Alrighty Then...

Things just keep getting better and better.

I really want to believe that. My state's lockdown was extended until May 28. Some businesses are opening, slowly, which as much as it hurts is a good thing. The states hot spot is doing better because of the long 'stay at home' issue. Deaths are down for a consecutive week, confirmed cases are down, recoveries are up. This is good news. So I'm hoping that come June, I can find a new job and get on with my life. Like find my own place to live. One step at a time. Right?

I'm with the group of artists who have been having a hard time with this virus thing. Even though we thought we had more time to work on things, other things prevented the burst of creativity. What I've learned is that it's okay to not feel okay. These are not normal times. But look as every day as a new day and find something, one thing to work on. Even if it's something you've never done before. Like this Critter Challenge I'm doing. I would have never dreamt of drawing this way, yet here I am. Doing it. Something different. Here is my front page for my May Bullet Journal. It was late but I got it done.

Here are the last two drawings for a trio. Waiting for the next video to show up. These will be transferred to watercolor paper. I will probably add a few more things before painting.

Not much else creative has been happening and I was feeling bad about that. But now that things seem to be getting better in the world, I will attempt to get my creative mojo back. How are you guys and gals holding up?

It's a new day and a new week. We can do this.

Eegads!

For now I will continue to work on my blog. It is still a place for me to collect my creative thoughts. To show the world what I'm working on. April slipped by me. I think time is slipping by many of us. Practically all of us were not here that last epidemic, let alone pandemic. Yet, here we are. A lot of stuff is confusing. Most want to do the right thing and we're being chastised because of it. This is from an old saying and I'm fluffy too but the fat lady hasn't even made it to the stage yet. My sinking feeling of what is going on is still sinking and about to pick up speed. I can only do my part to stay safe and I hope you will too.

Now... I'm giving myself all of May to get creatively crazy. Just get back to making something, even if it's just for me. Something to get the juices flowing again. There are many things I want to do and places I want to see, when we are truly able. Maybe next year. Maybe. For right now, it's one-day-at-a-time. I've gotten back to my 100 Critter Challenge. The first of three drawings. Still more to do on the drawing before I paint it, and seeing that the sketch was the size of a postage stamp, I think it's on its way.

Yesterday I made a pot of chili and sauteed some fresh veggies. I didn't want the veggies to go bad so that's what I did with them. I think I will make some veggie soup later in the week.

I've had this X-acto knife since I was in undergrad art school a million years ago. Okay, maybe about 30. I've replaced the blades (packs of 4 or 5) twice in all that time. I bought a new knife a few years ago because this one needed blades and I was too lazy to go out and get new ones. The new knife, made of plastic, had a broken handle within a few months. So I worked this last blade until it wouldn't cut anymore without making a mess of what I was trying to cut. One edge the tip was broken off. So I went out and got new blades. What I'm saying is that we (US) used to make a lot of stuff that lasted. There are companies still here that do. We should support them. This knife has lasted 30 years of art projects, home projects, breaking down boxes, cutting of things I probably shouldn't have used this knife for but did anyway. I'm going to have to find someone worthy to hand it down to.

I have a short list for this week. I'm ready to take the creative bull by the horns and see how that ride will be. Take care of yourselves. Let's hope for a positive summer.

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.

Stupid Virus

Yes, COVID-19 is affecting pretty much everyone on the planet right now. Schools and businesses closed, people off or out of work, and yet there are still those not taking things seriously. I'm taking precautions and have had my work hours cut. My doll show in April was postponed until October. I wonder how looking for a new job is going to affect me. It seems like this is how things always are for me. Finally get a plan and something weird happens. And there's not much I can do about it right now.

So, I've gotten back to some projects that were put in the cupboard. I finally finished the top of a hexie table runner using Halloween fabrics. One project at a time maybe. I'm closer to finishing this piece.

And I'm learning how to do portrait embroidery. Maybe I can catch up on that while I have more time.

I will work on getting back to some sketching too. Like some Plague Doctors or something. Be good, take care of yourselves and others. We'll get through this -thing.

Life Goes On

It's hard to be creative when so many other adult things need to be tended to. Like look for a new job and a new place to stay. It's hard to stay focused when you're worried about yourself and see the world falling apart around you. There may be times when you just want to crawly under a rock but you keep telling yourself that things are temporary and take one day, one step, one moment at a time. So here's what I've been working on. Prim Dollies.

My March front page for my Bullet Journal. I live vicariously through my friends who have gardens. Reading their posts of them scouring seed catalogs. Ready for the weather to break to clear out their space and get ready to plant wonderful things that will be put into salads, or soups, or canned for next winter. I used to have a garden many moons ago. I would like to have another one.

Still February

Working hard to get back in the groove of blogging. It's a way to get my feelings, ideas, and dreams out of my head and into the world. I think I will attempt a post every Monday. See how that goes. Waiting to hear back on a job but if nothing happens by March 1, the search will commence. Starting to look for another place to stay. That's so difficult when what you get paid, doesn't afford a one bedroom apartment in a decent area. Praying that my truck stays well for another year. It turned 20 almost two years ago and has over 220 + thousand miles. Love that truck. Praying that my laptop keeps working for another year. He's old and cannot take any new programs. Old programs are having a hard time updating and some have stopped.

I am not a patient person. I'm working on that. Now that I know what I want to do with myself, it is sometimes hard to just keep working on what makes me happy and feel content. It's been a struggle to get back to being creative after my knee surgery and all it entailed the end of last year.

I am back to working on dolls that were started some time ago. I have a doll show in April I would like to attend. I have new ideas for dolls, if I can just stay out of my way and play. Play with new materials and just see what happens. I have several ideas for big projects too. I have started learning new things such as weaving on a pin loom, and working on embroidery and applique.

Still working on the 29 Faces art challenge for the month.

Doll skirts for some dolls that have been sitting around forever.

A pin loom I got myself for Christmas. I have a project in mind for the weaving but needed to know how this thing worked. So fat so good. I practiced with yarn I had on hand and now I need to find what I think will really work for what I want to do.

My first woven pieces. The top are the latest ones. From left to right: The two lilac ones are worsted yarn. The pink, red, and dark purple are cotton. Bottom row were the first ones I made. From left to right: The two dark red and blue are 100% wool and the green ones are a wool, silk, and alpaca blend. I can also say I've started Christmas gifts.

I also did a thing last month that I can't talk about right now but it's exciting, and as soon as I can tell you about it, I will. Have a great week.

October

October is zooming by and not going according to plan. I am working on dealing with it. Still getting the knee better, back to work on a limited basis, and trying to get back to creating things. Anything on the regular. It's been hard but I tell myself it's only been about two months since my surgery and to cut myself some slack. Working on it. But it has turned out to be a wonderful fall. Cool temps, gusting winds, rain, colorful leaves... it's been a true fall. Going for walks and crunching leaves; I can't remember the last time that happened.

The colors have been great. I'm enjoying everything and filing it in my head and I think I will have to get some of these pics printed off. Now if we can have a decent Halloween night. No rain or snow or freezing temps. That would be perfect.

Below are some more Frida dolls finally painted and ready for clothes. I guess I should take another pic because their faces are done. I will be painting other dolls today. I have been doing tiny sketches on a calendar all month long and will show those soon. At least I'll get 31 days of Halloween.

Here we go!

Sometimes you just need to talk to a good friend, who really knows you, to help you get back on the creative wagon. Things keep happening that want to derail me being as creative as I want. My mother fell again last week. The second time this year. I went into her hometown on Monday to check on her, the house, and I made her a big pot of veggie soup and some rice on the side. I bought her some frozen breakfast sandwiches, frozen chicken and turkey breakfast sausages, and breakfast bars. Why? Because she won't eat breakfast. Then later in the day, she'll get dizzy. And then comes the fall. So I got easy and small things she can eat in the morning to get something on her stomach. Today I go back because she's got a doctor's appointment.

Back to my friend. She helped me get out of this little rut that was about to turn into a canyon. It's the same old negative loop. I have a list of things I want to do. I get a great start in the morning. Then right after coffee, things go haywire. The doubts seep in. Why work on something and it won't turn out. Or no one  will like it. No one will buy it. No one will buy anything because nothing's finished. Then I get freaked out, think about my mother, getting a new job, and it just goes on and on. My friend told me to stop it. Find a beautiful picture of Scotland and put it where I can see it everyday. And tell myself that I need to work on and complete things so I can get there. Yesterday was a good day. Got more Frida dolls stuffed and put together. I didn't get to all on the list, but I got to that.

See, they look like aliens. This is one point where I would stop and do the bad thing of beating myself up. So when I get back from mom's, I will paint pretty faces. Have a great day y'all. Someone should.

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.

Getting Back

Recovery from any surgery is slow and steady. Especially with joints. You're terrified that you'll do something wrong and re-injure yourself, all the while your physical therapist says you're fine and to trust the joint. I no longer have shooting pain which I enjoy. It will still take time to trust myself but I'm getting there.

I'm also working on getting back to creating things. For about two and a half months, I hadn't created anything because of the pain. Now I feel like I'm coming out of a fog. Also working on not beating myself up because I may miss making Halloween pieces again. Oh well. One day-at-a-time, one thing at a time. So I started with little things begun before surgery. Like my hexie (English Paper Piecing) pincushions. It seems to be a comfort thing making them, plus I'm using up a lot of scraps. And working on getting some sort of consistency with sketching. I would like to do a personal art challenge for the month of October.

Here's what I've been up to so far. Another mushroom. I used Derwent Ink Tense paints, Derwent Watercolor Pencils, and Micron Pen.

This is my Frida Kahlo doll I started when the sun formed. Her skirt and top were done last month. She'll get dressed and hair on soon.

Here are some finished and unfinished pincushions. I may make some different shapes too. Square, rectangle. Why not? Believe it or not, this is a project that calms me down and helps me to think of bigger projects.

Things are perfect. They never will be but I'm working on being comfortable being me and being creative again. Have a great weekend.

September

It's been awhile. I have been recuperating from knee surgery. Four weeks now and PT (physical therapy is going well. Right now I'm about 75% functional. My PT therapist says I'm doing better than most who have had my procedure. Of course, I'm not a patient person and I'm working on not being hard on myself for not being further along. But I can walk without shooting pain and my flexibility is improving everyday. I even got more types of exercises to do. I'm planning on another tow weeks to see how things go and then I'll be ready to look for a new job. I don't know if I want to be on my feet all the time at the old job or deal with people this holiday season.

It's been rough trying to get creative again. Lots of starts and stops. Lots of tears. Lots of being mad at myself. I tell myself, one-day-at-a-time. Do a few things and rest. Think of all the cool and wonderful things I've done and celebrate. Put fear in the backseat and keep moving. It's hard. After being in constant pain for so many months, having the surgery, and not working, it is very hard. My self esteem is in the toilet and I just have little faith in creating right now. Once again I have missed out on several creative opportunities.

It's my favorite time of year and I'm working on enjoying it. The leaves are starting to change colors. I love that. The temps were cooler but we seem to be getting a late summer right now. All the fall and Halloween decorations are out in full force. I have to just look. Look at how people decorate their homes, both inside and out. I keep telling myself that one day, one day I will have my own home to decorate. Right now, that's kind of hard to hold on to.

I tell myself that each day is a new day. I've been trying to just get back to creating something. After surgery, all I could do was knit. So I made dish cloths.

I finally got a front page done for my Bullet Journal.

I started drawing mushrooms for a project I've been wanting to work on for over a year.

And I finally got back to my EPP (English Paper Piecing) using hexies. The mini ones below in the first pic will turn into something. I can see what I want in my mind but I don't know if it will happen.

The larger hexies have backings and will be appliqued down and eventually turned into pincushions. One can never have enough pincushions. Plus I'm trying to use up some of the fabric and other materials I have.

It's a start. I now have to finish them. Another big problem. Finishing things.

One Day At A Time. After all, I'm still healing. And I need to cut myself some slack.

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.

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.

It's Spring, I Think

Yes, the calendar says spring but we got snow yesterday and I lit a fire in the fireplace. Working on some new habits and I'm doing okay. As long as I don't beat myself up for not being perfect. Starting new habits is hard. It's not so much as how many days you do them to get them established but how consistent you are in doing them. I've fallen off the boat a couple of times. I told myself to cut me some slack seeing that I only started Tuesday. This is what I've been up to.

I finished the faces of these two dolls. It's a little different from what I have been painting.

And I started some gourd heads. Never too early to think Halloween. I drew some sketches of gourds and pumpkins last year and added facial features. We'll see what happens.

When I make myself sit down and work with the clay, how it feels, how much water to use, where to put eyes, it feels really good. So I tell myself to do it more, keep doing it. It's so different from cloth. But this is where my creativity is screaming to go next. I'm hanging in there.