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.

Working

Finally. I just had a short staycation and I didn't do anything. I was able to just sit and think and plot and plan out things with no one around. I watched movies, read some books, and basically took stock of things. And started a new plan. A two year plan. I've a couple of creative opportunities right now and a new one that may be coming up. So today was get to the grind stone and start turning it. I finished painting doll pin faces, found mohair, and pulled dress fabrics for the full body pins.

I also made Raggedy Ann some new legs. They turned out okay considering I didn't have the original pattern. She'll get bloomers tomorrow or part of a new face. I don't know which just yet.

I enlarged some drawings that will become part of a larger embroidered piece. Haven't sketched for the day yet but that will happen and post those pics tomorrow. And I've got to work on a short story. Added another part that may clear some things up. Just moving right along.

It's July!

Wow! That was fast. I added another day of celebrating for the birthday. I went to a cool fabric store with a friend and then she took me to lunch. And then there was the holiday, July 4th, and I just kind of chilled out. Now I'm getting back to business. I had a nice time off to enjoy and reflect the rest of the year. Because, the year is officially halfway over. The days are getting shorter. Eegads! So here are a few things I've done the past week or so. Some new forest folks based on an alpaca wearing a leather bomber jacket. It was on a greeting card. Which I can't seem to find. Moving sucks.

I did a few more sketches but it doesn't seem like I took pics. Will rectify that shortly and put in my next post. I will be working on my Raggedy Ann doll and get some doll pins painted. The next holiday (so-to-speak) is in September.

New Stuff

I colored in my adult coloring book the other day because it does soothe me and helps me to relax. I need to do it more often. A friend sent this to me one Christmas and like I said, it helps to calm me down. I have to remember I have it. This book is Enchanted Forest by Johanna Basford.

 I also finished off two of my latest preemie quilts by stitching down the binding and putting on quilt labels. These are 36 inches by 36 inches.

Wine Flights

On Saturday I went with my gal pals to Raffaldini Vineyards.

This was the sight we saw as we drove up.

We had our wine flight of five wines, then we got cheeses, meats, and fruit. We sat on the patio overlooking the vineyard and all the grapes. The day was wonderful, sunny, light breeze, not too hot. Gorgeous.

The view of the mountains didn't hurt either. We laughed, and drank, and ate. Yes, we did have a designated driver. Oh, I forgot to mention the yummy chocolate.

Afterwards, we hung around to take the garden tour.

This is an Asian Dogwood. Can't remember the exact name.

The smell from the rose garden was so intoxicating. I wish I could've bottled it.

This is a huge lavender bush. That smelled wonderful too.

A nice little waterfall.

We had a great day. It was nice getting out of the apartment and being around other human beings with massive senses of humor.

Weird Wednesday

I know some bloggers have a wordless Wednesday but they usually show pictures instead. I don't have any new pics, just yet. But I wanted to blog anyway. Maybe it's the weather, it's been horribly freaky this winter and it doesn't look good for the summer. Possibly hot and extra humid down here in the south. Yuck! Hot is okay, hot and humid, not so much. And then there are the bugs. It hasn't been cold enough to kill them or their spawn. Most creepies I can take but some, like the Stink Bug, just creep me out. So even though I don't like snow (I did move from Michigan), I want a huge dump and constant cold for at least a week.

Onto creative things. After my nice restful weekend, I thought I'd be ready to get back to work, seeing that I'd been the creative crazy person for a little over six months. The apartment is back in order so that I can mess it up again. I'm well on my way to booking the spring with doll classes and the summer with doll related happenings. I have three doll making classes on a spring schedule and have my class descriptions written up. Now I have to do some supply lists and get patterns copied. In July I have a kid doll camp scheduled and that should be a lot of fun. I'll throw in a puppet too. I'm working on getting more classes set up for the summer and into the fall. I'm so excited about these new events.

But... I'm behind. I tell you, having a regular job takes things out of you when all you want to do is create. It's okay. I'm working on making my life the way I want it to be. I'm ready to have fun on my terms. My program. My first booth show is March 24 and I'm sharing a booth with an artist friend. So grateful for cool friends. I've been invited to put a piece in a spring show the first of April and hope the doll classes get students signed up so they can take place. My next big booth event is in May in Philadelphia and I will be looking for more shows after that. Hopefully something closer.

So, I will be a sewing fiend for the next couple of months. Did I mention I had a commission to do and need to restock shops I have my dolls in? Yep. That too. I'll get pics up as soon as possible. I'm going to rock 2012.

Marley Batsheva and her Amazing Bat Circus

I finally got the last piece done for my show. It's Marley Batsheva, named by two friends, and her bat circus. I had fun making the bats. They are needle felted over a wire armature, with felt wings and beads for eyes. Marley loves her bats. Here's her story:

Coming from a family of performers, artists, and writers, Marley decided to continue the tradition. She has created her own bat circus. She's not too fond of fleas. Bats are more petable.

Forgot to take the pin out of this bat. Oops! He's been skewered. They still need some practice, don't you think?

And look what I found at the craft store. I was looking for something else when I spotted these two beauties. The last two. I'm on the hunt for more but I believe I've missed the boat. Get it? Dracula was on a boat.... Anyhoo, I can't wait to paint and decorate them and see what dollie goes inside. My voodoo doll pins are too big. Drats! It doesn't matter. I'm creative.

I'm supposed to be taking it easy this week. A self imposed break of sorts before I get back into the creative swing of things. I will probably continue to rearrange things and get projects in order on my craft bookcase. See which dolls in progress I want to finish and get everything together to get started on new ones. Now, I've got the holidays to think about. I'm also thinking about a different background for my blog. Not satisfied with this one.

I have a lot on my creative plate for the rest on this month and year. I'm so excited, I can't wait to clue you in on some things. I will be doing more needle felted pieces and throw myself into some polymer clay. I can get back to my applique and finish off a quilt or two. My Etsy shop needs a lot of work, so that's on the list too. 

Have a great day!

Goodbye July

Another month gone. I can't believe how fast this year is going by. The heat and humidity isn't helping either but the year is zooming by. I've accomplished a lot of things so far and I'm about to rev things up a notch. It's been a good month for starting my year long celebration up to my next birthday. Each month I will do something really special to celebrate my time on this planet. This month has been wonderful.

I finally walked through Heavy Rebel weekend, I visited Old Salem, saw a movie (X-Men the Beginning), went to a floral arranging demonstration/wine tasting, got chocolate from Haute Chocolates, had lunch at a new restaurant called Hutch and Harris, and went to my first National Park, Pisgah National Forest. Not bad for month one.

An old mill along the way to our destination for the day.

This is looking down the stream where we, my friends Maya and Amanda, decided to have lunch.

This is looking up stream.

This is where we parked our chairs, right in the stream. The water was chilly at first but then felt oh, so wonderful. We had veggies from gardens, smoked pastrami, corn chips, watermelon, and chocolate. While sitting in the stream, small light blue butterflies landed on my hands. It was great. Very relaxing. I also took a walk up and down the stream with Amanda and I didn't fall in. It was a great way to end and celebrate the month.

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.

First dollies of 2011

I decided to relax over the weekend.  I had wanted to get right to work but asked myself when would I have a nice long weekend to celebrate a holiday again?  I mean, the next time off is Memorial Day.  So, I took a break.  I was invited by neighbors across the street to ring in the New Year.  It was very sweet of them, I went and had a ball.  The food was awesome.
    A relish dip of some sort with eggplant, onions, tomatoes; a roasted red pepper cheese; another herb cheese spread; mushrooms stuffed with chopped mushrooms and spinach; salad; bread, and rosemary herb bread; veggie and meat lasagna; spaghetti and huge meatballs; cookies, brownies, and tiramisu.  Of course, the vino and champagne when the clock struck midnight.  Good thing I lived across the street.

I didn't want to start off the new year by mentally berating myself for not doing anything.  I mean it's only day three.  So I cut myself some slack.  After watching movies for three days and seeing some extremely handsome men, I finished my first dolls of the year.

The Wandi Girls.  From left to right, Lexa, Wynn, and Cassa.

I just love this pattern and I have new clothing designs for them coming up.

 Wynn the Goth Girl.

 Cassa a Wandi Witch.

 Lexa, also a Wandi Witch and Cassa's BFF.

Is she sassy or what?

Cassa is a bit more demure.

Lexa is ready to have fun.  Or cast a spell on a termite.  They will be the first on my new Etsy shop.  That info will be posted very soon.  Cheers!

A Night Out

I was able to get out, away from my dolls, apartment, and town and go to the Governor's Mansion in Raleigh, North Carolina. Invitation only, the First Gentleman Robert W. Eaves arranged a reception for his project of celebrating NC Craft.

The mansion itself is wonderful and so is a part of the gardens that I did see. It was my first time in Raleigh and loved the architecture of the large Victorian houses. I have to go back just to look at the architecture and go to the museums. Can't forget the restaurants.

I went with my travel buds Gary and Meredith.

Two crazy gals outside the mansion gates. Yes, we had to go through security and show I.D. to prove who we were. I was waiting for Gary to set off the alarm, seeing he just had a hip replaced. Don't tell him that.

Me and Governor Beverly Purdue. She is a tiny thing and very pretty. A lovely lady.

Here I am in the sun room. A reason why I don't like taking pictures.

Me and Meredith in the Gentleman's Room.

The Dining Room with a very long table. Meredith said that she would text me for the ketchup.

The three of us in the Green Room. When you look through the window to my right, there's a beautiful porch. Great place to have morning coffee.

A beautiful silver set in the Dining Room.

A fireplace and elegant screens, also in the Dining Room.

The Gentleman's Room. I love fireplaces.

Another section of the Green Room.

The staircase leading up to the private quarters of the First Family of North Carolina.

Carolina pulled pork sandwiches, mushrooms stuffed with Parmesan and spinach, grilled chicken, Eastern Carolina style cole slaw, cheesecake, wonderful brownies and other desserts, cheese and fruit spread, along with sweet tea rounded off a nice light meal. I had a very good time.

We went to Natty Greene's to top things off and got lost on the way home. Which was hilarious. There was road construction (at night) and we had to get off the highway with everyone else. Of course, they didn't have any signs to tell you which way to go and ended up going to Durham (out of our way) and had to turn around. Gary belted out tunes for us and we just laughed. It's great when you have good people to travel with. We are planning another road trip.

But for now, back to work.