The first workshop for 2003 will be Denise Milligan teaching one of her clowns known as both Angel Mick and The Busker.

To book your place in the class, contact our workshop co-ordinator, Joy Welsh.

As this class has a maximum of fifteen people, and it is expected that places will fill very quickly, the class will be repeated later in the year if required.

Denise will also teach her Shoemaker during 2003, so keep watching for more details soon.

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Denise Milligan

Denise Milligan is emerging as one of Australia's most talented cloth doll artists. She is the mother of nine children, four of whom are twins, and has channelled the strength, courage and determination, that we all know is a necessary part of motherhood, to triumph over many challenges. Denise uses her art to focus on and express the many positive experiences in her life.

As she has limitations in the use of her hands, Denise is constantly working on innovative new ways to construct her dolls. Her designs have evolved from what began as a process of simplifying and adjusting other dollmakers' patterns to achieve the results she needed, to the point where she now produces her own unique doll sculptures.

Denise's favourite dolls are her clowns, wonderful detailed pieces that for some of them, she admits, she would never be able to write a pattern. She does, however, willingly share her knowledge with fellow doll artists and you will certainly enjoy her coming workshops.

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Workshop: Fatima the Bellydancer

In June 2003, Helen Lindton will be teaching Fatima the Bellydancer, a doll that features a beaded bra like the one pictured opposite.

For more information about this class, please contact our workshop co-ordinator, Joy Welsh.

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Helen Lindton has been dollmaking for three years and she enjoys experimenting with many different mediums, such as, cloth sculptures, polymer, and paper clay. Her favourite dollmaking method is wrapped wire dolls where she starts with a wire stick figure and wraps it with wadding then covers with fabric. Using this method, Helen says, ensures every doll is unique.

Helen is also a dressmaker who specialises in bridal wear and costumes, so her dolls tend to have elaborate clothes. She loves to work with machine embroidery and beading; the more intricate and challenging, the better!

Helen is married with no kids, but 127 dairy cows to keep her busy.

You can learn more about Helen's dollmaking techniques in her coming workshop.

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