Where Did February Go?

Even though there was an extra day this month, February blew by. And ending with a snowstorm in the Midwest. I have some really cool news that I'm waiting for the go-ahead to tell everyone. Something I can cross off my Bucket List. Lent is now on and I will be working it. Not necessarily a religious thing for me but a time of reflection, get back to eating healthy, get back to exercising on the regular, get old projects done, new projects started... basically, work on me.

The first two months of the year and new decade have been okay. A few downs but mostly ups and I'm feeling fine. Haven't been able to say that in awhile. Going out on the limb to try new things. Getting back to enjoying the process of creating. Realizing that some projects just won't see the light of day. And that's okay. I've got a cargo ship load of ideas. But so far, the year is on an even keel.

Kept up with my 29 Faces art challenge. Have one more face to do. Maybe. Previous years it's been 28 faces but this is Leap Year so I guess I'll do one more. For the heck of it.

I'm thinking about turning some of these into dolls. Working on a size and what to make them out of. Air dry clay, polymer clay... not sure just yet. And all are from the same basic face I started with. Not bad I'd say. The next 40+ days might be a challenge. My plan is to complete 20 pieces of work. We'll see how that goes. Stay tuned.

December

Yay!

Maybe. It was gorgeous yesterday at a marvelous 53 degrees. The sun was out, people were smiling. Then it started to rain and then we got snow. That was a pretty good fake out. I mean, it's winter. As they say in probably every state, don't like the weather, wait a few minutes.

Anyway, I've a pretty good creative list for the month. Which I've started. I have to finish a doll before Christmas. So far, so good.

She will get stuffed tonight. I am late on having my front page for my Bullet Journal done, but that's nothing new. It is sketched, I just have to color it. It does make me smile though. I'll show it to you tomorrow.

Well, well...

Here I am again. Another month has gotten the best of me. First off, the weather went from this...

to this...

in 2.5 seconds. Michigan time. Yep, I didn't get a proper fall this year. I guess that's a thing of the past now. I'm glad I have some fond memories of how a fall used to be. Beautiful colors on the trees, crunching on the dry leaves on my way to school. Nice cool temps so you could have a window open for a couple of weeks after summer. Chilly for Halloween, a little snow for Thanksgiving, and then winter. And winter was after Indian Summer (which may not be politically correct these days), a time after a frost and then a week of warm temps. Nope, nada, it's gone forever. Now it's winter and daylight is short. Winter isn't official until December 21st but it's here. The only thing to do is deal with it and soon there will be fires in the fireplace.

November got away from me. Yes, I had some plans. I did do a doll show, it was okay. Made a little money and got some new contacts. I always like talking to the other vendors. I got sick. Oh boy did I get sick. Not flu sick but a really bad sinus infection. Usually I could kick it with an over-the-counter medication but not this time. I was having vertigo with this bad boy. I had to go to Urgent Care. I got a shot in the rear end so I could get some relief and antibiotics for ten days. I'm feeling loads better but then I had to take my truck back to the shop. And I didn't finish NaNoWrimo. Ugh! When it rains, it pours fish and frogs. Tackled again by the universe. But...

I'm back up. Still hanging in there. Looking for the silver lining of a whole lot of storm clouds.  This month got away from me. But a  new one starts tomorrow.

Snow

Wow! Winter has come. Yep, like so many others in the country, we finally got snow. Lots of snow. About eight inches. That may not seem like a lot for many but for this lady, having lived in North Carolina for the past eleven years, this was a lot of snow. And schools were canceled yesterday. Lucky ducks. School was never canceled when I was a kid. So here are some pics of the backyard and the pond.

December: First Drawing

I got a new book for my Bullet Journal and here is my December page. I was thinking about starting a new one in January but no, I decided that December needs a month. I'm working on this to be a production month. We'll see how that goes, especially if I get a spot in a doll show this coming spring in 2018. So here is my first drawing for December.

I'm also continuing the straightening of my work area. As you can see, I've had my patterns in two cardboard boxes and I could never flip through them to see what I wanted to use. So I went through them and about five are going to the thrift store for someone else to use. The rest will go into the clear container in order of whether they are doll patterns, regular clothes patterns, or costumes.

The cutting table has been cleared off, I put away some quilting things that I won't be working on for a bit (I'll go through that box later), and cleared off the daybed that had fabric, drawings, and other stuff on it. I'm getting there. Ready to start something new. I also printed off my NaNo writings and they are ready for reworking and/or editing in January.

Northern Winters

Are different from Southern Winters and I'm not really having fun. I was born and raised here in Michigan but I got used to North Carolina winters and I like them a lot better. Because usually, the snow melted by noon. Here, it's cold. And when the wind blows, well, you can just forget it. Today it was a balmy 19 degrees. But hey, the days are getting longer and I know that spring is coming. Even if it is in May. I remember one Memorial Day it snowed. I like my new spot and can't wait until it's warm enough to sit out on the deck. For right now, I watch the pond and I got some new boots.

The pond last week.

The pond this week.

No Pictures

I was supposed to do this yesterday but I didn't. So here it is today. Just when I think I'm getting back on my creative track, I get derailed again. Seriously. The life tests continue. I don't think they'll ever go away, they'll just be waiting around a corner, ready to pounce at any time. To keep me on my toes I guess. I think I've got enough character, maybe I don't. I'm still waiting on that big break though and my angels, guardian faeries, and muses are still at the pub.

Monday night is my applique workshop and we had a wonderful storm. Got to my truck and it would not start. It was a good thing my instructor was still in the shop. She was so sweet to wait for road service with me. She was calm and appliqued. I was a wreck because I didn't need this. Yes, my truck is old, being held together with Michigan rust, dirt, dried leaves and cobwebs. It was doing the same thing it did last year when I had to get a new battery. My instructor, bless her heart, said not to worry that it's probably something simple. She doesn't know how old my vehicle is and she does have a husband who can get her to her next destination if need be. It's difficult not to panic when you have to be somewhere the next day and you have no one to call. The road service guy came and gave me a jump. At least I got home and knew I would have to take the truck into the shop the next morning. Whether it started or not.

Not. It did not start. It was pouring and I called road service again. I think it was the same guy from the night before. He got it started and I got it to the car shop. Told the guy that something other than the battery was the problem. I was praying it wasn't the starter. I sat in the waiting area, soaked, and freezing from the AC. It was the connector thingies from the part of the car that goes around parts of the battery to get juice. Yes, there is a technical name for those parts and I forgot what is was. They showed me the parts that were very corroded and I wasn't charged because they put the battery in last year. Whoever put the battery in probably should have changed the defective parts too. But he didn't and that was good for me. While I was there, I did pay for an oil change which I've needed for some time now. Maxwell is now purring like a kitty that's been smoking for awhile but he's working. Yay!

I had to go back home and change clothes. I was chilled to the bone and was an hour late to Olde Mill Eclective. It was my turn to man the shop. I told myself that I was going to have a good day regardless of the vehicle snafu. I was able to work on voodoo doll pins, sketch the monster veggies for the zombie bunners, worked on answers to questions for being Featured Artist-of-the-Month in October, and I started knitting a throw. You can never have enough throws or blankets and I believe we're going to get it this winter.

Maya brought be a Wicked Mocha from one of our local coffee places, Krankie's. Oh my goodness! Friends are great when you're working hard not to fall into a mental hole. It's got three types of chili peppers and local chocolate from Contempo Chocolates. It was so good, I really wanted to lick the inside of the cup. It will be one of those special coffee drinks because it is a bit expensive. But to get one and go walking when the temps really dip would be awesome. I love supporting a local business that supports another local business.

I am back on my creative track, a little more secure right now. Lots of Halloween stuff to finish and more to make. I'm very excited about that. Stay tuned!

Latest Winter Wandi

I started this little gal last year and finally got her done this year. Most of this batch of Wandi dolls didn't have names, so she just gets a number. I did crochet her hat and shawl and she turned out better than expected. She will be wrapped up with several others and on their way to a local shop for the winter season. It feels good to get something done.

Wallis and Willette

Willette and Wallis are ready to go to the ice rink with their cardinal friends.  Then it's off to get hot chocolate and chocolate chip scones.

A close-up of Wallis.  She's ready for the chilly weather.

Willette is also ready for the last of winter.  She's ready to go skating with her friends.

Wallis and Willette are in the Winter Wandi Doll collection.  I only have a few more to finish.  Maybe by the time I get them all done, spring will be here.

Winter Wandi- Snow

Finally, another dollie done.  She had been done for a week now, I just needed to attach her hand crocheted hat and shawl.  You can barely see but there is a beaded snowflake on her hat and one closes her shawl.

I'm a work in progress and working on getting better at photographing my pieces, so bare with me.  Her arms and legs are a light blue color.  I had a time working with the eyelash yarn.  It works better when the piece is knitted.  But she is done and I like her.  I will be posting her on Etsy.

The Next Batch

I finally got their eyes and lips painted.  These are my next batch of Winter Wandi Dolls.  I've got some yarn for hats and scarves but I'm having a problem deciding who should get what.  Maybe by the time I get their hair on, it'll be a bit easier to decide.

I've got to get them done so I can justify starting spring dollies.  Have a great one!

Mug Rug

I went to my last applique workshop for the year.  It's so good seeing those ladies once a month.  I love laughing with them, sometimes so hard that we're all crying.  Our project for the evening was a mug rug.  I probably won't be using it as such because it was a lot of work and just too cute.  But I put my mug of coffee on it to show you some scale.

The bottom is plaid wool, you can barely see the edge.  The next layer is black wool and on top of that, red wool with white wool circles for the snowmen.  I embroidered their faces with French knots and their carrot noses are three stitches with a satin stitch over them.  The pattern was from a quilt magazine, I forgot to write the name down.  Any hoo, it was quick and fun to do.  I love make it and take it projects.

More Winter Dollies

Here's my second batch of Winter Wandi dolls.  I should have them finished by the weekend.
They even have their arms ready to be attached.



I could have lined them up like in a chorus line but I thought a bundle of arms is more fun.  They are waving at and supporting each other.  Like good friends.

Ho, ho, ho!

Here is the gang.  My first batch of Winter Wandi Dolls.  Only the two on the right are holidayish.  I saw the pom poms in JoAnn's and just had to have them.  I have six more of these lovelies to finish before I start on spring ones.

I love this fabric combo and I've used it several times on other dolls.  Plus, I bought a lot of it, so guess what?  It's going to be used until it's gone.  :D  Blues and purples are my favorite colors.  I love the snowflakes too.  This is as close to winter as I like to get.  Fake snowflakes.

The feather lash around the mob cap is knitted by none other than, me!  I haven't knitted in a month of Sundays and it was really nice.  Can't say it was soothing because I was on a deadline to get these babies done to be picked up by my art rep.  She loved them.

I'm glad she came and got them today because it would be more difficult to part with them. You know, growing attached to the offspring.

Here's that wonderful purple.  I'm going to have to invest more in purples.  No two are ever alike.  These two have crocheted hats and knitted scarves.  I've got to get more yarn too.

A bad attempt at a pom pom.  LOL

These two have feather lash knitted hats.  They were so much fun, adding to one of my better patterns.  I can't wait to show you the spring ones.  The hats and scarves just add a different touch.

The snowflakes are from the scrapbook section of a craft store.  Love those things.

These are the only two that are holiday like.  I wanted to make elves 'cause Santa just needs good help.  Again, I saw this cool fabric (I really didn't need any fabric when I went to the store but, well, you know) and I had to get it.  I immediately saw elves.  Then I saw the pom pom trim and just giggled with all the ideas rushing through my head.

Here's the back of the elves.  I didn't want a traditional elf hat, so I made it long and tied it in a knot.  They've got to keep all Santa's toy secrets in their heads, right?  All of the faces are drawn and painted by me and they all have a hanging string.  The hair is just awesome and I'm always on the lookout for it.  I can't always find decent colors.  Until next time.