Open cabinet

I’ve always wanted open shelves at home… Here is one of my favourites…

One more doll artist - Marlain Verhelst

Just before signing off for a few days… I thought I’d ask a question… Do you believe in fairy tales? Yes!! I’m still spellbound with the doll exhibition.. Here is featuring Marlain Verhelst, doll maker & artist from Netherlands. Please enter her world of dolls, fairies and animals. Her figures are so spectacular that you can tell a story behind each one of them. They will transport you to the world of stories & imagination. You will be as spellbound as me…. The one below is called… ‘Fly like a bird’… That’s how I feel today!!

I’m impressed about the online classes… go and check them out! I’m sure going to enroll after the summers and try my hands at Doll crafting!!

Camille Allen – Artist Dolls & Sculptures

This is the last post about the Doll Exhibition. I will leave you with my favourite artist – Camille Allen. This Canadian born artist learnt this art for 8 years!! She actually started or learnt making large life size dolls. Then one day, from bits of clay left over from a larger doll, she created a miniature baby. She loved this so much… that she continued to experiment and make them… Here are a few of her creations..

  

This is Camille Allen at work. Please read more about her…

While we stood there… she made the eyes, mouth and features of this little baby….

The babies are made of polymer clay. Once crafted, this clay has to be treated at high temperature of 265 to 275 deg F.

I’m off for a long weekend.. and will leave you with a few of her babies…. The details, the eyes, the mouth, the wrinkles… are truly the work of an extremely talented artist…

Japanese Doll Maker

Still at the Doll Exhibition... This Japanese doll maker was one of my favourites. His illustrations looked really easy and he could make one doll in about 15 minutes.

These are a few of his dolls on display. The white packet in the background is the clay he uses. He said it was special Japanese clay that did not need any treating. The moisture would make the clay hard / stiff & unbreakable when left exposed for 24 hours.

While I was there.... he was interacting with the kids and showing them how to make this boy -

Working on his hands...

Fixing the hands...

Can you see the little leg (on the table)... and he is working on the second one...

Final touches...

and the little boy was ready to run....

Isn't that so beautiful!!! The Japanese Doll maker made this look so easy, that he has truly inspired me to give it a shot....

Do you make dolls?? I'd love to see some pics!!

The Doll Exhibition

Yesterday I wandered off with the girls to the Doll Exhibition at the Dubai Festival City. It was an experience beyond words to see the doll makers & artists at work. Their work was so amazing... with such intricacy & attention to every detail.... that I really have no words to explain..

There were over 300 dolls on display from 15 talented artists from all over the world - Germany, Canada & Japan to name a few!! The exhibition includes different doll styles, doll making workshops & demo for kids as well.....

Some dolls were made of porcelain, papier-mache, clay, polymer clay (special doll making clay), special Japanese clay (that did not need any treating after modelling). Some were simply made of scrap material.

I love this with the cabbage dress - Look at the details - The ones that came out of a fairy tale -

The dolls with attitude - The cute baby dolls -

The pretty porcelain doll -

The papier mache cute ones -

The grumpy doll -

The detailed Japanese dolls -

I will feature two doll makers / artists here in the next few days.... so keep watching!!!

Tree Hotel by Tham + Videgard Hansson Arkitekter

Sometime last month I featured Tham + Videgard Hansson Architects ‘Ceiling of Decorated tiles’. Here is another architectural achievement – The Tree Hotel.

Stockholm-based architects Tham + Videgard Hansson Arkitekter have designed a hotel hidden in the trees, to be located in Harads, Sweden.

Aluminium structures will be hung around tree trunks and clad in mirrored glass. The units will be accessible by rope ladder or rope bridge, each providing accommodation for two people including a living room, double bed, small kitchen, bathroom and roof terrace.

 

Here’s some text from Tham + Videgard Hansson Arkitekter:

A tree hotel in the far north of Sweden-Harads.

The concept is to create a shelter up in the trees, a lightweight aluminium structure hung around a tree trunk, boxes clad in mirrored glass, 4×4x4 meters. The exterior reflects the surroundings and the sky, creating a camouflaged refuge. The interior is all made of plywood and the windows give a 360 degree view.

The functions provides a living for two people, a double bed, a small kitchen and bathroom, a living room and roof terrace. The access to the cabin is by a rope ladder or a rope bridge.

To prevent birds fly into the windows, transparent stickers, visible for birds, will be added to the facades.

Celebrating 100th posts….

Two of my blogger friends are celebrating their 100th posts this week with fabulous giveaways.

Go on… check these links.. and I hope you win!!

on Ennui

on The Key Bunch

Best of luck to you all…. Have a great weekend!!

Table Colours

While still on the top of Dekor itch from Sunday post. Here are a few different ways in which I keep my center table looking colourful…