Promise to Myself

I promised myself I'd devote the summer to garden and home improvement - but that doesn't stop the "doll dreams" from popping into my thoughts and demanding action.  Any kind of action.  So I gave myself permission to put the idea on paper, even pull fabric, put it in a shoe box, label it and shelve it.  If I am very, very diciplined, I will have a half dozen dolls at least, waiting to be made by August/September.

Of course, the holidays seem always to blindside me - I'm never fully prepared for the baking and shopping and spur of the moment crafts.  And I always get a kick out of showing my little artist friend Jacob how to do something new.  I think this year, we'll try decoupage.  It's just messy enough that he should love it.

The Dolls are Done. Long Live the Dolls.

Both Flynn and the Spanish Dancer were photographed yesterday.  They are my response to the  last two ADQ challenges - mostly because both were already made.   I've decided I must ignore future challenges, no matter how they tempt me because years of newspaper and television work have shaped my automatic response to the word "deadline";  that is to shut out all other distractions until the job is complete no later than the deadline date.

The photographer for these last two dolls is a young man I met Thanksgiving at my grand daughters' house.  He showed me some of his work and I was quite impressed.  I asked if he would photograph my dolls and he was eager to do so.   For FREE!  So I fed him lunch and made him a batch of cookies.   Now, I'm waiting for the proofs - or whatever they're called.  One of the dolls must be in CA no later than the 15th - which is coming up fast.  The second doll isn't due in CA until  the 15th of  June.  If I'm really strong, it will be August before I make another doll.  

Spring is here-----

the redbud and dogwood are blooming, as well as the azaleas.  Despite all the snow up north, I''m sure I'll see flocks of robins very soon.  They will stay one day, over night and leave the next morning.  This is the day I keep Sassy in the house as much as possible because she will not tolerate ANYTHING that moves on it's own, in her yard.

For weeks now, I've felt the growing need to get outside and DO something, get my hands in the dirt.  I've bought potting and seed starting soil and of course, herb seed.    But, I've saddled myself with yet another deadline.  I hope it's the last for a while.  All those years of working for newspapers and tv stations have left me with a Pavlov-like response to the word "deadline".   So all other chores and responsibilities are left half done at best, until the deadline is met.

                         

B.A.M. was a BUST . . . .

. . . . . seems someone dropped the ball and - trusting soul that I am - I didn't check with the store the day before the big deal was to happen.

I showed up with all necessary gear, full makeup and a pound of candy hearts.  NO one knew I was supposed to be there.  But I must give them credit.  In nothing flat, they had set up a table for me, provided a classy black table cover with the Books-A-Million logo in big white letters and two chairs.  There were NO copies of the current edition on the shelf, nor had the extra copies promised been ordered.  An hour into the afternoon, they found three copies of the current ADQ.  Sold one copy to a neighbor, bless her heart.

When I realized how empty the store was on a Saturday afternoon, I pulled as many Stampington publications as I thought would fit on my table, to promote Stampington's beautiful craft magazines in  general and Crafts Month (March)  in particular.   Bria, my photographer, was there for about half the afternoon until   her Mom called her home to sit with her baby brother.  Meredith and David showed up  just as we were about to leave.  She had misread my notice, thinking the event started at 4 p.m.  It was from noon until 4p.m..  My neighbor, her sister and I were headed to Sweet Tomatoes for an early supper and invited Meredith and David along.  It was nice to have such a congenial group and a good meal.   It took away some of the pain of disappointment.  

SO.  There was mention of another chance May first when the summer issue hits the stands.   I must make a note to talk to the manager about ordering extra copies and getting some PR out there for me.  And for sure, must learn how on earth one arranges to talk to a human at the T-U.    I'm considering sending this to Jana.

A Book Signing -- of sorts

I have arranged to do a book signing at Books-A-Million next Saturday.  I'm steeling myself for it to be a big flop.  Primarily because I'll not be signing an actual book but a quarterly magazine - Art Doll Quarterly.  I don't know how well this magazine sells here in Jacksonville.  I suspect not very well.  I've certainly not managed to contact any other doll makers any closer than Palm Coast.

But, I've stuck my neck out, sent a "press release" to the Times Union, the Folio Weekly and BUZZ, another weekly entertainment tabloid.  If I get a dozen people to stop at my table as a result of those ads,  I'll be pleased.   I've asked Bria to come too, since she was the photographer for several of the dolls.  If she can leave plenty of her cards, she won't have to stay.  She's young, will probably have her boyfriend with her and I can see her getting bored very quickly.

Meanwhile, I've selected the clothes I will wear - sorry, sisters, I don't own a blazer.  On the other hand, this is FLORIDA.   AND - I stumbled upon a panic situation.  I forgot that all my business cards have my OLD phone number on them.  So, in the wee hours, I paint out the old number and hours later, hen the paint is dry, carefully print in the new.  Hopefully, there will be no more panic moments.

Sometimes . . . . .

. . . . sometimes, I feel like I'm advancing backward.  Good things happen but I can't take part or must limit my participation.  Houston was good - but I was burdened with a (borrowed) walker and slowed us down.  My Mardi Gras doll won a Judges Choice award - but Flynn's fingers were broken.

My New Year's Resolution

-------- is to make NO resolutions.   But I am going to try to make this the year I learn how to post a photo - on my blog, on my facebook page - anywhere.   And I have a couple of dolls started that need to be finished.  Of course, I always have sketches of figures I'd like to make, have even pulled fabrics and trims for  some of them.  I hope to improve my pattern making skills, too.  Must check with Jo-Ann's to see if they carry the red "lay out"? tape the designers on Project Runway use.  It looks like such a logical way to create a pattern.   Goinag to try to get rid of all the paper clutter, too.  In a year's time, I must surely recieve a TON of paper in the mail alone.  Hope my shredder is up to the job.