A new project

This is an example of boutis, a new-found method of figurative fabric art that has captured my imagination and I will be doing a lot more of these! Boutis is an old-fashioned way of adding dimension to fabric that is meant to be back lit (as in a window) to show the outlines and shadings of the surface. It's a form of quilting in that two layers of fabric are stuffed inside compartments made with stitching. This example is made with 100% gauze linen and filled with wool yarn thread by thread with a tapestry needle. Her outline was done by me using a drawing I did on my free-motion sewing machine with #50 quilting thread. I'm kind of taken with her. I hope you are, as well.

I plan to add a border to her filled with loose balsam. I think she will make a lovely ornament year-round, too.

This is what she looks like with the back lighting.

To Start the New Year Off!

Inasmuch as I can't stand my camera, here's pics on my newest Pretty Little Fool just about done. There's shoes to be made yet and some tweaking of her hat/hair arrangement... but she's coming along. She's a large 32 inch doll made of fabric and fully articulated with a silk gauze over paper clay bust with a head that turns. Pretty Little Fools are meant to be a boudoir doll I have been developing over the last year. I couldn't wait to share her, though, and Happy New Year!