Pixie Faires-Fantasy Faries-Wendy Froud-Doll Making-Fairies in Art

There are a lot of doll makers out there but Wendy Froud is in a league of her own. I just adore the magic of Wendy Froud, her little pixie fairies and fantasy fairies are made real and seem to be breathing. She makes me want to delve into legends of mermaids and doll making. Imagination is at its best when touched by Wendy Foud, she is a master doll maker and artist.

Wendy, the child of American artists Walter and Peggy Midener, was born and raised in Detroit, USA. She studied art and music at Interlochen, then became a puppet-maker and sculptor for the Jim Henson studios in London and New York. She created such beloved film characters as Yoda for the Star Wars movies, and the Gelflings for Dark Crystal, as well as puppets for the Muppets television program. Her dolls and sculptures have been exhibited in galleries and museums around the world. Her art is featured in three books co-created with Terri Windling: A Midsummer Night's Faery Tale, The Winter Child, and The Faeries of Spring Cottage. She is also a writer. Her poetry has been published in Sirens, an anthology of mytho-erotic fantasy; and she's at work on other projects.

http://www.endicott-studio.com/bios/biofroud.html
 

Wendy's OFFICIAL site: www.worldoffroud.com/ 

Her dolls, her imagination, her books, her dvd's, her husband, hummm more than 3 things? That is because this is an AMAZING WOMAN!

CHECK OUT HER DOLL MAKING DVD's!

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TURN ON THE MUSIC

as you enjoy my lens about Wendy Froud!

The music is "The Voice" by Celtic Woman. I have posted their music below.

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DATES of latest happenings and places to meet the Froud's in person:

http://www.worldoffroud.com/www/news/main/index.cf...

Sarah Brightman's music plays a lot in my house as it adds beauty to a creative mood.

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I think I'd miss you

even if I'd never met you.

I think there would be a space missing from me.

When I am not with you now

I cannot think of much else

than what is lacking

a few missed breaths

a few sentiments to share with someone

who understands

someone in the same space.

When I am not with you

airplanes still fly overhead

What on earth can they be thinking?

Some would think me damaged

or at least insecure

oh so needy

without love notes in my pocket.

Yet, my stance

my journey

the very essence of my said creativity

is not quite centered

when you are not within reach.

What can I say?

What excuses do I have?

Except...

it is what it is

that's all.

I am within that fairy tale

the one that little girls grew up dreaming about?

The ones with the white horse

the kiss that awakens...

a sleeping

damsel.

Goddess alert

keep your voice intact

poetry is never all that far

words that wind round dreams

unmet.

You my love

are like the breeze

of the words I want to say

I am understood

encouraged

lifted up

by you.

And I?

I love you.

I think that I would miss you

even if we had never met.

I think I would feel incomplete

never being able to figure out what was missing.

Lonely

for a song

that would never find its way to sound.

Like a rose in a vase without baby's breath

and ferns

a flower in a vase

without water

left to dry out.

Or maybe I'd just stay inside the garden

wondering

and no one would come to pick me

at all.

Yes~

I know...

that I would miss you

"even if we had never met."

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ABOUT Kathy Ostman-Magnusen: I am an artist, represented by Monkdogz Urban Art, New York. ORIGINAL ART may be purchased through Monkdogz: http://www.monkdogz.com/chelseagallery/artistart/M...

FREE ART GIFTS,suitable for children plus prints, giclees, cards, available on my website: http://www.kathysart.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kathy_Ostman-Magn...

My goodness! THANK YOU FOR SHARING THIS!

Cheimarie's link is below in the Other Artist's and Me link list

by Kathy Ostman-Magnusen

Resting her wings

she folded up her plans.

Lily took out all her drawings

ripped them from their pages

and left them on his table.

And then

she waited

for them to be forgotten

and...

they were.

All those rhythms

noted to lyrics

of a dance

of only a few memorized steps

for she never meant

to travel all that far

only as far as art.

Ever with her maps in place

plans to Paris

she would see

artists of the past

and how they froze their memories.

Maybe someday

Monet

Matisse.

Yet

it was too late in the day now

too late to remember promises

or off hand remarks

that were meant to be compliments

or at least encouraging words.

Paintings of women

no matter how beautiful

would never cross that lands

mark.

On a shelf she keeps a glass horse

she often thought of it being her escort

to some remote vision

but too much time was spent looking

daydreaming

until finally

she accepted its transparent

limitations.

Poor crystal statue

what was there to do

but cover it.

She found a silk scarf

a neighbor had given to her

for no reason at all

and after exiting that memory

of the day she had received it

decided it was a fitting coffin

no matter how wrinkled.

Once when the moon was still

she closed all her blinds

hiding from her neighbors.

Lily, such a funny fairy

tied a napkin over her ears

and waited for her glass horses

to come out dancing.

But of course

it never did.

So the fairy folded her wings

lest the music start again

with haunting lyrics

reminding her

that nothing comes all that easy

just as her glass horse had suspicioned.

Glancing again

at her drawings on the table

finally stained

with daily routines

and other books

of other ideas

past her own

she forgave those folded wings

from deep inside her heart.

Maybe some other day.

Thus she uncovered her efforts

her creations

and held them

to her bosom.

Twas a regrettable death.

by Kathy Ostman-Magnusen

copyright 2012

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The image is of my painting,

"Path To Pele"

40x30 oil on canvas

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ABOUT Kathy Ostman-Magnusen: I am an artist, represented by Monkdogz Urban Art, New York. ORIGINAL ART may be purchased through Monkdogz: http://www.monkdogz.com/chelseagallery/artistart/M...

My newest website: http://www.kathyostman-magnusen.com

By Steven Lambert

Concrete angels, statues and ornaments are created using rubber moulds. These moulds are an effective way of creating many things, but are especially effective when pouring concrete.

Rubber or latex moulds are used because they reproduce details in an object to a very high standard. They have proved to be more flexible than any other casting material, such as plaster because they are easier to remove from the object you have cast.

In terms of production, they are very popular because the mould can be used many times, in a production cycle.

When it comes to making concrete Angels, there are 3 methods of making a rubber mould. Pouring, spraying or brushing on with liquid rubber.

With Polyurethane rubbers, they can be brushed, poured or sprayed on a model. These are idea for concrete angels, as they are easy to use, have a good resistance to abrasion, and are fairly cheap. But they can be more adhesive than other rubber types of mould, so they can be difficult to remove from the model.

The model is placed in a containment field, and made secure. It is then covered with a releasing agent, which allows it to be more easily removed from the finished mould. The rubber is poured into the containment field, then allowed to harden. Finally the finished mould is pulled away from the model.

Another technique is brushing. Here the model can be coated with several layers of rubber by brushing it on. Letting each dry before applying the next. The same is true when it comes to using a sprayer to do the same job. These are often used when it comes to dealing with very large objects. Often used on churches, where the Angels cannot be easily moved or may crumble. The good thing here, is that the workers can have access to the model they are to copy, without having to take it away. What is more, spraying the coating on, can ensure a more even surface than using a brush. The only down side, is the expense of the sprayer, which might be costly.

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I grew up with this music.. so odd to hear it again, the emotions it stirs.

The CD to this song is posted below

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Today I feel like pleasing you more than before

Today I know what I want to do but I don't know what for

To be living for you is all I want to do

To be loving you it'll all be there when my dreams come true

Today you'll make me say that I somehow have changed

Today you'll look into my eyes, I'm just not the same

To be anymore than all I am would be a lie

I'm so full of love I could burst apart and start to cry

Today everything you want, I swear it all will come true

Today I realize how much I'm in love with you

With you standing here I could tell the world what it means to love

To go on from here I can't use words, they don't say enough

Please, please listen to me

It's taken so long to come true

And it's all for you

all for you....

by Gail Leino

Almost every girl dreams of being a fairy princess, and what better way to celebrate your magical girl than by throwing her a fairy princess party? Fairy princess parties can easily be done on a tight budget, all it takes is imagination.

Invitations to the fairy princess party could be designed as scrolls announcing the ball in the Kingdom of Princess Annie. These scrolls could be rolled up and hand delivered to each guests as a clever way to kick off the theme. Once the children arrive they can each be announced properly as Lady of their last name and enter the room where the party is to be held.

After settling down at the fairy princess party the guests can play dress up with tiaras, feather boas and pairs of mom's high heels. Roll construction paper into a cone shape and have ribbon coming out of the top as a lovely hat for the fairy princess. Make sure to staple elastic string to ensure the hat stays on the head of every princess.

Of course, no fairy princess party is complete without tea time. Make peanut butter and jelly sandwiches the cut them into round shapes as tea sandwiches. A biscuit cutter makes cutting the sandwiches a breeze. Seat the princesses around the table with a teacup and saucer in front of them. Use a china or plastic replica tea kettle to pour apple or grape juice into the teacups. Serve the sandwiches and cookies for tea time.

Fairy princess parties create memories for lifetimes, bring home the dream of your daughter at her next birthday party.

by Gail Leino

Mrs. Party... Gail Leino takes a common sense approach to planning and organizing events, celebrations and holiday parties with unique ideas for Fairy Princess party supplies and fun free educational party games. She explains proper etiquette and living a healthy life while also teaching organizational skills and fun facts. The Party Supplies Shop has lots of party ideas with hundreds of free holiday printable games and free birthday party activities. Over 100 adorable Theme Parties to fit your birthday celebration, holiday event, or "just because" parties is at the Party Theme Shop. Party themes include cartoon characters, sports, movie, TV shows, luau, western, holidays, and unique crazy fun theme ideas.

Check out her sites:

http://partysuppliesshop.com/fairy-princess/

http://party-games-etc.com/

http://partythemeshop.com/

Have the BEST Pixie party ever!

by Kathy Ostman-Magnusen

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Sometimes love does not come easy

rosebuds do not unfold...

they hesitate.

Unsure of their future...

they hesitate

and watch for the wind.

Hearing the howl of a wolf

within the telling moon

and eternities dark skyline

life inside a rosebud might just

wait in a

not yet lived

sigh.

Princes are born to seek out treasures

and yet

there are no rules around their virtues

or lack of them.

Sometimes

kindness does not come at all

within a predestined soul.

Kings creating rules

might not make boundaries

around evil or goodness

so.

Thus a story begins

a Caitiff seeking out his treasure

not worthy of sainthood

yet

no one told him so.

No

no one spoke

at all.

He came to melt the night

and seek the blood of strangers.

Unsuspecting wanderers

changelings

with wings

and one in-particular

who did not know her own worth.

There are fairies

knowing nothing of legends

and the weeping

of roses

who through no true fault of their own

are indeed

forever

unfolded.

Flowers who hesitated

feeling uneasy

said no

to the worlds light

and thus

chose

to never know their breath

or a fulfilled life.

Cowardly man

longed to capture

just

one

rose-less

unsuspecting spec of magic

and take unto him

an angelic being

for his moral-less needs.

Just one.

This then I will tell you

as it was told to me

and as best I can remember

of a flock of angelic fairies

and their destined plight.

Tis a remarkable task

to decipher the moon

tunes

against the sky

and to tell it

to you.

Here then is what was told

to me

of a certain delicate in mind

fairy.

She did indeed

after seeing no other choice presented

unquestionably

give her very tiny life

for the scheme

of a Caitiff.

Dear Lily was a worrier

she chanted out loud

songs from her past

and lessons she had learned

the hard way.

And she wanted

more than anything

to give back to life

the miracles

that she had thrown away.

This was her chance

she thought

the Caitiff can take 'me'

and the rest

will not be lost.

And so it was

she stood upon a unfolded roses petal

stretched her arms out

singing

Caitiff take me

I will be your restored

joke

upon this land you may laugh at me

and once I'm taken

this destiny

will be

complete.

And so he did

take that fairy from her mind

and after he had done all

left her to her own

songs to pitifully

recall.

He then set her inside an unsung rose

and left her fragile body

forever to lie

waiting

in solemn

repose.

Within a single petal

of every flower you see

be sure to notice

there might just be

a fairy

waiting

for you

to set

her

free.

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ABOUT Kathy Ostman-Magnusen: I am an artist, represented by Monkdogz Urban Art, New York. ORIGINAL ART may be purchased through Monkdogz: http://www.monkdogz.com/chelseagallery/artistart/M... My newest website: http://www.kathyostman-magnusen.com

The image is of my sculpture "Bleeding Wings 5"

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by Mandy Oja

Who doesn't love a beautiful creamy porcelain faced doll dressed in long flowing dresses of so long ago?

Today the antique dolls available on the market were made by a handful of doll makers who were from either France or Germany, where the art of doll making was at its peak in the years between 1840 and 1930.

During these years there emerged in France a young man by the name of Leon Casimir Bru, the youngest son of a weaver. The young Bru went to work for a doll maker in Paris... and history began there. Soon after he began in the work of doll making, Bru opened his own doll manufacturing company. His first dolls resembled other doll makers creations, but his later dolls, 1870 and on, carried a signature mark of Bru as he worked to stand out from the many other makers of the time.

Today we have the highly sought after, highly exquisite, highly expensive Bru dolls, a name every doll collector longs to have in his collection.

Also emerging in France at that time, or sometime before Bru, was Francois Jumeau. He married into the doll business, marrying the niece of a doll maker. When Jumeau's wife died, he opened his own doll company, his own porcelain factory, and made the bebe dolls that became so popular in those times and are so popular now... a doll that looked like a little girl rather than like an adult woman.

The antique Jumeau doll today is highly prized for its delicate, exquisite beauty, which was manufactured between the years of 1972 to 1899.

In Germany during those years the German doll makers were just as busy. They were probably led by J.D. Kestner who was making dolls as early as 1820. By 1860, after Kestner had died and his grandson took over the business. They bought their own porcelain factory to make porcelain doll heads. They continued to make dolls until 1938.

Armand Marseille was another German doll maker whose dolls are highly prized by antique doll collectors today. Marseille was one of the largest and best known porcelain doll head makers. Born in St. Petersburg, Russia in 1856, he emmigrated to Germany with his family ca. 1860 and his doll business was going strong by 1886 after he bought a toy factory and a porcelain factory, producing 1000 doll heads a day from 1900 - 1930. All types of dolls were made there; bisque child, baby, lady and character dolls with kid leather bodies.

As Marseille worked, so did Heinrich Handwerck, who was beginning his doll making career in 1876. In 1902 Kammer and Reinhardt bought Handwerck out and produced the Handwerck dolls until 1832. The original dolls by Handwerck were designed by Handwerck but produced by Simon and Halbig and marked by very high quality that continued under Kammer and Reinhardt.

Ernst Kammer and Franz Reinhardt founded the Kammer and Reinhardt doll company in 1886 in Waltershausen, Thuringia, Germany. Designers of their own heads, they had them produced by Simon and Halbig as they did not own a porcelain factory. As stated above, they purchased the Handwerck company and then bought the Simon and Halbig company as well.

Ernst Heubach, the son of a weaver, entered the world of doll making when he married the daughter of Armand Marseille. In 1919. The two companies, Heubach and Marseille, merged and became the United Porcelain Factory of Koppelsdorf, Germany. The companies went their own ways once more in 1939.

The exquisite dolls made so long ago by this handful of French and German doll makers are now searched for by serious collectors of the time.

Seeing the beautiful faces with the painted or glass eyes looking straight at you with a sense of wisdom that a doll cannot really have... makes you feel the essence of the doll maker himself has been made a real part of each doll.

Whether you are a collector or not go here to enjoy the wonderful beauty of antique dolls made so long ago and that generations have enjoyed. It is your turn now.

by Mandy Oja

Check out her wonderful Antique Doll Shop At:

http://theantiquedollshop.com/

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