Geez. . .I must have fallen off the face of the earth!  I no longer work, I'm hanging out all day, every day and spend a good portion of that time playing with metal, soder, enamel powders, glas clay, PMC, and all of the different types of things that you can really kick the bejesus out of. . . Yeah!!  I have been a really busy lady as of late.  There are things that led me to this point, not of my own choosing, but it is what it is.  I was in a car accident on 3/14/2008 on my way home from work on a Friday evening that was going to alter my life.  It did that and I will never be capable of going back to the pre accident days.  Nowadays it is a question of how the ensuing metal plate holding up my neck along with a few screws decide to feel that day!  I pray for peace daily for the body from within.  The second surgery seems to have helped a lot, and the inevitable is here.  There will be good days and then there will be better than good days!!  I pray for either.

 At the time I was making dolls, moving in to the future with dollmaking friends, and discovering new products and what we can do to implement them in our doll making.  It was a fun and exciting time!  Unforatunately with the accident came many unforscene can't do's.   So, I had to give it up with the understanding that it was no longer physically possible and the old neck could not stay in the positions necessary to work and sculpt in.  So, I phased my way out of the dolls and started taking classes in jewlrey (which I had already dabbled in) and started to take this more seriously as an outlet that was compatible to my new lifestyle.  Here I am, over 4 years later and deeply immersed in metal and stones and shine, dirt, ageing and just plain out playing my way to perfection. 

It's been rough at times and rewarding at others, while somedays I have felt defeated and other days on a natural high that this is possible to move forward simply just because I love it.  Love it, love it, love it!!!  It's just the journey.      Let the games begin! ! !            









































 

Froud class

Another misplaced creature!

And this next one is Rusty. This is my critter that I made in the Wendy and Toby Froud class this spring. This little guy makes me laugh, seriously, I laugh when I look at him!!!

Looking back

Today I happened to be looking back on my blog to show someone one of my newer dolls, and realized what a moron I really can be, as they are not even posted here. So, meet AnnMarie! She is my workout girl with a cloth body and paperclay face. I like her expression!

Fairy wings

Judy Skeel Wing class

Judy Skeel has been doing an on line class on wings using different techniques, so when I saw this, just had to take the class!! Here's a couple pics of the first set. These are made out of tyvek, a used priority envelope. Then I painted it on both sides with lumiere metallic paints. Sewed some wire in the center of each leaf then I put german glitter glass on the edges of the leaves. The leaves for wings you ask?? Well a forest fairy should have leaves to float on the breeze with.. LOL Okay, I will loose my mind with this one..

Necklace

Dyed piece of trim

Going to Paterson to see my friend David

The day started out wonderfully. Project and inspiration were ready to go. All that was needed was some lining fabric to match and more trim to make another necklace in black. David is wonderful and has become a friend to me over the years. Haven't had the chance to see him, so spent some time visiting and catching up. Left Paterson after having this beautiful time with my friend, made the way to Shoprite and headed home at 10:30 am. Great!!! I'm ready to play all day. Then, without warning of course, the electric goes pop. out, done....

No electric. No sewing, no fun, no playtime. THE END OF THIS SUNDAY ! Have to regroup and make a new plan. Here's the pic of the first ribbon trim necklace. Second of same trim, dyed black.

Sunday, Heat, Humidity and then, no electric

Just lost over an hour of blogging that was put into save and is lost to me. So, with that, I'm going to just put up 2 pics and tell you that yesterday was a disaster. Had big plans for the day and then the entire town is without electric on a 90 degree day with 95% humidity...FUN, FUN! This is the beginning of my creative energy that was ready to go yesterday..Oh Well. Maybe another few weeks and it can happen again.

Using old treasures

A few months ago someone was selling a box of vintage lace that belonged to her grandmother who had recently passed away. When looking at the pictures of the pieces I knew that I had to have that. So $ 54.00 later the treasure was mine. That box contained someone's true treasures. The pieces were well cared for and you could see that this grandmother loved these pieces. Things were creased from sitting in her draws for a long time. So it was then and there that the decision was made to make sure these pieces are treated with love and respect.

On the door handle now hangs a beautiful gift cone made out of the first piece I pulled from the box. It looks as if it is a hand croched placemat. Who made this I wonder...did grandma? Grandma, your lace is beautiful!! It is not hidden away in a drawer any longer. Thank you for your treasures...

YUM

Making good use of my tools

Tonight I came home from work and was on a mission to bake. There's a new cookbook called the "Flat Belly Diet", that is actually working for me, believe it or not. Lost 10 lbs the first week. Can't get over the fact that every morning another pound is gone. This morning I was in the bathroom checking the scale to be sure it's working. Can't believe it.. So tonight it was going to be the chocolate zucchini snack cake.

So, just have to double up the ingredients and there will be enough to freeeze half for next week. The directions call for chocolate chips to be put on the top of the cake after it is baked and put back in the cooling oven to melt. Well, they weren't melting. I was afraid to turn the oven back on and dry out the cake. Oh what to do, what to do!!!!?

Got it! I'll just get out my heat gun and sit and melt the top chocolate while I watch the boob tube. That's right, use my heat gun. I thought that it melts things, why not chocolate chips?? No good. Not happening. Not tonight anyway. So, it ended back up in a hot oven for about 5 minutes until somewhat melted. Good enough!

Have to tell you, It was delicious, fully melted or not. After all, we eat candy bars when they're solid, don't we. I'll take chocolate anyway I can get it...Now that was a rewarding adventure.

I've been here there and everywhere!

Ask me where I am now and I'll really have to think about it. There's this love hate thing going on inside of me with this blog, Most of the time I hate the thought of having to do the work to keep it going. On the other hand, when I complete something on here, I like it!

You fiqure it out!! So, after a 5 month furlough I'm back and will get thru the points as fast as I can.. Let's see... Oh yeah, it was January and we had a Lillian Alberti class at Col's house. It was informative but I don't know if this will be something that I'd do again. The form is still sitting here posed and ready to be covered with paperclay and become something. The jury is still out on this one.

Busy, busy

I'm like a hurricane waiting to happen these days. I got the shop area all cleaned up, did a whole bunch of organizing, only to get loose in here this weekend and succeded at trashing the place again. Glitter glitter everywhere. Here's a quick pic of barrybaby and new little snowpeople for Huckleberry Snowgirl to welcome in the holiday season with. She's next, I'm so inspired. Also, I was sewing all the parts together for Barbella but I have to decide what I want to do with her face. Is it paperclay with cloth over? Is it polymer clay? or is it needle sculpted cloth with magic mud or what ever that is that makes the seams disappear.

My son Trevor and my grandaughter Mikela at Williamsburg, Va.

This was the result of taking Christie Friezen's class on line. Had a great time making him

Here the little cuties are. Barry on the left and Col's little one on the right. Don't they look too real? Col's little girl is in all vintage clothes she made from a dress she found at the flea market.

Gone, gone, gone

Well,, the summer came and the summer went quite quickly this year. Actually I think that there were less than a week of over 90 degree days. October is here and can't say that I'm upset about it. This is my favorite time of the year!! Have to go to the surgical center tomorrow and have my last epidural and am praying this one works for a while. Other than that all I want to do is create!!!

We had Jared teach us the baby doll down at the shore, sans Colleen, the doll herself! The end result was a good one! There's a lot to catch up on. Guess I'll just ramble a bit and throw them in as I remember it all.

Stephanie the golden goddess

The summer is flying by

Time is moving way too fast for me these days. We're at warp speed and I can't find the brakes to slow it down. Shame on me... I know all about 120psi..all truck drivers do!

Recap
The purse is finished.
Finally got the face sculpted for the mermaid, Excuse me, Stephanie the golden godess!
Knitting like crazy at work.
Beading at work.
Playing with clay every chance I get.

It's going fast and I seem to be going absolutely no where at all....

work on fiber piece to become a purse

The fiber work was so much fun, creating what will be a purse in very short order here. All that is left to do is line it and attach the handle. I think I'm procrastanating because finishing means giving it up and I wasn't quite ready to do that yet. But, alas, it's time to move on to other things and it seems that the little old lady that lives in the shoe is on the deck next.

The Ohio River

Trip to Indiana

Barry and I escaped for a week and went to Indiana to visit my daughter, son in law and grandson. My grandson graduated from the 8th grade, which was a great thing to have the opportunity to see.

New projects

This week proved to be a new journey into fiber exploration once again. I just spread out a bunch of fabric and fiber that would make a great piece for a handbag and thus, Let the games begin!!!

This past week I had the pleasure of meeting 2 of Stephanie's dear friends and doing a little bit of fabric shopping at my favorite place in Paterson...Barbara and Lynnis are so talented and I was sorry that there wasn't time for me to get to know them a little better. Maybe next time around!

Having a great time!!!

Our April meeting was a great Party, Party!!! It's been such a long winter that when the dollings do end up getting together the noise level in the room is incredible!! I know that my head bangs...LOL.

So, here are the pics of the done heads. They are no longer dead heads!! The pin making was great and we had such a good time just chatting, scrambeling and scrumbelling that it is one for the record books

Tomorrow is a doll club meeting here, our first of the spring, and it will end up being 88 degrees! So, we will end up outside in the back yard and Barry will grill us burgers and hot dogs as we work on our fun project. Being that Mother's day is around the corner I decided that we could make pins, mother pins, with Jean Bernard's mold, Mother. What's really cool is that I just took the Jack Johnston class and it made it look different to me. LOL. I hope Barry does a good job on the burgers...The rest we girls can handle!!!!!!!!!

Meet the Queen of the Forest Fairy. She is dressed and in her finest as she tames the tigers...This was truly one of the best classes I have ever taken to date...I don't know why the clay experimenting didn't happen sooner than this. Can say that I'm loving this medium!!!!!!!!!!!!1

Her hands need to be redone, They were horrible and then I managed to break a few fingers today, so now there is no excuse.. Practice, practice, practice. So, now I have moved on to making a head for the headless mermaid. Her vision will soon come to fruition...

To be continued tomorrow....

Beautiful weekend with JJ

Don't know where to begin.. I'm so overwhelmed with the entire eperience with Jack Johnson..

Tomorrow will show a new chapter...T

Heidi doll to me, kitchen witch

Heidi's doll, Sandy

Remember the holiday doll using Stephanie's pattern? Well, due to a snow storm Heidi couldn't make the party and she missed the grab bag. Of course she was upset about not coming etc.. So, I told her I would make a doll also and we would exchange at a later date. Her she is, Sandy, my grease dancer and Heidi's rendidtion of the same pattern by Stephanie Novatski, on the cover of Soft Dolls and Animals, February 2009. I love my little witch!!

There was just so much to see at Stacey's exhibit I wish I could share it all with you. Will attach some small shots. If you get the chance go see this exhibit while it is still there if you can. The website is http://www.schwenkfelder.com/ and they are located in Pennsburg, Pa 18073. We also went to JoMar shopping for fabric and of course, went insane. They had silks for 4.99 a yard, sheers, remenants, trims and more.

This past weekend Stephanie, Colleen and I took a road trip to Pa, in the Valley Forge area to visit our dear friend Heidi. It was a wonderful weekend and we had such a great experience going to the Schwenkfelder Heritage Gallery to see Stacey Clarks' exhibit. Stacey was kind enought to come and meet with us and explain the process of creating this marvelous exhibit of Fairy Tale characters come to life in cloth art doll form. Stacey is truly the artist and her work is incredible!! We were fascinated by her use of mediums and the realistic look of the dragons, birds, people and fairies alike!
Top photo, from left, Stephanie Novatski, Colleen Athens, Stacey Clark, Heidi Difenderfer, Tery Favo

Stacey showing Colleen her work!

Last summer we took a class with Pearl Red Moon for a creative journey exploring fiber art work. I was originally going to put my fabric art on a doll but labored with that decision. I really wanted to be able to touch and handle it as the results were fantastic and the colors so inspiring. So, eventually I came up with the answer. Barnes and Nobel has a weekly desk planner that is just the right size, so I made a cover for it. Every year I can change to a new book and keep this piece of art with me all the time. What do you think/

Holiday get together

Last Sunday we had our holiday get together at the Firehouse Rest. and a good time was had by all. The food was good, the atmosphere lovely and of course the company was supurb!!!It was too long of a time to not get together.

We now have a class lineup for the coming months, and it will be an exciting year!! April brings Jack Johnson to White Plains for 3 days of clay play! Then it's Marilyn Halcomb in May at Stephie's and September will be Judi Ward down the shore for designing your own doll. March will bring a tripto Pa. to Heidi's and we will visit a museum that sounds exciting and of course, fabric shopping in Lancaster is in order!!! I can't wait to retire so the whole day will be time to play..

Big snowstorm on the way tonight, so tomorrow will be spent hunkered down in my space creating!!!!

It has been too long since I have even attempted to blog. So, this is the first attempt at trying to get better at this. There are so many pictures to post and things to do that I don't know where to start. It's been way to long a winter.. Just want this to end and the warm air to wash over the cold ground. My spirit is begging for renewal and a rebirth.

And on that note, I hope that this year will bring better things for all. Hope, happiness and health. So, let the games begin!!!!!!1