Friday, July 11, 2014

Welcome to my Spirit Doll Studio

Welcome friends! Please, grab a cup of coffee or tea, relax, and enjoy your visit to my studio. We are located high in the Santa Cruz Mountains, deep in the wonderful Redwoods. Please enjoy your visit, and come back often. Wonderful friendships have come from blogging, and especially from a blog hop like this!



Oh… and I have a give-away for you! Just leave a comment, and become a member, and in 30 days I’ll give away two of my “How to Create a Spirit Doll” books!  

They are selling on Etsy right now for $14.95. Here’s your chance to get one free! My hope is that you’ll be excited about creating your own Spirit Dolls! I’m ALWAYS available for questions or guidance… please feel free to email me!


So, here is my home and studio…. We live in a funky but sweet 
old cottage in the woods.
 I'm usually out here working with the early morning sun...

 


Don't be shy... 
come on in 
and 
have a look 
around....




WELCOME! 
May I introduce you to Pachama...
She stands 28" tall and 25" wide.
As an Andian deity insures inner strength and creativity.
The powerful Selenite Crystal in her headdress draws the light from Higher Realms.
Close to her womb, cradled in a bed of fern,she protects all humanity.
Her Prayer Stick directs your positive desires.
Her seedpods inspire your creative fertility.
Her feathers carry your prayers with every breeze,
in the tradition of the Tibetan Prayer Flags.
Her braided cord is a woven ‘Kumihimo’ in the Ancient Japanese Tradition,
reminding you of the ‘Braid of Life’ weaving us all together.
 
So, let's take a look around.....
Right off, you'll notice floor to ceiling shelves of supplies.
Sometimes, I get all the fabrics folded. These are actually smaller pieces of 
rescued designer fabrics I use to make the clothing for my Spirit Dolls.
I love using old hat boxes for trims and laces. And here you also see an antique Victorian desk organizer, trying to hold onto some trims and fringes... but they keep spilling out!
While I love using vintage storage solutions... 
I've found the portable 12x12 plastic storage containers just 
PERFECT for so many of my Spirit Doll activities. 
I'll show you what's in the containers a bit further down.
Turning your back on the storage wall you can see the front door and a mish-mash of supplies. I always look beyond the mess, out to the amazing view of the Redwoods.
Like this...
Okay... focusing again. Here's my sewing center with my dear Janome...
Here's a peek into one of the wire mesh drawers where I store more fabric.
 I love that I can see through them. I try to keep them color coordinated.
The late afternoon sun creates beautiful color through my bottle collection.
To the left of the door is yet another window. You can also see the pegboard that holds lots of supplies, to keep them close at hand.
My Ikea cabinets provide both out-of-sight storage and a great work space.
Paints, varnishes, a jumble of this and that.
The drawers keep me organized... WHEN I put things away!
This is the far left side of my work space... more windows of course. My table is so messy, I'm keeping the camera focused up, so you can't see how disorganized I am! I had it all cleaned up for the 'photo shoot'... but got distracted on another project. oh well.

So... what's in all these boxes?
Fun stuff... like seed pods....
And feathers, and miniature prayer sticks....
This box contains my miniature Wisdom Book supplies. Wonderful small pieces of leather, weathered old papers, some hand-made beads for closures, and leather cording.
Here are two little Wisdom Books made from these supplies....

Here is a vast amount of Spirit faces and adornments to call upon...
Another box for Blessing Stones and Spirit Rocks...
 
My 'go-to' box of jewels....
A box with just wire ribbons (also from Fabmo, where you can find amazing rescued designer fabrics and trims!)

More trims from Fabmo... great for hair on the Spirit Dolls.

These shorter trims are great....  makes for wild hair and head-pieces.

I know. This is ridiculous! I've been picking up embroidery floss at garage sales for years. The amazing wide variety of colors have saved me many a time!
A yummy stash of 'finer' silks... all vintage.

Another box is crammed full of fabulous Mulberry paper flowers.... 
great for anything from greeting cards to hair adornments.
 A container of Selenite, crystals, shards, and stones.... My girlfriend Maja sent me the 300 year old pottery shards she collected in the New Mexico desert... along with selenite crystals.

Wow... it's beginning to look like I just can't show you everything!
So... here are just a few of my Spirit Dolls, created from all these supplies.....





 

 
 









So, what follows are just a few of the other creations that have been created here... You can click on the 'Spirit Doll Gallery' for lots of pictures of the Spirit Dolls!
Many books of lace.... I love working with layers upon layers of vintage laces....

Here's a pile of lace books....
And, with some of those designer fabrics, here are a few Gypsy Purses....
And, at least once a year I break out the paste paper paints 
and go to town creating fun paste papers to use as journal covers.

13 comments:

  1. Your work is so amazing...all of it. I think I'm your first follower I welcome a chance to win your book.
    I like that you share a narrative on the elements used in your dolls and why they are used.
    xx, Carol

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  2. Great fun to peek inside your creative space Chris. Now we know where all those wonderful creations are made!

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  3. Your Spirit Dolls are Enchanting and it was a treat to be Invited into your Personal Sanctuary and see where they come to Life and you follow your Artistic Bliss. These Blog Hops are such Fun... I will probably be up all Night again visiting everyone's Creative Spaces! *Smiles*

    Blessings from the Arizona Desert... Dawn... The Bohemian

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  4. Your artwork is simply stunning and I loved seeing all your accumulated stash of inspiration. Thank you for sharing!

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  5. I remember stopping by here before, perhaps for another blog party. Your Spirit dolls fascinate me. I wish I were more crafty as I would love to make one. i wasn't sure what you meant by become a member but i am now following you via email. I enjoyed my visit to your creative space today.

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  6. Your space is so light and bright. I love the view! Gosh, I'd love to come out to your studio with a cup of coffee in the morning and just get lost in creating. Love that you have everything close at hand yet organized so nicely. I love using clear storage, too, so I can see what I've got. Your lace books are beautiful. I'm planning to try my hand at a fabric and lace book. I've been studying pictures and some youtube videos.

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  7. Your little cabin in the woods is adorable! It looks like you have a great space to enjoy your creating.

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  8. Wow, Chris! You have so many raw materials to work with! I guess it's taken a few years to accumulate all these treasures! Thanks for the wonderful peek into your beautiful studio--I love seeing where the magic happens and your dolls are breathtaking as well as your journals and blessing stones and lace books and purses..You're paving the way for the 21st century Renaissance Artist!

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  9. This was so enjoyable reading about your dolls, and creating them. What a wonderful place to live in a cottage in the redwoods. Thats inspiring! Your work is truly a work of art. I hope to visit again and see what you are up to in your creating.
    Teresa
    www.foxhollowstudio.com

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  10. Wow, I just love everything! Your cottage, your view, your work, even your supplies are charming ♥ Thanks so much for sharing.

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  11. I am so jealous of your little cottage in the woods! I adore the forest and you are one lucky lady! Your studio is wonderful too and the supplies you use to create your fabulous dolls are awesome. You must really be in your happy place when you are in their creating. ;) Thank you so much for joining the party and sharing it with us.

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  12. Wow! You have lots of great stuff. I love your bins and boxes. Your work is amazing. Thanks for sharing your space!

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  13. Lovely Studio Tour, chris. WOW what a wondrous stash! Thanks for sharing, hugs, Julierose

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