One World One Heart 2011

It's time once again for the One World One Heart blogging event. This is Lisa Swiftka's fifth and final OWOH. She is the creator and hostess of this event that spreads friendship throughout the blogging world. To read all about it and to see and meet all kinds of artsy bloggers, click on the logo above.

The heart and soul of this event is to introduce bloggers worldwide to each other. Lisa has been holding this event for five years, and wonderful friendships have been forged through the event. Hoping to make some new friends myself, let me introduce myself to you:

That's me in the oval, with my two girls Emily & Willow

This is me.

And this is definitely me.
I am a whimsical expressionist and I love to make things and do art.
I have been a dollmaker off and on for years and years.
(I am very ancient).
(but also very young at heart).

I like to journal,


and to paint with mixed media;


I like to paint and sculpt with thread,
(and clay!)


and play with imagery.

I like to see things from up close,
as well as ...

I do hope that you will take some time, in all your blog hopping, to really look and get to know some of the bloggers participating in the event.

OK, OK! NOW FOR THE GIVEAWAY...

This year I will be giving away another doll. On February 17th I will be selecting a winner via the randOm number generator, and then this little Dream Girl will be on her way to a new home somewhere across the world (or nearby... Who knows!?). She is a cloth and clay doll. Her face is hand-painted purpley with acrylics. Her hands and feet are charming little charms! Her torso is a flower power tunic and her legs are shaped into groovy bell bottoms. Although her joints are movable, she is intended to be an art doll rather than a child's plaything, and thus needs tender loving care.



If you would like a chance to win this Dream Girl, leave a comment on this posting, and don't forget to take a look around this blog. Please also check out the side bar to see links for my etsy shop and lots of other blogs that I love to visit.

Thanks for stopping by! Good luck, and please come back again!

art history lesson

Last night I watched the film "Jean Michel Basquiat: The Radiant Child" by Tamra Davis. I remember seeing and hearing some of the hype about Basquiat back in the 80s. Worst of all, I remember believing some of the things critics were saying, and I thought this guy was just some kind of fake phenomenon created by the media - the Emperor in his new clothes. I am, therefore, so grateful to Tamra Davis for making this movie, for teaching me through the words and recordings and images of Basquiat himself. The guy was brilliant and so productive. His work incorporates and synthesizes so many influences, and in turn I now recognize that HE has been such a big influence on contemporary artists, some who live right here in the metro area. Watching the movie I was inspired but depressed at the same time. How can I aspire to be an artist?

In Loving Memory

In loving memory of Miss Shoobie Doo Wop Bow Wow,
the cutest pup ever,

snow fanatic,

sweetheart - even to cats,

a friend to all.

We love you, Shoobie!

1995-2011

Happy New Year

2011 is off to a wonderful start. New Year's Eve was celebrated on ice, which is to say my sweetie took me ice skating! Lulu of the wobbly ankles did ok after a shaky start. Photos of said celebration will be coming forthwith. After a super lazy New Year's day I got busy in the studio around 11:30 p.m. and on into Jan. 2nd. Here's a little bit of what I've been working on:

journaling

painting

and more journaling.

I had totally forgotten that I had signed up for this free Strathmore visual journaling workshop with Pam Carriker. This week we're using copies of our own journal pages or other art to make new pages. Above, you might see photos of three dolls combined into one image.

I've also been finishing up this dollie. With her bell sleeves and bell bottom leggings,
she is just plain groovy! Note her little hands and feet, as well.

Dream girl.

Speaking of dolls, I'd like to share the doll that I made for Miss Emily for Christmas, and the doll she made for me! (We didn't know we were doing a doll exchange!)

Doll for Emily

Emily's doll for me is un recuerdo de Mexico - a remembrance of Mexico. Very mysterious!


Her skin is painted like old adobe. She wears a mask from the Day of the Dead, and her body is adorned with passionate flamenco dancers. ¡Olé!

So there you have it - just a little of the goings on at chez lulu.

Peace and joy for the New Year!