A MAGICAL WHIMSY

A MAGICAL WHIMSY IS DEDICATED TO PROMOTING DOLL MAKING SITES, MIXED MEDIA SITES, AND CHILDREN'S BOOK AUTHOR'S SITES. PLEASE VIEW MY SIDE BARS FOR VARIOUS LINKS TO CREATIVE ARTIST'S SITES.

Sunday, February 22, 2015

IN MEMORY OF JOANNA PIEROTTI OF MOSS HILL STUDIO

YES, DEAR KINDRED SPIRIT ARTISTS AND FRIENDS.  ONE OF OUR MOST BELOVED MIXED MEDIA ARTISTS HAS PASSED AWAY THIS LAST WEEK FROM HER FIGHT WITH CANCER.

JOANNA PIEROTTI
I was first aware of JoAnnA Pierotti's Moss Hill Studio, when I came across one of her online workshops for her Bella Art Doll Workshop in the fall of 2007.  I then, promptly misplaced the link to the site, and her blog name, and couldn't find her for another year, at which time I did enroll in that particular class in the fall of 2008. Joanna was the one who inspired me to continue with other mixed media online workshops from various artists.  Her professional business name was spelled JoAnnA.  She really appreciated it when people would use the capital letters for her name in that format.

 She and her husband Ron had lived in Volcano, California and because of health problems for both she and her husband, as he had had ongoing surgeries for a brain tumor, Joanna's art work was what was sustaining their income. At that time, in 2008, Joanna was in remission from breast cancer, but recently, in the last six months of her life she had a blood test revealing she had stage 5 cancer in many areas of her body, and was receiving chemo and radiation treatments. A few years ago they had moved to Arizona near her husband Ron's brother and sister-in-law.  Ron is in good hands but the loss of Joanna will be difficult to bear. May God comfort their hearts at this time. 



THIS IS THE BELLA ART DOLL I MADE IN HER ONLINE CLASS.


THIS IS THE FRONT VIEW OF THE MIXED MEDIA DOLL. THIS WORKSHOP HAS NOT BEEN AVAILABLE FOR A FEW YEARS.  THE BASE WAS A WOODEN BLOCK WHICH WAS EMBELLISHED WITH BROKEN CHINTZ CHINA PIECES GLUED ON WITH E-6000. A LONG NAIL WAS NAILED FROM UNDERNEATH THE CENTER OF THE BLOCK OF WOOD AND A VINTAGE SPINDLE WAS PLACED OVER THE NAIL AND WAS GLUED TO THE TOP OF THE BASE. THEN THE SPOOL WHICH WAS PREVIOUSLY WRAPPED WITH COTTON THREAD, WAS PAINTED WITH ACRYLIC PAINT, AND A MADAME ALEXANDER VINTAGE DOLLY HEAD WAS GLUED TO THE TOP OF THE SPOOL.  FROM THERE THE FACE WAS PAINTED, THE EYELIDS GLUED OPEN AND THE ENTIRE FACE WAS PAINTED FLESH COLOR.  THEN THE EYES WERE REPAINTED ONTO THE FACE, A LIGHT PAINTING OF PINK WAS PAINTED ON THE CHEEKS FOR BLUSH, AND TINY ROSES WERE PAINTED UPON THE FOREHEAD.  YARN WAS GLUED ONTO THE HEAD WHERE THE HAIR HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY REMOVED. THE YARN HAIR (I USED EYELASH YARN) AND VINTAGE FLOCKED TINY FLOWERS WERE GLUED ONTO THE HAIR.  I USED A TINY CROCHETED NUT CUP AND CUT OFF THE HANDLE WHICH I GLUED AROUND THE NECK OF THE DOLL, AND THE 'CUP' WAS USED AS A BONNET.  I ADDED OTHER CROCHETED EMBELLISHMENTS FOR THE FRONT AND BACK OF THE DOLL AND ADDED A HUGE SUNFLOWER BUTTON ON THE BACK SIDE.  THE FACE WAS GLAZED WITH DECO ART GLOSS GLAZE.


FOR THE BACK SIDE OF THE DOLL I ALSO USED A VINTAGE CROCHETED DOILY WHICH I HAD FIRST SATURATED IN AQUA BLUE ACRYLIC PAINT (AND THE HAT TOO) AND THEN SQUEEZED OUT THE EXCESS AND LET THOSE PIECES DRY AND THEN GLUED THEM ONTO THE PIECE.  I DID USE A VINTAGE CROCHETED DAISY AND GLUED A METAL BUTTON TO THE BACK OF THE DOLL.
THIS IS THE SWEET ANGEL MIXED MEDIA PIECE I WAS ABLE TO ACQUIRE FROM JOANNA.  HER CREATIONS ARE TIMELESS AND BEAUTIFUL.






AND HERE IS ONE OF JOANNA'S GLORIOUS (SWOON!) NECKLACES WHICH I WILL CHERISH AND WEAR IN MEMORY OF HER WONDERFUL LIFE FULL OF CREATIVITY.


AND ONE OF JOANNA'S BEAUTIFULLY CREATED ENCAUSTIC BOTTLES.  I WILL CHERISH THIS SWEET CREATION SHE MADE.  I WAS UNABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE WORKSHOP FOR THIS CLASS.

SHE IS NOW AT REST AND AT PEACE IN HEAVEN WITH OTHER KINDRED SPIRIT SOULS. 

I FEEL VERY BLESSED TO HAVE BEEN ABLE TO BE TAUGHT ONLINE BY ONE OF THE MOST SELF-SACRIFICING MIXED MEDIA ARTISTS.

MAY JOANNA'S LOVED ONES FIND COMFORT AT THIS TIME OF THEIR LOSS.

TO VIEW JOANNA'S TIMELESS CREATIONS GO TO YAHOO (OR ANOTHER SEARCH) AND TYPE IN: MOSS HILL STUDIO DOLL IMAGES

POSTED by Teresa

21 comments:

Magic Love Crow said...

Bless her heart! May she rest in peace and dance amongst the heavens ;o)

Debi said...

A lovely heartfelt tribute, her Art is unique and I'm sure her wonderful spirit and artistic skill lives on in all who knew this gifted soul. My deepest sympathies to her famil and another shining star to light up the heavens.

Jennifer Michelle said...

Beautiful memorial to her and her creations and world. She was a wonderfully talented and creative soul. May she rest in peace.

suziqu's thread works said...

A truly heartfelt tribute to dear Joanna and her extraordinary creativity. You are blessed to own a few of her artworks as a reminder of the beautiful heart this woman had.
Love and warm hugs to you!
Suzy

Victoria said...

Este año como cada año, nuestro tren parara en alguna estación, depende de cada uno de nosotros dejar ir a la tristezas, miedos, frustraciones, malos momentos, desamor. Agradece a cada uno de ellos.. su compañía y sus enseñanzas, aunque hayan sido dolorosas, déjalos ir, déjalos bajar de este tren. Deseo que en esta parada, a tu tren suban miles de bendiciones, sueños alcanzables, amor, abundancia, fuerza y determinación para seguir tu viaje.
Hoy en mi vagón quedaran puestos desocupados y espero te sientes a mi lado para compartir junt@s este nuevo viaje. FELIZ NUEVO COMIENZO EN ESTE AÑO 2015!!!


Hermosa entrada...Gracias por compartirla

Con cariño Victoria

PeregrineBlue said...

I am heartbroken! I met Joanna in person a few years ago at a workshop in Pleasanton and lodged with her in a beautiful rented house overlooking a valley. I too have several of her creations which I will cherish forever. Life was hard on her, unjustly so. Her creativity was so so feminine and tasteful. I will always remember her. Thank you for sharing. Love and light to Ron and her sibling sister.

PeregrineBlue said...

Que Linda's palabras

Unknown said...

I met Joanna as we were both going through chemo treatments in No. California. We became close and helped each other through the process. I too am a mixed media artist but nothing like Joanna. I have several of her works and will cherish them forever. Joanna taught me a lot. I am so sorry to see that she has passed. The world is a tad bit less creative place without Joanna in it. She had a very strong faith and I know she's just fine.

Sheri

Cory said...

Can't believe 2 months have passed since I lost my friend. I met JoAnnA through the web about the time her husband Ron was so sick. When they moved to Peoria Az which is where I reside, I got to meet her and Ron in person. I was in awe of her work, we became friends and spent many play days together. Her art is what sustained her. She never complained even when she was so ill. I am blessed to have had her as a friend, and equally blessed to still be able to talk to Ron. He is my computer angel, he worked on my pc as JoAnnA and I exchanged creative ideas. I miss her so much and I know we will meet again. Rest in Peace my friend.

Tricia said...

Thank you so much for writing this tribute. I just learned of JoAnnA's passing. So very sad and such a great loss to the world. Curse cancer! But I am glad that now she is pain free and at home with her Lord! Your post is all I could find that paid such a beautiful tribute to such a beautiful person. She will be missed.

Diane said...

I'm so, so glad to find your post about Joanna. Periodically I have tried to check on her, to no avail.
A beautiful star has gone out in my life with her loss. She was a wonderful artist and sweet, kind person. It's so comforting to know that she loved the Lord and is now with him. Diane

Thespoena McLaughlin said...

JoAnnA was a beautiful soul. I got to know her a bit after finding out her husband Ron struggled with the same thing my dad did. I loved her creativity and her spirit. I'm fortunate to own one of her little angel ornaments. I cherish it in it's entirety. She will always be remembered by this crafty lady.

Merissa Revestir said...

I took a few of Joanna's classes online and when I went to search for the class today I came across this posting. It really saddens my heart to know that Joanna is no longer with us. She was such a creative talent. I hope that she is now full of joy and peace in heaven and surrounded by beauty that she deserves.

Copper Fairy Designs said...

Thank you for posting this. As we ramble through the internet we come across different and interesting sites. I came across Moss Hill one time and admired the pages and Joanna's creations and her shabby chic style. I loved the picture of her in her long lace coat/vest. One of the posts said she was having a bout with cancer and I felt very badly for her at the time. I've thought of her off and on and wondered if she had beaten cancer. Sadly I found your blog and read the "in memory of Joanna Pierrotti" and I realized she had not won the battle. May you rest in peace, Joanna. You touched many souls and I hope you are busy teaching classes up above.

Evie said...

I adored Joanna's artwork and was truly very sad at her passing. I was a member of her Bella Art Doll workshop and made some lovely dolls. And now I wanted to do some more and can't find the workshop anywhere, even looked on a very old PC but it's nowhere. Would you be able to send me it if you still have it? I can't even remember if it was a download. Thank you.

Hucklberry Hill said...

Hello! Were you ever able to locate a workshop or tutorial of JoannA's? I only discovered the wonderful talent of JoannA recenty and would dearly LOVE to see her teach....barb

A Magical Whimsy said...

Sadly, JoAnnA's workshops have been taken off the internet. If you would like instructions for JoAnnA's Bella Art Doll, I can email them to you, if you leave me your email address, I would be happy to do that for you.
Have a blessed week!
Teresa in California

Unknown said...

Would you please email me JoAnnA's instructions for the Bella art doll? dveenastar@yahoo.com

Jackie PN said...

Theresa,
Thank you so much for posting this lovely tribute to JoannA ,God rest her soul.
Your doll you created in her class is wonderful!! I love her face and the roses!I actually love everything about her!
I would like to have you email me the instructions for JoannA's class as well. And thank you for doing this.
Jackie ")
(kampysgirl)(at)(gmail) (dot) (com)

Artdolllover said...

I just came across Joanna's dolls and in trying to find her, found your post .I feel so sad that such a special creative soul has passed. Clearly her memory lives on through her dolls which are all over Pinterest!
I would love a copy of the online dollmaking workshop if possible. If so, please email to cshelle99@aol.com
Thx so much. Even though Joanna is now in spirit, I hope she will see that her talents, creativity, and dolls continue to be dearly loved by so many. Blessings to Ron as well.
Michelle

P Isen said...

On looking at Joanna's amazing dolls on Pinterest I was led to your site. It is so very sad that she left this world all too soon, what a beautiful woman. Her dolls have such a gentle, sweet spirt. This spring I taught a mixed media doll making workshop and have been looking at other possibilities and ideas to expand on. If you would be so kind to share the dollmaking workshop I would be delighted and if there is any other course material that might be available I would love to know or even purchase (IsenhourArt@outlook.com). I'm sure her dolls are a treasure to many!
Blessings,
Patricia