Assemblage Dolls

 These are a new item in my etsy shop.

They are born of extra supplies that just won't work for other dolls:  not enough, one time use, to hard to carve by hand or something I found and like as unique.  A particularly interesting fabric (I am fond of textiles), charm, thread, yarn or artifact.

They are a recent addition and I use them as characters from folklore and miniature cradleboards fashioned after museum and auction records.  They give me a break from carving and I get to use my imagination in a different way.

 

Among the first Assemblage dolls, I incorporated some paper air dry clay to create the head of a crow which is significant in the Indigenous culture.  His eyes were pistachio shells.  They were sold out within a month.  I would like to do more animal heads.

The cradleboards average 8" tall and have a hook on the back so they hang on the wall.  The dolls are 8" and 14" tall, on average.  The sky is the limit when it comes to construction; whatever works for the character or historical accuracy.

* An issue that I feel needs to be improved are the arms when applied.  Right now my braided pipe cleaners are not sturdy enough to support most of the fabrics used; they want to droop.

These could evolve into something/anything.  I am still experimenting and enjoying the break from the carving routine.

Doll Characters

POPULAR CHARACTERS

My People no face Indian dolls consist of characters from Indigenous folklore of various American tribes.  Some dolls document historical clothing, dance regalia and a few are portrait dolls of historical characters.

Hours on hours are spent in researching characteristics, patterns and colors to be as accurate as possible in portrayal of actual Native America.  I am constantly looking to broaden the number of various characters.

There are some that are more popular than others and seem to dominate my work.  Maybe because the general public is more acquainted with their title or because of the story they tell.  Below are listed just a couple of those characters.

EARTH MOTHER Everyone seems to be able to relate to this white hair elder who sustains us and brings blessings of wisdom, health and long life.

 CHEROKEE ROSE Because of the "Trail of Tears" many can relate to the story of this maiden and the tear on her cheek.

 

SKY WOMAN  Another entity that seems to capture people is the story of the maiden who fell through the sky to create the North American continent. 

 

And they range in size from the 4" ornaments, 6" cradle dolls, 6" shorties to the 12" maidens and 18" princess dolls.  

*To see examples, visit my web site: www.lindarousartist.com

and my etsy store: https://www.etsy.com/shop/MyPeopleDolls?ref=seller-platform-mcnav

Grandmother Doll

The great Indigenous nation of the Sioux Peoples are known among some doll makers for a highly beaded leather doll with no face.  She  is called "Grandmother" and is a long standing tradition.

 

It is common in the culture that toys not be made to last.  The idea is that children grow up and leave these childhood things behind.  The grandmother doll was made so well, with great love, that you can occasionally find a vintage doll in fair condition.  These are prized among collectors of dolls and Indigenous art and craft collectors.

The meaning behind Grandmother, with no face, is: she has no ears to hear a child's bad words, no eyes to see their bad deeds and no mouth to tell a child's secrets . . . a child's best friend is Grandmother.  This concept teaches the value of elders in society and respect for the "white hairs". 

This is such an amazing right of passage for the young and the old, that I  have created my own contemporary version that is washable and soft sculpted - for cuddling.  Another variation from the Sioux doll is that I paint mine to replicate various North American tribes, including the Sioux.

Each is approximately 10 -12" tall

 Early on, I tried various fabric, including felt and leather, and skin colors.

They then evolved to use brighter colors of non toxic, washable paints.

Presently, my dolls are made with earthy colors to replicate leather clothing or  bright colors to represent various broadcloth and beading.  ALL have taken on white hair to show the age represented by the doll. 

All of my dolls are inexpensive, washable, non-toxic and come with a Certificate explaining the meaning of "Grandmother".

www.lindarousartist.com

How To: Miniature Breastplate

 

Recently taught myself how to make a miniature Native American breastplate for an assemblage doll. 

 

I thought "Grandmother Moon" needed one to dress up her lame' and satin gown. (These breastplates were originally designed from bone and/or antler beads made by hand with crude tools, to be used as body armor for protection. Men's breastplates commonly covered the neck and chest area, women's breastplates were to protect heart and reproduction parts.)

 

This tried my patience and dexterity but I enjoy detail work. It wasn't easy and I had to start over - twice but . .  I DID IT 

 

Now I have to get the hand vac and find all the beads that dropped on the floor.

 

 

 

 

Learned very quickly to pin it to cardboard to secure the work. Used satin ribbon, seed beads, pony beads and bugle beads and wove the pattern back and forth.

 

Don't want to remember how many times I had to "unstring" beads because I got the count wrong - focus!

 

                    A close up of the finished product; only took two days.

Not bad for the first time. Actually, anxious to make another - and do it better.

 

Work Space

My People dolls are created all over my home.

Evenings find me in front of a movie in the den, carving with a small waste basket in my lap to catch all the shavings.  (Waste basket is then emptied into the tortoise habitat in the back yard.)  This system does NOT catch ALL the shavings, which is evident when I stand up and as I walk through the house during the day.  Shavings can be found throughout.  Nice weather can take me to the patio to listen to birds and leaves in the trees while I carve and allow shavings to be carried away on the wind.

Before we retired, downsized and relocated, I had a large one room studio where there was a table for carving so shavings were piled on the table and scraped off into a waste basket.  There was a table for painting and another for beading and making the miniature accessories.  I had storage space under tables for plastic storage boxes filled with supplies.  Office was a separate room.

Sanding has always been an issue with the sawdust - as is sawing larger wood pieces into smaller.  It is financially advantageous to buy larger pieces and cut them down.  I have had to use a mask to keep from inhaling sawdust.  I try to reserve my sanding for nicer weather outdoors.  This is not always possible so, with mask, bending over waste basket, sanding is held to a minimum.  Sawdust still finds it's way around the office, which is where my work area is now compacted.

In our "retirement home" my office and work space has been combined.  It is necessary to wall off a corner of the office/sitting space in order to create a convenient work area with supply closet.  I have sorted and labeled many supplies into small drawers to be within reach.  My paints are sorted by color in a swivel stand for easy access.  I kept my drafting table to work on.

Above my work table, is a wall shelf for solvents, specialty paints and glues.  My magnifying lamp is an absolute necessity.  The balsa wood I use is so porous I need to get "up close and personal" for even coverage.

Even though I like the solid look of an even coverage and use varnish for a nice finish, I have come to prefer a more "primitive" look which I achieve by bypassing a satin smooth sanded finish.  Look close and you will see knife marks on a finished doll.  This is preferred because of the culture and history of the no face doll.  They have existed among indigenous peoples for centuries.

In the closet behind my chair, you can find brushes, clay, tools, hardware, leather and various other needs.  

This is not the most ideal work space and I can bump my elbows on occasion.  Rearranging the office is not possible due to location of electric outlets along with the number of and size of furniture in the office.  All in all, there is a window to keep clostrophobia at bay and allow an occasional day dream.  File cabinet and computer offer reference material and I can take a coffee break on the love seat.