. . . AND THE BUBBLE BURST

. . . but life goes on.  Our dream of a farm has been canceled by my son's worsening health.  The farm is now for sale and the proceeds will go to rehab our current city house.  I will get a new bathroom and a studio room (HOORAY!)  and we will still have a small aquaponics setup and a garden as well as a splash pool.  Of course, living in a planned community means dealing with the home owners association (HOA) who can put the kabosh on your most well meaning idea or project.  I guess the idea is to either make it pretty or hide it. Meanwhile, I'll keep on making dolls and things.

DollWorks

Only four members showed up for the meeting, and the pattern making demo got moved aside for  an urgent discussion on collecting member dolls to grace the opening reception of our annual Quilt Fest.  The dolls display had to be set up then taken down that same evening.

I wish our quilt show would include cloth dolls as a regular part of the show.  So many quilters make more than just quilts especially if there are grandchildren about.

I think some times that I'd like to design a quilt, even select the fabrics for it - but I'd never want to actually make it.  I simply don't have the sewing skill or patience!

MISSING THE MESS

That sounds awful, I'm sure, but I miss not having an entire room - okay, house - to spread out numerous projects in.  My creative process is probably short circuited some how, because unless I have a deadline looming over me (too many years in publishing?)  I tend to hop from project to project on the slightest excuse, ergo: I ran out of a required color of paint, the glue dried up, I cut a pattern piece on the wrong side of the fabric, or most annoying, finally admitting her head is too big/small and requires  replacing.

Joining the DollWorks group is keeping me involved and scrambling to keep up with these very talented ladies.  But, my room is quickly filling up not only with finished pieces but with leftovers from making those pieces.  I can see me eventually taking a load of "stuff" to the storage unit so I can find my bed.  I'll have a proper work space again eventually.

Meanwhile, my sister will be down here from the mountains of N Carolina the last two weeks of September to do a house search.  I'm going to do my best to influence her choice to include a generous "craft/sewing room."   I'm sure she'd let me share it once in a while.

Her son is urging a duplex so that they may be close but not together.  I like the idea because HE is also very artsy crafty and we think very much alike.  I've learned that working with other creative people multiplies the creative output exponentially.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed.                                                  

STELLA DIDN'T MAKE IT

Finally received my fall edition of Art Doll Quarterly yesterday and Stella Skelly didn't make the cut - or rather, she WAS cut from the "Glamour Ghoul" contestants.  This would have been the perfect venue for Stella, had I sent better photos.  My photographer tried his best to give me what I wanted but what I wanted was photographically unrealistic - and bless him, he seemed unwilling to tell me "NO".  So, perhaps I'll enter her next year if I don't sell her before then.

                            "TRICK? OR TREAT?"
                                          WITH
                              STELLA SKELLY

CATCHING UP

I'm trying to catch up as well as keep up.  The Doll Works group I've joined are a great bunch, but with my limited work space and limited tools, materials, etc., I don't know if I'll be able to keep up with them!  The August "show and tell"  is to be a fabric collage of a face.  I've never made a collage before, let alone of fabric.  So what I wound up with, I THINK will qualify as a collage but I may be corrected at the meeting.  If I can find a frame for it, maybe I can  sell it.  I've titled it "Beloved Horse" which the Arab horse is often called in Arabia.  I hope I've done the breed justice.

And my former neighbor gave me a rather large box of goodies the other day.  She sold her dress making business and is still unloading odds and ends - in my case, a giant spool of bubble gum pink elastic, eyelet ruffles, lace trims, and buttons galore.  I'm grateful as can be but - where on earth will I put that box?

THE GRIMLINS ARE GONE!

----- I HOPE!

something did a number on my computer even before my move.  I could bring the blog up but couldn't post a word.  Now it's working again and I've no idea how or why.  I'm just glad it's back.

So.  I now live with my son and DIL.  It's obvious we love each other and obvious there are now THREE good cooks in the house.  We eat Cuban, Thai and Middle America.  We have decided that we will have a state-of-the-art kitchen (in so far as we can afford it) in the new house and have even talked about holding cooking classes.  But it will probably be next year before we can start on the new house.

Meanwhile, 99% of my "doll making stuff" is in storage - not that I have any space for it here.  I did bring my little sewing machine and my finished dolls.  I couldn't bear the thought of them being in a dusty, hot storage unit.   And the doll making has all but stopped, BUT I've been promised a large work space in the new house.  Can hardly wait!!

The gourd doll class will be held on the 5th of July.  I have one more student kit to make up then it will just be a matter of gathering up equipment - Dremel, extension cord, drill with a 1/4" bit, etc. and fill the gas tank because I'll be driving to the next county.  Must remember to charge some batteries for my camera  --  then remember to take some photos!!

ANOTHER BADGE

     


Once again, I've  managed to post another "Ive been published" badge.  Months after it was awarded, of course.  Seems I can never get it right the first few times I try and success is more often than not, accidental.
     

Be that as it may, I'm happy to have sold my Mardi Gras doll to Carol Thornton,  A woman I've known since she was in first grade.  It pleased me to pieces that she remembered me, reminding me of a drawing I'd done for her Mom and of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches I made for her and her brothers and sisters. 

Getting the doll packed for shipment was an exercise in frustration.  Armed with my  25 foot steel tape, I visited the Big Box stores looking for (and measuring) plastic storage boxes. Finally, at Target, I was at my wits end.  On my way out of the store, I saw some kitchen trash cans.  One tall bag container just fit.  Without the lid.  So I bought just the container.  I splinted her unbent leg with popcicle sticks, taped her base to a foam platform, lined the container with carpet padding and filled the whole thing with foam peanuts.  I made the lid from a large scrap of foam core poster board, reinforced it, tied it down with cable ties and tape - and prayed.
The doll arrived safely except for a hairline crack on the protected leg.  I suggested Carol use a thin formula CA glue if she felt glue was necessary.  

And I'm wrapping up the putting-together of student kits for a gourd doll class I've been asked to teach.  I just hope there will actually BE some students!   I've managed to cut the price per student considerably, so that should help.  This should be a fun class and I'm really looking forward to it.