The TAFA Team's Catalog of Shops: Art Dolls and Animals

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. 

Today's focus:  Art Dolls and Animals

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:

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.

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.

The TAFA Team's Catalog of Shops: Art Dolls and Animals

African Textile Stamps on Etsy: Oshiwa Designs

Oshiwa Designs, a small workshop in Namibia, carves textile stamps and frames.  The designs are all original, inspired by cultural symbolism, nature and the local environment.  Rayela Art is now the distributor for Oshiwa in North America.  Our main selling platform is through our new store on Etsy, www.oshiwa.etsy.com.

The stamps can be used on fabric or paper, using ink or wax.  Ceramic artists can also use them to imprint into clay.  They are sold either as single stamps or as sets which have been designed to compliment each other.  Prices are based on the size of the stamp, down to the square inch.  The formula covers cost of supplies, operating costs and provides a living wage for the carvers.  The sets are priced at a 15% discount off of this formula.  The stamps made of wawa wood, support a sustainable harvesting project in Ghana.

The Oshiwa Namibia Team

 

 

 

 

 

We hope that you will enjoy these stamps and spread the word about Oshiwa.  They are a wonderful group and by using the stamps, you will be supporting a fair trade effort.

Links:

Read past articles on Oshiwa

Oshiwa's website

Oshiwa's profile on TAFA

African Textile Stamps on Etsy: Oshiwa Designs

Doggie Love, a new Rayela Art dogfood paper bag

"Doggie Love" a candywrapper bag made with 
dogfood bags, by Rayela Art.

 This is the third bag or purse I have made upcycling with dogfood bags.  Until recently, I had four dogs, so I have plenty of these bags stored up, ready to transform into "art" (or craft or whatever...).  My love for these dogs has brought a lot of pain recently as one of them bit a utility man (who came into my yard without my permission...) and another has been diagnosed with lymphoma.  

Sheba bit the water man and then she bit the dust.

Sheba lost her life because of that bite and now lies planted under a little tree in my yard.  It's a horrible thing to put a healthy dog down!  She was six and had never bit anyone before.  But, she did have a kill instinct and had attacked two smaller dogs in the past and killed a cat.  99% of the time, she was a great little dog, smart, full of tricks, willing to please, and a funny girl with her own special antics.

Sheba was born in my apartment in Chicago.

Now there is Mitchie, my oldest, who was the gallery dog in Chicago.  Supposedly a boxer/lab mix according to the shelter he came from, we have had ten great years together.

Mitchie as an old dude in Kentucky.

Younger days at Dara Tribal Village.

Mitchie made the Sun Times in Chicago.  

He had a huge following of people 

who would stop in to see him.

These dogs, Sheba, Mitchie, along with Laila and Juba, are spoiled, well loved, and have been through a lot with me over the years.  Yes, I know they are "just" dogs, but, in my world they have a lot more empathy, humor and consideration than many of the people I see around me.  They give me affection and protection in an "iffy" neighborhood.  I'm sorry that the water man got bit.  Fortunately, I have renter's insurance and he will get a nice settlement from them.  But, that doesn't seem to be enough as he drags me through court, making an awful situation even worse.

 "Doggie Love", side view.

I finished "Doggie Love" shortly before the pain started with Sheba and Mitchie, so it is tied in my mind to this difficult time.  This technique is widely known as the "candywrapper technique".  It involves cutting small rectangles of paper and folding them then interlocking them together into long lines.  Those are then sewn to each other.

 "Doggy Love" detail, by Rayela Art.

 I like to incorporate beads and findings into these bags, altering the surface and adding texture.  So far, I am the only one that I know of who does this to these bags.  On this one, I used African coconut discs, Ethiopian copper and soapstone beads.

 

This was the first project where I also incorporated fabric.  I wanted the piece to stand upright, like a vessel, so I made a fabric bottom for it.  Normally, the sides are sewn to each other at the bottom into a traditional purse shape.  There are many other ideas I want to play with to take this technique to new levels.  The folding is time consuming, but a perfect activity when I don't want to think.  I can sit and watch a movie and fold away.  You wouldn't believe how much paper a vessel like this takes!  There are probably eight or nine large dog food bags folded up into this piece, paper that would have otherwise ended up in a land fill.

Yes, my heart is heavy with the loss of my two dogs.  But, Juba and Laila will still be with me, so I will have many more bags to use up in the future!  By the way, Laila is Juba and Sheba's mom.  I found her all torn up in Chicago, pregnant.  

Juba and Laila, daughter and mother.  (??!!!???)

National Geographic had a great article, a couple of years ago, where they examined the relationship between dogs and humans.  Because we have lived so closely together for thousands of years, we have developed a symbiotic relationship.  Dogs will look ahead to where you are pointing, while wolves don't get it.  They just stare at the finger.  If you pet a dog, it lowers both your blood pressure and theirs!  Most dogs can learn 150 words.  Smart ones can learn 300.  I will always have dogs in my life.  But, I don't think I will go for four again.  One thing I learned was that it is really hard to control a pack, especially in an urban environment.  I miss Sheba, still counting out four treats, and I know I will cry when the time comes to say good-bye to Mitchie.  They definitely do not live long enough!  I am grateful for the time we have had, for the inspiration they give me, and for all the good memories I have of them.

Bye-bye, Mitchie and Sheba!

Click here for more posts on the other bags I have made and for information on the candywrapper weaving technique. 

Oh!  You want "Doggie Love"?  It's yours for $360.  20% off if you buy it before I list it on Etsy...

 Mitchie, Juba, Laila, Sheba and me...

.

Doggie Love, a new Rayela Art dogfood paper bag

Introducing Oshiwa Printing Blocks at the Paducah Quilt Show!

Handcarved textile stamps from Oshiwa, 

a carving group in Namibia.

Anita Brandt, founder of Oshiwa Designs, joined our Fiber Focus Group awhile back and approached me about using Rayela Art as the distributor for the textile stamps her carving group produces.  After several months of emailing back and forth, trying to figure out the logistics of such a partnership, we are almost ready to hit the market!  Last week, two huge boxes arrived at my doorstep loaded with the stamps.  Our first introduction to the public will be here in Paducah during the quilt show which starts next week.  If you are coming to Paducah, please visit the Rayela Art booth at 212 Broadway, housed in Antique Galleria.  Broadway is Paducah's main street, a short walk from the Quilt Museum and other downtown businesses.

The Oshiwa Namibia Team

Anita's team consists of a small group of talented carvers.  Each brings special skills and talents to the mix.  We will have more stories about each one in the future.  The stamps are their main focus, but they also have a booth in Namibia with other products they make including gorgeous picture frames, pillows and other crafts.  Distribution from Namibia to a larger market has been a major problem for Anita, so we are hoping that by working with Rayela Art, this problem will be solved.  At this point, we will start only with the stamps and later move on to the other possible products.

Oshiwa carved photo frame.

Maria sewing Oshiwa cusion covers.

Oshiwa cushion cover using stamped fabric.

The stamps are available as individual pieces as seen in the first photos or as sets.  We are still working out the pricing details.  Anita has been operating on a string budget with no salary for herself for years and years.  Is this a sustainable approach?  We need to be able to find a price point where they can meet their needs and which is affordable for the artists who will be our primary market.  

Oshiwa textile stamps sold as sets.

As sets, the stamps have jigsaw patterns that can be used to compliment each other.  All of the photos in this post show their distinctive African geometric patterns, but many also depict animals, both real and imaginary.  Some include the elephants, rhinos and snakes of Africa, while others are just funny creatures that are inside the carver's imagination.  Here are a couple of creature graphics that were created with the stamps:

Oshiwa creature designs using their textile stamps.

Oshiwa recently joined TAFA: The Textile and Fiber Art List and we will move into creating a greater online presence for the group once the Quilt Show is over.  We have a lot of work carved out for us: setting up a shop on Etsy, getting a blog going for the group, a facebook fan page, and so on.  Meanwhile, we could really use your feedback!  

• What is your reaction to the designs?  (Too ethnic?  Too African?  Or, just drop dead gorgeous?!!)
• Would you pay $2 per square inch for a stamp?
• What would you use the stamps for? (fabric, paper or clay?)
• What themes would interest you?
• Would you prefer to buy individual stamps or sets?

Any feedback that you can give us will be extremely helpful as we plan out our next steps.  Paula Benjaminson has used the Oshiwa stamps in her workshops with great success.  Visit her blog to see examples of how contemporary fiber artists have incorporated these designs into their work.  And, be sure to leave some nice words for the carvers, as well.  Anita will pass your words on to them and an encouraging pat on the back is always a nice gesture!

For more information, visit Oshiwa.com.

Introducing Oshiwa Printing Blocks at the Paducah Quilt Show!

Hello, World! Best National Geographic Photos of 2008

These photos are going around on an e-mail, so some of you may have seen them. But, they are so beautiful and such a good reminder of what a beautiful, wondrous world we live in- I just had to post them!

My brother has been giving me a subscription to National Geographic for years as my Christmas present. I am so thankful for the work they do, for their documentation and support of research projects around the world. May we really begin to see some real environmental protection in 2009!

Hello, World! Best National Geographic Photos of 2008

Prayer Rugs, Kilims & Suzanis, A Few of My Favorite Things by Catherine Salter Bayar

When I was a very young girl, my mom took my brother and me to the movie theater to see “The Sound of Music”. We loved it so much that we left the theater, drove over to pick my dad up from work, and went right back to see it a second time. The best part of the story was Julie Andrews cheering up unhappy children by singing, “Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens…” I learned then that remembering the little things I most loved was a great way to lift my spirits out of the doldrums. Perhaps that’s why I collect vintage textiles – they remind me of the best things in life.

Turkish Prayer Rug

Like this small prayer rug, probably woven by a girl not a lot older than I was when I saw that movie. Turkish village girls would start learning to weave practically as soon as they could walk and talk, so that by the time they were old enough to marry, their dowries would be complete.

Prayer Rug Tree of Life Medallion

Prayer rugs were not only good training for larger carpets; they were something every person in the home would need for their prayers five times a day. This central medallion is full of Tree of Life symbolism, to remind those who saw it to appreciate their connectedness to all those relatives in the village who nurtured their roots in life.


Hearts, floral vines and zigzags of fresh water were other reminders, along with the waxing and waning moons over the mountains as a sign of how fast time flies.

Long Kurdish Kilim Runner

Near Mount Ararat in Eastern Anatolia, Kurdish tribes would weave pairs of animals into their colorful wool kilims to recall the story of how Noah was commanded by God to collect two of every animal on the earth and take them along in the Ark.

Animals Depicted in the Kilim,
Important in the Weaver's Life

Chickens and ducks must have been an important part of this weaver’s daily life, though all sorts of farm animals are depicted here.

Woven Flowers, Representing Beauty and Abundance

And of course, flowers were almost always woven in, as a sign of appreciation for abundance and beauty. But my favorites are suzanis, especially this one:

40 Yr Old Suzani

Embroidered in Central Asia more than 40 years ago, it is a veritable Garden of Eden. Comprised entirely of flowers, leaves and tendrils in hot pinks, oranges and pungent greens, just looking at it makes me smile.


The embroiderer who drew the pattern was ambitious in the amount of detail she added. She and the friends who must have helped her did not complete stitching all the curling bits and pieces, so ink marks are still evident.

Ink marks still evident on this Suzani from the 1960's.

What fiber artist can’t relate to starting such a large project and never getting it all done?

I marvel that the backs of suzanis look nearly as good as the fronts:

The backs of Suzani embroideries are almost as solid as the fronts.

The edges are bound in a contrasting color cotton and machine stitched, but in controlled wavy patterns that would not be so easy to do.


The embroiderers did manage to stitch outlines around the border leaves. My favorite details are the chain stitched bands that enclose the border, so precisely executed they look knitted.

Scorch marks from an iron add history and character to this suzani.

Alas, someone once took a too-hot iron to the heavy sateen that I think is silk, though it may well be cotton…I’ve never snipped a piece to burn and find out. Much of the pale background is covered with scorch marks, and there are occasional stains that show that I’m not the first woman to love this suzani. Though disparaged in today’s world in which everything and everyone must be without flaw, to me, this suzani’s imperfections give it an extra layer of character on top of the beautiful embroidery. Like my favorite things in life, I’ll take the bitter with the sweet.

These three treasures can be found in my Etsy shop, along with lots of other vintage fiber art finds. Click on their names to visit the listing:

Prayer Rug

Ararat Kilim Runner

Suzani

Catherine Salter Bayar lives with her husband Abit in Selcuk, near Ephesus, Turkey, where they own a vintage textile shop and a water pipe & wine bar. A regular contributor of this blog, Catherine is also a member of our Fiber Focus group. She is currently working on a book on Turkish textiles. Visit Catherine and Abit at www.bazaarbayar.com or www.bazaarbayar.etsy.com.




Visit us: Ataturk Mahallesi, Siegburg Caddesi, 3 Selcuk 35920 Izmir Turkey
Phone: 90.232.892.6508

Prayer Rugs, Kilims & Suzanis, A Few of My Favorite Things by Catherine Salter Bayar