Sculpting and Sewing.
Fall is a busy time of year for me. Closing out my vegetable garden. Harvesting apples from my trees, and harnessing the leaf fallout that generously provides us with shade throughout hot summer days.
Even though many are gearing up for Halloween and Thanksgiving to follow, I’ve been thinking down the road to Christmas and winter holidays. Creating items that will conjure memories of youthful days sledding, building snowmen, and waiting for that jolly gift bearer many cultures have centered a celebration of giving and lightheartedness around.
I spend weeks sculpting with clay, then painting the fired pieces, and ultimately assembling and costuming figures that hopefully bring a little joy to those who welcome them into their homes.
The biggest reward is when a child passes by my sale booth, points and bursts into laughter. I know then, the hours of toil have been worth it. Nothing makes me happier than bringing a smile to a child’s face. And so most of September, October and November are occupied with creating faces, fingers and frocks.
Ideas.
Where do my ideas come from? I get asked that often. They come from many places, like fabric, found items, researching cultural customs and folklore. I’m amazed at how many different gift givers there are around the world. Some not so charming. Unless I’ve been asked to base a figure on a specific character for an order, I generally like to create my figures on some whimsical sketch I’ve done, or an item that has sparked an idea for a emotion that could be expressed in the simpleness of a single character.
I sing a lot of Christmas songs, and often feel a bit like an elf.
Sometimes I get ahead of myself in sculpting, and faces like these sit around until I have time to bring their whole character to life. Most of my time is spent preparing little Christmas men for ornaments and small decorative figures for the holidays. Ones I know will most likely all sell, so I can maintain my stash of art supplies. If I didn’t need to make money I would simply create from the heart all day.
May your days be filled with creative joy this holiday season. Remember to take the light with you into these dark months.