A Little Silliness is in Order!

*Disclaimer: any similarities of this doll to the likeness of Earnest Borgnine is purely a coincidence and should be attributed to "artist inexperience."

Hey, not everyone has to look like a princess...

You remember me talking about the amazing Art Camp art retreat with Terri Brush.  It was so very awesome and one of the most enjoyable few days ever.  (except for my untimely and tragic shoulder injury... surgery March 11th). ANYWAY... one of the class projects was making a doll with fabric and paper clay.  I'm generally not a "doll person" (except for small porcelain old broken ones or their body parts, please don't judge me). :)

We sculpted the heads with Terri's help, and she also included a little skirt with each kit.  It was actually a lot of -FUN- and I'm going to do another one someday!  I've been waiting to show you her pics, because I'm not quite finished with her yet, but there's no time like the present!  She has a name of course and a title!  Please meet "Katarina the Ballerina, just a little past her prima."

She has a raggedy underskirt from decades of dancing, and she's no spring chicken.

She doesn't really like "close ups" but she's making an exception just this once.  The skirt with the kit was pink and brown plaid, so I painted her dress top to coordinate.  What's that?  Plaid with dots, you ask?  Yes, a woman of her age and um... experience can wear whatever she wants.  I found the cute vintage button for her "belt buckle." 

Joy twisted up some silver wire "tiaras" for us to use, so I embellished Katarina's with pearls.  (She would also like you to note not only the matching pearl necklace and bracelet, but also the pearl detail on the top of her lace topped knee-his.  (I pulled apart some old jewelry for these).

Isn't Terri amazing?  To think up all of these classes, and to be good at so many skills, including teaching, she is very talented (and in my case, very patient).

Terri has also become a very good friend over this past year, even before the Art Retreat.  And guess what?  She is a very sought after instructor whom people fly all over the states to teach.  She also has workshops at her gorgeous home in Chehalis, Washington.  You really should check out her class offerings... she has something for everyone at every level.  AND guess what?  She is having another Beach Retreat!  They are an amazing time at a very good price and to be around fun, like-minded women having fun is just something every "girl" should experience sometime.  (I'll be barely "post-op" during the next one, but I'm sure going try to go if she has another one again).  If you haven't read my posts about the amazing time we had and the amazing things we did, please have a look.

She even taught me how to use a TORCH to make jewelry!  (I know, a scary thought)!  Terri is a well known papier mache artist too, she is quite the artist with an amazing repertoire.  She is also tireless and has energy  like I've never seen!

Joy and I are going to another of Terri's classes at her house very soon (before I'm forced to rest and recover my rotator cuff).  I'll tell you all about the class we're taking soon!

Thank you, Terri!  I love and admire you.  (And so does Katarina)!