Madame Crow Fortune Teller - Class Sample!

This Sunday I will be teaching the 'Madame Crow Fortune Teller' doll class at the Castle! Truth be told, this has been the longest 'prep' for a class yet! I hope I didn't bite off too much thinking we can do this in a day! As you can see, Ms. Crow looks innocent enough... Each one hand-sculpted of paper clay by me, on a 12 inch manniquin. I used a tin-foil mask, as shown, to make the clay weigh less, and help hold up the beaks. For sculpting I followed roughly the same technique used on a Crow head that I sculpted in the 90's.

Once finished, the little ladies looked more like sea-gulls then Crows, and quite naked at that! Flat black spray paint brought them back to their wonderful ol' trickster selves...!

So where does the 'Fortune Telling' come to play you ask??? See her skirt? It is made of 160, yes, 'One Hundred and Sixty' (no more, no less) cut and folded paper sleeves, and sewn into a skirt - each with a different handwritten fortune on it! (Don't tell anyone, but I am no where near having them done...) And there you see, is where most of Sunday will be spent!!!

Madame Crow was inspired by Victorian dolls, created just like these Crows, with delicate paper sleeves as skirts, given as party favors and used to divine young womens fate, luck and chance...

Comments

[Michelle Ward]

I feel faint....these are so clever! Wish I could be the fist in line to take that class. You are so generous to share your photos so that we might experience the class, even only with our noses pressed to the window. I agree with Suanna - when is the BOOK coming out?

[designdna]

you are always so creative! i wish i was there to enjoy your workshops. i have enjoyed my visit here as always!!

[tejae]

wow! amazing doll.

[Les]

Every post gets more amazing! Sorry for this comment overkill of me.... I just love your blog. These puppets are so pretty, such a great idea. Really creative. x

[Mrs.Staggs]

Madame Crow is marvelous!
What an awful lot of work goes into these things that you share with your students and with all of us, Ulla.
If I were nearby, I'd help you fold and sew!
I have never seen the fortune telling dolls before. Once again, you've shown me something different and quite wonderful.
Thank you.

[teresa]

Wow, soooo amazing. Looks like pretty tedious work though. Darling...in a wicked way!

[rachael]

Madame Crow is wonderful!! & I can't even imagine the patience it must take to cut out & write on 160!! pieces of paper for that skirt.

[susanna]

Wow! Ulla, you never cease to amaze me! These are really are treasures, certainly heirlooms. And as a party favour, I'd say the recipients are pretty darn lucky. Very cool. So, uh, when is YOUR HOW-TO BOOK coming out??!

[rochambeau]

I've never heard of fortune telling dolls before. Your crows are great Ulla. It will be a great class, and people can continue making their fortunes after, don't you think?

Did you ever make the origami folded fortune telling game during class in elementary school?

[Dorian]

I have been enamored of fortune-telling dolls for a long time. Your crow is just wonderful! I have seen old napkin holder dolls and thought this would also be a good way to adapt the idea. My only difficult would be writing the fortunes! Perhaps buying a bag of fortune cookies would be my way to deal with this!

[Ann]

Oh, I love Madam Crow! Crows are my power animal, if I have one at all. All I know is that I'm reminded of wisdom -- with a dash of humor thrown in, each time I see and hear them. The skirt actually looks just a bit like one of those paper bells that you can buy at a party store for weddings, etc. -- except I don't think they come in black and orange, and certainly wouldn't withstand a pen to write a "fortune" on them! I love this project, though, and appreciate you showing us so much of it.

[Pinkie Denise]

As usual you pull something amazing out of you
sleeve! These are so wonderful! I love how they turned out. I remember you telling me you
wanted to make them. And do you, they are sure
a lot of work. I would like to make it with a
doll head. Wow these ladies will be so lucky
to be able to have you teach this class. Happy
folding! Pinkie Denise

[Gillian]

Oh Ulla - these are wonderful!! I had never heard of these dolls and your interpretation is inspired! I can't imagine the work they must take with all those pages. I know from my own limited experience how much preparation goes into teaching workshops so my hat goes off to you - the class will be wonderful. I love the idea of using the mannequins to work over. Hope you are well! Have a wonderful joy filled weekend!

[Lemon Tree Tales]

Wow, I didn't realize that there vintage dolls that had fortune skirts. Very nifty!

--Tami

[Casey]

Those are so whimsical! I just love the fact that the fortunes are hidden in the skirt... amazing! :)

[katy]

i am on jealous girl, wish castle was by me!

[Fantacy]

like i said in my email to you, your blog continues to awe and inspire me, it makes my creative side SCREAM to be let loose! oh how i wish i lived somewhere near your classes! this is particularly fabulous!

[Melissa]

Gasping for air here. I LOVE all things crow!! Madame Crow is beyond fabulous! What a delightful combination. Kicking myself for not signing up for your class. Melissa

[Terri]

How beautiful and talented you are. Wish I lived close enough to take one of your grand classes.Have a ball and I'll mark this as another of your "I wanna do's".