I'm back

I apologize for my long absence. I'll provide my excuses later .. maybe. But I'm so happy that you are here. I'll provide a brief update.

My substituting has reached a good level - I'm on a permanent stay with a kindergarten class near my home while the regular teacher is on maternity leave. I'm most happy to get up in the morning and go to work.

I am looking forward to spring to start doing some camping and hiking.

I'm planning on spending my summer working on my short stories and novel. I really intend to get published this year.

I do want spend time on crafts - doll making, doll houses, soap making. Maybe I'll be setting up a booth at some festivals this year.

Oh, and I want to just play, walk on the beach, spend time Letterboxing & geocaching.

I really would like to get more involved in my massage practice and perhaps get more training in trigger points.

I can't neglect my gardening and storing food for the winter.

How will I find time to do it all? I'm realizing the sands of time in my hourglass are slowly slipping away.

Handcrafted Cloth Art Dolls

For Christmas Presents this year I made dolls for my grandchildren, great-grandchildren, daughter, daughter-in-law. I've got a few more in the works. Everyone loves them and I love making them.

I've got loads of crafting supplies to put together various fabrics, colors, hair designs, jewelry and socks. I'm just getting creative since my left brain decided to go on vacation. Who knows how big this will grow. I'm having a blast. Look for more to come.

I'll work on adding more pictures and details about my process over the next few weeks. All art work is original by me, using acrylic paints. Pattern for Heart shaped body was original too. Just the socks were purchased.

It's about time

So much has happened since my last post. To begin with, the Android tablet I'm using this morning doesn't complete words for me like my iPhone texting software.  Obviously I'm spoiled.

I would like to get Dragon Voice Recognition software installed on this device but my technical skills and comprehension have not yet returned since auto accident and traumatic brain injury in September.  The good news is that I'm beginning to be able to think again and see beginnings of improvement. I feel hopeful of a full recovery.

Painting the Furniture, Start Model for Mama

This was pretty fun - These pieces were kits I found up in Holland for the rocking chair, stool, table and lamp and bible. The crib was from Michaels. I painted and decorated and made the mattress for the crib.

Notice the wire frame model for Mama sitting in the rocking chair. I molded this with jewelry wire and plan to make head and hands with polymer clay and sew clothes on the rest of her.

There is a better picture below where Mama is sitting on the edge of the table~

Framing the Dollhouse

The window trim and walls had to be painted before assembly.

Wallpaper  applied and floors stained and glossed.

They recommended taping it together before gluing walls. Good idea!

Start of the Dollhouse

I found this kit at a garage sale, I'd never put together anything so intricate before but it was only $15 and I thought it would be a wonderful, fun thing to do for my great granddaughters!

It has been fun. First I had to punch out all the pieces. There were about ten sheets of thin plywood with pre-cut patterns but I had to use a blade for some and sand them down and remember to pencil in the part number as I went along. This took about a week I think.

The finished size will be 32"H x 24"W x 17"D  Big!

  

Peace on Earth