The Party's Over...

I am home (and exhausted).
Magic, Mischief and Mayhem was all that and more! If you have never attended a doll event - you owe it to yourself to go. The energy, the camraderie, the caring and the talent is just amazing! The artists from Australia that shared a tiny piece of their talents (and lives) with us is something not to be forgotten. I can't possibly show you everything at once, so I'll show you in bits and pieces.
I took two workshops with Di McDonald. Di is a mixed media artist that can take bits of NOTHING and turn in into something fun and fabulous! I actually finished BOTH pieces from my classes with Di!
Here's Di in all her glory showing Julie how to make a tyvek bead for her cuff:

And here is my beaded cuff:

Isn't this AWESOME?!?!?

In Di's workshop on the second weekend, we created a mixed media doll titled "I'm All Heart". When I first saw the doll, I immediately thought of how heart disease had affected my family. As I was making the doll, I turned it into a tribute for my Grandfather, who died at the age of 69 from Rheumatic Heart Disease. Poppy (that's what we called him) had ALWAYS been very active. When he retired, the extent of the disease that ravaged his body as a child showed it's ugly head. We tried to get him on a list for a heart transplant - but his doctors told him he wasn't a good candidate (ie - he was too old). He succumbed just a month before his 70th birthday in 1986. I still miss him!

Here's my doll: And here's a close up of her face:

She is VERY special because Di did the face for me! She was the demo doll for the class and she's MINE!

As much fun as the workshops were, I think the very bestest part was meeting all the people! I got to spend time with some old friends (Julie, Belinda, Annie and Judy) and I met new friends (Marcy, Leslie, Diane, Karol, Kimber, Rae, Kathleen) and so many others. AND I actually got to meet and hug my blog buddy, Natalie! Hi, Nat! It was SO good to meet you!

You all made the weekends SO special. I can't wait until next year!

Speaking of next year, there will be a Magic, Mischief and Mayhem AMERICAN Style in April. There are only a limited number of seats, so if you are thinking of coming - get that deposit in soon. The teachers will include Barbara Schoenoff and none other than my blog buddy, Natalie Hamade. I got to see one of Natalie's famous faces up close and personal at MM&M. Pictures do NOT do them justice! They positively GLOW! Natalie will be showing us her technique next April - you do NOT want to miss it.

For details, visit Annie's website at: http://www.anniedolls.com/mmmtrial2-07.htm

More pictures tomorrow!