Today

My first day off to be creative and I got a little ahead on my art challenge. Faces 9 thru 12. And I got the last batch of cloth dolls stuffed and ready to get faces on. Probably tomorrow. My goal is to have them finished by the end of the week.

#29faces

Onward

Well it looks like Google+ and Blogger are changing up things. More reading I guess. Kind of hate change but what are ya gonna do? Okay then...

I'm working on keeping up with the art challenge 29 Faces and I'm up to 8. Seems like the guys are getting more attention than the ladies. That's all right, I need to practice on male faces anyway. I have no idea if there is any direction with these guys or things are just happening. We shall see.

I like guys in most beards. LOL

#29faces

Getting Started

Yes, getting started. I finally got a chance to watch Puppy Bowl. The puppies up for adoption were so cute. And the puppy sports commentary was hilarious. There were even baby kangaroo cheerleaders. I was able to get two faces done for the 29 Face art challenge this month. I don't have a style or subject I want to stick to this time around, so I will just do some faces.

I do think I will try more male faces. I really need to practice those. That's it for now.

#29faces

Hello February!

Where do I start? First off, February is going to be my start month for 2019 because January kind of sucked. It was very weird, starting day one. I came into contact of 2 Debbie Downers and from there, everything just went downhill. I didn't produce much of anything. I was in a void and I didn't know what was going on. I blame all the lunar events that were happening. Blood Moon, Wolf Moon, eclipse, and then to top it off with the Polar Vortex thing... UGH! And so many friends and acquaintances also suffering from creative stagnation and just being ill. Things breaking down. Like I said, January sucketh.

But now it's February. A new month. A short month. I'm feeling better but I'm a bit afraid to do so. I've got plans. I've decided to go all out to make totally different things. I will still do cloth dolls but a different variety of cloth dolls. I'll explain in the future. I'm truly going to give myself permission to make whatever the heck I want. If people like it, great. If not, that's okay too but the little monsters are crowding my tiny brain. Yesterday, I started some new pieces. I have no idea what I'm doing. I didn't have the right materials for one group and used what I had. Really going to have to improvise a bit and that's okay too. Stop stressing and overthinking and just make something. You know.

Two different groups going on in the top photo. I have an idea and they're works in progress. The goal is to have them done by the end of the month. And that's Boris in the back with his nifty red and white scarf on.

I want to participate in the art challenge 29 Faces this month too. I've been practicing last month on the refrigerator calendar. I think I will try more male faces. I do need to practice those.

So I'm off to a start of a very busy month. A creative month. Because spring is coming. I know we have to get through February and March (we could get more snow) but spring will eventually get here.

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.

A Slow Start

I'm pushing myself this year to learn some new techniques for making dolls and figures.  I have some crazy ideas on the drawing board and have started to do some research. Here's my first batch of frog info and sketches.

My new work won't be so realistic but I need to know how frogs are put together so I can unput them together. It's going to be an interesting year. I have also started to look for different shows to attend. That's an interesting process too.

2019

Day two on this calendar. It's 2019 y'all. No pic for this post because I just wanted to get started. Lots to do, lots I want to do and so far, I've gotten a decent start. First off, last year. 2018. I did do a few things.

• was a vendor at three doll shows
• finished 25 projects which included 52 pieces
• designed and made a doll for a theatrical production in North Carolina
• designed Halloween embroidery for a friend
• made my second trip up north, seeing another lighthouse and the Straights of Mackinac
• started a new doll making technique
• wrote a little, very little on my novels

That's what I did. What I accomplished and I'm pretty proud of myself. It wasn't all that I had wanted to do. But I did do some things and this year will be a lot better. I'm in a different place in my mind right now and I've got some exciting things coming my way.

With this new technique I will be doing more standing figures. Some will be cute, some funny, some a wee bit scary. But I believe it will help me grow as an artist. Making my box just a little bit bigger. So stayed tuned. We've got a new slate for the next trip around the sun.