Staying In

Unless it's for groceries. I pretty much have what I need except for air dry clay. I think I held off too long to order some online. Now I've seen there's a back order of the product because some people hoarded it. They probably don't even use it but they have a stockpile and no one who does use it can't get it. I also wish people would take this more seriously. Then we can get back to somewhat normal faster. My first doll show of the year has been canceled. Where I worked has closed, so now it's back to looking for some kind of work, online.

On another note, I now have plenty of time to create. Continue to downsize, go through my wardrobe (which is pretty much a joke), brush up on sewing for myself, take care of me. So... here are some sketches of new work.

A series of Plague Doctors. Seems a bit fitting right now. Please stay safe, take care of yourself, and be well.

Hello February!

Where do I start? First off, February is going to be my start month for 2019 because January kind of sucked. It was very weird, starting day one. I came into contact of 2 Debbie Downers and from there, everything just went downhill. I didn't produce much of anything. I was in a void and I didn't know what was going on. I blame all the lunar events that were happening. Blood Moon, Wolf Moon, eclipse, and then to top it off with the Polar Vortex thing... UGH! And so many friends and acquaintances also suffering from creative stagnation and just being ill. Things breaking down. Like I said, January sucketh.

But now it's February. A new month. A short month. I'm feeling better but I'm a bit afraid to do so. I've got plans. I've decided to go all out to make totally different things. I will still do cloth dolls but a different variety of cloth dolls. I'll explain in the future. I'm truly going to give myself permission to make whatever the heck I want. If people like it, great. If not, that's okay too but the little monsters are crowding my tiny brain. Yesterday, I started some new pieces. I have no idea what I'm doing. I didn't have the right materials for one group and used what I had. Really going to have to improvise a bit and that's okay too. Stop stressing and overthinking and just make something. You know.

Two different groups going on in the top photo. I have an idea and they're works in progress. The goal is to have them done by the end of the month. And that's Boris in the back with his nifty red and white scarf on.

I want to participate in the art challenge 29 Faces this month too. I've been practicing last month on the refrigerator calendar. I think I will try more male faces. I do need to practice those.

So I'm off to a start of a very busy month. A creative month. Because spring is coming. I know we have to get through February and March (we could get more snow) but spring will eventually get here.

Still At It

Yep, still at it. I finally got my wayward stash of doll and art ideas under a wee bit of control. It took me three days to wrangle all the pieces and slips of paper and napkins that had ideas on them. I ended up with several categories: regular dolls, Halloween, ornaments, manly dolls, skellie things, bed/boudoir dolls, drawings/paintings, witches, and fiber art pieces. Some may overlap but those were the leading units. The oldest sketch was from 2012. I've got to step up my creative game.

I'm glad that I finally did it and now I can see what can be done and what needs to stay an idea or cute sketch. I've started my list for the first quarter of 2019 and I will go through the stack of ideas I should tackle first. I also have more days at the store until after next week. Then maybe I can have a couple more days to make things for me.

The sun is out and it's feeling quite nice outside. Not really Christmas type weather. Although I hope it will hold out until next weekend so that I can spend some time with my mother. That's my update.

No Pic Post

Yeah... about that. I have done some small drawings in my Bullet Journal but not anything worth showing. Right now I'm working on getting my holiday happy back. I tell ya, working in retail at this time of year makes you want to turn into a dragon and fry some people. I was excited about the holidays... last month. Now I can't wait for them to be over. Once again, I'm buying gifts for myself that I will wrap and open on Christmas morning with the excitement and joy as if someone else bought them for me. I deserve gifts, even if they are from me to me.

This year is wrapping up. At least the one everyone else follows. I also follow another where the year ends on October 31st. Almost two months into that year and so far not doing to bad on what needs to get done. This other year starting in January, I don't know how I feel about that one yet. But, I have straightened my work area after my last two commissions and that feels good. It's not perfect but I know where most things are and I'm ready to go.

I have today to myself and I have a few gifts to wrap for friends. I'm writing this post. I finally saw 'Avengers Infinity War' and wow! I've seen it twice already and I'm trying to figure out how they are going to fix things in the next movie. I will watch it again until I have to take it back. Next to my show list that I'm working on, I will finally make myself go through all my doll/figure/art ideas. The ones written down and sketched out on slips of paper, corners of paper used for lists, and some are even on napkins. I've been putting it off long enough and now it's time to see what I've got. What can be used to make things come to be. Especially that I'm lining up shows. Gotta have new work for that. I have 17 more days to figure that out.

See ya.

Well, well...

Here I am again. Another month has gotten the best of me. First off, the weather went from this...

to this...

in 2.5 seconds. Michigan time. Yep, I didn't get a proper fall this year. I guess that's a thing of the past now. I'm glad I have some fond memories of how a fall used to be. Beautiful colors on the trees, crunching on the dry leaves on my way to school. Nice cool temps so you could have a window open for a couple of weeks after summer. Chilly for Halloween, a little snow for Thanksgiving, and then winter. And winter was after Indian Summer (which may not be politically correct these days), a time after a frost and then a week of warm temps. Nope, nada, it's gone forever. Now it's winter and daylight is short. Winter isn't official until December 21st but it's here. The only thing to do is deal with it and soon there will be fires in the fireplace.

November got away from me. Yes, I had some plans. I did do a doll show, it was okay. Made a little money and got some new contacts. I always like talking to the other vendors. I got sick. Oh boy did I get sick. Not flu sick but a really bad sinus infection. Usually I could kick it with an over-the-counter medication but not this time. I was having vertigo with this bad boy. I had to go to Urgent Care. I got a shot in the rear end so I could get some relief and antibiotics for ten days. I'm feeling loads better but then I had to take my truck back to the shop. And I didn't finish NaNoWrimo. Ugh! When it rains, it pours fish and frogs. Tackled again by the universe. But...

I'm back up. Still hanging in there. Looking for the silver lining of a whole lot of storm clouds.  This month got away from me. But a  new one starts tomorrow.

Ack!!!

October, my favorite month, why are you not being kind to me? This is going to be short folks. I had to put my truck in the shop a few weeks ago, for a week and then I got sick this past week. I'm feeling a bit better but now it's checking the creative time damage. So no new costume this year. No Halloween party to go to because I can't afford a relapse of being sick.

I'll be back.

September Already!

Wow! That got here fast. But it is what it is. I had a nice weekend. I was able to spend Sunday with family and it wasn't for a funeral. We laughed, discussed the world, and had lots to eat. I have discovered that there are a few family members who are not the outdoorsy type. It was hilarious and a wee bit sad at the same time but I now know who not to take on wood type excursions. Screams about bees, mosquitoes, moths, dragonflies, and spiders were interesting. And then when the two black squirrels were... doing... something with a lot of noise, that just freaked out two of my relatives. One squirrel chased the other into our yard. The squirrel that came into our yard, froze when it saw us and tried to hide in the grass. He didn't move for about a minute, then hightailed it to some bushes. It was kind of scary and amusing. The screaming from the humans. Anyway, it was fun being outside enjoying company and good eats.

I also had yesterday off. I enjoyed that day too. Totally relaxed and watched some Netflix. I also started getting my bullet journal together for this new month. And I worked on my project list for the rest of the year. Daunting? Sure. But I wouldn't be me if I didn't have some kind of creative challenge. So today it's back to business and new pics of work in progress and finished pieces coming soon.

I'm so glad the seasons are gearing up for a change. I'm not really a summer person, even though I was born in a summer month. I love the fall and it's change of colors and the crispness in the air. How the sun dips down in the sky as if things are about to go to sleep. I don't know if I'll make it to a cider mill this year but I will try. There's nothing like fresh apple cider and doughnuts. Yum! So have a wonderful day folks. September is revving up.

May

It's May. A new month. Going into the second quarter of the year. It's finally spring around here. Things are blooming and turning green. The birdsong is quite different and I'm enjoying the frog and toad orchestra at night. I'm hoping that I can keep my windows open for a bit before they are closed and the AC is turned on.

Lots of things going on. Sent payment for the next doll show and got my hotel room booked, continued to purge my things from my mother's house and found a baby shoe. Can't believe I actually wore this. There's still a lot to do, go through, toss, and pack up if I want to keep it. I'm so grateful that my mother is not emotionally attached to anything. Hoarders is always in the back of my mind. But I can say that I made a dent. On the upper level of the house.

 New dolls on the horizon and other artwork. The Christmas gift list is going well and I'm trying to think of things to do my birthday week. Another big bill will be paid off next month. I got a new top pattern to make me some summer things to wear. At some point I will have to think about my Halloween costume. Yikes!

A friend was at a huge garage sale and picked up this coffin shaped wicker basket and two skeletons. Decorations for this coming Halloween or will I be able to do something new with them? Maybe the basket.

I had planned on catching up on things this week but I got more hours. It's the week before Mother's Day, the second busiest week of the year right behind Christmas week. So we'll see what I can accomplish in the next couple of days.

Is it April?

I know things happen. It's called life. It's how you bob and weave, roll with the punches, take a dive into something new and fall into a pile of very large and very soft cotton balls or slam into a concrete slab. You get where I'm coming from. No matter what plans you have, or goals, or deals with psychic bumble bees, there is a little imp or pixie or freaking faerie waiting in the shadows to throw things at you. Anything from the size of pebbles to... I don't know... boulders.

I thought that this was going to be a decent month. Ha, ha, haaaaa. Yeah. I have to remind myself to look at the nice and good things that have happened and not have the weird, 'you've got to be kidding me' stuff take over my thoughts.

Right now I am waiting for the Bug Guy to get here. His window is 9 AM to 11 AM. Because he's new on the route, he probably won't get here until 10:45. I won't be able to go work in the dungeon because I won't be able to hear the doorbell. So what's a gal to do? I searched high and low for some fabric to make some new bedroom curtains. Nothing complicated, just something to keep the extra light out. Street light, moonlight. That sort of thing. The piece I was looking for took about ten minutes to find. It was pretty. But would work better as part of my table cover for my next show. Drats! I continued looking. Found something nice but not enough yardage, then something nice but would look better as aprons. This was not going well and I was tearing up things I'd already straightened. I finally found something that will work. The stripes may not go in the direction I think they should but no one but me will see the bloody curtains. Today, I will make curtains. If it's the only creative thing I do.

April has been screwy. One big fool joke. Where the heck is spring? We got up to 60 degrees early on and then snow, rain, high winds, snow, icy mix, then a melt, and more snow. Today it's supposed to be in the 50s. Of course I feel sorry for all the migrating birds right now. I'm sure they are way confused and possibly starving. The neighborhood heron and egret have returned. The birdsong has changed. And a herd of six deer ran through the yard. Please, no more snow. Not only has it screwed things up for the birds, it's screwed things up for me. I'm off my days again. One week I thought it was Friday for the whole week. This week I thought yesterday was Friday. What do I wear? I know about layers but that's getting old. I've had a doll show, a funeral, and I've been given more responsibility at the other job. I'm still trying to wrap my head around that one. I was exhausted after the funeral. I had three days off from the other job. Sort of. I did laundry, caught up on paperwork, paid bills, cleaned my bathroom, vacuumed the whole house. Then I sat and read. That's it. Part of my brain was yelling at me that I should be doing something. But I needed that time to regroup.

Regroup. I was working on new dolls for the show but the design wasn't sitting right with me. Yes, I messed up some fabric (I don't have a lot of it for skin tones), and stuffing, and time. I began the usual of beating myself up but the dolls weren't working. So this morning, I started to take them apart and unstuff them. Along with wash fabric for the curtains.

Breathe. I will unstuff while waiting for Mr. Bug Man. Then to the other job. I will make curtains today. See ya!

The Last Day

Of 2017.

Once again, I never thought I'd be so happy to see another year end. I seem to be collecting bad years like gnarly wood beads on a strand of jute. Where are my pearls? While having the last very bad for me breakfast of the year, I thought about a young man I'd met way back at university. He was nice and he liked me. I didn't listen to my gut to get to know him better. We probably would have hit it off, fallen in love, gotten married, and had a family. I should have listened to me. For so many years I haven't listened to me. I've missed out on so many opportunities because I did not listen to me. Because of doing what was expected of me, doing what others thought I should be doing, focusing on the well-being of others before myself. While doing that, I'd lost, myself. It was a long road to find me again.

For a very long time I did not look at myself in the mirror. Not because I thought I was ugly but that I didn't deserve to be seen. I was no one. I'd put up a good front, I was the one people counted on but inside I was dying. I ran to someplace new but the ghosts followed me. There was a time that for four years I didn't create a thing. I did nothing that had once sparked a bit of happiness. No sewing, no doll making, no painting, no writing, nothing. I blamed others for what was lacking in me and my life, and I beat myself up on a regular basis. The constant beat down I gave myself would have any world class boxer run for the hills. A good friend asked me if I would speak to anyone on the street the way I spoke to myself.  That one question made me stop and think. I did not. I did not verbally abuse anyone I'd met on the street but I did it to myself. That's when I started to look at myself in the mirror.

It was hard. The first day I only got a glance. I was ashamed, afraid, angry, alone. It was a week before I could look at myself for longer than five seconds at a time. Every morning, I'd made myself look at me. Then there was the morning when I could look at me and not flinch, or cave in, or cry. I saw the me that other people see when they meet me. I wasn't bad looking. I accepted what the universe had given me. I liked what I saw in the mirror.

Once I found me, it took everything to hold onto me. That fight just didn't let up. Things got better but the struggle was very real. The horrible life loop continued. We are good at remembering every single bad thing that has happened to us but rarely do we remember the good things. No matter how big or small. It's the bad that is front and center. The drama. The soul sucking chaos. At first I didn't think that there was anything good that had ever happened to me. And that wasn't true. There were good times and good people. Lots of them. Those I will write down and read when things get bad.

So where am I going with this?

I get one chance to be on this third rock from the sun. ONE. I have spent a good bit of half a century trying to figure things out. It may not happen and that is okay. I will work at it. But... no more should haves or could haves or would haves. No more wasting time on the past because that's what it is, past. I can't change it. I don't have a time machine. I will continue to be a warrior for justice and protect those who cannot protect themselves. It is time for me to make a change. No more excuses. I do it or I don't. My decisions, my choices. What is going to make Wendy sing and dance? I'm finally listening to my gut and will follow my heart. Will it be easy? Heck no! Will it ruffle other people's feathers? Not my problem. But I am ready to find out. Ready to see what I am really made of. Be the wonderful, crazy, creative, adventurous person I know is waiting to be released.

I shall live long and prosper with the force that is with me. Happy New Year's Eve y'all!

How Do I Feel?

Remember the scene in Christmas Vacation where Clark got a jelly-of-the-month membership instead of the bonus check he was expecting. It was followed by a tirade of obscenities and copious amounts of booze laden eggnog. Yeah... that's how I'm feeling right now. After working extra hours and having a nice Christmas Day, and figuring out the finances to unexpected events, I thought I'd be able to get out of this year without anymore damage but no. I almost had an accident yesterday because the hose to my windshield wiper fluid was frozen. I couldn't see out of my windshield. I had time sensitive work that needed to be taken care of. People were speeding around and tailgating me and I couldn't see. I zipped into a Tractor Supply parking lot and worked very hard not to start balling my eyes out. They were very nice in there. I called for a tow and it looked like a two hour wait. My day was going downhill fast. One of the nice employees apologized for not having coffee for me while I waited to be picked up. My wait was only an hour but it took just about the rest of the afternoon for my truck to thaw out. Fine. Then I get the bad news that the struts on the truck were about to fail. Really? It's a good thing I didn't drive to see my mother on Christmas Eve. I wouldn't have made it. He told me to steer clear of potholes and avoid the highway until I bring it in to be fixed. I have to go to work today and tomorrow I will take the truck back in.

So I start all over again. Every penny I make will go towards paying off bills. I will still get my passport renewed next month. I've always liked beans and rice. And...

I AM NOT GIVING UP.

It's another setback. More dinosaur dung flung by the universe into my face. Did I cry? You bet. But I got up. Wiped the dung away and put on more battle gear. 2017, you suck. I am claiming 2018. A few more days left of this year, then it's on.

Day 3: No Pic Post

Yowza!
This year is flying by. Halfway through. Totally unbelievable. But here we are. Crazy happenings on this rock that is hurtling through space. And it's time. At least for me to finally make the breakthrough I've been dreaming of. My 54th year around the sun is coming to an end. As I look back on this very unusual life, I feel positive. The big upheaval from a place I liked in another state to being back to the one I thought I had left behind. Adjusting to being back. Fighting the fears of what's new and replacing the battle armor. I am ready. I have a friend, we'll call her Ms. S, and she's ready to take that leap too. Sometimes it's good to have someone who's also on a journey of change to keep you on track. So we are going to meet on my birthday and hash things out. Plot and plan, and make deadlines for ourselves and each other. We will put each other to task and encourage each other. Because... this is it. This is the time to make the big push to create like crazy. Get projects going and finished. I've had starts and stops and I'm getting a wee bit tired of that. It's time.

I've started walking again. Watching what I eat and portion sizes. I can also put some music on and dance. I like dancing. And get back to doing Yoga. There's hiking I want to do on some serious trails and I need to get in shape. I don't know if this will be the year to try kayaking or not. I know for sure I will do it next year. And next year I'll get a bicycle. I haven't ridden on in years.

It's time to stop looking at the past and the bad things that have happened. It's funny how we always remember the messy things in life and not the good things. So that's what I'm working on, when I get the bad memory loop going, I will stop and remember the nice things that have happened. The cool people I've met, even if they were only in my life for a short time. Remember the times when I laughed so hard I cried. The times I was able to travel out of the country to experience another place. Those are my memories. No one can take that from me. I have people who like and care about me and it's time for me to do the same. I refuse to give up. There's too much to do and see. A lot more people to meet.

So I am bidding this year a fond farewell. I've been celebrating this past weekend. Getting the creative batteries recharged for the next 365 days around the sun.

Cheers!

Oh My!

What a beginning to a new month. So glad Mercury is out of Retrograde and maybe I can kick some creative butt this month. Monday, I was cruising along on a second purse and sliced my finger cutting some fabric. Yes, lots of blood, some flappy skin. Could I find any bandages? Nooo... I knew I had some in the basement but they were playing hide and seek with me. I stuck my finger in my mouth and headed upstairs. Checked the kitchen, the half bath, then headed upstairs to friend's bathroom. Where the heck did she put her bandages? Went to my bathroom pulling out all drawers and finally found a box just about on empty. I degermed the wound and wrapped several bandages around the finger and went back to work. I figured that as long as I could stop the bleeding I wouldn't have to go to an emergency clinic. My friend got home and helped assess the situation and the finger was still on, no longer bleeding, not swelling, or changing colors. Cleaned the wound again and let it air out for about an hour and then more medication and another bandage. Forty years of sewing and this is the first time I've cut myself this bad. That's what I get for hurrying and not paying attention and not having the proper tools. The house has more bandages and sterile pads. All shapes and sizes for the bandages and I know, as soon as I go downstairs to straighten for the next project, I will find the bandages I was looking for the first time around.

That was the first thing Mercury left me. I get to the last round of top stitching on this purse and the power goes out. Really? I was in pain from the finger and too tired to cry. My friend, Kel, went next door to a neighbor and he was out too. The whole subdivision was out and other streets. He did a scouting and said that a tree had fallen onto wires which knocked down a power pole and there were some flames. Status, the power would be back on at 9 o'clock the next evening. Seriously? Mercury, you are a card. I got a glass of wine, read a bit, and hit the sack. Woke up at 1:13 AM and the house was lit light a Christmas tree. I got up and went throughout the house turning off lights. Got up a few hours later, finished the purse and delivered it. The finger is still on, no blood but I think I will take it easy and do lots of writing (by hand because I'm having a good deal of trouble typing) and sketching.

So how was your May Day aka Beltane?

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.

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!

Getting Closer

You know how you notify businesses that you're moving? You try to remember everyone but forget those you only deal with every other month, quarterly, or every six months. Yeah, had to deal with those peeps today. Only two more boxes left to unpack. Fixing up the place, supplies, and other stuff will be an ongoing process for the next couple of months while I get back to making things. That should be fun. Find it when I need it. Art table has been cleared for work along with two other tables. One I will set up my sewing machine.

I finally got my books off the concrete floor and onto bookshelves. I still have magazines and other books to deal with but they aren't on the concrete.

Went through two of those boxes today. So happy to see the floor. I'll finish them up tomorrow. Now I can go through things to see if I want to keep them or not. See what supplies I actually have and get more drawers or containers for things. I know I will need another bookshelf.

Almost Ready

I did make it up to Michigan from North Carolina. I got all my things delivered and I'm almost through all my boxes. I have the basement sort of set up for working. Now  I have to clear off my art table so I can start creating again. I am so grateful for my friend from university who has opened her arms, heart, and home to me while I take a side trip on this adventure called my life. I finally got my car insurance taken care of and my car license changed, a new plate and tags, and have registered to vote. I'm still learning my way around my new town but spring is coming. So soon, very soon there will be some cool things coming.

Staging area as I unpacked boxes to find things.

Creating area. My big art table and two smaller white folding tables. I will probably put my sewing machine and serger on them.

Repaired the bookcase on the right and the new bookcase that I got on sale is on the left. Ready to get books loaded.

This area is where most of my boxes were. Now there is floor.

My daybed holds books, dolls, fabric, and quilts. It will take some time to get that situated but I now see all that I have and what can be donated. It will be a nice sitting area once everything is put away.

The area behind the daybed. Not many boxes left to go through.

The wall with another bookcase and shelves for supplies. I will need to rearrange those shelves too once I pull out my paints.

So I'm getting there and I'm itching to get back to making things. Glad the ideas are still running around in my head and I still have many little sketches to go through. Almost there.

Under Construction

Yes. Oh my gosh! It's been a long time since my last post. But I've been packing like crazy to get out of here by the end of the month. I've got 12 more days before I head back to Michigan. Long story. But everything is okay. My new adventure continues up north. I'm good. So many things going on, so many new ideas for projects and I can't wait to get started on them. And finally, I'll be able to sell some things online. Just wanted to let you know that I haven't totally disappeared. No, the Mother Ship hasn't stopped to pick me up. Yet. Have a good one!

Don't Know Where To Start

Things haven't been working out here in good ole North Carolina. Sometimes you lots of bunny hops, sometimes you have to take several giant steps back and sometimes you have to do a sides step to get you to where you want to go. I guess that's what it means to be a work in progress. I haven't posted recently because I'm in the process of moving back to Michigan. It's something that has been on the stove for awhile now and finally it's just time to do it. To take care of old business, regroup, and eventually, make my way back down here. I was sad because I had jobs lined up, and I had made more connections, and I would miss my friends but now I'm empowered because this is just another step to get me to doing what I want to do. At first I thought I was a failure because I had to go back but I'm not. There's so much more to life than just looking at it as only succeeding or failing. I have done so much in the past ten years here. From having my work in galleries; being featured in local papers; being in local shops, seeing places I'd never seen before; and meeting the most wonderful people. I have done a lot that I am proud of. And I continue my journey up north. For a small amount of time.

I am so grateful for the people in my life in this town and state. They have helped me out in so many ways. From job tips, to gallery help, to buying my work, to feeding me, to encouraging me, I am so grateful. At first I was very sad to say goodbye. But a friend said that it isn't goodbye, it's until I see you again. I did not realize how many people were upset that I was leaving. That they liked my artwork, my writing; that they liked me. As the person that I am. My laugh, my smile, my conversation. It makes it easier to be nicer to myself. Not only do I have people who are sad to see me go, I have others waiting for me to get back up north. The northern peeps will say, "Oh, sorry you have to leave North Carolina but I can't wait for you to get back up here." Old partners in crime are plotting day trips and other events. So I'm not just going back to cold weather.

I don't know how many more posts I will make before I hit the road. I will try and post again next week. Packing is... wow... Ten years of stuff. It's a good thing I did a huge purge over two years ago. But I've got books, art supplies, fabric, and my artwork. I tell you, when I move again (and I've got one more left in me) I will have someone pack it up and move it for me. I am planning things so that when I get to my destination, I jump right into working. For me.

So, that's my update. Sorry it took so long. The adventure continues.

No Pic Post -- Books and Movies

In 2015 I decided that in 2016 I was going to start to read more. My goal was four books a month. Fluff books because things just weren't going great and I wanted mindless entertainment. A total of 48 books and I'm at 40 right now. I don't think I'll get 8 more read by December 31st but that's okay. I'm pretty close to that goal.

Next year, I want to keep the 48 fiction books, add 12 non-fiction books, 12 documentaries, and 12 classic movies I may or may not have seen. That may not look like a lot but it's what I can manage. This isn't a competition. I love to read. I want to expand what I know by reading non-fiction about a variety of things. I'm not a fast reader, so this is what I've come up with. I will be posting what I read. Here and on Goodreads. I've got to do better with that too. Documenting what I've read.

#books #nonfiction #fiction #documentaries #classicmovies