Sunday Bummers
First of all, Sundays are depressing - because tomorrow I return to the he** otherwise known as WORK.
Now I know I should be grateful that I have a job BUT I absolutely loathe what I do. I especially "love" the part of mediator - where you get to listen and resolve the conflicts between two warring (and I do mean warring) factions.
BUT today is especially depressing.
I got (for my upcoming birthday) a Cannon camera. A digital SLR camera. One that comes as a highly rated digital camera.
Does it work?
NO!
I've already exchanged it once, and this newer one is not working any better than the old one. It won't "talk" to my computer. It did once - then quit.
I'm just sick. Right now, all I have is a very expensive paperweight.
Any ideas?
Anyway, the second doll related part of this post is:

QUIT WHILE YOUR AHEAD (OR SHOULD THAT BE A HEAD?)

I don't know about the rest of you, but I find the most challenging part of making dolls the head. Why? Because it makes or breaks the doll. You can always cover up bad body parts with clothing or embellishing, but the head is right there front and center for the whole world to see.
Here are some of my "rejects" and some of my successes waiting for their body:



Here is my first attempt at a polymer clay head. Yes, I know - it's just in the beginning stages BUT it looks like it has cellulite! How on earth do you get this !(@*#^ stuff smooth? ARGGHHHHHH! Frustrating!



This adorable little guy is from a pattern by Sarah Jones called "Keegannie". I love this face! So why is he in the head jar? I can't get his @(*&^$ eyelids on! I've tried FOUR times! He's in the head jar until I work up enough nerve to try it again.



This head was my first attempt at a male face. What was I thinking with all this color? He doesn't look very masculine. I need to try again.



This is a head from a book by Patti Culea. Again, what was I thinking with all this color? She looks like a runaway from the Chicken Ranch. "Scratch" this one.



I needed to make a head for a Round Robin doll. I thought I had it nailed. But what's up with the chipmunk cheek on the right? Egads - start again.



I LOVE THIS FACE! Yes, I need to finish her hair. But this is from the Vernal Muse class with Allison Marano. This is one of the best faces I've ever done. Unfortunately, it's the body I screwed up. I'm in the process of rebuilding it, but time is limited (see the start of the post for the reason why).



Last but not least - the beginnings of some Christmas ornaments. There was an article in one of the doll magazines by (I believe) Jackie Uetz. This was my interpretation. Again - love the face. I just need to find the right ribbon for the body.

OK, I'm done venting. Think of me tomorrow - and say a quick prayer.
Have a good week, all!

Saturday Musings

Blogger ate my first post (I can see why folks get frustrated), so here goes again...
After a blah week at work, at having my muffler fall off my car after arriving home, I was greeted with a wonderful surprise!
To preface this, I must tell you that I belong to a wonderful, wacky, fun bunch of doll artists called the Doll Street Dreamers. Now, I'm nowhere near as talented as the rest of these ladies - making dolls is just something I love to do.
As part of a "Body/Costume Swap" I joined, I was paired with a doll artist who was to create two bodies - I, in turn, was to costume the two bodies.
My partner in crime for this swap is a VERY talented doll artist, Jan Dee. Now what I admire SO much about Jan is SHE DOESN'T USE A PATTERN! Gads - I've never made a doll without a pattern. Mostly, I'm scared I'll screw it up. Not that I haven't screwed up dolls using patterns before, but...
Anyway, about 10 days ago I got the first doll from Jan. Yesterday, the second arrived.
OH MY!
I thought nothing could top her first doll - from the soft, gentle features to her body painting (soft greens, my favorite) but I was wrong.
The second is EVEN MORE AMAZING!
I *think* I know how to costume them. But I'll have to think a bit longer.
Enough of the suspense, here they are!



And an even closer view:



Jan, I'm not sure you can have EITHER one back! (Only kidding.)
What they almost look like to me is alter-egos, the demure good girl - and the wild, wicked side she keeps hidden.
I'll have to think on this.

Anyway - back to my studio (or the fourth bedroom that passes as such). This is my only day to play each week.

Friday Night Can of Tuna

Living (or should I say being allowed to live) in the same house as three cats has it's challenges. Every spring during the famous "spring shed", we play "tiptoe through the hairballs" every time we come home from work. The favorite chair is a favorite of felines and humans alike. But one tradition we've come to love is the weekly Friday can of tuna.
Now Friday nights are special. As someone who has been in the workforce for 35+ years, Friday can never come soon enough. I don't know if the cats can sense this or if they can smell that tuna coming - but each Friday they are rewarded with a can of solid white Albacore tuna in water (and the humans are rewarded with a nice bottle of Cabernet or Shiraz).
I now present to you the Tuna Lovers of Kentuckiana:



This is Sootz - the undisputed Queen of the Castle. She always looks at you as if to say "Peasants! Bring me my throne!"



This is April - littermate to Sootz. April is NOT the brightest crayon in the box. We've seen her leap from one piece of furniture to the next and MISS.



This is Tessa - a throwaway kitty who came to us all the way from Texas (long story). Tessa is the Matriarch of the house and the sweetest little thing on four paws. She is very comforting and seems to know when you need some purr therapy.



Last (but not least) is a picture of my newest grandson - Ozzie. My oldest is a Resident at UK Med Center (Emergency Medicine) and while he and his lovely wife, Dawn, have been married for 9 years, I have NO grandbabies. I do however have grand-furbabies. Ozzie is the baby. He's a wild man - but with a face like this, he can get away with anything.
Thanks for listening! May there be many cans of tuna in your Friday!

Yes, I know...

I am bad.
It's not that I don't want to post - I forget to post. Things get crazy. My family just celebrated CHRISTMAS (yes, in August) because it was the only time we could get together this year. Then my daughter had to return to college. THAT is an ordeal.
Anyway, I found this AWESOME quiz, and had to take it! You must try it!

What color is your soul painted? Purple Your soul is painted the color purple, which embodies the characteristics of sensuality, spirituality, creativity, wealth, royalty, nobility, mystery, enlightenment, arrogance, gaudiness, mourning, confusion, pride, delicacy, power, meditation, religion, and ambition. Purple falls under the element of Earth, and was once a European symbol of royalty; today it symbolizes the divine. Click Here to Take This Quiz

Quizzes and Personality Tests

Long Time, No Post!

Yes, I know.
Life has a way of interfering with your FUN!
I've joined a group on the internet that has SO much energy and SO much creativity that they are inspiring me to not only spend some creative time each and every day, but also to step outside my comfort zone.
Anyway, I made a fabric postcard! I wanted it to represent the world around me - which is woods. We have a pond rimmed with stones that is a work in progress (actually, my hubby's therapy). This a picture from last summer - the water isn't always that murky but hubby had just cleaned the pond filter:



SO - this wonderful view (and you don't see the half of it) is my solace and inspiration. With that being said, here is my postcard:



Not too bad for a first timer, eh?
The group is called Fiber Art Traders and they can be found on Yahoo! groups. Come join in the fun!