Remembering the Lisa Litchenfels Workshop

 

While creating my last post on the Betts Vidal Frog Prince Workshop, and contemplating my next one, which will be on the Kate Church Workshop, I reminisced about the amazing Lisa Litchenfels Workshop the Flying Phoebes put together in 2013. Lisa is extremely well-known internationally for her often life-size cloth sculptures of human figures. She often spends a year working on the completion of a single sculpt, and her work has been sold in galleries around the world. Google her and you will be amazed. Actually, we were amazed when she agreed to fly out to California from the East Coast to conduct a workshop for us.

 

This group photo shows most of the people who attended the 3-day workshop. Lisa is pictured on the left, followed by Maudell, Mary, Elizabeth, Tani, Colleen, Geri, Marcella, Donna, Daisy, Stephanie and Diane. On the table in front of us are the figures we completed. The figures were from a pattern Lisa had given us, and it was not intended to be accurately proportional to the human body. It was only a small reasonable facsimile, to be used to practice techniques of  needle sculpting nylon (like in pantyhose and nylons) over a padded base. We soon found that dry, rough hands were a terrible detriment to our results. 

Lisa was the most patient and thorough teacher and demonstrator ever. Her work is meticulous, and she was most understanding of our lack of skill... always encouraging us onward. I was most fortunate to be able to spend extra time with her before and after class, as she stayed at Kelly's home in Livermore and they rode with me to and from the Tri-Valley to San Leandro, where the workshop was held. And, we spent some time in conversation at dinner after class. Lisa shared many of her life stories with us and it was truly amazing to be able to learn so much about her. Actually, I would have to say she is a very interesting and amazing woman!

Daisy, ever the over-achiever who always finishes multiples in any workshop, completed these two adorable hand-holding "golden-agers."

This photo is of some finished and unfinished figures. Mine is second from the right. Close inspection would show that I was one of those people with rough hands from household chores, and my figure has a very bad complexion. Lots of snags in that very thin and delicate nylon.

More photos of finished and work-in-progress figures.

Lisa had agreed to return to California to teach another class if we had enough people interested. Many voiced interest, but I must admit, while I loved the class experience with Lisa, I don't think I have enough patience for this type of fine needle-sculpting, or the inclination to pursue working with nylon material.

Betts Vidal Frog Prince Workshop

 

In August of 2015, members of my doll-making club, The Flying Phoebes, set up a one-month window display at the Book Shop in Hayward, CA, featuring our Frog Prince figures created from an original Betts Vidal pattern. Betts is a long-time Phoebe member and an internationally known and published artist and doll maker. She has taught Frog Prince workshops several times over the years. The one I took was in 2014, and I loved every second of it.

Above and below are photos of my prince.

 

He is cloth sculptured and embellished with dried flowers that my late mother once collected.

We met at a quilt store across the bay, and here Betts (center) is shown with Zanaib, Elizabeth, Suzanne and Stephanie.

The quilt shop's workroom was the perfect venue.

Here Stephanie is shown happily working on her prince.

 

Betts brought a few samples of her figures to give us inspiration.

Above are two figures Betts made... the frog prince and the princess in metamorphosis with intertwined arms. The one below shows the seaweed staff Betts gathered from her favorite, secret beach on the Pacific Coast. It is the only place she has come across this particular type of seaweed, and she braved rocks and tidal surges to claim it. As part of the kit she provided, she gave us each a piece to use with our figures.

Zanaib is shown diligently working at her machine to create her prince, shown partially completed below.

Stephanie brought lovely upholstery sample fabrics to make her prince's cloak.

 

Two more samples show the various interpretations of the figures. When we had the window display, the Book Shop informed us that the frog display was far and above the most popular exhibit we had ever displayed in all the years we have been doing so. In fact, it was the most popular window display they had ever had. Not just customers, but people passing by came in to comment, pick their favorite prince, and leave us notes of praise. This has all been possible, thanks to Betts, her amazing pattern, and the wonderful and fun workshops she has conducted for us.

This very "dandy" frog was created by Elizabeth, who is well known among us to often think "outside the box." Her frog was voted the number one favorite of the window display by all those people who ventured inside The Book Shop to express their admiration.

 

Back to Altered Books

 

 The Phoebes had another challenge for us to make... something with an altered book. This time I decided not to make something solely decorative, but something utile as well. So, I deconstructed a book and its cover and reconstructed into a hanger that would hold calendar-related items over my wall calendar. Items such as tickets, directions and maps, appointment details and information, etc. I had found a wonderful metal butterfly at a garage sale, so I decided to repeat my fairy theme.

Above is a close-up of the top piece. It is a collage of scrapbook papers, a graphic, lace, ribbon, metallic trim and a fairy charm and ribbon rosette. I decided to make another one with a French theme, shown below.

Someone years ago had given me some wonderful colored glass lenses and I used one over a frame from a broken purse-size hand mirror to cover a picture of a vintage lady. 

 

 

The one I kept... the fairy one... is so helpful for holding "stuff" related to appointments and dates and my calendar hangs underneath it.

 

 

A Short Trip into Painting and Collage

 

I love to paint...and I love to collage! I got out a canvas board and started painting, stamping, stenciling and collaging a background. Then I collaged an enlarged vintage photo I found on Pinterest. I added a paper doily for a sleeve, highlighted the necklace with my favorite opal glitter paint and some rhinestones, and hot glued a big bunch of silk flowers on her head. 

 

Next I got a smaller canvas board and started with a wonderful piece of  wallpaper that had silver stars on it, added some torn sheet music, covered a large jigsaw puzzle piece with decorative paper, and on top of that I added an Altoid tin lid decorated with fortune telling graphics, some tarot cards, a wheel of fortune, and a fortune cookie paper fortune. The red rose prints around the edges were printed on clear printer transparencies, also collaged on with glue.

 

For my next project I decided I wanted to make some decorated journals. I found a bunch of the theme books at the dollar store and started decorating the front and back covers with hand-painted paper. Each journal features a large floor jigsaw puzzle piece as the base for the center embellishment.

 

I used a fabric polka dot bias trim around the edge and put a framed graphic in the center. I also added a pen holder to the front of each, and papered pockets on the inside of both the front and back covers.

 

 

I also found a smaller journal to add an Asian graphic, some vintage Asian foil decorations and a bit of gold striped ribbon around the edge.

 

My artists' group was having a Valentine card exchange, so I made one of quilted cloth over a Timtex base. I added one of my very favorite graphics, a ribbon rosette I had made, and a glittered heart.

When two of my granddaughters, Sarah and Tawni,  wanted to come over for a craft session during last summer, I decided to give them each a canvas board and a bunch of paint, graphics, scrapbook paper, and silk flowers. I was thrilled to see what they came up with, and they seemed to really enjoy the project.

 

Sarah proudly displays her lovely collage, which she made to hang on the wall in her bedroom.

 

 

Below, Tawni holds her lovely creation, also destined to be hung in her bedroom. She stamped the surface with French stamps and added tags and other trims to make it Oh La La Parisian!

 

I think they both did a fabulous job!

 

The Phoebes had a cigar box challenge, and I met it by covering mine with an assortment of paper, punched butterflies, lace and ribbon.

 

I added Tim Holtz feet to it and have been using it to collect all the sweet thank-you notes the granddaughters send to me for hand-made gifts I give them, costumes I made for them, and for sewing lessons and craft "play days" we have together.

 

My son Mike and his family invited me to a mini vacation to Inverness near Bodega Bay this past summer. I brought with me a tub of cigar boxes and materials so that granddaughters Emily, Suzette and Giselle could make themselves decorated cigar boxes like I had done.  Below is the one Emily made. It looks like a cake good enough to eat!

 

She posted the photos below on her Facebook page.

 

Below is a collage of photos taken of us at Inverness. A very special time for me. I absolutely love crafting with them... they are all so amazingly creative and have such wonderfully original ideas... they are all an inspiration to me!

I am so blessed!!!!!

More Fabric Jewelry

 

I decided to use up some graphics I had printed on fabric to make some ethnic, fabric and bead necklaces. I added one Victorian paper rolled bead I had made at the top of the one shown above, and also some ball fringe and an Asian coin charm. 

 

The second is an homage to Frida Kahlo. We all love Frida, in spite of her faults!

 

The third and fourth are also Asian in theme, with bits and pieces of beads and trimmings I happened to have in my stash. I love wearing them... they are so light weight and decorative.

 

...and now on to something else new and exciting...

The Temptation of Beads and All Things Bright and Shiny

I recently attended a local bead show with a friend, all the time professing I had no intention of buying any additional beads to add to my already large stash. Famous last words! The beads I found were so enticing and reasonably priced that I found myself succumbing to their attraction. I rationalized that since I have another Open Studios Show in Alameda in June of 2016, I would use them to make some jewelry to sell. At least I am proud of the fact that once I got home I immediately set to work using every last one of them to make pieces of jewelry. Now it remains to be seen if I can part with the jewelry when the show dates approach.

 

I love ethnic looking jewelry. The first necklace I made was from lapis and silver. I also made several other bracelets.

Next I made a necklace and several bracelets, plus some earrings, from silver and jade-colored beads.

 

Finally, I made a pendant necklace that surely makes a statement, using silver and turquoise beads. The face on the pendant is of Kwan Yin, the Chinese goddess and protector of women.