Cards

 Just when I was getting use to the old set-up, they go and change things on me.  Now I've got to learn things all over again.  Here is the group of holiday cards I made for a commission order.  The person didn't want your typical holiday/Christmas cards, so I made what I would like to get.

Most of the cards are geometric collages.  I use different shapes and textures to make each card.

 The one on the left is a sort of beach scene with a butterfly.

 Forgot to turn these the around.  Sorry.  I like the one on the right.  It's a not-too-cold winter scene.

 Two more beach scenes.  I'm not having fun with this because I have to change the font every time I move the cursor to type.  I kind of wish I were at the beach right now.

 The customer also likes Asian themes, so I did these two.  The one on the right is a geometric bonsai.  The one on the left is based on Chinese style painting.

 These two are of course, kimonos.  Both cut out of paper.  The collars, inner neck, fan, and belt.

Two starry night scenes using paper.  Love the plaid birds.  I didn't have time to make my own cards.  I guess that will be on my list for next year.

It's December!

Wow!  December already!  The year is almost over.  Time truly flies whether you're having fun or not.  I guess I'll continue to have some fun.  I just love the colors of five bean soup before it's souped.  Too bad the colors don't stay like this after cooking but it was a great day for beans and rice.

So glad that November is over.  It wasn't exactly horrid but it was challenging in so many areas.  I will be taking a look at certain things and eliminate them from my life and will be adding more creative and fun things.  NANOWRIMO was attempted again this year and I didn't make it.  Oh well, there's next year.  November just seems to be crazy.

But it's over.  Gone.  History.  It's a brand new month and I'm feeling better about the end of the year.  Maybe I spoke too soon.  :D  I have a show next week and not really prepared for it.  Nothing like the last minute.  In 2011, I will work extrememly hard to make sure this doesn't happen again.  I tell you November was just weird.

I'm okay though.  I will go through all projects and see what needs to be done, if I want to finish them at all.  I'm lining up shows for next year and I'm almost booked.  February, May, June, August, and October, so far.  I have a one woman show in October.  Is that sweet or what?  I'm very excited about that one.  I also have some plans to change the look a little of my blog.  Don't know what just yet but it will happen.

Happy December!

Wandi Updates

Snowflake and elf print Wandis.

I was able to get more done on my Winter Wandis. They now have their heads and legs on. Now I have to finish stuffing arms and get them on. Someone mentioned that she never sees anything finished but always in progress. She shall remain nameless. Where have you been lady? Click on dolls and you'll see everything that is complete. ;)

I have one art commission to complete today, because it's driving me nuts, and I need to get it in the mail. Then I have one more project to finish up before I can concentrate on new designs for next year. Such as:

Pirates, mermaids, more skellies, and things that fly. I'm so happy that I have a one woman show in October. You know what that means? Halloween stuff. Yee haw! My first exhibition show in 2011 is in February, and the first real show is in May. It's looking to be some line-up for next year and a play niece is getting married in June.

These final two projects are like balls and chains around my neck. I guess I better get to work. Take care all. Have a great week!

Hello!

Is anyone out there? I know it's been awhile since I've posted last. Novembers seem to be time sucking in every way. After coming down from my doll expo and writer's workshop high, I crashed really hard. Didn't want to do anything but sleep and the creative mojo man went missing. I attempted new dolls, NANOWRIMO, and tired to get back on track but my job had its annual craft fair, which also took time (mental too). Then there was turkey day. By the way...

HAPPY BELATED THANKSGIVING!

There's nothing like good food to help with the spirits. I got an invite from Maya and her husband. He, the wonderful man, smoked a turkey that was so tender it truly melted in one's mouth. I had so much fun and laughed so much. I talked to a friend from high school, several from university and it was so good hearing their voices. We cheered each other up. It was great! I do have some leftovers, I didn't gorge myself yesterday either. Very good of me. I am so grateful for all my friends and their support.

I'm getting a new and better attitude on life. More details later, but for right now, I'm excited about how things are going. I have two projects to complete by December and then I will be able to concentrate on new work. I am learning how to say 'no' because of all that I want to do. It's okay to want my time to create my art. I don't have to explain anything to anyone. It's quite liberating. In 2011, I will make some more big decisions that will improve my life, how I see it, and how I want it to be.

I want to thank my new followers: Natalia of www.scarletsailsminiatures.blogspot.com whose shoes are awesome! And Grandma Moose of www.needlefeltedrockheads.blogspot.com. I think I got that right. I thought I wrote down Grandma's real name. Forgive me, it must be the leftover dressing. Mind is still getting back to normal.

I will be getting new pics up next week. My body feels the need to get back to creating. I have missed many creative posts from you all and will have to catch up. Thanks for being in my blog world.

Back To Work

Catching up is a chore in itself, especially when it's non-creative stuff. I'm still working on that stack. But I was able to get some sewing done. I have a holiday art and craft show booked for December and I've got to get cracking. Here are my Winter Wandi girls. At least their parts. Some of their parts. I'm going to have to do a count. I have two extra heads and I know I need some more legs.

I also bought some holiday fabric. I didn't need any but things were on sale. The JoAnn's I went to had just been refurbished and it's beautiful. So inviting, warm, and fuzzy like. That was bad for me. I even had a list of three things and I came out with eight.

I think I have enough arms. When I got into sewing these lovelies, I realized I didn't have any blue thread. I mean, I can see not having white, or black, or tan, but blue? I have every other color. No blue. I searched high and low for that water buffalo and nothing. I mean, a seamstress is suppose to have the basic colors of the rainbow for thread. I have everything except blue. Guess where I'll be going again?

I get into a zone when I'm sewing parts. Some are easier than others. Some I have to think about, like arms. I did get confused at one point and panicked, thinking I didn't have enough arms. I told myself to finish what I had and then take a body part count. That's when I found things. Don't you just love this?

I'm still doing NANO and have a total of 9136 words. Behind but that's okay. I have a good three weeks to go. Still polishing the manuscript and I've got to start on some ornaments. Then there is the Goth Girl painting. Back to work!

Jack Patch

This is a quick sketch of Jack Patch (working title). It features my twin Goth Girls, unnamed at this time but drawings and stories will be of their adventures through Halloween land. I have a lot of catching up to do with myself and my followers. Creative batteries have been recharged and I'm ready. So many ideas. I hope my head doesn't explode.

I'm Still Here!!!!!

I have been busy. So many things have been going on. The Expo, great. The writer's conference, great. And now a visitor for the weekend, also great. Well, fantastic. My pal from university in Michigan came visit for a long weekend. Her first day we went to the North Carolina Zoological Park. It was awesome! The leaves on the trees changing, the crisp air. It wasn't too hot or cold. Just perfect. Unfortunately there were 200+ kids there but not til the end. This pic is of the marshlands. Did you know cattails are edible? You can boil the roots for stew, eat the leaves in a salad, and grind the dried roots to make flour. The whole thing is usable.

This was one of the many sculptures throughout the park. Made of marble, it depicts all the eggs of the different critters found in the marshlands and how they relate in size to each other. The oblong one belongs to a snake.

Harbor Seal swimming around and having fun. There were two pups but they weren't cooperating for a photo op.

Another one of the sculptures, this one of the river otters. Once abundant in NC, but rarely found.

He gave me a wonderful shot. I begged him to look up before the horde of kids stormed in. And he did. Isn't he cute? I love otters. Little river, big river (like in South America) and sea.

Bison. Huge!!!!

Black Bamboo. I thought it all was green. Learn something new everyday.

My favorite place was the reptile exhibit and these tropical frogs. I love them. Now I have to do some research. Like I have time for anything else. But they were so cute. No more than two or three inches. And they move fast. So pretty.

A black and yellow guy. Didn't get much info because of the stampede of little ones. They were loud too.

This is a Victoria Crown Pigeon. About two feet tall and can fly. One flew over my head.

An Eclectus Parrot. Very loud. Scared many people, young and old. It was great seeing grown men jump.

African violets.

Elephant.

Giraffes.

Repeat.

Alligator. Very large. Signs all over saying that yes, they were alive, and to leave them alone. I was waiting for a bright person to climb over the barrier. I wasn't lucky this time.

Pumas, Mountain Lions, Cougars. Check out those feet!

More gators.

This was an artificial geyser. There are several small ones and when they went off, they scared me. Silly me.

Plants of the desert area.

This one was very pretty. Further along the trail I got to see how big they get. Medicine ball size.