Restart

Yes, I had to restart my year to this past Monday. Last week pretty much sucked. People, the other job... I had no idea what was going on. Then  co-worker mentioned some crazy meteor shower going on. So, I'm going to blame some of the craziness on that celestial event. My story and I'm sticking to it.

It did put a damper on my mental well being. I was so ready to start this New Year and I had come into contact with so many Debbie Downers. Did not see that coming. So now I'm back to insulating myself and get my 'super hero warrior goddess' gear back on. I either go with the flow or rock the boat. I can swim. I finally got the last of new material for this new technique and I'm already thinking ahead of what to do with it. Bad idea. Let's just do the first project. But, I have retooled an old doll pattern to make a new cloth doll. Because I've booked a doll show that is happening in April. And I need new dolls for that. I've also planned to send work to a shop in North Carolina in time for the Black Theater Festival. So traditional work for both of those art events. I'm good with that. Here's a pic of the old pattern and the new.

This morning I pulled some fabric to make the first model to see if things work out or if I have to tweak or change the pattern in any way. The new doll is a little bit bigger and her legs are shaped a bit more. She has more of a shoulder to accommodate a particular style of dress. Maybe even a cloak or cape. Until next time.

Too Fast

This month is going by too fast. One expected even and one not expected and I've been thrown off the creative track. It's very difficult getting back on again. I can't seem to wrap my head around anything heavily involved. Right now I'm having a lot of fun just knitting dish cloths. That isn't helping out my wallet but I can do it and not think about anything else. I've always wanted to learn the seed stitch and now I know how to do it.

I finally found a quilt shop that's close to me. It's been in operation for six years and the owner is very nice. I went through a very old telephone book. Remember those? Yellow Pages? Yeah... half the shops were closed due to lack of business or the owners aging out with no one to take over. I would have to plan a day trip to visit the next closest shops. Thank goodness spring has sprung. Or has it? I started a fire in the fireplace last night. It got chilly again.

I was able to get some fabric for doll bodies and a pretty little print for some upcoming primitive dolls. Stay tuned.

Mini Trip- South Haven

My friend Kellie wanted to go on a sailboat but she didn't want to go by herself so she invited me. It was very nice. I'd been to South Haven before on a lighthouse hunt but never stopped long enough to do anything. Year round population of about 4,000, it's a nice little town on the Black River which leads right out into Lake Michigan. The sand on the beaches is so fine, almost like powder. We went to the Maritime Museum, The Cultural Arts Center, of course the lighthouse, several shops, and restaurant. We took along food to eat for lunch and a dinner. We had one lunch in a local park. The weather was great. So here's a look at South Haven, Michigan.

This is the sloop Friendship Goodwill we went on. I had good sea legs considering the wind died down and we only got up to about 6 knots. But it was beautiful out on the lake. It is a working ship through the Maritime Museum and anyone can sign up to work on it.

This is the second pier out into the lake. We were sitting on the pier with the lighthouse watching the sunset. It's a beautiful little town and I'm sure I'll go back. There were so many things going on; The Blueberry Festival was this weekend. We tried Blueberry Soda and it was actually blue and quite good. Their farmer's market is on Wednesdays and Saturdays. It was crowded on Wednesday.

Birthday Celebrations Are ...

Birthday celebrations are a go!

Seems that they just aren't special places I go to but little things that happen to me during the day. Yesterday I finally went to the Mast General Store. http://www.mastgeneralstore.com/
I've always heard about it but never had a chance, until now, to visit one. Wow! I'm in love. The clothes are great and moderately priced. There's something for everyone. Kitchen items, food, candy in barrels, books, toys, camping gear, and shoes. I can't wait to see their fall/winter wear. It's a financially dangerous place. Wink, wink. It's my favorite store now. It's actually setup like an old-time general store in a small town.

Seeing that I was already downtown, I decided to see if the Fiber Company was open. I used to have some of my dolls in there. I wanted to talk to one of the owners about putting in some Halloween things but they were closed. So I went to a gallery where I used to work, across the street, and said hi to some of my ex-coworkers. The person (Jane) I wanted to see, actually came in and I was able to talk to her. I told her about getting things ready for Halloween and she said that the Black Theater Festival is the first week in August and asked if I would put something in for that because she's got regular customers who come back every two years during the festival. Jane is part of the co-op that is the Fiber Company, a group of weavers. Great stuff. I said, "Sure." She said that she knew it was short on time but if I wanted to, she would be glad to have my work in sooner.

How cool is that? When someone likes your work so much that they ask if you can put work in their shop for a special event. I felt very honored. So I guess I'll be staying up a couple of nights to get some things done. This is so exciting.

And next week I get to go to Asheville for a day. Squee!!!!!!!!

Bouncing Back

I'm having a tough time bouncing back from my illness. I have so much to do and catch up on, I'm trying not to panic. I am getting back to things slowly because I don't want to have a relapse and get sick again. So I've been taking midday naps because I'm so tired. I guess that's what happens when you're coughing and blowing your nose for two and a half weeks. Non-stop. You get tired. I am starting to get my appetite back, so I guess that's a good thing.

I have two art fairs next month and need to restock the shops that carry my work. Tonight is my last English Country Dance session for the year. I will go for the first part to see people, maybe dance a jig or two then head back home and rest. Lots to do this weekend, along with seeing some gal pals. Next week I'm in the Olde Mill Eclective shop.

Still behind in NaNo but my screenplay is coming along. Here are some things I've got going. Have a wonderful weekend.

This is the start of my latest Bless This House block. I modified it a little, the original had way too many squigglies.

This is the beginning of a stogie chewing pumpkin. He will be needle felted. I did manage to get my art table cleaned off and filed doll patterns I'm not using at the moment. And I've posted a blog. I will try to be a little more consistent. Especially now the holidays are coming up. Take care everyone.

Artist of the Month

I am featured Artist of the Month at Olde Mill Eclective at the Bethania Mill Shops. Yay me! If you're in Bethania, NC, stop by and see my setup. It will be up until the end of October. There are other lovely shops in the mill and Muddy Creek Cafe is right next door. Yummy food and local beers. There's parking in the back, and if that's crowded, there's parking at the Bethania Visitor's Center across the street.

Olde Mill Eclective

in the 

Bethania Mill Shops

5455 Bethania Rd

Winston-Salem, NC 27100

336.813.3774

We are also on Facebook. www.facebook.com/oldemilleclective

Be sure to support your local businesses, shops, and artists this holiday season. Thanks!

I'm Late, I'm late!

I know, I know. I'm late with a post. I was really trying keep up with my posts. My finger is much better but still aches late in the day/early evening. My kitchen sink had a leak, again. The faucet was finally replaced. Yay! I'm still hoping October will be good to me. It's only four days in but two of those days haven't been the greatest. I could use a break from all of these life tests.

I have been slugging it through though. As much as I would like to crawl under a blanket and sleep, I push myself to do something. Even with that, a blanket would be too hot because we're still warm and muggy here. So I take a deep breath and suck it up. I'm not giving up. I will be doing NANOWRIMO again this year. That's National Write A Novel in a Month. I'm prepping for that, along with two different doll related swaps online. It's my way of getting some pretty decent doll art without paying. They get a piece of my art too.

I've had to go back to the familiar, cloth dolls, because having been in the shop, times are still tight for a lot of people. I have to continue to make some inexpensive pieces to sell in order to be able to make the nicer pieces I want to make. People will spend up to about 30 bucks for something that isn't necessary. And that's here in my neck-of-the-woods and my experience. It's all good, as long as it helps to pay the bills. But starting next week, I will be doing my art pieces.

Here's my list for the month. It's long but it's my guide.

• blog at least twice a week
• put more cloth dolls on Etsy
• restock dolls in shops
• work on my kid story edit
• sketch every other day, preferably new dolls
• finish one commission
• start items for Krankie's Holiday Craft Show
• sew my pirate vest
• finish my short stay
• finish my last Hop To It quilt block
• prepare for NANO
• create website

I will copy and repost this at the end of the month to see what I got done. Yes, I'm a bit touched but that's okay. I like me.

5 Days In

Wow! Five days into the new month. Still a little behind but that's okay. Life is good. The seasons are changing and I'm so looking forward to cooler temps. Olde Mill Eclective had their opening on September 1 and it went well. We were blessed with having four media types out that day. One local blog, the Winston-Salem Journal (local paper), a new art magazine/blog, and North Carolina Weekend TV show. Woo hoo!

Me by my kids. I will be getting a table to go underneath the cabinet for more display space. I've got more Halloween pieces coming.

The space is a great size for us and we have more room to add more art. It's nice that it isn't so packed.

You can barely see the items in the baskets but they are belts, bracelets, and key rings made of old bicycle tires. Way cool. By artist Andrea Brill.

There's Andi with the scarf and Vera in the blue dress in the background. She is amazing and has wonderful jewelry and a cookbook that's on my Christmas list. The center table will be used for special setups like holidays. Or Halloween. The cookies were donated by Muddy Creek Cafe for our opening. The owner has a white chocolate cherry cookie that is to die for. I really don't need any cookies, but those are some good cookies. They also have great sandwiches too.

Vera's cookbooks, her husband Jack's wood boxes with doors from the old Winston-Salem post office, and music CDs by our wonderful leader Andi Reese.

I will have more pics later and everyone's full name. Duh! There's Suzanne who makes really cool pajamas, pillow cases, and pillows. Denise is a painter in pastels, oil, and acrylic. Diane is our clay artist. Jack is our wood guy. Pat makes the purses. The whole community is always promoting local businesses and artists. Please support them this holiday season.

Olde Mill Eclective

in Bethania Mill

Tuesday thru Saturday 10 AM to 5 PM

5455 Bethania Road

Winston-Salem, NC

www.facebook.com/oldemilleclective

Still working on my lists.

Works in Progress

I've been working on my short stay and it's coming along quit nicely.

Next I'll make the eyelets, boning, and bias tape all around to finish.

These are mini plush monsters I designed and cut out. The face parts will get sewn on and then the rest of the face will be embroidered. I'm making these for the Olde Mill Eclective shoppe.

Here are the majority of my pieces for my next Bless This House block #6. Lots of pieces. Today is going to be a busy day as I have to continue to prepare things for the new shop. I have to make price tags for my items. I will also be getting back to dollies/figures today. My paper clay folks need ears.

Planning Day

Today is going to be a Planning Day. By that I mean, I have to write down my ideas and where I want to be for the rest of the year and next year. There are two cons (conventions) I want to do next year. I need to start inventory, like yesterday. The first con is in  May and that will be here before I know it. The vendor section opens in a couple of months, so I need to have items ready to show to be able to get in.

I have so many ideas floating around and on tiny slips of paper that I need to get them all together so I can see what supplies I have and need to get. This will help me stay on track of what needs to be done. I also need to switch out inventory at the several shops that carry my work. All ideas need to get into one notebook and I will bring out the calender to help me out. That's a lot of needs here but I don't want to lose my mind in the next couple of months.

The co op that I'm in, Olde Mill Eclective, opens this Saturday, September 1 from 10 AM to 5 PM. I have items ready for that but will continue to make new things. Like Halloween stuff.
                   Olde Mill Eclective
                   Bethania Mill and Village Shoppes
                   5455 Bethania Road
                   Winston-Salem, NC

Like us on  Facebook: www.facebook.com/oldemilleclective

What Month Is It?

Jeepers! It's finally here. Another month has gone the way of the Dodo. Part of me wants to say it sucked, February that is, because I didn't get done what I wanted to get done.  Then I smack myself once I realized that February was a rocking month.

Accomplishments- I got all of my dolls made for the Loved Through the Years: Three Centuries of Black Dolls exhibit. They look great, the show has been well received, I was interviewed on the radio, and got into the paper again. How often does that happen? I talked about dolls and my creative process to a group of 5th graders, I got invited to  my first art show (where I'll be in a booth selling my work) of the year, I've scheduled several doll classes and a doll camp and I managed to finish reading one book. I wanted to read two for the month but I'm happy with finally reading and finishing one. I even heard my name mentioned again on the radio, advertising the exhibit at Delta Arts Center again.

I know, I know, I'm so hard on myself. Did I not get a lot done this month? I'm surprised my head hasn't exploded. Yet, I want to beat myself up because I didn't get more done. What a silly. I only got nine dolls finished last month. I was working towards thirteen but there's always this month. I like the number 13. One and three. I really like it when Friday falls on the 13th. I tease my mom a lot when her birthday falls on a Friday. Yes, I am like that. She gets a serious card and a hilarious one. Got to keep her guessing.

Back to February. It was creative, fruitful, and challenging. I have to remember to cut myself some slack. Have a cup of tea and be nice to me. I worked it last month. Now for March. I tell you, time waits for no one and I really want to start enjoying my time more. Being with friends, going on hikes, weekend traveling... me time. I have started to schedule some doll making classes and doll camps for the summer for kids. That should be fun. More shows too. There are also the shops I have to restock. So a lot more planning is in order and I will remember to have fun. Because life is too short not to stop and smell something sweet.

Works in Progress

I was off to a good start this year, as far as my dolls were concerned. Then I got sick and was down most of last week. I'm feeling better now and getting back on track. Here are some small Prim Dollies that are in the works. The two white ones will be goth prim dollies. I can't wait to dress them. You know, it's hard finding the right size black lace and trim for dolls. Web surfing, here I come.

Most of these will go into local shops and on my Etsy shop.

Colleen's Gaelic Gifts

My wonderful friend Colleen, she gave me the Scottish Girls Rock! tee, had fun catching up.

She has a great shop, Colleen's Gaelic Gifts.  If you're looking for something different and special, she has an online shop too.

It's May!

Don't you just love life? You can make plans and at times, they just don't go anywhere.They decide they will not do what you want, when you want, so you have to change course. I didn't get much on my list done. What I did get done were the dolls for the film. What a time it was. There were tears; periods of uncontrolled laughter; times when I asked, 'What the heck am I doing?' but I finally got everything done, including the main dolls and the director is very happy.

And I'm happy. Thrilled. Yes, the adrenalin is subsiding but I don't feel as bummed out about it as I have in the past when huge projects are over and done with. I still can't believe it's done, a nice red mark is through that project, that was on my long list of things to do. Maybe it's because I have to get ready for a spring craft this Saturday that I'm not feeling sad. I don't have time. This time around I've got to get back in the saddle ASAP.

April was a good month. Dolls for the film- done, participated in Empty Bowls, went to the River Run Film Festival, saw Oklahoma on stage. A very good and happy month.

What I've decided to do for this month is to write down the projects I need to work on instead of individual items. Let's see how that works out. Plus, I really have to start thinking about my show in October and start working on those items. October will be here sooner than I think. We're almost mid-year! That is so scary.

So, here are my projects. Some are immediate, others will be worked on over the next several months.
-Krankie's Spring Craft Show
-Apply for a grant
-Yadkin Arts Council Exhibition
-October/Halloween show & sale
-Send off manuscript
-Beef up Etsy shop
-Start miniature project
-Get back to sketching on a regular basis
-One painting a month

I think that should do it. What's on your list?

Small Art, Big Heart

Here she is! Mavis on her pedestal at the Small Art, Big Heart art show and sale. This is my third year to participate. Part of the sales goes to the AIDS Care Service. She was a hit. My past pieces all sold, so I think she may have a new home soon too.

Me and Maivs. I don't really like taking pics. The camera wasn't working and when I was ready to help out, the pic was taken. What a goofy expression I have.

Me and Steven Dunn, a wonderful painter. His work was also in the show. He's a great friend too. And he loves my work. The lovely lady next to him is Amie Hampton, one of the co-owners of Hampton House Art & Framing. The oldest family owned gallery in town.

Me, Mark and Lara Hampton. Great people to put on this event in their gallery. A wonderful place to have my work displayed.

 
Me and Laura Frazier, another wonderful needle felt artist. We had a blast.

It was a good turnout. The food was very good too. I should probably start planning for next year's event. I don't think it would matter, I like to wait until the last minute to get a piece done. Yes, I'm a silly. Have a good one.

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!