BEST FRIENDS is a 2-3 day workshop: the 2 day workshop we make the doll only, and the third day is costuming and accessories.

This is probably my most popular workshop and is still going strong after 4 years of teaching it. Best Friends was my Hoffman Challenge doll, 2002.

Techniques include water-color face painting, needle sculpting, three jointing techniques, wig making, finger articulation and lots of fun techniques for making the very detailed color-coordinated costume and access- ories including her cat and knitting basket. The doll is 18”.

Finishing instructions are included in the class so students who are unable to finish their doll will be able to do so at home. 

FISHWIFE is a mixed media piece
and a two day workshop.

Depending on class dynamic, there may not be time to finish the boat, but students will receive a set of  instructions to finish it. Techniques taught are  cons-tructing and needle sculpting a darted, 4 piece body, wired and articulated hands, face painting, costuming and needle sculpting the doll's features.

Techniques for the mixed media fish include using Apoxy sculpt and paper clay accent, full body armature, and special painting techniques to achieve the luminescence of the fish body.

Please email me for details or to schedule a workshop.

This is a one-day workshop where the goal is to complete the project while learning a variety of fun and interesting techniques.

Student will explore the use of a variety of collage materials which include use of fibers, feathers, clay, beads and elements printed on fabric. Engraving designs on leather with pyro-engraving, free-motion embroidery, beading, embossing, embellishing and more!

The boxes are sturdy and constructed with collage elements creating a unique surface design on outside, a layer of Timtex stabilizer and fabric lining inside. Artistic surface design is encouraged. No two boxes in this class will be the same!

Please email me for details or to schedule a workshop.

Altered Astra two- and three-day workshops

The two-day workshop will produce variations of the two dolls on the right; the doll pictured on the left would be a three day workshop due to the drying time for the decoupage and Apoxy Sculpt for the dimensional bodies.

These beautiful multi-media Goddesses are created with a variety of techniques. They are 18” stump dolls and the body has a wire armature. Students will learn to create their own fabric for the body with free-motion-embroidery as the base fabric, with layers of collage, decoupage, and Apoxy Sculpt with embedded crystals, Tyvek and fabric wrapped wire accents for a very dimensional effect. 

The face is clay mask with which students will learn to use Pearl-Ex powders, Lumiere and metallic rub and buff paints. Each doll will be unique and students will be encouraged to explore their individual levels of creativity with this doll. No two dolls will be alike in this workshop.

Students will also learn how to create exotic hair for their Goddess with fancy fibers, fabrics, lace and yarns. 

Other techniques include how to attach a stump doll to a wood base and making small articulated hands. 

A three-day class for making the cat and costume,
or two-day class for making only the cat.

A jointed 18” molded felt face cat created from an original clay sculpt. In this class students will learn how to make a molded felt mask.

Other techniques include all the ins and outs of working with felt, how to do wet and dry blending of water color pencils to create the unique tabby striping on Dandy’s face and body, jointing techniques, and costume design.

There will be a kit fee of $15.00 which includes the pattern for cat and clothing, quality wool blend felt for making the entire cat and mask.

Come play with me for a puurrfectly fun and educational experience!

Please email me for details or to schedule a workshop.

Jessee Jingles is an 18" doll, beautifully costumed in her jester suit. This is a highly detailed doll, one of the techniques is making fabric eyelids. and students will learn how to blend fabrics and pull it all together with special embellishing techniques. Ruffling, reverse appliqué, fancy fibers on fabric, beading, this doll has it all! Very detailed costume and no-sew shoes.

There are over 150 photos and illustrations in this very detailed class!

The class will flow as follows:

	Lesson 1 - Making the 4-piece profile head, stuffing and needle sculpting techniques and my own water color blending techniques.
	Lesson 2 - Making the body, which is a 4-piece two-toned darted torso.
	Lesson 3 - Making the arms and articulated hands, with many techniques shown for turning those little fingers!
	Lesson 4 - Making the legs and little leather no-sew shoes.
	Lesson 5 - Putting the doll all together with 3 jointing techniques.
	Lesson 6 - Creating the fantastic costume that Jessee Jingles wears and all the embellishing that gives her that magical aura. The hair is also covered in this lesson, how to make a Tibetan wool wig that fits perfect.