The -ber Months

 Finally, we are into the months that end in -ber.  Which means fall or autumn if you like, is coming! My most favorite time of year even though there is much nonsense going on on this rock we call home. This has not been a good year for me but I'd really like to try to turn it around in some creative way. So... I had bought these little ornament kits from a dollar store, I think last year. I found them while clearing out some things. I left them out. For months and decided to take them out of their package because they needed painting. I mean anything- anything to get back to being creative. Right? So they sat on my cutting table for another month and last week I did it. I painted the little critters. 

Now when you have inexpensive little kits like this, the longer they are hidden the paint dries. Yep. It was like glue. Good thing I had my real paints, which also haven't fared too well. The hole for dispensing the paint was clogged. In all paint bottles. Okay then. It seems I really must get back to it so as not to waste what's left of my paint stash.

So I did it. This thing called painting. I had something in mind but things weren't going that way so this is what I ended up with. Not great (yes, I started to beat myself up over it) but I finished them. It's a start right? They are now with my other Halloween pieces and that makes me happy.

Onward September!

Stupid Virus

Yes, COVID-19 is affecting pretty much everyone on the planet right now. Schools and businesses closed, people off or out of work, and yet there are still those not taking things seriously. I'm taking precautions and have had my work hours cut. My doll show in April was postponed until October. I wonder how looking for a new job is going to affect me. It seems like this is how things always are for me. Finally get a plan and something weird happens. And there's not much I can do about it right now.

So, I've gotten back to some projects that were put in the cupboard. I finally finished the top of a hexie table runner using Halloween fabrics. One project at a time maybe. I'm closer to finishing this piece.

And I'm learning how to do portrait embroidery. Maybe I can catch up on that while I have more time.

I will work on getting back to some sketching too. Like some Plague Doctors or something. Be good, take care of yourselves and others. We'll get through this -thing.

Now it's November

Yes sirree, it's November. Second to the last month of the year. What happened? Don't know but I'm still hanging around. Still working on getting the knee better. Back to working on a limited basis because of said knee. Had a wonderful fall this year, so there's that. Beautiful colors, walking in the neighborhood on clear mornings where the air is crisp and clean. Sometimes walking in the early morning fog, and crunching leaves underfoot. I can't remember the last time I had an actual fall that lasted more than two days. It did snow Halloween night and I did work but that's okay.

The snow didn't stay long but I guess this next season is here. The temperatures haven't been getting any higher than high 40s and in the morning it's been quite chilly. I started my 365 Days of Halloween by doing small drawings on a calendar. Not the greatest but I did it everyday. I may take some of the drawings and do more detailed ones.

There won't be a big Christmas this year. There usually isn't. My niece will get doll clothes. And there are a few things for my mom. Will be working on saving money for a big trip in the near future. But for now, I'm working on projects already started and participating in NaNoWriMo or National Novel Writing Month. 50,000 words during the month of November. I didn't finish last year but I'm planning on finishing this year. So far I have 2631 words written. That's my update. Have a great day.

October

October is zooming by and not going according to plan. I am working on dealing with it. Still getting the knee better, back to work on a limited basis, and trying to get back to creating things. Anything on the regular. It's been hard but I tell myself it's only been about two months since my surgery and to cut myself some slack. Working on it. But it has turned out to be a wonderful fall. Cool temps, gusting winds, rain, colorful leaves... it's been a true fall. Going for walks and crunching leaves; I can't remember the last time that happened.

The colors have been great. I'm enjoying everything and filing it in my head and I think I will have to get some of these pics printed off. Now if we can have a decent Halloween night. No rain or snow or freezing temps. That would be perfect.

Below are some more Frida dolls finally painted and ready for clothes. I guess I should take another pic because their faces are done. I will be painting other dolls today. I have been doing tiny sketches on a calendar all month long and will show those soon. At least I'll get 31 days of Halloween.

Wow!

I can't believe this month is just about over. End of the third quarter. Where am I? Still getting my knee back in shape and taking it easy on myself. Just now getting back to being creative and working out what to do next month. There are quite a few art challenges next month: Inktober, Drawlloween, and Doodlewash. But I think I will turn them all into my own personal art challenge and call it 365 Days of Halloween. Which will take me back into Halloween 2020. Yes, it's a big endeavor but it's my personal challenge to see what I can do with all my creativity.

I'm still working on starting projects and finishing them. Starting isn't my problem. Finishing is. So I will be working on that come next month. Still job hunting too. The knee set me back to zero. Getting old sucks. Rehabilitation, recuperating as you get older isn't as fast or easy as when you're younger. Figures.

I did try these Brach's Maple Candy Corn and I'm hooked. I think I like them better than regular candy corn.

I also glued on the hands, feet, and head to my witch doll. I got her as a kit by artist Patrick James Gil of Graverly Will Creations. He offers different heads and feet with a hat thrown in. I didn't want to paint her green, more like a medicine woman who lives in the forest. Her stockings are made along with her bloomers. I did give her an ample bosom just because. Will design something for her to wear. Because her month is next month.

 Nice on the outside but don't get on her bad side. If you know what I mean. She may turn you into something unnatural. Have a good weekend.

September

It's been awhile. I have been recuperating from knee surgery. Four weeks now and PT (physical therapy is going well. Right now I'm about 75% functional. My PT therapist says I'm doing better than most who have had my procedure. Of course, I'm not a patient person and I'm working on not being hard on myself for not being further along. But I can walk without shooting pain and my flexibility is improving everyday. I even got more types of exercises to do. I'm planning on another tow weeks to see how things go and then I'll be ready to look for a new job. I don't know if I want to be on my feet all the time at the old job or deal with people this holiday season.

It's been rough trying to get creative again. Lots of starts and stops. Lots of tears. Lots of being mad at myself. I tell myself, one-day-at-a-time. Do a few things and rest. Think of all the cool and wonderful things I've done and celebrate. Put fear in the backseat and keep moving. It's hard. After being in constant pain for so many months, having the surgery, and not working, it is very hard. My self esteem is in the toilet and I just have little faith in creating right now. Once again I have missed out on several creative opportunities.

It's my favorite time of year and I'm working on enjoying it. The leaves are starting to change colors. I love that. The temps were cooler but we seem to be getting a late summer right now. All the fall and Halloween decorations are out in full force. I have to just look. Look at how people decorate their homes, both inside and out. I keep telling myself that one day, one day I will have my own home to decorate. Right now, that's kind of hard to hold on to.

I tell myself that each day is a new day. I've been trying to just get back to creating something. After surgery, all I could do was knit. So I made dish cloths.

I finally got a front page done for my Bullet Journal.

I started drawing mushrooms for a project I've been wanting to work on for over a year.

And I finally got back to my EPP (English Paper Piecing) using hexies. The mini ones below in the first pic will turn into something. I can see what I want in my mind but I don't know if it will happen.

The larger hexies have backings and will be appliqued down and eventually turned into pincushions. One can never have enough pincushions. Plus I'm trying to use up some of the fabric and other materials I have.

It's a start. I now have to finish them. Another big problem. Finishing things.

One Day At A Time. After all, I'm still healing. And I need to cut myself some slack.

It's May!

April was okay. I guess pretty good. My first doll show went well and I sold several pieces, including some new pieces. After the show, the adrenaline rush crashed in a pretty bad way and I got a little depressed. Again, it was, now what? I did take a bit of time off to regroup and then life got in the way again. More hours at the job, taxes done, a good friend passed away, and I just continued to work on the new creative habits I started. I finally got my mini witches done three have already sold.

Now it's May and into the second quarter of the year. And got notice of another previous co-worker passed unexpectedly. Married for only about three years and had a six month old son. That kind of throws a whammy on you. Two sweet people have left this world way too soon. And I'm still struggling to get... something... together.

I have two new habits that are still going. After reading 'Atomic Habits' by James Clear, I liked how he said that it's not so much as how many days it takes to create a new habit but being consistent. And if you miss a day, get back to it as quickly as possible. Even if it's just for a short period of time. That way, does take the pressure off of working on something new. So I've been sketching more (it's been on the calendar on the refrigerator) and practicing hand sewing because I would like to make a Regency costume sewn by hand. I'm working out getting more consistent with my writing and I've started making hexies for some upcoming Halloween wall hangings. For my Regency wardrobe, I did find my chemise I made and my short stays that still fit. I will probably make another chemise with a lower cut neckline.

Hexies are a type of English Paper Piecing used to make quilts or appliques. I'm nuts and am doing very small ones. You get all of them made up and then sew them together.

I've also pre-washed fabric for a summer top I'm going to make. That way, I know things will fit.

And I'm ready to make more church lady aprons.

That's my update. I don't know if things will get to normal, whatever that is. I know what I like to do and what I want to do and what I get to do. Because we never know when our number is up. I found this quote from Roald Dahl (read a lot of his work):

"I began to realize how important it was

to be enthusiastic in life.

If you are interested in something, no matter what it is.

Go at it Full Speed.

Embrace it with both arms, hug it, love it and above all
Become Passionate about it.
Lukewarm is no good."

Moving Right Along

Still working on new habits. It's all about being consistent. So far, I can get to two of the three things I really want to do each day. Right now, I'm okay with that. I'll just keep going. Some mini witches finally have some clothes on. Next up will be hair and hats.

Working

Like many, I have wanted to start more positive habits. Which I didn't a week ago today. It's difficult to try something that is good for you. I have fallen off the creative truck a few times but I tell myself that's okay. It didn't take overnight to create bad habits and it not going to be overnight to create new better habits. In other words, cut myself some slack, get back on the truck when I fall off and keep going. Our brain is one thing we really don't use much. So when I'm working on the new habits or a new schedule my brain just wants to quit. Um... no. I push on. If I'm tired, I take a break. So I've been creating. Working on things started months, years ago, and some new projects.

More work on my gourd heads out of Creative Paperclay. Still making things suck and just seeing what happens.

The clay heads I started. Some are starting to take on personalities.

Bloomers for three dolls.

And stitch work on my pumpkin applique started last year. I haven't appliqued in so long, I didn't know exactly what I was doing. Common thread here. So I worked on it anyway and it's not bad. Now I've got to find a backing for it and finish it. I know now what not to do the next time.

Have a good week.

It's Spring, I Think

Yes, the calendar says spring but we got snow yesterday and I lit a fire in the fireplace. Working on some new habits and I'm doing okay. As long as I don't beat myself up for not being perfect. Starting new habits is hard. It's not so much as how many days you do them to get them established but how consistent you are in doing them. I've fallen off the boat a couple of times. I told myself to cut me some slack seeing that I only started Tuesday. This is what I've been up to.

I finished the faces of these two dolls. It's a little different from what I have been painting.

And I started some gourd heads. Never too early to think Halloween. I drew some sketches of gourds and pumpkins last year and added facial features. We'll see what happens.

When I make myself sit down and work with the clay, how it feels, how much water to use, where to put eyes, it feels really good. So I tell myself to do it more, keep doing it. It's so different from cloth. But this is where my creativity is screaming to go next. I'm hanging in there.

Okay Then

I refuse to allow this year to be like last year. Nope, not gonna happen. But I tell you, the past couple of months and this week has been testing me something fierce. I am a human lightning rod and weather forecaster. Because of a childhood injury, I can tell when a storm is coming. So the body was not feeling it Saturday, Sunday, or Monday. Yes, I knew two storms were coming our way. One skirted a little to the south of where I am, the next one was a hit. Okay fine. But I didn't feel any better. Then I woke up Wednesday and heard about that horrible land hurricane. Yes, it looked like a hurricane over land. Slammed the West and it was heading my way. It lost some of the power by the time it got here but the winds were wicked and the thunder and lightning... wow. If this is a sign of future spring storms, we're in for it.

So that went by and I was still feeling miserable. I know Mercury in Retrograde likes to mess things up and I was doing quite well as to see certain triggers and work around them. This was something different. Got online and read about the massive solar storms we were having and were to end today. Seriously? A huge celestial and earthly trifecta of 'LET'S MESS STUFF UP'.

I survived. I'm so glad I wasn't at work, because I probably would've done something very stupid. We still have rain, Mercury is still around, the solar flares are expected to stop today, and I managed to get something worked on. I started my new projects. Making things suck. And I got one apron for the church lady's cut out and wrote in my journal. Not bad for the morning and I'm closing tonight. Co-worker is sick. Whatever.

Here's the first step. I covered Styrofoam halves with Creative Paperclay. They should be dry by tomorrow and I'll do the second step. Not counting on them being anything but I've got to learn how to work with this new medium.

One Tiny Step

At a time will get you closer to where you want to be. The past two days were horrid. Storm fronts passing by, temps going up and down to quickly, high winds just didn't like my body. Feeling a bit better today and finally got some things worked on. Painted some little faces and everyone got bloomers except Frida. Her's are coming.

It felt good pulling out and working with paints even though part of me forgot what to do first. That will change. But I'm liking my little group. It's supposed to get warmer as the week continues and I hope we don't get anymore storms for awhile.

Today

My first day off to be creative and I got a little ahead on my art challenge. Faces 9 thru 12. And I got the last batch of cloth dolls stuffed and ready to get faces on. Probably tomorrow. My goal is to have them finished by the end of the week.

#29faces

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.

Hard Day

It was seriously, a hard day. So pretty, blue sky with fluffy clouds, and sun. I lounged in sunbeams coming through the window today. Felt so good. Ah....

Anyway, I also got a body stuffed. She'll get a face soon and I finished December's front page for my Bullet Journal. It's a gingerbread crypt.

Hello November

Isn't great how time just keeps marching on whether you're in step or not? And here we are. November. We have two more months of this year left. But because Samhain happened last night and is the start of a New Year for some, I'm going to do that. Start a new year with new things (because I can) and get another rough draft of a novel done for NaNoWriMo. National Novel Writing Month. 50,000 words for the month of November. I made it last year and I will make it this year. The difference this year is that I will continue to refine and edit a draft and see where that takes me. As usual there's lots to do this month. I have one more doll show to do and that one is in Toledo, OH on November 18th. More on that later. And because my stock is way down, I will be doing more sewing to get it up again and ready for the show.

Last month there were so many drawing challenges. Inktober being one of them. I started it but didn't finish. I did manage a few drawings on the calendar on the refrigerator. My roommate did three of them.

It was fun keeping up with that. She would leave suggestions for me and I would think about it for a day and then draw it. Got keep going with the sketch/drawing thing. That's my update. Gotta get some words written. Have a nice evening.

Happy Halloween!

Oh no! October has whizzed on by. I had a health relapse but had enough energy to take a selfie. Which I don't like taking.

I'm trying to take it easy for the trick or treaters tonight. I'm so glad it stopped raining. Right now the sun is out and not too cold. So maybe, just maybe, the kids will have a nice time this evening. The sickness has set me back once again. I guess that's a part of life. I just want my head to stop hurting and not feel so tired. Plans for November are underway though. I think I'll first take a short nap.

Have fun and be safe tonight.

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.

Muah ha ha!

Well, well, when it rains it hails. Right when I'm staring to get into a groove, life happens. Found out I have Lyme Disease. And my truck is in the shop. Not one or the other but both one right after the other. In two days. Whatever, I've got stuff to do. I nabbed a spot in another doll show in November so I will be sewing like a mad woman. And I still haven't made my Halloween costume. Yeah, I know, I was supposed to start it way back in February but I got in my way.

Part two of running around the wilds of Michigan. Two weekends ago I went to The Bewitching Peddlers of Halloween show in Marshall, MI. Marshall is a very quaint town and a house there has been featured in the film, 'The House with the Clock in the Walls.' Or something like that. I didn't get a chance to see the house and I haven't seen the film yet.

This is me at the entrance of the show. I didn't get the huge figures on either side of me. Next year. there were so many wonderful artists there. The figures below were by Dustin Poche.

Mr. E. A. Poe is by Joyce Stahl. As you can see, he sold. Actually a lot of her things sold.

These gourd critters are by Kevin Buntin. He's amazing too. I've got to get one of these.

Allen Cunningham did the Halloween dolls below. So cute. He's amazing too. Everyone was amazing. He also did the dollhouse. I've got to make myself a dollhouse. At least I know who to go to if I need help.

And these wonderful and whimsical pieces are by Laurie Hardin.

This was my second time being a visitor at this show. So much creative energy and very cool people. It will be in Marshall, MI again next year at the end of September. it's gonna be a long night tonight. Have some things to cut out. See ya!