Oh, I just love this face, created by Nancye Williams of Nancye's ART and Beautiful Junk. Her dolls just speak to me in more ways than one.
I met Nancye during my cancer journey here online, and she was always there encouraging me along the way and sending up prayers for me. I'll never forget all the support I received here on my blog during that difficult time. Forever my heart will be grateful for souls like hers.
I just discovered that Nancye is also conducting online workshops on Ning, teaching her fabulous dolls.
Nancyesartdolls.ning.com. Of course I had to join. I can't wait to create one of these, as I will always love dolls.
I thought it would be fun to ask Nancye some questions and share with you all, along with some pictures of her dolls.
I live in ice cold mn. I have always lived here expect for the short time I lived in Calif.
I have always been a doll maker. I started when I was very young and all my siblings got ill with TB. They all went to the hospital for 2 years. I was home alone and made dolls out of linoleum tubes. I dressed them in my clothes and and drew faces on them. I kept them in an old shed. I used to make clothes for my sister's Barbies later in my childhood.
Then I had some bad things happen in my life and I forgot who I was. After many years of surviving I rediscovered who I was and I started making dolls. I did not know why I wanted to make these little dolls but they called to me. I took a class in polymer clay and I fell in love. I was home again. I took a leap of faith and I quit my corporate job as an art director and prayed that I would be led. I was. That was over 18 years ago.
I am inspired by children. All children. I love the humor in their lives. I love the fact that even though life is hard at times, very hard, there is always a bit of humor if you look for it. Watch the silly babies and children. They know the TRUTH. Watch their eyes.That's why they're not born talking. They would tell the secrets.
I love faces, especially feminine faces.
I am also inspired by color, texture, grunge. I feel intensely. Kind of like I was born without skin.
I do sell my dolls. I have created many dolls that were manufactured in China and sold world wide for quite a few years. I have had contracts with gift companies for the past 10 years. Now with the changing times, I sell at Boutiques, Galleries, Ebay and on my blog, Nancye's ART and Beautiful Junk.
I also have an Etsy Store. I sell instructions now with online classes and booklets. I've also made a DVD of my Folk Art Doll Instructions.
My network is nancye's art dolls, a "Free to join" network and I have created Fee Playshops and Groups as well as Free swaps, groups, and information. My idea was to teach doll making for those of us trying to heal from life's bumps and bruises. At my age, I thought it was easier to use what I had...information and knowledge... than to try to get a real JOB. I wanted to do what I loved. I am led once again.
Thank you so much Nancye. And thank you for sharing your Playshops. I really think it is like having a wonderful art retreat right in our own art studios. Love it!!!!
