Gosh!

I thought I was going to do better with my posting this month but I guess not. I'm just trying to get through each day one-day-at-a-time because making plans don't seem to want to work. I do have a list of things to do and I go through that list one project at a time. The past week I've been making masks for family and friends and right now, I don't want to see another mask. Some people are making them like gang busters and the masks are needed. I've run out of steam. I am grateful that in making the masks, I've gotten back to my sewing machine. And guess what? I think my iron is dying. Really? Now? When I can't get out to really check out a new one. Ugh!

There are days when I can conquer quite a bit. Then there are days when I just want to hide. The past few days I have been straightening up the art area. Putting away fabric I used for masks, finally going through a bag of antique lace someone gave me years ago. I was able to go to the hardware store and get a plastic container for the lace. After having that bag of lace for over 13 years, I'm finally seeing some of the really cool lace. Tatting. Teeny tiny crochet. Bits and pieces of things just the right size for dolls. Some pieces big enough to go onto costumes. So I guess that was a win.

I haven't been keeping up with my art challenges but that will change this week. While I'm still feeling pretty good. Time to finish some dollies. Start some new ones. Design others. And I've got two more short stories to work on.

Stay healthy people. Stay home. Contact others to say hi. We can do this.

April

Yikes!
I will try better to post on a regular basis for this month. These are strange and unusual times. There is nothing normal about it. And though I have more time on my hands right now, I have a hard time wanting to be creative. I'm working on that. I'm learning that it's okay to want to sit and cry, or be angry with what's going on, that I can't leave the house and meet up with friends or my mom. I just don't want to stay there. In the darkness and think there will never be light again. Everyday is it's own day. And I take it one day-at-a-time.

Like so many others, I have started making masks. For friends and family who have to go out for groceries or to work. Here's my prototype. I'm using whatever I have in my very low fabric stash. I don't have elastic and it's hard to come by, so I'm making fabric ties. Better for washing. Over time, elastic breaks down. My hair is a fright and so is this pic. Sorry about that.

I'm still working on my 100 Critter project. A bit behind on that. But here's what I've been doing.

I even pulled out a recipe this past weekend and cooked. Shrimp, farro, spinach (because when one wants to find Swiss Chard it's nowhere to be found), broth, Parmesan and Feta cheese, and I topped it off with grape tomatoes for a little color. It was so good. Next time, I will double the recipe. Made this in the crock pot.

And I put together a jigsaw puzzle because I love doing them. This one was a challenge but I got it together anyway. I wish I had some of these yummies to munch on.

I'm going to try to see if I can get a link in. I am now a published writer. My short story Ancestor Ghosts has been published in the spring 2020 edition of Sirens Call Publications e-zine. http://www.sirenscallpublications.com/ I'm on page 92, Wendy L. Barber. It's very exciting to finally have others be able to read my work.

Okay then, I'm off to get some masks done, keep drawing, writing, and get back to some doll making. Stay safe, stay home, we will get through this.

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.

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."

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.

More Faces

The one thing that I'm staying abreast of is drawing these faces. So here are some more until Monday when I can really get back to creating things.

I also bought fabric for aprons for mom's church ladies. That's all washed and ready to be cut out.

This has been the weirdest month and a half for a new year. I don't know... the Polar Vortex probably messed up things. Can't truly trust forecasters because when they say things will be clear, there's more snow. Being stuck in has given me some time to think about where to permanently reside. That's a tough one.

#29faces

Done

I finally got a project done. It is for my mother's church lady group. They wanted some aprons so I obliged. It's been marked off the list. Not my creative list but the master one. It was nice getting back to sewing human size instead of doll size. The sewing machine has been cleaned and needle changed. Next will be to finish the voodoo doll pins. I can't believe we're well into the first week of the month. Wow!

The aprons tie at the neck and at the waist. There are two pockets. I love the fabric my mother chose. I also have to straighten a bit so I can get to the next three projects. Have a good day.

I Did It!

I've been planning to make new bedroom curtains for several months now and finally did it. Because the planet has shifted positions and the moonlight is coming into the window at full force. Even if it's not a full moon. Very simple, used the previous curtain as a pattern, took two hours while listening to The Pointer Sisters (yes, old school), and viola! Curtains. Checked off the list. I also finished my second dish cloth and will start the third today. I'll try a new knit stitch.

On to the next thing.

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!

New Stuff

Finally got a chance to cut out some new things. I've been asked to do a few more Cauldron Critters (on the left) and I'm trying a free pattern of a troll by doll artist Ute Vasina. I love her work and it was very nice of her to offer one of her patterns for free. No instructions, so I'm truly winging it. She is posting pics of her troll as she's working on it on Facebook. We'll see if I can get this little guy or gal finished.

That's a big problem that I have. I can design it. I can start it and get it to being almost finished and then I stop. I don't finish it at all. I'm working on that. It's a big problem right now. But everyday is a new day and I just have to keep going. Sometimes I have to start again but I will not give up. So I guess I'm still on the creative wagon.

I have 13,114 words for NaNoWrimo. I'm sort of up-to-date. I want to try to get ahead by the end of the weekend so I won't have to rush around November 28th.  That's it for now.

Start, Stop, Start

Okay, this has been a weird six months. I relocated back to Michigan from North Carolina and I'm still adjusting. I'm now looking for some work and I'm okay with that. It was a big move and resources have been tapped. For awhile I felt like a failure and beat myself up a lot. But I've some wonderful friends who believe in me and my work and they have helped me get through a lot of things. I'm still learning about my new community but I'm ready to get back onto the creative bus. Train. Boat. It's time to put the big girl pants back on along with the tool belt and shoulder holster. And I'm working through one of my lists. Here's what I'm working on this week. Four projects need to be finished by the end of the week. Others need to be worked on.

I've got three cloth dolls to finish, two aliens to dress, a table runner to work on, a short story to retype, some doll dresses to make, and a purse to make. Wish me luck.

An Apron

My mother wants two aprons and I got the first one done. I was a simple one and I'm glad I did it because it's easing me back into sewing for myself. I couldn't believe some of the things, small things I forgot to do or look for. But, it's a start. One of those things is to make sure fabric is out of the way that you don't want stitched. Yes, that still happens to me. Next, if you're working with directional fabric, make sure it's cut the right way. I'm sure that will happen again, cutting directional fabric the wrong way. But she'll love. And the most important thing. Thank goodness for seam rippers. I need to buy a few more. You can never have enough of those or pincushions. Or fabric scissors. The ones only for fabric and if anyone else touches them you will put them in thumb screws. Off to the next thing.

New Sketches

I've been doing some more sketches. Getting a new project started. I'm to a point where I need to look for some fabric and then make more detailed renderings.

I have a small design commission and will be working on that this week. And I've started thinking about Halloween again. For me. I've been invited to a Halloween party and want to go dressed up. It was between Elizabethan or Medieval and I think I'll do the Medieval because there's not as much fabric.

Make myself and Elf Queen. That's the ticket. Unless I come up with something else.
#sketches #elfclothes #elfdollclothes #patterns #halloweencostume

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?

Next Project

I'm still working on settling in in a new town. Same state that I was born in but a new location. A friend says that it's different because I'm out in the country instead of being in a city. Nope, it could be that I'm not in walking distance of anything. In the town I left, I had four restaurants in walking distance. I could walk downtown, to the library, to other shops. A YMCA and a park were down the hill. Trader Joes was five minutes away. I could do my shopping in half an hour. The farmers market was ten minutes away. Fabric stores and craft stores ten to fifteen minutes away. Yes... I was sort of spoiled. I could see a mountain in the distance, take a bus to wherever. Now, I have to make plans on where I want to go to maximize gas. I will get used to it. It will take time. And I have to be nice to myself about it. Maybe it's more like moving to another country. Yeah, maybe that's it. I can put that in a story.

Anyway, I've started another purse. In between sketching and stitching and watching DVD series from the library. This town has a kick butt movie section. I'm watching Pushing Daises. It's weird and quirky and I like Lee Pace and Chi McBride. It's about a guy who when he touches dead things they/it comes back to life. But only for a short time. If he doesn't touch them again to make them dead again, something/one dies in its place. Lots of weird twists and plays on words. I binged watched the first season. First time I laughed in awhile.

Here's the beginnings of the purse. The new owner wanted a blue jean one. I'll do the handles today and I intend on working on some backyard forest creature.

Mid-week Already?

Eegads! Time is marching on and I'm working to keep in step. Yesterday, went to the maternal unit's house to start clearing out things. She's getting older (so am I) and I don't want to wait until the last minute to clear out her house. We used to do doll shows together and so I started with that closet. Two trash bags, a pile for a future yard sale, a pile that she needs to go through. Three hours and it's halfway empty. I know there's a Christmas tree in there too. And ornaments that I will eventually go through. She had this really bad hand soap that I used in her bathroom. I couldn't understand what the smell was and she smelled my hands and said it was the liquid soap. She said she didn't like it either. I asked why she kept it and she said it was for people she didn't like. Gee, thanks. She said that she thought I would use the soap in the shower. Well... no. So my nose is clogging up, I'm coughing, and she starts laughing. It was kind of funny and I told her to get rid of the stuff. That on top of the dust from the closet, I and my sinuses were a hot mess when I got back home. I sounded horrible. She did feed me, so when I got in, I got a stiff drink, popped a sinus tab and went to bed. Probably shouldn't have done that but I couldn't breathe. Everything hurt, again. But at least I got a start. Because it's gonna take time to get through stuff.

The purse got delivered and so far the new owner is getting lots of compliments. A blue jean one is next. Went to the fabric store today because I finally had a coupon, got home and washed the fabric.

I've also been sketching this week. Bodies. Not dead ones. And sketched my next Redwork piece. I bought some woven interfacing to stiffen the back of the fabric a bit. We'll see how that works on this one.

I'm trying to work out a new doll, that's why the bodies.

My lady Day of the Dead needs a gentleman. He's a bit on the goofy side. I will pick out thread colors today. Get started tomorrow because my vision is a bit off because my nose is starting to plug up again and I'm feeling a bit awful. Breathing is a good thing ya know.

It's a gloomy day and I just want to take a nap but I can't. Onward. I've got things set up for a small painting in my sketchbook. Yes, I'm working on getting that back on track too. Later.

#dayofthedead #redwork #sketches #bodysketches #fabricpurse

Blythe Clothes

I'm still working on clothes for my Blythe doll. From one of the sketches I did, I've come up with a nice 1960s dress pattern.

Working on an underpants pattern.

Very tiny undies.

They fit.

I will redo the bow on the headband. It's too big for me.

#blythe #1960sblythedress #blythepinkyellow

Days 21 & 22

Still moving along with my challenge and I got something actually made. A cute little Halloween dress. I was going to make a hat but left the pattern at home so I will have to make it tomorrow. Yesterday, I spent a few hours researching 1920 Flapper dresses.

#blythe #blythehalloween #blythedress #blytheorangeandblack

Challenge Day 20- I think

Yes, I'm still working on my challenge. I didn't work on it yesterday because I was working on a project that has been hanging around for at least two years. And I cut out a pair of Capri pants and worked on a short story. But today, I finished a dress and hat. I still have to put on snaps and other trim but I did it. It's such a tiny dress. I will keep at it though.

I'm still on my Halloween theme.

#blythe #blythehalloweendress