What an artist does when she misses her family
As many of us - due to the pandemic related restrictions - I had to renounce celebrating the end of the year with my family living in Germany . This was especially hard as my youngest sister has two little ones with whom the “Christmas circus” would have been much more fun. But art has the power of making even hard times brighter. For this separated Christmas session, I reated parts of my family in miniature. This was high fun for me & allowed to add magic to our family video meeting.
Recomfort in creativity
Do you remember these easy paper out cuts in doll shape? I loved imagining funky garments for them as a child!
Inspired by the idea of making an artistic gift even a 4 year old would appreciate, I decided to make a textil doll for my niece inspired by theses vintage paper dolls.
Finally, once started, it was so much fun that I couldn’t stop myself and created the whole family:
Textile art miniature family dolls
As my sister and brother in law denied my request of making selfies in underwear (why? :)) I also went with a completely dressed version of my nice. Only my baby nephew was so much cuter just wrapped in diapres!
Magic on Christmas day
On Christmas day I was able to enchante my niece with a magic trick during a video meeting. I performed by transforming pictures of her and her family into “real” dolls. Great fun, great laughs. The only hick: I had some troubles to explain why a magician can transform photos into dolls but can’t make them appear at her house directly :). My creativity was also challenged to find answers why I cant’ make appear her grandparents or an unicorn with my magic stick :) - but as everyone knows: magic is limited and sometimes needs time!
As I put all my magic into the 4 “from picture to doll transformations” the textil arty family will have to travel by Snailmail. But my niece and I agreed: traveling across mailboxes, meeting so many other envelops with secret stories and gifts inside, must be an adventure.
And I have to admit: when I bedded the doll family in their travel carboard box they looked very exited! Can’t wait to hear their stories about this trip once they arrived at my niece’s place!
Paper-house and outdoor scenery with unicorn
Instead of making garments my niece can color the world for her family. I made a “travel envelop” that can be unfold to bec colored. It’s a self-standing house on one and an outdoor scenery on the other side. And of cause: I added the magic unicorn!
Due to the pandemic I had to spent Christmas 2020 without my family. Happy to be an artist: it allowed me to do my magic and get them here in miniature :)
Voilà - this is how I connected with my beloved this year! Hope you found creative ways as well and enjoyed some peaceful, enchanted moments!
Sending you my warmest wishes and happy smiles.