The inspiration for my dolls comes from the elaborate ornamentation of the Rococo period and
a rich collection of beautiful fabrics that includes laces, velvets, silks, beaded chiffon and embroidered textiles. My collection of others cast-offs of beads, old jewellery and broken
treasures begin a new life on my dolls.
My Painted Dolls are reminiscent of some of the old schools of puppetry and dollmaking –
all made in fabric with clothing and shoes painted on and worked to look like leather.
Strelitzia Fuoco is the doll I made for Patti Culea’s book, ‘Creative Cloth Doll Beading’ and she continues to attract plenty of attention. In 2008/9 my doll, Aura Amarantha travelled the United States with the Hoffman Challenge Trunk Show.
At the end of 2009 I had a very successful exhibition at a gallery here in Coromandel. I had 37
dolls – Rococo Ritz Belles and the Painted Dolls, a selection of seven paintings, and 20 collages – all of the work left for new homes world-wide.
........ more dolls to make...........!
........ more workshops to take...........!
Other work by Lorraine Abernethy
Paintings: Acrylic on canvas. Collages from 'Thanks, Leo' series.
