What is a Japanese Kokeshi Doll ?

I love traditional Japanese Kokeshi Dolls, and if you know of my work you will have seen that much of my original artwork and craft products are variations on these lovely figurines.

So what is a traditional Japanese Kokeshi Doll ? 

 

The traditional Japanese Kokeshi doll is made of wood, has a cylindrical body and a round head, usually with the head disproportionally large when compared to the body. These beautiful wooden dolls originated in the Tohoku region of Japan at some point between the 16th to 18th centuries. They were made by woodworking artisans (known as Kijiya) to sell to tourists, and because they were handcrafted and hand-painted, no two traditional dolls are the same.

Kokeshi doll beauty is in their simplicity, typically they have very simple facial features, sometimes literally only a few basic lines depicting eyes and mouth, and simple patterned themes on the body (commonly simple floral designs). Antique dolls originally were decorated in red and black, occasionally yellow.

Kokeshi Dolls are still being handcrafted today,  new designs tend to be more brightly coloured but are still based on the same simplistic design and can be found widely in craft shops and online.

You can take a look at some of my Kokeshi Doll inspired artwork and craft items on my webpage at www.deejavu.co.uk

 

What is an Etsy Mini?

If you have an Etsy shop and have your own personal website or blog then you should advertise your shop using an Etsy Mini.

You can also use this if you are a buyer to create a feature of your favourite items.

How do I make one?

To build your own Etsy Mini, go to Your Shop (link at the top of the page) > Etsy Mini (in the Promotions section in the left hand menu on the page ).

If you are a buyer on Etsy and would like to create an Etsy Mini with your favourite items . . . . go to Your Account > Etsy Mini.

You can select different settings for how your Etsy Mini will appear adding additional rows and columns depending on the width of your Etsy Mini.

The top row in the Etsy Mini will display your featured listings, then the most recently listed items from your shop in the additional rows. If you chose to show your Favorite items, the Etsy Mini will display those items which were added to your Favorites most recently.

Once you like how it looks, copy the code and paste it into the HTML for your blog or other web site . . . it's easy

Here's mine in thumbnail view so you can see what it looks like, you can also choose a gallery view that has larger images and includes titles and prices for your items.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/deejavuart

I think this is a great advertising tool, check it out for your Etsy store

Kute Keyrings

 

My Oomilloe Handmade Novelty Keyring

Are these not the best keyring ever? Individually handmade, each Oomilloe (ooo-mill-ooo) is unique with their own special character, no two are the same.

Each Oomilloe keyring measures 8 x 4 cm, has two button eyes and comes with a silver split-ring

A great novelty gift wouldn't you agree?

Oomilloe keyrings are available for sale in my Etsy store: http://www.etsy.com/shop/deejavuart?section_id=11741838

And also in store at: A Touch of Glass, 78 High Street, Godstone, Surrey, UK

Pictures of my Oomilloe collection can be viewed in my Facebook gallery: http://www.facebook.com/DeejavuArtandDesign

My Oomilloe Novelty Bath Sponge

Check out my latest range of novelty handmade gifts - new Oomilloe Bath Sponges

Measuring 16 x 10 cm, each one is individually handmade. They are filled with sponge and covered in bold design towelling fabric. Ideal for use in the bath or shower and are fully machine washable.

A great novelty gift. Check out the full range in my Etsy shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/deejavuart?section_id=11741838

Etsy Shop Widget

Check out this nice little widget I have discovered . . . . it can be created in a few easy steps and allows you to feature your Etsy shop or Treasury list on Blogger, Typepad, Tumblr, self-hosted Wordpress blogs, or your own website.

Here is the link to craftcult.com - try it out:  http://www.craftcult.com/shop_widget.php?u= 

All you have to do is enter your shop name, pick a style and what you want to be featured and then copy and paste the created html code into your site.

You even have a choice of themes, take a look at my Etsy shop widget below and give it a go yourself . . .

OMG Oomilloes

That's right Oomilloes (ooo-mill-ooo) - I realised that I have not shared on my blog my handmade toy collection. They came about while making some of my handcrafted cushions, having a multitude of fabric scraps and padding left over I decided to create some mini pillow toys, and so Oomilloes were born.

They started out as just small pillows, the linking rings were a later, and popular addition. Measuring approximately 7 inches x 4 inches (18 x 10cm), your Oomilloe has a removable washable cover and polyester filled cushion pad, each comes with a colourful safe plastic linking ring so that your new friend can hang around with you wherever you go

Each Oomilloe is unique with their own special character, they are individually handmade so no two are the same. Check out the current range for sale in my Etsy Store: http://www.etsy.com/shop/deejavuart?section_id=11741838

And coming soon will be a range of Oomillow keyrings and bath toys . . . watch this space :0)

 

Japanese Kokeshi Doll Greetings Cards from Original Artwork

Time seems to have run away from me lately and I can't believe that I have been away from my blog for a week. I am looking to get some of my new artwork created into greetings cards and have spent time playing with photographs and sizes and trying to decide which would work well. It made me think about sharing my current range of cards reproduced from four of my favourite Kokeshi doll canvasses.

 My Kokeshi Doll Cards are large 8x6 inch (A5) cards printed onto thick 330 micron semi-gloss Trucard. I had them printed with a white border with no wording or graphics added to the front so that they can be made into prints for framing if desired.

They are currently for sale in my Etsy shop either individually, in packs of two, or a value pack of all four cards.

Here is the link if you would like to check out the entire range: http://www.etsy.com/shop/deejavuart?section_id=11708557

If you would like to take a look at the original artwork it can be viewed in the gallery on my website: www.deejavu.co.uk

Happy Face Kokeshi Artwork

I have recently put up for sale two Kokeshi paintings based on the traditional wooden Japanese Kokeshi dolls pictured above - aren't they adorable. I have owned these dolls for many years and produced the paintings to hang on my own living room wall. I named them Happy Face not only because the dolls are happy but because everyone that sees them loves them so much, and you just can't help but smile when you see them.

However, as any artist knows it is not long before the house is overrun with canvasses, so now is the time for a change and I hope that the artworks can bring a smile to someone else.

Each painting measure 50 x 50 cm (20 x 20 inch), and is painted in acrylic on 4 cm deep box canvas (canvas stretched over a wooden frame). The edges of the canvas have been painted black and they have been sealed with a satin varnish for protection so there is no need to frame, they can be hung just as they are.

If you want to take a look at them in more detail they are currently for sale in my gallery at ArtGallery online: http://www.artgallery.co.uk/artist/dee_summers
where you can test them out with the nifty ArtGallery app that allows you to try out any painting in a number of recreated room settings that you can alter to fit the colour scheme of you own home - its fun, give it a try.

Facebook Art Communities

I have found some great Artist community pages on Facebook recently where you can upload your own artwork and also check out some of the fabulous talent that is around.

This is not a definitive list and I am sure there are many more pages worth a mention that I haven't yet found, but I thought I would share these with you (in no particular order):

Crafty Folk: http://www.facebook.com/craftyfolk?ref=pb

Art Knows No Bounds: http://www.facebook.com/ArtKnowsNoBounds?ref=pb

Art on Earth: http://www.facebook.com/ArtonPlanetEarth?ref=pb

For the Love of Art: http://www.facebook.com/ForTheLoveOfArtAndArtists?ref=pb

Artcore: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Artcore/329341700436036?ref=pb

All About ART: http://www.facebook.com/pages/All-about-ART/166274586743958?ref=pb

Connecting with Other Creative Souls: http://www.facebook.com/CwOCS?ref=pb

Painting Colors: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Painting-Colors/312853822082711?ref=pb

Fans of Art & Writing: http://www.facebook.com/BlakeHuxley?ref=pb 


If you are an artist who wants to get their work noticed I really recommend taking part, but don't forget to also share some of the other great work that is being advertised. Times are hard for many artists but if we all took the time to share the work of just one other artist, just imagine the amount of people that could be reached.

If you are also interested in following some great artists on Facebook, I am always looking out for new pages and adding new likes to my own page. Have a look at my list of 'likes' and follow, follow,  follow: http://www.facebook.com/DeejavuArtandDesign

Have fun sharing :0)

Japanese Kokeshi Doll Paintings

I thought I would share two of my latest Kokeshi Doll Paintings . . . .

Kokeshi Mother and Baby

Based on a traditional wooden Japanese Kokeshi doll design depicting a mother holding her baby. Painted in shades of blue with golden flower detailing in acrylic on 24 x 12 inch box canvas.

Currently for sale through ArtGallery online: https://www.artgallery.co.uk/work/95863

Kokeshi Mother and Child

Continuing on the same theme I painted this second canvas that depicts two dolls portraying a mother and her child.

This canvas compliments the 'Mother and Baby' artwork above and the two make a lovely pair hanging together (as they are doing in my hall at present).

This is painted in shades of deep red onto 24 x12 inch box canvas and is also for sale in my gallery at ArtGallery: https://www.artgallery.co.uk/work/95864

If you have time to take a look at my ArtGallery links check out the 'test drive' application that allows you to test any painting in a number of different room settings . . . it's a fun way to see how a painting may look in your home

 

. . . and the Matching Cushions

Here are the complimentary cushions that match my Butterfly design Wall Hanging that I featured in my last blog.

Made in the same silk-like bronze upholstery fabric and appliqued with the blue butterfly motif, I think you will agree they would make a great addition to any room.

Each cushion measures approximately 16 x 8 inches (40 x 20 cm) and is lightly filled with polyester wadding and backed in the same bronze printed fabric.

Here is the link to the item in my Etsy Shop where you will also find a close up picture of each cushion:  http://www.etsy.com/listing/102307136/butterfly-design-decorative-cushion

Wall Hangings 2 - new design

Large Butterfly design Fabric Wall Hanging - my latest creation

This is a beautiful and unique piece made from a lovely silk-like bronze coloured upholstery fabric that has a lovely sheen and printed tree design, this has been appliqued with a blue butterfly motif creating a beautiful original design.

The Hanging measures 26 inches high x 20 inches wide (66 x 51 cm) and is filled with a single layer of 6mm thick polyester wadding to give a quilted effect and is backed in a complimentary beige coloured brocade upholstery fabric. It has a reinforced hanging bar and two copper ring fixings at top.

This is a one-off piece currently for sale in my Etsy Shop: http://www.etsy.com/listing/102306603/large-butterfly-design-fabric-wall

Design Process - Part Three

The finished article 

So here they are the finished articles - my Kokeshi doll mugs reproduced from my original designs; and below my 2012 Kokeshi doll calendar.

The mugs have been produced in five different styles, each with a different colour interior: black; dark blue; deep green, bright red; and vibrant orange.

I love the orange one best and keep one as my inspiration mug on my desk.

 All are for sale in my Etsy Shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/deejavuart?section_id=11741840

Design Process - Part Two

Following on from my previous post, these are how my simple Kokeshi doll paintings looked with the backgrounds removed . . . . . .

A really good start that made me start thinking of greetings cards, postcards, printed fabric, wall decals. I ruled out greetings cards because I already have a range using other Kokeshi images, and the postcard idea is still lurking around in my mind, a pack of one of each design might be quite cute?

I loved the idea of having fabric printed using a repeating selection of the images, this really appeals to the crafting side of me, I could make some fantastic cushions. The idea led me to start putting the images together in random patterns  . . . .

Unfortunately to date I have not found a fabric printing supplier willing to print in a small enough quantity to make this idea financially viable. The same goes for wall decals . . . but I still think these would make great images for a child's room.
I haven't given up hope for either idea so watch this space :0)

Many an hour playing around with designs produced numerous variations of images, some worked, some didn't, but I was convinced that I should use them to create some new products.

After much deliberation, testing, and the creation of sample products, approximately one year after putting brush to canvas I had final products delivered to my door. Always an exciting time!

I will feature the finished articles in my next blog and you can decide for yourself if I made the right choices

  . . . . till tomorrow

Take care

Dee

Design Process - Part One

My design process tends to be quite organic, it all starts with the artwork for me, I never have a product in mind, it is all about the painting, and just sometimes the images just lend themselves to other uses, and once my mind starts working around the possibilities the ideas just keep growing.

Most of the product ideas I have never make it past the design stage, time to do research into some of the weird and wonderful plans knocking around in my head is a major stumbling block. And financial viability is another. I don't have the resources to mass produce items, and to be honest I don't really want to. I like the idea that I can sell limited edition pieces, that my buyers are getting something special that can't be bought anywhere else. But creating items in small quantities is expensive and quite often not cost effective . . . . so that is where many of my ideas die, simply as ideas.

If you are familiar with any of my paintings you will know that some of my pieces are based on traditional wooden Japanese Kokeshi dolls, usually on the larger scale to create statement pieces. The eight miniature designs shown here really came about because I was bought a pack of very small canvasses (7x5inch) and I decided to see if I could recreate the Kokeshi doll image in its simplest form without losing any of the character of the dolls . . . . you will have your own opinion on whether or not I succeeded.

Individually the paintings are bold and fun, but once all were complete I realised that it was bringing them together that really gave impact . . . . leading me to consider using these designs for a new product range.

Many an hour was spent playing with the images, removing backgrounds and creating images using different combinations of dolls. The pictures featured here are of the original canvas paintings, I will show you some of the design ideas in my next blog . . . . .

Artwork in Progress - Start to Finish

This is an experiment I undertook several years ago to create a 'time-lapse' effect record of my artwork by taking photographs at several stages throughout progress on the piece.

I really like these pictures, not because it is a painting of my daughter on the train but because it allows me to view my art from an outsiders point of view . . .

These photographs were displayed on my website for some time, but I came across them again recently hidden away in amongst my many folders of pictures so I thought it was time to share again.

I found the process quite difficult as it meant forcing myself to stop painting at regular intervals. All artists are different but I think being engrossed in a piece of work is probably a common trait, once committed to a canvas I often find it very hard to stop . . . .

Hence this is an exercise I have never repeated, though often when I stand back and look at a finished piece I wish I had . . . . next time maybe!

I hope you enjoyed the show :0)

Wall Hangings - a new work of Art?

If you are looking for something different to decorate a room or cannot find the right artwork to compliment your space why not consider a wall hanging. They can be a real feature and give a room a contemporary feel.

As promised here is my latest design for a Fabric Wall Hanging that matches the two cushions featured in my previous blog post.

It is made from the same lovely heavyweight upholstery fabric with a black and white floral motif. The appliqued flowers are made from a vintage seventies bright orange fabric giving the whole piece a retro feel and creating real impact.


The hanging is quite large measuring 17 inches wide x 22 inches high (43 x 56 cm) and is filled with a single layer of 6mm thick polyester wadding to give a quilted effect and is backed in a complimentary black fabric. It has a reinforced hanging bar and two copper ring fixings at top.

The hanging and matching cushions are currently for sale through my Etsy Shop: http://www.etsy.com/listing/102306725/bold-flower-design-fabric-wall-hanging

Silhouette Tree Collection

I thought I would share my silhouette tree collection with you.
I love painting trees, there is something beautiful and inherently fascinating about them and even in their simplest form create a really strong image. I take a lot of pleasure in growing the image, the form of the trunk and lean of the branches that can instill a sense of movement down to each individual tiny branch that if misplaced can upset the whole effect of the painting.
Painted in acrylic on box canvas, my silhouette tree collection is my attempt at painting a tree for each season, with the bold, single, tree silhouette emboldened by the evening skies depicting each of the seasons.

All four paintings can currently be viewed at ArtGallery online: http://www.artgallery.co.uk/artist/dee_summers

Crafty Cushion Creations - Bold Orange Flower Design Decorative Cushions

As much as I love painting, I do love to create also.

Cushions are great fun to make as the options for style, size and design are limitless. I tend to use remnants and off-cuts of vintage and new fabrics - anything that takes my fancy really. Friends and family find me bits of material they think I can use and I am also lucky enough to live near a fabric store that sells end of roll remnants where I can pick up some great material - normally just enough to make a couple of cushions - which is great, I don't like to mass produce (it gets boring!) plus it means that I can sell one of a kind items.


My designs tend to be quite bold, I like to create items that are really decorative, a feature piece that will stand out and look beautiful.

These cushions are made from a lovely heavyweight upholstery fabric with a black and white floral motif and has been appliqued with a beautiful eye-catching bright orange flower design

Each cushion measures approximately 16 x 8 inches (40 x 20 cm) and is lightly filled with polyester wadding and backed in the same black and white fabric

They are currently available to purchase in my Etsy Shop: https://www.etsy.com/listing/102307066/bold-orange-flower-design-decorative.

I have also created a matching wall hanging using the same material - I may feature this in my next blog as they look lovely together, I was tempted to hang it on my own wall, but for the moment it is up for sale.

Make Facebook Work for your Business

 

I have recently signed up for the Facebook app Mywebees, it enables you to add a website to your Facebook page and promises to increase your visibility and get more likes for your page. 

I have used the app to put my Etsy shop onto Facebook, take a look here: http://apps.facebook.com/Mywebees/deejavu-FreeVersion/

It's very easy to set up, and if you use their 'like to get likes' philosophy you will get additional likes to your page, hence, a wider audience . . . . not a bad idea. Basically you can select and like as many of the businesses who have signed up, in turn other members will like your page.

I have been very selective about who I have chosen to like, but I have gained more likes than I have given and seem to have increased traffic to my site (of course this may not be down to this application at all). I haven't found any disadvantages, so if you are looking to increase hits on your site it may be worth a look.

To register just click on my link above and then select the 'powered by mywebees' logo at the top of the page.

Big Etsy Contest

My butterfly design wall hanging is featuring today in the Big Etsy Contest, why not take a look and vote for your favourite items from a range of selected Etsy shops: http://etsycontest.com/index.php

If you own an Etsy shop you can sign up for free for the Big Etsy Contest, competitions are run every day with items selected from a variety of different shops who have signed up for that particular competition. Just check out the link above for details. You can sign up for any upcoming competition with space still available, numbers are limited so you need to sign up early for upcoming contests. Each contest has different criteria for entry, some are based on price others particular themes, so you are sure to find a contest that suits your products.

I think it is a great additional advertising feature for your store generating numerous views. Plus it is a great feeling when your item is winning ;0)