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.
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.
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:
As you are aware I am addicted to online shopping and one of my favorite sites is ETSY. This is my latest purchase from the ETSY shop cupcaketree:
My friend Aimeslee has sent a passionate plea to me to blog. I do realize it has been quite awhile since I blogged last but I don't really have anything to blog about.
I have taken two stamp/card classes at a local stamp store. The first class was packed and we made birthday cards. They were cute but okay. Plus I sat next to the most annoying person in the class. It was like she was the only stamper on a table of 5. Guess what... you have to share!!! The second class where I sat next to the same lady, we made some St. Patrick's Day projects: two cards and two boxes. Cute, cute, cute. I took some crappy pictures that I will post later. Can't find the cord to hook-up to my computer. And the best part of these classes is that they are only $13 a class. We made 3 cards in the first class and like I said two cards and two mini-boxes in the second class. Totally underpriced classes plus I get 10% off on anything I purchase the day of the class. I cannot wait until they publish a new schedule of classes.
I made a going away card last week for a co-worker. Everyone was so impressed. They haven't really seen my craftiness yet since I have only been there a few months. Well on Friday, one of the guys that I go to work with asked me to make a birthday card for his dad's birthday this next week. I readily agreed especially since his dad has been really sick. But it is kind of hard for me to make a masculine card. And my best friend asked me to make two birthday cards, one for her husband and one for her son. So I sat down and made four birthday cards last night. I think they are fabulous. The two male cards have flowers on them but they are manly colors. I made two funky cards with that new Friendly Forest line by Colorbok at Michael's. I used the squirrels and went off their tag line "Go Nuts" and put "Go Nuts 4 Your Birthday" on the inside. I used the frogs and used the line"Get Froggy For Your Birthday" on the front. I am truly impressed with my cards. Again, I did take some crappy pictures that I will post later.
I did get two more scarves knitted since the last post where I showed off my first scarf. I bought some more funky yarns from Etsy. Of the first batch, I am not so impressed with the yarn made from banana fibers. It pulled apart pretty easily and it knotted all up trying to unravel it. I spent about 5 hours just rolling it up into balls to get it unknotted. The second order of yarn from Etsy came yesterday. I started on a new scarf with one of the yarns. Truly beautiful.
Now to the title of my post. I am a napper. I love to nap and can do it everyday if it was possible. I have been a napper for a long time. In fact I would call myself a professional. However it seems for the past couple of weeks I have lost my nap. Oh I lay down to nap but don't really get to sleep during said nap. Very bothersome. I probably do sleep but not a restful sleep. I am hoping to get my nap back and soon. In the meantime I will be testing my nap often to see if it is back.
Not much planned. I am still planning to move at the end of May. I keep going back and forth regarding renting or buying. Now is the time to buy but I am a little leary with work and life and whatknot.
I am going to start sewing today. I want to sell some dolls. I haven't made any soft dolls in several years but it is a hobby that I adore. I have been stocking up on new patterns, fabric, and other supplies so I need to put them to use. Ideally I want to work a craft show in the fall... so I need to get it together and get sewing. But I will probably list whatever I make online too. So this afternoon I am organizing a little and preparing to make some dolls!
I made a rather large investment today. Not large in cash but large as in inventory for my new business venture. You know that business venture I have been talking about for awhile... sewing dolls, etc. Yes I am still working on that. No I haven't finished anything yet to post. However, I did purchase a bolt of muslim from JoAnn's today with my 50% coupon since today is the last day of the Columbus Day weekend sale. This bolt is 25 yards of 44" wide muslim. That is a rather large investment in my business. Twenty-five yards of fabric. Seriously I can't do anything but sew dolls with this. If I don't follow through with my new business venture what the hell am I going to do with 25 yards of muslim. I decided to purchase a bolt of muslim versus just a yard here and there after I went through a yard of fabric PDQ! (As in pretty damn quick!)
I did it. I actually sewed a little yesterday. I traced and sewed three sets of three icicle snowman ornaments. Eight of the nine ornaments are stuffed. I sewed the four dolls I previously traced. No stuffing yet. Will work more on the sewing tonight. BTW, the sewing almost didn't happen. I was setting up my sewing machine when I noticed the feeder foot (or whatever it is called) was gone. There was no way I was going to find it... luckily I was able to dig out my other sewing machine and use that foot... I can't use the back-up sewing machine until I find the electric cord for it... which is still packed away somewhere in the house. So between two sewing machines, I was set to sew!
Today is the day... I am going to sew. I have four dolls already traced and ready for sewing. I am also going to trace out some holiday ornaments to sew. I won't be able to finish anything today completely... as I don't have any instant coffee. Instant coffee is needed to stain the dolls/ornaments to make them more primitive. I was going to get groceries on Friday after work but after I ran some errands I was a little tired. So the coffee will have to be purchased another day... then I will be able to finish the dolls/ornaments and post pictures. I will try to get as far as I can today to finish without the coffee. Wish me luck! I hope to have pictures posted this week of some finished products.
Look at another of my fabulous Ebay finds for my dolls. This vintage bed is perfect... well not perfect because is does have some rust, the mattress has some spots, and it is missing casters. Other than that it is perfect. Quite wonderful in fact. And about twice the size I expected it to be. Yes I read the dimensions and invisioned them in my head. Only my head thought it was about half the size. I am in love... with a doll bed!
Look at this wonderful find I bought off Ebay. Okay it looks much much better in person than in the picture. It was described as "Footed Antique Wooden Dough Bowl Cir. 1920-1940's RED" and I think it is delish! It wasn't that expensive either if I don't count the shipping. The shipping was a little high but it was delivered via UPS. I really bought this as a display piece for the dolls I plan on making... either in pictures so I can sell the dolls online or in a booth display. Even if it doesn't get used for the dolls, it will make a wonderful addition to my home.
