End of the Month

Another picture less post. Now that the seasons are changing again, hopefully I'll get some really nice fall shots. Right now, I can't believe that another month is over. I mean, the year is speeding by. I say that every new month but really, the older I get, the faster time goes by. Whether I'm having fun or not, so I guess I'll continue to have fun.

I am ready for the grand opening of Olde Mill Eclective, the aritst co-op I'm in. I would like to say that I am excited but my nerves are a bit frazzled because of lack of sleep and not being able to concentrate. My apartment building is getting a new roof. And it's even muggier because of that storm, Isaac. I am ready for some quiet and cooler temps.

We had our last meeting last night before our opening. I was excited then and will be tomorrow. We scored a wonderful group of people. Crazy creative people and I feel right at home. They are also getting to know the cute face of Wendy and the other creepy side of Wendy. That rocks!

I had started a few mini plush monsters to put in the new shop. Once I got them turned, I changed my mind and will keep them for the Krankie's Craft Fair. I was excited when I designed them, and even when I started putting them together but then something happened. As I was turning them inside out, I didn't feel anything. I wasn't excited anymore and knew that my days of making all things cloth were kind of over. I will still make cloth pieces on occasion or if someone wants one, but making a lot of them or limited editions, that's gone. I guess it's a part of growing as an artist and I realize it's time to try something new. I am still working on design details for my new bodies and it is a challenge. I email other artist friends who have been so lovely as to answer my questions.

I am looking forward to September. New pieces, fall and Halloween are coming, a new business venture with really cool people. There are times when I'm still scared and will continue to second guess myself but I am happier now. Not only am I feeling more like an artist, but more like a business artist.

And I got another commission.

Works in Progress

I've been working on my short stay and it's coming along quit nicely.

Next I'll make the eyelets, boning, and bias tape all around to finish.

These are mini plush monsters I designed and cut out. The face parts will get sewn on and then the rest of the face will be embroidered. I'm making these for the Olde Mill Eclective shoppe.

Here are the majority of my pieces for my next Bless This House block #6. Lots of pieces. Today is going to be a busy day as I have to continue to prepare things for the new shop. I have to make price tags for my items. I will also be getting back to dollies/figures today. My paper clay folks need ears.

Short Stay in Progress

My short stay is on it's way to being put together. I have the gussets in place which will then get basted in before stitching on the machine. My goal is to have this put together by Sunday.

Planning Day

Today is going to be a Planning Day. By that I mean, I have to write down my ideas and where I want to be for the rest of the year and next year. There are two cons (conventions) I want to do next year. I need to start inventory, like yesterday. The first con is in  May and that will be here before I know it. The vendor section opens in a couple of months, so I need to have items ready to show to be able to get in.

I have so many ideas floating around and on tiny slips of paper that I need to get them all together so I can see what supplies I have and need to get. This will help me stay on track of what needs to be done. I also need to switch out inventory at the several shops that carry my work. All ideas need to get into one notebook and I will bring out the calender to help me out. That's a lot of needs here but I don't want to lose my mind in the next couple of months.

The co op that I'm in, Olde Mill Eclective, opens this Saturday, September 1 from 10 AM to 5 PM. I have items ready for that but will continue to make new things. Like Halloween stuff.
                   Olde Mill Eclective
                   Bethania Mill and Village Shoppes
                   5455 Bethania Road
                   Winston-Salem, NC

Like us on  Facebook: www.facebook.com/oldemilleclective

Work in Progress

Forgot to post this pic of my latest block of the month. Bless This House block 6. I thought I had posted it but can't find it. So here it is. I'm working hard at keeping up this time around. Block 7 is very complicated. We shall see.

If I posted this before, I apologize and will do better the next time I finish one and get it on here as fast as possible. Thank you for your support.

3 More Heads

I've started three more paper clay heads. Two Males and a female. They haven't told me if they're going to be zombies or ghouls. I'll have to check to see if there's a big difference. They could be distant relations. You know how families are.

The co op I'm a member of opens September 1, 2012 at the Old Mill Shops in Bethania, NC. Our shop is called Olde Mill Eclective and it represents a group of eclectic artist.

Short Stay

I'm finally getting around to my short stay. Can't have the silhouette of the Regency/Empire/Federal period without it. Plus, it's all part of my Regency Wardrobe Challenge. I did a mock up to see if it would fit and it did. Now I've cut out the proper fabric.

I will start sewing tomorrow. A good friend has let me use her bonnet pattern. One she designed herself. I think I will design my ballgown. October is coming up fast.

Zombie Couple Done

I finished my first commission since I started on my new creative journey. A zombie wedding couple to be given to a husband by his wife on their wedding anniversary. Hubby likes zombies. It works for me. I'm pleased by the way they turned out and their new mom loves them. I also go another commission.

In Progress

I was having fun this past weekend.

A Breakthrough!

I was still dealing with this feeling of inadequacy and worry even though I was coming out of it. I knew I had to beat whatever this is. I had been looking at several artists I follow on Facebook, many of them being very productive. I would pour over their posts to see why they were being so productive. Before getting out of bed this morning, I went over their posts again in my mind. Those who had pics of themselves were smiling. I remembered key words that they always used and came to the conclusion that...

They were having fun.

They were smiling, the words they used in their posts were light and positive. And that's were I wasn't. I was looking at making pieces in a new medium as something tedious to do because I was so worried about how I was going to pay bills. It was no longer fun. The clouds parted and I could actually breathe a bit easier. My head is a bit lighter too. I'm thinking clearer and the creative juices are flowing again. I've got to get my fun back and I believe I can continue with that in mind.

I'll have breakfast, finish my coffee, look at my little gal who needs hands and have fun. Enjoy being in the moment of creating something new. Don't worry about anything else, don't think about bills, just have fun. I am smiling again.

Pictureless Post

Yeah, I know, another pictureless post. This month has been kicking my butt. Part of me wants to run and hide, the other part of me wants to continue to share. That maybe through my journey, I can help someone else. Or give them a good laugh.

Even though I had won a skirmish, doubt, fear, loathing, and friends queued up to give me a thorough bashing. I did go to that place of darkness. It was not fun. I don't know what was going on. Probably that damn meteor shower messing with my frequencies. I asked myself what I wanted and that was to be at a particular con next year. I asked myself what I needed to do to get there, and I told myself to finish this zombie couple for a friend. Then something happened. Good Wendy told me that my integrity was at stake. My word. I told my friend I would have the figures done as a gift for her husband. I care for my friend and I care for me. So I put my Kevlar underpants and bra on and got busy.

I'm working in a new medium, air dry clay. Yes, I thought that I was so wonderful that works of art would spew forth from my fingers. Um... sure. I had to keep reminding myself that with anything new, there is a learning curve. Unlike cloth, this stuff is wet when you work with it. You have to keep unused clay covered so it won't dry out. I had to figure out which tools would work and for what. Remember putting glue on your hands and then peeling it off? Like that but messier. There's something about starting with a piece of foil, mushing clay, and creating a face. Do they look like I wanted them to look? No. But that's okay because they have their own personality. They were very happy that I didn't give up on them. Are they perfect? No. But I like them. They are my new creations. I will grow creatively with each new piece.

The past two weeks are gone, as well as yesterday. I'm back on track. I am still afraid but that fear is now pushing me forward because I know what can be. I will work to have some pics in progress tonight. Thanks for reading.

Works in Progress

Sometimes you just have to get away and I'm so glad I have great friends in my corner. They shanghaied me yesterday. This month just isn't going well. Maya was going to take me to Mt Airy but her car protested so she took us (Amanda too) to the movies and we saw the latest Ice Age. Wonderful flick. Then she invited me over for dinner. I needed to get out of the apartment so that I could breathe and laugh. I needed that.

I have been more consistent with my writing and editing. I really doing a great job on edit #4 on my Map Hunter manuscript. The goal is to write new material and edit old material everyday, no matter what. Even if it's just for 15 minutes each. Map Hunter is the adventure I wanted to read when I was a kid. The main character looks like me.

I also managed to cover more heads with tape.

And a pair of lower legs. The tiny ones will be covered with polymer clay, the larger heads with Creative Paper Clay. That's what I'm using now. I've tried other air dry clays, but I have this on hand.

First Up...

I missed a post and I apologize. Had a skirmish with fear and some doubt. I prevailed. It's difficult not to worry but I will press on. Did too much thinking again, too. Not good. Life goes on and I get another day. I posted earlier that I wanted to complete a quilt top. I think I listed three, but dog-gone-it, one would be nice. I applique to get the creative juices going and I am on the last block. The end. Number twelve block. Did I mention the last one. And it's killing me. I'm not having fun with this block and I guess I could eliminate it from the whole quilt. It is not the boss of me. So I will show it in progress. I try to work on a section every other day. There are so many little pieces to this one block. I know, I'm nuts.

I'm so frustrated with this piece that I didn't even crop the pic. And I goofed up on one of the flower bunches. Good grief. I will not take it apart. Wish me luck.

Short Pictureless Post

This is really going to be short. Good news though. I am now part of an artist co-op called Olde Mill Ecclective. A lady who interviewed me for the Relish Magazine asked if I would like to be involved. I said sure. Not knowing what to expect, I went to the meeting yesterday and it was wonderful. A great group of artists ranging from jewelry makers, belt maker, clay artist, custom pajamas, fused glass, woodwork, and photography. Once I find a link, I'll post it. We will be located in a larger building which used to be a mill. Awesome.

The really cool part is that I'll be able to get out of my apartment to meet and talk to people. It is retail but I am part of the business. So cool. And it's only a 15 minute drive. I've got to really get cracking this month. Are you ready for a wild ride? I am. Three doors close and one opens. I'll take it. Will have in progress pics soon.

I'd like to welcome Lora Frisch to the party. Hi!

It's August!

Happy August everyone. Yes, this year is speeding along like a bullet  train on rocket fuel. It's been two months since I left employment and I have great things in store for this month. Halloween is coming and I'm working in a new medium. Securely back in the creative saddle until the next pothole in the road. I did well last month. Not so much with my manuscript but there is this month.

I have the greatest friends who are there when I want to ball my eyes out because the world and the universe don't want to play fair on the playground. My good friend Sherry in New Mexico told me how talented and awesome I was and that I could do this. Just what I needed. A shot in the arm.

I ended last month by starting figures with a new medium. Creative Paper Clay is what I'm using right now. I've used it before in the past but never gave myself a chance to really get to know it. Some people like it, some don't but for me, right now, it's what I'm using because it's what I have. My pieces are turning out better than I expected. Photographing white pieces doesn't seem to work well with my camera but here's the beginning of my two guys.

They are going to be undead types. After all, Halloween is coming. Yay! They do have their bodies and I'm working on their limbs. It's been a challenge to figure out how I want to joint them. No cloth bodies. Scary. They are going to be a good size and I think I will make smaller ones that will be stationary on a stand or as ornaments. I also have to work on other ornaments. I will have more pics of these guys on Sunday.

I made myself get up and go for a walk in syrupy conditions. I am so looking forward to fall. Even though I was born in the summer, I am not a summer baby. I'm glad I can see that the days are getting shorter. My morning was pretty good. After the walk and breakfast, I edited another chapter of my adventure manuscript and wrote new material, 600 words. My goal is 500 a day. I didn't stop to think, I had lunch and went right into the next project. I sketched a doll. Forgot to take a picture but will get it to you soon. Then I sewed a mock-up of my short stay for my Regency Challenge. I'm so glad I did because the cup size that I used is too big. Imagine that.

The front part is where the eyes will go for lacing and there will be a little bit of boning. You can just see the little wedge panels (which will be smaller). The arm hole fit, as well as the back. I was quite pleased when I tried it over my chemise. I am going to eventually make another one of a finer fabric and make the front part a little lower. The one I have now will be great for a day dress and not showing cleavage.

I still have some appliqueing to do and get back to my figures. Thanks for stopping by.