A Night Out

I was able to get out, away from my dolls, apartment, and town and go to the Governor's Mansion in Raleigh, North Carolina. Invitation only, the First Gentleman Robert W. Eaves arranged a reception for his project of celebrating NC Craft.

The mansion itself is wonderful and so is a part of the gardens that I did see. It was my first time in Raleigh and loved the architecture of the large Victorian houses. I have to go back just to look at the architecture and go to the museums. Can't forget the restaurants.

I went with my travel buds Gary and Meredith.

Two crazy gals outside the mansion gates. Yes, we had to go through security and show I.D. to prove who we were. I was waiting for Gary to set off the alarm, seeing he just had a hip replaced. Don't tell him that.

Me and Governor Beverly Purdue. She is a tiny thing and very pretty. A lovely lady.

Here I am in the sun room. A reason why I don't like taking pictures.

Me and Meredith in the Gentleman's Room.

The Dining Room with a very long table. Meredith said that she would text me for the ketchup.

The three of us in the Green Room. When you look through the window to my right, there's a beautiful porch. Great place to have morning coffee.

A beautiful silver set in the Dining Room.

A fireplace and elegant screens, also in the Dining Room.

The Gentleman's Room. I love fireplaces.

Another section of the Green Room.

The staircase leading up to the private quarters of the First Family of North Carolina.

Carolina pulled pork sandwiches, mushrooms stuffed with Parmesan and spinach, grilled chicken, Eastern Carolina style cole slaw, cheesecake, wonderful brownies and other desserts, cheese and fruit spread, along with sweet tea rounded off a nice light meal. I had a very good time.

We went to Natty Greene's to top things off and got lost on the way home. Which was hilarious. There was road construction (at night) and we had to get off the highway with everyone else. Of course, they didn't have any signs to tell you which way to go and ended up going to Durham (out of our way) and had to turn around. Gary belted out tunes for us and we just laughed. It's great when you have good people to travel with. We are planning another road trip.

But for now, back to work.

I'm Still Here!

I know it's been awhile since my last posting but I'm scrambling to get things done. I'm on track, which is good and I'm so excited about what I want to do and what I have done so far. The tall pieces are my Ghostie Girls. The little one laying down on the right is a peg leg bunner. I can't wait to get him done. The goal is to have all bodies done this week so I can spend time dressing and embellishing.

Here are some of the witch faces. Painting is done on all of them, now I have to do the detail work with color pencil. Will be picking up some fall and Halloween charms to decorate them and their hats.

This pic didn't turn out very well. These are fabrics chosen for my Skele Pirate. The multi-color stripe fabric is for his pants, the dark stripe is more of a charcoal color and will be his vest, the lighter stripe will be for his shirt and the red go around his head under his hat (maybe). He will be sporting an eye patch too.

I've started staying up late this past week and this one will be no different. I will try to update a post a week until the big show. I'll make sure to take pics at the show too. Today will be mostly needle felting. Happy Labor Day!

I'd like to welcome PP Kessler to the party.

Barely Made It!

Oh my gosh! Barely made it for my first post for September. I'm still holding it together, even though I'm not all there on the job. But that's okay. This little miss is a Ghostie Girl. I just love her little legs. Yes, she does have a big head but she's going to be cute.

Here are some of the Goth Witches, with their beginning paint job. Their eyes are a dark purple with light purple and yellow highlights. Their outfits are killer. I wouldn't mind a couple of those dresses.

Lighting isn't great but look at what time it is. LOL

As you can see, I have witches all over the place. These two are on my sewing table.

These three are on my chair. I've got to get another shelf. Ooooh! Under the gun.
Will also put in an hour or so writing.

Getting Back on Track

This is post number 100. It came up on me quite fast. I had wanted to do something special, like have a giveaway, but that will have to wait until after October. That wonderful, glorious, magical month.

Last week my job schedule had changed and that threw me for a creative loop. And not in a good way. I also got sick. I'm back to my normal schedule starting this week and I feel like I can tackle anything. Including Godzilla.

Not only do I have a huge Skele Pirate guy waiting for arms, a warren of witches, a couple of Ghostie Girls, I now have a bunch of bunners and bears vying for attention. Pirates, ghouls, and ghosts are waiting to get off the drawing board.

It's getting close to thinking about the business end of all the creating. Getting ready for the Expo, taxes, making sure I have enough bags, tissue, etc. Yikes!

Plus I'm still reworking my young adult manuscript, 'Map Hunter'. I apologize for no pics this post but August is just about over and hopefully the stifling heat will follow it. Here comes September.

Eegads!

Okay, I kind of don't know where to start. It's been so long since my last post but I've been working on things for the Expo and working on the manuscript to get it ready for a writer's conference. Two friends have seen what I have so far for the show and they say I have a lot. Of course I don't think that way, me being my own worse critic, etc, etc, etc, and I'm thinking that I've got so much more I want to do. Like pirates and some ghost people. I mean, hello!!! Halloween is coming.

I had a nice four day weekend to really get some things done and worked on and wouldn't you know it? I got sick. Yep, a grand sinus infection. There were times I could barely sit up, let alone look at or concentrate on something. I'm a little behind but started to catch up today.

Here is Skele Pirate Man. He's huge. I have so many plans for him and I finally got his legs on. I have to start going through my fabric stash for some clothes.

I started armatures for his arms and hands that will be needle felted. His body is wrapped with wool batting and then covered with core wool.

I finally got all my Wandi Witches put together. All 23 of them. These guys need their bloomers and skirts which will get sewn on this week. The black and white ones are the goth ones. I'll be painting faces all week too. Then I get to go get trim and charms for embellishing these little beauties.

I also started three more Koji bears that will either be pirates or trick-or-treaters. I've got to get arms for the bunners so I can get them dressed. Today has been good so far. I still have time after dinner to work on my manuscript and do some needle felting.

I am so ready for FALL!!!!!!! This has been the summer from the equator and then some. Does anyone smell brimstone?

And I'd like to welcome Karin to the fun. Didn't see a link. Hi Karin!

Working, working it!

Here are some more Wandi Witch bodies. I also did their arms. I have six more to cut out and be ready to stuff. They're going to be goth witches, if that is such a thing. If not, I've made it up. My friend Maya likes the fabric I've chosen for them. Right now I'm in an in between stage. Lots of parts, not much finished but that will change this week. I want to start painting faces.

Here are some underpants. They look like little bat wings.

And here are some skirts. I ran out of black thread today. It was a horrible feeling, I mean, how can you make Halloween things without black thread? Not even a back up. I thought that maybe I would have enough 'til the weekend but no. Not even enough to wind a bobbin. So I had to make myself presentable and run to the store. Another hot and muggy day and I had to get dressed again. Of course the zone had been broken and it took awhile to get back into it. There will be more later in the week. Have a good one.

He's Got Legs!

This will not be his final pose. He looks like he should be in a circus on a high wire or something. What we have here is a wire armature covered with wool batting. Not too sure if I like this brand but it's what I've got. Disregard the wire between his legs. Although he will be given proper parts. Yes, it's late but I had to post this. I have to start looking for a chest for him to sit on or a small barrel. He will be holding a tankard of rum. It's a given.

On the lighter side, I sewed some Wandi Witch bodies and arms to go with some of the heads. I don't want to count how many heads I have right now. I really do think they're multiplying along with the bunners. I also needle felted 3 sets of Koji Bear arms. Now I have to work on chapter 5 of my manuscript a little before bed. It was a good day considering I got a late start and I broke down and turned on the AC. We're going to be steamy the whole week. Fine.

I am feeling pretty good right now. Bad Wendy is becoming a whisper. Creative Mojo Man has his hood on and looking like an Art Deco scarecrow. Didn't take a pic because I don't know if I like it or not. He can't say anything 'cause he's got a hood on.