New Dollies

I decided to get out of my way and my head out of my butt and do something. I have so many ideas and I freak myself out by them and I end up not doing anything at all. Which is kind of lame. I'm a lister, a person who makes lists. And I'm not ashamed. If I don't write things down, I will forget them. If I don't do random sketches on small sheets of paper of really cool ideas, I will forget the idea. So... lists. Now I'm putting three things on my list and giving each part of a project some love. I guess I will have to figure out how to use the timer on my almost new phone. That I've had for several months.

So this is what I did today. I have no idea why I waited so long since I cut the things out before I stuffed them and stitched them together. I'm glad I only did two because I think I want to make a slight change to the legs. Maybe. But I'm liking them so far.

I think they have long legs because I'm short. Well actually average height but I'm the shortest one in my family. I love those stripes. I will continue to work on staying out of my way, overthinking, and my procrastination. Which has a lot to do with the fear of trying new things. Have a goodnight.

Happy Halloween Eve!

I've been busy with the new job and making my costume for a Halloween party and tomorrow night. The party was a blast and I'll be showing pics. This was the first full-size piece I made for me in over twelve plus years. I almost made myself crazy with it but realized I was supposed to be having fun with it. That it's been awhile and to enjoy. I'm plotting my 2018 costume and will start that in January and not the week before the party. I didn't make the hat but decorated it with dolls I've made and a pin I got from a doll show.

Here I am as a forest witch. The walking stick is also decorated with my work, a skull from a craft store and a stuffed rat from IKEA I got a few years back.

And I got 5th place for best costume. Not bad my first time out.

I plan on keeping the creative mojo train going this week. So much I want to do and make.

Finished

I finally finished something this year. My second pair of knitted socks. It took me about three years to do so but they are done and I can now wear them. Good grief. It took me two and a half hours to finish them up. What was I waiting on? I have no idea but they are done and are the first thing on my 'Finished' list. I feel pretty good right now. Maybe I can carry that feeling through the rest of the week and finish something else.

7/7

Okay, I mentioned that I was having a hard time creating in the past month. I don't know why I forget why it happens on occasion and what my remedy is. My work space has been a mess. Couldn't find anything. I knew I should clean up. But the procrastination pixies were running rampant. So instead of sinking into a pit of melted marshmallow mixed with peanut butter and crude oil, I decided to do something. About the mess. With the longarming of my own quilts, I had a pile of batting leftovers. I went through them, separated them, and put them into see through (that's the key) plastic bags and labeled them. The larger pieces I measured each piece, labeled, and nicely folded. They can be used for some nice size wall hangings. The next size pieces were too small for wall hangings but could be used to make some ornaments (I guess I should get going on those because you know what holiday is approaching), those also went into a labeled bag. The pieces that were too small for ornaments but too big to throw away, went into another bag. I will use those pieces to wrap doll bodies. That took about two hours of the morning but was very happy with the results. I continued to rearrange other things. I do have a few stacks of things to go through but they are neat stacks.

I practiced Esperanto, posted a blog, went to the library for more books, watched some paper mache videos, did not go on Facebook for the day (which was a bit difficult but stuck to my guns and was able to get things done), I got back to working on Verity (a pattern by Deana Hogan) and I was enjoying it. It's been awhile since I worked on a doll. I don't know why I'm so down on cloth dolls. Maybe because I've made so many of them that I want to do something different. That's fine, but I don't have to give cloth up forever.

The legs and arms have been stuffed. I now have to stitch the fingers on the hands and stuff the head and body. Her lower legs are out of a striped material to simulate stockings. I picked an olive green fabric for her dress.

I made a trip to Trailer Stash Fabrics this morning. Love that place. Got another Sashiko kit and a dress pattern. And I got into some more trouble. I signed up for a Quilt Top Challenge. We could list up to six quilt tops that we want to finish. The owner of the shop picks one of the numbers for us and that's the quilt we work on. It's not to finish the whole quilt, just the top. And the one she picked for me was my Halloween Cat wall hanging. I guess I'm going to have to get it done. I have a month. And I signed up for an open workshop that starts in the Fall. That one will be like a block-of-the-month. I can't wait to see the designs. I'm off to work on that cat and some other things. See ya later.

New Doll

I've been seeing on Facebook that Raggedy Ann is 100 this year. I thought I'd do my take on her. I sketched, made a pattern that I liked (the second one is a little larger than the first), cut out the pieces and sewed them together. I plan on stuffing the little thing today and maybe start painting her.

I will also get back to sketching. I've been slacking. I seem to do tiny things and I guess that's okay. Still working on getting over that everything has to be just so to get started. It doesn't. I am working on a five second rule created by Mel Robbins. If you think about something you want to do that will move you forward, within five seconds, do it. Don't think about it because if you don't do it, you won't do it. I've started reading her book Stop Saying You're Fine and of the many empowerment/self help books I've read, this one is different. She gets to that little voice buried deep in your head that tells you that new things are scary and difficult, so don't change. On the surface, it's like, yeah, I can see that but trying to get out of that being stuck is quite difficult. But I will keep working at it because there are many things I want to do, places I want to go and I have to make the conscious effort to get moving.

Another thing I will get to today, finally, is my Halloween Cat. I got the applique part done but have been procrastinating on the embroidery part. I want to get it done, even though I won't have a place to hang it just yet but at least it will be done. Have a good day!

#melrobbins #stopsayingyourefine #raggedyann

Something Else That's New

Well, not too new. Ever since I was a little kid, I've always wanted a dollhouse. Not a Barbie dollhouse, but a real miniature dollhouse. I think I bought one when I was a teenager, not knowing anything about dollhouses and it never got put together. Why? It was big and complicated. I looked at the directions and put them back into the box. I think the thing is still in my mom's attic. Maybe one day I will rescue it.

I have a wonderful friend Kim, who lives in the wilds of 'up north' and she likes minis too. I told her my dilemma and she was special enough to get me a room box. I cried when I got a package in the mail. She said to start off small. Yeah, looking back on things, that's probably what I should have done. So I'm starting  my first mini piece. It took me awhile before I opened the box. Then another month or so before I pulled out the instructions and made sure I had all the pieces. Then another couple of months before I decided that I was going to just do it.

That was a challenge. I thought I knew what I was doing. I'd read the instructions, had what I needed to put it together. Yep... Ha! It was like watching an Abbott & Costello movie with Lucy thrown in for good measure. I learned to do one side of the room at a time. Using books and anything else heavy to keep it in place until it dried. Did I ever mention that I'm not very patient when it comes to things drying? Yeah. And of course I had to put one wall on the wrong way. That's why you should be glad that things don't dry right away.

Now I have to figure out what to do next. I did order some wallpaper and wood flooring. A window and door. I think I want it to be a room for a writer. We shall see.

I'm in Germ Magazine

This year hasn't been going like I had planned.  I didn't jump out of my creative gate and the procrastination ghouls have been appearing.  I was about to start pulling my hair out because I had so many plans and nothing was getting done. Not good enough, who will like my stuff.

Well...

Someone does. I really hope I can get this link up right.
http://www.germmagazine.com/loved-through-the-years-three-centuries-of-black-dolls/

I has a spot in a brand new online magazine for pre-teen and teen girls.  There's art, writing, music, videos, all that will help them be empowered.  And I'm a part of it.  At the beginning.  From the ground up.

THAT... is pretty awesome.

At first I didn't think so.  I found everything that was wrong and began to beat myself up.  All of those past demons of not being perfect, good enough surface from some stinky dark and gooey pit.  I called a friend because I should have been excited.  She said it was up to me to be happy about this and not worry about expectations of others or trying to be perfect or worry and be in a very sad state.

I have decided to kick Bad Wendy to the curb, again.  This is a good moment.  A wonderful moment for me.  I have accomplished something really cool.  Me.  This is where my hard works has gotten me so far.  I am proud of me.  After all, this is what I've wanted.  Or at least part of it.

Will I ever feel low again?  Maybe, at some point.  But next time, I will tell myself that I deserve something nice.  I deserve recognition for good work.  That it is good and okay.  Right now, I will not allow what has happened when I was growing up, or when I wanted to begin my art career when I was younger.  Today is a new day and I will embrace it.  I like me.  I like my creative growth over the past several years.  Great things have yet to come.  2014 will be my happy year.  I will make it so.  You are my witnesses.  As a creative person, what do you grapple with?

Halloween Swap Ornament- 31 Days 11

My online doll group has a Halloween Ornament swap going on and this little gal, Serilda is on her way to a new home.  Good thing because she's really cute and I was falling in love with her.  So I guess there is a plus at getting things done at the last minute.  Just kidding.

She has a tulle underskirt, painted boots and face, and there's a pipe cleaner in her hat and can be posed a bit.  The spider is a charm and it does look like she's not expecting that particular kind of friend.

Here's a painting tip: To paint feet or shoes, stick the legs in a toe separator. Yeah, the ones you use for your toesies.

Bless This House

Another FINALLY DONE!  I can't say that it's finished, that will be awhile but I have my quilt top done. It has also been sitting around for almost a year.  I will have to wait to have it quilted but the top is complete. Sorry for the pic but I have limited room in my abode.  I can't tell you how good it feels to have it done, cross it off my list and put it with my other quilt top that is done.  I have several more quilt tops to work on and would like to have half of them done by the end of the year.

Three more days until the end of the month.  Let's see what else I can finish.

It isn't like the pattern.  I did my own thing for the borders because I wanted to just have it done.

Special Order

Once again, I get to having 90% of a project done and nothing.  Some strange psychological un-creativity going on.  I only had to do his cap and put his belt on.  So I finally sat down and finished him and delivered to the shop.  What the heck is wrong with me?

Yes, I made him a baseball cap.  The new owner wanted a male Day of Dead doll pin with a blue cap.  So here it is.  I did manage to get somethings done last week.  It's been one heck of a week too.  We finally got a break in the humidity and I didn't want to do anything but enjoy it.  That won't be happening today.  More stuff on the list to do.  I still have four more days in the month before putting it in the books.

Sewing

I finally finished my blue blouse that I had been working on for quite some time now.  I got caught up on the collar and wasted time not trying to figure it out.  I got sick of looking at it.  90% of it done and then I stopped.  Crazy, seeing that I don't have much to wear because of weight loss.  Well, I got it done.  And it fits.  I had to take it in and I'm so glad I knew how to do that. When I can get someone to take a pic of me in it, I'll post it.  Until then, here it is.

It's got a Mandarin collar and tiny little dragonflies all over it.  Now that I know what to do, I'll cut out one more in red.

My Do Day

One thing I've noticed about myself is that sometimes I think too much. So much so, that I don't get anything done. I'm working on changing that this year and today was a 'do day'. No thinking, just doing. When I have so much to do and want to do and I start thinking, I panic. Ending up not doing a thing. I really want to get my quilt top finished. At least one of them. I have several. Today, I finished the block from hell.  Number 12 block of my Hop To It quilt. Yes... it took me a year. Why? Who knows. Maybe because I just didn't like this particular block. I was going to ditch it but had most of the pieces already cut out. Here it is.

Yes, I am happy. Relieved and pleased. Now I have to starch each block, square them up, and sew them together. The top will have a border but nothing fancy because I WANT THE DARN THING DONE!

Long live Jombi.

Sorry!

Yes, I'm still battling some wicked anti-creative demons. They will not win. A friend suggested I do an 'Elephant Day' when things get really bad and the fear and procrastination set in. An elephant day, she said to get an elephant. Not a real one. But any kind of stuffed, or clay, or I could even draw one. Put him in the center of my living room and visualize taking a bite out of him. With each bite, I do something creative. Of course Bad Wendy stepped up to the plate and said we couldn't try it because we don't have an elephant. Good Wendy gave her the side eye. She also said that once I got back on track, to put the elephant away until next time I get a block or the battle seems dire.

Here are a few things I've finished and have been working on.

Finally got my mini plush monsters done. They will be for the Krankie's Holiday Craft Fair.

And I got another zombie head done. She could be a ghoul. I guess she'll tell me later. I have been writing too. Got another chapter to my mid-grade book edited. My goal is to finish this last edit and start looking for an agent. I have also been sketching and will try and get some pics up this week. It's also getting to be a busy time for me with Halloween coming up and then Christmas but I will try to do a lot better. I still owe you a list for the month.

I'd like to welcome Machelle Benson to the party.

Short Stay

I'm finally getting around to my short stay. Can't have the silhouette of the Regency/Empire/Federal period without it. Plus, it's all part of my Regency Wardrobe Challenge. I did a mock up to see if it would fit and it did. Now I've cut out the proper fabric.

I will start sewing tomorrow. A good friend has let me use her bonnet pattern. One she designed herself. I think I will design my ballgown. October is coming up fast.

Mini Pictureless Post

I know, I'm not doing well posting on a regular basis. I've had another deal go south and it sent me into an emotional downward spiral. This bunny hop type dance is getting old, especially since it's not in my favor. I didn't pull my hair out but asked why and what's going on? I did cry. Not buckets but the alligator tears did escape. I allowed the fear to slam dunk me. It wasn't good.

Then I started thinking of looking for another job. Doing what, I asked? Anything I'm remotely interested, and by that I mean taking a vacation on a remote island with an active volcano, I'd have to go back to school. I've done that. I've had the jobs that were available, the ones people thought I'd be good in, the ones people knew I should be doing because I was so nice. What do I do because the mean life sucking bills are walking up the street to my place. I worked myself up into a good frenzy to the point of being paralyzed, and did nothing. So I went to bed early last night. Didn't fall asleep until after Samurai Jack made his exit.

I am an artist. That is my job. I have an opportunity to show my creative stuff to the world. Bad things, stupid things, things that don't work are going to happen. Will I get upset? Yes. Will I cry again? Probably. Will things get better?

Yes.

I opened my eyes this morning. I thanked the universe, my higher being, and my ancestors for being here. Right now. In this place. And the little voice, very deep inside me said...

"Try again."

My First Mini Project

I've been wanting to make a miniature project for the longest time now. Ever since the 1990s. Yikes! So on my birthday I made a tiny crochet shawl. The pattern was by Kitty Mackey, May 1998, Dollhouse Miniatures magazine. I didn't have the right size thread but I was determined to give it a try. I found out that I didn't like the pattern much, but will try it again with my own twist.

Catch Up! Catch Up! Catch Up!

Three months into the year. Where is the time going? It's not  just marching on, it's speeding ahead like a bullet train. It feels like I'm being buried by my work. I'm not complaining, I'd rather be busy creating than not but something has been bothering me.

I have so many projects in different stages of being complete. I have a doll commission to do, a doll for a themed show, two doll workshops with kids looming, and two adult doll classes scheduled. That's just doll related things. I won't go into quilting, applique, and sewing for myself. More on that later. I'm still working on me and I am a work in progress. What I do like is how I'm responding to ... well, everything from things that go well, to things that don't, and things that get canceled. I'm not to the point of freaking out but I'm a bit perplexed. Maybe. I don't even know if that's the word I want to use. I do have to still work on patience. Good things come to those who wait. I think that could be changed a bit to 'Good things come to those who plan and take action because great things don't happen overnight.'

I guess what's really bothering me are the many projects that aren't completed. Just when I think I can get to them, something else comes up. My apartment is a mess and my studio, it's also a mess. I've got bodies and parts all over the place. I tried to do one project at a time, finish it before I go to the next project. That was like watching paint peel. Drove me nuts. There was a time, not too far back, when I was finishing things like crazy. What happened? I don't know. Maybe it's because I have so many ideas, that that's why I just keep starting them and not finishing old ones. But those that are languishing are not happy either. They want their whole body together and others have voiced their opinions on wanting to be fully dressed. Maybe I just need to straighten my apartment.

I read a friend's post yesterday and she mentioned how we get stuck because we're always thinking about what might happen in the future instead of living in the moment, now. Then things made sense. Instead of focusing on my projects today, I'm worried about how I'm going to sell them for the rest of the year? Will I make more money this year? Will I get better this year? Will I have the courage to more forward this year and make my life my own? When I should be enjoying the moment at hand and be grateful. I enjoy creating dolls, appliqueing, and writing. Worry gets you nowhere, except to procrastinate more. I'm feeling better now. I even worked on an old project and my applique last night before bed. That felt great. See, I am a work in progress. Learning something new every single day.

Be true to yourself_ "go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined." -Henry Thoreau

In Progress

I'm behind but I'm not out. The cool weather is finally here and I'm enjoying it. I'd rather be outside walking and crunching leaves but I have to concentrate on more dollies. So here are some doll pins in the works. I wore my witch doll pin Wallis to the job and got a commission for 12 similar ones.  Pretty cool.

These babies are almost done. I'm procrastinating a bit. The wad of white are strips of a gauze type fabric. Quite messy. Their eye sockets have been painted and their button eyes stitched on. I have their hearts cut out and ready to be stitched on top of their bandaged bodies. They look kind of cute. Then I'll add some beads, some type of hair and a bit more paint. The next couple of days will be another pic.

Stagecoach Mary Rendering

I call it a rendering because in costume design, that's what we did before making a costume. We sketched it and painted it. I've done hundreds and quite a few have ended up on stage. I'll post some of those later along with some old classwork.

I finally got her done and I may or may not do another one or just do the rest of the ladies in the series. She will be needle felted, at least her body and maybe some of her clothing. I've got to research more of the gun she carried and may or may not needle felt that. That would be a blast though.

I put her on watercolor paper, used watercolor paints (Windsor Newton), Berol Prismacolor pencils, Nicholson's Peerless Watercolors for detail, and Pigma pen .5 I really had fun once I got started. Getting started was like pulling teeth from a hippopotamus. I will have to do another soon so I won't get rusty again.

Mavis Ready for Mardi Gras

Say hello to Mavis.  She started out as a bunner, then a pirate, and now she's a dancing skellie.  I have been looking at her armature for several months now, wanting her to be a pirate.  But she wasn't going for that.  I had her and her friends out in the open so I could constantly see them and they taunted me.  Only, not as pirates.  I didn't have a clue as to what they wanted to be, so I left them alone.  I knew not to put them away because I have a very good habit of keeping things safe and not being able to find them again.

Her body is needle felted.  See the previous post.  Her finges have pipe cleaners in them so she can hold her maracas.  Her eyes are felted, her nose and mouth are embroidered.  She's got such a sweet smile.  Her sandals are also needle felted.

I almost went crazy with the beading.  Almost.  She also has a beaded bracelet on.  I did add more earring gear.

She is the first doll I've made showing movement and I love it.  Thanks to a wire armature.

She is at the Hampton House Gallery, getting ready for her debut at the Small Art, Big Heart art show & sale.  Part of the proceeds benefit the AIDS Care Service.  This is my third year participating.  So far, all dolls have sold from that show.

Growth
I've learned something working on Mavis.  Besides waiting until the last minute to finish her.  For many, many moons now, I've worked on cloth dolls.  I really like them but it's time to move on.  To expand my creative horizons and see what else I've got.  I knew I wanted to do more 3D pieces and started my experimentations.

I have done porcelain before and I love the final result, it's just at this point in my life, I don't have the room to do it.  I've carved wood pieces and I don't have what's needed to keep my tools sharpened.  Polymer clay has a beautiful look to it.  Very flesh like but again, I don't have a separate oven for baking, and I don't care how safe they say it is, I don't like the smell.  I haven't totally given up on it but in the scheme of things, it's not high on the list.  I have also tried air dry clays.  Several types.  Even though it's messy, it can be painted, sanded, drilled, and whatever you want to do with it.  I have found several places for instruction and help.

For right now it's needle felting.  Not so quick, but relaxing in a strange sort of way.  The up and down motion of felting can be soothing and you can always get some frustration out on the wool.  I'm still learning how to manuever the medium and so far I like my results.  There are artists who make dolls completely out of wool, which is cool.  I, am a costumer.  The body is a place to put stuff.  It's still cotton, but that will change soon to some silk, satin, and other fancy material.

My flat cloth dolls were easy to dress.  Most would be sitting propped up or hang on a wall, so I really didn't have to pay too much attention to the back.  Once I started making things more 3D, I had to consider the other side.  It started when I made Koji, and then the Bunners.  It wasn't until I made Mavis that it hit me.

The basic forms are totally different.  From flat cloth to round neelde felted.  It was a little scary at first, but I continued and got a kick out of it.  I had to rethink how I was going to do a basic shirt.  The underpants needed more room in the seat.  Pieces had to be cut bigger to go around.  It was a challenge, my head even started to hurt a bit because I was using another part of my gray matter.  I do believe my brain has grown a bit because of this one simple exercise.

I am looking forward to Mavis' friends coming to life.  They are quite excited too.  Breakthroughs are awesome.  I hope you have some too.