AND MY SISTER WON!

- don't tell ME blonds are dumb.  My sister wanted the Spanish Dancer so badly, her first bid blew all other contenders out of the water.  And so she shall have it.  I've packed the doll as well as I can and pray it will arrive without damage.  I will insure it for as much as I can - and pray.

THE SPANISH DANCER -- AGAIN

-- the poor dear has stood on my desk for at least a month with her skirt and petticoat pulled up over her head and her bare bottom exposed to all who visit my studio.  I did make her a new pair of knickers (long legged underpants) last week, but had to wait until her paint and finish coat were dry, to sew them on her.

But, alas, when I let down her skirt and petticoat, her hair was in such disarray, I couldn't make it look even half-way acceptable.  So, once again, I did a merciless amputation and gave her a buzz cut.  I dabbed black paint on her skull and at her hair line and am now gluing more hair to her head.  Thank goodness, I have plenty of her hair left.

I'VE BEEN PUBLISHED - AGAIN

This is hysterical.  I tried and tried to post this badge, frustrated to distraction with my ignorance and forgetfulness.  Finally, I just shut everything down.  Today, when I signed on, there it was - ten times larger than I'd tried for, but THERE IT WAS.  or rather, here it is.  This is the issue my Spanish Dancer appears in, the doll I have up for auction.  So far, I have one bid.  My sister started the bidding off with a bid that will probably cause everyone else to throw up their hands and not bid at all.

I DON'T KNOW . . .

I was thinking earlier this evening about the difference between how I make my dolls and how other doll artists make theirs.  I don't "do" fabric dolls so that leaves "the others" - the ones who use polymer or other clays.   I've never mastered  polymer clay, so that leaves me with air dry clay.

Economics is the guiding force behind my choices.  Air dry clay is inexpensive in comparison to other clays,   Chop sticks and kabob skewers can be purchased at the supermarket.  And I found an excellent recipe for an air dry clay I can make and keep in the refrigerator for months.    

Perhaps a half dozen of my dolls have been published in the Art Doll Quarterly but with few exceptions, I've tried to keep my method statement to one brief paragraph.  I realize now that someone may pick up a copy of ADQ, read how I construct my dolls - and wonder what the heck I'm talking about.  I mean, some people don't know what a gourd is.  

But here again, we're talking economics.  A small, egg shaped gourd sells for anywhere from twenty five cents to a dollar. A half dozen each of medium and large "eggs" (check the size of the eggs in your refrigerator) will last me a year or longer. I also use small zucca gourds as the doll's torso.  A zucca gourd the size I use most, will run about a dollar each.  Add the cost of some very special glue which will also last me a year if I'm careful - and you do the math.  For about five dollars or less, I can build a 16 inch tall doll.

And then there are the costumes.  Oh, dear!  I'm almost as bad as the quilters I know; they are fabric addicts.  Fat quarter junkies.  They grow faint at the thought of an entire bolt of coveted fabric for half price, never giving thought to the groceries, the air-cushioned, light-up, autographed sneakers, etc that will be sacrificed to feed her addiction.    But as I said, I'm ALMOST as bad.  When I  let neighbors know I was making dolls and would love to have any fabric scraps they would part with - VIOLA!  Not one, but TWO Fabric Godmothers appeared - both experienced dress makers of long standing.  Suddenly, I had died and gone to Fabric Heaven!  Fortunately, ( I guess?)  Hobby Lobby  has moved out of my neighborhood to way th'heck out by the airport!!  I loved their fabric department.  Not large but chock full of goodies.  My impulse buying has been severely curtailed.

So I shall spend the next few months with a group of quilters, hopefully learning to sew much better than I do now.                                                            

I LIVE IN A MAD HOUSE!!

I have an unfinished project in every room, including the kitchen at the moment, where the second batch of plum pudding is slowly steaming in the oven.  For another 2 hours and 40 minutes.  Plum pudding HAS to be a labor of love because no sane woman would make it.  If it turns out to be edible (think fruit cake without nuts) I may make take a loaf and some rum sauce to the quilters' Christmas dinner.   So, if I can get my trashed kitchen back in working order by - say midnight? I plan on making a double batch of Thai Pumpkin soup tomorrow morning.  I'll freeze a quart or two for those chilly days when I need to warm up from the inside.

Meanwhile, in my office/studio, Spanish Dancer rests gently on her head, her new hips and legs exposed to the air so that she will be dry enough for gesso and paint soon.  And on the dining room
table, a two pound block of fondant, dowels, big plastic straws and several sketches of a dragon's head.  My friend Mary and I have for the past three years, entered the Jacksonville Historical Society's  Gingerbread Extravaganza.  This year, we're making Puff the Magic Dragon's Magical Christmas.   We're limited to a 30" square of space and 85% of the building materials must be edible - discounting the 30" by 30" by 1/2" plywood base.   This can be a real challenge if you're building something higher than six inches.  So since Puff's body is gingerbread, and his neck and head will be made of fondant (my job) I must keep that piece as light as possible while incorporating a means of attachment in addition to his fondant "skin".

And unfinished teddy bears languish on the coffee table in the living room.  My problem there is that any time I sit down, I'll fall asleep.  Progress on the teddy bears is v-e-r-y slow.

THE DEED IS DONE!

My grand daughter told me that from now on, she would introduce me to her friends as "the surgeon".  I suppose that's better than "the butcher"!

Be that as it may, the Spanish dancers' legs are gone and - so far - replaced from hip to knee.  But she got her revenge!  Since I find it impossible to wear a dust/particle mask, my glasses AND safety glasses all at the same time, I went without the safety glasses while sawing off her clay legs and am paying dearly for my negligence.  My eye lids and  tear ducts are so itchy I feel like ripping them off.  Suffice it to say, my eyelids are so red and swollen, I look like I've been on a month long bender.  OTC drops and baby oil help, but doubt they will be a cure.

SO.  while senorita's clay thighs were drying, I cut out a pair of Teddy Bears.  One will be for my grand daughter's significant other who has a huge collection of stuffed animals.   Teddy is a light brown, will have a shock of curley red hair and  - If I can make a decent pair - flip flops.  I worried about a colorful tee shirt for him until I saw some really loud toddlers' socks at Publix. BINGO!

I also have a hat box I'm going to refurbish for my grand daughter.  She makes costumes for all sorts of events, and I know she has a hat or two that could use some protection from their five cats.

--- AND IT'S GETTING EVEN WORSE

I guess I'd forgotten how long ago I made the Spanish Dancer because her skeleton is made of wire.  No wonder she wobbled and the clay cracked.  I tried last night to make repairs and even my best glue wouldn't grab and hold.  So, I'm seriously thinking of removing her legs entirely and starting at her hips, build new legs using dowels as the skeleton.  Dowels don't bend and the way I construct my dolls makes them very sturdy.  I simply could not in good conscience,  allow one of my dolls go out if it wasn't at least 100% my best effort.  So I'm going to give the grass/weeds in the back yard a quick cut with the weed whacker then cut off the dancer's  legs.