Crocheted Aquarium

I’m still in wintery, textile creating mode (sitting in the cold evenings curled up with thread, hook, instructions, little dogs and homemade lattes).  I’ve crocheted some pretty kitschy things in my life and some pretty cool stuff too.  I really like these creatures from the sea by Jessica Polka.  Her work and patterns can be found at her Wunderkammer shop.

Since I’ve lived in the desert all my life, the ocean and its inhabitants always fascinate me.  Check out the Hyperbolic Crochet Coral Reef at the Smithsonian Institute for some serious crochet.

Textile, Meet Sculpture

 

Usually in the winter my Multiple Muse Disorder flares up.  The cold, short days find me curled up in my living room chair, surrounded by little dogs, thinking up things to make.  I should be in the studio working on my latest illustration, but sometimes the Muses fight and I sit back and roll with it.  Combine this with finalizing the task of organizing the lovely yarn I inherited from my beautiful sister-in-law, and strange things happen.

Leaving for Connecticut

Leaving in a square cardboard space craft and traveling 3000 land miles, the welcome must have been overwhelming and that makes me smile!

 

Algaelina and Roberto

1990’s Sculptural Explorations

So far all I had done was two dimensional work.  In the 90’s I picked up an Art Doll magazine and was immediately intrigued at the imaginative work being done by some amazing doll artists.  It wasn’t the porcelain baby dolls that captured me, but the dolls of fantasy and super realism.

Awhile later I discovered Sculpey clay and decided to make a Santa figure for my sister-in-law’s Christmas collection.  This craft had all the elements I love doing.  Imaginative design, working with my hands, sewing and gathering miniature accessories.  I made several figures over several years and they ended up in private collections.  I even made a Leon Coffee rodeo clown doll for a local rancher who was a personal friend of the rodeo legend.

But the sculpture muse stayed for only five or six years and receded into the shadows.

Commission for a family of golfers.  I also taught myself to knit with the making of his sweater.

My last Santa and my personal favorite.

Mario the Gambler resides in my personal collection.