Art and Beauty of Cozumel Mexico: Inspiration!

Yummy Mexican fabrics I brought home from Cozumel


Mexican Market Place in Cozumel


The beauty of the people in Cozumel was colorful!


I thought the colors and inspiration of these Corona Bottles at a Tequila tasting facility in Cozumel was interestingly amazing!



Beautiful Native Mexican Artwork inside the Discover Mexico Theme park and Museum



Beautiful Native Mexican Artwork inside the Discover Mexico Theme park and Museum



Beautiful Native Mexican Artwork inside the Discover Mexico Theme park and Museum



A Fiber Art piece inside the Discover Mexico Theme Park and Museum




A Fiber Art piece inside the Discover Mexico Theme Park and Museum



Native Mexican Masks inside the Discover Mexico Theme Park and Museum


Outside the Discover Mexico Theme Park and Museum in Cozumel, Mexico

I was off traveling again! This time I took a cruise with my husband in July to the West Caribbean and went to Cozumel, Mexico. Cozumel is about 50 miles off the coast of Mexico near Cancun!

Upon disembarking from our cruise ship we traveled on an organized tour of many of the sights of the island. Some of the artistic highlights I am sharing here above. I truly enjoyed the beautiful colors and interpretations of art shown at the Discover Mexico Theme park and Museum. In addition, some of the colors and artful inspirations found throughout the island.

As always I plan to incorporate this into my doll making and mixed media work. Enjoy!

Mixed Media Doll Making While Celebrating the Gullah Tradition

On Saturday, August 7, 2010 I had the privilege of hosting 21 participants in my Mixed Media Gullah Doll Workshop at the Smithsonian Anacostia Museum in Southeast Washington, DC. I was invited to give this workshop by the Ward 7 Arts Collaborative in Washington, DC.

The theme of the workshop was Mixed Media Doll making in the Gullah tradition. Participants were challenged to hone into their own creativity and create dolls made out of Popsicle sticks, cardboard, and pipe-cleaners.

The workshop started out with a discussion of the Gullah culture, history and folk traditional doll making.

Supplies were given to all participants that included fabric, yarn, ribbons, shells and other found objects. Each class member created something unique and different from each other.

Children, their parents and grandparents participated. It was such a magical event -lot's of positivity and sharing. Two noted doll makers- Joann Banks and Imani Russell also participated.

A joyful time was had by all.

Many thanks to the Ward 7 Arts Collaborative and the Anacostia Museum for providing me the opportunity to host and instruct this powerfully positive workshop!

August 7, 2010: Celebrating the Gullah Tradition in Mixed Media Doll Making

Through the art of doll making, I will embark on a spiritual journey, leading me back to a heritage that is a wonderful fusion of African traditions and Southern American history.

As an artist, speaker, and through workshops, I will celebrate the folklore, language, and art of Gullah people. I invite you to be inspired by this unique culture and the beautiful stories it has to tell... ...I will combine the history of doll making from the Gullah perspective with a demonstration of mixed media doll making techniques. Participants will learn the art of doll making and create their own doll.

Where?: Smithsonian Anacostia Museum
1901 Fort Place, SE
Washington, DC

When?: Saturday, August 7, 2010

What time?: 11:00am - 3:00pm

For more information and to sign up contact the Anacostia Museum

Musings from the Art Studio

Here is one of my latest art dolls on canvas.

A large doll which I am naming Diana- after Diana Ross of course!

Hi as promised, I am showing some of my latest art doll work that I have been putting together as part of a series. These are part of the Natural Woman Art Doll Series I am creating. They are made from sticks that I have found outside my doll studio in Riverdale Park, Maryland. I was inspired to create these from the Transformational Doll Making class I took earlier this year. These will be on exhibit with more dolls shortly.

Decorating with Dolls

What if you just can’t find the perfect place to display your dolls? Create one yourself! There are dozens of spaces available in your home:

your foyer
your stairway
your window seat
your bed
your living room

just find the one that works for you!

Coordinate dolls and accents with your room's architectural features, color and furniture for a more permanent display of dolls.

One of my collectors had their home redecorated by my design firm, Design Scheme Interiors, LLC. For their foyer, they decided to have dolls created to add to their vast collection of artwork. Well see above. We also created clothes to change with the seasons.

Dolls can provide a wonderful burst of color to any room. Consider your dolls, the location and opportunity to display them as an accent.

One of my Doll Collectors: Cassandra Rush!

Cassandra and her new doll "Pinky"


Decisions, decisions, Moi and Cassandra trying to decide which doll goes back to South Carolina with her!

I just had the beautiful opportunity to meet one of my esteemed doll collectors Cassandra Rush of the African American Doll Museum in Columbia, South Carolina. She and I have been corresponding for nearly a year to get one of my dolls into her collection. After much e-mail traffic and some hits and misses, we finally caught up in Washington, DC yesterday evening and had a lovely time.

I showed her four of my dolls and she loved them all! Finally after much debate, she settled on "Pinky" one of my healer dolls. Turns out Cassandra is not only a doll collector, but she is curator and author. In addition, outside of collecting dolls, she is an avid African American art collector. We talked about our love our art and what motivates her to collect dolls. Cassandra states "I pick dolls based upon how they make me feel."

She is a wonderful lady who has a vision and a passion for collecting. I feel very honored to know her.

An Evening of Haitian Art

My art piece entitled "Wild and Peaceful" which was auctioned during the event.


Several pieces on display from "The Art of Haiti" Exhibit


Guest mingle during the silent auction and opening reception.


Moi and gallery owner, Florcy Morisset of Vivant Collection enjoy one of the exhibit pieces in the gallery.

On Saturday, June 5th, I was honored to have been one of the artists represented by Vivant Collection to have my mixed media work auctioned as part of the Links, Incorporated fundraiser for several Haitian organizations including:

Art Creation Foundation for Children
Les P'tits Tresors School
Partners in Health

Delaware Links, Inc. member, Valerie J. Gilliam, Chair of the fundraiser event, was the winner of one of my art pieces "Queen Series: Wild and Peaceful."

Over 100 prominent guests of the Wilmington, Delaware community feasted on Hors D'oeuvres and cocktails while listening to the wonderful music was provided by child prodigy Emma Gould who played a special violin selection: Haydn Violin Concerto No.2 in G Major, First Movement.

The event was held at the beautiful Delaware Art Museum in downtown Wilmington, Delaware.

As part of the event, the highlighted "Haiti: A Tribute to Art" Exhibition provided an excellent backdrop to the event.

My thanks to Links Incorporated of Delaware and Vivant Collection for being a part of a wonderful event!