Dancing Diva Designs

Crazy month of November

mbrein23 — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 20:01:37 +0000

This November was by far the craziest I’ve had in a long time. My kids are both community cast members for Ballet Northwest’s Nutcracker this year and have had their own rehearsals (different days) up until now. So in between driving them back and forth to Olympia (which if you know me at all – this is a personal challenge – thanks to Allison, Ferol and Roger), I was getting my Festival Tree ready for Providence Hospital’s Annual Festival of Trees, creating four new Mice costumes for the Nutcracker (yep, I tend to dive right in when involved with a group), getting the kids’ new school schedule started and attempting to keep up my daily word quota for NaNoWriMo. *Phew*

There were days when I just wanted to let everything slide. But my kids and their education (which includes ballet) — very important to me! But wait – I can’t forget myself here – my writing is important to me as well! Plus keeping all my commitments – I couldn’t NOT do my best. I almost gave up with my writing – after all, it was the last thing on my list of priorities and the only one that would be left disappointed would be myself if I didn’t finish. So I dug deep – I squashed the little critics on my shoulder – really squashed them into non-existance!!! and I typed early mornings, late nights and kept going until I was done! My back aches, my shoulders hurt and my hands are hurting but I managed to finish something very important to myself.

So what’s my point amid all this rambling? Don’t give up on your own personal dreams – even when they seem impossible to achieve – even when you are left with an aching body – even when all the other priorities in your life are clamoring for your attention – don’t give up – it can be done!

My NaNoWriMo Link

ARTrails Open Studio Tour

mbrein23 — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 16:11:53 +0000

So it begins this weekend!! Actually, the big kickoff is this Friday at the Centralia Train Depot! The gala is from 4 – 8pm and each artist has one piece showing. As always, I get nervous thinking about all the people I don’t know coming through and then – as always- I enjoy myself talking with old friends and making a few new ones!

My piece this year is titled “La Fumée” or ‘smoke’ in English … she is a dancer that is balanced on a candlestick – I wanted her to look suspended in air – caught in a movement – with her swirling black sheer dress. She is all cloth, hand painted and has vintage beads for hair, a chain maille coverlet and black slippers. I will post pics on Friday since I forgot to get some before I dropped her off at the depot Weds! This art doll is part of a series I plan to do on ‘movement’ in cloth.

Interested in attending the tour? Check out our website for more information: http://www.artrailsofsww.org/

Remember to stop by and visit me at Stillwater Estates – I will have some dolls in various stages of creation to share with you! -Melinda

Soft Sculpture Doll

mbrein23 — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 06:39:08 +0000

I’ve been searching for new directions with my dollmaking in recent years. Trying different materials and techniques, I always find my way back to cloth. Perhaps it dates back to my childhood dollmaking when the only things I could find around the house were Dad’s socks and bits of yarn. I still have my lovely little sock dolls tucked away safe & sound!

For some time I followed the instructions layed out in various dollmaking books … no deviation for fear of failing! (Susanna Oroyan and Patti Medaris Culea are my two FAVs!!!) – so all my dolls had moveable arms/legs, proper hair and safely dressed.

I finally have the nerve to explore a fixed point in time, confident enough to tell a story in just that moment – frozen. I desire a change from “doll” to ”soft sculpture” …. admiring always the beautiful sculpted works surrounding me. I have tried using clay but can not find my voice there …. perhaps a whisper but not strong enough to be heard … not like with cloth.

So here is my latest work in progress …. she is a step away from the pattern (one of PMCs) and a step closer to my own voice. I tried to capture stages …

Big Shot and a pillow project!

mbrein23 — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 21:25:40 +0000

I’ve been wanting to do a mosaic style pillow for some time now and found using the Sizzix Big Shot to be the quickest and easiest way to achieve the look I desired. I have a set of sizzlets for building a flower – two different petals and a leaf – I worried at first that they wouldn’t cut through the fabric (backed with Heat Bond Iron-On Adhesive). Did just fine!!

So I selected two complementary colors to build my mosaic and started out with strips of fabric fused to the iron-on adhesive. Then I ran the fabric through my Big Shot until I had enough of each shape to cover the pillow front. After peeling the backing off of each shape, I arranged them on the pillow and started bonding them using the instructions from Heat Bond.

Once everything was fused, I used my sewing machine to edge each shape in order to unify the two colors. I am pleased with how my pillow turned out.

Post Production Blues

mbrein23 — Wed, 11 May 2011 20:44:55 +0000

I don’t know if it’s because I am suddenly left with no stress, no deadlines …. no destination for the evening or what – but – I’m tired and grumpy today. I have tons of stuff I can do here at home – like clean – however, that is not enticing at all! Can’t seem to shake my grumpiness either so I am giving in and sitting on my rear with no plans to be productive today. If you know me at all, doing nothing is just not my norm -

I’m ignoring my bad mood for now and maybe, just maybe, I’ll get a full night of sleep tonight (that might help). I might even throw in a warm bath tonight …. pick up a library book that has collected a bit of dust and relax. No worries about time down for too long …. I have a few meetings coming up and tons to do! Just not today -M

Fascination with Fascinators!

mbrein23 — Sun, 08 May 2011 07:49:37 +0000

Funny how research for costuming, meeting an avid fan of fascinators AND a royal wedding seemed to occur all at once! Up until about a month ago – no idea what a fascinator was – had to google it for the show “Oklahoma!”. Instant love affair with these little pieces of pure joy!

In my dollmaking, I already work in small scale and my latest creation, The Mad Hattress, has her own fun little hat! So it seems to be coming full circle and I have created two of my own fascinators! Believe me, this is JUST the beginning!!! I haven’t had this much inspiration bubbling inside my head for years! In fact, the other day I was desperate to find my sketchbook (well, at least one of the many I have just in case inspiration strikes) … couldn’t find it amongst the chaos of my kitchen turned sewing room! So instead of sketching – I created straight from my brain to my fascinator fabric!

Here are the first two of what I hope to be many, many more mad creations!!!

Waiting

mbrein23 — Sat, 07 May 2011 00:53:08 +0000

Waiting for the kids to finish up their weekly ballet class, I was caught in a downpour …. just suddenly found the parking lot full interesting texture and color

The Backstage Life

mbrein23 — Sun, 01 May 2011 18:00:46 +0000

My latest endeavor involves the community theatre. We are currently producing “Oklahoma!” at the Evergreen Playhouse in Centralia, WA. Over the last three musicals, I always hear concern over the small space and producing “large” musicals. After opening, I have heard amazement and enjoyment over these wonderful productions. So far I have had the privilege of being involved with “Guys & Dolls”, “My Fair Lady” and now “Oklahoma!”.

I am the stage manager for this one – so I sit back stage and maintain a quiet chaos! Although I love watching from the audience, this backstage view is my favorite – even with a teeny tiny black and white monitor. Why? The show for me extends beyond the stage. I get to see the rush of adrenaline and pure joy from the actors when the audience reacts to all their hard work! The rushing about of costume changes, the friendships among fellow actors, the quiet games and discussions while waiting to go on, the props and crew waiting in the wings for the next scene change … I love it all!

Stage life is the best!

Back again ….

mbrein23 — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 01:24:40 +0000

It’s been soooo long since I’ve last posted! As always, busy beyond busy in my life. Not really sure what I feel like sharing anymore on the blog. I am always up to something …. I just get lazy about taking pictures. I am going to try and change all that! So for my first post in ages, I have a picture of an album I am listening to today!

50,167

mbrein23 — Mon, 29 Nov 2010 17:38:19 +0000