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| Colin's Creatures, Sheep made with tenderness... |
TAFA: The Textile and Fiber Art List was launched in February, 2010. As it has grown, now over 200 members, so have the members who have Etsy shops. About half of us use Etsy as our retail platform. We decided to organize as an Etsy Team (a program Etsy has for sellers to organize under themes or locations) and set up a blog where we can talk about what is important to us and where we can show off our shops. The blog has eight pages of shops, divided into themes and serves as our Team Catalog. Although many of us sell things that do not fit neatly into those categories, most of us do have a focus. I am introducing each of those categories here, hoping that this will encourage you to go over there and shop, shop, shop, until you drop! These eight pages have over 100 shops, filled with wonderful eye candy that will surely delight anyone who appreciates all the many techniques and traditions that are found in the needle and textile arts.
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| Geek Redhead Girl by Yermit |
For some reason, I have always been drawn to handmade dolls and animals, purchasing one here and there and ending up with a small collection. Most of mine are cultural dolls, but others called to me because of their unique look, technique or "spirit". I sew and make things and figured that I could make these 3-d pieces as well. One year, I decided I was going to make a bunch of funny teddy bears for all the kids I know. After I finished the first bear, I trashed the intention along with that poor, wretched piece of road kill. Point of story? It's not as easy as it seems to make two arms and two legs sit well on that body.... So, I have great respect for people who work with soft sculpture and one day, I hope to master the ability to do so as well!
I recently did a treasury that features several of our TAFA Art Dolls and Animals:
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| My Eyes Are On This Crazy Beautiful World |
I find it intriguing how fabric and other materials can be basically similar tools for different artists, but the way they are handled ends up in such different results. Of course, this is true of anything: art, music, dance... But, there is just something special about the right rendition of an art doll or animal, perhaps something that is buried in a treasured childhood memory, begging to live on.
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| Dragon House of Yuen supports efforts in hare rescue. |
Some of our soft sculptures are made for children. Orit Dotan makes dolls in the Montessori tradition. Others are intended to be seen as objects to be treasured, not played with. Whether appealing to the child in the home or the child within, Art Dolls and Animals is a wonderful category to explore. Visit each shop as they all have a huge variety even within their own shops.
Click here to visit our Art Dolls and Animals Page in our TAFA Team Catalog of Shops.
And, while you are there, click on the other tabs to see our other Team member shops. We aim to be the best in textiles and fiber art on Etsy!
All TAFA Team members are also members of TAFA: The Textile and Fiber Art List.
Interested in membership? Click here for more information.
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“Sing like no one's listening, love like you've never been hurt, dance like nobody's watching, and live like it's heaven on earth.”
“Whatever you say, say it with conviction.”
(Both by the master, Mark Twain)
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