6.11.2010

From Start to Finish...

Last night after working for a few hours on lots of different pieces, I decided to do what I very very rarely do these days: I cut out a bear and finished him all in one sitting. How sad that that's such a rare way for me to work these days... but it's not the most efficient way to get a lot done and while efficiency usually rules in the studio last night I was all about the simple pleasure of creating something. I wanted that gratification of looking at a piece of fabric and seeing something and making it- then. In this case I had a piece of mohair with a huge weaving flaw which seemed fit for an old worn black bear with colored pads... Usually after the inception of a pieces my process is broken down into stages, drawing the progress out into a few weeks instead of a few hours. Here's how that process worked out last night... he's almost done.






Now all that's left is to make him a little something to wear. A wool felt shirt perhaps?

15 comments:

  1. oh wow. that is sooo unbelievable. i wish i knew how to do that. i'm ultra impressed. he's incredible. :::

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  2. Fascinating . . . and a Jennifer Murphy bear is born!
    If having a child was that "easy", wouldn't you have 3 or 4?!
    Of course, when you create a bear you usually send him off for someone else to take care of.

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  3. Just the simple pleasure of creating something... :)

    May I ask what kind of pencil you use to draw the pattern on the fabric? I tend to use a gelpen, but I have been looking for something else.

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  4. quite often I use a yellow grease pencil- they work really well. If I need a finer line, I use a yellow colored pencil and keep sharpening it...
    I've never thought of a gelpen. I'll have to give it a try.

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  5. Thank you for the fast reply! :)
    I use the gelpen cause the ink stays on top of the fabric, doesn't drain in the fabric like the ink of a fine-liner. Though I have to say that I do not sew on the drawn line - I sew inside of it, to make sure that the thread won't pick up the colour of the pen.

    Now to find out what a grease pencil is :) (english is not my native language)

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  6. Ok, did you duct-tape little Claude to his highchair? I have three little boys and long ago gave up on finishing anything in one sitting!
    Stefanie on the Eastern Shore

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  7. He is just adorable. I like him naked too.

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  8. You make it look so easy! I can't even hem my pants!! Love him!!

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  9. It is amazing to see how you create your lil' treasures! They are just precious and you make it look so easy. Looking forward to meeting you and your Mom at The Creative Connection. I have adopted some of your Mom's bears in the past!

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  10. This little black bear needs to live with me!

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  11. Gorgeous ! And he needs to come live me! (not Emily! Lol)

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  12. What a beautiful little black bear, you have a great gift and he is adorable. I always wanted to make a bear with cotter pins (is that spelt right) I am not sure :) Maureen

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