new addition to the collection

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Well, maybe you can tell...? and I didn't know this myself. But from this point I've been working in a one (1) dimension doll pattern, and was having lots of fun, but now I've moved into the realm of the "3 piece doll pattern", two dimension creations. It's been quite a change in the preparation of each pattern piece, but much more amusements gets to come from this medium.

In the past I've been working with one type of fabric for the whole doll, head, body, limbs. Now, I'm able to work in different fabrics for one doll, for wings, body, and head. Fun but definitely need to plan further out in the process.

I also got to get educated in learning to stage for stronger/better methods of attaching the items as well as placement proportion.

Don't want to see any "wingless" Angles.

Fun and challenging all at the same time, and it seems that I tend to gravitate to small size dolls, so now of course I will need get off the comfort train and move forward to the 14" doll pattern and tackle this awkward challenge!

I'm enjoying this ride and the great ladies I've been learning from :->

Believe that life is worth living, and your belief will help create that fact.

- William James

Fairy Tiro - Pin Doll Pattern

If you recall I attended my first "SeaSide Dolls" club meeting July 1 and it was a blast! However, clubs as you know are not all fun and games, we are here to actually lean the craft that the club is known for, yes?!!!! So, as the newest member I was giving the task to create a "pin doll". A pin doll is the clubs name tag until everyone gets to know you buy your first name. The assignment is to take the pattern that is provided - trace it, cut it, stuff it, then you can finish it up anyway your creative juices take you.....Well, that's always fun!!!! This project started out intimating me big time, of course I saw lots of great ideas that the ladies shared with me and had no idea or direction to to towards after the stuffing part. But, after I created the "pink girl" my creative juices came alive as well as my fairy trio collection. These fairy's started to take on their own personalities and it was fairy mania for two weeks, all hours of the nite. I had to wrap up the project by Monday nite, and get some sleep for a Wed. morning sewing class. This project, has shown me again, that being able to take on this challenge and actually getting thur it, makes me laugh at myself because their is no rules to this game, pure enjoyment and freedom. And we all know that's a great feeling!!!!

In order of creations the Fairy Trio: "pink girl", "umbrella bride", and "miss wingtip"

"There is no such thing as great talent without great will-power"

Honore De Balzac (1799-1850)

Grandparents Thank You Card

My son Gabriel and his friend Derrick Shacklet got to go to a surf camp this summer in Corona Del Mar for two weeks. Derrick's grandparents take him every year and he gets to invite a friend and Gabriel got to to this year. Derrick's grandparents Diana and Bill Shacklet provided two weeks of fun at the beach, in their home on Balboa Island and on the off time lunch and dinners and of course at the Del Mar Fairgrounds. Derrick's grandfather happens to be on the board of directors and is in charge of the helium balloon department at the fairgrounds, so the kids got to run a muck their as well. I was beside myself on how to express my appreciation to Diana & Bill for sharing this experience with Gabriel. So I knew that they would not take any financial dollars from me, and I couldn't just buy them just any gift. So, I decided to make them a homemade Thank You Card. Thankful for Grandparents!!!!!

The center of human nature is rooted in ten thousand ordinary acts of kindness that define our days.

1st Doll 3rd Time Around!

Wow, my first doll.... she has had lots of transformations to say the least - I wasn't happy with the way I dressed her the first time but I had to put some clothes on her while I was on a roll with the 2nd doll. So....here she is again....after getting into the 4th of July spirit with some vintage decorations around the house I started to gravitate toward red, white, and blue fabric and got to work. She seems much more happy about her attire as I do too. My challenge was her body fabric, it's blue with small stars. Kinda already set the stage for celebration but I couldn't figure it out yet. Hummm, I wanted to give her a vintage swimsuite at first but that didn't work out, I wasted lots of fabric..but then I went back to basics. I used a pattern from a doll book and downsized the dress, and then it worked out. I even got brave and gave here big breast, kinda funny to me, then her outfit just started to come together and I even added some terry cloth circles I cut out from scrap fabric that I got at the antique flea market a couple of weeks ago. I have to say...it's great when satisfaction comes with patience! Wow, I'm glad I still want to plug along with this new craft, just looking at the calander I have booked for Monday, July 6th is my "Seaside Dolls" in LongBeach, Ca. the doll club I joined in May 2009 that started this whole new adventure for me - Smiles....

I feel when I'm happiest I'm either learning or teaching. But I can do neither without giving my full attention to whatever or whoever needs to be in focus. That means listening with my whole body, all senses attuned to the moment.

" YOU NEVER REALLY LOSE UNTIL YOU QUIT TRYING" Quote by Mike Ditka