naked Enigma prototype with daunting costuming)
- Design costuming and finish larger Enigma-style dolls with alternate cloth-over-clay faces (for a future class to be taught later in the year)
- Begin work on two commissioned dolls, due in August
The thing is, there is no "cramming" when it comes to making dolls. Time time management is crucial when deadlines are involved.
I currently have a few more than my usual 10-12 dolls ready to take to the Bellevue, Washington UFDC Convention/ODACA Day. So while more dolls would be ideal, I have a sufficient number of dolls to place on my sales table. On the other hand, since I'll be driving rather than flying to the convention, bringing more dolls would be more feasible this year.
While formalizing my Enigma online course would not result in more dolls for the Sales Table, it might provide a little income (I got a quote from an agent for health insurance post retirement - yikes!). If I choose to video some of the steps, I will need to make at least one additional Enigma doll.
Costuming for Amelia Earhart will be detailed and very time-consuming. If I manage to complete this one-of-a-kind doll, her she can be a part of my ODACA Day display.
Two cloth-over clay prototypes just need their clothing and hair designed. I'll still need to make more of these dolls as I write the class modules and photograph and possibly video record the steps.
The trickiest part is matching the face paint color to the body fabric. |
The two commissioned dolls are for a family member (a secret project).
I've procrastinated enough. Time to send this newsletter and get start on something!
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Deanna Hogan
www.blueherondolls.com
deanna@blueherondolls.com
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Deanna Hogan, Blue Heron Dolls
Doll Artist and Teacher: Preserving the art of making dolls and Artist Member of the Original Doll Artist Council of America (ODACA).
Hello Reader, April: the last time I published a newsletter! I haven't been idle, though. During these past few months I've been working in bulk, getting a start on the second half of the Big Project: souvenir dolls for a UFDC luncheon. While I can't share what the dolls will look like, I will share my progress. I'm not giving anything away by sharing these, but just want to convey how many man-hours (months!) have been devoted to this endeavor. Yesterday I opened another 10 pound bag of...
Hello Reader, I finished a doll yesterday, and it felt good. When I started her I thought she'd be a good one to take to Virginia for this summer's ODACA Day. But as life has a way of getting in the way, I had to make the decision to cancel the trip. My only regret will be missing all my doll friends. So here's "Averill." I'd forgotten how time-consuming she is to make but I didn't feel rushed as I made her, working a little bit on her each day. She has buried bead joints in her elbows,...
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