CIFI Conference

Hello people!
I just returned from the Creations in Fiber conference in Albuquerque, NM. It was from the 20th -23rd of May. If you don't know it's a soft doll maker convention. There are classes to take and challenges to enter. A final banquet and an auction of the artist's dolls to raise money for the next years convention. It was my first time there and I had a blast meeting the gals I spent the last few months chatting with on the yahoo group. It seems people never look as you would imagine them to look.
I took a class from Arley Berryhill. He taught us his costuming techniques and hair and face painting techniques. It was a fun class and I learned things I would never have figured out on my own. However, because I work slow and would rather talk and have fun, I was the only one who was no where near close to being done with my doll. But that is typical for me and I don't mind. I had a blast and met many new friends who I can't wait to see again next year. I was fortunate enough to buy an Arley doll for a really good price. And I just had to have a Diane Little doll. Both are so well made and imaginative.
Well, I can't tell you much more at this time I have computer bug eyes. More later if I remember. I do have pictures to post too.

Oh what have I been doing?

Geez, where does the time go? It's almost the end of April already. In one sense it has flown by and I think because of our "winter" weather this year, the time has stood still. I actually felt like we had a winter with all the rainy weekends and cool weather. It's almost May and we still are below 100 degrees. We are having another major cool down starting tomorrow. Yesssss!! Put off the major heat as long as possible.
Looks as if I am not keeping true to my word about posting in a timely manner. But I'm not really that surprised. I've been busier than usual. I have a new,old friend. We used to work in the same OR. She just had gastric bypass last week and is doing well. As part of her requirement for the surgery she had to socialize more and get out and do more. She kept me running from thrift store to thrift store several times a week. Not so good for the pocketbook some days. But I have found good sources for picking up things to use in my art ventures. Not so good in that I tend to procrastinate. Sometimes I think it's more fun to buy things to use in future projects , than to actually take on those profects. Did that make any sense?
 Well, I completed the actual doll portion of Patti Culea's doll pattern Rachel about 2 months ago. I have selected fabric  for her clothing several times now. I think I have decided on the final selection, I just need to Get'r done!
The round robin our club started in January is going well, I think. When others say the doll speaks to them.....I now know what they mean. Especially with my doll this month. She has no arms and I thought well,  I'll make arms for her. NO...I am putting hair on her. She screamed "I need hair and I need it now!" every time I went in my sewing room.  I hope she isn't doing this to the cats who share the sewing room as their refuge from the dog and a place to eat in peace.
So, she now has a nice head of white or blondish Yak hair. I am going to finish curling it today and she will go back in her bag till next month and be passed on to the next person. Hopefully, that will shut her up.
I started another doll.  She is totally out of my head(OH DEAR) an armature was made and wrapped with wool felt stuff. Now onto figuring out what fabrics to use on her. This is a first for me. The more I wrap wool felt on her and use the felting needle the more I am liking how she is taking shape. I may just start adding some colored wools and see where that takes her. But she is going to have to wait until I return from CIFI.
I have cut out my doll body for the class I'm taking at conference. It's with Arley Berryhill. I love his Troll Queen. But we are doing costuming. I have the fabric and some trims gathered. More shopping involved.....fun times.
I finally got a new camera and soon will figure out how to post pictures to the site. So stay tuned....

New Beginnings

WOW! 2010. Who would have thought I would still be around, certainly not me, way back when, I was sitting in class reading "1984" and thinking at that time it seemed like another world away. Little did I know, I would be almost 60 and thinking back and wondering how far away that seems to me now. Time is elusive. And yet I find myself passing one day into the next and soon the week is over again, so soon, with nothing to show for it. If I believed in New Year resolutions I would make one to do something creative each day no matter how small or big and to spend one hour a day trying to organize my studio.  Studio...interesting choice of words. It's been a store room. for the past umpteen years, of all my art supply finds and believe me there is stuff in there I don't even know I have, I'm sure.  I have worked on it last year and can now walk into the room. Long way to go to get a surface cleared to work on. Problem is letting go of Stuff. You all know what I'm talking about. If I throw this away today, next week I will have the greatest idea of how to use it in a project. Yeah right. I don't yet consider myself a Hoarder, but I can see the traits in myself. Great show, after watching an episode, I am usually able to do some purging. Hey, some is better than none. If you haven't seen the show, it airs on A&E, not sure what evening, but usually reruns of the week and other shows are on the weekends. It grosses me out.
I could ramble on some more, but I must go order a new bridge for my eyeglasses. Bye for now.

Girly Comments & Graphics

Whatever is my favorite thing to say when an argument ensues and I just want to get my point across....is that so wrong? Whatever!

This Blog thing is all new to Me......

Well here goes nothing. I have never blogged before. But I joined a doll group, Dollie Mama and the Fabric Floozies Doll Club, and most everyone else has a blog. So I thought I better get with the program and get blogging. I don't always know what to say, and more often think, who cares what 'I' have to say. I can only say at this point, "I will try my best to be interesting and timely in my blogging efforts." I can't promise much more than that right now.

I am hoping to gear this blog toward my artistic ventures, mainly my doll making ventures, at this time. I may veer off into the personal parts of my life from time to time. But for the most part I am interested in sharing my creative side with others interested in the same things I do. So for now that is all I have to say.