Yes, Another Quiz...

Bear with me - this one was FUN. And I really loved the outcome. Enjoy!

You Are a Ring Finger

You are romantic, expressive, and hopeful. You see the best in everything. You are very artistic, and you see the world as your canvas. You are also drawn to the written word. Inventive and unique, you are often away in your own inner world. You get along well with: The Pinky Stay away from: The Index Finger

What Finger Are You?

Gimme a Break!

Our house still is not put back together - between an imcompetent and sloppy contractor and the insurance company from hell, our poor house (and checkbook) is taking a beating. I am VERY sorry that a hurricane came through and decided to trash our home BUT that's why we have insurance. Why these insurance companies feel like they shouldn't have to pay for things like roofs and gutters is beyond me.
To add insult to injury - I FELL! And yes, I did some damage. Like breaking my left elbow and shoulder! I am wrapped up like a mummy, cannot create and I'm sick and tired of doing things with one hand!! Which is why I haven't posted - I can't operate my camera and it takes forever to type a post.

I did find this fun little quiz, which I thought I would share.

Hope to be back soon!

Dark Purple

To others, you seem a bit dark, mysterious, and moody. In truth, you are just a very unique person who doesn't care what others think. And you really enjoy your offbeat interests and friends. You've decided that life is about living for yourself - simple as that.

What Color Purple Are You?

Ike Blows...

A Hurricane?? In southern Indiana??
Allow me to whine a bit...
We are without power, I have two new skylights complements of the massive trees in my front yard and the water company is threatening to shut off the water to our area. WAH!
I know there are folks down south who not only have the wind damage, but the water damage as well. As a "survivor" of Hurricane Alicia in 1983, I know the devastation it causes. Please everyone, stay safe. I hope we can all get back to normal as soon as possible.

First to go was the top of the chimney thanks to the neighbor's tree:



Then came the hole in my studio! This is breaking my heart:



Then the "Piece d'resistance", the tree through the master bedroom roof/wall and the garage:



The Full Monty:



The garage is structurally damaged - you can see the cracks in the brickwork and the bowing of the door frame. We have a tree service that is coming tomorrow to remove the trees and a contractor to tarp up the holes - but goodness only knows when the adjustor will get out to us. Our insurance company has said "Pay the bills and we'll reimburse you". Yeah, right - who has that kind of money lying around. Is it always this frustrating to get your life back?

I'm off my pity pot now. Hope everyone who has had a visit from this most unwelcome traveler gets their life back soon.

Elementary, My Dear Watson!

OK, Sherlock Holmes has nothing to do with this blogpost. However, I spent last weekend with a fantastic group of kindred spirits at a workshop with Pearl Red Moon! Pearl was teaching her "Ancient Icons" class, and this doll was being VERY bossy about what she was. I've decided that my series will be "The Elements" and this first one is the Water Icon.

Front view:



Back view:



Close up of the face:



Close up of her torso and those wonderful beaded hands:



Did you notice those shoes?? Aren't they AWESOME!?!?
I've never done peyote stitch before and this was done with size 15 Delicas. Pearl got me started, and I finished the first one and I did the second one ALL BY MYSELF! I think I held my breath the whole time. I had to get cheater glasses one size up from what I normally use, but the end result was SO worth it.

If you ever get the chance to take a class from Pearl - grab it. She is the QUEEN of embellishment. Annie Hesse was a very gracious hostess and treated us all like family. That reminds me - Magic, Mischief and Mayhem is coming up in September! You should sign up and come play with us!

Bad, Bad Blogger

Yes, I have not visited my blog to post more in a LONG time. But I found something fun today. Being married to a chef and having been an Import and Specialty Food Buyer in my past life, our life revolves around the delicious indulges of eatables.
I found this quiz - and this is my result.
Enjoy!

You Are Japanese Food

Strange yet delicious. Contrary to popular belief, you're not always eaten raw.

What Kind of Food Are You?

A Journaling we go...

I have a friend named Leslie that has the most amazing store! It's a home dec fabric store in Shelbyville, KY. BUT before you go and say "OH, I'm not into that", you need to know that her fabrics and her trims are second to none - even for a dollmaker.
In the back of the shop is an old bathtub where all the scraps are kept. She also has a bin with the littlest pieces in there. You can walk out with literally an armload of fabric for $10.00.

Having amassed this great collection of upholstery bits n bobs, I often wondered what to do with them. I'm wondering no more. I'm making journals!

At first, I was afraid that the fabric would be too thick - it's not!

Let me share with you my journal!

The cover:



The inside pocket:



And the back:



Isn't this awesome?

I think they will make great gifts - especially with photos and memories tucked inside.

OH - and the name of the shop in Shelbyville, KY is "Making Ends Meet". If you're ever in the area, please stop by. I can guarantee your first stop will not be your last.

Finally!

I can now share my pictures with you!

Here is the cover of the journal:


And here is a shot of the inside:


I'm also working on a sketchbook cover and a memory book cover.

This is such a cool class. Check it out at suebleiweiss.typepad.com.

Capture the Moments

I've come to realize the past few days that I don't do a very good job of journaling. My kids have pestered me to write down what little I know of our family history (I'm only second generation American, and we know very little of our ancestors past my grandparents) and there is SO much I want to capture - not only for my kids, but for myself.

I signed up to take a journal making class from Sue Bleiweiss. It's been fantastic with easy to follow instructions and Sue is very accessible and very patient with all our questions.

I wanted to share my very first journal with you! I actually made it for my daughter who is studying Japanese at Indiana University and will be headed to Nagoyo, Japan for her senior year.

Here's the cover:

OK - Blogger is being an idiot again and will not let me upload any pix. Hold that thought - I'll be back later.

In Memory...

It is so amazing the love and fun a dog can bring into your life. It is also amazing the pain that losing that dog can bring to your heart...

My daughter fell in love with Beagles when we were watching Westminster Kennel Club dog show. We've been watching since 1993. When the opportunity to get a Beagle puppy came up, I took it.

Taffy was born on December 30 1995. She was one of 3 girls and 1 boy in her litter. When we went to visit and choose our pup, we were taken with the male. However, Taffy decided that she wanted to come home with us. We listened to her.

She was immediately drawn to my daughter. She followed her everywhere. I even credit Taffy with saving her life. One cold winter day, Taffy was stood in front of Danielle's closed bedroom door. It was 10:00 at night and 7 year old Danielle had been asleep for 2 hours. I told Taffy to get in her bed, but she didn't budge. I said it even more sternly - she still didn't budge. As I started down the hall to bring Taffy to bed - I heard Danielle struggling to breathe. Her severe asthma had kicked in and she couldn't yell for help. If Taffy hadn't been so stubborn...

Taffy developed arthritis as she aged. Who doesn't? Rimadyl and glucosamine helped her to feel like a pup again. In true Beagle fashion, she loved chasing birds and squirrels, running down the yard AROOOOOing at the top of her lungs. But her favorite time of day was dinner time. She never met a food she didn't like.

This past weekend, she began to stumble then did nothing but walk in circles. When we managed to get her to the vet, xrays revealed a damaged spinal cord. Was it degenerative disease? Was it an injury? We will never know. All we know is that she was in extreme pain and drugs did not help.

The vet's words were harsh - even with surgery, there was no chance for a pain free existence. The nerve damage would be permanent. The pain in her eyes was obvious - and heartbreaking. We did the only thing we could do...

Taffy - you brought joy and laughter into our lives. You were a clown in a fur coat and a beloved member of the family. You have left a hole in our lives and our hearts that will not be filled. I hope you are able to run and howl without pain now.

We love you!

Down but not Out...

I know it's been a LOOOONG time since I've posted, but I've been down and out with a bad back. It's very painful to sit for very long, which is why I haven't been in front of the computer. I'm slowly mending and hope I will be back to normal soon.
I did manage to get in a class with my fellow dollmakers, the Circle City Cloth Dollmakers in Indianapolis. I know I don't live in Indy, but this awesome and talented group of ladies have adopted me. We had a two day workshop with Jean Bernard the last weekend of March. If you ever have a chance to take a class from Jean - DO IT! Not only is she an incredibly talented individual, but she's the nicest person you would ever want to meet! I learned SO much and had a great time doing it.

The workshop was Jean's chair - I will leave you with the following eye candy - some of the chairs from the workshop.

Enjoy!

This is my chair:



This is Sandy's chair:



This is Julie's chair:



And this is Jean showing us the fine points of chair making!



See you soon - in better shape (I hope).

Here We Go Again...

...WINTER STORM WATCH IN EFFECT FROM LATE TONIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY MORNING...

A DEVELOPING LATE WINTER STORM WILL IMPACT THE LOWER OHIO VALLEY LATE TONIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY. A MIXTURE OF SLEET AND SNOW WILL DEVELOP LATE TONIGHT AND CONTINUE THROUGH SATURDAY MORNING. ACROSS SOUTH CENTRAL INDIANA MOST OF THE PRECIPITATION WILL BE IN THE FORM OF SNOW WHILE CLOSER TO THE OHIO RIVER IN NORTH CENTRAL KENTUCKY A MIXTURE OF SLEET AND SNOW WILL CHANGE TO ALL SNOW LATE FRIDAY AFTERNOON. TOTAL SLEET AND SNOW ACCUMULATIONS WILL RANGE FROM 4 TO 5 INCHES BEFORE TAPERING OFF SATURDAY MORNING.

THE TRACK OF THE LOW IS STILL UNCERTAIN AND ANY CHANGE WILL AFFECT TO AREA OF HEAVY SNOW AND SLEET.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Good grief! This is ENOUGH!
I'm supposed to get my daughter on Friday afternoon. Indiana University is a 2 hour drive one way - on 2 lane country roads. My little Honda doesn't do well in the snow.
My poor daughter has been aching to come home for weeks.
Please say a little blessing that this winter storm diverts itself and heads over to the part of the south where they so desperately need rain.
Wishing everyone spring flowers VERY soon!

Eureka!

I think I figured out why I couldn't upload pix - they were WAAAAY too big. I'm a new iMac user and a kind soul on a chat group told me how to resize.

Here's my Sashay:



Love, love, love the colors. She definitely needs more on the top and a much fuller skirt. But at least she isn't standing there butt naked anymore.

Be back soon now that I've figured this out.

Whazzup?

I don't know about all of you, but I have SO many projects going - I don't know which end is up!
Should I blend my merino and silk dyed fibers?

Or should I finally finish my Sashay doll from Pearl Red Moon's class at MM&M?
DRAT!
Blogger is being its usual asinine self and will not upload any more pictures. Someone needs to drop kick them into next week.
So much for sharing more with you.
I cannot believe that the weekend is gone already. Didn't it just start?
Try to have a good week, all. I know I won't - I'll be at work.

No Surprise

I love these fun little quizzes. There is NO surprise here:

You Belong in 1977

Bold and brash, you take life by the horns. Whether you're partying or protesting, you give it your all!

What Year Do You Belong In?

Yep, I am NOT a thoroughly modern girl. I listen to music by guys that have been dead at least 100 years, I still say things like "bummer" and I have my jeans and some other clothes from high school.
What year do you belong in?

HELP - Send Sunshine and Warmth!

Yesterday, the sun tried so hard to come out and melt the ice.
It failed miserably...



Now mind you - this is 48 hours after the ice storm. Like unwelcome guests, it just keeps hanging around!
Although I must admit that the ice is very beautiful and sculptural.



HOWEVER, this morning we woke up to THIS:


The snow (it's not very clear on the photo) is coming down quite heavy. AND it's starting to stick!
This wasn't even forecast!
I've had enough - send sunshine and warmth. I'm ready for spring!

The Ice Storm Cometh

I actually had half a day off Thursday and yesterday. Why you ask? THIS!

What a mess!
Now being the true Yankee that I am, I will not hesitate to drive in a few inches of snow. But ICE is another matter. No matter how good of a driver you are or how robust your vehicle is, if you try to take on ice - ice will win every time.
It's now 2 days later and I'm sitting in my sewing room listening to the ice falling off the trees and the roof. The sun is trying valiantly to come out and warm our patch of Mother Earth.
I don't know about you - but I'm ready for SPRING!
Stay safe and warm, everyone!

The Wild Child Comes Home

My doll from the Round Robin has come home at last!
I tried uploading multiple images of her since there is SO much to see on her - but Blogger was being its usual ornery self. So you'll have to settle for this one shot:



Isn't she amazing?
I had the honor to be in with a very talented group of ladies. They all outdid themselves on her.
Off to play and enjoy my Saturday. Have a good weekend!

Pictures!

As promised, here are the pictures I talked about yesterday.
First - my kitty from Pam Grose's class! I LOVE this kitty! The expression, the color (color coded to my tortie, Tessa), the pose. The only thing I'm not crazy about is the finish. Do you believe that is MATTE varnish? If anyone knows of a truly matte varnish, please let me know. I love shine but only on certain pieces.



Here's a close up (pardon the blurriness - user error)!



And last, but not least, one of my WIP. This is from an online class I took on Doll Street (great classes coming up this spring - check it out) by Sherry Goshon called "The Charmed One". She will eventually be holding a charm bracelet and I will be getting charms from a swap (also on Doll Street) to adorn her with. Isn't she cool? I'm going to be doing her in mermaid colors. I think I need the soothing thoughts of water around me right now.



It's getting late - time to get ready for bed and get ready for the week from Hades at work. I wish you all a peaceful week!

Playing Catch Up

Your fairy is called Oak Elfshimmer

She is a cheerful sprite.

She lives in forests of oak and lime trees.

She is only seen when the first flowers begin to blossom.

She decorates herself with leaves and berries. She has delicate green wings like a cicada.

Get your free fairy name here!

Isn't this cool? I LOVE my fairy name! It's no surprise to me that she is a forest fairy as I live in the woods.

So what's been happening?

Work has gotten even worse. Daughter is still having meltdowns. And I need to play. Notice I said "NEED" not want. My irregular heartbeats have been chalked up to STRESS. NERVES. As in - my job is stressing the hell outta me and I must do something to try and relieve the stress.

So, how am I going to do this?

FIRST - I cleaned out my sewing room. I can actually see the top of my desk, my work table and best of all the top of my sewing machine table!

SECOND - I've got 2 projects that I started awhile back and I'm going to FINISH them! Yep, that's right - 2 UFO's will be magically transformed into FO's.

THIRD - One UFO has actually become a FO! It's my kitty from Pam Grose's class back in September. What? You want pictures? OK - hang tight and I'll be back soon with pix.

Enjoy your Saturday! It is the BESTEST day of the week!

New Year

This year hasn't gotten off to a very good start. Work is hellacious, I'm having health problems and my poor daughter is in the midst of a meltdown at college (heavy schedule, new job). Since she is 100 miles away from home, it's hard to comfort her. It's tough being a long distance Mom.
Anyway, I thought I would see what I could do to improve things:

You Need Some Purple in Your Life

Purple will make you feel ambitious, independent, and creative.And with a little purple, you will project an aura of individuality.If you want more extravagance, you've got to get a little purple in your life! For extra punch: Combine purple with green or orange The downside of purple: It can evoke sad feelings The consequences of more purple in your life: You will feel an increase in your artistic abilitiesYou will find balance in the most chaotic parts of your lifeYou will feel calm and will be hard to disturb

This is AWESOME! Not only is it one of my very favorite colors, but it can't hurt?
Especially if it comes in Pinot Noir or Cabernet!