The Best Laid Plans...

Don't always turn out the way you want. Actually, that's not the exact quote but part of it will work for now. Seeing that my list didn't work out, I decided Bailey Magoo Bear needed a scarf. So I knitted him one with some sock yarn I had and now it's being blocked. He'll have to get more clothes later on and will probably have a better wardrobe than I do.

I told myself that just because the day didn't go as planned that I could still do something creative. The scarf was fun and relaxing and I decided to take the first steps to do an applique/embroidery piece. Haven't done that in a month of Sundays. And I got to use my light tablet again. Second time since I got it for me last Christmas. Gotta work on that too.

I am so ready for fall. It was 80 degrees today and still a bit humid. Ugh! I am waiting patiently for cooler temps.

My Mini Muse

Bailey Magoo Bear is turning out to be a great help in getting things worked on. He assisted with the first paint and embroidery job on the voodoo doll pins. And then approved the short pants and skirts to go on said pins. I know I'll keep him around.

They're Alive, Alive!!!

Well, almost.

Bailey Magoo Bear is overseeing the completion of the monster doll pins. They now have their hair and just need their hearts. I love the added touch of the light yarn for the girls.

Made It

I survived another month. March is now in the record books. It wasn't a great month. Fell off the turnip truck yet again but I've picked myself up, dusted myself off, and I'm looking for another truck to hop on. So here's what happened:

• 2 books read
• 12 days of writing
• 4 business quilts
• 2 preemie quilt tops together, 1 longarmed
• 12 World of Wendy Lu blog posts 
• 6 Wendy B Quilts blog posts
• worked on 3 Halloween projects
• worked on 2 regular dolls
• a lot of bear sketches
• 4 alcohol ink paintings
• 2 art workshops attended
• 1 writing workshop attended

Now that I look at the list, it wasn't a bad month. I will focus on what I did do and not the things I didn't do. I'm okay with that.

Quilting

Yesterday I longarmed a preemie quilt and started a client's quilt. I made Frank a body, found my doll ears I've been looking for for about six months (I did a good job on those ears and really liked them), worked on a paranormal short story which seems to be turning into a novel, and sketched some bears.

Today, I finished the quilt, worked on the paranormal story, and prepped the next quilt which is on the frame right now.

I still have a few hours left until I give up for the day. I didn't do anything on Sunday, it being the holiday and all. But I've kind of made up for it the past two days. Tomorrow is Wednesday. I thought today was Wednesday but it isn't. Hopefully I can rectify my flip flop days. A new month is almost here. I'm only thinking about the rest of the evening.

Moving Right Along

At the beginning of the year, I said that I was going to make this my year. The past few years hadn't been great and I'm looking for a change. It's still early on and I will continue to work on it being my year. I'm not a fortune teller and have no idea of what will truly happen but I will work towards something very nice. I deserve that. I have quite a few friends on Facebook who are having an awfully hard time with this year and they want it over already. My hearts and prayers go out to them. It's been a strange year so far. Illnesses, deaths (in family and not), separations and divorces, those losing jobs, having cross country moves... I can't wrap my head around it and I don't know if I should try. Last week was a bump in the road. The change of seasons and the weird weather, the time change, and allergies. Those things kind of knocked me down and the doubts tried to set in. So for three days, I did nothing. I'm grateful that I could do nothing. I watched the spring sunlight change in my apartment. I straightened my apartment and work area. And I got rest. Now my head is clearer and I can move forward.

I've decided that I would not give up on some 'way out there' dreams. Like my trip to Scotland that I've wanted to do for over 30 years. My friend I was planning on taking the adventure with has decided that she can't think about it until her living and job situation changes. I get that. I truly understand. But I thought about it. If I give up my dreams, whether they happen or not, I've given up on a part of me. That dream may be the one thing to keep me going through all the other daily muck that happens. This dream may take several more years to accomplish but it's still there in my heart. The one bright beacon I can focus on. So I will tell her that I will dream for the both of us until she is ready to join in again. I know I will start guarding my time a bit more. Saying no a bit more often. Concentrating on what I want to do and where I want to go with it. I get one chance at this life. I will fight to make the best of it.

Here are my latest sketches of bears. I will do more this week.

Still Waiting

Yes, still waiting to adjust to the time change mess. I'm glad I was able to come home early and take a nap. There's still a little brain fog hanging around but not like earlier this morning and yesterday. I did manage to vote. I hope you all exercised your right to do so.

Trying to keep up with the bear sketches but until the brain gets to working again, not counting on it. But here are a few.

I wish I could find all of my animal photos. They are somewhere safe in my apartment.

Bears

I got another page of a few sketches of bears. I am on the lookout for all the bear photos I've pulled from magazines and calendars. I have lots and of course, I can't find them. It would really help with practicing the drawing.  But I will work with what I've got. That's what I get for cleaning up. Those pics are very safe.

Moving Right Along

I've been crazy busy the past couple of days after a huge anxiety attack. The sun was out, it was nice and all I could think about was that I was stuck in my apartment. When I was younger, I would gas up my truck and hit the road, go to a park, whatever. Now, I don't really like going places by myself. Then the downward spiral began and well... it wasn't pretty. I told myself to stop it. Put my big girl britches on and do something. Anything to make the mental funk go away. I made up messy mix to cover a couple of dolls I'm working on. Remember Verity? Well, I got over not doing the next step. Deanna Hogan came up with this combination of modeling paste and gel medium to hide the stitches from needle sculpting the features. I've put on two layers. I sand in between and I will put on a couple more. I repainted the alien feet. The little green guys lying down. And put Creative Paperclay on my two Halloween dolls. When you don't work on things you've always done, you forget what you did. So I'm covering up some stitches on their heads so I can paint them. I typed up two short stories I had written. I wrote out the character list for my mystery story. I didn't have time to feel low. That was Sunday.

Monday I worked on a top secret project. A new client dropped off a quilt top to be longarmed. I outlined my mystery story. Continued working on dolls and sketched a page of bears. I did 29 Faces last month and the plan was to do bears this month for another project. Of course, I'm a little behind.

Today I longarmed a quilt. That took all day.

I'm home now and have eaten dinner. It was filling but not great.  I'm tired but it's a good tired. I will sketch some bears and work on one of my stories. Never give up.

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.

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.

March List

Grab a cup of tea or coffee and have a seat. Are you ready for this month's list? Here we go.

Quilting
Hop to It block #2
1/4 more quilting of bunny wall hanging

Writing
Polish Map Hunter manuscript, send it off
Set up Kitchen for Script Frenzy

Reading
Beyond Positive Thinking
Changeless
Ireland's Pirate Queen

Art
5 Postcards
1 Painting
Rough sketches of Halloween paintings for Oct show
Design Halloween mug rugs

Dolls
3 Ghostie Girls
1 Creative Mojo Man
2 Koji Bears covered
3 Koji Bears dressed
2 Mardi Gras skellies
6 Wandi Dolls finished
6 Wandi Mermaids
10 Day of the Dead ornaments

Not included are extra pieces for the film. I may be ready for a padded room with a view by the time this month is over. But if you're ready for a fun ride, join me.

Getting Back on Track

This is post number 100. It came up on me quite fast. I had wanted to do something special, like have a giveaway, but that will have to wait until after October. That wonderful, glorious, magical month.

Last week my job schedule had changed and that threw me for a creative loop. And not in a good way. I also got sick. I'm back to my normal schedule starting this week and I feel like I can tackle anything. Including Godzilla.

Not only do I have a huge Skele Pirate guy waiting for arms, a warren of witches, a couple of Ghostie Girls, I now have a bunch of bunners and bears vying for attention. Pirates, ghouls, and ghosts are waiting to get off the drawing board.

It's getting close to thinking about the business end of all the creating. Getting ready for the Expo, taxes, making sure I have enough bags, tissue, etc. Yikes!

Plus I'm still reworking my young adult manuscript, 'Map Hunter'. I apologize for no pics this post but August is just about over and hopefully the stifling heat will follow it. Here comes September.

Koji

Here he is. Koji the Bear. I'm not the best photographer but here he is. He's sporting a faux under kimonos, altered hanten (jacket) and mompe (pants). His tabi and zori are needle felted.

I had a lot of fun making his clothing. There are some things that I will do different next time around but that's all a part of learning. I can't wait to get started on the next one.

I love how I made his tongue stick out. A little playful and mischievous he is. He will be heading for the Hampton House Gallery for the Small Art, Big Heart Show and Sale.

Had to get a back view too. Next time I will use wool batting to start the body and a bit of core wool and then the nicer, color wool. I didn't have problems with the armature that I thought I would, only with the awful material I used to pad it with. Learning all the time. I would like to find someone to make my stands and I'm still working on taking pics. Argh!

Koji Update

Koji is done. Woo hoo! He's quite the handsome guy. He is the first project I created in my new studio. I'm so excited and I'm tired. A good tired, one you get after being on one heck of a creative flow. I am quite impressed with me. I did something new and it turned out. I've got to start cutting myself some slack. One can only get better if they continue to try.

I'm working on his stand right now, it's in a drying stage. I'll have pics of the complete Koji tomorrow. I can bearly keep my eyes open. The wheels are turning for my next project.

Koji

I've gotten more done on my first needle felt bear. Here is the wool I used on him.

I posted this pic before but I wanted to show it again so you can see how far I've come. It's the pear with legs. I've wrapped batting around a wire armature.

Here he is with his padding and core wool. He's a little bow-legged. But getting cute.
I like needle felting but had to be careful around the wire. I have learned a few things with this bear, him being the first, but you can't grow unless you try.

I started putting wool on his head and he sort of has a Trump flip.

These are some of the fabrics I pulled for his outfit. I may or may not use all of them but I love the colors and patterns.

Here is Koji with his tongue sticking out. A playful hi. I don't know if I want his cheeks a bit bigger or not. Getting his head on with a neck make a heck of a difference in how he looked. With his parts going together a bit at a time and the head going on next to last, I've been having Dr. Frankenstein feelings.

Not a very good close up but I'm still working on it. Pics will not get the best of me. Or be the boss.

I think he's quite handsome.

Now he needs his outfit. I will needle felt his tabi and zori before making his outfit. Stay tuned.

Works in Progress: Bear and Figure

I believe I mentioned in an earlier post that I would start showing pics of work in progress. I'll start with 2 new pieces. The first one above is going to be the head of a faerie. I will needle felt her and I have a wonderful Corriedale wool that is light blue with parts of a darker blue and bit of pink in it. I think once felted up she'll be a great water faerie.
This little guy is going to be a bear dressed in a kimono. Because I have some Japanese print fabric that's screaming at me to use it. He kind of looks like a pear with legs. That will all change, very soon. He will also be needle felted.