Hi Everyone! Linda Kittmer here today.
A while back I was looking for something online when I stumbled across paper doll apps for use on smart phones and tablets. I couldn't believe it! It got me thinking about all the fun I had as a kid, playing with my friends and our paper paper dolls. We spent hours with markers, paint, pencil crayons, paper and glue, and any number of other art supplies, designing and creating our own clothes for those wonderfully simple dolls.
I just can't see an app of a 'virtual' paper doll allowing for the same kind of creative play...and so, this mixed media fibre art piece, called Play Unplugged, began.


I added some stamped images of Queen Anne's lace using rubber stamps and StazOn ink. This background was then layered with batting and extensively stitched using variegated thread and a series of lines running from side to side. I switched to black thread and thread sketched over the stamped images to make them stand out and give them more texture.

I used black acrylic paint and a make-up sponge to print Sue's design on some of my hand dyed cottons. Those were then roughly cut out and attached to some white canvas with fusible webbing. This allowed me to cut them out along the edges of the dress design, adding the white 'paper tabs' that traditional paper doll clothes have.
I arranged all of the dresses and the doll on the background and carefully free motion stitched around the outside edges using black thread. I left the white tabs loose so that they move freely and stick up off of the background.
The final step was to use a Micron pen to write a message all around the edges of the dresses and doll, which was then free motion stitched, again using black thread. This is some pretty fussy free motion stitching with such small text, but the added texture of the thread really makes the words pop.

The text reads: Kids don't need paper doll apps for smart phones and tablets! They need paper and paint and markers and glue. Let them explore their own incredible imagination. Let them design. Let them play unplugged!
The finished piece has been mounted on a pre-stretched canvas.
I hope I've inspired you to explore the use of StencilGirl stencils
in your fibre art and mixed-media work.
Is a fantastic canvas, love it!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much.
DeleteThis is just TOO CUTE, Linda!
ReplyDeleteThanks Terri!
DeleteYes, you have inspired me! What a fantastic piece you've made with some very fun stencils!
ReplyDeleteThanks Carolyn. Aren't those dress stencils adorable?!
DeleteThis is just fantastic and inspirational. I love your colors too!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Jessica. It was a lot of fun to work on.
DeleteHow recent my childhood seems when I recall paper dolls. Thanks for that.
ReplyDeleteYes, I too recall hours of fun play with those wonderfully simple 'toys'.
DeleteThis is absolutely incredible! Love your use of all the text! Great stitching job! This is truly a piece of art! TFS!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Barbara.
DeleteOh my - just love this!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks Jean.
DeleteFantastic saying. I love what you created here.
ReplyDeleteThanks Monica. My niece just 'unplugged' her three kids during the week, restricting them to electronics for only a short allotted time on weekends and she's seeing so much more creative and active play already!
DeleteSo adorable and it makes me want to throw out all our techie stuff and start coloring and cutting! Lol. Except all of that techie stuff helps me pay the bills. Darn it. I rather play. Thanks for such a sweet canvas.
ReplyDeleteThanks Laura. The techie stuff is great, but for kids we really need to monitor how much time is spent 'plugged in' and remember the importance of the creative and active play that happens when we unplug them for most of the time!
DeleteThank you Susi.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful inspiration!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteJust stumbled across your site and found this. Beautiful work! I so loved my paper dolls as a girl and you have inspired me to make my own canvas. I can't thank you enough for sharing your wonderful creativity.
ReplyDelete