Morgantown Dress-A-Doll II

I don't have all the artist names behind the entries, but these are the ones I could make out. Above, Lauren Welker's clever version of a famous photograph showing Charles James with a model.

Margaret Brown's excellent surreal take!

Sylvia Kleindinst couldn't attend, but by submitting this costume she was able to win the whole wardrobe in our drawing of names, which is limited to those who contribute an outfit.

Bill Ell submitted this colorful costume -- so glad Peggy brought him along!

Pat Rooney, an accomplished artist and longtime doll collector, delivered a gorgeous gown.

Lisa Keller Johnson submitted a colorful update on the theme.

Morgantown Dress-A-Doll

Congratulations to Sylvia Kleindinst, who won the Dress-A-Doll collection! Sylvia gave me permission to post the 19 entries here.

This was voted the best in show:  Karen Hunter's artwork. What looks at first like printed paper, carefully shaded and cut, is actually Karen's original painting. 


We had many beautiful entries to choose from: 

...and more to come.

Cornelia in Morgantown, by Jayne Keller, 2015

Thanks to all who attended -- we had some new folks, too! 

Here's the paper doll by Jayne Keller that was distributed to attendees. This was the model for the Dress-A-Doll, and I'll post the entries, soon -- and the name of the winner of the entire book of original designs.

See you in Morgantown

Hope to see many old friends in Morgantown today and tomorrow! And I can't wait to meet the new attendees.

Remember me

March 25, 1911

Collage Workshop at the Art School at Old Church

I had a great time today at the collage workshop taught by Harriet Balaran Fincke at the Art School at Old Church in Demarest, N.J. Our first assignment:  create a small (3-and-1/2 by 5 inches) collage by way of introducing ourselves, our lives, our interests to each other. Of course I had a paper doll outfit in my stash of papers!

I rethought the newsprint in the upper right corner, based on Harriet's critique. Instead of a readable story, it's now simply torn newsprint. I like it like that!

Polly Pratt, 1919 by Sheila Young

From the Oct. 1919 issue of Good Housekeeping.

Queen Victoria as a Young Woman

By Sylvia Kleindinst, 1994

Found in a shop in Phoenix, AZ. Someone went a little crazy with the decorative scissors! But luckily it doesn't harm the artwork.

March 20 deadline to register for Morgantown

Friday, March 20 is the first day of spring ... and it's also the deadline to register for the Morgantown Paper Doll Luncheon on Saturday, March 28. Click on the picture of the ladies in ball gowns, and you'll be able to register online immediately!

"The Adversary is Hate," collage, 1969

A collage I made for a class assignment at St. Michael's High School in New York City, 1969. It's primitive, but heartfelt. I've always enjoyed cutting paper and arranging it to express a feeling or viewpoint. 

Ice Skater paper doll, c. 1940s

Fragments from a vintage set. 

Church women, c. 1920s

16th Street Baptist Church, Birmingham, Alabama. I visited the church about 10 years ago, on assignment for a magazine. This picture was for sale at the church, a souvenir of the church's long role in the community.

Yesterday was an historic anniversary, and today we celebrate International Women's Day. 

The 16th Street Baptist Church was the site of a horrific bombing in 1963 that took the lives of four girls. 

Jumbo's legacy

The exploitation of Jumbo in the 19th century is, perhaps, where our fascination with elephants began.  Elephants were put on display for our amusement, in unnatural habitats, doing unnatural things. Jumbo died an awful death in a railway accident. Now the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus will phase out  the use of elephants. Somewhere Jumbo is smiling.

And now if we could halt the illegal trade in ivory that has killed off hundreds of these beautiful animals.

Altered Books at the 2015 Paper Doll Convention

Pages from "The Real Alice," by Sandy Vanderpool, which was on display at the 2014 convention and won first place in the altered book category at competition.

In recent years convention-goers have been delighted to see altered books on display by artists such as Sandy Vanderpool, Beverly Micucci, and Dee Radcliffe. Sometimes the artist uses a blank notebook; other times, a real book is used to play on a theme. Sandy and Beverly had a vintage Tillie the Toiler book that was used to great advantage to showcase Tillie paper dolls and comic strips.

This year, the convention is offering a special workshop on altered books. 

It's called "Unraveling the Mysteries of Altered Books with Nancy Drew," and the 3-hour workshop will be given by Penny Arrowood. The goal: to turn a Nancy Drew book into a book of mysteries, complete with hidden doors, pockets and secret compartments. Penny will show us the techniques -- making windows, doors and pop-ups -- that can be used for other projects, such as card-making.

The class costs $55 and is available only to 25 lucky people. 

Penny's class kit includes a Nancy Drew book, vintage ephemera, decorative papers, templates, etc. She'll also have tools that you can use during the class. You will have to bring scissors, X-acto knife, cutting mat, glue stick, colored pencils/markers and of course it's your choice to bring from home any of your own favorite papers, ephemera and embellishments.

You can read more about Penny and her paper artistry here. 

Haven't registered for convention yet? What are you waiting for? Click on the Chattanooga graphic (featuring Minnie Pearl) on this page.