An Unexpected Day off

The power steering went out in my Durango. My super power used to be mighty upper body strength but I found out today, it must have been given away to a younger woman... So the car went to the garage and he said I'd have to come back later. I got a ride home and was kinda bummed because it caught me off guard. Car problems always kick in my anxiety. Don't know why other than I know absolutely nothing about cars so I never know what to expect. So...what to do??? I'm home. No car. Snowing. Too cold to go for a walk. I was sitting there with a cup of coffee when all of a sudden I realized... I'm all ALONE. By MYSELF. This NEVER happens!

So I decided to make a mess........

I hate to admit it and I'm sorry for anyone who got stuck doing any of my work today but ... I had a nice day. :o) Why does that make me feel guilty? For some reason I always combine enjoying myself with irresponsibility.

I'm always going to be 10 years old inside.

Sally helped. She chewed off loose strings for me. Such a worker!

So far, it looks like I may have some dolls up for sale soon. That and some bunnies.

How is my Art class going? Suzi Blu is an awesome teacher. But for some reason my fingers won't draw the way I want them too. She makes it look easy, and I fancy myself a creative soul....I have got to keep practicing just to make it out of lesson one! I did my first homework, but the second one I'm never happy with and I don't want to get stuck with a face I don't like for the rest of the project. I plan on pulling out the drawing pad this weekend.... wish me luck! I'm determined I'm going to do this!

Gratuitous Cuteness

Progress.....

As usual, I don't get everything I line up for myself done in the time I think I can. But I did have fun. Had a nice relaxing weekend sewing and watching honey work on the house. Monday I came down with something and felt cruddy so I laid around the house watched some TV and actually got to read a bit. Even that felt nice. Andy was home from school so it was nice to take it easy.

So here is my status: Pastel Raggedy for CDA: dressed but bald. I had a couple different hairdos on her but none of them were up to my standards. I'm surprised I even have a standard with her since I'm not a fan of pastels, but I guess I must. I found some crochet thread in my stash that I think I can make work. Gonna be a pain because it's so thin, but I'm gonna give it a try. I had some pink mohair type fibers I was planning on using, but it just didn't go with her personality. This is a pattern by Sweet Meadows Farm/Maureen Mills. It's called Annie's Pet and has a bunny too. I think it's going to be a white bunny.....


The witch still doesn't have a hat. Again, the plan I had, just didn't look right. So I have to head out to the craft store to get some papers. I previously used a paper that looked like suede for a doll a while back and I'm hoping I can find some more. If I do, I will buy more than one sheet. She is a pattern by Kim Kohler/Veena's mercantile. I've had it in my collection and for some reason on Christmas I decided it was a good day to make a witch.

And lastly, the bunny has a dress. I am happy with the way it turned out. It reminded me of the dresses I used to make for the porcelain dolls. A lot of ruffle and the pinafore. I am making a wreath for her head and she holds a garland. I think it's going to be stars or country type stuff. This pattern is by Mother Earth and Me and I've had it for years...Her garland was carrots and such. Honey put together some stands for me so I'm trying to decide if I want to paint or stain it.

So there is where I stand as of today. I'm pluggin along and hoping to tie them up this weekend.

I see so many people already got their Bunnies going and up for sale. At first I got all crazy thinking I've got to get a move on and catch up, then I remembered I was going to make stuff I like this year :o) I like my bunny and if it takes me weeks to finish her, so be it. I will feel better getting one or two nice things done then a handful of sloppy bunnies I throw together so I have stuff in my etsy shop. Other gals can seem to make things hand over fist and still have them look nice, but I'm a slowpoke. Never used to be, but I guess I'm learning to enjoy myself and take my time.....

An excerpt for the bookclub.....

"The fact that my house was Not Right metastasized into the notion that I, myself was somehow Not Right or that my survival in the world depended on my constant vigilance against various forms of Not Rightedness." Mary Karr... The Liar's Club.

Crafty Weekend Planned

Three day weekend starts today at 5! It's been a rough week and I plan on hibernating at home and doing some sewing, cooking, cleaning and crafting. Sounds weak, you say?? Not to me. Heaven. As long as it still looks like this outside... I am happy I can stay in.

I have some projects I'd like to finnish up...a witch that needs a hat and a rabbit that needs some clothes but I may blow those off a bit longer....

I have two CDA dolls to work on. One is pretty well set in my head and should be easy to execute. It's a rag doll made with a pancake type pattern that is right up my ally. I saw yesterday that Jess from Little dirt lane signed up for the same challenge so now I'm a little intimidated... :o) She is so awesome.

The other, I have no idea so I want to sit with my thoughts for a bit and try to figure out what it is I want to accomplish for myself with this challenge. It's an angel and I signed up for it because I wanted to learn how to make some angel wings out of something other than fabric, wire and my usual supplies of choice. I'm thinking some kind of feathered concoction....

Lastly, for my weekend craft adventures... (I am so excited about this!) I signed up for Suzi Blu's self guided workshop in mixed media portraits. I have always wanted to take a class in this type of art but locally, there isn't much to chose from and I really cannot commit to showing up to a studio same time every week due to work, kid and home stuff. When I saw she had these self guided classes I gave it some thought and went back and forth as to whether or not I would be able to do it. If you listen to her for 5 minutes you will not only fall head over heels in love with her but she will make you believe there is really no reason you can't do it. She still has room if you want to give it a try too. We can be sketch buddies!http://suziblu.typepad.com/a_lovely_dream/2010/11/self-guided-video-portrait-classes.html

I watched the first class last night and I'm really excited to start playing tonight.

But until 5 I am owned by "the man" so I gotta get my boots on and head into work. Have a wonderful Friday everyone!! The count down to five starts.......NOW!

Happy New Year

I've been missing for a bit, I know.... been kind of in a funk. Can't quite put my finger on it.

I hope everyone had a fabulous New Year. Ours was low key as usual. I'm not a party girl. Nor do I want to be. I enjoy staying in with the furbabies and watching the marathons on TV. This year was Twilight Zones again. It's been a few years since the Alfred Hitchcok ones. It's time to bring them back.

I Enjoy the feeling of new possibilities and fresh starts the New Year brings with it. I enjoy thinking back over the previous year and being thankful for all we have and all we have accomplished. Times have been difficult but we have made it through another year.

I enjoy daydreaming and thinking of new things I would like to do in the New Year.

Most say I daydream too much. I say those people need to do it a little more

This year I'm going to sew more. More for myself, I think. For someone who spends most of her free time at the sewing machine and craft table, you wouldn't know it if you walked into my front door.

This year I'm going to sew more things I like. I spend a lot of time trying to bring in a little extra money with shows and ebay stuff, that a lot of times, it isn't anything I like. I make things I know other people will like.

This year I won't think so much. I will do more and more on impulse. I spend a lot of time thinking things thru and changing them around only to wind up in the same place I started. I find I am usually right the first time.

My birthday is around the corner too. This year I am going to be 46. I have reached the age, where, I think, I should be past worrying about what the "popular girls" think. I should be comfortable at my own pace without worrying about being late for class. I believe that puberty is such a traumatic experience that you carry this baggage way into life. Don't say you don't know what I'm talking about. So I think 46 is a good number to finally get over it. I'm gonna work on that.

My mother passed away when she was 46. Over the years I mourn off and on. Until now, I never realized just how young she was. At the time you hear people say... oh she was so young or such a loss at such a young age...blah blah blah. It never really sunk in until I woke up one morning and thought...I am going to be 46. I still have so much time.... I don't feel old at all and I have so many dreams and plans for my future. She was so young, indeed.

I miss Doxie. Sounds silly when I just spit it out like that. But I truly miss my friend. I don't think I will ever get over this. It settles in for a bit but then all of a sudden when I'm not thinking about it...WHAM... my heart breaks all over again.

I guess that is all why I'm feeling funky. I don't mean to be depressing. I am very happy. I have a good life. I have people who love me and a roof over my head, food in my kitchen and I can sew stuff whenever I want to. If I forget and need to be pulled back into reality, then I can just go in the living room where there is a teenager sitting on the couch and the smell of him will snap me back into consciousness immediately. At least he is home..... :o)