Bloomers, Bloomers

Who has bloomers? Why my latest batch of dollies have them. Finally getting somewhere. I knew I should have made a mockup of the long leg doll bloomers but I didn't after I made the first pattern. I just wanted them to have some pants on. If I make these dolls again, I will alter the pattern so that the bloomers bloom a little bit more. For now, they will do. The prim dollies have their bloomers too and I will look one more time for the bodice pattern I had made the first time I made a batch of these. If not, I will have to make a new pattern so I can get their dresses made this week. I have to go into the other job today so I won't have time to paint any faces until tomorrow.

More micro wins. Yay me!

Found a Treasure

I'm still working on clearing out my stuff from my mother's place. While doing so this past weekend, I found this doll. At first I thought about selling her but then I realized her provenance. I'd made her over 10 years ago during a workshop at Arrowmont School for Arts & Crafts. The teacher was renown doll artist Akira Blount. Akira passed away several years ago. It was a week long workshop and I learned a lot from her. And I had been making dolls for about 15 years then. The one important thing is how to give a doll a layered look in clothing without actually making each individual piece. I've carried that with me from then on.  Looking at the doll, you can see layers of clothing but she doesn't have them. Her shirt is her body.  I couldn't afford one of her pieces but I could afford that class. She was such a kind and giving person.

She had us come up with our own profile pattern, even though we followed her design. She wanted to make sure we got the full affect of creating our own doll from start to finish.  Her face is needle sculpted and then painted. So I will keep this doll because of her connection to Akira Blount.

Thank you Akira for your time, experience, and laughter. I will miss you always.

A Small Drawing

Still working on catching up on things. I drew this little setting earlier this month and just colored it last night. I like the characters and still haven't named them but the rat with the martini is my favorite. I've never been camping, so it's one of the things I like to draw. Ever since I was a little kid and summer would roll around, I had school chums who always went camping with their families each summer. I thought that was so cool but I never got a chance to do it. Maybe one day I'll get lucky.

The drawing is in my Bullet Journal. I'm trying to jazz it up a little with some color and drawings. I won't get as complicated as some but I like looking back and seeing what I've done. This is my third journal and I'm almost done with it. Looking back at the first one, it was more business like. Just what I needed to do. The second one had more drawings in it but that was to brighten it up a bit. This one has more drawings and some scenes.

I really need to get back to drawing on the regular. I can see where I need and want to improve. I used color pencils on this. But I like markers too. Ah... the learning curve. But if you don't use it, you lose it. I know I still have several sketchbooks to fill up. So I best get to it. Have a good Friday.

Working

Lots on my mind. Lots on the worktable. Lots still to do. Working on keeping up with blog posts. Been working on micro wins. Small wins that will lead me to big ones. I seem to only think about the big goal, even, plan and not about the little things that will get me to the big things. So I've started a list of micro wins. Got that from Lisa Nichols. So that when I start to beat myself up over not doing enough or being closer to my goal, I can read my list of tiny steps in the right direction.

I had the past couple of days off from the other job and got busy creatively. On the first look, I didn't think I did anything but I finally caught up to where I wanted to be by the end of this month. A batch of dolls are ready for their paint job. Next week they will get clothes.

I have voodoo doll pins, male and female monster pins, prim dollies, and my new long legs dolls. It's going to be a stretch to get them all done this month but I will work on it. Have a great day.

Hey There!

Oh my goodness! My last post was some time ago. Geesh! Thanks for hanging around. It's been crazy at the other job. Assistant manager is out with a broken ankle, another co-worker had surgery on her shoulder, and another recently resigned. So I've been putting in more hours, which I guess can be a good thing. Trying to work on several things at a time and will have another update shortly. So here's a frog or toad. I'm not that up on my amphibians.

He was crawling up the glass of the living room window. He kind of looks how I feel right now. Mercury is out of Retrograde and I'm just coming out of a fog. Trying not to panic about the upcoming doll show and starting to think about shows for next year. Amazing that August is almost over. I am so ready for fall and cooler temps. Leaves changing colors. Fresh apple cider. And of course Halloween.

New Dollies

I decided to get out of my way and my head out of my butt and do something. I have so many ideas and I freak myself out by them and I end up not doing anything at all. Which is kind of lame. I'm a lister, a person who makes lists. And I'm not ashamed. If I don't write things down, I will forget them. If I don't do random sketches on small sheets of paper of really cool ideas, I will forget the idea. So... lists. Now I'm putting three things on my list and giving each part of a project some love. I guess I will have to figure out how to use the timer on my almost new phone. That I've had for several months.

So this is what I did today. I have no idea why I waited so long since I cut the things out before I stuffed them and stitched them together. I'm glad I only did two because I think I want to make a slight change to the legs. Maybe. But I'm liking them so far.

I think they have long legs because I'm short. Well actually average height but I'm the shortest one in my family. I love those stripes. I will continue to work on staying out of my way, overthinking, and my procrastination. Which has a lot to do with the fear of trying new things. Have a goodnight.

Holy Smokes!

Yikes! Two weeks into the new month and as usual, I'm behind. This month has not been kind and I know... it's just begun. The cosmic balls in the sky are playing croquet. Anyway, I drew my August cover for my bullet journal more than a week ago and I finally got it finished. I should probably name these characters as they are showing up each month. The rat is wearing sunglasses, the spider is too and drinking a drink and barbecuing a grub. What do you do for August but go on a road trip? There is a Transylvania County in North Carolina and a Hell and Bad Axe, MI. I had fun with it.