Pip Notes: Art and Musings By Pilar

Pilgrims Progress

 On a recent visit, I discovered my aunt and I had a mutual love for prims. A few weeks later, she asked if I would be up for the challenge of making a Pilgrim man and woman for her Thanksgiving decorations.

Although I have made a variety of cloth dolls in the past, I thought it might be more interesting to sculpt the pilgrim faces out of paper clay. Since taking The Cloth and Clay Doll class on-line from Gritty Jane this last summer, I haven't had an opportunity to experiment with the techniques learned. This project was custom made for such exploration.

 
I decided to sculpt basic hair and face for the two to serve as a base, saving features and coloring to be done with paint and pen.

 
I elected to only stuff their arms and legs to the elbow and knee joint so their arms and legs could rest naturally.

 

I did add a touch of splash via machine embroidery to Mrs. Pilgrim's apron.

I will miss looking at these two. For the last few weeks, I have been staring at their blank forms and eventually little faces every day. The Mr. & Mrs. will be packed up and start their journey up North later today. In the meantime, I am letting them enjoy the rays of an 80 degree So Cali day.

UPDATE: I just found out that Jane DesRosier aka Gritty Jane, whose cloth and clay classes I took on-line this summer, is now running fall specials on the classes mentioned. To find out more, please go here.

Happy Veterans Day

To All Those Who Have Served, both past and present,

Thank You

 

Happy Birthday, USMC

Happy Birthday to The USMC

Circles & Spirals

When I exhale and breathe my hands twist and turn the fabric under the needle

Circles and spirals

dance

an endless rhythm of wholeness

forever

 

Kudos

Sweet Maija and Nathalie have bestowed this award on me.

Where is your cell phone? Somewhere at the bottom of my purse.

Your hair? Blond and twisted up in a pencil.

Your mother? is probably trying to convice the wee one to take a nap.

Your father? is braving the cold spell back east.

Your favorite food? Right now it is fresh apples with gorgonzola cheese.

Your favorite drink? Diet coke.

Your dream last night? I don't exactly remember, but Tom from Top Chef was in it.

What room are you in? my office/studio

Your hobby? no se.

Your fear? being unprepared.

Where do you want to be in 6 years? to be well traveled, happy and healthy.

Where were you last night? At home, beading and watching t.v.

Something you aren't? easy on myself.

Muffin? The carrot kind from Mimi's

Wish list item? money

Where did you grow up? in No and So Cali

What are you wearing? jeans and an old t-shirt

Your TV? is currently off
Your pets? I don't have any pets, but I have a dog niece and nephew.

Friends? are a special blessing.

My life? is a crazy train.

Your mood? kind of cranky. My circadian rhythms are in a bit of an uproar with the daylight savings time change.

Missing someone? My late dogs, Angus and Potter

Vehicle? in the garage

Something you are't wearing? shoes, makeup, jewelry

Your favorite store? Gilding the Lily, Amazon, and any art/fabric/beading supply store

Favorite color? it changes from day to day, but as a rule pink and black.

When was the last time you laughed? an hour ago.

Last time you cried? sometime this weekend. I was watching something very sad on the telie.

Your best friend? I have a core group of wonderful, suppportive spiritual sisters.

Once place you go over and over? the grocery store or so it seems.

One person who emails you regularly? Bridget

My home girl Jennifer gave me this kind award.

 Blogs I am passing these awards onto: Jennifer, Mija, Kelly, Laura, Izabella, Maija, Nathalie & Martha

  

Happy Halloween

 

Here are a few treats for you!

 

Tessa's Fairy Hat

 
What do you make your wee niece, who is currently obsessed with Disney's Sleeping Beauty? Her very own fairy hat. Actually, I made the wee one three fairy hats: pink for Good Fairy Flora, green for Good Fairy Fauna, and blue for Good Fairy Merryweather

I used the Woodland Elf Hat pattern and instructions from Bend The Rules Sewing by Amy Karol. In lieu of wool felt, I elected to use eco-felt from my local Jo-Anns.

For those of you who are not familiar with this book, it is a great addition for your craft library. Karol's instructions are clear, tips invaluable, and projects fun.

I predict there will be more fairy hats in my future. As it is, the wee one has requested matching capes for her three hats! Let's hope I have enough fabric for such a task. ; D

  

Tea & Jane

This last Saturday I had the pleasure of attending a special tea for my dear friend, Kristen Robinson's milestone birthday at The Walker House in San Dimas. A historical landmark built in the 1880s, the newly restored Walker House was the perfect venue to celebrate Kristen's birthday in the spirit of her beloved, Regency Era.

For those of you who do not know Kristen, she is a huge Jane Austen buff. Ruth Rae and Kim Caldwell rallied those of us who were attending to participate in a special Jane Austen themed collaborative for Kristen.

 
For my piece, I decided to tart Jane up a bit using her image from A Portrait Gallery of Eminent Men and Women in Europe and America. Johnson, Wilson and Company, New York, 1873. Since Ms. Austen was a bit of a rebel for her day, I used a variety of punk rock brushes, manipulated textures, and grungies.

 
A great surprise for the day was the arrival of Holly Stinnett and her instruction of her Beloved Necklace for us to create. For this particular party, we used a Regency theme as our cameos were images of girls from that era.

 
Holly will be teaching this class next month at Paper Tales in San Diego. For those of you in the area, definitely check the class out. Holly is a great instructor and the final piece is both elegant and a whole lot of fun to make.

It was a lovely day for such a gathering to celebrate a special person. For more pictures, please visit the birthday girl's blog.

A POE-tic Exchange Days 11-13

All that we see or seem is but a dream within a dream.- Edgar Allen Poe

 
Digital Art by Pilar Isabel Pollock, 2009

For the most part, I have tremendous will power and stave off any desires to open up packages early. I am often content just absorbing the exterior of the parcel, admiring the wrap, dreaming of what lies beneath, and continuing the mystery. However, the last three gifts in this incredible exchange have tested and tried my powers of will and control as they bewitched me with curiosity.

Day 11- Catherine van der Hoof. Beauty comes inside of burlap....

 
and in the form of a double sided canvas ala homage to Poe. The black and white sing together so playfully as verse from Poe's Raven accents the piece.

 
Day 12- Liz Gale. First, is this not the most adorable, but ingenious packaging for her POE-tic Gift? So damn cute and tempting! I have been wracking my brain to try to figure out what was inside this wee bundle.

 
What was inside of this wee bundle was this wee handmade book of Mr. Poe's famous poem, The Raven. Like Michelle, Liz must have the steadiest hands and the keenest eyesight to work on such a small scale. This book is brilliant!

 
Day 13-Martha Brown. M is for Martha, marvelous, magical...Oh, the slight translucence to her gift combined with the boldness of black and white almost drove me to the edge.

 
Yes! A spectacular needle case of POE-tic delight! The black felt pages, the secret stitch, the splash of thread....I am so thrilled to have a piece of Martha's uber-fab textile work so I can ogle and awe anytime and anyplace.

 
I would once again like to thank Michelle for putting together this incredible exchange and the Poe Girls: Tami, Linda, Saundra, Terrie, Kelly, Mija, Michelle, Dawn, Julie, Catherine, Liz, and Martha.

Digital Resources:

Stone Face Brushes-*midnight's touch

Spooky Brushes-creepy dolly

Texture: TEXTURE-graf pdc-(32)-Boccacino

 

A POE-tic Exchange Day 10

I became insane, with long intervals of horrible sanity.- Edgar Allen Poe

 
You might remember this basket full of hearts I posted back in June?

 
  Well they were the base for my contribution to this wonderful exchange.

I had tons of ideas for this exchange. Poe provides such mind candy for the artist to explore. I knew if I let myself, I could make a macabre piece, but I didn't want to get down with the dark and twisties, to quote Grey's Anatomy. I wanted to create something fun and light of heart, no pun intended.

 
Digital Artwork, Pilar Isabel Pollock, 2007

I decided to choose Poe's Tell Tale Heart because it was the first short story I ever read of Poe. Years ago when my family moved back East, I found a most magical treasure in the attic of the house where we had moved into. It was a collection of Poe's short stories and poems. The cover was red with dark purple and black illustrations; illustrations I would lightly trace with my fingers over and over. The first story in this collection was The Tell Tale Heart and became my introduction to Poe. This book was a beloved treasure...one I stupidly lent to a friend in high school, which was never returned. I have long ago replaced this book with various collection of Poe's work, but my heart will always yearn for my attic treasure.

I like to think my red covered book has been read and reread by many others over the years; bound by a supernatural mission, the book appears in other's lives to be read and introduced to the world of Poe. When the time is right, the book disappears and manifests to the next reader. Perhaps, I am delusional, but with Poe, one never knows...

Vintage Clip Art-The Vintage Moth and The Graphics Fairy