Friday, April 15, 2011

Package Exchange - "The Private Life of a Cat" ~ Kokeshi Doll #1

I was first introduced to Martin via Sandra, and immediately fell in love with his photographs.  His photos are inspiring - each one of them beautiful, tranquil and soft but with a tiny hint of melancholy moodiness.  Perhaps his photography resonates with me in how I perceive my own memories and my possible feelings towards Europe.

Please have a look at his recent self published magazine "Sova". He is an amazing photographer, and brilliant artist/designer and needless to say, when he asked to do a package exchange, I was delighted.

As part of the exchange, I decided to paint on a blank Japanese Kokeshi Doll.  I personalized the doll to Martin's blog, "The Private Life of a Cat", and literally used his idea of 'him being a cat'.

Please bear with me the (lengthy) process.

Rough sketch:


Blank doll:


Pencil sketched after the base coat:


Outlines:


Sooo, I need to fill the inside with some things...


Started with some felt (organs) and yarn (spine):


I sewed the lungs, heart and kidney to the yarn and glued it to the inside of the head:


First time experimenting with Sculpey:


Sculpted and baked items that Martin fancies (Sverige flag, pizza, a slice of cheese and kanelbullar):


Adding the red thready yarn for the insides (veins):


Assembled:


Homemade card....where I got a little carried away with the watercolour :P :


Varnished (multiple views here **except I forgot to take a pic of the personalized message on the bottom of the doll.... :S **):


Have a safe journey!

*meow*

12 comments:

  1. Great work Charlyn, love the card too!

    Thank you for the Youtube tip, what a movie :)

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  2. Elisabeth/www.finelittleday.com: Tack, dear!
    You're most welcome - I must've watched that video 10xs already....! ;S

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  3. Hej!
    I really like that little movie you left a link to at finelittleday. It is so heartbreakingand lovely. And I like it here as well. It's good for the cat to have a kanelbulle.

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  4. awww awwwawww!
    this is sooo lovely. tack så väldig mycket! your package (&this doll [&everything]) still makes my day(s)! it will get a very special place & only best treatment. the organs & the small lovely things inside (pizza, cheese & sverige) are also again breathtaking awww-ish. tack tack tack. thank you so very much*

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  5. Britt-Marie Oskarsson: Hej hej!
    Yes, I think the video is very beautiful and I'm glad you liked it too! :) Tack for visiting and for your super lovely comment. :)

    Martin: Heehee, you're most welcome! ;* xoxo

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  6. oh isn't this brilliant?! love love love.

    and thank you for wanting to maul my dog. he is so maulable and would love to have you come over! :)

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  7. I love this, I love it, I love him, I love love love~so great my dear friend! :)

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  8. kitchu: Aww, thanks! Hahaaa, I'll be right over! ;)
    Mia: You are the sweetest! Thank you dear! xoxo

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  9. That is the most adorable thing ever! How creative! I'm also hosting a Package Exchange over at my blog. Come join us! It will be fun! :)

       ♥ Teresa ♥
    - Pretty Dandy -

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  10. Teresa: Aww, thanks so much! I will check out your blog! :D

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  11. This is so sweet! Should keep my little sister busy during the summer vacation. My parents voted me in charge of her every morning, Man is it annoying.

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