High-On-Dolls
High-On-Dolls is a group of talented women who enjoy creating fiber art dolls. The group began meeting informally in 1998 following a class taught by Doll Artist, Eleanor Peace Bailey, at Pins-N-Needles Shop in Middleburg Hts. In 1999 they formally organized their club. The club met once a month and grew to a membership of forty plus, with a waiting list to join, due to the limited meeting space at Pins-N-Needles.
Eventually members expressed a desire to meet with fellow doll-makers to work on projects, exchange ideas, and practice new techniques in a creative atmosphere, in addition to the monthly meetings. During this club growth, the organization became associated with the Parma Area Fine Arts Council as an affiliate organization. The group invited numerous nationally and internationally know doll artists to teach at the Parma Area Fine Arts facility. The group also moved to the Quilter’s Source quilt shop in Parma for their formal monthly meetings.
As the club grew, so did their recognition, and they were offered a yearly display space at the Original Sewing and Quilt Expo, which is held annually every spring at the IX Center. High-On-Dolls has had a group display for a number of years now, with their group challenge dolls, Christmas Exchange dolls, and others.
The club members all share a common passion for doll-making and participate in multiple doll-making challenges, and personal interest projects during the year. They also have sewn and collected dolls for the Metro Hospital Children’s Program. This wonderful program offers dolls and fiber art for children who have been admitted to the hospital.
In recent years Parma Area Fine Arts has added a Fiber Arts Category to their annual Medley of Arts show, which allows the club an additional venue to showcase their talent.
The High-On-Dolls Club invites one and all to join their formal monthly meetings, held the 1st Thursday on the month, or the informal monthly working session, held on the 3rd Thursday of the month at the Donna Smallwood Activities Center, 7001 W Ridgewood Drive. Both meetings are 2 PM to 4:30 PM. The club also invites you to view a display of their creations in the showcase of the lobby at the Smallwood Center.
Kathryn Mabin
Board Secretary of Parma Area Fine Arts Council, Inc, or PAFAC, and Artist/Jewlery Designer, Owner Aire of Oppulence.