Immaculate Heart of Mary Wooden Peg Doll

Jennifer originally inspired me with the idea when her customized saints were featured in Faith and Family (now Catholic Digest). I thought they were way overpriced (even though I now know they are not considering how much work goes into one piece) and I could do them myself for the cost of the supplies. Then intimidation set in when I got this far along in the project back in the first week of January and abandoned it altogether. Mother Mary watched with her penciled face and waited patiently on the counter for over a month.  I passed by and looked at her every day. Ugh! So many little details. I didn't have the patience. But I have to finish her, I thought. Tidbit of trivia: before artists took up an art project - at least in the days of old - they fasted and prayed. Well, I whispered a little prayer and asked Blessed Mother Mary, my patron, to help me paint her.

 

I'm about 80% pleased with the results. I learned a lot in this project. There are many things I will do differently with the next one. I need to invest in some colorfast fine tip markers for the eyes. It is just far too tiny a space to work in to give them nice clean edges even when using a small liner brush. 

I believe the Folk Art paints I ordered from Amazon sat in a very cold truck somewhere en route and froze the paints, which made many of the colors gooey. They were very difficult to work with in that condition. But I am not going to throw away money and the paints so I'll work with what I've got even thought it takes twice as long because I have to thin them out and stir a lot as I go.

 I also need to be careful with the layering. The veil should drape over the arm not vice versa. 

Thank you to my niece Theresa (and my kiddos) for encouraging me to continue this fun hobby.

Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us!