Oh My!

We only have one Friday the 13th this year! I've got to do something special. Are there any monster drinks out there? I've got to look some up. My mom was born on the 13th of a month. I love it when her birthday falls on a Friday. I give her funny and/or creepy birthday cards because that's how I roll. Yes. I don't have much time to think up something weird or unusual to make for Friday.

My 30 Day Challenge has been challenging. the past couple of days I waited until the last minute to do something. That little voice (Bad Wendy) was telling me to go to bed. "It's okay, she said. "I can double up tomorrow." But the challenge voice (Good Wendy) said to just sketch one thing. Because it didn't matter how big or small what I did was, as long as I did something. That is the key. Especially for big goals or projects. Just do a little something everyday. It will get you closer to the finish line.

I got up this morning and started six head ornaments from the sketches I did last night. Doesn't have anything to do with the challenge but it has everything to do with Halloween which isn't that far away. I tell myself that doing a little bit at a time helps. Not to worry about the final destination but to enjoy the trip. The beat down of other negative voices continues. It's kind of fun, going after the negative Nellie's in my head.

Now that I've got the 'creative train' going again, I thought about my writing which I haven't done in a week and a half. I almost teared up. Almost. Because I stopped. Again. I was on such a roll. Today I found the rough draft of a NANOWRIMO success. I told the story to a friend and even though it isn't her favorite genre, it interested her enough that she wants to read the final version. And I value her opinion  and that she thinks highly of me and my writing. I blew the dust off  and was quite impressed by the stack of papers I had. I'll have to read the whole thing to see what I wrote and then break it down for the rewrite.

52,000 plus words in that stack of papers.

I'm also doing quite well on some of my UFPs. Unfinished Projects. I'm afraid to show the list. It's kind of scary. I have quite a few projects that are very close to being done it's ridiculous. Stay tuned.

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.

Wow!

There are times when you are so fed up with fear, you just have to kick it to the curb.  And when you do, all sorts of creative happy comes.  There are so many things I want to do with my life that I got fed up a few days ago and decided to do something.  I'm back to working on several projects at the same time.  For some reason, I feel better about that.  Some people are good at working on one thing at a time until it's done.  I tried that and, well, it worked for a minute but I felt that I was missing something.  My whole apartment is getting back to looking like one huge studio and it feels good.  I know, I'm so special.

I forgot to mention that I got another doll commission last week.  Yesterday, I snagged a spot at a local art fair that will happen in a week and a half.  I will have some new pieces and I was so excited that I couldn't sleep last night.  I'm kind of dragging today.  I went to pick up some artwork but one of the owners decided to keep everything.  Most excellent.  I've been sketching more new pieces for the upcoming show and the giveaway.  My birthday is next month.  I had asked for some help from the creative muses and they sent the art fair.  Thanks.  I finally got more coffee and some chocolate because I will be burning some midnight oil.

I was able to work on some other projects which had stalled because they weren't working out.  I got back to a sleeveless blouse I had started. It fits but the collar wasn't working out so I put it to the side.  For three weeks.  Seeing that I don't have many items of clothing that fit, why hadn't I finished this piece?  So I took the collar off yesterday and will cut a new one that will fit.  Sometimes commercial patterns are like that and I'm glad I know what to do when that happens.  I'm also glad that I had fabric left to cut a new collar.  I also worked on my second pair of knitted socks and got back to my short stay.  I redid the hand stitched eyelets.  Now I can get the boning in and finish it.  Then I can look for fabric for a gown.  There's an even coming up in July here in town that I would like to go to in costume.

I've been reading a lot of kid books, a writer should read everything they can.  And Halloween is calling.  Right now I'm feeling pretty good.  Excited, which I haven't been in a long time.

I've got this.

Goodbye April

Can you believe it? Again, the month has flown by. Unbelievable. Still working on giving myself some credit on the things I got done and worked on this month and not worrying about what I didn't get done or work on this month. A constant battle this is.

Here's what I did:

• Bless This House quilt top pieces have been put together, working on borders
• worked on blue blouse and collar is attached
• 2 out of 3 commissions done, one commission was pushed back until June
• 2 out of 3 books read
• nothing on edit 5 of Map Hunter I, letting it rest while I work on the next book in the series
• started rough draft of Map Hunter II
• no new dolls, but started painting faces for Day of the Dead ornaments
• fixed my socks and knitted the heels
• started mixed media painting

Now that I look at this list, not bad. Not great. But not bad. You have no idea how hard it is right now for me to say, not bad and be okay with it. I've been given another day. With luck, another month. Yeah. I'll keep at it. Hope you do too.

Quilt in Progress

I finally got my Bless This House blocks together and finally got a pic.

My classmate and teacher are holding it up. I still have work to do on it. Put on a zinger and do the borders. They loved what I did with the top portion, making it Halloween.

Works in Progress

Here's something quick. The piggy is coming along. After adding more Paper Clay, I stuck him in the oven on warm all day so he could dry. What a concept. Now he's getting a paint job.

You can see his little squiggly tail.

I finally got back to my Bless This House quilt top. I'm working on the top panel. The two black looking circles are going to be a huge spider. My theme is, you guessed it, Halloween.

These are going to be sister bunner dolls. I've got to get more Paper Clay and fix up two wood bases I have that were going to be for something else.  I also, finally, fixed my sock. Silly me decided to work on it at night, when I was tired and I messed one of them up. Then I tried to fix it and made it even worse. So I put it away for almost a month and now, it's fixed. Time for the heels this weekend.

Lent

Oh my! I heard that people are giving things up for Lent. I tried it a couple of times in the past- sometimes it failed, sometimes I succeeded. Now, I don't have much I want to give up but I saw a friend's post that she was going to be extra creative for 40 days. That, I liked a lot. So that's what I'm going to do. I will be extra creative and attempt to get 40 doll heads done by Easter. Yes... it's EPIC! Ha! But I'm a nut. Walnut this time.

And it's going to be interesting because of commissions and I'm co-birth labour partner to a friend who's due in a couple of weeks. Yay! I'm gonna be an auntie.

I will also take one hour a day to work on unfinished projects. I can find an hour.

You'll never guess what this is going to be.

Here is another one of my 29 Faces. I finally broke out the brand new Sennelier pastels that I've had for over 10 years.

I Has a Quilt Top!

I can cross a project off my list. Woo hoo! I finally have a quilt top done. After two years in the making, lots of appliqueing and I have it done. With my wonderful one inch purple zinger and mitered corners. Which took me awhile to remember how to do even with instructions. Yay me!

I did make a boo boo and cut part of the border. Good thing it's quite wide and can be trimmed all the way around. Never cut when you're tired!

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.

Almost A Week In

I can't explain it but this year didn't start off as planned. That's what I get for being excited about something. Cow patties hit the fan and you just don't know what happened. So, one day at a time. Looking back on what I was to accomplish last year, well, that didn't go as planned either. Other things did get done and were created from scratch but many unfinished personal projects didn't make the cut. But I am bound and determined to get my quilt tops together. Again. That's one of my plans. I'm not giving up.

So, for right now, this is what's going on. I'm working on a commission that I want to get done withing the next two weeks. Bills are rolling in. I want to finish the last block to my Hop To It quilt so I can put all the blocks together. I'm doing quite well keeping up with Bless This House and by the time we get to the last pieces, that will be together. I will do my best to keep up with Sketchbook Challenge challenges. This month is artist dates. Seeing as I just read the info, I'm behind a week but that's okay. I will figure out what I want to do and start this week. I really want to start sketching again.

 The last block for Hop To It. I'm finally working on it. It's not my most favorite of all the blocks and because of that, I hadn't finish the top. Now, I'm just tired of having loose quilt blocks laying around, so I'm working on it.

This is the beginning of the top panel to Bless This House. I still have to applique the trees down.

Sorry this pic is horrendous. I took it with my cell phone and not able to fix it. I can't get pics off my camera card and will be begging for help from a computer friend. But it shows the floor of my studio. I can see it and get around the room. Three trash bags of junk. I do need to make a trip to Goodwill. I can also get to my sewing machine.

I still need to straighten some things but now I can work while doing so. The creative juices are flowing again.

Here's my jar and felt pieces to cover it. It's going to be my 'Good Things' jar. I will write down when good things happen to me and place them in the jar. On New Year's Eve, I will read through them so I can be reminded of some of the cool things that happened throughout the year.

I still have lists. We'll see what happens.

Again, No Pics

I am doing my best wrapping up 2012 and a few more projects before I blast off into 2013.  I didn't get to as much as I wanted to but I ended up doing and finishing other projects.  I'm good with that.  Not quite balanced out but I'm fine with what I've accomplished for the year.  I will amp it up for next year.  This year wasn't bad and it was better than 2011.  I'm good with that too.

Now I have to finish up those projects while blitzing the apartment and studio.  It is a daunting task but one that has to be done.  I want to start new projects January 1, 2013 as planned.  But I need to be able to find things.  I have to clear out part of one closet to move things around in another closet, so that I can organize things better and be able to find things.  I'm trying not to cackle like a crazy woman while I'm trying to figure other things out.  So I'm going to have to mess things up a bit more in order to start cleaning.

I had a very nice Christmas Day with my new adopted family.  The food was wonderful and we played Canasta.  Which was hilarious with one very competitive member.  Aren't families great?  I got a pair of really nice earrings from a dear friend and yarn to make socks.  I'm taking a knitted sock class starting next month.  I'm so excited!  I've always wanted to learn how to knit socks.  Guess how many friends are going to get socks for Christmas next year?  Now I'll be the Mad Sock Lady.  I just love it.

There is no snow where I am at the present time. It was disappointing not having a white Christmas when just about everyone else in the country was.  Maybe I'll get lucky on New Year's Day.  I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas, if you celebrate it.  The New Year is coming.  Are you ready?  Excited?

First Up...

I missed a post and I apologize. Had a skirmish with fear and some doubt. I prevailed. It's difficult not to worry but I will press on. Did too much thinking again, too. Not good. Life goes on and I get another day. I posted earlier that I wanted to complete a quilt top. I think I listed three, but dog-gone-it, one would be nice. I applique to get the creative juices going and I am on the last block. The end. Number twelve block. Did I mention the last one. And it's killing me. I'm not having fun with this block and I guess I could eliminate it from the whole quilt. It is not the boss of me. So I will show it in progress. I try to work on a section every other day. There are so many little pieces to this one block. I know, I'm nuts.

I'm so frustrated with this piece that I didn't even crop the pic. And I goofed up on one of the flower bunches. Good grief. I will not take it apart. Wish me luck.

Moving Along

The mind is a tricky thing. Seeing that my weeks don't actually have a beginning and an end, I thought that this week I'd start it on a Monday and see how that goes. Monday was a good day. A very productive day of quilts and applique which ended with going to my applique workshop. I love those ladies, they are hilarious. I know that once a month I'll get to see them and the awesome work that they do and we go crazy. Plus, it's good to get out of the apartment.

Tuesday morning, I got up and went for my walk. I'm still waiting to feel good about it but anyway... I got home, showered, ate and had coffee. I was feeling great. Then the brain decided to do a U-turn and wanted to take me for a ride. It was trying to tell me that I had a good day on Monday and that I didn't need to do anything today. My to do list is at least ten miles long, I chose three things to do. Edit chapter two of Map Hunter, work on my reticule, and cut out my chemise. Bad Wendy continued to plant seeds of despair and I was about to take an emotional dive when I said "No. I want to have several good days in a row. Beat it." But doubts started to sneak in and right when I was about to paralyze myself with fear, Good Wendy screamed, "DO SOMETHING!!!!!!". So I picked up my quilt block and finished appliqueing it.

One more block done and one more to go before I can put all blocks together. I'm on my way to one of my goals of finishing an UFP (unfinished project). Then I cut out my chemise. Yay me!

I just love having my table cleared off to do whatever but the floor and surrounding area is another thing.
I also edited chapter two of Map Hunter, my mid-grade kid adventure series. And...

I embroidered my reticule. I had drawn another design but because the bag was already together, an elaborate design wouldn't work. This one turned out quite well considering I worked in a very tight area. I even made my tassel. I want to continue to work on my schedule for each day. Eventually I will get to dolls. Being creative during the day is helping. I'm getting there. And I feel pretty good about it.

More Workshop Samples

I had my long creative day yesterday. I put in eleven hours. Helps make up for the slow day on Monday. I did have to run an errand on Monday that, well, I had to go back to the business because of a mistake on my bill. By the time I got back home, I was mentally exhausted and decided to take a break the rest of the day. I try to plan all of my errands on the same day because I know I won't get much done when I get home. I think dealing with the traffic and trying not to get creamed by large trucks is quite stressful.

Anyway, yesterday was good. Got two hand puppets done. I've got to get the samples for kid's classes done. One, so I can teach and get paid; two, so I can get to what I really want to do. Be a mad creative person. Bwahahaha! I am so itching to do some Halloween stuff and pirates. Gotta do some pirates. I also have a small art fair next month and I've got to whip up some items for that.

I make sure that I do something for me during my day. I am bound and determined to get my Hop To It quilt top done this year. I'd like to get one quilt top done this year. Yes, I keep starting them and not finishing them. In a way, I guess it's okay because it's my release valve. It's my fun thing to do that's not doll related. I know it will really help my psyche and ego if I can get it done. It feels good to get things done.

Well, I better go have breakfast and get going. Have a great Wednesday everyone.

Applique Quilt Blocks

As usual, I'm playing catch up and keep up. I finally got block 9 of Hop To It done and started the block for Bless This House, which is the block-of-the-month for this year. I know, I know, why did I start another quilt when one top isn't even done yet. I don't know. I just do. I have 3 more to do for Hop To It and I will work to keep up with Bless This House.

The Bee Keep for Bless This House by Cheryl S. Karestes.

Block 9 for my Hop To It quilt.

Projects

Here's my latest pincushion from my applique class. I may give it to the mom unit for her birthday or Christmas. You just can't have enough pincushions. She'll love it. I'm still working on my Hop To It blocks. I don't have many more to go and the class will be starting a new design this month. Yikes!

This piece is going onto a wall hanging. I made the wall hanging years ago and the owner wanted parts of it changed. The home for it is a cabin so I drew a bear, fir tree, and moose and appliqued them onto the red fabric. The piece will be stitched onto the proper spot on the wall hanging. I'll take a pic of that when it's done, which should be today. Stay tuned.

End of January 2012

Can you believe it? It's the end of January. I yawned and it flew by. I feel like I'm very late, like the White Rabbit in Wonderland. I don't know what happened. Maybe I do. It all started with being sick that first week of the New Year and things continued in a downward spiral. Once again, I was treading water and not very pleased about it. It all came to a head last week and I've come to some conclusions.

• I am very resilient. No matter what gets thrown at me, how many times I get knocked down, or how many times I fall into chasms, holes, or over cliffs, I get up and keep moving.
• I am stubborn and will not take no for any answer, especially if it has to do with my creative life. I may be down but I most certainly am not out.
• I am a very cool gal. I like me. I am in control of my feelings and happiness. That's my job. Or at least one of them. My other jobs are to create fun and unusual things and to write fun, unusual, scary, happy, fantastical things.
• The year has just begun and I have a plan. Actually, several.
• I am back on track.

I didn't get as much done as I would have liked to this month. I've added fuel to my creative fire though. February, here I come.

I did manage to get a few things done. Two art cards and another Hop To It block.

 Flowers and Fences.

Rainy Garden.
Both postcards are done in acrylic on watercolor paper. More are planned.

Hop To It Block 7

Finally getting back to my block of the month applique quilt. Yes I'm behind but starting to catch up. I will have this quilt top done this year. All the leaves have been appliqued down.

The flowers have been appliqued. Supposedly it's easier to do such a detailed piece in stages. Get the flower stitched together before putting it in place on the block. Maybe. I will be gluing these down tomorrow before adding more flowers and leaves this week.

First List of 2012

All right. I said that I would publish my lists for the year. I'll have to do them in stages. I thought I'd start with my quilt and applique list. Seeing that I don't do resolutions, I now have expectations for the year. I try not to start new projects before finishing old ones but us creative types know that doesn't always work. There's always something more exciting to try, and the work in progress gets put on the back burner or in the drawer or cupboard.

I've been working on several applique quilts for the past several years. Yes, I'm shaking my head. I don't know the reason for not finishing them. Maybe because I get bored or it could be that finishing them will take a bit more of the cash than I have at the moment. But I expect to at least have the tops done and when I can afford to get them quilted, I will.

Quilt Tops to be finished:
Southern Album
Hop To It
Birdies
Trip Around the World

Other quilts and wall hangings:
-Double Irish Chain- I'd like to get this top done this year
-Wild Blue Berries- it needs to be put together, I got all the hard applique out of the way, along with over 100 blue berries and I just have to do the easy part
-Bunny wall hanging- needs to have the primitive hand quilting done
-Pumpkin Heads- a design I started before last Halloween, would like to have it done for this Halloween for when I decorate my apt
-Blue and Yellow quilt- I started it because I liked the fabric, then ran out of the fabric but my mom had more of the fabric, and well... got to work on that top
-Cabin wall hanging- it's a repair for a friend

New Quilts: one for a friend for her 40th birthday. I do have the fabric and now I have to cut it out. That's the goal, get it cut out.

That's just the quilts. I haven't touched dolls, or my writing, or anything else I'd like to do. At least attempt to do. I know, it's crazy and I don't know why I think I have all the time in the world. Maybe that's why I do it. I have all year and it's only week three of the new year. One bit at a time, one day at a time. Baby steps get me closer to getting these beauties done. It's all about the journey. The process and having fun along the way. At least, that's what I keep reading. We'll see what happens.

Happy 2012!

The first day of a brand new year. My holiday decorations have been put away, the apartment has been swept, 2011 statements have been filed and I'm ready for a brand new creative year. I'm still working on my lists but I have a good handle on what will be worked on first. I don't believe in resolutions but I have many goals. My next show is in February and I'm very excited about that.

Some of my goals will be to finish some of my quilting projects; sketch more (probably everyday); get back to editing my kid's book; start Halloween and Christmas ornaments and dolls in February instead of September; travel more (even if it's just to the next town); spend more time with friends; read more; lose 10 pounds; and be nicer to myself. I will have more details in the near future along with new pictures.

I am very excited about this new year. So many wonderful ideas waiting to get out of my head and onto paper, or spring forth from fabric and wool. This is my year. Prepare for the Juggernaut that is Wendy.

Happy New Year everyone!