Next Project

I'm still working on settling in in a new town. Same state that I was born in but a new location. A friend says that it's different because I'm out in the country instead of being in a city. Nope, it could be that I'm not in walking distance of anything. In the town I left, I had four restaurants in walking distance. I could walk downtown, to the library, to other shops. A YMCA and a park were down the hill. Trader Joes was five minutes away. I could do my shopping in half an hour. The farmers market was ten minutes away. Fabric stores and craft stores ten to fifteen minutes away. Yes... I was sort of spoiled. I could see a mountain in the distance, take a bus to wherever. Now, I have to make plans on where I want to go to maximize gas. I will get used to it. It will take time. And I have to be nice to myself about it. Maybe it's more like moving to another country. Yeah, maybe that's it. I can put that in a story.

Anyway, I've started another purse. In between sketching and stitching and watching DVD series from the library. This town has a kick butt movie section. I'm watching Pushing Daises. It's weird and quirky and I like Lee Pace and Chi McBride. It's about a guy who when he touches dead things they/it comes back to life. But only for a short time. If he doesn't touch them again to make them dead again, something/one dies in its place. Lots of weird twists and plays on words. I binged watched the first season. First time I laughed in awhile.

Here's the beginnings of the purse. The new owner wanted a blue jean one. I'll do the handles today and I intend on working on some backyard forest creature.

A New Day

And a new friend. We have a wham bam storm last night and this morning there was a guest when my friend opened the umbrella on the deck. I'll name him Juno.

I also got busy yesterday. That felt good. I hope I can do it again today. I started my next Redwork project, started editing two short stories, watched some art tutorials on You Tube, got back to sketching because I'm working on a new series or doll, and I talked to a good friend, a fellow doll artist who gave me some tips and hints to get going again. I think that's been the best part of the week, talking to someone who knows what I'm going through. That I'm not alone. I feel energized.

I like how more stabilized the fabric is with the woven interfacing on the back. Less puckering on the front and I can do more stitching on this guy.

Trying to figure out a body for a new doll and possibly some paintings I can make prints of. I don't know if I want her to be a little girl or young lady witch who will have some unusual adventures.

I started working on some facial expressions that may or may not end up on the final character. I've got a few fantasy art books I'm working from. This one is called DragonArt Fantasy Characters by J "NeonDragon" Peffer. I'll do more figure work too in the next few days. Sometimes you have to step back, pause, regroup, and move forward. Have a great day.

#wendyluane #witchdoll #sketches #pencilsketch #characterdevelopment

No Pic Post

I haven't done one of these in awhile. People ask me how I'm settling in in my new local. I look at them and wonder what I'm to say. My move from North Carolina back to Michigan was very fast and something I really didn't want to do. But needed to do. I find myself a bit confused and ask 'Why am I here?' I'm having a hard time getting a grip on everyday things and feel quite at a loss most of the time. Just when I was getting back to creating and feeling good about it down south, I suffered a huge upheaval. And it's taking me time to get back to it. Unpacking is done. I still have to rearrange things and put things away I won't need or use right away. Do I call my new place my home? It's actually a friend's home and it's quite lovely. Will I be comfortable calling her place my home? Right now, I don't know. I feel like I'm just floating around and it's hard to plant a new seed and allow it to take root. My roots are floating, grasping at dirt or stones to feel connected again.

Being creative has been haphazard to say the least. Many bits and false starts. Everything is so different. Yet the same. Like traffic. I loathe traffic. So I'm trying to make my way back to creating so I can make a living. Another friend said that I should be allowed to take a bit more time to adjust because it's only been two months. But then I feel guilty that I'm not working at the moment. I am finding new craft shows and art organizations. Looking for things to participate in next year. Which is so far away. That brings me back to the now. Have I settled in?

Not yet.

Saturday Post

Yep, weird week but I made it. Got back to sketching, prepped my next Redwork piece, painted in the sketchbook. Maybe I can fill it up this year. One can hope. And here are some flowers in the yard. Spring has sprung.

I was supposed to do this Krampus around Christmastime but didn't get to him. So here he is, ready for spring. Maybe I should do a series on Mr. Krampus during the off season when he's not harassing bad children. Maybe this is his end of the school year picture. Ha!

I got my fabric prepped for my next Redwork piece. I used a woven interfacing on the back to see if it's a bit more stable to stitch but not be overly heavy to get the needle through. We shall see.

#redwork #krampus #embroidery #woveninterfacing #pellon #dayofthedead

Mid-week Already?

Eegads! Time is marching on and I'm working to keep in step. Yesterday, went to the maternal unit's house to start clearing out things. She's getting older (so am I) and I don't want to wait until the last minute to clear out her house. We used to do doll shows together and so I started with that closet. Two trash bags, a pile for a future yard sale, a pile that she needs to go through. Three hours and it's halfway empty. I know there's a Christmas tree in there too. And ornaments that I will eventually go through. She had this really bad hand soap that I used in her bathroom. I couldn't understand what the smell was and she smelled my hands and said it was the liquid soap. She said she didn't like it either. I asked why she kept it and she said it was for people she didn't like. Gee, thanks. She said that she thought I would use the soap in the shower. Well... no. So my nose is clogging up, I'm coughing, and she starts laughing. It was kind of funny and I told her to get rid of the stuff. That on top of the dust from the closet, I and my sinuses were a hot mess when I got back home. I sounded horrible. She did feed me, so when I got in, I got a stiff drink, popped a sinus tab and went to bed. Probably shouldn't have done that but I couldn't breathe. Everything hurt, again. But at least I got a start. Because it's gonna take time to get through stuff.

The purse got delivered and so far the new owner is getting lots of compliments. A blue jean one is next. Went to the fabric store today because I finally had a coupon, got home and washed the fabric.

I've also been sketching this week. Bodies. Not dead ones. And sketched my next Redwork piece. I bought some woven interfacing to stiffen the back of the fabric a bit. We'll see how that works on this one.

I'm trying to work out a new doll, that's why the bodies.

My lady Day of the Dead needs a gentleman. He's a bit on the goofy side. I will pick out thread colors today. Get started tomorrow because my vision is a bit off because my nose is starting to plug up again and I'm feeling a bit awful. Breathing is a good thing ya know.

It's a gloomy day and I just want to take a nap but I can't. Onward. I've got things set up for a small painting in my sketchbook. Yes, I'm working on getting that back on track too. Later.

#dayofthedead #redwork #sketches #bodysketches #fabricpurse

Let's Try This Again

Yeah, I was going to try to get posts done on a regular basis and last week that didn't work out too well. I did have a very good week though. It was the first week in a month of Sundays that I was actually happy about what I was doing. I didn't finish anything and I will work to remedy that even more, but I worked on things. Got some projects a little further. I'm trying to finish two projects a week. I'd like to do more but I'm just getting into the groove of creating again. I finished my first Redwork design, at least the embroidery part and now I have to think about how I want to complete it. I want it to be a small wall hanging. I think she came out quite well for my first time doing this.

Here's my other finished project, a bag, in which I will be getting paid for it. That's even better.

I'm also working on eating better and this was breakfast on Saturday. Homemade hummus. Yum. I didn't make it but maybe I should learn how. I've also lost 8 pounds I gained when I got back to Michigan. Greenery is starting to decorate the trees and bushes and the days are getting longer and warmer. I've started walking again and right now, everything hurts. I'm hoping that will change the more I do it.

Catching Up

Been a crazy week. My friend painted the bedroom I'm in and it's almost done. I've been sleeping on the sofa in the family room and all I can say is that she's almost done. My back, hips, and knees are killing me and I haven't had a good sleep in four days. I'm running on vapors.

Designed a new doll. I haven't adjusted the head pattern yet. Had to do the tax thing yesterday. But I did manage to get further along with my Redwork piece. I do have some lazy daisy stitches and used a backstitch in a couple of places. But I think she's looking good.

I know that once I can get a good nights sleep, I will be back to creating like crazy. Right now, I'm tired.

#dayofthedead #redwork #embroidery #originaldesign

Yay!

Today was a good day and I'm still going. Even though I'm slowing losing steam. Got up early and did my language lessons, sketched a new doll, designed a pattern, straightened the books on a bookshelf, posted on Instagram, took a walk with my roomie before it rained, and now I'm posting here.

The first new doll of the year. I didn't think I wanted to make anymore cloth dolls but it's what I know. I still will get back to the paper clay figures real soon. This little miss just got to me this morning and I was bound and determined to at least get her together to see if it would work or not. From the first sketch, I made the first pattern. I found some fabric I thought would work but it didn't. And I didn't like the pattern either. So I reworked the pattern (liking it better), cut it out of a better grade of fabric, did the embroidery, then sewed and stuffed it. I did sew her legs on backwards and had to fix that. I like her a lot but will adjust the patter tomorrow to make her head a bit bigger. I like the embroidery but couldn't do any more because her head was too small. But I like her! I like her a lot and have some really cool ideas for clothes. There's a pic of the initial sketch in the next picture. Here I figured out how big I wanted her and just drew her.

In this next pic, you can see the initial sketch in the center. I'll take better pics tomorrow when I re-do the pattern. I'm a bit tired right now and I still have writing to do. But I'm working on posting Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. I used a mix of Valdani and DMC pearl cotton. I like her crazy legs and didn't have a problem stuffing her. I did have that problem attaching her legs and had to take them off and stitch them back on again. Such is life. Happens to the best of us. Oh, I also discovered I need another pincushion. It's a pain having to look for one when you change places to work.

#dayofthedeaddoll #clothdoll #pearl cotton #originalclothdoll

April!

It's April!

A new month. Another start or continuation of the previous month. At this point, I don't know yet. I've been back up north for a little over a month now and I guess I can say I've settled in. I am here for awhile and will deal with it. It's time to put the blankie and bear to the side and get back to work. I'm still learning my way around; I know that will take some time to get used to but I'm glad the weather is getting better.

So... for a new location and month, I've decided to try a new look for the blog. I don't know if I like it or not, but I will give it some time. I love the color of the background.

I'm still working on organizing my work space. It's starting to look like a studio. My studio. I'm trying very hard not to get hung up on not having some things at my disposal that will prevent me from creating. I tell you, moving just takes so much out of you and to get back into the groove of things is difficult. I'd rather sit on a beach. The pic below is of a plastic container full of ribbon and other trims. Yeah. They were separated into shoe box size bins but when I moved, I toss the contents into a box so that I could stack the plastic boxes. When I got to Michigan, I tossed them into this bin so I could break down the cardboard box for recycling. I continue to arrange some of my fabric and needed the container for it, so I finally went through this container and organized my ribbons and trims.

Now they are in their collective boxes, labeled, and everything is nice and neat.

And I also set up my sewing machine. No more excuses. I have a table to sew on, one to do wet things on and one to draw, paint, or finish things on. And I have more room to work with. That will come later. I'm also trying to figure out how to put plans, designs, and posters or paintings on the walls without damaging them. This isn't my place but as an artist, I need some inspiration. Stay tuned.

I have some goals for the month and quite a few deadlines. I never really had any, I just made things but now I want to be a bit more prolific so I've got to have some end dates. I did finish my first draft of a short story four days ahead of time last month, got my second Redwork practice piece done, designed some new work/dolls, and got back to reading. Last year I read about 40 plus novels. This year I want to add in some regular fiction and non-fiction. I've always liked to read and I'm glad I'm rediscovering that. There's so much out there. I also have to catch up on the movie challenge I'm participating in. I'm a bit behind but if I can get my goals met this week, I'll be able to binge watch some movies on Sunday. So I'm off until next time.

Have a grand day!