Wednesday, June 22, 2016

Done

Day 30 of my challenge. I'm proud of myself for sticking to it. This is the second challenge I finished this year. It does stretch the brain matter. Sometimes I'd just do a small sketch before I went to bed. Like tonight. I've got 15 more faces to do for my 29 Faces. I'll get that one done. Still working on filling up my sketchbooks.



I finished another three mug rugs and worked on my second art quilt. My magnolia.



Tuesday, June 21, 2016

Challenge Day 29

Almost done with this challenge. I can't believe I stuck with it.


I also finished some mug rugs, pulled fabric for two preemie quilts, and did some more guy faces. The new AC is working in the studio. Thank goodness.





Monday, June 20, 2016

Errand Day

Did a lot of running around today. This morning. Four different stops and back home to put things away and have lunch. Taking care of business emails and zoned out. That usually happens when I have to do errands. It sucks the life and creativity out of me. But I did manage to get two sketches done. I saw these faces on National Geographic website. I don't know who took the pics but the faces captivated me. Now that I look at them they don't look much like the photos. I've got to practice more on my people sketches.


Tomorrow is another day. I will work on my list from today. See ya soon.

Sunday, June 19, 2016

Plot Twist

There's a meme going around on Facebook that says something like, 'If life is not going the way you planned, call it a plot twist and keep going.' Not the exact words but that's how I'm feeling right now. I don't know what has been going on this month. My birthday month. The month I had such promise of nice things and it kind of went the route of a poopy diaper. After a month, the AC in my studio was finally fixed but now everything I'd been working on is off track and I'm trying to get things back on the rails. And it's been a slow month for longarming but I've been hanging in there with the 30 day challenge. I believe I can keep it up once the 30 days are up. We shall see. What was a 30 day challenge is morphing into a bona fide project. A large one that will be in progress for some time to come. The cool thing is that I'm ready for that challenge. Scary? Yes. But I'm feeling this down in my soul to keep going. I'm still working on details of the uber project, so I can't give out too much information at this time but stay tuned. It's going to be fun.

Grateful for my friends but one in particular who has been really great when the lave heat of life just won't leave me alone. She has kindly held the tiniest fan with the greatest breeze and with kind words of encouragement helped me through this month. No one can tell me I don't have determination and perseverance. I guess I have a hard head but my heart is bursting with creative things I want to make and show the world. Even if some don't get it. Because my light is great. I'm going to repeat one of my favorite quotes.

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is out Light, not our Darkness that
most frightens us.
- Marianne Williamson

Get ready to put your sunglasses on.

Challenge Days 26 - 28

A little late in posting. Drew another medieval gown on day 26th. On days 27 and 28, I researched where to put my work when done and spoke to a friend about doll clothes. It's good to have a person who is your cheerleader, always in your corner. One who will pick you up after a face plant on concrete covered with shattered glass and tacks. The one who will tell you that you are okay and that your ideas are brilliant and say 'keep going'. If you don't have a person like that, try to find one. So here's my latest drawing.


She's similar to the first one but not as much detail. My dates on the blog are off by one but on my calendar they're up-to-date.

#blythe #blythemedievalgown

Tuesday, June 14, 2016

Day 23 & 24

Yesterday I made another Halloween dress for my Blythe doll. I used the wrong pattern and her dress was way too short. Hmm... So today I decided to add some more tulle. Black. But the black wasn't as dense as the copper and even though her crotch is covered, it's still not covered enough for me. So I paused and pondered what to do, short of making this a piece for my doll that will stay in my collection. I do have to go to the fabric store soon and I decided to look for some black t-shirt fabric and make some leggings for her. Then her what was supposed to be 20s look will turn into a 50s look. Am I brilliant or what?

Today I designed a witch's hat, made one and cut out another that will be sewn tomorrow. I like it. It's pretty funky looking and I can't wait to dress it up. What I've learned is that I need a good quality black fabric. Black fabric can come extra stiff to like batiste weight. I need it to stand up a bit so I will be on the lookout for the right weight. I'm liking how these little dresses are turning out and I'm ready to really dress them up.




#blythe #blytheclothes #blythehalloweendress

Sunday, June 12, 2016

Days 21 & 22

Still moving along with my challenge and I got something actually made. A cute little Halloween dress. I was going to make a hat but left the pattern at home so I will have to make it tomorrow. Yesterday, I spent a few hours researching 1920 Flapper dresses.


#blythe #blythehalloween #blythedress #blytheorangeandblack

Thursday, June 9, 2016

Challenge Day 20- I think

Yes, I'm still working on my challenge. I didn't work on it yesterday because I was working on a project that has been hanging around for at least two years. And I cut out a pair of Capri pants and worked on a short story. But today, I finished a dress and hat. I still have to put on snaps and other trim but I did it. It's such a tiny dress. I will keep at it though.


I'm still on my Halloween theme.

#blythe #blythehalloweendress

Tuesday, June 7, 2016

Blah!

It was a weird day today. Starting out with voting. I felt like I was being interrogated but I got through it. Then the AC in my studio is still possessed by the heat monster and still not cooperating. I did get the binding stitched down on my mom's quilt. And I did some sketching but I had nothing else to give to the day, so I left. Got home, took a nap and sketched some new Halloween pieces. I'll show them later. But here's one project I can put on my Done/Finished list.


Another drawing for my challenge.


And more guy faces for the 29 Faces challenge.


#29faces #blythedresses

Monday, June 6, 2016

Losing Count

I'm losing count of my challenge days. Oh well, I will continue.



I longarmed one of my mom's quilts. She made the blocks, I did the sashing and borders. I also made the binding and attached it to the quilt. Tomorrow I'll stitch the binding down.


I also got binding on the last 9 mug rugs. Will have these done this week.


Saturday, June 4, 2016

Challenge- Day 15

Here's my challenge sketch for today.



I also made a killer salad for lunch. Working hard to eat better too. Romaine lettuce, baby spinach, mushrooms, cucumbers, tomatoes, a little Tapenade, olive oil, Himalayan Pink salt, a dash of cayenne pepper, thyme, and Gorgonzola.


Woo hoo!

What do you do when you wake up early on a Saturday morning and can't go back to sleep? Get your day going of course. Since today is supposed to be a scorcher in these parts, I thought I'd get started so I can be home when then sun really decides to make its presence. Along with his pal, humidity. We have slid past spring and landed right into summer. Even though I was born in the summer, I am not a summer person. I don't mind 80 degrees, even 90 as long as there is no humidity. Ha! Not happening. And, it's hurricane season. So, there ya go.

Got a few groceries. Wanted pasta with pesto, mushrooms, and sliced tomatoes. Then I headed to JoAnn Fabrics to get backing fabric for one of my mom's scrappy quilts, bias tape for the latest batch of mug rugs, and some patterns. My mom has been clearing out her fabric stash and sends it to me. I have fabric to make two pairs of Capri type pants and two tank tops. Because it's hot, humid, and icky, you go through more clothes. She even washed the fabric for me. Gotta love that. Then it was on to The Vitamin Shoppe to pick up some things for the body, The Dollar Tree (didn't have all that I needed, that's okay), and finally AC Moore. They were giving me bonus points in their program. I tell you, a ten dollar coupon at the beginning of each year is really nice to get in the mail. All before 11:00 AM.


The patterns were on sale 3 for $5. I picked up the hat pattern just because. Hey, Halloween is coming up. Be back later!

Friday, June 3, 2016

Two Days of My Challenge

I think I've caught up. Day 13 and 14. For Day 13 is another sketch.


Day 14 I actually made something. The pattern I did for this hat worked but I thought I wanted the cone part to be stiffer so I added some interfacing. But then that altered the rest of the hat. Oh well. Live and learn. Once I get all the goodies on the hat, it will look very nice.


I cut out another hat, same pattern as the black one but no interfacing. And two new dresses. Both Halloween.


#blythe #blythehalloween

I also got my short stories separated and into their own folders. Now it will be easier to find individual ones instead of looking through stacks of paper.

Wednesday, June 1, 2016

June

Here we are again. A new month. Those things are moving along at a very fast pace. Whether you like it or not. It's my birthday month. Some years I've celebrated the whole month, others the week of my birthday. I think I'll just wing it this month. Seeing that truck repairs put a dent on things.

As always, lots of plans. Especially Halloween things. I'm so behind. I've gotten back to my Blythe challenge and will be starting a different one for 29 Faces. The original one is in February where you can draw any face. The one for June is males only. I really need to practice male faces. I need to sketch more period. And I still have blank pages in my sketchbooks. Those are supposed to be filled by the end of the year. Um...yeah, did I mention I was a bit behind? It's time to finish things that I started last month. Only two things made it to the 'Finished' list.

So how do I feel right now? I don't quite know. Working on getting excited about things after having the wind knocked out of my sails last month. It is what it is. Day 11 and 12.



Whoa!

 Okay, wow, geesh!  This year, this crazy year is going by so fast. A lot of stuff have been happening and I'm treading water. I'm h...