End of January 2012

Can you believe it? It's the end of January. I yawned and it flew by. I feel like I'm very late, like the White Rabbit in Wonderland. I don't know what happened. Maybe I do. It all started with being sick that first week of the New Year and things continued in a downward spiral. Once again, I was treading water and not very pleased about it. It all came to a head last week and I've come to some conclusions.

• I am very resilient. No matter what gets thrown at me, how many times I get knocked down, or how many times I fall into chasms, holes, or over cliffs, I get up and keep moving.
• I am stubborn and will not take no for any answer, especially if it has to do with my creative life. I may be down but I most certainly am not out.
• I am a very cool gal. I like me. I am in control of my feelings and happiness. That's my job. Or at least one of them. My other jobs are to create fun and unusual things and to write fun, unusual, scary, happy, fantastical things.
• The year has just begun and I have a plan. Actually, several.
• I am back on track.

I didn't get as much done as I would have liked to this month. I've added fuel to my creative fire though. February, here I come.

I did manage to get a few things done. Two art cards and another Hop To It block.

 Flowers and Fences.

Rainy Garden.
Both postcards are done in acrylic on watercolor paper. More are planned.

Hop To It Block 7

Finally getting back to my block of the month applique quilt. Yes I'm behind but starting to catch up. I will have this quilt top done this year. All the leaves have been appliqued down.

The flowers have been appliqued. Supposedly it's easier to do such a detailed piece in stages. Get the flower stitched together before putting it in place on the block. Maybe. I will be gluing these down tomorrow before adding more flowers and leaves this week.

Works on Progress

I'm working. I'm working. I just had to show you.

The jar contains the antique buttons I got for Christmas. I love them.

 Here are more prim dollies.  Most will be dressed for Easter and some will be goth like.

This trio are a new pattern. One will be for the Delta show and the other two will be voodoo/zombies. I think you can tell which will be which. I will make their clothes but I will be ordering a distressing concoction from a quilting site online. I can't wait to get that stuff. It's awesome.

First List of 2012

All right. I said that I would publish my lists for the year. I'll have to do them in stages. I thought I'd start with my quilt and applique list. Seeing that I don't do resolutions, I now have expectations for the year. I try not to start new projects before finishing old ones but us creative types know that doesn't always work. There's always something more exciting to try, and the work in progress gets put on the back burner or in the drawer or cupboard.

I've been working on several applique quilts for the past several years. Yes, I'm shaking my head. I don't know the reason for not finishing them. Maybe because I get bored or it could be that finishing them will take a bit more of the cash than I have at the moment. But I expect to at least have the tops done and when I can afford to get them quilted, I will.

Quilt Tops to be finished:
Southern Album
Hop To It
Birdies
Trip Around the World

Other quilts and wall hangings:
-Double Irish Chain- I'd like to get this top done this year
-Wild Blue Berries- it needs to be put together, I got all the hard applique out of the way, along with over 100 blue berries and I just have to do the easy part
-Bunny wall hanging- needs to have the primitive hand quilting done
-Pumpkin Heads- a design I started before last Halloween, would like to have it done for this Halloween for when I decorate my apt
-Blue and Yellow quilt- I started it because I liked the fabric, then ran out of the fabric but my mom had more of the fabric, and well... got to work on that top
-Cabin wall hanging- it's a repair for a friend

New Quilts: one for a friend for her 40th birthday. I do have the fabric and now I have to cut it out. That's the goal, get it cut out.

That's just the quilts. I haven't touched dolls, or my writing, or anything else I'd like to do. At least attempt to do. I know, it's crazy and I don't know why I think I have all the time in the world. Maybe that's why I do it. I have all year and it's only week three of the new year. One bit at a time, one day at a time. Baby steps get me closer to getting these beauties done. It's all about the journey. The process and having fun along the way. At least, that's what I keep reading. We'll see what happens.

Works in Progress

I was off to a good start this year, as far as my dolls were concerned. Then I got sick and was down most of last week. I'm feeling better now and getting back on track. Here are some small Prim Dollies that are in the works. The two white ones will be goth prim dollies. I can't wait to dress them. You know, it's hard finding the right size black lace and trim for dolls. Web surfing, here I come.

Most of these will go into local shops and on my Etsy shop.

First Doll of 2012

I finally got my first doll of the new year done. She is a large Prim Dollie and the last of a trio. I like the pattern but will use it for different dolls. I hope you like my little girl. She doesn't have a name yet. I will see how many dolls I can get created this year.

These little ladies will be a part of a three part doll exhibit next month called Loved Through the Years: Three Centuries of Black Dolls.

Small Art, Big Heart

I will be making a doll for the Small Art, Big Heart show & sale at the Hampton House Art & Framing here in town. I'm planning a pirate but sometimes my pieces have a mind of their own.

Stay tuned.

Books and a New Kid

Here's a picture of the stack of books I'd like to read this year.  I used to be a voracious reader but things changed. Life, finances, time, you name it. I like to read and I really want to get back into it. I don't have a Kindle yet, so these will have to do. There's history, mystery, travel, ghost stories, classic, and kid's books. There are about fifteen books, so one a month at least. I love this. Like I've got so much time in the world.

This little lady is my new kid. I got her for Christmas and I haven't had a store bought doll in ages. She's a Little Miss Matched doll by Robert Tonner. I have no ties to that company but I really like her. She's very cute, nice coloring, and she wears glasses that can be altered. She needs a new wardrobe and I will be doing some Civil War things for her as well as some Steampunk. Maybe even a little Westernpunk. I already have fabric for her first outfit, so stay tuned.

Oh, and her name is Greer Olivia Wynter Greenwood because that's where she's from. A green wood. With a stream and a lake. The rest of her story is coming too.

Happy 2012!

The first day of a brand new year. My holiday decorations have been put away, the apartment has been swept, 2011 statements have been filed and I'm ready for a brand new creative year. I'm still working on my lists but I have a good handle on what will be worked on first. I don't believe in resolutions but I have many goals. My next show is in February and I'm very excited about that.

Some of my goals will be to finish some of my quilting projects; sketch more (probably everyday); get back to editing my kid's book; start Halloween and Christmas ornaments and dolls in February instead of September; travel more (even if it's just to the next town); spend more time with friends; read more; lose 10 pounds; and be nicer to myself. I will have more details in the near future along with new pictures.

I am very excited about this new year. So many wonderful ideas waiting to get out of my head and onto paper, or spring forth from fabric and wool. This is my year. Prepare for the Juggernaut that is Wendy.

Happy New Year everyone!