Grouchy Old Sno Men

Been working every chance I get, to create some dolls, for the show I have coming up. That's not actually true. It is always on my mind, but I sometimes don't even get started till 3:00 pm. When I awake, the computer calls out my name in the AM. While sitting, watching "Good Morning America", drinking my tea, in my p j's. I am lured, of course, to first check my emails. Then, go to my favorite blogs, to see what everyone is up to, and remind me, of what I should be doing. Then the dogs need fed, and left outside. Then, in the back of my mind, I know there is some bill to be paid, or the dog hair at my feet, is begging to be swept away. Black Dust Bunnies. They drive me crazy. Eventually, I get to it. And boy oh boy, do I enjoy it. I have three ladies, waiting to be dressed. I am planning on having their outfits made before the 4th of December. The date of the show. So, before actually getting started today, I sketched out, what their adornments would look like, kinda, my sketching is rough, only I could decifer what I am intending the garment to look like.
Then the fun came, where, I go down to my studio, with my sketches, and open all my plastic containers, of fabric, vintage embroidered tatting-lace. And getting into the Zone begins. Sitting on the floor, with all my "stuff" around me. My sketches looking at me, the fabrics, trims, etc, all displayed before me. I start to categorize color schemes. Then, out of what I have collected over time, the fabrics, laces, embellishments, buttons, are displayed. I lump all the pieces I like, in a pile. Three piles, one white, two ecru. In the next few days, you will see what has evolved from the piles. I can't wait to see how they turn out! In the mean time, this weeks photo is of my little grouchy sno men, he's not really grouchy, he just kinda looks that way. I like him. if I have time, I have some ideas of making more, to place in the craft show. Did I tell you, there is a trendy cool shop in Maple Grove, that wants to sell my pod dolls, pretty cool!

December Craft Fair

I learned this techique from Barb Kobe a couple weeks ago.
They are really fun to make. You just wrap strips of torn
fabric, and wrap them around a stick.

Here are some in the process of being created. I took the
photo to include my new eight foot counter top, I bought at
Menards for $25.00, Pretty awesome! I placed two cabinets
on each side of the counter top...yeah, more storage.


You can see some faces, waiting for me to paint them,
then they will come to life. Haven't decided what I want
to call them yet.



Ya Know, I'm still trying to get familiar with blogging. I see other people's blog posts, and I ohh and ahh, over how they post. I am just pluggin a long, happy to even get my images posted.
I'm preparing to be in our hospitals craft fair. I'm posting some of my newer little "Inner Goddess" dolls. I even have a shop who wants to sell them. I was shocked, and excited. Here is a few I have made, and a few in progress.
Their wings are made from a pod, from the rain forest, called Elephant Ear, the touch of nature is cool. i wish, I could figure out, how to have my text-description, come up, before the photos. But, like I said, i am lucky, just to get it all to post at all.
I had a wonderful Saturday, John took me to four boutiques in the cities. I had a blast. Then we went to the Galleria, and ate at "The Good Earth" It was an awesome day.

Anna, the British Governess

Anna, a British governess is hired by the King to teach his many children about the world. She is a strong willed intelligent women, and does not submit to the King as his many wives do. She is as the King wanted her to be, "a scientific person". The children and the many wives call her "Sir" because she is scientific, not lowly, like the women at that time. She eventually wins the Kings approval, even love. She did so with her womanly charm, rather than her scientific logic.
Anna's Story is based on The King and I.

Happy November

Oh Goodie, November is here. Now we will be bobbarded with Holiday images and messages about, what you need to buy, what you need to do, what you need to bake, and cook. Pictures you will need to take, for memories of a lifetime, of course. Then there is decorating your home, inside and out. Which consists of, moving decorative everyday objects, and replacing them with the Holiday Decorations. In this process, when you move the everyday decorative objects, you realize how long it's been since you last dusted. Let the cleaning begin. !.. You'll want to remember your friends that you won't see, sending them a card, and now that the copied "news worthy" letter is now looked down upon, you must write "something" personal in each card. And for friends that are near and dear, having them over for an evening of food, entertainment, and fun is the thing you won't want to miss. More decorating, more cooking, and cleaning. You won't want to feel bad if someone gets you a gift, and you didn't get them one. So, now you have a special little stasch of nice little generic gifts, you know what I'm talking about, yes, the candles and lotions you found for a good bargain, bought them, for such a time like this.
I just heard my first Holiday commercial.
"Give Glitter"
"Give Sparkle"
"Give Shine"
"Spend Wisely"
"Give Wildly"
"Tis the Season to Glow"
"Tis the Season to Glow" ??? Oh yeah, we're expected to also look good.

Enough ranting. I went to an artists home on Saturday, for a day of doll making. Her name is Barb Kobe. I am lucky to have her living so close. If you want to see some incredible dolls with meaning, just google her name. I couldn't believe it, when she told me, she had never been in a magazine. I was shocked. Her work is very distinct and creative.
She is a very good instructor. She encourages one to get outside our box, take risks, have fun with your art. She believes our art dolls are an inner expression of what we are feeling and have experienced or are experiencing now. When I showed her four of my newly sculpted faces, I commented that my husband, John, said, they concern me Jan, they are all sad. Barb replied, "this is your sad series"
There was one other friend there that day. She made a fantastic first doll. It's about 22" tall, and it's body is made of fabric wrapped sticks. Very Cool. I hope she sends me a photo. I'll post it. Here is a photo of my little stick It's called muse because it amuses me.