I'm still alive...I think...

Wow, it has been a while since I have posted. I setup at a fair in Louisiana in November and had a fairly good show. I am not doing any shows now until 2010. I am going to start working on getting my website e-commerce ready and trying to expand my online presence. Here is a pic of my doll that I made for the Gypsy Challenge in Houston, but at the last minute decided I was going to keep her home. My goal for this blog in 2010 is to be more active and start posting more updates and fun stuff, so please be sure to check back often. Till next time...

Wow, has it been that long since my last post?

Well, I have been busy working on dolls for the show I am currently at. I am right now in San Antonio for the La Villita show. Weather is not cooperating and today was terrible. I hope tomorrow is better. Here are pics of some of the dolls I have been working on...

I have another show in November in Covington, Louisiana, if I don't back out. I have already paid for the space, so better go. Till next time...

Third year in a row...

I just found out this past week that for the third year in a row I have won first place with two of my dolls at the State Fair of Texas. My wall hanging and soft sculpture did not do well (which I have no idea how my horse did not place), but that is okay there is always next year. My girls get to be on display now during the fair. I kind of could used them for the show coming up in October, but I will have them back for my show in November. I would post a pic of the girls, but for some reason I forgot to take pictures of them, which is weird for me, oh well. Till next time....

I am a creative person....hmmm...didn't know that....

Your rainbow is strongly shaded violet.

What is says about you: You are a creative person. You appreciate beauty and craftsmanship. You are patient and will keep trying to understand something until you've mastered it.

Find the colors of your rainbow at spacefem.com.

I found this cool website that tells you what color on the rainbow you are as compared to your personality. I must say it is very accurate. I also cannot believe I have not posted this month at all. I am really behind times aren't I? I need to get better at this posting thing. Till next time...

Just found out I am accepted into two more shows...

I now have a show in September (which I am not going to do), show in October (near the Riverwalk in San Antonio...woo hoo), and then a show in November (in Louisiana near New Orleans). I am also looking at applying to a show in Mesa, Arizona in December, as I would just love to see that area, plus it is close enough to Christmas to catch those last minute shoppers, but not sure on that one. I think I am looking most forward to San Antonio in October, as I just love that area, but no matter what I do, I have to get a lot of stuff put together or I might as well not setup anywhere. I am making more animals, mermaids and fairies, as I think those will sell better, but who knows what people are wanting. I just have my work ahead of me. Till next time...

Getting ready for the Texas State Fair...

I decided to enter four different divisions this year, as I normally only enter the doll - soft sculpture and doll - flat face. I am going to do both those again, trying for two blue ribbons for a third year in a row, but I also decided to do wall hanging - not quilted and soft sculpture. I have finished my wall hanging. It is totally done with my Omnistitch machine using different types of yarns on a canvas backing. The Omnistitch machine has not been made since 1996. It is a wonderful embellishing machine. Some other companies have come up with attachments that come close, but nothing works like this machine does. I really enjoyed making this, and it has much more impact in person. I have not started my soft sculpture yet though, and I have to have everything ready to deliver by August 15. My two dolls are made, just need to finish their stands. I am either making a dog or a horse I have adapted from a Vogue pattern. I have to get in gear if I am going to make the deadline. Till next time...

My "Mini-Me" doll is just about done!!

He is just about done...I have to make some adjustments to the pants and get his sandals put together, but he actually looks like a guy. As I normally make girl dolls, and all my faces have a way of looking female, I was so glad when he came out looking masculine. Till next time....

To accept or not accept...that is the question...hmmmm

Well, I just found out that I was accepted into an art show in Oklahoma City, OK, in September. It will be Labor Day weekend. Now I have to decide whether to setup or not. I had this plan to do three more shows this year and then decide whether or not I wanted to continue selling my art through shows. Well, when I did Main Street earlier this year I got a bit discouraged, as dolls seem like a bit of a hard sell. People just loved my work, but just could not picture where to put them in their house. I then thought about making more animals to offer also with my dolls, but then I was a bit afraid that people would think they were toys and not a piece of art, so I would not be able to charge what they were really worth. I then thought well I will just work on purses, but no shows were accepting my purses, only my dolls and animals. Now I just don't know. I have to make a decision quick though, as I have to have my booth payment in by July 24th, so do not have much time to mull over this one. Till next time....

I finally finished my Hoffman doll and she is going in the mail this week. I really want to win the Sulky prize, so I did some major embroidery on this girl. Her vest was freehand embroidery on wash away stabilizer, so it is only threads. I also did string effect on her skirt and the main part of her skirt is patchwork. I used Mod Podge on the box and glued the fabric to it. I really like the way it turned out. I sure hope she does well. Till next time...

My first guy doll...I think he looks like a boy....

I am in the middle of making a doll for someone and this is the work in progress. Of course it needs facial hair, his wig, etc., but for my first guy, I think he actually looks pretty good. Once he has is clothes on and all he should look great, but we shall see. Till next time....

Aren't I sexy...well, maybe once I am finished...

This girl thinks she needs to lounge around on my sewing table begging to be finished. Hmm, I will see what I can do, as I sure don't need anything else lying around and looking sexy on my sewing table. LOL. Till next time...

Hmm, think my Hoffman doll is finished??

Ha ha ha....I think she might be missing a few things including her head. At least I have awhile before I have to send her in. Maybe by then she will have found her head. Till next time...

I'm back...be afraid, very afraid...

Wow, it has been a bit since I have posted. I just got back yesterday from a wonderful fiber art retreat where I made the cutest little bird and a camel that looks like he hasn't a clue. I will get better pictures posted ASAP, but here is one that was taken by another person who went to the conference. Isn't he cute? I am going to get back to posting regularly, as I have no big plans for shows in the next couple of months, so you will have to put up with me posting here. LOL. Till next time...

I made a froggie...isn't he cute??

Well, my granddaughter was one on May 2nd. She is in another state, so I could not see her, but I made her a frog. I had such fun making this guy. He got to be a bit of a pain when it came time to sew the body together and then turn it, but I think he turned out great. I think she will like it. I made sure there was nothing that would fall off and incorporated her name in the belly design, so there you go. Till next time...

My Girl Prudence has her own blog...

Hello all, I just wanted to announce the new blog for my proper girl Prudence McSassy. She is getting ready to get out of the house and go on an adventure and will be documenting her gallivanting on her blog at http://www.prudencemcsassy.blogspot.com/. Be sure to check it out. Here is her picture. I knew she had a bit of a wild streak in her that has finally come out - LOL. Till next time....

I'm back...here is Lady Godiva and Marcimellow...

Wow, did not realize it has been so long since I posted. I survived Main Street. Made a little money, learned a lot, not sure I would do it again. I do have several dolls made now, so an see if there are any galleries or shops in the area that I can put them in on commission. We shall see.

Well, here is a picture of my Lady Godiva and her horse Marcimellow. The Lady is from Mary Tressler's Goddess of Abundance pattern and the horse is a pattern by Nancy Gawron. The horse and I have been fighting for over five months, but I finally finished her and she actually looks like a horse, imagine that.

I think that is it for now. Will be posting pics frequently over the next few weeks of all my new dolls. Till next time...

Dolls, dolls...everywhere...oh no!!

Well, here are the boxes of my doll bodies that are now waiting for their faces to be sculpted and painted and then their costumes put on. I think there are at least 20 bodies in their little baggies in these two containers. I have four weeks until Main Street and if I do not have the faces done on these girls by Monday my booth is going to look really empty, as I am soooo off schedule.

To me the costuming goes the quickest, at least the way I do it. I do not normally cut out patterns, fussy cut, etc., I drape the fabric, pin and sew. I then add a lot of embellishments to cover any funky seams or such and then we are done. A couple of these girls are going to get leather boots, which is a little added work, but I just glue the leather to the leg and then either stitch or glue around the seams and there you go, little boots. I went through my boxes upon boxes of fabric last week and mixed and matched coordinated fabrics for each doll and then put the fabric in the dolls bag so I have everything in one place.

I just love those gallon size baggies, as I can put a doll and all her trimmings in one releasable bag with her pattern and don't have to worry about sorting and trying to figure out what goes with what. Great time saver. I then take those baggies once the doll is done with the pattern pieces and any extra parts and staple them to the main pattern book I have and then if I want to make another one of a certain doll, I already have my pattern ready and possibly already cut out pattern pieces. Shear genius, huh? LOL. Well till next time...

Where does the time go??

Well, here I sit realizing Main Street is in less than seven weeks and I have unfinished doll bodies lying everywhere with next to nothing finished. This really is not good. I have been slammed with work and have lost my day off somewhere. I am so tired and right now feel I am at a crossroad of how to pay the bills, but still be able to make a living from my passion. Hard choice I guess, as I like having a roof over my head, the lights on and running water, but I am so tired of typing, typing, typing that I could just scream. Hmm, I think my Zoloft has quit working - LOL. I guess in this economy right now I should be glad I have so much work, but sometimes money isn't everything. Oh well, hopefully this weekend I can get the last 8 doll bodies done that I have left to sew and then I can start costuming, painting faces and finishing dolls, so then I can feel more prepared for the upcoming show. Till next time.....

Trying to get organized, is it really possible?

Hmm, I went today and got a new drawer/shelving unit to sit next to my bed, as right now I have bags, sacked on top of boxes, stacked upon who knows what of the doll supplies I use when I am watching TV and working on dolls. Container Store is having a sale and I got one of those nice metal shelf racks with trays that pull out and was normally like $100 and I got it complete for $45. It was a display model. I will now have a tray for my paints, one for my doll parts, one for other assorted stuff so maybe I can actually get on my side of the bed. What a novel idea, LOL. Now my sewing room, that is a completely different story. As long as everything in there is in boxes and not falling on my head I think we will be fine for a while. I did have a whole can of beads fall on my head a while back when I was sewing though. Talk about a shocker. I was sitting there just a sewing and this cookie tin with big pearls and other types of beads comes crashing down on my head and these beads go everywhere. I am still finding beads and that happened several months go.

On a different subject, the doll pic in this post is a doll that won one of Mary Tressler's witch challenges and I have no idea where this doll flew off to. I had her in a booth that I used to have in an antique mall here locally and when I went to move out my items had been moved to another booth and she was missing. I still have her hat and broom, but who knows where she is. I hope she is in a good home, as I kind of miss her. Oh well, I saw her pic in my picture folder and thought I would let the world see her. Who knows, maybe somebody who sees this blog can tell me where she is - he he he. Till next time.....

Oh my goodness...where has the time gone????

Last night I pulled out my calender and realized I have 8 weeks until Main Street in Fort Worth, Texas. Oh my goodness, when I was accepted I had like 5 months, plenty of time, now I only have 8 WEEKS!! Honestly, where does the time go. I figured I have to finish at least a doll a day for the next 4 weeks to be close to where I need to be. I also have to get a merchant account, setup my display, make table skirts, make small pin dolls, etc........ Hmm, I think it is time to make a check list of everything I need to do and start daily updating and going down the line. I currently have 30 doll bodies in different stage, but they are all sewed and just about stuffed, so that just leaves hair, faces and costuming, which takes a while, but at least I am close.

I think the big thing is that this is my first show like this ever, so the next shows will be easier, as I will already have an idea of what is expected, how many items I really need to have finished, and already have my display setup and ready. Well, this is quite the learning experience, but even though I am stressed about getting everything done, I am feeling so good about this. It is like a new door opening, a new opportunity, I guess the first step to actually doing what I enjoy. Well, till next time....

Count down to Main Street...

Wow, I just realized today that there is only a few weeks until the big show. I am so behind and have so much I need to get done still. I am trying to figure out my booth setup and what I need to be sure to display my dolls in their best light. I basically have to make a doll a day for the next two months to be sure to have enough product to stock my booth well. I also want to make a lifesize doll to sit in a chair at the opening of my booth to get people's attention. Goodness, so much to do and so little time - ;o).

I am at such a crossroad right now. I am so tired of what I do for a living right now. I am a medical transcriptionist and have been for the past 9 years and it is just getting to be too much. I make less now than I did 9 years ago, work longer hours, and am tearing up my wrists. I have to make some major decisions as to what I am going to do to get myself out of MT work and into something I enjoy, have passion for, that will also provide me and my family with a good living. That last part is going to be the hard part. I have been a writer for years and think it is time to really start focusing on learning how to take my writing skills, along with my passion for fiber arts, and start opening some new venues to provide multiple streams of income. I know this can be done, it is just finding the time, which has always been a problem for me, as my time management skills really do stink, but I am working on that. I obtained a Daytimer and am going to start listing everything I want to accomplish each day, each week, and make goals in writing that I can follow. I remember being told many years ago that failing to plan is planning to fail, so failure is not an option around here. LOL. Well that is all for now. Till next time...

Oh my goodness, my sewing room has a life of its own...

Well, last week I took a trip to my mentor/friend's house and she sent me home with a car full of goodies. Well, the only problem with this is now my sewing room has a life of its own. I definitely have no problem now finding enough goodies to make any type of doll, purse, etc. that I want to make. But, as you other fabric lovers know I probably will still pick up fabric on clearance at the local fabric store or purchase lots of vintage lace off Ebay. Hmm, I wonder if an intervention is in order...LOL. Till next time...

Wow, has it been that long?

Well, I just realized I have not posted in weeks, which is the total opposite of what I had planned to do with this blog in 2009. So, today I decided to get back to posting. Well, I think my horse is actually starting to look like a horse. The nose is still about 2 to 3 inches too short, but there is no more fabric to pull and don't think a nosectomy would help or is even possible, so just going to finish her up and by the time I put on her bridle and such on she should be good to go. I am going to have Lady Godiva riding on her, so people will probably be looking at the doll instead of the horse anyway...LOL. Till next time...