Pedal to the Metal!

---- realized late last night that I have a doll due on the west coast no later than Sept 15.  I'm now in full panic mode!
Fortunately, I started her months ago.  She needs sanding and all that PLUS her costume.  That's started too, but the main piece still needs a pattern and mock-up - called a muslin by real designers - but I use heavy duty napkins to work up the final pattern.
Being a fairy queen, she will have elegant wings.  They're the reason I was up so late last night - I'd finally figured out a way to make them so that they would never droop.  I will not have a fairy queen with droopy wings!!

. . . and Ninjas, too.

a Ninja doll??  Yep, for my littlest art student for his 6th birthday.  How on earth do I get myself into these fixes?  (Easy, just open mouth and volunteer!)   Afraid this 'doll' is a quick and dirty version of one of my first attempts at doll making.

I'm using black fabric for the basic doll, will use white fabric to cut out and glue on details like face and hands.  Little artist gets to paint those and whatever else he wants on the figure.  I must remind myself to call it an action figure as opposed to 'doll' although HE uses 'doll'.  Hopefully, his guy friends won't tease him.

It's frustrating . . .

I'm finding it difficult to maintain a more or less level work progress.  Ideas that seemed to work on paper just don't work when attempted with fabric and glue, etc.  I suppose this is part of the creative process, but it feels like trying to run in knee deerp mud.

I am Blessed

My aunt passed away last year shortly before her 98th birthday.  Still sharp, but with macular degeneration.  A terrible thing for an avid quilter and crafter.  Yesterday, I received a letter from my cousin - containing a check from my aunt.  My aunt had left a small gift to each of my sisters and I.  I was stunned - and ever so grateful.  Now I don't have to worry about paying my way to Houston and back.

Facing my Fears

---- fear of FABRIC,  Not ALL fabrics, just the ones I'm sent for the Gypsy competition or a piece I just barely have enough of to make what I want.  I love fabrics.  They can stop me in my tracks, make me salivate, do an instant project in my head.  I has to be a good thing I can't afford to buy all the lovely cloth that catches my imagination, for I would surely be homeless and starving!

All this to say I cut into the fabric yesterday, to begin making the Mardi Gras costume, a tiny Bikini bottom.  I'm trying to keep meticulous notes this time because pattern making is still difficult for me.  Not because I won't dive into the job with both feet, but because I don't know enough about pattern making.  Cut and Paste works here, too.

The Long andf Short of it

     Made some progress last night; Mardi Gras (m.d.) doll now has a warm, dusky skin, sparkly purple eye shadow and glittery red lips.  When I attached her head to body last night I thought she looked great.
     This morning, was a different conclusion.  Her neck, though very graceful, was much too long.  So - off with her head!  Shorten her neck and reattach head.  She looks much better, but now I must wait for the clay to dry before I can sand and paint the area.
     I'll used this forced wait to clear off the work table and iron the fabrics I'll use for her costume.  Cutting into these limited amounts of fabrics is the scariest part of the whole project!