Category Archives: Art Dolls

Something New

Actually, Many Things

Hi, I know it has been quite some time since I posted anything new here. I have been quite busy with things in and out of my studio. A redesign of my website is just one of those tasks. In fact, I am still in the process of the redesign, so if you click around, things might be different next time you return. This post is also a check, to make sure that the redesign still allows those of you who have graciously subscribed to my blog to still receive them.

The biggest change in my site is that I now have a static home page that doesn’t update with each post. That page is still very much a Work-In-Progress. My posts will now live here on the Blog page. Posting will not occur with as much regularity as in the past. But, I will write each time there is an event, or new development in my work I want to share with you.

I have updated my Current Gallery page, and will be working to keep it as up-to-date as possible. I am playing around with making some items directly available for purchase from time to time. That requires some interplay between this site, and my Square sales to allow for convenient and secure transactions.

I may also try to work a BlueSky embed into my new home page. That way you can see what I post there (daily) without needing to have your own account… I think?

New Work

Here are some pieces that I have worked on since the last time I posted.

Needle felted mother and calf giraffe sculpture by Lynn Wartski. Needle felted wool over wire and batting armature. — Love is Nurtured

Needle felted turtle sculpture with stylized boho flower design by Lynn Wartski. Needle felted wool with sewn glass bead eyes. — Love is Nurtured

There do seem to be quie a few new pieces here that I had not posted about!

Several are for my upcoming featured artist show at the end of July. I will tell you about them in the run up to the opening. A couple, Luna Mouse and Venetian Canard, have already sold. Boho Slow is currently available at The Hillsborough Gallery of Arts.

All, are my usual construction of needle felted wool over a wire and batting armature. Some have unique qualities like the embroidery on Venetian Canard. I incorporated upcycled denim in Avoid Shiny Objects, and Rabbit Moon and Family Photo both are hanging display mobiles. Fledged, is unique in that is doesn’t include a figure, only the suggestion of one.

I hope your summer is off to a great start!

Three Little Figures

A Llama…

Here’s a little of what I’ve been creating the past few weeks. Recently three figures have emerged from my studio. As I wrote last time, I have been mostly posting process videos of those works-in-progress (WIP) on YouTube, or sharing on my BlueSky feed.

needle felted athropomorphic llama figure sculpture with bright (klimt-esque?) surface pattern — La-La-La-Llama

La-La-La-Llama is a small anthropomorphic llama figure that I recenlty described as lovin’ life. This “just for the fun of it” sculpture features a brightly colored almost “Klimpt-esque” pattern. Llamas are rather comical looking animals, and this one’s title is inspired by Sesame Street “La La La” song by Bert and Ernie. She is needle felted wool over a wire and batting armature.

March Hare..

needle felted leaping hare figure sculpture with bright spring surface pattern — March Hare

My March Hare might not be crazy, but certainly appears to be on the move. As with the Llama, I was continuing to play with bold surface patterns. I used a small weighted concrete base (encased in the little mound of earth) to counterbalance this figure, and make it appear to defy gravity.

Both March Hare, and La-La-La-Llama are currently available at the Hillsborough Gallery of Arts.

Last of the figures is a WIP?

needle felted figure sculpture of winged liberty "statue" rising up — Tattered Liberty Rising (work-in-progress)

I just took photos of this completed figure piece yesterday, but I feel she may as yet still be a work-in-progress. It continues to be hard to just produce light hearted work, as things in the world continue to be insane in a larger sense. So, as I was sketching in my journal, the idea of a winged liberty pulling herself off the ground emerged. This piece is what had developed. Unfortunately, I have to admit, she’s too cute, not beat up enough to convey what I was thinking. So, for the time being, I have set her aside, and will work on her again in the future. You can catch the WIP video of me creating her

Reminder…

This coming Sunday, February 23rd there is a special event at The Hillsborough Gallery of Arts from 4-6 pm. The poet Jeffery Beam that we’ve collaborated with for our current gallery show will be doing a reading. Stop by and check it out

Past, Present, and Future

Past and Present

I will get to the future soon enough. I missed sharing with you a couple of ornaments that went to the gallery during the the last few days before Christmas. Below are Puffin Present and Sloth Lights.

As you can see, I didn’t take images of them before I dropped them off. One of the other HGA artists helped me out, and took a couple of shots with her phone before they found new homes.

I’d also like you to meet Turk. He is an African Penguin. I made this little sculpture for the desk of a very special museum professional who works with African Pengins on a regular basis. I didn’t share him, as he was a surprise for Christmas morning. He was a present himself.

Looking to the Future

Lastly two pieces for the near, and somewhat more distant future. The first, is one of two works I have planned for our gallery’s yearly “It’s All About The Story” show. That show features artwork that responds to written work by one of the area’s many authors. This year we are working with the poet Jeffery Beam. The “Story” show will run from February 11th through March 23rd. There will be a reading hosted by the gallery on February 23rd, and a reception during the February Last Friday Art Walk on February 28th.

The first work I’ve created for the February show I’m titling “Dryad Slumber.” I will share the poem she is in response to later. For now, I thought that I’d just share her as her own visual art self. She is the first “human” figure that I’ve created in a while.

I will tell more about this piece as we get closer to that show’s installation.

In the very near future, The Hillsborough Gallery will be hosting “Moving Heaven and Earth”. This is an invitational show of non-HGA artists who’s work we enjoy. I was in the gallery today and saw some of the work that is included. It is a fabulous show, and well worth checking out. It will be installed tomorrow, January 6th, and will run through February 9th. Here is a list of the guest artist included:
Jane Filer, Sarah Graham, Katie Hayes, Ian Herdell, Alexis Joyner, Ley Killeya, Oami Powers, Suzan Scribner-Reed, Darcy Szeremi, Nadine Zenobi

For a bit farther into the future

I ended up creating the first ornament for the 2025 holiday season, though not on purpose. The initial snail that I made for “Dryad Slumber” was entirely too big. So I plucked him off, and made the smaller version you see in the Dryad Slumber images. The larger snail received a Santa’s hat and a hanging loop. He will deliver presents next winter at a slightly slower pace. I’m not sure that I will share all of the ornaments next year, it got a bit exhausting this time around.

That’s all for now.

Winter Light

Holly and Mistletoe

needle felted anthropomorphic racoon art doll figure sculpture with felted and beaded holly, mistletoe, and working lantern — Holly and Mistletoe

My latest anthropomorphic figure is a needle felted racoon gathering holly and mistletoe by lantern light. As you may have already guessed, he will come into the gallery when we install the holiday show in mid-November. It takes a fair amount of time to create my holiday inventory, so most of what you see from this point on this year will be either winter themed, ornaments, or what might be considered more giftable items.

Holly and Mistletoe is needle felted wool over a wire and batting armature. This free standing sculpture balances on its feet, tail and lantern staff. His felted basket is full of holly with hand sewn glass bead berries. His head and lantern staff are festooned with felted mistletoe with white glass bead berries. The lantern is felted wool over metalic tulle and fusable interfacing. The lantern hardware is made of jewelry findings and decorative notions. Inside the lantern is a “balloon light”. These tiny LED lights are made for use in decorative items. The type of balloon light I chose has a tiny switch and can be opened to replace the batteries. As you can see, I created closure clasp with a loop and decorative brad on the lantern. This allows access to the balloon light.

Work-In-Progress?

Since I do have a little time before I bring this piece in to the gallery, I think I am still considering these images as work-in-progress shots. Should I tie the legs, tail, and staff together with some sort of base? I am also wondering if I should add some more width to his tail to make it fluffier? Now, that I’ve asked that second question out loud, I realize that answering yes to that, may negate the first question. Making the tail thicker may make his stance even more stable.

I’ve also been busy recently creating some special pieces that are intended as gifts, so I can’t share them quite yet as I don’t want to spoil the surprise! When they’ve landed in their future homes, I’ll share them here.

House Hippo?

I didn’t know what they were either.

Recently I came across several posts on social media where the poster was very excited about finding a house hippo. These were usually accompanied by a photo of a figure from a thrift shop. I became intrigued. What was a house hippo, and why would someone be so exicted to find one?

So I Searched House Hippo (digitally)…

I found information about a Canadian public service announcement commercial from 1999. The original ad campaign was aimed at helping kids decern fact from fiction on television. An updated version was launched in 2019 and focuses on digital media by Media Smarts.

Take the time to click the link above to the original commercial. It is charming, and effective. The former science educator in me loves it when critical thinking is delivered in a creative way. No wonder people were happy to find a house hippo of their own. I decided to create one. Now, someone can come across this one in the gallery and provide it with a happy home.

One-of-a-kind needle felted house hippo figure sculpture holding a (felted) potato chip — Happy House Hippo Found a Chip

As you see, he already found a potato chip to snack on. Maybe that may help to keep him out of the snack cupboard? However, I can’t make any promises that he will not steal a sock or two to make his nest.

This sculpture was created without a wire armature. His stout little legs are more than sturdy enough for him to stand on. He is needle felted wool over a core of quilt batting. I mixed two different tones of grey to make his hide. The eyes are irridecent glass beads that are sewn in place. The potato chip is needle felted wool, and felted in place. I added a few whiskers by sewing in dark “transparent” thread, and eyelashes by working the wool above the eyes with a reverse needle.

This little hippo will show up at the Hillsborough Gallery of Arts soon. Of course, I have to bring myself to let him go from my house first.

Show Ending, and More Holiday Previews

a view of Natural Patterns: Flora and Fauna show at HGA — Natural Patterns: Flora and Fauna

You still have a few days left to check out my feature show with Ellie Snow at The Hillsborough Gallery of Arts! The show officially comes down Sunday (August 25th) after HGA closes at 4pm. It has been a great feature. Some of the items will remain in the general display space of the gallery. Pieces purchased during the show will be on their way to their new homes!

Some More Holiday Previews

This past week in the studio I created a few more holiday ornaments. This time around they all have the connection of being marine creatures. It all started with an octopus who is ready for a snowball fight. I was recalling one with a santa hat I sculpted last year. This year’s cephalopod ornament is titled “Armed.”

needle felted octopus with snowballs holiday ornament — Armed

“Special Delivery” is a great white shark with a festively wrapped gift for someone special. Don’t worry, he will not bite, he just has a very toothy smile.

needle felted shark with present holiday ornament — Special Delivery

The next holiday sea creature is Deco-lobster. A crustacean who wants to lend a hand, or claw, in decorating the tree. This mini-sculpture features beaded legs, and tiny ornament ball for your tree.

needle felted lobster with ball holiday ornament — Deco-lobster

Jingle Jelly, is a new vrsion of an ornament from last year. This year my jellyfish is executed in seafoam green and aqua. This ornament features sparkily glass beads hand stitched to its top and knotted into its tentacles.

needle felted beaded jellyfish holiday ornament — Jingle Jelly

Last, but not least, is Santa Whale. This ornament sculpture is a humpback whale with a santa hat perched to one side. Though I like each and every one of these ocean dwellers, I must say this one is my favorite of the batch.

needle felted whale with santa hat holiday ornament — Santa Whale

These one-of-a-kind mini-sculpture ornaments and others will be available at HGA starting the third week of November. I will continue to share more as I complete them.

Cliche?

This little pig is a little cliche, and a little different

“When pigs fly” is a somewhat over used animal idiom. So much so, that when I thought of creating a pig with wings, I almost stopped myself from being cliche. Just today, scrolling through social media I saw another needle felted pig with wings. I had just finished taking photos of my own sculpture, and was glad that there was not much resembelence.

A Little Cliche is a needle felted anthropomorphic pig with wings sculpture — A Little Cliche

My pig is sitting sraight up looking at its viewer. I created a pair of brightly colored butterfly wings instead of birds wings. I think that the fragility of the butterfly wings increases the unlikely nature of flight. It also provides the figure with a more magical fairytale quality.

“A Little Cliche” is needle felted wool over a wire and quilt batting armature with glass bead eyes. The wings of this piece required some experimentation. I started out wet nuno felting the fibers on cheesecloth. I was not as happy with the amount of fiber on the backside of the wings, so I started to work them with needles. This unfortunately broke some of the netting, so I had thread ends sticking out. My solution was to felt that nuno felt to a thin layer of prefelt. This encapsulated the netting (and broken threads) and provided a nice amount of soft coloring on the inside of the wings. I spray starched and pressed the wings to provide a little more stability, and then added them to the pig figure.

An Original

The other small sculpture I completed this week is Singing Shroom. There isn’t much that is cliche about this figure. He is a continuation of my mini pieces, though he is a bit larger than the others. This anthropomorphic fungus is singing a tune. He is needle felted wool over a quilt batting wrapped chopstick segment, and secured to a natural wood base.

Anthropomorphic needle felted singing mushroom sculpture — Singing Shroom

As Promised

Last week I promised to share some ornaments that began life as wool dryer balls. Here are two that I’ve created so far for this year. These ornaments are more like “painting” with the wool fiber on the curved surface of the dryer balls. Each is finished off by stitching and felting a yarn loop on the top.

needle felted holiday ornament with silhouetted moose/lansdcape design — Moose Twilight

needle felted holiday ornament with cardinal bird on branch design — Moose Twilight

A Little Bird

A Little Bird Told Me.

My brain usually needs some downtime after putting together a new show. This break does not need to be unproductive. I provided myself with this cognative break by working on a few of my one-of-a-kind holiday ornaments. Yes, that’s right, I said holiday ornaments. They take time to produce, and it’s less of a mountain climb if you do a few at a time. Following a few of these celebral “palate cleansers”, I started to ponder idiomatic expressions that contain animals. I’ve have at least one past work “Out of Water“, a koi with a parasol that falls in this category. The idiom I chose this time around is “a little bird told me.”

needle felted anthropomorphic indigo bunting bird sculpture with hat and messanger bag on natural stick base — A Little Bird Told Me

The result is an indigo bunting perched on a branch with a cap and a messenger bag. This cheery little fellow has a message for the viewer. He is one of those pieces that seems to bring a smile, so I can only assume he has good news to share.

Little Bird is needle felted wool over a wire and quilt batting armature. His large black glass bead eyes are sewn in place. The messenger bag is stitched and felted together from felt fabric, with an embroidered metallic thread “clasp”. His legs combine wire and pipe cleaners that are wrapped with black yarn that is felted in place and wrapped with thread. The stick base was stripped of its bark, sanded, and sealed. I attached the bird to the base by drilling small holes, and stitching the clasping feet in place at those points.

It’s beginning to look a lot like…

No, it’s not. It’s 90+ degrees out, and thunderstorms are probably on the way. Even so, I have been working on holiday ornaments when the opportunity presents itself. I I’m not going to say a lot about them right now. None of them are available for purchase at this time, but I will let you know when they are.

Chicken (bird) with antlers one-of-a-kind needle felted holiday ornament for 2024 — Rein-chicken

raccoon with snowball one-of-a-kind needle felted holiday ornament for 2024 — Rein-chicken

This is just the beginning of these special little mini-sculptures. I’ve also started several ball type ornaments that begin with a commercial wool dryer ball as their core. I’ll share some of those images next time around.

Some More Process

I received positive feedback last week when I shared a bit of work-in-process video for my Chimera. This week, I used the time-lapse setting on my phone camera to capture me creating a botanical mono-print. These one-of-a-kind works on paper are an enjoyable addition to my gallery offerings. The result is a piece of original art that is very affordable. You may recall, that I also use this process to create original images of my sculptures using a photo transfer method.

Making a botanical mono-print

Show Still Up!

Don’t forget, my featured artist show along with Ellie Snow, Natural Patterns: Flora and Fauna is still up through August 25th at The Hillsborough Gallery of Arts. Hope you get the chance to see the show before it ends. The work displayed together is kind of magical.

Process

Each year, the gallery produces a video for each artist for feature show promotion. I’m not a fan of these videos personally, but they are useful on social media. I like my work to speak directly to the viewer, not me. I do my part, and film my video. If you follow the gallery on social media, you may have caught mine. If not, you’re not missing anything if you’re a regular reader here and know what I’m creating anyway.

I do like to produce videos that show my process and techniques. I have been trying to improve taking them as I work. It is a challenge, because you have to stop and start while you are working. I tend to get into a flow when I’m sculpting, and then realize that I didn’t stop to film! I did take a step to help myself improve on this by buying a new work lamp that also serves as a ring light and phone clamp.

Chimera Process

I took some video clips while sculpting the last piece I shared with you, Chimera. I edited these little clips into a short video. Watching a process video can answer many of the common questions people ask me about my work. Is there an armature? How to you attach the eyes? How are the different colors and patterns in the wool achieved? In the video you will see that the answers are: yes, sewn in, and by felting different colors of wool to the surface.

Making Chimera

Stop In And See The Show!

Natural Patterns: Flora and Fauna my feature show at the Hillsborough Gallery of Arts with painter Ellie Snow is up through August 26th. Stop in and see all my newest work in person. Perhaps you will find that one of my creatures needs to find a new home with you!

Chimera Reinterpreted

Chimera?

chi·me·ra

/kīˈmirə,kəˈmirə/

noun

(in Greek mythology) a fire-breathing female monster with a lion’s head, a goat’s body, and a serpent’s tail.
a thing that is hoped or wished for but in fact is illusory or impossible to achieve.

Similar: illusion, fantasy, delusion, dream, fancy

Illusion, Fantasy, Delusion, Dream, Fancy

I don’t think it is delusional, but certainly a flight of fancy to decide last minute (the week your show is installing) to start an additional piece, that you know will be a challenge. But, that is what I did. When inspiration strikes it is best not to question and just go with it.

I was busy doing all the mundane bookeeping type stuff we have to complete before we bring work into the gallery. This includes pricing, entering inventory, creating labels, etc. Things that are far from creative, but are necessary to present and sell your artwork to the public.

I thought about a sculpture that would bring together muliple animal patterns and elements in a single creature. A chimera. My chimera blends a leopard head with ram horns, a giraffe neck, zebra forelimbs, a tiger torso, a cow hind quarter, bird wings, and a lion’s tail. She is not the fire-breathing three headed Greek beast, but certainly formitable in her own way.

Mythical chimera reinterpretation. Needle felted sculpture combines leopard, ram, giraffe, zebra, tiger, cow and lion and bird — Chimera

Chimera is needle felted wool over a wire and quilt batting armature. Her amber/yellow eyes are glass beads that are sewn in place. I used to fishing line to create her whiskers, and metalic threads to highlight her horns and wings.

If I had thought of her earlier, Chimera may very well have ended up as my feature item for show promotion and advertising. I am pleased with how she took form, and think she will have some admirers when the show installs this coming Monday.

Speaking of Monday, and Next Friday…

I will be installing Natural Patterns: Flora and Fauna with painter Ellie Snow this coming Monday morning. The show runs at The Hillsborough Gallery of Arts through August 25th. The opening reception is next Friday, July 26th from 6-9 pm during Hillsborough’s Last Friday Art Walk. If you are local, I hope that you can make it to the reception.

Lynn Wartski Sculpture

Art dolls and mixed media sculpture