Go Ask Alice Press

This article was in the Santa Barbara News Press Last week...Ted Mills wrote kindly about plushies, etsy, and the handmade movement, yeay! :-)

Click on the image to get a larger, readable image.

Scrumptious Delight's Down Goes Alice got a whole half page! Go Becky! They also had a nice photo of Needling's Alice and White Rabbit

Walk thru the Go Ask Alice Plush Show

Thank you Needlers who were in the Go Ask Alice show! We had a great opening, and I will be doing more shows in the future!

Please visit my Youtube for more videos, and my blog for photos! :-)

http://www.youtube.com/user/thedollhead

Go Ask Alice

I'm finally ready to reveal the pieces I made for the awesome Go Ask Alice show! I decided to make the Queen of Hearts, Alice, and Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum. I envisioned the Queen of Hearts as a nasty sea monster who captured Alice:

The Queen herself is vaguely heart-shaped, and she has heart-shaped pupils and suckers, as well as heart-shaped jewels on her crown.

I based my Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum on the John Tenniel illustrations from the first edition of Alice in Wonderland.

I actually used my owl pattern, enlarged, for their general shape (Alice also uses my owl pattern, but much smaller), and then I just added arms and legs. I was really nervous about embroidering the faces since I've never made anything remotely human-looking before, but I am rather pleased with how they came out.

I decided to also make sailor hats for Tweedle Dum and Tweedle Dee, to more closely tie them to the Queen of Hearts piece.

And here's the whole gang together:

I've long been a fan of Alice in Wonderland (I even wrote my undergrad thesis paper on the tale, because I'm that nerdy), so I'm more excited than usual to be participating in this show. Many, many thanks to Cimmi for curating! If you're in the Santa Barbara area, please go check it out (and take lots of pictures!). Visit the Paul Cumes Fine Art Gallery website for more info.

Go Ask Alice Doll and Plush Art Show in Santa Barbara

Hi Needlers, The Go Ask Alice Doll and Plush Show Mad Tea Party Reception is coming up on December 5th! If you are in the Santa Barbara area I hope that you can make it! Tell you friends! The tea party will be co-hosted by the fabulous Loop & Leaf

The show opens Dec 5th and runs through Jan 7th 2010.

Artists include-
Lana Crooks
Yummy Pancake
9-Kei
Jenny Harada
Children of Eve
Heather Saunders/Needlings
Chris Creatures
Dan Levin
The Raggy Rat
Felt Mistress
HamsterandHIPPO
Absolutely Small
Follow the White Rabbit
FuzFrenzy
BeadDream
Plushroom Soup
Kate Savage
Little Critters
IsGood
Leeanna Butcher
Scumptious Delights
Moon’s Creations
….and more!!!

For information about Paul Cumes Fine Art visit the gallery blog- artsantabarbara.blogspot.com

Who's Getting Excited for Go Ask Alice?

(photo & plush by Yummy Pancake)


I know I am!
For those of you who haven't heard of this awesome plush art show yet, here's the scoop:
20+ ARTISTS GET CURIOUSER AND CURIOUSER
Inspired by the classic tale Alice in Wonderland, 25 artists from around the world have created unique interpretations of their favorite Alice in Wonderland characters for this creative art show. Come prepared to be amazed by numerous one of a kind Cheshire Cats, Mad Hatters, Alices, White Rabbits and Wonderland characters galore!!! The show will include "dolls" in every form; sculpted, beaded, wooden, amigurumi, mixed media and tons of fabric and plush art. With work ranging from the surreal to the cute, this show will be fun for art collectors, doll lovers, holiday shoppers, kids at heart and kids too!

(photo & plush by Leanna Butcher)
Go Ask Alice Artists include; Yummy Pancake, 9-Kei, Jenny Harada, Heather Saunders/Needlings, Chris Creatures, Dan Levin, The Raggy Rat, Felt Mistress, HamsterandHIPPO, Absolutely Small, Follow the White Rabbit, FuzFrenzy, BeadDream, Plushroom Soup. Kate Savage, Little Critters, Children of Eve, IsGood, Leeanna Butcher, Scumptious Delights, Moon’s Creations ….and more!!!

MAD TEA PARTY RECEPTION
Paul Cumes Fine Art will be hosting a fun and fabulous event to open the Go Ask Alice Doll and Plush Show. Join us from 6-pm to 9pm Dec 5th for a Mad Tea Party themed opening reception featuring delectable truffles from Jessica Foster Confections, teas, champagne and cupcakes!

(photo & plush by Felt Mistress)
PAUL CUMES FINE ART GALLERY
Paul Cumes Fine Art is operated by local artist Paul Cumes and his wife, Cimmi. Currently Paul Cumes is showing oil paintings and sculptures, and his gallery often hosts art by Santa Barbara’s favorite artists. Located just across the street from the Santa Barbara County Courthouse Sunken Gardens at 131 East Anapamu Street.

For information about Paul Cumes Fine Art visit the gallery blog-
http://artsantabarbara.blogspot.com


(Photo & plush by Cimmi Cumes)

Go Ask Alice.....

Hi Needlers, I haven't posted for awhile due to being ridiculously busy, but I wanted to say I am getting super excited about the upcoming Alice in Wonderland themed doll and plush show we are organizing at me and my dear husband's newly opened gallery Paul Cumes Fine Art..

down the rabbit hole!!!

So far I've made an Alice and a Cheshire Cat. I can't wait to see what all the other artists in the show will be making! The Raggy Rat sent me pictures of a gorgeous dormouse in progress...yeay! Check out her blog The Raggy Rat to see him, he is mighty cute. The lovely and talented Santa Barbara based doll maker Isgood has made a white rabbit. :-)

Save the date if you are in the Santa Barbara area, we will be having a Mad Tea Party themed opening event on December 5th...and you are invited to see the art and feast madly on gourmet chocolates by Jessica Foster Confections, cupcakes, champers and of course delicious tea!!!

The show will be up at the gallery until the first week of Jan and I will post mass amounts of photos, video, etc etc for all to enjoy...