Blog Tour: Wee Folk Art

Posted on March 13, 2015 by Salley Mavor

Today, I am pleased to have the wildly popular site, Wee Folk Art come along on the Felt Wee Folk BLOG TOUR! The tour schedule is listed at the bottom of this post, with links to participating blogs. I invite you to follow along. There are reviews of my new book and opportunities to enter Give-aways for copies of Felt Wee Folk: New Adventures.

It’s easy to mix up Wee Folk Art and my own Wee Folk Studio. Besides the similarity in name and our shared interest in folksy handwork, we are 2 distinct entities, with different purposes. My site is a personal platform to share my artwork and inspirations, whereas Wee Folk Art’s mission is to support and inspire families that want to bring art and craft into their lives in a natural way. And they have a huge following in this endeavor!

The people behind Wee Folk Art, Kimara and Michelle combine their love of Wee Folk (children) with their love of Folk Art, creating a place to find patterns and tutorials for a whole slew of projects. They are a mother /daughter team who share their mutual love of crafting and the gentle art of homemaking. Most of their ideas and projects are focused on children, but they throw in crafts for the home, self or yummy recipes just to keep it interesting.

They write, “We both share a belief that less is often better, as long as the less has quality. We love working with natural materials, and are ever mindful of respecting our environment. We hope that is reflected in our crafts.”

Wee Folk Art has a treasure trove of information, with lots of resources, tutorials and patterns to learn from. There is something for everyone, whether you are a parent, grandparent, home-school family, teacher or just a crafty, home-loving person.

Wee Folk Art has been incredibly supportive of my artwork and books over the years and I am thrilled to have them on board for this tour! They are offering a book Give-away, along with the other tour participants below:

Felt Wee Folk BLOG TOUR Schedule:

March 3 – Mary Corbet – Needle n’ Thread

March 6 – Mimi Kirchner – Doll

March 10 – Margaret Bloom – We Bloom Here

March 12 – C&T Publishing’s Blog

March 13 – Kimara – Wee Folk Art

March 15 – Phoebe Wahl

C&T book kickoff and other news

Posted on March 12, 2015 by Salley Mavor

Felt Wee Folk: New Adventures 2015

Today, my publisher, C&T is posting my story, “Return of the Wee Folk”, which is about my new book Felt Wee Folk – New Adventures. I talk about the wee folk doll phenomenon that was sparked a dozen years ago with my first book (Felt Wee Folk: Enchanting Projects) and also how this new updated version came to be. You can read my story, see lots of behind the scenes pictures and enter their book Give-away on C&T’s blog here.

Other Exhibit News: Birds of Beebe Woods and Rabbitat will be exhibited in two shows this year. For more information, read further in this post.

Book – Felt Wee Folk 2003

So much has been happening this week, with book launch events and the BLOG TOUR well underway! Word about my book is spreading fast and lots of people are entering the Give-aways. You can follow the tour schedule at the bottom of this post. I’ve already heard from excited people who’ve used the book to make their first wee folk dolls!

The rest of the month looks to be quite busy as well, with book signings and talks at several locations in my home state of Massachusetts (see schedule below). I’m putting together a brand new talk which focuses on the background and development of the wee world I share in my how-to books. This material will be part of my next presentation, which is on Sunday, March 15th at 2pm at the Sandwich Public Library, here on Cape Cod.

The wee folk (pictured below) are traveling around with me, too. Tonight, Thursday, March 12 (6 to 8pm) they’ll come along for my book signing at Gallery 65 on William during AHA! Night in New Bedford, MA.

Felt Wee Folk – New Adventures is available in bookstores and online booksellers. I also sell autographed copies, along with extra goodies (winter scene poster (folded flat), faux flowers to make 2 fairies and a wee folk note card) in my Etsy Shop (here).

Continue reading for more info…

I also want to let you know that my two fabric relief pieces, Birds of Beebe Woods and Rabbitat are getting out a bit this year. They’ll be on display in the Fiberworks Plus exhibit until April 19th at the Cahoon Museum‘s temporary location in Mashpee, MA. I will be giving a talk and book signing there on Tuesday, March 24 at 11:00 am.

And later in the year the pair will travel to Winconsin. Oct 21. 2015 – January 10, 2016, for the Insects to Elephants exhibit at the Wisconsin Museum of Quilts and Fiber Arts in Cedarburg, Wisconsin.

UPCOMING BOOK LAUNCH EVENTS ~ A collection of dolls from the book will come along for show and posters will be included with book purchases:

Thursday, March 12 from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm ~ Book Signing at Gallery 65 on William, New Bedford, MA.
Sunday, March 15th at 2:00 pm ~ Book Signing and presentation by Salley Mavor, Return of the Wee Folk at the Sandwich Public Library, Sandwich, MA
Tuesday, March 24 at 11:00 am ~ Artist Talk by Salley Mavor at the Cahoon Museum in Mashpee, MA. (In conjunction with the Fiberworks Plus Exhibit)
Tuesday, April 21 at 7:00 pm ~ Artist Talk and book signing at the Newton Free Library, Newton, MA. (In conjunction with the Pocketful of Posies exhibit.)

Felt Wee Folk BLOG TOUR Schedule:

March 3 – Mary Corbet – Needle n’ Thread

March 6 – Mimi Kirchner – Doll

March 10 – Margaret Bloom – We Bloom Here

March 12 – C&T Publishing’s Blog

March 13 – Kimara – Wee Folk Art

March 15 – Phoebe Wahl

Blog Tour host Margaret Bloom

Posted on March 10, 2015 by Salley Mavor

The Felt Wee Folk BLOG TOUR has really picked up steam, with lots of interest in the participating blogs and their book Give-aways. And, I’m happy to report that Felt Wee Folk – New Adventures has been the #1 Bestseller in Toymaking on Amazon all week! You can join in the fun by following the tour schedule at the end of this post.

The tour continues today with host Margaret Bloom of We Bloom Here, author of the popular how-to books, Making Peg Dolls and Making Peg Dolls and More. I recently had the pleasure of reviewing her newest release, which you can see here.

Although we haven’t yet met in person, Margaret Bloom and I have developed a mutually supportive online friendship. We share an interest in designing and showing how to make little play figures which are influenced by the wisdom of Waldorf Education. Our approaches are different; Margaret’s peg dolls are perfectly suited for children to make, whereas my wee folk dolls require more handwork skills and are geared toward adults. Margaret’s books fill a void in the craft and toy world and I recommend both of her books to anyone who has children in their lives.

Margaret is constantly coming up with new characters using the simple structure of wooden peg dolls. On a recent post, these gargoyles really caught my attention.

Margaret decided to give my book the real test, by following the directions and constructing some dolls. She created a pair of the most adorable elfin boys which are modeled after her 2 sons. It’s taken all of my willpower to resist showing pictures of them here! So, head on over to her blog, We Bloom Here, enter the Give-away and have a look at the magic she creates.

Follow the BLOG TOUR for more reviews and opportunities to enter book Give-aways! (See the schedule at the end of this post.)

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Felt Wee Folk BLOG TOUR Schedule:

March 3 – Mary Corbet – Needle n’ Thread

March 6 – Mimi Kirchner – Doll

March 10 – Margaret Bloom – We Bloom Here

March 12 – C&T Publishing’s Blog

March 13 – Kimara – Wee Folk Art

March 15 – Phoebe Wahl

Blog Tour host Mimi Kirchner

Posted on March 6, 2015 by Salley Mavor

Today, doll artist and all-round versatile maker of wonderful things, Mimi Kirchner is hosting the Felt Wee Folk BLOG TOUR. The tour schedule is listed at the bottom of this post, with links to participating blogs. I invite you to follow along. There are reviews of my new book and opportunities to enter Give-aways for copies of Felt Wee Folk: New Adventures.

Mary Corbet – Needle n’ Thread kicked off the tour on Tuesday with a post featuring a beautiful curly-haired doll she made based on my book’s instructions and patterns.

Today’s blogger, Mimi and I met more than 30 years ago through the Boston area’s art/craft community and have been friends since. Here she is in my studio, sharing a magazine spread about her tattooed dolls. I’m so glad that she’s getting this great exposure!

You can see Mimi’s creations all over the internet and in social media, on her blog, Facebook, Instgram, Flickr and Twitter. She’s constantly updating her blog with her latest projects, from swaddled babies to burly tattooed men and a whole lot of other treasures. She sells originals, as well as patterns for making her pin cushions and a variety of dolls in her Etsy Shop. Thank you, Mimi – you’ve been an inspiration to me and so many others!

I’ve written about a visit to Mimi Kirchner’s studio here, her pin cushions here and some of her ceramic ornaments that I bought years ago here.

Felt Wee Folk BLOG TOUR Schedule:

March 3 – Mary Corbet – Needle n’ Thread

March 6 – Mimi Kirchner – Doll

March 10 – Margaret Bloom – We Bloom Here

March 12 – C&T Publishing’s Blog

March 13 – Kimara – Wee Folk Art

March 15 – Phoebe Wahl

Felt Wee Folk BLOG TOUR

Posted on March 3, 2015 by Salley Mavor

Today, I’m happy to announce a Blog Tour for my new book, Felt Wee Folk – New Adventures: 120 Enchanting Dolls! It’s the first time I’ve hosted one and I’m excited! For the next 2 weeks, some of my favorite bloggers will post reviews and Give-aways for a chance to win copies of Felt Wee Folk: New Adventures. By following the list at the bottom of this post, you can visit each blog, starting on their designated day, read what they have to say and enter a Give-away, if they offer one. It’s a good way to discover some new blogs worth paying attention to!

C&T Publishing has generously offered to supply books for the Give-away winners; hard copies for USA and e-books for international winners.

To follow the tour, click the corresponding link, starting on the dates listed. Some bloggers have made dolls from the book, which they’ll be sharing in their posts. I’ve already seen pictures of an adorable pair of impish boys and another blogger has told me that she’ll be including the results of a family doll-making session!

Keep checking the list, as it will be updated with new participants during the whole month of March!

The tour kicks off with Mary Corbet – Needle n’ Thread. Tips and Trick’s & Great Resources for Hand Embroidery. Mary Corbet is an author, reviewer and all round collector of information about hand embroidery. Her site has fantastic instructional videos for learning just about every stitch. Mary writes, “I believe the world needs beauty, and embroidery is one of the most beautiful visual arts. To teach others to embroider, to inspire them to try new things with needle and thread – to me, these are worthwhile goals. I love teaching, and Needle ‘n Thread is my opportunity to teach a wider audience something that I’m really passionate about – the art of hand embroidery.”

Felt Wee Folk BLOG TOUR Schedule:

March 3 – Mary Corbet – Needle n’ Thread

March 6 – Mimi Kirchner – Doll

March 10 – Margaret Bloom – We Bloom Here

March 12 – C&T Publishing’s Blog

March 13 – Kimara – Wee Folk Art

March 15 – Phoebe Wahl

Posies goes to Lexington, MA

Posted on February 28, 2015 by Salley Mavor

I am pleased to announce that, after a few month’s pause, the Pocketful of Posies Traveling Exhibit has resumed and will be shown in several venues this year. Just yesterday, Rob and I drove to Lexington, MA, to deliver and hang 33 original embroidered illustrations from the book. Luckily, it wasn’t snowing that day, but there were tall walls of snow lining every street and sidewalk around town!

My artwork is on display at the Lexington Public (Cary Memorial) Library, Lexington, Massachusetts from now until March 30th. The exhibit is in the meeting room gallery, so I recommend contacting the library ahead to find out when the room is not being used for an event. It would be disconcerting to make the trip and find out that there’s a meeting going on in the room. I’ll be giving an Artist Talk and book signing on Wed., March 4th @ 7:00 pm. A collection of wee folk dolls from my new book, Felt Wee Folk – New Adventures will make a special appearance!

This exhibit came about because someone came into the library last year looking for my work. When she found out that the Pocketful of Posies Traveling Exhibit was actually in Lexington, Kentucky, she suggested that the library get in touch with me to see if it could come here, too. Well, I’m happy that they did and we arranged to have a show this month.

The next stop on the tour is April 2 – 29 at the Newton Free Library, Newton, Massachusetts, with an Artist Talk on April 21 @ 7:00 pm.

Then the artwork will go south to these locations:

August 17 – Sept. 25, 2015 at the Harford County Public Library, Bel Air Branch, 100 E. Pennsylvania Ave, Bel Air, Maryland.

Oct. 17, 2015 – Feb. 28, 2016 at the Upcountry Museum – Furman University, Greenville, South Carolina. Artist talk to be announced.

Will there be any more shows after this? Perhaps.The artwork has been touring for 5 years, and at this stage, I’m involved with other projects and am too busy to search out for more locations and send out proposals. But, I’m always willing to discuss the idea with interested venues who contact me.

My Black Hen from “Pocketful of Posies”

new books in and out

Posted on February 22, 2015 by Salley Mavor

Hooray! Despite all of the stormy winter weather during their drive across the country, FedEx Ground delivered my order of Felt Wee Folk – New Adventures last Friday before noon, as scheduled. A wee folk welcoming committee was on hand!

I immediately opened the boxes and started processing orders because I wanted to mail a bunch off that day. Instead of being “hot off the press”, the books were “cold off the truck” as I opened to the title page and started signing them.

I had prepared as much as I could beforehand, so all I had to do was sign and slip the books into pre-addressed mailers. Since then, I’ve brought several loads to the post office. Orders made in early January were filled first and will progress toward more recent ones. The rest will go out this week, so don’t fret, yours is coming!

These are all orders from my Etsy Shop (here), which include some extra goodies; an autograph, a winter scene poster (folded flat), faux flowers to make 2 fairies and a wee folk note card.

If you want to support your local bookseller, have them get one for you. My neighborhood bookstore, Eight Cousins offers signed copies, too. They’re having a book launch party on Sunday, March 8, at 3:00 pm. And there’s always Amazon, where today, Felt Wee Folk – New Adventures is rated No. 1 in “Toymaking! They have an e-book version, which is a sensible option for international customers.

Felt Wee Folk arriving soon!

Posted on February 15, 2015 by Salley Mavor

I’m excited the report that my order of Felt Wee Folk: New Adventures is being trucked across the country this week! The books were printed in China and transported by sea to a west coast port. After being delayed by the Longshore Union’s work slow-down, I am happy to say that the shipment was finally unloaded and delivered to C&T Publishing’s California warehouse. For a while, I wasn’t sure if we’d get the books in time for the series of book signings and talks I’m giving (see schedule at the end of this post), but it all worked out.

It feels like I’ve been waiting forever for this book, so I’m relieved to know that my 15 cases will be here (hopefully) on Friday! All of the snow we’ve been having has made it easier to stay inside and get ready.

To those of you who’ve pre-ordered the book through my Etsy Shop, thank you for your patience. It won’t be long before your copy is sent off. I’ve been busy preparing for the book’s arrival like an expectant parent for a new baby. My studio is stacked with 100’s of addressed US Priority Mail envelopes filled with extra goodies for my Etsy customers. Each book comes with a poster (folded flat), a wee folk notecard, and faux flowers to make 2 fairies. These items will also be included with orders placed after the book is released. And, of course I’ll autograph each book! FYI, Etsy now accepts credit cards in addition to Paypal. The book is also available through booksellers, but it doesn’t come with these bonus items.

It was fun matching up color combinations of faux flowers for fairy petticoats.

I got out my long-neglected collection of stamps and decorated mailing envelopes and thank you cards. Selecting which stamps to use was like picking out clothes from your closet — there are many choices, but you always end up with a few favorite ones!

The mailers are ready for my international customers, too. I’ve already filled out the customs forms, so that they can be mailed out right away. Hold tight, before you know it, you’ll have your own copy to pour over. Then, you’ll run the risk of becoming hooked on making your own special wee folk dolls. Those of you who’ve delved into the first Felt Wee Folk: Enchanted Projects know what I’m talking about!

UPCOMING BOOK LAUNCH EVENTS on Salley Mavor’s schedule ~ A collection of original dolls from the book will come along for show and posters will be included with book purchases:

Wednesday, March 4th at 7:00 pm ~ Artist Talk and book signing at the Lexington Public (Cary Memorial) Library, Lexington, Massachusetts. (In conjunction with the Pocketful of Posies exhibit.)
Sunday, March 8th at 3:00 pm ~ Book Release party at Eight Cousins Bookstore, Falmouth, Massachusetts.
Thursday, March 12 from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm ~ Book Signing at Gallery 65 on William, New Bedford, Massachusetts.
Sunday, March 15th at 2:00 pm ~ Book Signing and presentation, Return of the Wee Folk at the Sandwich Public Library, Sandwich, Massachusetts
Tuesday, April 21 at 7:00 pm ~ Artist Talk and book signing at the Newton Free Library, Newton, Massachusetts. (In conjunction with the Pocketful of Posies exhibit.)

France (misc.)

Posted on February 11, 2015 by Salley Mavor

Toc, toc, qui est la? It seems fitting to start this post with an inviting door knocker, which we saw many examples of around France. Here’s the last selection of miscellaneous photographs I took last fall during our trip to Provence and along the Canal du Midi. There are doors, gates, grape vines, mermaids and vegetable gardens that somehow touched my fancy. I’ve enjoyed bringing you along on this visit to beautiful France!

Book Giveaway: Making Peg Dolls & More

Posted on February 5, 2015 by Salley Mavor

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I am excited to be included in Margaret Bloom’s blog tour for her new how-to book, Making Peg Dolls & More: toys that spin and bring sweet dreams. This charming hard cover volume joins the author’s popular first book, Making Peg Dolls, with new projects that act as imagination boosters for children, parents and teachers. To enter a Giveaway for a copy of Making Peg Dolls and More, please follow the directions at the end of this post, just before the nifty book trailer.

Although we haven’t yet met in person, Margaret Bloom and I have developed a mutually supportive online friendship. We share an interest in designing and showing how to make little play figures which are influenced by the wisdom of Waldorf Education. Our approaches are different; Margaret’s peg dolls are perfectly suited for children to make, whereas my wee folk dolls (Felt Wee Folk) require more handwork skills and are geared toward adults. Margaret’s books fill a void in the craft and toy world and I recommend both of her books to anyone who has children in their lives.

In her new book, Margaret takes the concept of a simple peg doll to another level, introducing projects that animate the static wooden figures, sparking active creative play. The book sets the stage with a thoughtful Foreward by kindergarten teacher, Shaifa Oppenheimer, who writes, “Unlike many other sense-depriving toys, interactive screens and other products marketed to young children, which actually stand between the child and the true exploration of our beautiful green earth, this little book is an antidote and a balm.”

The book is very well organized and written in a friendly conversational tone, like the author is personally explaining the process to you. Poetry and familiar stories linked to the peg doll characters begin each chapter, adding lively and poignant narratives to the projects.

There are clear step-by-step directions for painting with non-toxic colors, dressing and decorating a variety of peg dolls that take the form of mobiles, tops, marionettes and other toys. She also shows how to make felt wall hanging scenes, with pockets for the peg dolls to call home. Helpful tips appear alongside the general directions and each project is clearly marked with one, two or three leaves, which indicate the skill level. The book’s simple, charming designs include just the right amount of detail to make the little figures eye-catching and engaging.

Margaret’s Peg Doll books stand out as more than simply another series of craft how-to’s. They symbolize the reclaiming of childhood in today’s technological world and encourage the creation of toys that will be appreciated and admired long after the children are grown.

Margaret’s books are available at all of the usual online booksellers like Amazon as well as shops that also sell craft supplies for the book’s projects, such as Bella Luna Toys, A Child’s Dream Come True & Castle in the Air.

To enter the Giveaway for a copy of Making Peg Dolls & More, please leave a comment (on this post) which mentions your favorite childhood toy. The contest is worldwide and the winner will be picked at random on Feb. 15^th. Here’s the book trailer: