Displaying the yellows, purples, and vibrant pinks of this cheerful garden dweller, I bring merriment
and smiles to the human spirit. I am one of a series of art dolls called Wallflowers. I have many sisters; Alyssum, Lantana, Fern, Forsythia, Iris, Pussywilow, Delphinium and Dusty Rose. My name is Pansy. We each display our specific flower-colors and symbolism.”
I don’t think of myself as a “she plays with dolls” kind of girl. In fact, I don’t remember ‘dolls’ being
a big part of my childhood playtime. Perhaps that is why they fascinate me so much today. I am just enthralled by the wonderful
and exciting art dolls being created today.
I wasn’t planning on being a doll maker when these ‘ladies’ became
a part of my life. Early in the 1980’s I had joined my local weaver’s guild, Weavers of Orlando,
and was asked to attend an upcoming Florida State Weavers conference. Never having been to something like that I thought might be fun, so I signed up.
I am not a traditional weaver. I don’t enjoy, what to me seems to be, the tedium of measuring warp and weft, clean selvages, etc. I much prefer the wilderness and randomness of off-loom weaving.
I had taken a few basket weaving classes. Then I saw “Weaving the Human Form” by Sandra Webster of John Campbell College as a choice of workshops at the conference, I figured this was where I should be. I had seen dress forms and hat stands of woven material and assumed this is what we would be doing. Not so! And the result of that workshop is the basis for the figures I make today.
To read more about Pansy by Mikal Chambers, please purchase this issue.
