I Will Wash My Hands Among The Innocent

This is an original art doll and shadowbox collage by me.




The bat man came to me after a nightmare. I woke up in a terror, and I had been working on this art doll's face. I had the idea to make him into a batman because bats are so sweet and innocent, yet so misunderstood by humanity.


How I made the art doll:


I sculpted the face and torso first with polymer clay, using glass eyes. I thought for days about what to make him into. His face has a sweetness and an innocent look. I considered a monk, I settled on a bat.I first researched the body structure of a bat. I sculpted the bone structure of the wings and added them to his torso. I decided to use liquid sculpey for the wings. They were a challenge and I baked them no less than a dozen times to get them the consistency I desired. Now they are elastic and membrane-like, very cool. I sculpted each tiny claw and got a wonderful bat claw effect. I collaged in pieces from my 1914 prayer book after digitally creating a spiral effect. I chose the title because that is the quote under the bat's left wing.


The shadowbox is 9"x11" The bat art doll has a 7" wingspan. See more pics on Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/spiritmama/

Cousin Leland, AKA Sock Monkey

Three Sock Monkeys walked into a bar... These guys could have fun anywhere!

I have decided to explore my long time love of sock monkeys. As a child my great aunt Jenny had one she called "Cousin Leland", and I didn't know they were called sock monkeys until I was an adult (fairly recently, actually). Whenever I would see one somewhere I would say "Oh look, it's cousin Leland!" I never met the actual cousin Leland, but apparently the resemblance is striking.

These monkeys are ornaments made of polymer clay and jointed with beads and wire. I have hung them on a pretty red ribbon, and these guys are not just for Christmas trees, mind you. You'll enjoy them so much that you will want them hanging around all year!

They can sit, hang, and lay down for a nap (don't expect them to sleep though). Each monkey is handmade, one of a kind, by me, so the details will vary slightly. He will be about 3" long, and ready for a good time. You can get one here: SpiritMama.etsy.com

La Catrina with Chihuahua

This is Catrina, the popular skeletal lady figure often seen in La Dia de los Muertos celebrations and altars.
La Catrina represents the upper class and the understanding that no one, not even aristocrats, are immune from death when it comes calling.
I also see Catrina as representing fun and play in afterlife, as she is so often dressed in fancy, colorful clothing adorned with flowers and smiling gleefully.
This Catrina art doll is made entirely of polymer clay with a bit of Tibetan lambs wool as hair. She is 7.5" tall.

I made her for the PCAGOE (polymer clay artisans guild of etsy) October challenge. The theme is "Dia de los Muertos".

I posted the "making of Catrina" pics on Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/spiritmama/sets/72157607277632713/

And she is now available for sale on etsy:

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=15254310

Blog Carnival

I just joined the Etsy Blogger Street Team, and each month they have a "Blog Carnival" in which the members blog about a specific topic. This month the carnival topic asks "What is your favorite color and show it in your work".


No problem! My favorite color is purple! I have had an ongoing love affair with purple for ages, and I just can't get enough. My entry is painted purple, I wear purple clothes, I have purple curtains...


So here are some of my special purple artistic creations.

This is my latest, "Goddess of Compassion" Doll. She is wearing a lavender dress. Lavender is one of my favorite shades of purple (actually it's a tint, I heard all you art school teachers correcting me). She is in my SpiritMama etsy shop.

And here is a little tooth fairy (or doll house) pot with purple and lots of sparkle:

It is available in my SpiritMama etsy shop.

SpiritMama Funky Handmade Rings

I love to make rings, and I love to wear rings! Here are some I've done recently.

Alistair Iriekins the Happy Rasta Monster

I was given a box of miscellaneous fabrics and trims the other day. I brought it home, set it on my floor, and took a good look at the contents.

It was evident that a monster was living in that box. He just needed me to put him together. He was hollering so loudly that I couldn't ignore him, even though I had other work to do. So I got out my scissors, thread, and sewing machine, and two days later here he is, sitting next to me with a huge grin!

He has dread locks and big teeth, and a long fluffy tail. He told me his name is Alistair, and he feels irie all the time. He is a happy monster, and very loving as anyone can see by the heart he wears on his chest. I wasn't sure about putting a heart on a monster, but he really wanted it. He is good at hanging out, just lounging in bliss most of the time. He's always good for a laugh and a smile. He is silly, he laughs at anyone's jokes (even if they aren't funny). He just likes to laugh.

He's not really religious, although he likes the Rasta culture, so I call him the "Rasta Monster". He laughs when I say that.
Alistair Iriekins is 17.5" from rump to feelers. That does not include his legs. He is a OOAK soft sculpture.

Alistair Iriekins is listed in my Etsy shop: http://www.spiritmama.etsy.com/

You can see more of my art and pictures on Flickr:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/spiritmama/