Okay Then...

Yep, I thought I would be doing better at posting but this has also been a weird month. Heck, a weird year. The one thing I have been doing is keeping up in my Bullet Journal but the creative wheels are a turning. Since my last post I've:

• had 2 panic attacks
• took 3 days to clear out one room of my mother's house - still not done. Have to go through built in drawers and finish off the closet.
• got things together for an upcoming yard sale
• stuffed and put together 5 new dolls
• got a little knitting in - that kind of calms me down
• been doing some little sketches
• started making hexies for upcoming projects
• went on my first day trip of the spring/summer
• bought some doll supplies
• working on designs for a new doll
• figuring out which doll shows to do at the end of the year
• worked on a watercolor mermaid painting
• added my first piece to my wardrobe with a blue jean jacket (not new)

Okay, looking at the list, it hasn't been bad. There is always room for improvement. My blue jean jacket I got at The Michigan Antiques Festival and I love it. My first ever blue jean jacket. It was my first time going and there were also antique cars on display and I love the antique spinning wheels.

New Long Legs dolls.

The what used to be my art room. Knotted pine paneling. Those were the days. I used to pretend I was in a log cabin when I worked in there. I have to go through my books too. I washed the curtains, which I guess hadn't been done in awhile and when I pulled them out of the dryer, they looked like a tiger had gotten some claws on them. So... new curtains will be made. And a window needs to be repaired.

My version of Feegee Mermaids.

I'm making hexies. Using a template, they are made out of fabric. Because I have lots of scraps and some crazy ideas for these little things. I have seen some smaller than this and I'm seeking out those templates. Yes, that's a quarter next to them.

And this will be the second garment I add to my wardrobe. I read of one young lady who had so many different crafts she liked to do (sewing, knitting) that she decided to make one garment a month. I liked that idea and will try it. But the new garment will replace an old one.

So, that's my update. Will work on another post a lot sooner.

Foggy Morning

It was chilly the day before and it heated up yesterday but cooled off again overnight. I woke up to this this morning.

But then the sun decided to scream through the fog and it was amazing.

Yesterday I was able to get the skellie mermaid that I had seen at Michael's Craft Store. I had my eyes on it for the past two months almost. Of course they had moved their Halloween items because Christmas is now taking over. The sales associate had to go in the back to find her. There were two left. And this one is mine. Love her. She will get a bikini top, a ratty skirt, a dead lei, some jewelry around her neck and a crown of fish skeletons. That will happen after my doll show the first weekend in October.

Isn't she great! Have a nice day.

Two Little Paintings

I am a work in progress. I had a good early part of the week, then I had problems with my sinuses because of the weather and humidity and didn't get much done at the end of the week. I tried to salvage something by doing two little paintings. The mermaid is a thank you card and the other has a letter in it to a friend. I enjoy writing letters to friends and most of the time I add artwork. And I have a short list for today.

31 Days of Halloween 8, 9, 10

I'm behind but I'm still plugging along.  This is turning out to be a very busy month and not all of it Halloween. So going to have to make Halloween all year round.  Starting up again in January.  Also plotting two shows to round out the year and figuring out shows for next year.  Can I be cloned?

Anyway, here are some paintings I finished.  They will have a story, eventually but they are done.  They are Figi Mermaids and if you know anything of P.T. Barnum, you know what I'm talking about.  I used transparent and opaque watercolors on watercolor paper.

Merri the Water Wing Mermaid

Merri is a little mermaid who like watching the human children swim with water wings. So she made her own. She is mixed media - Creative Paper Clay, FastMache, Rigid Wrap, over batting, masking tape, and wire armature. She is painted with acrylic paints and her hair is upholstery trim and fancy yarns using Mary Sanders Lazenby technique. Thanks Mary. I had fun doing her and I'm ready to make another one.

Merri's permanent home is in the Children's Museum of Winston-Salem in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Stop by and say hi.

Good Grief! Another Month

Hello September!

I know.  I can't believe it's another month already.  My niece I helped bring into the world is six months old now. She can pull herself up, and is doing a weird crawl. In other words, she's mobile.  I did okay last month considering my laptop crashed.  I was able to not sit for long periods of time, getting up to stretch and drink lots more water.  It was tough at first making myself get up more often and it helped with me being stiff.  For this month I'm going to give up potato chips.  Not that I eat lots anyway, my body doesn't really like them anymore. So I'll try to eat more fruit and add some nuts. This is what I had on my list for last month.

• finish one more quilt top, 
• make another blouse for me
• read three books - read two books
• Map Hunter III rough draft
• two short story rough drafts - one short story rough draft
• finish my socks - worked on the socks
• goo gobs of Halloween stuff - 9 Cauldron Critters, 12 button skull ornaments, started 10 ghoulies and 2 skellie pirates.  I also make 10 angel ornaments, I know they aren't Halloween but they do sell.
• a painting a week, does not include sketches or practice pieces, yeah that may be harsh but we'll see
• finish my mermaid - got her body formed

Not bad but not great.  I was really stressed out about my laptop.  And then when I got it back, I had to re-install things.  Still working on that.  But I'm ready for the new month.  Still working on things for two shows this month and I will be forming costume workshops for Old Salem this month too.  I'm also participating in 29 Faces.  Yes, I'm a nut case but I'm starting to have fun.  Pics soon.

I won't do a list for this month because it's going to be so crazy and Halloween is next month.  But I will keep up on my posts.  Have a great last summer holiday and week.

Hello August! (post dated)

I wrote this the day my laptop crashed, so I'm posting it today.

This is late.  I didn't do an end of the month blog (July) wrap-up because my computer was on the fritz.  If it's not one thing, it's another.  Life just keeps throwing things at me (pies, greasy piglets, engine blocks) just to keep me on my toes.  I couldn't believe it.  I tried to be positive after crying myself to sleep the night it decided it was going to mess with my mind.  I told myself that crap happens.  They call it life.

I decided to let it go.  August 1, I had to run errands.  That's a great way to suck the creative juices from you.  Got home and tried to reinstall Windows.  Nothing.  I had lunch and read a book.  Loamhedge by Brian Jacques.  One of my favorite authors and I've been blessed to have met him before he passed away.  He writes the Redwall series, and I still have a few more books in the series to read.

I worked on my Google+ introduction for when I get back on my laptop.  For the rest of the day I wrote and worked on a doll.  I'll also add some sketching.  Halloween is approaching and I've got to get busy.

What I accomplished last month (July):

• Bless This House quilt top
• six doll pins, one a special order
• four short story rough drafts
• Map Hunter II rough draft, finished two days ahead of schedule
• finished my short stay for whenever I get to make a Regency gown
• finished my blue dragonfly blouse
• read two adult books, one kid book
• one landscape painting

I did okay giving up TV for the month.  I fell off the truck four times but as the month went on, I didn't miss it.  I did get the weather in the morning before my walk and I watched Under the Dome every Monday night and Sunday Morning for three Sundays.  I think that's pretty good and I don't really need TV.  I will continue to listen to my music during the day and watch movies.  I plan on giving up sitting for so long at a time and do more stretching and drink more water for August.

For this month, and it will be a bit crazy, I will attempt:

• finish one more quilt top
• make another blouse for me
• read three books
• Map Hunter III rough draft
• two short story rough drafts
• finish my socks
• goo gobs of Halloween stuff
• a painting a week, does not include sketches or practice pieces, yeah that may be harsh but we'll see
• finish my mermaid

I am off to do, something.  Hopefully my laptop can be saved.

Quinlan Con Part II

Breakfast with Lillian Alberti, Christine Shively-Benjamin, me, Floyd Bell, and Sandra Wright Justiss.

Lillian Alberti at her table.

Lillian's mermaid.

Lillian's Mrs. Haversham.

Cassandra Graham.

Cassandra's old crone.

Kevin Buntin.

Kevin's giant that just woke up and is about to go on a walkabout. He is so cool and his new home is the Quinlan Doll & Teddy Bear Museum & Library.

Kevin made the little house and trees.

Truly an awesome piece.

Christine and her table.

Her wonderful dolls.

Anki Daanen and some of her dolls.

Sandi McAslan and her table. I met some really wonderful artists, there was so much talent at the convention. If you can make it next year, please do. We had a great time.

A Lot of Work in Progress

All righty then. I had a wonderful birthday month, having celebrated all month, saw some cool people and other amazing things. Now it's back to work. Creative work that is. That's the only kind right? And I'm sure you're ready to see some more work from me. So here we go!

Wandi Mermaids are in the works. I now have their eyes painted and will make their bikini tops. Then I will bead the heck on them. I can't wait to get their hair on. I'll take a pic of the beads when I open them. They are so yummy.

More voodoo doll pin minions. I do feel like a mad scientist at times.

These gals have bodies made of tea dyed fabric. That's about as good as I can get with the dyeing. It can be messy, dyeing, and I'm not that coordinated to do it on a large scale. I do appreciate and admire those who do it well.

These ladies are new. Same pattern as the first voodoo doll pins but are dressed in black and white because they will be my Goth voodoo doll pins. All of them will have red hearts and more paint. I have to give them hair and the Goth ones will have beads.

The remaining pics are the backgrounds of future postcards. The 2 above will be sea like. And the other 2 will be abstract in design.

Wandi Mermaids

Hello dearies. I've gone from the beach into the sea. Finally, I cut out and sewed some mermaids. No longer will I be doing more than four of these Wandi dolls at a time. This group will be the first to be excessively beaded. I don't know if I like the tail or not at the moment, but we'll see how I feel about it after they're stuffed.

This is wonderful upholstery trim that I use for hair. Love the stuff and I get it when and where I can find it. I know exactly how many heads I can dress with one yard. The bits that fall off are collected for my mom and her projects.

I like purple a lot these days, along with the stripes. I'm still working on a design for the dolls that will wear those beautiful stripes.

The blue is pretty cool too. Very sea like.

Some of these fabrics you've seen before. They will be goth voodoo doll pins. That is a mouthful, but that's what they're going to be. They'll be cut out this week. Probably nine of them. I like combinations of three.

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.

Wandi Updates

Snowflake and elf print Wandis.

I was able to get more done on my Winter Wandis. They now have their heads and legs on. Now I have to finish stuffing arms and get them on. Someone mentioned that she never sees anything finished but always in progress. She shall remain nameless. Where have you been lady? Click on dolls and you'll see everything that is complete. ;)

I have one art commission to complete today, because it's driving me nuts, and I need to get it in the mail. Then I have one more project to finish up before I can concentrate on new designs for next year. Such as:

Pirates, mermaids, more skellies, and things that fly. I'm so happy that I have a one woman show in October. You know what that means? Halloween stuff. Yee haw! My first exhibition show in 2011 is in February, and the first real show is in May. It's looking to be some line-up for next year and a play niece is getting married in June.

These final two projects are like balls and chains around my neck. I guess I better get to work. Take care all. Have a great week!