"I feel such creative power in myself that I know for sure that the time will arrive when, so to speak, I shall regularly make something good every day. But very rarely a day passes that I do not make something, though it is not yet the real thing I want to make."(Letter to Theo van Gogh, 9 September 1882) All of Peach*Street*Primitives Original dolls are created without patterns. I do not draw up a pattern prior to creating any of my dolls. They are all drawn free hand onto the fabric making each one an original one of a kind. Many times what is present in my mind's eye does not translate onto the fabric as a result of using this technique. But when looking at the final product I enjoy feeling that the doll helped to create itself and ultimately became what it was really intended to be in the first place.
I choose not to offer patterns of my work. Although from time to time I do enjoy using the patterns of other designers. There are some that I just can't pass up making. I don't use patterns often because I tend to want to change this that or the other and some pattern restrictions prevent me from being able to do that.
I got my start with paper clay sculpting when Penny McAllister provided a pattern of one of her Santa's in a magazine. I had never tried it before but I had always wanted to. Her Santa was the very first paper clay sculpture I made. I enjoyed it so much that I new I'd found my niche. My clay head dolls are extremely enjoyable to make. Many times I enjoy making them even more than my fabric dolls. They are created using only my hands. No molds or sculpting tools are used.
I have many works in progress at the moment. The picture above is just a few of the pieces I have started recently. I'll post more pics as I move along with each of these pieces.
