I can't believe it's Fall again....

Yet it is my favorite time of the year, so I am NOT complaining ! :)
I am getting ready to one of the biggest annual art show in Alaska
called "Make it Alaskan Festival".
SO much to do and so little time as the show starts October 2nd!

New Doll emerging ...

I wanted to make a girl but this one wants to be a boy!
I think I will let "him" lead me ... and we will see what happens!

Eveliina has to wait ... I have a stronger vision for this guy :)

Happy New Year 2009 !

It is unbelievable how fast time goes when you get older!
Notice I said OLDER ... not old! Or maybe I am just having fun? ;)

I am going to sculpt more this year, practice hours every day, or well,
in my case it is actually every NIGHT, as I am a night owl in case you wonder :)

It's not easy, progress is very slow, as I am not naturally talented,
but I have a vivid imagination and a very stubborn mind, and I will
learn to create all those awesome looking dolls which now just live inside my head :)

After Christmas thoughts

I am not really a Christmas person. Too many "not so nice" memories related with it, but I am getting better :) This one was quite fun actually...lot of good food, traditional Finnish Xmas ham, lot of laughing and some very nice presents too.
I guess I have not been so bad girl than I thought! ;)

But one thing I never understand...
WHY in earth no one ever thought to give me CLAY as a present? LOl

Haven't continued the doll pictured below, instead I have - once again - made several new heads! I LOVE to make doll faces/heads! Maybe I should just make them and sell them to the people who love to make doll bodies too hehe

Later more ... :)

Working with a new doll !

Finally I found little time to start a new doll!

Her name is "Eveliina" and she is a character from a book
which I had when I was a kid.
Eveliina is a tiny wicked troll who steals shiny objects
and replaces them with oat seeds!

I don't have the book anymore, so I just have to
rely my memory. So please wish me luck :)

I will post more pics of "Eveliina" soon!

Artist By An Accident ...

My mother was a very talented self-taught painter and drawer,who never got any real chance to share her talents with the world.I too tried to paint, but finally realized that I didn't heritage any of her talents. So often I was thinking ( feeling sorry for myself lol )WHY I have to have this strong desire to create when I have no talents at all? But then, about five years ago everything changed! Just by an accident, I met a lady who made beautiful polymer clay beads and I asked if she could teach me... I loved the clay as a material but same time I felt that beads just are not my "thing" ... And then one night while surfing on eBay I saw all those beautiful fairies and mermaids and trolls and unicorns And I just realized that I want to be a "Doll Maker", and nothing else! I found that huge missing part of myself: And after all: I DO have part of my moms talents in me, I just needed this 3-dimensional medium to bring it all alive. My brain just is not working in 2 dimensional level! Last five years I have used countless hours just practicing and trying to get better. It is a painstakingly slow process for me, yet I love every minute of it! I love to create "Story book dolls" using the Air dry or the Polymer clay combined with mixed media. I want to create dolls and figurines which make people smile and wonder ... maybe even remember some wonderful moments from their own childhood... There are so much me to explore and learn! And I am so excited! ~ Shateal ~ There are no mistakes - only possibilities!

Somewhere I have to start ....

Wow! This feels much more personal than an ordinary website stuff...and for a very private person like me ... it feels difficult to even start!