Sophia-LaLa

Nearly finished!

2012-02-18T13:46:00.000+08:00

Holidays are here!!

2011-12-18T11:19:00.000+08:00

And this is my view - so happy.

Lament

2011-11-27T11:50:00.000+08:00

I have been thinking that perhaps I need to change my blog's title to the Teachers Lament, for I mourn the loss of my former life. It is a horror time of year for teachers - reporting, as are Mondays!! I was going to write an incredibly witty diatribe about teaching but think I will refrain. I will say that it is one of the hardest, most stressful and time consuming jobs I have ever had, for many many reasons. The rewards are becoming fewer and fewer and the demands greater and greater each year. I find myself constantly questioning my will to continue.
So a few things have been sustaining me over this time - walking, turning left onto the tree lined road that leads to the farm at the end of the day, watching the paddocks turn from green to brown and following the blogs of people doing what they love. Jude Hill of Sprit Cloth is one of those, sustaining and indeed inspiring - thankyou. I have even started a small cloth of my own, I had forgotten the joy of hand stitching and how soothing it is to an anxious mind.

Thanks Akira!!

2011-10-16T14:51:00.000+08:00

Wow, it's been a hugely long hiatus from blogging but I am still here. I've recently returned from a five day work shop hosted by FibresWest with the legendary Akira Blount. I am speechless with gratitude at being able to attend this workshop. I had become somewhat stuck with the dolls I was working on - just couldn't get past the limbs!! I've also had my personal time severely reduced by my return to full time work in May. The dolls have suffered enormously as a result. The opportunity to spend a whole week on a lovely campus in Bunbury having all of my domestic needs taken care of and being able to doll from 7am to 9pm was an invaluable boost to my soul. Not to mention some profound self reflections on my future directions - enough of that though, needs a little more manifesting. Here are some pics of the girl I completed during the workshop. It was so wonderful to meet other enthusiastic doll artists, making dolls is usually done in solitude it was a nice change to work in such a social atmosphere - sharing ideas, tips and tricks.

Cheeky Chickens

2011-07-22T17:47:00.000+08:00

Today bloke started clearing out the shearing shed, decades of really important stuff that might come in handy - as you can see. And what did he find in the corner?

Pina and Bruce Schwartz

2011-07-15T11:52:00.000+08:00

I found a clip for this movie on Sweet Bestiary's blog - looks amazing!! I'm already thinking of how to use this as inspiration along with the puppetry of Bruce Schwartz to work on the ADO marionette challenge. I have big beautiful ideas brewing.

Wrapped

2011-07-13T14:00:00.002+08:00

This girl interrupted all my efforts to continue with the sculpted dolls, I think she is a moment of self reflection manifest in a doll. She burst out of me in a matter of hours - I feel much better now.

Girls on their way and Akira Blount!

2011-07-12T11:58:00.000+08:00

Here is my box full of girls, just busting to get out - I am dedicating the next week to them, oh joyous holidays.

I'm also sooo very excited I have been on a waiting list to participate in a 5 day Akira Blount workshop in October and yesterday I found out I'm in. Yay!!!


Figure with feather wings

Joy Ride

Imparting Wisdom

I'm still here!!

2011-07-11T11:47:00.000+08:00

I'm still here and it's bitterly cold!! I liken outside to a wind scoured tundra, I am on holidays however and have seven girls on the go. I have moved production into the house to try and stay warm and dry limbs in the oven. I've been sidetracked this morning (not the first time) by the videos of this amazing Japanese BJD artist.

Arabel and the loss of time!

2011-06-04T10:54:00.000+08:00

Oh such slow progress on all the things I apparently love to do yet have the greatest capacity to avoid! Here is Arabel finished - she was for the ADO Forest Folk challenge. Queen of all the dark and murky realms rarely seen by human eyes.

I have mentioned before that I am a teacher and before my move to the farm I taught full time. Since my move I've been unable to secure a position at the local school where I wanted to work - until now!! I am back in the classsroom full time with a year 3/4 class. This is such a mixed blessing whilst I am sooo excited to not travel such large distances to work (previously commuting to the city) and weekly seperation from my bloke not to mention a fabulous group of kids and great colleagues. I now find that my head is again filled with other peoples children and not my own art work or doll making. Perhaps this is my problem and not one solely associated with the nature of full time teaching. I fear either because it means my time and head space are fairly full. So I shall think that any new girls will be few and far between from here on in. I'll continue to subdue the small part of my mind scolding me for not taking further opportunities to create when I wasn't working.

On the workbench!!

2011-04-23T14:32:00.000+08:00

I've used my new phone with the retro camera application (plus I can just email the photo to myself). Not so good for close ups or clarity but I like the effect. I'll take more detailed ones shortly and WIP's. I'm hoping to finish this lot off in the next couple of weeks.

Laura Marling

2011-04-22T13:25:00.001+08:00

Not much dolling going on around here, but I did hear this which has me spellbound!!

I'm not a good farmer

2011-04-21T11:56:00.000+08:00

Here so far, is one of the lucky ones.

We have been in drought for a while and the seasons have been harsh, the lambing has begun and it's harsh. The ewes are doing ok but lots are abandoning their lambs and foxes are taking their share. Such losses of course are a normal part of farming. This is where I am not a good farmer. I hear their high pitched plaintive cries and I immediately set about determining what's going on. I walk down fence lines checking to see if they are stuck, I stand out on hills surveying the mix ups, which lamb belongs to which ewe - they sometimes get confused. The cry from a distressed lamb is something I am still not able to deal with unemotionally. Yesterday I sat on a rock in the paddock and had a little cry for them.

I'm featured in an Etsy Treasury - my first time!!

2011-03-28T12:43:00.000+08:00

'They all wore black' by Skunkhollow

Vanessies $	OOAK Halloween Witc... bonniebj $110.00	Jinx, a One of a K... cottonwoolbaby... $1600.00
Wednesday Addams Ar... mlbstudios $249.00	OOAK Polymer Clay F... oddfae $500.00	Aggie - Print in Bl... EvelynsWonderl... $17.00
Zoya a Papier Mache... nancyperennec $265.00	Indigo ll SophiaLaLa $90.00	Loopy Art Doll Fine... loopyboopy $
Twisted Poppets 1 -... filialunadesig... $365.00	Gothic Raggedy Ann ... katandthefiddl... $75.00	Faries Imp ADO Pin ... DebiDesigns $48.00
Millie, a 7-inch cl... Daffidolls $26.00	Angela Monlith - OO... newagedolls $165.00	SALE Miss Hannah -F... tatteredmoon $138.00
Betty Boop Cloth Do... DollMakersMuse $10.00

Treasury tool is sponsored by Lazzia.com A/B image testing.

The Girls!!

2011-03-22T13:54:00.000+08:00

These girls were actually meant to be christmas presents for some friends of mine - here they are finished finally!! All the cloth dolls are out of the way now, I can start getting these clay girls out of my head!

2011-03-15T12:11:00.001+08:00

Travelling Doll Project

2011-03-05T17:38:00.000+08:00

I am involved in the TDP this year through ADO, I have sent off my blank girl to Susie McMahon with her journal. She shall be returning to me some months down the track completely finished after also visiting Grace at Little Black Crow Studio. It's so exciting we all get to work on each others dolls and play in their journals before they go home.
The idea for the character came about on a camping trip in the South West of WA when I was indeed collecting little bones.

Little Bones

Slips quietly through the bush

Footfalls quick as a wren

Hair flying

Dilly bag flung over shoulder

Moonlit skin

Gossamer threads

Stopped now hunched over a find

Collecting little bones.

Shaun Tan WINS Academy Award

2011-02-28T11:10:00.000+08:00

Yay, Shaun Tan - absolute dead set legend won the Academy Award (are they oscars??) in the animated short category with The Lost Thing.

ADO Featured Artist

2011-02-26T14:24:00.000+08:00

I have had the honour of being a featured artist on the ADO blog - yay!!

Click to follow the link.

OWOH Winner - oops very late sorry!!

2011-02-20T15:57:00.000+08:00

So sorry, it's very late to announce my winner, our demolished farm got in the way a bit.
Congratulations to Judy from A New York Magpie's Eye, Penelope shall be on her way when she knows where to go.
Thankyou so much to all of the wonderful visitors and all the lovely comments you left. It came at a very good time as our farm was devastated by a storm on the 31st Jan. Whenever I got the generator going and hopped online I was greeted by such encouraging comments. Unfortunately I was unable to visit many blogs but once we get the power on properly I shall peruse back through the comments and come visiting!!

Made it to Etsy!!!

2011-02-12T19:33:00.002+08:00

I have finally managed to put something in my Etsy shop. I have had to overcome quite a lot of fear - strangely, but they're out there now. I sold the 3 sculpted dolls I put in the exhibition in December so I think that greatly helped my "will people like them, are they ok etc" confidence. Being involved in OWOH is great for the ego too, lots of wonderful comments!! It's a beautiful thing to be able to read them as they come in. So Indigo ll and Celine enter the Etsy arena!! My OWOH post is still below this one - don't know how to get it to stay on top.

Celine

Indigo ll

One World One Heart

2011-01-30T17:42:00.001+08:00

ONE WORLD ONE HEART

An international event for bloggers!

Hello welcome to Sophia-LaLa the home of art dolls made by me - Kailee!

This is Penelope, my door prize who is just itching to fly away.

I met a farmer fell in love and now live on a small sheep farm in country Western Australia. I am a primary school teacher and have found it difficult to find a job in the country; consequently I have a lot of extra time. Earlier in 2010 I found Etsy quite by accident and was blown away by the whole online Art Doll world. I have had a yearning to make dolls for a long time and found my answer. I completed a visual arts degree majoring in textiles before I became a teacher so I have had some experience in making things which has held me in good stead for doll making. Needless to say I have spent vast amounts of time trawling the internet and blogs, ordering books and materials on my lonesome doll quest. I am drawn to the dark and melancholic aesthetic.

Thankyou so much for stopping by I hope to see lots of your blogs and make many blog friends, be sure to check out the rest of the participants OWOH!
Simply leave one comment on this post to go into the draw to win Penelope. Winner announced on Feb 17!

La double vie de Veronique

2011-01-28T10:35:00.001+08:00

Acres of brown and WIP's

2011-01-25T10:54:00.002+08:00

We are in the full flight of summer though the weather here has been behaving rather strangely. A day of 40 degrees celsius with hot driving winds followed by two days of downpour with the temp dropping to 20. Needless to stay it has wreaked havoc on the drying of some new girls and I am not looking forward to the humidity to follow as it heats back up to the high 30's. So we are indeed surrounded by acres of brown that challenge my perceptions of beauty so much. Bloke and I went for a walk accompanied as always by the funny black dog and sat in one such brown paddock for a while. It is beautiful and if you sit for long enough the sheep forget you as threat and wander closer until a movement scatters them again. This is hard to do accompanied by the funny black dog who is always on duty and so very hard to photograph especially when there are sheep around. She is always wanting to organise them somewhere!!

We live a few kilometres out of town and on the morning after the big rain I happened upon this red balloon, imagining where it could possibly have come from.

Even though I am on holidays and these shortly to end I have endeavoured to be productive, these are the clay girls I am currently working on. I am having a mighty difficult time with feet however, they are my least favourite part. Sometimes I think, stick a piece of dowel up them dress them in long skirts and be done with it. These dolls will all be in my Etsy shop shortly - weather permitting (with the clay anyway). One of my holiday goals was to finally put something in the shop, one week left. It will be achieved!!

I so enjoyed making Indigo that I have started another - Indigo ll and a couple more using the same pattern, they are smaller than the usual cloth dolls that I make.

One more week of sleeping in drinking a leisurely coffee looking out at acres of brown. As always though I am looking forward to returning to the classroom, three days a week this year and two for dolls - yay!!

The Lost Thing - Shaun Tan

2011-01-14T13:17:00.000+08:00

Indigo Part ll

2010-12-31T22:22:00.000+08:00

Here is Indigo finished! My response to the ADO Masters Challenge.

I looked to Japan for inspiration.

Indigo's body and clothing are made from vintage indigo and silk kimono pieces.

Indigo

2010-12-31T11:29:00.001+08:00

Indigo - for the ADO Masters Challenge. Not quite finished but this is my interpretation of the challenge a small long limbed one made from vintage indigo kimono pieces.

... and then they were gone!!

2010-12-01T16:51:00.000+08:00

My poor finger tips are full of needle pricks and aching, but the girls are done. I of course took it right down to the line, being a very well practised procrastinator and delivered the girls to the gallery a day late, but still on time. I even managed to start reading a novel whilst finishing them - why?? I'm still in the process of trying to accept that perhaps I really enjoy working under pressure and hey if it's not there then create some myself.
Anyway I digress - here they are. I love them!!

Stella

Cordelia

Albertine

Beatrice and Penelope, she has the plaits!

Upcoming Doll Exhibition

2010-11-11T13:47:00.001+08:00

This is the exhibition that I am frantically working towards, I was very excited by the pics of my dolls featured on the invite.

Greta

2010-11-10T17:45:00.000+08:00

I'm not sure that I'm completely on track to finsih off 4 more dolls in 2 weeks but I am very happy with Greta! A few more finishing touches on her clothes but essentially finished.

2010-10-31T11:55:00.000+08:00

Mme Tutli Putli - What a fabulous video!!

Progress!!!

2010-10-27T14:15:00.000+08:00

Oh what a magnificently satisfying pursuit - I love it!! I can barely maintain a coherant conversation so caught up am I in the world of tiny hands and making girls stand.

WIP's

2010-10-11T15:06:00.000+08:00

All of a sudden the world here has turned from the wind driven tundra of winter, to the wind scouring dryness of summer. Yet it is spring. A taste of what is to come, when the temperature in my little annexe studio will reach 40+ c.

Off to sculpt hands and ponder the wiseness of entering a doll exhibition - 5 dolls by end of November hmmm!!

Finishing dolls and the art of procrastination!

2010-09-22T11:28:00.000+08:00

I'm not alone in this I'm sure. Procrastination being a well practised skill that many possess. What dumbfounds me however is the ease with which it's practised over things that are supposedly enjoyed. Like finishing dolls for example. Anyway I shall ponder this further. Finally I have finished the red head, I must cut myself some slack being a beginner and all. She is my second airdry clay doll. I am so excited by all of her imperfections as now I know what not to do next time. I have a couple of heads on the go and will be doing a wire armature for the bodies of these with clay hands and feet.

This one has been alot of fun, I started making her for my mothers birthday - that was on the 3rd of September, she will be receiving it tomorrow - oops!! Better late than never hey! I loved dressing her up and revel in finally being able to find a use for all the magnificent but small pieces of silk I have collected over the years. Her shoes have been needle felted straight onto her feet. Brainwave by a friend as I was just going to paint them on - Thanks B. She is also holding a small needle felted heart.

So well done to me there are a couple more girls to have left the work table. On to the next volunteer.

Almond blossoms and painted faces

2010-08-03T14:19:00.000+08:00

This lady is taking the slow train to completion. I'm hoping as my skills develop so will my speed, at the moment I wait painstakingly at every step to see if it has worked or not. It is a lovely process though and I am happy with the way things are working.

The almond trees are in full blossom now, I pass them on my way to and from the toilet - a low hummmmm of many busy bees!!

New Doll

2010-07-25T11:19:00.000+08:00

I'm so very excited!! In Australia I was unable to easily find creative paperclay so I used another airdry clay for my first doll the Red Queen in the ADO challenge. It was somewhat fiddly to work with but I am quite familiar with working with kiln fired clay so didn't think too much of it. I ended up in a world of pain however, because as it dried it cracked, became brittle and wouldn't accept new clay for mending. I destroyed the body in a fit of rage and ended up doing a cloth body instead. I have since found an online shop in Australia that has creative paperclay and I received my first little expensive package, but am I ever thankful!! It is sooo much better. So here is my next little lady, not even nearly finished but on her way.

I had started out wanting a thin, lithe and willowy body, but my hands kept adding more so now she is a buxom lass.

My mother has recently returned from her annual holiday to Bali and brought back this fabulous doll. Made by street kids, money raised from the sales helps the kids out.

Camping

2010-07-15T18:43:00.002+08:00

In the days before I was frantically trying to finish the Red Queen for the ADO challenge Bloke and I managed to go camping for a few days (which is why it ended up a frantic finish).

We share a love of looking for fungi and wandering around taking photos using the super macro function, bums up, hunched down over a miniscule fungi.

It is winter here and I guess by many standards quite mild, but we still needed a roaring fire in the evenings. Each morning we were greeted by a magical blanket of mist that covered the waterfall we camped by.

The chickens were laying well when we returned, so Bloke is able to indulge in his love for poached eggs.

Finally, I managed to not destroy the web of the little spider who spins above the chicken food.

Wonderland - ADO Blog Event

2010-07-08T17:54:00.000+08:00

She beckoned for her wig.

Alas, her cruel tyranny had made all flee!

Thankyou so much for stopping by, be sure to check out the other participants ADO Wonderland Event.

Studio

2010-06-21T15:50:00.000+08:00

Yesterday my lovely bloke and I cleared out my annexe which I have been using as a studio space. Using very ineffectually I must admit. There was a little track through to the door of the van and enough room on a small work surface to put a chopping board. This is where I had been sculpting. I was looking through the flyscreen thinking this has to change. Of course it was very simple in the end. Move everything out and start again. Bloke had a great idea of using oil drums to support the old bunk bed I took out of the van to use as a work surface. So now I have lots of room for all my bits and bobs! I am ecstatically happy and have spent alot of time just sitting in there.

Still cluttered but that's just my style.

And a spot for treasures.

This is the Red Queen so far - better get a riggle on. There has been quite a steep learning curve here but I am quite happy so far considering it is my first attempt at sculpting with airdry clay. I am bumbling through the process of attaching the limbs with wire - I want them to be moveable. Getting to sleep at night has become difficult - I fear my life is being taken over by dolls!

The Head

2010-06-14T17:09:00.002+08:00

Here is my first airdry clay head, no sanding or finishing touches yet. It's funny this is the head that comes out whenever I muck about with clay. There is something a little sinister about it. I shall have to feminise it somehow, I have decided to do the Queen of Hearts as my ADO challenge doll, so sinister is ok but this head has a little ways to go yet!

How to avoid making dolls!!

2010-06-06T20:01:00.000+08:00

Having said that I'm only working part-time (therefore having lots of time to do the things I want to do but don't because of lack of time) a heap of work came along to keep me from doing things. I can't say no. What a shame! I have been struck down with a terrible sinus infection for the last few weeks as well. Boo hoo and lots of pain.
I am beginning to suspect it has nothing at all to do with lack of time. There is an existential crisis in there somewhere.
Anyway this girl is nearly finished, this is the first time I sculpted a face. I was very happy with it until I got impatient and coloured in her face all clunky style with inappropriate materials. Smudged the eyebrows all over the joint. I should have waited until I got some fineline pens - anyway she is brash!
I am looking forward to my next voyage into using paperclay. Hopefully doing the ADO challenge will help me not to avoid making dolls!

At last

2010-05-05T17:05:00.004+08:00

At last! I walked outside and there it was at exactly the right spot. These were the photos I was hoping to take the other night when all my planning proved unsuccessful.

Chasing the moon

2010-05-03T17:16:00.014+08:00

So last night I thought I would take some magnificent shots of the moon rising up through the twisted branches of the tree. I set out before sunset and had myself all sorted well in advance of moonrise. The sun set, the waiting became tiresome and the plaintive sound of lost lambs trying to find their mothers became very distracting. I feel the need to save errant lambs! Alas the moon was not forthcoming, well it was but I couldn't see it for the clouds duh. I shall try again next month.

We went for a walk around the place yesterday afternoon and found many treasures including these amazing seed pods. The shells of departed moths erupting from the soil. A funny looking fungi on a tree and some lovely nooks on a towering lemon scented gum. Imagine all of this just walking down the driveway - truly blessed.

Finally, I did manage to start on making hands with fingers, many hands later I came up with this one. I still don't have a pair, certainly an exercise in patience.

2010-04-25T17:17:00.000+08:00

Today I have carted many litres of water to save the tree that has become my muse. It was a beautiful thing, dead and fallen in the middle of a paddock. A perfect spot for contemplation, branches offering a comfortable seat after a short and easy climb. It possessed, I suppose still does a stark and melancholic beauty that makes my heart sing. I am ash covered, lungs full up with smoke but I have managed to save its long reaching arms, the trunk is a white pile of ash. Not to worry this tragedy will inspire much.

These are my first dolls. I have been wanting to make dolls for a long time but full time work is such an inconvenience to the creative process. My head is free from the worry of other peoples children so I shall now be able to concentrate on constructing my own. Their hands are a bit large and ungainly, I am attempting fingers on the next one.