My friend, Pirk, posted a note to the International FreeForm Fiber Arts group, that has triggered all kinds of inspiration for the members of the group- me included!
Pirk posted the link to the Zentangle website: Zentangle (a delightful system of creating spectacular doodles based on working with constructed patterns.)
and a link to her flickr pics of her Zentangle drawn doodles and how she has interpreted them as crochet scrumbles (freeform pieces). Pirk’s links: Flickr and Blog
copyright Noreen Crone-Findlay
Doodling has long been
an important part
of my design process.
In fact, for lots of years
I taught workshops
about using doodling
as inspiration in doll making.
I even included a whole
chapter on the importance
of doodling, in my book:
Soul Mate Dolls: Dollmaking as a Healing Art.
copyright Noreen Crone-Findlay
This doodle doll
is a collaboration
between my husband
and myself.
We made it 4 years ago.
He turned her on the lathe
and I doodled and burned the
patterns onto her.
I love using twigs
for arms and legs on
dolls.
I didn’t realize how much
copyright Noreen Crone-Findlay
influence the doodled lathe turned doll was having on me,
when I was working on
my newest Doodle Doll.
After making the
Doodle Doll with
spool knitted arms and
legs for this post:
Link to first Doodle Doll post,
I assumed that I would
be spool knitting the arms
and legs for this Doodle Doll,
who I have named: ‘Potentianna’
(in honour of new possibilities)
copyright Noreen Crone-Findlay
I was just so
wrong about
spool knitted arms and legs
for Potentianna!
I spool knitted several
cords, with different colors,
different weights…
but, nope.
Potentianna simply refused
them.
I tried tatting them.
I spent hours spool knitting
and tatting.
To no avail. Same response.
A polite but firm, ‘No thank you!’
She was very firm about what she wanted, but it took me awhile to hear what she had to say.
What she wanted was: Twigs.
Yep. Twigs and only twigs. Thank you very much.
As soon as I , pardon the pun, ‘twigged’ to that, things went swimmingly!
Same thing with her hat. I was sure that she needed a crown.
No way.
Several color combinations and different thread versions later, I finally got it that all she wanted was a little piece of something natural.
And, a fragment of abalone shell was perfect thank you very much.
And, so, Potentianna is now happily completely herself and is hanging on the wall of the studio, beckoning me to pick up my pens and start doodling her some sisters and friends and family….
Oh yes! speaking of friends! I need to mention some other friends who are seriously into doodling….
My friend, Margaret Bremner and I went to art school together a million years ago, and she’s just wonderful in every way. Her art is meditative, contemplative and just plain gorgeous: Link to Margaret
Margaret is so delighted with the Zentangle system of drawing that she is about to become a certified teacher. How neat is that?
And, one of my Artsy Blogger buddies, June, is also a champion doodler… definitely check out her beautiful work:
Link to June’s blog (and I REALLY do mean beautiful!)
So, whether you like to freeform in your doodling, or use your doodles for dollmaking, like I do,or your crochet, like Pirk, or your mandalas, or are intrigued by the delightful possibilities of the Zentangle system, I encourage you to pick up you pens and pencils and get doodling!
Happiness awaits…. it’s right at the tip of your pencil….
11 Comments
March 17, 2010 at 1:01 pm
I learned something new about you today, Noreen! Though thinking back I should have recognized your love of (and talent at) doodling long ago. You even taught it?! How fun.
I agree about June – a definite champion doodler
March 18, 2010 at 9:54 pm
Hi Eileen
) Doodling is so good for the soul…..
Yep, not only taught it in workshops, but wrote about it in my book, Soul Mate Dolls: Dollmaking as a healing art.
And, yes, I love June’s drawings… they are so beautiful!
March 19, 2010 at 5:24 am
Oh, that is *so* funny! I just posted about tangles this week too. I’m telling you, there is something in the air…
March 19, 2010 at 6:35 am
Hi Noreen,
Your blog has been selected as one of the most Kreativ Bloggers. You can find out all about it and collect your award at The Artful Crafter blog.
Congratulations!
xoxo
March 19, 2010 at 2:38 pm
[...] Talks Crafts says, “Doodling is so much more than mindless twiddling with a pencil- it can be the source of all kinds of design [...]
March 20, 2010 at 12:10 am
[...] Tottie Talks Crafts Doodling is so much more than mindless twiddling with a pencil- it can be the source of all kinds of design inspiration doodle-dolls-and-friends-who-zentangle [...]
March 20, 2010 at 3:11 am
[...] At Tottie Talks Crafts Noreen talks about Zentangling (something I’d really like to try) and how doodling is so much more than mindless twiddling with a pencil- it can be a great source of design inspiration. [...]
March 20, 2010 at 9:08 am
It’s so satisfying when you finally figure out what a piece needs! Boy, it can sure be frustrating until it happens though…
March 20, 2010 at 1:37 pm
Aww, ladies, you are too sweet….I admit to doodling an awful lot…but champion…I dunno. They are enjoyable though…and I am having great fun giving them away. I love both of these dolls, and I love the twigs…sometimes, you just have no choice in what you go with, it is as though the item has very specific thoughts about how it wants to be born.
March 20, 2010 at 3:42 pm
Your work is gorgeous, June, just accept that we have very good taste! LOL
And, I agree… I find that dolls are usually quite specific in what direction they want to go. It’s fascinating!
Keep those pens flying…. I love what pours out of them!
March 22, 2010 at 12:00 pm
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