Wow!

I can't believe this month is just about over. End of the third quarter. Where am I? Still getting my knee back in shape and taking it easy on myself. Just now getting back to being creative and working out what to do next month. There are quite a few art challenges next month: Inktober, Drawlloween, and Doodlewash. But I think I will turn them all into my own personal art challenge and call it 365 Days of Halloween. Which will take me back into Halloween 2020. Yes, it's a big endeavor but it's my personal challenge to see what I can do with all my creativity.

I'm still working on starting projects and finishing them. Starting isn't my problem. Finishing is. So I will be working on that come next month. Still job hunting too. The knee set me back to zero. Getting old sucks. Rehabilitation, recuperating as you get older isn't as fast or easy as when you're younger. Figures.

I did try these Brach's Maple Candy Corn and I'm hooked. I think I like them better than regular candy corn.

I also glued on the hands, feet, and head to my witch doll. I got her as a kit by artist Patrick James Gil of Graverly Will Creations. He offers different heads and feet with a hat thrown in. I didn't want to paint her green, more like a medicine woman who lives in the forest. Her stockings are made along with her bloomers. I did give her an ample bosom just because. Will design something for her to wear. Because her month is next month.

 Nice on the outside but don't get on her bad side. If you know what I mean. She may turn you into something unnatural. Have a good weekend.

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."

Ha!

Just a wee bit late on a new post. It's April. We got fooled a day early by more snow. A very bad joke.

I'm in the last stages of finishing up some pieces for the Toledo Doll Show on Sunday. I'm excited but I've also sold some pieces before the show. Works for me.

Finally got my Long Legs almost done. Sold. I will take them to the show for orders.

Mini witches are almost done too. Working on hats right now or at least after lunch. They turned out better than expected and I don't know if I will make anymore. I do have one and a half bags of stuffing left, so maybe I'll make more to use it up.

Some new things going on in my weird little life. New habits are being established and I've got lots of planning to do this month. The big girl pants are on and it's time to rock a few things. See ya after the show.

Moving Right Along

Still working on new habits. It's all about being consistent. So far, I can get to two of the three things I really want to do each day. Right now, I'm okay with that. I'll just keep going. Some mini witches finally have some clothes on. Next up will be hair and hats.

Still At It

Yep, still at it. I finally got my wayward stash of doll and art ideas under a wee bit of control. It took me three days to wrangle all the pieces and slips of paper and napkins that had ideas on them. I ended up with several categories: regular dolls, Halloween, ornaments, manly dolls, skellie things, bed/boudoir dolls, drawings/paintings, witches, and fiber art pieces. Some may overlap but those were the leading units. The oldest sketch was from 2012. I've got to step up my creative game.

I'm glad that I finally did it and now I can see what can be done and what needs to stay an idea or cute sketch. I've started my list for the first quarter of 2019 and I will go through the stack of ideas I should tackle first. I also have more days at the store until after next week. Then maybe I can have a couple more days to make things for me.

The sun is out and it's feeling quite nice outside. Not really Christmas type weather. Although I hope it will hold out until next weekend so that I can spend some time with my mother. That's my update.

Happy Halloween!

Oh no! October has whizzed on by. I had a health relapse but had enough energy to take a selfie. Which I don't like taking.

I'm trying to take it easy for the trick or treaters tonight. I'm so glad it stopped raining. Right now the sun is out and not too cold. So maybe, just maybe, the kids will have a nice time this evening. The sickness has set me back once again. I guess that's a part of life. I just want my head to stop hurting and not feel so tired. Plans for November are underway though. I think I'll first take a short nap.

Have fun and be safe tonight.

Better Late Than Never

I almost have a batch of monster doll pins done. Almost. It seems I get to the end of something and stop. Not a good habit. Maybe I lose my faith, or nerve, or whatever. I tell myself that I'd rather clean the bathroom or do laundry than add hair and hearts to these little darlings. It's amazing how our brain tricks us into doing what we don't want to do and not what really makes our hearts sing.

I did manage to finally get the September front page for my Bullet Journal done. Yeah, yeah, same old thing. A day late and a dollar short. I kind of knew what I wanted to do then scrapped the idea. So I did that wonderful yearly rite of passage. The first day of school. I used oil based color pencils. Walnut Hollow I believe. I do like those pencils and years ago I was getting pretty good with them. Then I stopped. Now it's back to square one. But I shall continue because now I think I have a pretty decent pencil sharpener. One that won't crack the leads or eat up the pencils.

I think I would like to try this drawing again. Add a few more things. Then I drew some pumpkins. I was going to make them jack-o-lanterns but I'll have plenty of time to do them next month. I used Tombow markers on this one and a Tombow brush pen which I truly find amazing. You can get a fine line and with a little pressure, get a wider line. Like using a paint brush. Gonna have to work more with that too. I messed up on both with the lettering. I guess I wasn't paying attention but for right now, I'm pleased with both. Because it's fall. Not technically but for me, fall starts right after Labor Day.

Until next time. Have a nice day.

Been Busy

I think that's a good  thing. Or, the realization that my doll show is in a little over two months has stoked the fires under my creative butt. More go-to items cut out and ready to be stuffed. One older design doll; I cut out and sewed more of them for the show. I designed a new doll today and cut out two just to see if the pattern will work. And I finally got a top pattern for the mini witches made and their fabrics ironed and ready to go.

The new pattern is the long doll with the stripe legs. I love, love, love that fabric and bought what I could when it was around. I don't know if I'll ever find it again or anything like it. But I will search. the little doll next to her I've made before and sold most of them. They are cute little primitive dollies at a very nice price. Have to have something for everyone and in different price ranges.

The mini witches have their selection of fabrics ready. I still haven't gotten to any clay dolls. Cloth dolls are so much simpler and I know I can do them. Ugh... it's a creative mental growth block. I mean, I've done dolls in polymer and air dry clay before but I have a design in mind and I don't know if I can pull it off. Fear is not my friend.

Okay, gotta go turn some bodies and get to stuffing. Gotta go to the other job in the morning, switched with a co-worker who nabbed a doctor's appointment. You know how precious those appointments can be. Take care!!!

Hello There!

I'm really working to do more posts on my old blog but I am being challenged. The doll pins I recently finished, well, I sold seven of them so I will cut out more tonight. The next project to work on are my six mini witches. Yes, I get to a certain point and nothing gets done. Completed. I'm working on that too. I did pick out fabric for their outfits.

Not a very good pic color wise but I'll work on that too. But you can see the fall color theme I so love. I'm debating on coffee dying a few things. I know I will have to dye their bloomers because they are way too bright. I have also been sketching some new pieces too and forgot to take pics, so that should make me come back either tomorrow or Saturday. Well, time's a ticking. See ya soon.

No Pic Post

Yes,  a no pic post. Sorry about that. Last week was horrendous. Kate Spade and Anthony Bourdain committed suicide. I didn't know of K. Spade but she was my age. I wasn't a Bourdain fan but started watching his programs again. His death was a shock. Then two days after his passing, a friend of twenty years died. I didn't even know she had been in the hospital. She drank herself to death. There were many days I cried last week and the weekend. So many talented people checking out. I was not in a very good place so I called a good friend. I woke her up. I apologized but so much was going on in my head, I needed her to listen. And she did. We were both laughing after an hour. It gave me time to look at things in a different perspective.

So....

Today, back to my mother's to continue clearing out my stuff. Geesh! I've got a lot of stuff. I found quite a few porcelain dolls I made years ago. And they were big dolls. I'm not into porcelain dolls much these days; I will keep a few but will probably take apart the others and sell as kits. Looking at the craftsmanship, I worked my little fingers off. But they've got to go. I found my first doll I saved up my allowance to get. I was maybe like twelve. Gonna keep her. And my Madame Alexander dolls. That's going way back. I even have a Hulk Hogan doll when I was way into wrestling when it was the WWF, World Wrestling Federation. One big bag of trash, brought back some fabric for my new witches, stacked more boxes to break down, started going through my old file cabinet (stuff should have been shredded ages ago), and mom gave me food. That is always a good thing. I also got a lot of my hair chopped off. No fuss summer hair. If I can get a decent pic I'll post it.

The month of my birthday and I won't be doing much because I forgot I had to get new vehicle tags. I did the last payment on a huge bill, so I'm thrilled about that but my birthday gift to me will have to wait until next month. For this new week I will finish my voodoo doll pins, get clothes on my witches, finish up some pen & ink drawings, and do a doll for someone else. That's it for now. Have a good evening.

Toledo Doll and Bear Show

I did it! I survived my first venture back into doll shows after about eight years. I'd done doll shows many years ago and stopped. Now I hope I'm back. At least for some of them. It was a nice show. A true doll show with antique, reproduction antique dolls and bears. There were also some antique miniatures and dollhouses, and two reborn repaint doll artists. A few vendors were selling fabric for fancy doll clothes. Just about everyone was nice. I sold my first piece before the show started. I didn't sell a lot but I made some new friends who gave me lots of advice on other shows, suppliers, and where to get information on doll related things. There were two teddy bear artists, an animal artist, and me, the only doll artist who made their own work.

I got such a good response with my work. Quite a few were happy that I was there because I was different. I had pieces for everyone. Normal to Halloween! People were asking if I was going to come back next year because they knew someone who liked Halloween or cloth dolls. One lady, who is with a cloth dollmaking club, is trying to get their own show together and asked if I would like to be a vendor. I gave her my info. She really liked my dolls. Someone commented on how varied they were. I told them that I had to do different things or my head would explode. Then she said, I guess you have to find your style. I told her that I have a style, that if you look close enough, that all of these dolls were made by one person. Whether its' in my paint job, my color palette, how I make my outfits, you can see it.  And I am good, working on being better.

I guess I really missed being a part of the doll show circuit. I guess I'm back and I'm looking forward to the next show.

Hello April

I got up yesterday morning and was shocked to see white stuff on the ground and little fluffy white things floating around. After a lot of rain and gusty winds the previous day. All day. Yes, Old Man Winter is still hanging around. Glad the snow didn't stick but it's the nightmare of it all. But spring is coming, a little late but it's coming. At 7 P.M. it's still light out. Birdsong has changed and green things are starting to grow.

Onward.

I didn't post a lot last month. Eegads! I made my one year anniversary on being back in Michigan. Okay... so now what? Good question and I'm working on some answers. Still figuring me out, I love being a work in progress. And starting a new chapter in The Book of Wendy. So here we go.
My front page for April in my bullet journal.

Got my Christmas gifts started too. I'd always wanted to get them started in February but March is okay. I love knitted cotton dishcloths. 

And here are some witches I'm working on. I had to go out and buy a brand new paint brush to paint their stockings.

Keep Moving

Keep Moving.

Yes, it's been a pretty good week and I met my goal to have all doll body parts stuffed and limbs attached. Now for this week, I can start painting faces and figuring out clothing. I'll probably start pulling fabric for outfits too. Then come March, which is in four days, I can start making clothes. Oh boy. Along with dolls for the show, I've been working on some Halloween dolls too. So here are my new witches.

Yes, they have funky feet. Not sure if that was what I was trying to go for but that's what I've got. See ya later.

Here She Is!

It finally came through. Good grief.

I'm supposed to be participating in Inktober and here is my first one. Yep, I'm behind. But the month is still young.

FINALLY!

Oh my gosh! Okay, I'm no longer sick. For now. Fingers crossed. And I now have a part-time job, so I'm trying to get a creative schedule back on track. So today, I finally finished a piece I've been working on for ages. And ages. And... well, you get what I'm talking about. She is done. Doesn't have a name but that's okay. She is finished and I can cross her off the mega list. Yay!

I don't know where her close up pic went. Somewhere out in the cosmos. When I find it, I'll show her up close and personal. I do like how she turned out. Finally. In the end. Ha!

Moving Forward

Slowly.

This hasn't been the week I was hoping for. I know, it's only Wednesday but I have been chipping away at things. Finally got some hair on my lady doll pins, prepped some fabric for my next embroidery project and got some sketching done. One step at a time.

More Wendland Witch sketches. I'm trying to keep up with a sketch a day. Once I get three projects out of the way, I can start making these.

Five Days In

Okay, so time is being weird. I already know I'm weird but time, well, it's screwy. Plus, Monday holidays throw things off. Now it's time to get back on the wagon. I finally got some sketches done. A couple of witches, a skellie lady, an octopus holding an ice cream cone, and some beginning folk art sketches. I don't know where any of this is going but I did it and I'm feeling lots better. There's nothing like putting pencil to paper. Erasers are cool too.

And Juno is still hanging around. I like how he changes colors when he's on the grey deck.

More catching up tomorrow. Have a good evening.

Wendland Witches

I'm liking my new group of waiting to be witch dolls. I'm working on stories for them too but for now, here are some more sketches. I love the idea of them wearing slippers so that when they fly around they have the opportunity to bop some strange being in the head. They can always make a new one to appear.

I'm liking these little outfits too. Some are funky, some comfy, and some a bit difficult. I should start doing these in color.

#wendyluane #wendlandwitch #witchdoll #pencilsketch #witchslippers #witchcostumes #witchhats

Okay

Lots of things on my mind today. I thought I had missed a posting to the blog here. I'm working on every other day but this will do. Before I forget. Ah... getting older. How lovely. Some aren't blessed with that so I will carry on.

I finished the Redwork Day of the Dead fellow yesterday. He's very colorful and turned out a lot better than I expected. Next will be to find accent and backing fabric to finish him off as a small wall hanging. Along with the lady I finished last month.

Here are the sketches for two dresses for the Goodfellas dolls.

And here are some new witch sketches. The Witches of Wendland. Kind of catchy.  And the sketch that I did yesterday. We'll see if I can get on track with these and other sketches. You know, that everyday thing. When I was younger and in high school I could draw anything. Now, not-so-much. You don't use it, you lose it.

It's a bit overcast in my neck-of-the-woods. I hope you all have a productive day. Cheers!

#dayofthedead #witches #pencilsketches #redwork #embroidery #dolldress

A New Day

And a new friend. We have a wham bam storm last night and this morning there was a guest when my friend opened the umbrella on the deck. I'll name him Juno.

I also got busy yesterday. That felt good. I hope I can do it again today. I started my next Redwork project, started editing two short stories, watched some art tutorials on You Tube, got back to sketching because I'm working on a new series or doll, and I talked to a good friend, a fellow doll artist who gave me some tips and hints to get going again. I think that's been the best part of the week, talking to someone who knows what I'm going through. That I'm not alone. I feel energized.

I like how more stabilized the fabric is with the woven interfacing on the back. Less puckering on the front and I can do more stitching on this guy.

Trying to figure out a body for a new doll and possibly some paintings I can make prints of. I don't know if I want her to be a little girl or young lady witch who will have some unusual adventures.

I started working on some facial expressions that may or may not end up on the final character. I've got a few fantasy art books I'm working from. This one is called DragonArt Fantasy Characters by J "NeonDragon" Peffer. I'll do more figure work too in the next few days. Sometimes you have to step back, pause, regroup, and move forward. Have a great day.

#wendyluane #witchdoll #sketches #pencilsketch #characterdevelopment