About

Hello, my name is Cyndi Mahlstadt and Meadow Bug Studio is where I create!

Art has always been my passion. In High School I spent every spare moment in the Art Room with the desire of someday becoming a professional artist. In 1995, I discovered the world of cloth dolls, which was the start of this whimsical journey. I began by learning the basics, and then started exploring different techniques and mediums, in an effort to develop my own style. I am continually trying new materials; I feel that experimenting is what keeps me fresh and growing as an artist. Fantasy figures, “creations from my imagination”, are my favorite projects. Much of my inspiration comes from nature and my surroundings. I love including a touch of whimsy and humor in my work. When people look at my critters and smile, I know I’ve done well. Mixed Media Figurative Sculpture is where my journey has brought today. Sharing my art with others through teaching, galleries, selling my art and good old fashioned trunk shows are the things that fuel my passion. A passion I’d love to share with you!

2011 Interview with All Dolls Are Art:

How long have you been making dolls?

It’s difficult to pinpoint when I started making dolls. But, to give you a number I’d say about fifteen years. It has been a bit of an evolutionary journey for me. Creativity has always been a part of my life in one way or another. While growing up I was always making little creative bits with my mom or grandma (sewing, embroidery, crocheting, and creative recycling). In 1994 I started making and selling little handmade Christmas tree ornaments and tree toppers. Then I started slowly adding new critters to the mix like bunnies, and cats. When the angels and fairies arrived, that’s when doll making became an active part of my creative life!

What led you to start creating dolls?

It was the inspiration of recycling that inspired me to make what I consider my first doll. Believe it or not….it was a big pile of sticks, literally! One day we pruned a great-big-old tree in our back yard and when we finished we were left with oodles of long, straight, beautiful twigs. They were way too pretty to send to the recycling heap. The beautiful twigs became arms and legs for my first doll which was a “Garden Angel”. I wanted my angel to have a pretty cloth face but wasn’t quite sure the best way to do this. So, I went to the internet to do a bit of research because after all you can find anything on the internet. Oh my gosh! There was a whole world of people out there who love to make dolls, and people who design patterns and teach doll making! Who knew? The inspiration I found forever changed my life.

What other media do you work in?

I like to dabble…. whatever catches my fancy at the time, that’s what I like to play with; wire, clay, paper, fabric, goopy stuff, rusty stuff, the list goes on and on! Recently I was given the nick name ”Rusty Patina” because I adore anything rusty. Although, I must say, there is something really special about the “softness” of fabric and it remains a constant feature in almost all of my dolls or creative endeavors.

Where do you get your inspiration from?

I’m a bit selfish when it comes to inspiration. I like it when my creations make me feel good. But, I do feel quite satisfied when other people enjoy my creations, and they make them feel good too. So to actually answer the question…I’d say that my inspiration comes from things I enjoy. My garden and nature are inspirations. There are so many textures and colors, and the way plants and flowers grow are so stimulating. I love bugs, frogs, and snakes too. I also love silly quirky things, anything that makes me giggle inside.

Do your dolls speak to you?

Most definitely! For me it is more of a feeling or lack of feeling. When “the doll is speaking to me” I get into what I call a “creative frenzy”. Time evaporates, my work space blows up, and I end up with a special little critter that nearly comes to life before my eyes. I love it when that happens. Then there are times when the “creative frenzy” never comes, and I’m doing a lot more talking than my creation. So, I usually set it aside until I can do a better job of listening.

Do you decide where to take each creation, or does the creation lead you?

To tell you the truth, it ends up being a mixed bag. I absolutely prefer and enjoy the purest of times when a seed of inspiration is planted and it takes on a life of its own, and a new little critter is born. But sometimes there are situations where it is a combination of both me and the creation. For example there may be certain details or constraints that I need to consider while working because the creation may be a commissioned piece, or will ultimately become a workshop or pattern.

Do you have an idea of what dolls you want to make next?

I do have a list of ideas. In fact it’s long list. Quite often I’ll have random inspirations for a new critter or project and I write them down so I don’t forget. Is that what I’ll be working on next? Probably not. It’s funny, usually the projects that get done are the ones that hit my brain, drag me to my studio, the creative frenzy hits, and presto-magico there’s creation! I do try to be faithful to my list though. When I’m feeling a bit creatively dry, it helps me get the creative juices flowing again.

What do you enjoy most about teaching?