STUFF, STUFF, STUFF!

I knew I had a lot of stuff, but I seem hardly to have made a dent in it all after four days of packing.  The bookcases in my office/studio are empty of books except for the photo albums.  I will store them in a plastic container in order to keep them dry.

And yesterday, I braved the TWO fifty gallon storage containers full of fabric, determined to condense them into only one.  I succeeded with room to spare by setting aside fabric for Meredith and a roll of remnants to make dolls of every skin color for Paris Freeman of the quilt guild.  The guild will get a ton of what's left after my new doll artist friend, Juanelle Marshall chooses what she wants tomorrow afternoon.

About four days ago, I received a note from Juanelle, telling me she had seen my doll the Spanish Dancer in a recent Art Doll Quarterly.  She said she loved my technique and would I be willing to teach a class.  (of course!)  Juanelle also said she belonged to a recently disbanded doll club. (after years of looking, now I learn there actually WAS one ) and would I be interested joining and help to breath new life into the group.  Sure, I would, though I don't know how much life I could actually breath into a group of already creative women.

So.  I'll continue packing to the point of leaving just enough to eat and sleep here until I actually vacate the house.  That will be a huge adjustment after having an entire house to fill with all my artsy-crafty stuff.

Which reminds me, I MUST get cracking on Stella if I'm to have her photographed and to ADQ before the 15th of March.

NEW YEAR, NEW LIFE STYLE

The new year has brought a very big shift in my life.  I shall soon be going to live with my son and daughter-in-law.  This is a move they have wanted for several years - and which I have resisted - but this year (I pray) will benefit all of us.  DIL has MS as well as severe pulmonary problems.  Son has a hard time cooking, cleaning, maintaining the yard and holding down a full time job.  They need help and despite my age and the attendant aches and pains, I'm in better health than they are.

I will no doubt continue to make dolls, but at a slower pace.  I can't remember a time when I wasn't creating something, no matter how childish or unrecognizable.  The following has become my mantra:  "I will make things until I can't make things any more.  This is what I do.  This is who I am.  I make things".              

HOORAY, I'VE SURVIVED ANOTHER YEAR!

The best part was selling (at a deep discount) my Gypsy dolls "Casting a Protective Spell" scene.  Read the details on my Facebook page.

2015 was also the year my poor car got minimum maintenance and is now in deplorable condition; it was also the year I was in constant fear of having to replace my air-conditioning unit.  It's a good bet it will gasp its last on the coldest or hottest day of the year.

I hope this will be the year Stella Skelly my Halloween Vamp will be published in ADQ.  I'd be walking on clouds if she made the cover.  But I'm not a "professional" doll artist so that will probably never happen.  I wonder when an artist morphs into a "professional"?  I suppose when the public gets sick of seeing your work.  I think I got started in this doll business too late in my life - I've run out of energy before I could get up a good head of steam.