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.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

  

A TUB FULL OF STUFF!

OH, M'GOSH!!  I've hit the bubble wrap mother load!  The tub in my guest bath room is filled to capacity with bags and boxes of bubble wrap and foam peanuts.  This forgotten find is the aftermath of dolls sent to California and Texas and back - at great expense - over a period of about five years.   I no longer send the dolls to be photographed since I've found an excellent photographer who will make a cd that can be mailed for less than $100.

SO.  I shall have padding for my china - what hasn't already been packed - just today, I purchased a dozen microwave meals because I seem to have packed most of my cookware.  The first load of my "stuff" goes to the shipping container storage unit at the farm, on Saturday.  I needed some space in the garage to hold a moving sale.

THURSDAY PHOTO SHOOT

My photographer e mailed me this evening to let me know he would be able to "shoot" Stella Thursday after work.  If I have to cancel my own funeral, I will have her ready - and the set!!

I'm still alive, Stella's been shot and there is fine glitter all over the house.  In my effort to make the background moon "glow" I was overly generous with a vial of very fine glitter dust.  I just hope the background I set up won't look so amateurish the photos can't be used.

My photographer, a young man by the name of Cedric Bacon, works a night shift then drives across town (in our case, the entire county) to photograph my dolls.  Since my living and dining area is filled with stacks of boxes, we had to work in my cramped and cluttered office/studio where I'd arranged the setting on top of the sewing machine.  I make sure he gets credit for the photography and my extra copy of any Art Doll Quarterly our work appears in.   Having his work appear in an international magazine, looks very good on his resume.

STUFF addendum

I must add to the previous post because Juanelle was a most delightful person and her dolls were EXQUISITE !  She brought several of her dolls for me to see and they just blew my mind.  Technically, her work was perfect and artistically, it was very obvious that she was very familiar with the human body.

Despite the packing, bits and pieces of what would be an entire day of (gourd) doll crafting are beginning to come together in my head.  When I do have time to sit down and put it all on paper, it should be - if not complete - then very near it.  Very briefly, it comes down to $60. to $75. per person and they bring a brown bag lunch.. For that price, I provide all materials and  instruction sheets and answer all questions to the best of my ability.   Because of the move and my need to finish Stella Skelly, I'm going to guess that I can pull the class together some time in mid to late March.   Must mark my calendars!

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".