Quilter`s Mojo Doll

Transcription

Quilter`s Mojo Doll

reader challenge
Quilter’s
Mojo Doll
In the April/May 2010 issue, we challenged our readers to create their
own Mojo doll in the hopes that they’d be inspired to break through
any creative blocks and get back to the good stuff (namely, quilting!).
Photos and stories of some of the dolls are in the October/November
2010 issue, and here are all of the 77 imaginative Mojos.
Mojo Dollmaker
Page
Marie Adams................................ 2
Elaine Alexander ........................ 3
Betsy Amos................................... 4
Kathy Arcadi
(honorable mention).......... 5
Michelle Barrott-Jackson............. 6
Cosette Blackmer......................... 7
Susan Brooks
(honorable mention).......... 8
Denise Buchwalter-Losczyk......... 9
Janet Buruca.............................. 10
Joel Cabral.................................. 11
Becky Campbell......................... 12
Jazmine Carter........................... 13
Sue Clayton
(honorable mention)........ 14
Tina Coyle.................................. 15
Carmen Czachor
(fifth place winner)........... 16
Carolyn Dee............................... 17
Patty DeSaye............................... 18
Shera Eckles
Jamie Eggleston
Molly (Mojo) Elgin
Paris Epps................................... 22
Rachelle Ferguson..................... 23
Gloria Frenza............................. 24
Susan Gannon O’Connell
(first place winner)............ 25
Jean Gerow
Jean Gerow................................. 27
Connie Godmair........................ 28
Nona Goodman......................... 29
Pat Goodwin............................... 30
Jenice Grimes
Rie Hawkins
Karen Jane Heath...................... 33
Patti Jo Henry............................ 34
Crystal Hird................................ 35
Lou Ann Janes........................... 36
Mary Jean (Jeannie)
Johnson............................... 37
Terri Jones.................................. 38
Phyllis King................................ 39
Judy Knox................................... 40
Carolyn Knutsen........................ 41
Terri Krysan................................ 42
Jo Leopold.................................. 43
Kitty Lewis.................................. 44
Susan Marie Mallette................. 45
Christa Marcotte........................ 46
Etienne Mbah............................ 47
Maureen McNally...................... 48
Tatianna McRae......................... 49
Paula Morganti.......................... 50
Barbara Perkins......................... 51
Karen Phillips............................ 52
Ulises Prudencio........................ 53
Lynda Reimann......................... 54
Rose Roberts.............................. 55
Wendy Roberts........................... 56
Betty Rollinson........................... 57
Kolleen Rom.............................. 58
Christina Rosendaul.................. 59
Melanie Sherman...................... 23
Renee Sodaro............................ 60
Laurie Sonntag
(third place winner).......... 61
Robyn Stricklin.......................... 62
Virginia Thompson................... 63
Louise Tiemann
(second place
winner)......................... 64, 65
Karen Traband........................... 66
Judith Turner............................. 67
Joyce Valley................................. 68
Jennifer Vaughn
(fourth place winner)........ 69
Karmen VonBergen.................. 18
Kathie Vulcan............................. 70
Carol Wanke
Nancy Wilson............................. 72
Janet Woodruff.......................... 73
Camilla Younger........................ 74
Pattern instructions................... 75
Template.................................... 76
Quilter’s Home October/November 2010
1
Marie Adams
Cookeville, Tennessee
I loved this challenge and definitely had a blast creating my
little Mojo doll! The only problem I had was figuring out
when to stop adding things to her!
I designed her after my Internet business, which
reflects two of my most doting passions: animals and quilting. Although I have always had a fervent love of animals
(especially dogs), I am fairly new to quilting. I braved my first
appliqué class in 2006 and quickly fell in love with its creative
process, the excitement of manipulating fabulous colored
fabrics into art and meeting other fascinating artistic people.
Soon after I started quilting, I threw away the ugly
old blanket that loosely covered my dog’s cold-looking wire
crate and designed my first quilted wire crate cover and
matching bed mat for my Jack Russell terrier. To my surprise,
he loved it! I would often find him lounging in his crate without any coaching or securing him there, something he never
did before.
I loved the process, and I have designed more crate
covers to sell on the internet, all of which sold right away. I
am now designing and customizing my covers and blankets
according to a customer’s color, fabric preference, home décor and wire crate size. With all this in mind, I absolutely had
to design my Mojo doll according to my passion for animals
and quilting.
I used leftover fabric pieces from crate covers to create her. The lighter fabric for her body is one I used for the
inside lining on one of my covers. Another fabric had puppy
paw prints and another had dog bones, so I used both to
make up the outfit she wears. Sometimes that is really all I can
think about. Yep, paw prints and dog bones!
I made her hair out of a flyaway furry yarn because
at times I get so caught up in my designing and creating that
I’m sure this is exactly what I look like! Her eyebrows and
mouth are embroidered to mimic another favorite hobby of
mine that follows along the lines of the appliquéd blanket
stitch.
I used buttons for her eyes because I also use them
in a lot of different ways in some of my designs. I love the
way I can use a button for something else other than to go
through a buttonhole! All of the adoring pups you see on her
are also buttons.
In her one hand she holds a silver charm that says
“Made with Love,” and around the wrist of her other hand I
tied a green ribbon bow. I also created a beaded belt with a
silver key. This symbolizes that the passions she represents are
the key to my dreams and successes. The green ribbon represents the green cash I have also received from my quilting
endeavors!
I plopped her down comfortably on a miniature
quilted pet blanket appliquéd with paw prints and supported
in the forefront by a relaxed little puppy button. Finally, I
tagged her with one of my homemade business tags and
called her Can’t Paws My Passion.
2
Elaine Alexander
Overland Park, Kansas
I’m 76 years old and making my crazy rag doll was a fun way
to spend an afternoon expressing my Mojo.
My current quilting project is helping to make 37
Quilts of Valor for the World War II veterans who live in the
retirement community where my husband and I live.
Here’s the story of my Mojo doll:
I’m a crazy rag doll,
A quilter all my life
Stitchin’ through the good times
And through the days of strife.
Golden memories of my past
The present full and bright
Dreams of quilts to last
Until I get it right!
3
Betsy Amos
Orange, Virginia
Mucho Mojo
Story not provided
4
Kathy Arcadi
Fair Haven, New York
honorable mention
When I read the QH readers challenge and saw the Mojo doll
template, I got excited. Then my attention went to the little
“Fig. 1” on the right of the page and my smile got bigger. I
thought — hey — me and Nick! (I used the Fig. 1 illustration
of the Mojo doll as a template and the Mojo doll template.)
The word “mojo” takes me back to the 1970s where
the colors were bright and the patterns of material were funky
(and I was young and feeling it). Momma Mojo was created
in that frame of mind. We wore halter-tops, triangle tops and
we never went anywhere without our beads. My hair was waist
length and frequently in braids. Peace, man!
I was blessed in the 1990s with my son, Nicholas (the
love of my life), and he is the recipient of quite a few quilts.
As the tiny Mojo was coming to life in his honor, naturally he
wouldn’t be complete without a quilt made especially for him.
Meet Momma Mojo with her toddler sitting on his
quilt in a field of flowers watching the birds and butterflies.
Look, Nick, a butterfly has landed on mommy. When a butterfly lands on you, it brings good luck to you. Remember
that, Nick…
I love my Mojo dolls; they mean so much to me.
Who’d a thunk it! So many thoughts and memories went into
their creation and what they needed to represent.
Thanks, QH, for the challenge and the inspiration.
5
Michelle Barrott-Jackson
Denver, Colorado
Lydia, my Mojo diva, was created to keep me creatively active.
I have the tendency to procrastinate when it comes to being
artistically productive. Lydia sits on my sewing machine to
remind me to just do it and stop wasting time.
For so long, I’ve let fear and insecurity hold me
back from doing so much. This past year has been a year of
tremendous growth for me, spiritually, professionally and
physically, as well as creatively. I wanted this doll to convey
that growth every time I looked at her.
I wanted a DIVA, and I wanted to incorporate wire
wrapping. (I just learned wire wrapping a few months ago.)
I wanted to use items I had in my stash, but I kept envisioning
my DIVA with feathers. So I went shopping for the right look.
My daughter found the hair while I was auditioning the feathers for the body. I used a clay mold for the face and modified
it slightly to fit the face on the doll. I wrapped the face to
create a wire crown.
I named her Lydia because that’s my mother’s name,
and in the Bible, Lydia sold purple fabric.
6
Cosette Blackmer
Frederick, Maryland
When I saw that the quilter’s Mojo doll was a challenge, I copied the pattern right away and went up to the sewing room
to get started. But, where to start? I happened to have a large
pile of scrap fabric in the middle of my sewing room floor (I
love scrap!), so it was immediately obvious that a scrappy crazy
patch was going to be the body of my doll.
She is stuffed with the string and snips that land on
the floor. She has a small cutout star stuffed inside her head,
and a small heart, as well as a carnelian crystal, in her chest.
She is my Oya Quilting Mojo Doll. The Goddess Oya
represents change and transitions through the use of thunderstorms (hence the lightening on her apron). My Oya will
help me shed the threads and make room (as well as time) to
make and finish more wonderful quilts and challenges!
7
Susan Brooks
Morris, Minnesota
HONORABLE MENTION
My extra challenge for this, the first contest I’ve ever entered
and the first doll I’ve ever made, was to make the doll from
things I already had at home. I did buy yak hair, however.
My doll is quilted into three parts:
• The head reminds me of my carefree glory days when I was
attending college in the late 1960s and early 70s.
• The torso represents the time I spent in Nigeria. My doll has
a traditional top made of fabric from Ghana. The ladies fussycut their colorful ankle-length dresses (note the butterfly on
the front), but no patterns exist. At Meshiah Mission, ladies
with HIV/AIDS from many African tribes earn money by
paper piecing quilts on treadle machines. The doll carries a
drum that is played at many gatherings.
• The lower part features an apron and shoes of beadwork in
the Northern Plains style (of Native Americans) that I learned
as librarian at a tribal community college. Women of the
Dakota Tribe make star quilts that are presented to people on
special occasions.
Altogether, the doll reminds me that all these
women have many things in common, including quilting.
Although we come from very different backgrounds and
traditions, all of us really belong to one great community.
8
Denise
Buchwalter-Losczyk
Evanston, Illinois
I’ve named her Hello Dolly! — my husband sometimes calls
me Dolly —and I used paisley patterns on her because I have
a thing for paisleys.
I have been going on a lot of walks lately and have
been finding pennies on the ground on a daily basis. I bring
them home and give them to my husband. The two small
pennies on the doll are pennies my husband gave me years
ago to use in my artwork one day, and it seemed like the right
time to use them. I attached them using clear vinyl.
My word and inspiration this year is experiment.
I want to incorporate new techniques in my quilting and
become more confident with my machine quilting. Dolly has
“Grow” and “Experiment” written on her. The fabric I used
was my first attempt at fabric painting, which I found was very
fun and relaxing.
I recently picked up a Kandi Corp. HotFix Crystal
applicator at a quilt show, and this has been my first use of
it. Also, it’s my first try at machine quilting in a while. I used
a SewSlip™ on my quilting extension table, which made the
quilting a lot easier.
The spiral on her face symbolizes going inward and
bringing out your creativity. The hearts on her hands symbolize putting emotion and feeling into your artwork.
I had fun creating Dolly and learning new skills at
the same time.
9
Janet Buruca
born in El Salvadore
After finishing my bandana quilt in art class and after graduation [in 2010], I’m ready to escape to Hawaii. I W.I.S.H…
[Editors’ note: Janet made this as a class project lead by her
teacher Camilla Younger at the Roosevelt S.T.A.Y Senior High
School in Washington, D.C. Fellow students who also made
Mojo dolls include Jazmine Carter, Joel Cabral, Paris Epps,
Etinne Mbah, Tatianna McRae and Ulises Prudencio.]
10
Joel Cabral
born in Cape Verde
My Mojo doll has on a traditional dress that women from
Cape Verde wear.
[Editors’ note: Joel made this as a class project lead by his
Mojo dolls include Janet Buruca, Jazmine Carter Paris Epps,
11
Becky Campbell
Stevens, Pennsylvania
Rebecca Remember, my Mojo doll, keeps my creative juices
flowing because:
• Her butterfly reminds me that even beautiful butterflies go
through caterpillar stages.
• Her flair reminds me to develop my own style in my own
way, but only after a lot of thought.
• Her conservative pearl earrings combined with her flair for
the dramatic remind me to mix and match to avoid narrow,
confining paths.
• Her underpants remind me to add surprise and humor to
my creations.
• Her inspirational journal contains words of support when
mistakes and self-doubts begin to interfere with the creative
process.
• Her key chain reminds me that the key to being forever
creative is to celebrate and love what you are capable of doing
today while continuing to learn and striving to improve.
I love Rebecca and believe in what she represents.
In the end, she is a wonderful gift to myself. She inspires me,
and she makes me smile.
12
Jazmine Carter
born in Washington, D.C.
My art teacher is my inspiration, wearing her favorite purple
apron from Crayola, stuffed with essential art supplies.
[Editors’ note: Jazmine made this as a class project lead by
her teacher Camilla Younger at the Roosevelt S.T.A.Y Senior
High School in Washington, D.C. Fellow students who also
made Mojo dolls include Janet Buruca, Joel Cabral, Paris
Epps, Etinne Mbah, Tatianna McRae and Ulises Prudencio.]
13
Sue Clayton
Manorville, New York
HONORABLE MENTION
Creating Chocoholic requires a great deal of dedication,
planning and CHOCOLATE EATING. To make her:
• Go to the warehouse club and buy a LARGE bag of mini
peanut butter cups. Eat them all. SAVE THE WRAPPERS.
• Eat your way through more than a couple dozen Cadbury
Easter Cream Eggs (original flavor, large size). SAVE THE
WRAPPERS.
(Please note: This project will NOT work if you just buy the
chocolate, save the wrappers and throw away the chocolate.
You must eat the chocolate!)
• Pick through the wrappers to find ones that are not covered
in chocolate. (This is why you need a lot of wrappers.) Keep
the peanut butter cup wrappers separate from the Easter
Cream Egg wrappers.
• Using pins, attach the peanut butter cup wrappers to a piece
of muslin. Cover top and bottom with pieces of Sulky Heataway clear film stabilizer.
• Using sewing machine, zigzag stitch all over the wrappers to
attach them to the muslin. Cut out in the shape of the body
of the Mojo doll, then iron to remove stabilizer. Voilà — you
have a fabric made of peanut butter cup wrappers! (And it
smells chocolate-y as well!)
• Sew along the outside of the fabric using a straight stitch,
then finish edges by hand.
Dress is made the same way using Easter Cream Egg
wrappers. Hair is attached in several layers using the sewing
machine. Beaded necklaces are also made by hand.
Caution: You may need to go on a diet after completing this project. Sorry.
14
Tina Coyle
Fountain Valley, California
It took me quite a while to put this little girl, Mojo Maggie,
together and I have a big mess to clean up. She was so worth
it. I found goodies in digging through my stuff that surprised
(and delighted) me. And they weren’t quilting items. This
really got my creative juices going.
Starting out, I had some ideas:
• I had to use that single earring that broke my heart when
the mate took off.
• I didn’t want to buy anything. (I had to buy stuffing and
came across the shell charms marked way down in price.
Seemed like karma.)
• If it stopped being fun, I should quit.
• I wanted her to look good front and back
• I wanted to use batik, seashells and green. Not sure when
the gold came into play.
• She had to have great hair.
• She had to have no facial expression.
I think I succeeded in my goals. She was dressed and
jeweled and redressed and re-jeweled, but I always had fun. I
thought about a bracelet, but she said, “No.” So, I am done.
My new plan is to enjoy her for a long time to come.
15
Carmen Czachor
Port Angeles, Washington
WINNER: FIFTH PLACE
I call my Mojo doll Small Stuff. She symbolizes a day of my
life: the sweat of the small stuff. It is all weighing heavily on
her head in the paper hair. Things like “Oh, no, we are out of
milk again!” or “How did toothpaste get way over there?” or
“I need to get him to his piano lesson.” or “Why won’t my hair
do what I want it to?” She is even sweating glass beads!
I had fun typing into the computer and printing out
all of my worries. And, I was surprised at how many were really small stuff!
16
Carolyn Dee
Orchard Park, New York
Making a doll was something I thought I would never do, but
never say never.
I love doing crazy quilt blocks using everything imaginable, and I thought, “Hey, why not embellish a Mojo doll
and be part of the fun?” So Missy Mojo was born.
The clock and all the people represent those needing my time and attention. Missy Mojo balances it all with love
represented by the red heart next to the clock.
Being a Libra, I decided to make one of her hands
green and one yellow, portraying my indecisiveness. The big
purse was a necessity because no matter where I go, I always
need something from it. And, it usually holds a sewing project
or two.
Missy’s skirt holds charms that represent what is most
important to me. The cross symbolizes my faith; the teddy
bear, my grandchildren; the tree charm is for a children’s
book I wrote about a tree and symbolizes my great love of
writing. The scissors indicate my love of quilting, and the gold
heart with “I love you” was a gift from my children.
The angel wings are for my guardian angel, who always seems to have my back. The blue teardrop that magically
appeared on her face expresses my emphatic nature.
17
Patty DeSaye
Karmen VonBergen
Whitehall, Montana
Cardwell, Montana
When QH magazine arrived with this challenge, my daughter,
Karmen VonBergen, and I knew we just had to do it.
My Mojo is 100 percent me: sewing, sewing and sewing. I love buttons, so what better than to crochet a necklace
with buttons on it, which Karmen did for me because I don’t
crochet and she has made me several of these necklaces.
In the years to come, I will look at Mojo and think
about the fun time I spent making her with my daughter.
I was so excited to do this fun challenge, and I knew it would
get those creative juices flowing.
My mom, Patty DeSaye, and I decided to make a
special sewing day out of the Mojo challenge. I started out
picking a fun pink plaid for the body of my Mojo doll, and
then I got funky. I love, love, love to make bags. So, of course
I had to add a bag. And what quilter ever has enough fabrics,
so my gal is adding to her stash.
My mom is the one who got me into quilting, and I
love that we had a great time doing the Mojo doll challenge
together!
18
Shera Eckles
Reno, Nevada
HONORABLE MENTION
This is Tallulah and her owl Archimedes. My three-year-old
calls her Mommy’s Doll and wants to play with her. She has reinspired me to get back to quilting since my second son was
born three months ago.
She is my quilting fairy. Her head is a little wonky
and she is soft and cuddly, kind of like me! Hopefully Tallulah
and Archimedes can steal into my quilting area while I am
away and help with some projects when I get stuck. They’re
sneaky like that!
I made her with removable wings and a quilt that
snaps on so I can change her look. Also, these two quits I
made are using techniques that are new to me. The first one
is a Convergence quilt [Editors’ note: a piecing technique
from Ricky Tims] and the second is a fusible appliqué quilt.
I also tried to do something different with the binding twice,
but it didn’t work so I ripped them out and did a traditional
bias binding. I am starting a third quilt that will be English
paper piecing. This is a great size to try new techniques and
materials.
19
Jamie Eggleston
Osceola, Indiana
HONORABLE MENTION
Here is my entry for the Mojo Doll contest. It would be amazing if I won — but in any case it has been VERY therapeutic!
Everything was hand-sewn. And I made myself just go
for my first instinct, with no tearing out! I started by drawing up the pattern on the computer. I couldn’t resist since I
am a freelance graphic designer! I suppose the bright colors
are because I am a child of the 1980s. Who knows? They just
make me smile!
Then I decided part of the Mojo therapy would be to
use supplies from UFOs I had sitting around. So, I modified
the pattern a little to print on the computer printer fabric I
had left from a photo quilt that never happened. And I used
floss from embroidery projects that never got started. Fabric
scraps from my second Quilt-in-a-Day class (the quilt is still
unfinished five years later!). Not to mention the clay on the
pins, which I bought with GRAND plans for our local craft
show....gotta love UFOs!
The words printed on my Mojo doll are all representations of things that keep me from being creative. That
includes everything from my toddlers to the ever-present Lack
of Time. And the back of the doll instructs me to “put a pin
in it!” — or to save those creativity killers for later and take a
little time to sew!
And, just so my therapy continues, I created quilt
block hairpins from t-top pins, oven-bake clay and paint. They
are her crown until needed to stick into my colorful little
voodoo doll.
Thanks for the fun way to get the creative juices
flowing while entering my first sewing contest! I like to think
of her as my Sassy Voodoo Weapon Against the Enemies of
Creativity! I hope you like her as much as I do; there is a lot
of time and love in her. And all the handwork kept me from
snacking, so it was a great weight loss tool, too!
20
Molly (Mojo) Elgin
Bloomdale, Ohio
honorable mention
I’ve been a Mojo most of my life. My brothers shortened my
“Molly Joan” to “Mojo.” Mojohowitz comes from a slight variation of a character names in a 1970s TV show. I’m still called
that sometimes, but usually just Mojo or Moj.
My doll, Mojohowitz, is made from leftover fabrics
and beads of the prom dresses I made for my two older
daughters. When I first started reading quilting magazines
and learned that quilts have names (!), I decided to start
naming ALL of my great creations. So, the prom dresses (as
well as my quilts) have names. The names usually come to me
as I’m working with the fabrics, thinking about the colors…
I’m sorry that I didn’t have time to pack a bag for
Mojohowitz’s California vacation [to visit with a QH editor]. I
hope she bought what she needed when she arrived. She was
very excited about this trip. I’m sure she’ll have great stories
to share when she comes home!
21
Paris Epps
Ready for prom in my pink dress!
[Editors’ note: Paris made this as a class project lead by her
Mojo dolls include Janet Buruca, Joel Cabral, Jazmine Carter,
22
Rachelle Ferguson
Melanie Shurben
Carleton Place, Ontario
We met six months ago when we were both going through a
significant life change. Our friendship has grown while quilting together. We have decided we must have been sisters in a
past life.
Our Mojos are to remind us not where we have
been, but where we are going!
23
Gloria Frenza
Kerhonkson, New York
Scrappy – def.: full of fighting spirit; aggressive.
The idea formulated in my mind to design my Mojo as scrappy. The thought to make my Mojo became very aggressive.
The more I thought about Scrappy Girl, the more spirited
the idea became. I energetically gathered pieces of fabric and
furiously started to make Scrappy Girl come to life.
Scrappy Girl will continue to be a fighter for the quilter in me and a push toward those UFOs and WIPs.
24
Susan
Gannon O’Connell
Brentwood, California
WINNER: FIRST PLACE
I named my doll after my grandmother. She was always a huge
supporter of mine and never made me feel that I couldn’t
accomplish whatever I set my mind to.
I made Mojo Marge with two sides because I am
involved in two major forms of artistic expression: graphic
design and quilting.
My graphic design side of Marge shows the different aspects of that part of my life. I have my own little firm,
Gillygaloofus Design Studio, and do mostly event graphics
and presentations. I have to be prepared to do anything in
any style at any moment, so this part of me has to be on her
toes. I also have a blog, thecrankyquilter.com, and the @ sign
is a recognition of that. Most importantly, Marge has the word
“Yes” in her hair. Even when I’m intimidated by a request, I
always say yes to it, you never know where it will lead.
My quilter side is all bright and cheery and is where I
go to be me. I love to use a lot of embellishments in my quilts,
so they’re all there. Especially the word “Play,” which reminds
me to stop worrying so much about being perfect and just
have fun.
25
Jean Gerow
Newfield, New York
HONORABLE MENTION
I took the challenge — well, I would’ve made one if there was
a challenge or not — because this just CALLED to me!
Meet Gloria (have to say it like the song: Gggloooria,
G-L-O-R-I-A!!), my quilting Mojo doll.
I’d been cleaning out some baskets of sewing odds
and ends the day before my QH magazine arrived. In one of
the baskets were the most amazing beads. Guess where on
Gloria they ended up??!! Who wouldn’t want to wear a hula
skirt, be be-jeweled, be-dazzled and be-boobed? That’s *me*
(in my mind) when I quilt. Love it!
She sits in my shop, by my machine when I quilt, by
my desk when I work and on the shelf then I cut.
[Editors’ note: see another Mojo doll Jean made on the next
page.]
26
Jean Gerow
Newfield, New York
Meet Maria. First off, I love the name Marie. However, my
daughter’s middle name is Marie and since she’s a teenager,
naming a Mojo doll after her in any way would be an unbearable insult (so she says). So, I went with Maria. Sounds more
foreign and sexy, I think!
Anyway, the idea for Maria came when I was shopping online for my sister’s birthday gift and got caught up
in Ross Simon’s website. I stumbled upon the most amazing
necklace made of all sorts of gems and thought, “Wow, mortgage the house and I could *wear* that — and nothing else!”
One thought led to another and Maria was created,
covered in gems from head to toe. No clothes, just gems.
Maria sparkles in sunlight and lives on my windowsill, above
my computer screen.
[Editors’ note: see another Mojo doll Jean made on the previous page.]
27
Connie Godmair
Troy, Michigan
My story about this doll is about my broken arm. The little
heart is made from a penny that came from my father.
I’m 60 now, but my husband would tell you that my
hippie Mojo still lives. So I named this doll Connie’s Hippie
Mojo Still Lives.
The rock my Mojo doll is sitting on is a Petoskey
stone found only in the northern Great Lakes area. It is fossilized coral.
[Editors’ note: in Connie’s letter to QH, she states, “You do
not have to send this rock back if someone there would really
love it.” Our copy editor is an avid rock hound. She loved the
Petoskey stone, so she kept it. In turn, she sent Connie a piece
of petrified wood from her own collection.]
28
Nona Goodman
Hartley, Texas
Soleil sort of created her own self. I didn’t know who she
was until I sewed up the doll and stuffed her. Then, her face
evolved, and after that, well, she just had to be this sultry,
fun-loving creature who inspires everyone around her to have
FUN! And, quilting should be fun!
The Zuni sun emblem tattoo on her butt — yeah, it
should have been further up — not on the buns, but that’s
where it is, so, that’s where it stays. Oh well… And now, she
really needs some panties… We don’t want her havin’ TOO
MUCH FUN!! So, let’s see … hmm … gosh, how do I put
panties on a doll that’s doing the SPLITZ?? Okay, I got her
panties on, but now her tattoo is covered up! Apparently, you
can’t have everything work out perfect. To see her tattoo, I’d
have to cut her panties off!
29
Pat Goodwin
Valdosta, Georgia
I chose the many colors of material for Remembrance
because I have a lot of tattoos, so this seemed appropriate.
The turtle is to remind me of where I come from — West
Palm Beach, Florida. The ladybug is to remind me that even
though the last four years have not been the best, sooner or
later luck will find me and things will get better.
The dream anklet is to remind me to always dream
as if I were a child. The butterfly is to remind us that all
women are beautiful. The spool, tape measure, scissors and
sewing machine (just like the one my grandmother used) is
to remind me of all the fun I have making my quilts.
Seeing this every day when entering my sewing room
will surely put a smile on my face.
30
Jenice Grimes
Chandler, Arizona
HONORABLE MENTION
I am a fiber artist and quilter. I picked up the magazine at
my favorite quilt shop, and when I saw the challenge, I was so
excited that I went right home and got started.
As a matter of fact, I’m typing this with paint all over
my hands and thread stuck in my hair. LOL. So, this is my
Mojo doll Priscilla (the name I wish I had my whole life). She
is my mini me, tattooed, covered in paint and fabric and wearing a quilted crown. She is the Queen of Quilting craziness,
and her favorite food is my car key that I cannot find but am
sure in under the piles of colored fabric that have residence
in my quilt room.
She loves all things fabric and, although she has now
found her way into the living world, she has always lived in
me. She is made with a tattoo print cotton fabric and adorned
with every color of fabric paint I own. Her hair is strips of
my favorite batik fabric scraps that I never throw away. She is
wearing a crown I made out of craft fuse and fabric I hand
dyed with a warning to all that if you enter her kingdom, “She
will eat your keys.”
31
Rie Hawkins
Melbourne, Florida
HONORABLE MENTION
My Mojo doll’s name is Sparkie Lee because she is always
sparking off ideas. Of course, if she is lost in her creative effects, she has a little bird on her head, chirping more creative
ideas in her ear.
She is made of hand painted fabric, and her face is
also hand painted. As you can see, she is a very colorful gal
with lots of bling! Her hair is made from strips of batik fabric,
and her earrings are the tools of her trade.
32
Karen Jane Heath
Delaware, Ohio
My Mojo doll has blue and white scrappy patchwork. Blue
because it is my favorite color and reflects my personality. It
is scrappy because I have several interests, but quilting is definitely my favorite. I did not set this on the straight of grain
nor did I set it on point. Instead, it is off-center because some
days are, quite frankly, like that. Sometimes in life things just
don’t line up or come to the point. Regardless of the type
of day or the situation, I think it is important to put on a big
smile and fake it till I make it. A bright red bow for her head
further reflects the importance of a smile.
Her dress holds some of my favorite quotes that I
find encouraging and uplifting. Front and center is the one
that best describes my sewing/quilting studio as well as my
attitude of the importance of a creative outlet: A creative mess
is better than tidy idleness.
The other quotes are:
• If you obey all the rules, you miss all the fun. (Katharine
Hepburn)
• I hate being told what to do. (Kim Kiyosaki)
• You must do the things you think you cannot do. (Eleanor
Roosevelt)
• When I can no longer create anything, I’ll be done for.
(Coco Chanel)
• Dwell in possibility. (Emily Dickinson)
• Patience is an integral part of talent. (Vicki Baum)
• Well-behaved women rarely make history. (Laurel Thatcher
Ulrich)
• Procrastination is the fear of success.
• Just do it. (Nike)
• Fortune befriends the bold. (Emily Dickinson)
• What you believe has more power that what you dream or
wish to hope for.
• You are what you believe. (Oprah Winfrey)
33
Patti Jo Henry
Marshall, Minnesota
Molly is beautiful and has multicolored thread hair and a
seam ripper.
Molly is here to remind me to have fun and laugh as
I quilt.
Molly and I are close and she is very real to me — as
evidenced by the “Authentic” button on her back. Molly also
has a very big heart. She carries a seam ripper to remind me
that using one builds humility. Molly also reminds me to take
the five-foot rule: If you view your quilt from a five-foot distance and can’t see that your corners don’t match, the judges
can’t either!
34
Crystal Hird
Dows, Iowa
My doll is titled Sticks and Stones. A little heavy on the symbolism, I know, but still kinda cool. My doll is homage to my
former Girl Scout days, turned artist, turned eccentric.
It was really a fun idea and easy to undertake.
35
Lou Ann Janes
Rockledge, Florida
Having this project has brought so much therapy to me. I
can’t thank you enough for this exciting challenge.
My very best friend of more than 40 years passed
away April 9, 2009, from cancer. Her daughter brought me
all of her clothes and asked if I could make her a quilt so that
she could hold onto her mother each and every night as she
slept. I’ve started this quilt, but have not been able to complete it just yet.
Living on the east coast of Florida, 20 minutes away
from the beach, my Mojo doll’s outfit is the common lifestyle.
Kimberly Sue Gilmore Parish (Kim) is made using some of
Kim’s clothes. One of the many things Kim and I would do
together was to hang out at the beach or water parks, especially since we grew up living so close to them. I was the heavy
one, and she was the thin one. I never wore a two-piece bathing suit in all my life, but Kim sure could. I can’t tell you how
many memories making this Mojo doll brought back. Kim,
you were my best friend and I miss you!
36
Mary Jean (Jeannie)
Johnson
East Point, Georgia
As luck would have it, I purchased your magazine two days
before the submission deadline. Excitement was in the air!
I awoke the next day on a mission. My oldest daughter and her girlfriend (a photography student) thought it was
a good time to create a light box. I thought, “How wonderful…my Mojo girl will have a fabulous photo shoot!” They
worked on the light box while I obsessed over my Diva in
Progress. She was already whispering incredible titillations
while I lovingly selected her future attributes.
My studio is filled with a variety of fabrics. Green
and purple were calling my doll’s existence into birth. Fabric
beads from some leftover scraps were on my cutting table, so I
thought my Mojo woman should be called Miss Bead Weaving, Quilting Diva. She has endless wisdom, patience, creativity and vivid dreams of what is yet to be. With much tenderness and love, I stitched away until I knew she had a soul.
Now, as luck would have it, she has found her way to
QH. By the expression on her face, she was pleased with her
photo shoot and awaits great possibilities yet to come.
37
Terri Jones
Springfield, Missouri
I have somewhat of a split personality when it comes to quilting. I am a traditional patchwork quilter by day. In the dark
recesses of my mind, my Mojo gets going and wants the funloving, bright and cheery part of my personality to shine.
So, just for her, I made the traditional patchwork
with the dark colors, sunbonnet and straight seams for one
side. Then, I flipped her over and pulled out all my bright
colors and went a little wild (for me, at least).
This Mojo doll will be my inspiration to step out of
the box and GO FOR IT!
38
Phyllis King
Warrenton, North Carolina
My inspiration to embellish this doll, named Hope, came
from my dear friend Betty Rollinson who also lives here in our
little historic town. She made this doll form for me and the
beautiful face is from Jen Martin of www.graphixoutpost.com.
I am an eccentric old mixed-media artist and love
to cover doll forms with bead embroidery. On Hope, I used
beading, embroidery, ribbon bits, buttons and breast cancer
charms — this is my 30th anniversary of celebrating being a
breast cancer survivor!!!
I also love making one-of-a-kind quilted and embellished wall quilts using bright, happy colors of fabrics, yarns,
ribbons and beads.
Thanks for this fun Mojo doll journey!
39
Judy Knox
Marion, Ohio
Tallulah was born from my stash when a fabric printed with
quilt names demanded to see the light of day after years in
the dark.
I do not like making repetitive blocks and so will
never create a quilt named Ocean Waves or Irish Chain.
Tallulah’s tattoos represent the quilting tradition
that isn’t going to happen in my studio, as I prefer to work
with bold colors in contemporary styles. I like to think that my
Tallulah is my pudgy nonconformist rascal self in the cloth.
40
Carolyn Knutsen
Cypress, Texas
My friend Carol Baughman gave me a bag of necktie scraps
she got at the International Quilt Festival last October. I made
the doll from some of these scraps. The ribbon around her
neck is from the Quilt ‘n Sew Shop where my doll club, Material Girls of Houston, meets. Her hair is a veggie bag from the
grocery, and her elephant pin recognizes my alma mater, the
University of Alabama, as national champs of football.
She is very happy!
41
Terri Krysan
Lakeville, Minnesota
This is my Alter-Ego Mojo Doll…Proud Molly Mojo that was
pulled from the corners of my quilt studio and trinkets from
my family and friends.
The red/yellow fabric ties to my love for Iowa State
University, the “Imagine” button face is a gift from one of my
Puzzled Quilters posse, the yellow curly hair is from my husband’s workshop, the large green button is from my Gramma
Hazle’s button stash, the beaded necklace is from my work
buddies. The skirt is made from past quilt contests that I’ve
entered, coupled with veil from my wedding head-gear. The
little patriotic quilt represents the Quilts of Valor quilts that
we make each month, and finally, the magic wand is for all
the wishes that need to be granted!
42
Jo Leopold
Belle Chasse, Louisiana
Flipping houses in the New Orleans area with her husband
of 27 years keeps Sew Jo busy. However, when she saw this
challenge, she thought it was a great opportunity to get back
into the sewing room for a quick start-to-finish project. Sew
Jo’s favorite color is purple; she dons a royal headdress made
from an unfinished paper-pieced coin purse and dresses
comfortably in denim pants, all made of Cherrywood Fabrics.
Garfield, the cat in her lap, is one of Sew Jo’s nine pets.
43
Kitty Lewis
Shadyside, Ohio
Quilting Angel
Story not provided.
44
Susan Marie
Mallette
Montgomery, Alabama
When I read about the contest, I was sure I would have fun
putting a little somethin’ together, and I did.
My Mojo doll is named Addie Wren. Here in the
South we have two names. It’s just how it is.
I’ve been teaching myself to quilt for quite some
time and, I’m sure Addie will agree, I often get my inspiration
from color.
45
Christa Marcotte
Torquay, Saskatchewan
My Mojo doll Rosie was created to remind me to take time
to enjoy life. I always think that I should not be sewing until I
clean the house or vacuum or weed the garden…and the list
goes on. But I think I am a happier, more productive person
when I give myself a little time to do something I enjoy.
I made her pretty in a skirt and blouse to represent
how I would like to feel all the time, even if my hair is not
done!! The flowers are to make me stop and smell the roses I
am always weeding.
Thank you for the challenge — I had forgotten how
fun and inspiring it can be to be creative!
46
Etienne Mbah
In art class, I am comfortable, creative and can wear my hair
long and natural.
[Editors’ note: Etinne made this as a class project lead by his
Mojo dolls include Janet Buruca, Joel Cabral , Jazmine Carter,
Paris Epps, Tatianna McRae and Ulises Prudencio.]
47
Maureen McNally
Hobo Sound, Florida
My Mojo doll is a beach bum, like me. The beach is where I
go to clear my head and get inspiration for my projects.
Her blue body represents the water that gives me
peace, and her blond hair is always blowing in the tropical
breeze. Her clothes (t-shirt, shorts, flip-flops) are reflective
of my relaxed attitude. Her bag of shells is a collection of
ideas, colors, and designs after long walks on the beach. Of
course, this tine of year you also need an umbrella (complete
with fringe!) on the beach in Florida to shade you from the
intense sun!
(P.S. All the shells were found on the beach at Hobo
Sound.)
48
Tatianna McRae
The art teacher, a Venus of Willendorf (tall, broad shoulders
with natural hair and red rectangular glasses), wearing a
purple apron and carrying a shopping bag. Instead of an A.C.
Moore shopping bag, I gave her a purple backpack to match.
[Editors’ note: Tatianna made this as a class project lead by
her teacher Camilla Younger at the Roosevelt S.T.A.Y Senior
High School in Washington, D.C. Fellow students who also
made Mojo dolls include Janet Buruca, Joel Cabral, Jazmine
Carter, Paris Epps, Etinne Mbah and Ulises Prudencio.]
49
Paula Morganti
Temple, Arizona
When I told my husband my idea about this, he got confused
and thought I said “voodoo doll.” I told him I wanted to use
pictures of my children, sisters, parents and quilts — a few of
my loves — as material for the doll. I told him that I wanted
to use pins for eyes and hair and he told me I couldn’t make a
voodoo doll, I was supposed to make a Mojo doll! I enjoyed designing my Mojo/Voodoo doll. QH
asked what gives me great inspiration. There are several
things:
• My sisters and I go on a quilting retreat each year, just to
share and catch up with each other’s lives.
• My family: children, nieces, nephews, husband, mom, dad
and 90+-year-old grandmother.
• I chose suns for eyes because I LOVE the heat and HATE to
be cold.
• Fall in New York is one of my very favorite times (I love the
colors of leaves and the smells of fall, along with the first fire
in the fireplace), and I definitely need a bottle or two of wine
to make life move a bit smoother.
• “Namaste” is a greeting. ‘Nuf said.
• I totally believe that Karma is a natural part of life.
• The earrings: Achieve and Success. I work with neurological and physically disabled children, and I see many miracles
every day. They are my inspiration.
• The hair? Well, that is how I feel most days — EVERY
WHICH WAY!
50
Barbara Perkins
Simi Valley, California
Story not provided.
51
Karen Phillips
Ogden, Utah
You are what you eat! Me, I’m chocolate! Me and my gal
Chocolita (little chocolate love) sit together day and night
sewing away and eating our favorite thing: chocolate.
Due to some recent back problems, the best way for
me to sew is to wear a black elastic back brace. So if I get one,
she gets one too. Oh, and to ease the pain after a couple of
hours on the job, I use a big blue ice pack on my back. So, she
has one too!
Fabric, sewing machine, rotary cutter, un-picker,
chocolate and ice packs…what more could a girl want!
52
Ulises Prudencio
born in El Salvadore
A casually dressed woman from El Salvadore.
[Editors’ note: Ulises made this as a class project lead by his
Mojo dolls include Janet Buruca, Joel Cabral, Jazmine Carter,
Paris Epps, Etinne Mbah and Tatianna McRae.]
53
Lynda Reimann
Quincy, Washington
BB BQC
Story not provided.
54
Rose Roberts
Plummer, Idaho
I was so thrilled to find this challenge. It is just what I needed
to stir my creative pot.
Recently my husband and I downsized into a smaller
home, which meant I had to downsize my sewing room. So,
I’ve been finishing up a lot of UFO’s and trying to use up the
stash of fabric and embellishment I already have (so I can
begin collecting new pieces).
When I was going through my fabric, this particular
piece jumped out and said, “I’m the one you’re looking for.”
I bought this fabric 17 years ago to make a small bead-embellished bag, and there was just enough left for this little Mojo
doll.
So with this fabric, a few beads, ribbon and embellishments Celestina came to be. She sits in my work area working her magic — keeping me stitching!
55
Wendy Roberts
Buffalo, Wyoming
In quilting and other artistic pursuits in my life, I learn how
others do things — by the rules — for the basic idea, and
then I create like there are no rules. For example, why can’t I
make my doll with the seams on the outside and out of a wild,
unruly fabric like burlap?
I like to create like I am a native in an undiscovered
placed that is not constrained by rules. In my life, this leads to
more pure creative projects and makes me happy, no matter
what I am creating.
56
Betty Rollinson
Warrenton, North Carolina
I selected my fabrics for Leaf Me Alone I’m Quilting because
I love to quilt and garden. I also love to bead and had a lot
of leaf beads and sequins in my stash. I used a clay face and
leaf beads for her hair. Flower beads, seed beads, letters and
pearls were used also. A thimble, thread and pin are ready
for use.
I made a quilt to match, with a butterfly button.
57
Kolleen Rom
Western Springs, Illinois
Story not provided.
58
Christina Rosendaul
Boise, Idaho
Chrissy Tina began with a badge I made when I served as
treasurer of Ladies of the Lake in Longview, Washington.
She inspires me because she carries a safety pin with a bead
attached, (which is something) we received when we completed a quilt. In her other hand is a pin from our quilt show
that was meaningful and special to me. I was beginning a new
life after a bone marrow transplant. I learned how to quilt at
the Friends of Carreras quilt group at the Fred Hutchinson
Cancer Research Center in Seattle, Washington.
She is also adorned with ethnic beaded trim, a
thunderbird, a skirt left over from a theatre design project,
magic buttons I received in New York City, Mardi Gras beads
from a pre-Katrina trip to New Orleans and a shell crown
using toothpicks a dear friend, who has passed on, sent me
in a party box. The red shoes are from a favorite story/movie
from childhood —can’t stop dancin’ — and got my Mojo
workin’!
Chrissy Tina is on display where I currently work,
where we need some serious good Mojo now.
59
Renee Sodaro
Winter Springs, Florida
When I saw the contest in QH, the first thing I thought was
that I can now buy that grassy beaded trim that I wanted to
but didn’t know what the heck that I would do with it. My
reason for buying it was fulfilled! The coconuts kept sagging,
but I chalked that up to my Mojo, Ola (Hawaiian for “healthy,
alive”) emulating its owner.
Of course, living in Orlando, my Mojo has a hidden
Mickey [Mouse].
60
Laurie Sonntag
East China, Michigan
WINNER: THIRD PLACE
Meet my Mojo, Rose Amanda. I am the first quilter in our
family since my great-great-grandmother Rose Amanda
Youngs.
My Mojo Rose Amanda is made out of a quilt that
Rose Amanda Youngs made. The quilt was sewn by hand,
but it was so frayed that I was keeping it for something that I
could make out of the pieces and could treasure.
Rose Amanda is ready to start sewing with her fabric
basket, sewing equipment and her QH magazine. She is made
of the quilt and stuffed with rice and lavender. Lavender is my
favorite scent. My grandmother (my dad’s mother) used to
wear English lavender. The pincushion Rose Amanda is hold-
ing on her left was my grandmother’s thimble (my mother’s
mother). Her face is painted by me and her rosy cheeks come
from her name.
The basket that is holding Rose Amanda’s fabric
is hand woven by me. I am a basket weaver and once made
200 baskets for our daughter Amanda’s wedding as favors for
guests.
Rose’s sewing tote is made from the quilt, so now she
is ready to quilt whenever she likes.
She will be traveling or just sitting beside me whenever I am quilting. It is like having all my grandmothers here
with me as I quilt.
61
Robyn Stricklin
Yuma, Arizona
Gracie’s dress is made with ethnic fabric, and her apron has
four tiny South American Worry Dolls attached to it to take
away my worries about fabric selection and patterns. She is holding an Alaskan Indian totem in one hand
to keep good spirits near, and she is wearing a necklace of tiny
shells from Hawaii to represent friendship.
Gracie is wearing four quilting pins: two from my
guild, one from quilt camp representing learning and one of
an UFO. (We all know what that one’s about.)
62
Virginia Thompson
Alpine, Arizona
The Mojo doll challenge was perfect for me because it reminded me to always be creative and to not let outside distractions hinder my creativity. I had fun dreaming up ideas and
finding bits and pieces for my doll, Paulette.
63
Louise Tiemann
Vestal, New York
WINNER: SECOND PLACE
Meet the Mojos!
“Yo-Yo Mama” Louise
This obsession all started very innocently while reading QH
at Barnes and Noble on Wednesday, April 28, 2010. I thought
the Mojo dolls were interesting, and it might be fun to make
one.
The next morning, I made a plastic template of
the pattern and headed off to our quilt guild service day to
making placemats for Meals on Wheels. I had to leave early
to go with my mom to have her drain tube removed from her
mastectomy operation the prior week (she has breast cancer).
That evening, I found a scrap of fabric on my worktable. I only had a small piece, but it would work. I found a
coordinating fabric to use for the other side and stitched her
up. It sure was fun to make.
It is now Friday, and, unfortunately, one of our local
quilt shops is closing its doors. But good for me, because
there were a lot of good deals. I spent the day on a mini-shop
hop and lunch out with a fellow quilter — home just in time
for my son coming home from school.
I started beading the hair and face. I am not a thin
person. I am a woman of curves, so I added yo-yos to pad out
her belly. That evening, I went back to Barnes and Noble with
my quilting friends and I showed the ladies my little doll. I
was hoping to send it in if I got it done in time. I made the
breast and bottom yo-yos while there.
It is now May 1st — the deadline — but I took my
mom to an arts festival so she could get out of the house.
I showed her my little doll, and she thought it was cute. I
thought of making her one too, but first I had to finish mine.
After dinner that evening, I beaded the rest of the doll: bracelets, anklets and skirt. I finally finished her about 10 o’clock
that night and sent in a photo of my Yo-Yo Mama. In the
e-mail, I mentioned that I was thinking of making one for my
mom, and I got a request to send in an image of that one too.
The obsession had begun!
“Big Guy” Kris
My husband’s doll was the last I made. I had purchased a
quarter yard of keyboard fabric a while back, because it
reminded of Kris. I had no idea what I would use it for, but I
had to have a bit of it for my stash. Well, it was perfect for his
64
Mojo doll. He is an electrical engineer and quite the computer geek (meant with only fondness).
Kris plays the saxophone, along with several other
instruments. His hair is a bit thin up top — not many people
can see it — he is 6 feet 6 inches!
He loves stargazing and has even built his own
telescope. One of our favorite constellations is the Big Dipper,
part of the Ursa Major or Great Bear. After our son Isaac died,
his classmates and teachers at the Festal Middle School had
a star named for him: The Silver Trumpet Angel. The star is
located just near the hind legs of the Great Bear.
I stuck with a monochromatic color theme for Kris’
Mojo since he is must more reserved than I am.
“Little Man” Isaac
Our sweet little darling Isaac passed away last November. He
was only 13. He was a special boy who came into the world
prematurely and with some medical problems.
I combed the local craft and bead stores to find just
the right embellishments for him. He loved to collect shiny
metal things — I think he was part magpie. His eyes are
closed as if sleeping. He was autistic, he played the trumpet,
loved the Mets, basketball, the American flag and punch-buggies (Volkswagen Bugs). We used to count punch-buggies on
all our trips to see how many we could find. The most we ever
found was 21 in one day!
Our area has the farm team for the New York Mets.
W often went to the games, and he had a Mets hat that he
wore constantly. I even made him a bathrobe with Mets
fleece, which he slept in regularly.
Isaac played a silver trumpet that he was so proud
of. He practiced it every day. He wanted to be just like Louis
Armstrong. Isaac loved the American flag. Every time we
made a cake, he wanted it decorated like the flag. For his
birthday every year, we made cupcakes using paper liners with
flags and tooth picks with flags on them. I now have a drawer
full of them, since I got them whenever I found them.
His last name was Keyes, hence the little keys. My
husband is of Irish descent, so there is a little shamrock bead
to honor that. That name Isaac means “He who laughs.” He
was always smiling and full of laughter. He brought a little
sunshine to everyone’s day.
The trilobite bead reminds me of our hunts for fossils. We had three cats that he loved dearly: Cesium, Nitrogen
and Plutonium (a tribute to my chemical engineering background).
The Eiffel Tower was one of his favorite things. He
carried a miniature tower with him quite frequently. It belonged to his great Uncle Arthur, whom he was very close to.
On the back of this Mojo are buttons and yo-yos
from Isaac’s collection. He made the blue one in the summer
of 2008 at a demonstration during the Harford (Pennsylvania) county fair.
The little chain for Isaac’s necklace was also in his
treasure box. I made the base fabric using scraps from my
various projects underway. It represents the way he colored.
He stayed within the lines, but colored with random colors
throughout, like a rainbow.
I will always look at this little doll and have a smile
(and a tear) to remember him.
“Gram-Mama” Theresa
My mom’s favorite color is blue, and she loves birds. She often sits on her sofa and stitches or knits while looking out her
window at the birds. She has several birdhouses on her front
porch where birds are building their nests.
I used only one yo-yo for her, and a scar where her
other breast would have been. I used blue and silver beads
for her hair — she just turned 81 on May 21st and has only a
hint of silver in her hair. She is always knitting, and when we
had cats, they would always get tangled up in her yarn. The
base fabric is traditionally pieced patchwork squares as my
mom was a very traditional housewife and mother. I used the
cultured white pearl beads on her skirts to remind people to
get their mammograms regularly.
“Little Dude” Walter
When my other son saw what I was up to, he wanted one too.
Walter loves red and black, and he plays the tube
and cello. He wanted his Mojo doll to have a zipper wrapped
around one arm. I think I captured his ideas.
I pieced strips of musical fabric together on a foundation for the body. I beaded a base clef to represent the scale
used for the instruments he plays.
I was intrigued by the little Mojo figure in the
magazine and thought it would make a nice pin. At Walter’s
request (and persistence), I made an exact replica of my YoYo Mama, a Mini-Me pin. I will wear my pin with pride on my
quilt guild nametag.
The names
Well, you probably guessed there are a few musicians in the
family and that we are familiar with the cell music of Yo-Yo
Ma. Walter started with the cello in elementary school, and I
have been known as Yo-Yo Mama long before I started making fabric yo-yos. Since I am the only girl in the household, I
always refer to my boys and husband as “my men.” Isaac was
known as my Handsome Little Man, Walter is the Little Dude
(now just Dude) and Kris, due to his size, is my Big Guy. My
mom has always been called Gram-mama.
The dolls will be placed in a prominent fashion in
my sewing room to remind me of all the wonderful memories
I have and will continue to have of my family.
65
Karen Traband
Bel Air, Maryland
I actually made my Mojo doll Blake (which was my teenage
nickname) about two years ago. I started out making her for
our grandchild, but my daughter said the doll reminded her
of me. I also felt the connection and kept adding more of my
essence. She’s been decorating my sewing room since.
I love making quilts for family and friends — each
grandchild must have a special quilt made by Grammie.
I also love animals, nature and gardening. My son
helped me make the wood button from a tree in our backyard, two years before he got married. I love dogs (that’s my
Sheltie on the necklace), and I have chickens for the enjoyment that they give to the grandchildren when they feed
them and collect the eggs. I had a horse when I was young…
but that is behind me now.
As you can see, I wear my heart on my sleeve …
Where did I put that needle???
66
Judith Turner
Spanaway, Washington
Hello, my name is Miss Victoria Elizabeth, and I am the alter
ego of Judith Turner.
I love all things furry, like cats. I also like fabric. Sewing. Cats. Painting. Needlework. Cats. Jewelry. Wild colors.
Cats.
I am a senior citizen in body only. I sometimes use
a cane, wear glasses, and, did I mention, I LOVE cats. I am
owned by three felines, Fuzzy, Tax and Pebbles. I also love all
my friends. Welcome to my cat-hair covered world.
67
Joyce Valley
Pelican Rapids, Minnesota
Mojo Mama, with her amber bead do, wears her beaded bling
while straddling my huge pincushion) and will sit on my
sewing table…waiting…among my clutter…holding pins. I
identified with the Mojo challenge (or, rather dare) to help
give me spare time for quilting. Life’s obligations seem to
diminish my quilting time, so I thought that maybe Mama
could help channel those vibes toward my sewing room and
allow me to cut into those fabrics I currently just fondle.
I loved doing this challenge! My friends wondered
how I managed to fit this project in…when I’ve complained I
have no time to quilt! Go figure! :)
Looking at her now, I see her beating her pincushion drum to get my attention. :)
68
Jennifer Vaughn
Castle Rock, Colorado
WINNER: FOURTH PLACE
The article for this challenge mentioned that is was okay to
send in funny stories about creating our Mojos. Well, mine is
not so much a funny story but more of an awakening.
I chose to stuff my doll with a piece of each of my
fabrics. In cutting the stuffing, I realized the kind of person I
am through my quilting eyes. I AM GIRLIE!!! LOL — I never
thought of myself as girlie, but with over 120 fabrics on hand,
and 27 of those having butterflies on them, more than a third
are pink and almost all of them are floral, I guess it is time to
admit that I am no longer a tomboy.
Also in creating my Mojo, I found that I do enjoy
doing crazy quilting (something I never thought I would ever
try). Even though I know all the techniques from years of
other types of needlework, I have never made a crazy quilt.
Till now. I now have a Crazy Mojo.
After looking at her and thinking about what she is
and who she is to inspire, I simply decided her name is My
Quilting Self.
This challenge has inspired me to do things I never
would have tried. I am currently CUTTING up a piece of
cross-stitch that took me four months to complete! I am making an altered quilting book out of it and hope to inspire others to be fearless in their quilting, stitching or other needlework art. Not all pictures need frames!
Thank you so much for the opportunity to learn
about myself, and more importantly, to learn about my quilting self.
69
Kathie Vulcan
Caledonia, Michigan
QH said we were supposed to make (our Mojo dolls) with the
things that mean the most to us. Well, I kinda went one step
further. I made the doll for my husband. He means the world
to me.
He has been playing a stringed instrument for more
than 30 years and recently went from writing music on an
electric guitar to being a singer/songwriter on an acoustic
guitar.
I used material left over from a shirt I made for him
— one of his old flannel shirts — and music note fabric. The
face and hair were supposed to look like him, but they didn’t
work like I thought. The guitar is a Christmas ornament that
matches the Fender Stratocaster he used to play (and still
does).
I put the doll in his studio when I knew he was having a hard time with a song he’d been writing. I left for the
weekend, and when I came home, he had not only finished
the song he’d started, he’d written two more! The doll helped
him and he really likes it. It sits next to his mixing board in
his studio.
I named the doll Grace because if we would have
had a daughter, that would have been her name.
70
Carol Wanke
Yakima, Washington
HONORABLE MENTION
My Mojo doll is Bonnie Bling. She is named after my sister
who is also my best friend. We love quilting, camping and
riding horses. Bonnie Bling was made with those statements.
Her accessories include a sleeping bag, quilt, pillow and a
stick horse.
My dog Sparkle thinks the Mojo is hers, and she tries
to steal the doll and take the adornments off. I guess I should
make her a doll of her own.
71
Nancy Wilson
Greenwich, New York
Moma’s Mojo
Story not provided.
72
Janet Woodruff
West Valley City, Utah
My Mojo, X-L-ANT, is a positive reminder that I am bright
and excellent in all that I do.
73
Camilla Younger
Washington, D.C.
[Editors’ note: Camilla, an art teacher at the Roosevelt S.T.A.Y
Senior High School in Washington, D.C., used the Mojo doll
pattern as a class project. Students who made a Mojo include
Janet Buruca, Jazmine Carter, Joel Cabral, Paris Epps, Etienne
Mbah, Tatianna McRae and Ulises Prudencio.]
74
pattern
Quilter’s Mojo Doll
rick-rack and other such trims
inserted between the front and
back of the doll are best basted
before sewing. Clothing and
other accessories are done after
sewing and stuffing is complete.
Designed by
Vicki Tymczyszyn
Skill Level: Beginner
Stuffed finished size: 6" x 9"
Supplies
Lightweight fabrics:
1 at 11" x 16" or
2 at 8" x 11" each
Stuffing
Embellishments
About this doll
Choose fabric and embellishments according to the intent of
your Mojo Doll. Is she casting a
spell? Is she a good luck fetish?
Maybe she’s an amulet, stuffed
with a magic voodoo object? Or
she’s showing off her sexiness?
Maybe she simply needs to let
loose and have a little fun!
Fabric
Most lightweight fabrics will work
for this doll, including knits, silks
and metallics. If using one that
frays, stabilize it with a lightweight fusible before stitching.
Stuffing
A stuffing that you may already
have on hand is leftover batting that you can tear into little
pieces. Other possible stuffing
materials include fiberfill or plastic pellets found at craft stores
and ground walnut shells found
at pet shops.
Stitching the doll
Center a photocopy of the pattern on the wrong side of one of
the fabrics and pin in place. Draw
around the pattern and transfer
the two dots onto the fabric.
Remove the pattern. With right
sides together, pin the two fabrics
together along the stitching lines.
With a short stitch length, sew
from dot to dot along the drawn
line, backstitching at both ends.
At the start of each tight curve,
take a few stitches, stop with the
needle down and turn the fabric.
Repeat until you reach the end of
the curve.
Cut out the doll, leaving a J"
seam allowance. Using very sharp
small scissors or snips, clip almost
to the stitching line on each concave curve (fig. 1).
Carefully turn your Mojo Doll
right sides out. Use a blunt tool
such as a stiletto or a Purple
Thang to poke out the corners.
Stuffing the doll
Start filling your Mojo doll’s
head, move to arms and legs
and then fill the body. If using
pellets or shells, hold the doll
upside down.
Use a slip stitch and doubled
thread to hand stitch the bottom
opening closed.
Your Mojo Doll is ready for
dressing and decorating.
QH
Embellishments
Drawn, painted or embroidered
elements are easier to do before
sewing and stuffing. Piping,
Quilter’s
Mojo Doll
Template
Fig. 1
75
76
Stop sewing and backstitch at dots.
Template
Quilter’s
Mojo Doll
Fig. 1

Quilter`s Mojo Doll

Transcription

Similar documents

"Keep the mojo in your business"

Clamshell Quilt Guild Alice`s Archives July 20, 2016

mojo`s mindtrip // mojo`s latest //

About the directions: You will find upon printing out

Patchwork quilts are often created in quilting circles, with many

Sw eetBA BYPete! - MerryMakers, Inc.

MIZVOODOO DOLL II

Welcome/Give Thanks Wall Hangings

Sweet Sixteen - Quilt Trends

Oso Cuban Sandwich