Saturday, November 17, 2007

grotesque ROOT DOLLS

I liked Fran's doll so much, i decided to try my hand at doll making, but I wanted to make something original. I came up with the concept of root dolls - using vintage photos of children's faces and bodies that look like tree roots....as in family history roots, etc. Deep aren't I? hah!

Anyway, I made 2 dolls of patchwork applique with lots of stitching and thread embellishments (root hairs...). I thought they would make a nice gift for my sister who says i never make her anything. When my husband saw them he said the were the most grotesque things he had ever seen.....sigh.....(that's me sighing, he was laughing....) ...so I guess I will have to send her something else.

...a Bare Root

...an Exposed Root
Today I must clean up my huge mess and stop sewing projects and paint projects and do glass work.
Oh, I got a great book called Paper, Metal and Stitch by Maggie Grey and Jane Wild. It has incredible techniques - even stitching metal shim. I highly recommend it and am dieing to try some of the ideas....especially using wonder under to distress velvet......but I really need to concentrate on Christmas presents, so it will have to wait.

9 comments:

Joanne Huffman said...

I don't think they're grotesque at all. Tell Lance his aesthetics need adjusting. I particularly like the second one. I hate cleaning up projects, I think they should be allowed to sit there until they ask to be picked up. So, what are you making for Christmas presents?

Joanne

Judi W. said...

I had to laugh out loud when I read your husband's comment. They just don't get it, do they? I think this is a very interesting concept, quite edgy, in fact.

Anonymous said...

These are great art dolls! I especially like the way the facial expressions capture the root bodies.

A friend of mine needle felts and she has made "mini-me" dolls/sculptures for several of us. They are little replicas of us and are really quite sweet. However, most of the men and boys find something oddly disturbing about this whole thing (capturing your likeness in a doll.) Maybe it has something to do with our innate female power and their fear of us using the dolls in voodoo fashion?

Great work!

Anonymous said...

i don't think they are grotesque either, connie. i am someone who for the most part doesn't care for dolls. they sort of freak me out. go figure. but i think you are onto something with these root dolls. i really like the concept. the top one is so lovely. her face looks like a little pixie. the body on the bottom one is so intricate and curious. love it. her little face looks slightly frightened though. that gives it all a different feel. but that just may be me and my doll phobia coming out. i think you did a fabulous job with these.

Kathy McElroy said...

I think your dolls are great Connie. Very original. Men just don't understand.
The books sounds interesting. I'll add it to my list.
Happy Thanksgiving.

Kathy McElroy said...

I think your dolls are great Connie. Very original. Men just don't understand.
The books sounds interesting. I'll add it to my list.
Happy Thanksgiving.

Fran S said...

Well, I LOVE the dolls. And I love that you were inspired by the one I gave to you! Miss you! xoxo,Fran

Art Frees Life said...

I LOVE THESE!!!!! (If I could make the letters bigger, I would.) "Grotesque" is our friend. :) I find them very deep... kinda like... hmmmmm... roots! :)

Anonymous said...

I think they are comical. I know the people and the bodies fit the personalities. Good job!