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.

Snow!

I'm hanging in there. It's been and emotional roller coaster the past several days since I was laid off. Fear, dread, anger, frustration, sadness, depression... I could go on. I have cried a lot and it's a struggle to find a creative happy place. So I joined an online art challenge of sorts. 100 dogs. Hosted by Jennifer Steck. https://jennifersteck.com/ or on Instagram under JenniferSteckArts. Her style is very whimsical and it's something I've never done. So far, I'm enjoying it and have to catch up. I've got 21 crazy dogs.

I know it's supposed to be spring but we got snow early this week. I didn't know whether to feel sorry for my visitors or not. I wanted to ask them if they were Census workers or plague doctors.

I'm going to continue to look for online work and do something creative. I hope you all have a pleasant day too.

Staying In

Unless it's for groceries. I pretty much have what I need except for air dry clay. I think I held off too long to order some online. Now I've seen there's a back order of the product because some people hoarded it. They probably don't even use it but they have a stockpile and no one who does use it can't get it. I also wish people would take this more seriously. Then we can get back to somewhat normal faster. My first doll show of the year has been canceled. Where I worked has closed, so now it's back to looking for some kind of work, online.

On another note, I now have plenty of time to create. Continue to downsize, go through my wardrobe (which is pretty much a joke), brush up on sewing for myself, take care of me. So... here are some sketches of new work.

A series of Plague Doctors. Seems a bit fitting right now. Please stay safe, take care of yourself, and be well.

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.

March!

I feel like I've received my marching orders.

Heck! Another month. Three months into a new year. Three months into a new decade. And I still feel behind. Even though I have been working on things, now is the time to really put the pedal to the metal. Step on the gas. Floor it. Time waits for no one and it's flying by. The older I get, the faster it seems to go. What's up with that?

I've been in and out of a weird funk the past two months even though some cool things have been happening and I've been working on being consistent again. Still waging a battle against not thinking what I want to do is important or good enough. Back to wanting to move again. Because things just aren't working out where I am. I can't change the place where I am, so I will have to find my own place. When I was younger, it didn't bother me to move. I was more fit. Now, the body isn't recovering as quickly. I have made that decision to at least attempt to find out a safe, less expensive place to live. A place to create.

I sent in my application to a local doll show. I have about 31 days to finish some pieces and start some new ones. I will have to do it. I have to move. No point in beating that dead horse. I have to make things happen for me. I deserve to at least try for me. So the sorting, giving things away, and packing will commence again. I've got new ideas on my platter. Stoking the fires. Also eating better and doing more exercises. With the way the weather is going to be this week, I may even be able to go for a few walks.

No pics this post. I don't even know if I want to list projects. Maybe I'll do a few.
Dolls:

• finish 8 Prim Dollies
• finish 5 Long Legs
• finish 2 aliens
• finish 2 Franken Babies
• finish 3 Frida Kahlo dolls
• finish 2 Day of the Dead dolls

Other:

• practice embroidery and applique
• finish repairing pants with hexies
• start a new doll series
• edit 2 short stories

31 days. Make it work.

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.