So here is Part 1 of my video tutorial on how to create Embroidered Fabric Beads.  I hope you find this helpful for using recycled fabrics to create wearable art.  You can use these beads to adorn your dreadlocks,braids and for making jewelry with.

Brightest Blessings to you and yours,

Trina Sandress

Hello Everyone! I hope that you are enjoying the Spring Season.  I have just uploaded some new videos today on how to make Embroidered Fabric Beads.  I hope that you find them helpful and inspiring.  It's funny how I always thought about making beads from recycled fabrics because I have a lot of fabric to spare.  It involves a lot of time and patience because each bead can take anywhere from 1 to 2 1/2 hours to complete.  I will be posting a video on how to make paper beads as soon is I get more supplies.  So I hope you all enjoy them.  I will post them one at a time so that I can load onto this blog successfully.

Thank you so much for everyone's support and encouragement to keep on creating.  Mother Nature is counting on me. :)

I am low on cash so in order to continue to adorn my dolls and handbags and purses I started making my own beads.  I use  shredded up junk mail or adds,hot water and glue.  I mix it up until is like a clay or paper pulp.  I then shape them into beads.  I let them dry.  Once dry I drill a hole in them and paint them.  

I wanted to share with you all two of my creations that are currently for sale and on display at Bon Vida Beauty Salon and Art Gallery 4429 Franklin Blvd. Sacramento,Ca. 95820. One I called Sun Goddess which is hand sewn,hand beaded with my own polymer clay beads I hand sculpted myself.  And also glow in the dark paper beads I created.  This bag is hand embroidered as well and took me almost two years to complete.


The Second is what I named Gypsy Evil Eye purse.  This particular creation took me 2yrs to finish.  I takes this long because I hand sew everything.  This piece is hand sewn,hand embroidered,and hand beaded using my own handmade polymer clay beads.


I have more dolls and and bags coming soon that I will be putting up on my shop.


Thank you so much for coming by to take a look.

Hello Everyone,
Today I am going to write about the process of two repainted dolls that I have been working on.  Both dolls were donated to me by my friend Amelia Paz's mother.  She fixes and repairs vintage porcelain and plastic dolls. These two she couldn't fix so she gave them to me to do whatever I wished with them.
One of them has porcelain legs,arms and head and a cloth body.  And to me the face kinda looked like a cabbage patch doll only better.  So here is a step by step for the this doll:

1. I papier mached her face,head,arms,and legs.
2. I applied a thick layer of white acrylic paint
3.  I handpainted her face,arms and legs with acrylic paints
 So I will have updated photos of this one in my next blog entry once I take photos of what more I have done. All I can say as a sneak peak is that  she now has clothes and a bit of hair.

For the plastic doll that Amelia's mom donated to me here is the process so far:

1. I papier mached her face and hands.
2. I then applied a coating of Stone acrylic spray paint for texture
3. I let it dry and then added a coating of white acrylic paints
4. I then  I carefully added detailing in her face and hands and her undergarments with acrylic paints.
As with the porcelain doll I will keep you posted on this one as well in my next blog entry.

Oh and I hope everyone is not getting frenzied from the upcoming holidays.  I keep things chill by tapping into my creativity everyday.

Tribal Dolls Art By Trina Sandress

Hello All just wanted to show you one of the repainted art dolls that I have been working on for over a year now.  I found her at a thriftstore and hand painted her body and face.   I then rewigged her hair because she had bald patches. I used synthetic turquoise and purple hair and then braided it and attached my handmade polymer clay beads.

I am now working on the wings.  I am constructed the wings out of wire hanger,wood glue and vintage lace.  I will be attaching a doll hanger on her so that she can be hung like a painting.



I also was given some dolls from my friend Amelia Paz's mother who restores dolls.  One is a porcelain doll that looks like a cabbage patch doll and the other is just a regular baby plastic doll.
I started by patching up the cabbage patch looking doll with wood glue. After her leg has dried I papier mached her head,face,arms,legs,and feet.  I did the same with the other doll except she didn't need any repairs. They have both been drying outside in the sun.

Hope you all find time to get out in nature. Because surely is inspiring!

 Brightest Blessings Trina Sandress

Hello Everyone,
As you can see I haven't been writing in my blog lately.  Just haven't had the time or should I say I haven't made the time. A lot of fun and exciting things have been happening for me and my creations. I almost feel as though I need to write several blog entries just to catch you all up on what's been going on with me.  I have an art show that my art will be appearing in on Sept. 21 at Bon Vida .  For more info contact me at www.blacknails31@yahoo.com  I will include some photos from some of my creations on display.

I had closed down my etsy shop for a while to organize my dolls and art. None to fear it is open again.  We have been decluttering and now I can find all of the projects that need to be completed.  I am so content when my environment is organized and neat so I can find all that I need whilst I am creating.  I am limited on space and I don't have the luxury at this moment of having my own art studio so I make do with what space I have in the garage and I have devised a system that is working for me for now.

In the process of decluttering I was able to find this handbag that I had been working on for over a year.  I will post the pictures with this entry.  And people have been showing interest in my handmade handbags and purses.  I make all of my handbags and purses using recycled fabrics,recycled materials,found broken objects,seashells,sea glass,acrylic paints,my handmade polymer clay beads and they are all handsewn not a sewing machine involved in any part of the process.
 
This particular bag I used a pair of khaki pants and a base for the bag.  I cut up strips of fabric and then handsewed each square using fluorescent  embroidery threads. The inside of the handbag is lined with black jean fabric with a pocket to fit  a cell phone and keys.   I attached a zipper up top to secure all of your goodies.  
The other side of the handbag has a fortune teller with an evil eye in the palm of one of her hands.  I will post a photo of the other side soon.