NaNoWrMo

I have signed up to do NaNoWriMo 2009. National Novel Writing Month. Where one is to write a 50,000 word novel from November 1 to November 30. The idea is to just write and get the novel written then go back, edit and clean it up for possible publication.

I did it last year in 2008 and won with 52,000+ words on my zombie story. It needs to be edited. This year, pirates are on the menu and I'm very excited about my story that I will get going next month.

Unlike last year where I just winged it with nothing more than a main character, her name and what the story was about, this year I have a synopsis of my story and scene ideas. I also have a cast of named characters and I know what they do. I have a good idea about what is going to happen and I'm ready to start writing Nov. 1 at midnight.

I will keep you posted.

Special Event

On Monday of last week I got a call from someone I didn't know. She said that she was the friend of a friend. Her name was Jan, a friend of Susie who had taken a doll making class from me. Susie wanted her to ask me to a lecture and intimate dinner with a few other ladies and the guest speaker. Then she mentioned who the speaker was, and I just about fainted.

Yes fainted. First off, that this person was Faith Ringgold and second, that my friend Susie thought enough about me and my work and that I would get a kick out of meeting this person. I did cry because I felt so blessed for having such a friend and I was so happy because I was going to get a chance to meet one of my heroes.



Faith Ringgold's lecture was fun. She is an amazing author, artist, quilter, doll maker, composer, performance artist and educator. Such a wonderful zest for life and a great sense of humor. What I really liked was when she said, that when people told her she couldn't do anything, she just did it anyway. Her way. And that's how she's always lived her life.

I was truly inspired. If she can do it, I know I can. I also had the opportunity to show her some of my dolls and she loved them. I even gave a mini demo to the ladies on how some of them were made. I had so much fun and was totally in my element. This was what I was suppose to be doing.

I haven't come off the cloud yet. I think I'll stay up there a little longer.

Time Off

For some people, time off is a luxury. For me it was a period to challenge myself to see if I could stick to a creative work schedule in order to be on my own. Yes, an entrepreneur. I found out that I can't have too structured of a day. It's just not normal to have every single minute of the day mapped out to within an inch of its life. You need to leave room for when plans and life decide to throw you something you hadn't planned.

The first two days I was sick. Unplanned. Then my whole outing schedule was overhauled because of a special event. Now I could've just broken down because it wasn't on the schedule, this event. But I moved things around and called friends to change dates and times. I can be flexible. It was liberating. Go with the flow and enjoy.

I found out that I write better in the morning but not early in the morning. I did well getting started at 9 on the am. I felt at ease working well into the night because I was doing what I wanted to do. I was able to get a lot done, not all of what I had wanted but more than expected and I'm still going. I am a work in progress. That makes me feel good and proud of myself.

My time off is almost over. I'm trying not to dread going back to what is waiting for me. But I know I can do it now. Preparation is the key. I'm getting ready for that day.

More Bodies

This is part of the first round of dolls for the film. The five all-in-one dolls are going to be simply dressed. The three bigger dolls will be dressed in prairie outfits.

They will be joining the aliens and headless dolls and shrunken heads are coming.

There is a wide mix of dolls for the film. From very nice rag dolls, to elaborate stump dolls, to nice fairies and sprites and some not so nice. You'll have to come back and check them out.

Aliens

These are some alien parts that will be used to set the doll house for the film. They will be stuffed and dressed, so completed pics next week. I'm waiting for an order of stuffing to arrive because now I just have a lot of body parts, waiting.

Black & White Quilt

I've always wanted to make a black & white quilt. So when I signed up for a block-of-the-month session, I was very happy to see that I had that as a color option. The other options were blue & white and red & white. The first block is 24"x24" and will be the center piece.







There are 4 blocks that will finish 12"x12" and 4 blocks that will finish 8"x8". In the last class we will think about different ways to finish the quilt top.

Kennedy

This is Kennedy's Doll. I rarely do commissioned pieces but this is for a good friend's niece. Her bedroom is decorated with butterflies and they are all over her skirt and vest. Also her shoes.

The bodice trim is also her headband. Her sleeves have been stuffed so that they stand up better.
I think she's got a sweet little face.
Another one off the list.

UFP - Pincushion

I have many U.F.P.'s Unfinished projects. I am so guilty but what's a crafter/artist to do? Try and get them done. Yes, I'm laughing at myself. I tried to finish a project before going to the next but that is so boring. Where's the thrill? The challenge?

Any hoo, I was looking for something else when I stumbled upon this appliqued pincushion. It had 3 pins in it, keeping the stuffing in and all that was needed was the final whip stitch to close the seam. I realized that that's where my straight pins are. In unfinished projects. I thought they were being stolen by apt sprites.

So I took a couple of minutes to close up the seam and now I have another pincushion because you can never have too many. I also crossed it off my list.

Happy October!

I love this time of year. Clean air, and later the smell of fallen leaves and pine trees. I finally pulled out an extra blanket and I feel so cozy under everything in the morning. The bird song is way different now and I don't hear as many crickets or cicadas.

The bodies of the fortune tellers have been cut out and will be sewn either today or tomorrow. Gotta go to the job tonight. I want to have their body parts stuffed by Sun. I'm also practicing needle felting and hope to get a pic up of that with the fortune tellers.

I'll also being editing a page of my sci-fi short story so I can send it off at some point. Busy, busy, busy. But it's fall!