A little more about the Dresden figurines I have made...

I searched and bought all kinds of reference books that documented victorian fashions, like "Godey's Ladies Book", so that I could design my figurines with as much detail and authenticity as I could. I scoured antique shops and thrift stores for items of vintage fabric that I could use in my art. I began specializing in making cake tops and figurines reproducing current brides in their wedding dresses, which was very special, because I figured that they might someday become family heirlooms for my customers. At the request of several of my collectors, I developed a series of miniature figurines representing each month of the year. The small figurine in the picture was the one for May - Mother's Day. But, after all those years of doing this artform, my wrists started bothering me and I was actually getting a little "burned out". My "creative love" had become a business and was no longer the relaxing outlet for me that it had been. I decided to pack up my molds, clay, fabrics, etc. and take a "breather". That "breather" has extended into a little over 10 years now, with me making only a few pieces in that period. I'm not sure how heavily I will ever get back into it, but I'm not at the point of clearing out my supplies, and I do want to make sure that each of my grandchildren have one as they get older. I hope you will enjoy seeing some of my figurines, remembering that these are 100% porcelain.....there is no fabric remaining on any of them.

How my creative journey began......

I’ve always been active in crafts, artwork, cooking and sewing. Back in my very domestic years, I had sewn most of my and my daughters clothing, and (honestly), churned our own butter, made all of our bread, etc. whewww.....I'm glad that I discovered crafts and other artforms to bring me to my senses! I have learned so many artforms over the years.....wood carving, sand painting, pressed flowers, quilling, crochet, knitting, embroidery, stain glass, painting, etc., but none of them "stuck". I would work hard to really learn to do them well, and then lose interest. When we moved to southern MN from the Iron Range where we had lived most of our lives, I opened a ceramic shop and taught, as well as providing greenware for other area shops. I did this for about 5 years and started becoming bored again. I had the oportunity to learn the basics of an old antique art form.....Dresden porcelain lace draping. This is a method of turning cotton laces and fibers into 100% porcelain and in the process creating beautiful, decorative victorian figurines, bells, thimbles, etc. The process is painstaking, requiring a lot of patience, time, and many firings... but the results are amazing! You would think that the original lace was still there! I decided that I loved the challenge and developed more advanced techniques and then taught the art to others. The MN Renaissance people had a Christmas event they called the Victorian Christmas. When they found out about me, I was invited to join it and then, the Renaissance Festival itself. For over 10 years, I was involved in the MN Renaissance Festival selling and demonstrating my Dresden porcelain lace draping.