06.18.2009 Bad TV

Since there is really nothing but bad TV and reruns on lately, I am working on my dolls tonight. I can't get the neck stuffed right on my first paper clay doll but I going on with it as is and hope I can strengthen it when I apply the paper clay. Still just stuffing the dolls but at least I am doing something...

Not really liking life right now. I am pondering a change and can't really decide which way I want to go. Expect a move regardless. Don't really want to be specific right now but know a change is coming.

I am so excited that it is almost the weekend. Pitiful that I start out on Monday just counting down the days until Friday. It has been a rough week at work... started out with not sleeping right the first part of the week just from work-related stress. Then I took a deep breath as well as some sleep aids and it has got a little better. Now the relief is that only one more work day left in the week.

06.14.2009 Doll Update

Not much to report on the doll update. My weekend kind of got away from me. I am almost done with stuffing all the paper clay dolls' appendages. I am still stuffing so I might get the bodies done. No stuffing for the eagle dolls yet.

06.13.2009 Beauty Alert

The Babraham got her hair did. Needless to say the bows were immediately removed upon arrival at home and her bangs were brushed from her face. Baby is a simple dog and really isn't into the bows and kerchief. (FYI - Bows had to be cut from the Babes because the damn rubber bands were so twisted up in her hair... and it is fine, silky soft hair at that. Not the easiest to navigate the removal of the rubber bands!)

06.12.2009 Internet Love

One of my many addictions is the internet. After work, I regular go to the internet and check:

* E-mail
* Bloglines
* Facebook
* PerezHilton.com
* Etsy
* Plus anything else I find interesting

Now for the real reason that I love the internet. One of my very best friends in the whole wide world requested to be my Facebook friend. Unfortunately several years ago we lost touch with each other... not that I didn't try. I thought of her often and truly missed our friendship. Then today she requested to be my friend. A wonderful day to find my long lost friend. (FYI, I have searched the internet for years trying to locate my friend with no success).

I have had two additional friends locate me through the internet (Facebook and searches) to reconnect. It is such a wonderful tool to locate long lost friends and family.

06.11.2009 Doll Update

I thought if I posted a periodic update on where I am at with my dolls (considering I have been talking about them for over a year now) that maybe I will get something accomplished. My goal is to get something done this weekend... hopefully it will be at least one complete doll. Really I would like to get much more done.

So far I have three Americana dolls traced and sewn. Plus two paper clay dolls trace and sewn as well as cut out. The Americana dolls are actually Eagles so there is only the body and a set of wings per dol to cut out and that will take like a whole 5 minutes.

The next step after everything is cut out is to stuff each piece. Sounds easy but not so much. Stuffing the dolls just right takes time, patience, and practice. I would say that this is the biggest hurdle right now. Granted the paper clay dolls have a lot of work to go towards the finish line but the stuffing is a big step.

I know how I want the Americana Eagle dolls to look upon completion and I know what one of the paper clay dolls theme is. I am really excited to be getting somewhere on these dolls.

Look for an update this weekend.

06.09.2009 Discoveries

So I have made several "arty" discoveries this past week...

I am a big fan of Rachel Whetzel. She is an amazing paper artist and I have been following her blog for awhile now. Recently she has dabbled in paper clay dolls. I am absolutely amazed and astounded by her fantastic pieces of art. Check out this post on Rachel's blog regarding the fantastic dolls she has been making. Amazing right? How can I make something that fantastic. Let me tell you how. I found on Rachel's blog where she took an online course on paper clay dolls. The class is $40 and is a series of instructional videos showing exactly how to make a paper clay doll of your own plus so much more. Needless to say I am awestruck!

I know I have been talking for too long about making dolls. Really I have good intentions. I have several dolls started but nothing seems to get done. Sorry to say that I haven't really been motivated. Until now. This class called for a very expensive trip to Hobby Lobby to pick up some paper clay as well as a million other things I need to actually complete a doll. (Well that really is a lie considering all I probably needed was the paper clay as I have every other craft supply known to man that would complete a doll). So I am on my way to making a paper clay doll. You know I will post a picture when I finish. And my plans are to make the first doll as a Christmas gift for my mother... so I definitely hope to finish by Chrismas!

In my search online for information on paper clay dolls, I found out here is this wonderful publication called Art Doll Quarterly. I really don't know how I missed out on this one. First of all I am a fiend for magazines. I search the racks at Barnes and Noble for new and different magazines, especially when I have all the current issues of the magazines I routinely read. Secondy, I am a big fan of collectible dolls let along making dolls. So when I discovered ADQ, I rushed out to Barnes and Noble. I picked up this delicious tidbit:

It is a gorgeous publication showcasing some wonderful, unique pieces of art. In the current publication pictured above there is an article on Danita. Danita makes coth dolls and canvas art along with wooden dolls and jewelry and plenty of other things. I love the faces on the dolls and art. Simple but not. Ready the article, I discovered that Danita lives in Juarez. As you know Juarez is the sister city of El Paso where I currently reside. Of course, I immediately commented on Danita's blog telling her that I love her work. This cover shows a couple of items by Danita:

I believe I have hit the jackpot this past week and wonderful arty finds. Like I needed more inspiration on yet another "craft" project. I don't care... I think the paper clay dolls are genius which in turn makes me a genius for attempting to make one. Right?

06.08.2009 Baby

Baby says hi!

06.06.2009 Dog Farts

I know. Dog farts are like the elephant in the room that no one wants to talk about. Well I do. And now. One day I was watching the show "Dogs 101" because it was talking about Boston Terriers. The show mentioned that Bostons are a gassy breed. Did you know that? Well I can testify to that fact. The fact that Pearl is under my desk farting while I am online brought on the subject of this blog post. Again, I know the elephant in the room. But let's face it folks... dogs fart. And it is not nice. At least Pearl's aren't nice. I can't vouch for all dogs, just my own.

Now sometimes Pearl's gas is rather comical. Not the smell. The sound. I love it when one squeeks out and Pearl looks are her butt like "What the hell?" Usually she goes in a circle trying to catch her heinie to figure out what that sound was. Hilarity ensues.

Off to find some air deordorizer. NOW!