Snow!

I'm hanging in there. It's been and emotional roller coaster the past several days since I was laid off. Fear, dread, anger, frustration, sadness, depression... I could go on. I have cried a lot and it's a struggle to find a creative happy place. So I joined an online art challenge of sorts. 100 dogs. Hosted by Jennifer Steck. https://jennifersteck.com/ or on Instagram under JenniferSteckArts. Her style is very whimsical and it's something I've never done. So far, I'm enjoying it and have to catch up. I've got 21 crazy dogs.

I know it's supposed to be spring but we got snow early this week. I didn't know whether to feel sorry for my visitors or not. I wanted to ask them if they were Census workers or plague doctors.

I'm going to continue to look for online work and do something creative. I hope you all have a pleasant day too.

A Slow Start

I'm pushing myself this year to learn some new techniques for making dolls and figures.  I have some crazy ideas on the drawing board and have started to do some research. Here's my first batch of frog info and sketches.

My new work won't be so realistic but I need to know how frogs are put together so I can unput them together. It's going to be an interesting year. I have also started to look for different shows to attend. That's an interesting process too.

Getting Back to Me

Spring has shown up and there are storms everywhere. Hibernation is over and oh boy, I am in need of some serious moving around. No more winter foods. Back to grazing good things. And I will be planting some things in a garden very soon. For the past two days, I've gotten a morning walk in. It's been rough. Muscles are mushy, tendons are tight. Right now everything aches but it's a start. I didn't cry when I got on the scale this morning. I do know I have a lot of work to do. It will take time, just like it took time to allow the weight to get on.

My creative mojo is coming back. That feels so good. I know that sometimes things happen one right after the other and you just don't know which way to turn. You want to crawl under a rock and go to sleep. But you take a couple of deep breaths, push the rock off your back, get up and stretch, and get going again. Sometimes you just have to go to that space, you just don't want to stay there. It's a brand new season. Working on a new me. That's okay too. If one thing doesn't work out, move onto something else. Keep going. It's all about the process and the journey. It's taken me awhile to understand that. Enjoy the process. Enjoy each day.

I have several things on my docket for the rest of the month. I've been writing again. Yes, I know, again. I just can't seem to give it up. I'm working on a short story. I want to get the rough draft down this month and polished by the end of June. My birthday month. The next Halloween challenge theme is Monsters in My Room. I have an idea for it and will sketch is today. I did a sketch of a Halloween girl with her cat last night. I'll work on her today too. Lots of binding quilts too. We shall see. It's also nice to have a partner in crime.

One Rat Done

I finally finished a needle felted rat. It’s not totally finished because he will be dressed and have accessories. So technically, he’s still in the works. I used Sara Renzuli’s technique and I will be tweaking it to make rats that look closer to live rats. Have lots of ideas for these guys.

Southeastern Animal and Fiber Fair

This past Friday, Maya and I went to the Southeastern Animal and Fiber Fair (SAFF) in Asheville, North Carolina.  We'd been planning on this event for the past eight months and kept our fingers crossed so that nothing would prevent us from attending.  We were so excited to be on the road.  The weather was brisk and the sun was shining.

All I can say is that we had a blast.  We walked around the main section that was in a small arena at I believe the fair ground.  Immediate overwhelm, looking at all the fibers, yarn, roving, patterns, handmade and knit items.  Oh my gosh!  I so want a loom and new spinning wheel.  Maya wants alpacas, which are so stinking cute. Especially the babies.  And the noises they make.  A cross between a grunt, bark, and bunny sounds.  The tiny ones had little blankets over them.  I guess to keep them warm.  If I had room, I most definitely would have a couple.  There hair is so soft.  Some say it's softer than cashmere and easier to take care of.  I bought some to make gloves.  I guess I need to finish my second pair of socks.  We also went to the other buildings for more animals and vendors.  I will most definitely have a project in mind next year.

Oh, and the Angora bunners.  So cute!

Ornament Swap

I got a pretty cool Easter ornament in a swap I participated in with the ADA (Art Doll Artists) on Facebook. This is my second swap with the group and it's a way for me to collect other artist's work.

This little guy is by Trisha Powell. The next swap is an actual doll and that deadline is in June. And there are two more ornament swaps, one for Halloween and one for Christmas. I'm also thinking about participating in DollStreet Dreamers mermaid doll challenge. Not so much for the prize (which they do offer) but to stretch myself and work on deadlines.

Done

My latest commission is done. It's a business card holder for a smoked meat business. They do lots of festivals and needed something for their business cards.

Yes, he has a pig butt and a curly tail.

Piggy

I'm still working on the piggy and he's starting to get some skin. I had to stop covering him until one side dries and I can handle him better without messing things up.

You can see his head is kind of smooth (it's been covered with Creative Paperclay) and his belly, you can still see some of the Rigid Wrap.

He's got air holes!

After I finish covering him, he'll get a sanding.

You can barely see his butt cheeks. Will take care of a lot of that with painting. Plus he'll get a curly tail.

Work in Progress - Piggy

Here's my piggy in progress. It is going to be a business card holder for a BBQ business. I still have some filling out of parts to do and then a good sanding, followed by a good paint job.

Work In Progress

Remember that empty dish soap bottle and pellets? Here's the next stage.

I think I like using the bottle as a base for a project. I'll have to do that again, once this little guy is done.

I'm Working!

Working on getting back on the creative wagon after being waylaid by a head cold. Good grief! Here are the things I've been working on the past couple of days.

I'm really going to get these masks done if it kills me. Hopefully, they won't. I was using some Rigid-Wrap and ran out. I went out, in an ice storm to get more but they didn't have that brand in a small package so I got Paris Craft Plaster Cast by Nicole. PCPC has bigger holes in it and doesn't smooth well like Rigid Wrap.
Once dried, I tried sanding the masks. PCPC would be great for kid's projects. So I had these masks and I was getting frustrated, yet refused to let Bad Wendy play with my head. I thought about putting a layer of crinkled up tissue paper over the masks with gesso. Loved it!

Not only did that process hide the imperfections of the PCPC strips, it made my skulls look like they have a paper thin layer of skin. Quite mummy like. I am so loving this because I wanted a little texture on the masks.

They are ready to be painted. Yay me!

I also got my Basket Bunners drawn to size and a pattern made.  The surrounding fabrics are what they will be made of. I forgot to take a pic of my latest voodoo doll pins that are in the works. See ya!

Oh, I also got a doll commission today.

One Week In

Wow! The first week of October is a wrap. Again, time flies whether you're having fun or not. I did rally from the crushed finger to the leaky kitchen sink to finish some things. Next in line, Frank's Monsters and ghoulish bunners.

Frank Jr, Fagan, Fairfax, and Fabian. They are pin/ornaments.

Buckey and Topher had a run-in with some veggies that have gone bad.

I guess it could be 'Revenge of the Veggies'.

I'm still working on items for the shop. I'm hoping I can start on some more detailed pieces this week.

Catching Up

It's been a rough summer and I'm glad it's ending this week. I'm so ready for fall. I don't do well with hot and humid temperatures and it makes me sluggish. Creativity was at an all time low. Now it's getting cooler and I am ready for that to be a bit more consistent too. I am working on projects that are almost done and finishing up others before starting new ones. It's like keeping my studio and apartment straightened to keep creative energy flowing properly.

My latest Bless This House block, #6. Done on time. Here's my quilt/applique list for the rest of the year.

• complete all Bless This House  blocks
• finish the last block of Hop To It from last year's quilt and put all blocks together
• buy fabric and finish my flannel Trip Around the World throw

 I'm also working on my latest batch of voodoo doll pins and I will show a pic of them in the next couple of days. I had started two zombie bunnies and they will get done by the end of the week.

I am going to be featured Artist of the Month at Olde Mill Eclective next month. I am the go-to person for Halloween. I am working on pieces for that too. Not a lot of little pieces but nicer one-of-a-kind pieces. Something I've been wanting to do for a long time. I have been sketching and now it's time to have those sketches become something 3D. And I'm almost done with my short stay. Eegads! I have a skellie pirate vest I want to make too. October 1, I pull out the Halloween stuff. Well... I have some of it out already but it will be time to bring it all out. Have a great week all!

One Step

I'm late, I'm late. So sorry. It's just been so horribly hot and the brain was malfunctioning a bit. Getting back into form though. Last week I had one step back and two forwards. The step back was one of the shops I have my work in isn't going to be carrying crafts anymore. It is what it is. She has to do what's going to get more business into her shop to stay viable. I get that. I didn't fall into a vat of poo or despair, or get upset, or angry. I'm getting a lot better with disappointment and deals falling through. I told myself that something else would come up, even though I really didn't believe it at the time. Bad Wendy.

Two steps forward. I was asked to put work in a new gallery in Rockingham County. I'll get a contract in the mail. I was told that they didn't have dolls at that particular store. Great! Yay me! I will have to come up with something unique for the holidays. The other step forward, I got Smitty's Notes 2012 Best Local Artist, Runner Up Award. I couldn't believe it when a friend told me. Yes, I jumped up and down and squealed. I hope I didn't scare the neighbors. Who cares, they have been known to be overly loud at times.

So, I am moving forward. Still working on a schedule of some sort but really working to enjoy the moment of creating.

I designed a new angel ornament for a workshop to be scheduled for November. It's larger than my regular angel ornaments and a bit more time was needed to get these little beauties done. But that's okay, it's for a class. Others will be able to enjoy making and giving these as gifts. They are about 7 inches high.

I love Egyptology and I'm going to get started on Anubis. Did some research and started sketching.

I'll work on his armature in the next couple of days. It should be fun to see how he turns out. If he is a success, I may have to add a few more.

Weekly sketches: Owls

My friend Ginger is in school. She's working on keeping up with her sketching on a regular basis. Two weeks ago she did elephants. And I joined her. Last week was crazy for both of us so this week we are doing owls. Here are my first set of sketches.

I really like owls. There's one in my neighborhood that comes around and I hear him in the morning. I love the sound of an owl in the morning. It beats some crazy bird that starts chirping at 4 AM. And there aren't any other birds responding to the twerp. I will do more sketches today. Even if it's just for ten minutes.

More Workshop Samples

I had my long creative day yesterday. I put in eleven hours. Helps make up for the slow day on Monday. I did have to run an errand on Monday that, well, I had to go back to the business because of a mistake on my bill. By the time I got back home, I was mentally exhausted and decided to take a break the rest of the day. I try to plan all of my errands on the same day because I know I won't get much done when I get home. I think dealing with the traffic and trying not to get creamed by large trucks is quite stressful.

Anyway, yesterday was good. Got two hand puppets done. I've got to get the samples for kid's classes done. One, so I can teach and get paid; two, so I can get to what I really want to do. Be a mad creative person. Bwahahaha! I am so itching to do some Halloween stuff and pirates. Gotta do some pirates. I also have a small art fair next month and I've got to whip up some items for that.

I make sure that I do something for me during my day. I am bound and determined to get my Hop To It quilt top done this year. I'd like to get one quilt top done this year. Yes, I keep starting them and not finishing them. In a way, I guess it's okay because it's my release valve. It's my fun thing to do that's not doll related. I know it will really help my psyche and ego if I can get it done. It feels good to get things done.

Well, I better go have breakfast and get going. Have a great Wednesday everyone.

Quinlan Treasures

 Here are some of the treasures I got from the Quinlan Convention. There's just something about a deranged pig. He's like an Igor pig. Maybe that's his name. He's created by Marca Castillo-Bernard of www.fantasyfigurativeart.com.

These cute little sweaters were made by Jan Johnston. Yes, that's a quarter.

I usually don't like Gollies but this is the cutest one I've seen. Not the greatest history behind these but... There's Igor again and a skull pin by Amy Thornton. The doll is by Tyler Crain-Davis and he's called Kenneth but I think I'll rename him Mason.

Projects

Here's my latest pincushion from my applique class. I may give it to the mom unit for her birthday or Christmas. You just can't have enough pincushions. She'll love it. I'm still working on my Hop To It blocks. I don't have many more to go and the class will be starting a new design this month. Yikes!

This piece is going onto a wall hanging. I made the wall hanging years ago and the owner wanted parts of it changed. The home for it is a cabin so I drew a bear, fir tree, and moose and appliqued them onto the red fabric. The piece will be stitched onto the proper spot on the wall hanging. I'll take a pic of that when it's done, which should be today. Stay tuned.