Art with a Soul

Treasury Report

2010-10-26T20:59:00.002-04:00

It's so cool to have my products in a treasury! Thank you Gilat!
Love In The Spring

(I'm still learning how to take a screen shot, but this is most of it...)

New Endeavors - AHA

2010-10-26T07:45:00.002-04:00

I have joined a wonderful group, American Holiday Artists. I am very excited to be a part of this creative and talented collection of artists! If you like holiday-themed art you should definitely go check it out!

My first listing for AHA is "Tiva - The Thanksgiving Elf".

Cute

2009-05-11T19:47:00.002-04:00

Not much is going on in my art-world. Just making a few Bat Mitzvah gifts, a few birthday gifts and such.
Here is some cute to tide us over...

OMG!!!

2009-04-17T15:11:00.003-04:00

I am DROOLING for these Markers!!!

By any other name...

2009-04-16T18:39:00.001-04:00

Miss B calls it "Pretty Music"
Miss E calls it "Princess Music"
I call it Classical music.
We love it around here.
How about you?

Photos

2009-04-14T08:22:00.004-04:00

from this post.

Look at how many are in the red wagon!

People Are Lovely

2009-04-09T07:46:00.003-04:00

Priscilla Igram and Christine Orlando.
Two artists i have never met. Offered a kindness to me, as a fellow artist.

They run a children's art program called The Young Artists Studio in Fairfield CT. It looks so sweet! Such a great thing to do, helping open children to art!

If you know someone with kids in CT, pass it on!

Best Intentions

2009-04-02T11:17:00.003-04:00

Well, the dolls for Africa have been abducted by my daughter. I am still going to send the off to Jen Lemen, but after my little one has time with them. She is SO into them! She has at least 90 dolls and she guards them well. She carry's them around town in a basket and plays with them everyday. Even though the girls in Africa will not get them as soon, they will come with wonderful amounts of love already built in!
Photos to come...

One Grain of Sand

2008-09-21T11:13:00.003-04:00

I want it all. I want to be the best mother, best wife, best daughter, coach, artist, friend. I want to help everyone. Be there for everyone's needs. Comfort, console, fix, heal. Some times I feel there is so much to do that I can't even make a dent in the problem. That can feel very paralyzing.
I read Jen Lemen's blog frequently. She inspires me a great deal by doing just what she can do to help others. Most of us are not rich or powerful, but it is amazing what one average person can do to positively impact others. Please go read her stories. Donate if you can. If you can't donate, consider a kind word or comment to contribute to the goodwill. Every little bit helps.
I am shipping these off to Jen for her next trip to Africa. Hopefully they will find loving arms with the girls there. A smile and a doll may not change the world, but they can maybe add a tiny moment of happiness. That is what I can offer. Good enough.

First Day

2008-09-02T20:13:00.002-04:00

First Day of school. New schedule. New hopes. New energy. Whenever something rocks my emotional world, artistic energy is the first thing to leave me. Time has come. I am excited to move forward.

Barf-o-rama

2008-08-30T02:40:00.002-04:00

Again, not art related. But any blogging is good blogging so...
I must share my photos of E's disassembled car seat. She barfs in it so much that this time I had to strip it and scrub it and wash the fabric. There was barf even all the way down in the seat bottom. Gross! I soaked the straps in bleach since they don't come off the seat to wash them. Ew.

Resurfacing

2008-08-24T16:59:00.002-04:00

I am trying to come back to life here. The blogging and the art have been suffering lately as real life needed my attention. Lots to catch up on, I'll do it a bit at a time.

Rob just sent me this link and it is so cool, I have to share it!

Sad

2008-07-28T10:16:00.002-04:00

Pascha
1995-2008

Fun Fabric Swap!

2008-07-22T22:53:00.001-04:00

I am going to be in my first "blog swap", a fabric swap hosted by Marvelous Mouse! It looks like so much fun, come join us and sign up!

Yum

2008-07-22T18:20:00.005-04:00

Ok, all you fabric hounds... Heather Bailey's new lines are now available from her own website! I don't have to ask if you like them. I mean, really.

Also, Sandi Henderson's new fabric lines are out AND she is putting out sewing patterns as well! I am ready to order as soon as they come out!

What should I name her?

2008-07-17T21:14:00.001-04:00

A blue Twilight Fairy...

UPDATE: She is officially named "Estella"! Thanks for the ideas!

In My Spare Time

2008-07-14T20:34:00.004-04:00

Are these adorable or what?

Now I need to give in to the trend and learn to knit!

Ack! Finally!

2008-07-12T12:14:00.004-04:00

I have not been able to get on google or blogger for weeks! I am still alive, I swear.
Here is my newest family of Fairies...

The Sunshine Fairy Family
Sunshine Fairies are a group of fairies who turn the flowers towards the sun and gently help them open their petals each day. This is a set of 4 Sunshine Fairies which includes: Eliane, Soleil, Livna and Lior who are all available in my shop.
Eliane, the mother.
Soliel, the eldest daughter
Livna and Lior, the little ones.
I have 4 more full families of fairies waiting to be photographed and posted!
More soon.

Coming Soon...

2008-06-16T15:27:00.003-04:00

Coming soon, to an Etsy shop near you...
the first installment of "The Jew Crew": Eva, Rebecca and Jonah

Post #92

2008-06-06T10:38:00.003-04:00

I feel like the creativity juices are welling up inside me and ready to pour right out! My studio is mostly unpacked now but finding time for any work, other than custom orders, is very hard!
School is out for my older daughter and the sun is shining often. We have a pool now also, so that is a fantastic time sucker. So I am snatching a moment to write this lament before I go set up a project for my two girls and their visiting friend. Then grocery shopping and then kid gym class. I LOVE my life! I just need more hours in the day!

Distracted

2008-05-29T21:04:00.002-04:00

still distracted by my move.And by this...

And this...

On My NEW Desk Wednesday

2008-05-14T17:01:00.002-04:00

My desk actually is starting to look like normal. Unfortunately the hideous wallpaper is here to stay for now. But I'm getting better at tuning it out.
And, no... those are not tiny bodies in my thread bins. They are small porcelain dolls from my childhood.

I wish the rest of my house was this close to being unpacked!

Still moving...

2008-05-13T06:54:00.001-04:00

Lady dancing with her 4 year old self.

On My Desk Wednesday

2008-05-07T12:15:00.002-04:00

Well, I can't find my camera in the moving chaos. i think it is in the old house by the computer but that won't help me with today's On My Desk Wednesday.
I'll tell you, I LOVE my new place! I will have to share my work area with my bedroom but I still love it! My desk is currently balanced on some shelves and not yet bolted together. It is however, very clean since I went on a cleaning spree last night. On top are a few plastic bins of paints, all sorted by color naturally! Also my pens and pencils drawer unit (also sorted by color). I am dying to do some work at my new desk but chaos still reigns around here and so I must carry boxes and clean things.
Best wishes from moving-land!

I Love Cats!

2008-05-03T21:05:00.001-04:00

You love me!

2008-05-02T07:13:00.002-04:00

You really really love me! Thank you people!
400 hearts on etsy!
Yippie!

On My Desk Wednesday

2008-04-30T12:16:00.002-04:00

So two notable things in this image...
*One is that I am almost done with a NEW Jewish Elf Family and you can see one of them in the foreground.
*In the background there are boxes all packed and ready to move!

Yesterday my etsy shop had lots of traffic and I sold a few dolls. I got the impression that something must have been featured somewhere or in a treasury. But I am not in any treasuries and I have no idea how to find out what happened. A happy mystery!

Crazy May

2008-04-30T12:11:00.002-04:00

Welcome May!
I am soooo glad to be in May! We find out today or tomorrow if we get the condo we've applied for. Then we move!
Yesterday I participated in a local craft sale. Business sucked but it was a great "night off" for me. I worked on new elves the whole time.
The SUN IS SHINING!!
yippie for May!

Missing Wednesdays

2008-04-27T18:44:00.003-04:00

I am so distracted right now, we are selling our house and moving in the next 3 weeks! I am very sad to have missed last Wednesday on my desk post. I promise to remember this week!
We are selling the table I use as my art desk currently, so I may have to be even more creative on Wednesdays during the move!

Back from Vacation

2008-04-20T16:39:00.002-04:00

I am getting back into the swing of things now that we are home from vacation. I have more elves ready to show soon. The "Jew-Crew" as I affectionately think of them. I am looking forward to making them accessories!
must put laundry away. more later...

On My Desk

2008-04-02T09:58:00.003-04:00

I'm getting ready for a sale this weekend.

Who's legs are those in the background?
Oh! Hi Pascha.

Fabric Lust

2008-03-28T19:50:00.006-04:00

Every so often I take out parts of my fabric stash. I unfold them, drape them, caress them and re-fold them neatly. Sigh. I LOVE my fabrics. So much so that it can intimidate me to even cut into it. I don't want to mess it up!

Anyway, I stay far, far away from fabric websites as a rule. NOT allowed! But hey, I'm only human you know!

Check out these new drool-worthy lines.
Sundrop made by my favorite Free Spirit Fabrics
Ginger Blossom by Michael Miller Fabrics
Vintage Roses and French Roses by Paris Bebe (older line, but I love it)
ok, I have to stop now.

Itzhak

2008-03-27T09:18:00.005-04:00

Itzhak is now on etsy. His friends and family are anxiously waiting their turns!
This is my first Judaica item since I joined "EtsyChai" an etsy street team.

On My Desk

2008-03-26T19:45:00.005-04:00

Itzhak - a Jewish Elf
he is the first of a large group going on etsy soon

Treasuries Learning Curve

2008-03-24T07:30:00.004-04:00

I just now figured out how to tell if you are featured in an Etsy Treasury! I don't know why it took me so long. I wonder what I've been missing?! My dolls are currently featured on TWO quite beautiful treasuries: Lazy Sunday and Black on Gold. How cool is that?! Check 'em out!

On My Desk

2008-03-19T10:29:00.004-04:00

B's toy:My tools:

A work in progress:

And right now NEXT to my desk...

baby E with a hurt foot.

On My Desk ... not Wednesday!

2008-03-13T11:06:00.004-04:00

A day late... but here is what WAS on my desk on Wednesday! This is my first photo for this meme, I am looking forward to more! I love seeing people's workspaces. Mine is not clean but real. Thanks to Jenny at allsorts for mentioning it! Kootoyoo has a list of participants on her side bar if anyone wants to see it.

My First Etsy Treasury

2008-03-12T19:38:00.003-04:00

My first etsy treasury !

Hey, Cuteable!

2008-03-12T09:55:00.006-04:00

I just saw my little tiny dolls are on a feature on Cuteable.com! I love that blog!

The Etsy Cafe

2008-03-05T19:48:00.003-05:00

Wow, so cool. This new site, The Etsy Cafe is featuring etsy artists all in one spot. Today I checked it and there I am! Very fast turn-around. I sent in my info today! Check out the site, it is really special.

Etsy on Martha!!

2008-03-01T11:20:00.002-05:00

Esty founder Rob Kalin was interviewed on The Martha Stewart Show! This link is courtesy of mothtoflame. Yay etsy!

Madame Alexander Dolls

2008-02-28T21:04:00.002-05:00

when i was young, the dolls i played with were the 8" little dolls by madame alexander. i saw one online tonight and WOW, my heart jumped! i haven't thought of them in so long, but as soon as i saw the photos i was in love all over again. i am astonished to discover how expensive they are! like $50 a doll. mine were from thrift stores, now i know why. but oh, what i wouldn't do for them now. it's so silly, i don't think of myself as a play doll kind of girl. no barbies or babies or any of that. but put any of the madame alexander dolls or a small porcelain doll in front of me and i am mush. i remember the old little women dolls the best. i think i also had little bo peep and other nursery rhyme dolls.

More New Elves

2008-02-27T11:08:00.005-05:00

Besslyn does remind me of a mommy, so guess what I've been making now?
Yup.
Mommy and baby elves!
This was too much fun! Below are the new ones (plus one male elf). I am working on getting them posted to etsy asap!

Ebba and Dilys

Suzu and Pooka

Winna and Mitzi

Mitzi

Pari and Pavla

Tallou

New Elf

2008-02-21T20:48:00.004-05:00

This is Besslyn. She is my first "tall" elf (at a whopping 6 inches). When Besslyn stands next to Arwina (the only remaining elf who is still here to compare to) she looks like her big sister or a mommy.

Besslyn has lots of beading all over. Wrist cuffs, ankle cuffs and head band.

I was very frustrated with the amount of wind when I was shooting her photos. But not enough to wait! I get so excited when a new being is finished that I feel I must post photos immediately! I am really struggling right now to NOT post crappy night photos of my next elf. She is looking at me like "Hey, what about me?". But I can wait until I can take photos in the light tomorrow. I think.

New Doll

2008-02-18T16:52:00.003-05:00

Meet Franny...

Franny is an elf doll who enjoys spending time in vintage pottery. She is looking for a place to call home. She would like to bring her favorite yellow creamer mug with her wherever she lives. She may not stay in the cup all the time but she wants to have it with her as a private area. I really like Franny. I almost don't want to let her go! I guess if it is meant to be, she will not sell and stay with me. Otherwise hopefully the person who adopts her will love her very much. Visit Franny on my etsy site.

Birdhouse, 2008

2008-02-18T15:28:00.006-05:00

i am finally finished with the "birdhouse" for Project Return. next year i will probably go back to giving them a doll for the auction, but it is always nice to try new things so i am not sorry i did this. i made it with the intention of having it played with. i bought the wooden house and then painted it, added shingles, interior molding, and "hardwood" floor downstairs and on the porch.

on the inside i included seven tiny girl dolls of various ethnicities to represent the seven girls living in the real Project Return house. i made 7 beds that they fit into, a dining table with 7 chairs, a china cabinet, 8 bowls for food, apples to put in the bowls, curtains, and rugs.

i hope it is enjoyed by whatever kid gets it!

More Organized

2008-02-14T13:03:00.003-05:00

still a long way to go, but it's better already. i will miss seeing my fiesta and mccoy pottery but i need this shelf to keep better organzized with the tiny dolls. it is working much better this way then it was with piles and piles of "done" or "in progress" stuff.

Studio Tour

2008-02-11T21:42:00.000-05:00

I am working on my annual birdhouse contribution for Project Return. It is almost done and then I will post photos.
After it is done, I will organize my studio space (again). So here are some shots of the current (highly populated) room...

Mommies

2008-02-02T17:34:00.000-05:00

I am so happy with how these dolls came out! I have more than I can post since they are so fun to make. (About 20 painted out of 50) I'll have to make one for my mommy.

The Mommies Are Coming!

2008-01-30T14:27:00.000-05:00

stay tuned...

New Elf on eBay

2008-01-13T19:13:00.000-05:00

Tonight I am posted my newest elf on ebay. Her name is Posey! This is the first time I have posted an elf or a doll of any kind (other than the teeny-tiny dolls) on eBay. I'm very curious to see if I can sell my work on eBay successfully. I know it will take patience and I know it takes time to build up a following. Still... it is good to get started.

Her story...

Posey is a very quiet elf. She likes to keep her ears open to appreciate the poetry and music she hears in the air, especially when she is in nature. She is very creative and loves to nurture the creativity in others (even humans, if you get to know her well). I suppose in mythology she would be considered a muse but Posey is not a mythical elf. If you do find your creativity blossoming in her presence you will know she thinks of you warmly.

Gnomes, Goldfish and Mushrooms Oh My!

2008-01-12T19:35:00.001-05:00

yippie!
I finally got my photos taken of the rest of my pre-made one-of-a-kind clothing! I have had only about 1/3 photographed and have not been inspired to post them until I have variety to choose from. I also had to put aside my perfectionism and use the photos that are just "good enough". Thank God for Picnik! I love them! So... slowly I am sifting through the photos, organizing them, improving them on picnik and POSTING THE CLOTHES to my etsy craft shop! Finally. Below are some shots of the gnome outfits and the goldfish outfits. (And an elephant for good measure.)

I am also excited that I am close to posting one of my Elves on eBay. I am in the ornament group AHAO on eBay and I am anxious to post my second shelf sitting ornament. This process has also been slowed down by my wanting a professional looking eBay template for my ad. So hubby and I work on it each weekend and we are slowly creeping closer to finishing it. At least "good enough"! Maybe "it's good enough" should be my slogan for 2008.

Here is a sneak peek of my two new Elves, one for eBay and one for etsy. Names and stories later!

International Doll Artists

2008-01-01T17:26:00.000-05:00

I enjoy reading Stef's wonderful blog Gufobardo. I always look forward to her posts which have an international flavor.

Today I see on her blog an interview with (new to me) doll artist Nives Cicin-Sain of Croatia. She is a fantastic and accomplished doll artist and has written a beautiful book! The only place I have found to buy it is directly from the artist or here. You can also see a bit of it on her site. Worth the visit.

Elf Stories II

2008-01-01T14:23:00.001-05:00

Below is Aulani. Aulani is a magical messenger. She delivers messages and items to elves, fairies and sprites all over the world. Aulani has a bit of natural wanderlust so the travel for her job is wonderful for her.
Aulani wears a purple and maroon wool felt outfit with matching scarf. Her green wool felt cloak is specially designed with an extra pouch to safely keep sensitive items she delivers. You can also add small things to her pouch if you ask her nicely. (sold)

Below is Meela. Meela is communication ambassador for elves, fairies and sprites all over the world. She is the Elf Liaison to Flyers, E.L.F. Specifically Butterflies. Meela’s natural patience and exceptional communication skills earned her this rather prestigious post. (Elves, fairies and sprites have always been challenged communicating with their close neighbors the butterflies. There have been many misunderstandings over the years.) With Meela as The E.L.F. relations are very harmonious between the magical ones and the flying creatures.

Meela is looking for a safe and happy dwelling to call home. Preferably near a garden. If you have such a spot for her, please respond to this ad. Just please be forewarned that Meela’s presence may invite more butterflies to your garden than you are used to.
She wears a salmon wool felt coat over glittery pantaloons. The glitter is very attractive to the butterflies. On her chest she wears a pendant identifying her as The E.L.F. to the butterflies. (sold)
Below is my newest elf. She has yet to divulge her story, but I will add it here when the time comes.

Ferris Bueller, you're my hero...

2007-12-26T22:00:00.000-05:00

ok, Suzanne has tagged me again! this time it is to name your 25 favorite movies of all time. i have a hard time with that. i came up with 32. i can't cut any out, don't ask me to.

A Fish Called Wanda
Amelie
Back to the Future
Bringing Up Baby
Chicago
Dirty Dancing
Disney's Aladdin
Disney's Mulan
Down And Out In Beverly Hills
ET
Ferris Bueller's Day Off
Grease
Little Miss Sunshine
Love Actually
Midnight Run
Monsters, Inc.
Ocean’s Eleven
Pretty Woman
Raiders Of The Lost Ark
Shall We Dance (Astaire & Rogers)
Shrek
Singin' In The Rain
Star Wars
Terminator 2: Judgment Day
The Breakfast Club
The Incredibles
The Nightmare Before Christmas
The Princess Bride
The Snowman
The Sound Of Music
Toy Story
Victor/Victoria
Wallace & Gromit: A Close Shave
When Harry Met Sally

Fairy and Elf Stories

2007-12-22T18:57:00.000-05:00

well, all but one of these fairies are sold. i thought it might be fun to share their stories here in their honor.

this is Dorri...
Dorri a Sleep Pixie Elf Doll.
The name Dorri means “glittering star”. That is a very fitting meaning for her. Her job is Pixie Dust Manager to The Sandman. That’s right. The famous guy who comes to visit us each night as we are sleeping. He sprinkles sweet pixie dust on us to facilitate happy dreams. Dorri is the wonderful elf who prepares the pixie dust for him each night. She is the perfect temperament for this… sweet, caring, serene and quiet.

Dorrie is looking for a safe and happy dwelling to call home during the daytimes. If you have such a spot for her, please respond to this ad. She promises to stay with you until you are enjoying your own sweet dreams before she leaves for work each night. You won’t even notice she is gone.

Dorri wears a lavender colored wool felt coat over shorts and a long sleeved jumpsuit. This is the official coat that only Sleep Elves and other Sandman employees receive. The trim is real pixie dust.
This is Ezkurra, a Pixie Elf Doll. Ezkurra is for decoration or gentle play. She enjoys standing on desks, mantels and bedside tables or playing in dollhouses. Her preference however, is to be near a bit of fresh air. It shows off her hair as it moves in the breeze.

Ezkurra is a small but powerful force. She is not bossy or outspoken but she exudes gentle control. Her personality is strong and she has incredible self-confidence for an elf so small.

The name Ezkurra symbolizes an acorn. The sign of the acorn has traditionally been used to symbolize the potential for great power in a small but potent package, and indicates independence in its bearer.

This particular elf is positive the town Ezkurra (in Spain) is named after her. Apparently hundreds of years ago she was instrumental in a pixie revolution near there. That’s all I can get out of her on that subject.

Ezkurra wears a rust colored wool felt coat over a deep purple dress. She has a matching purple scarf with a button brooch. Her shoes are wood painted deep purple. She loves her long wild hair and wears it loose and fluffy with pride. On the sole of her foot she has my initials and a tiny heart.

This is Lark, a Feather Fairy Doll.

Lark is perfect for decoration or gentle play. He enjoys standing on desks, mantels and bedside tables. He also loves to play in dollhouses (just be wary of his wings going through doors. Facing sideways works well.). In my studio he has been observing my computer work and telephone conversations and just by looking at me, reminds me not to take the world too seriously.

Lark is a fanciful soul. Like many fairies he is very mischievous but too smart to get caught doing anything. Lark is amused by human interaction, in particular when we talk to each other on the phone. I have no idea what he is thinking but he is definitely laughing with us, not at us. He is full of kindness.

The name Lark symbolizes “happiness, hope, good fortune, freedom, joy, youth, creativity and a new day.” He fully appreciates the humor in most everything.

Done!

2007-12-16T10:20:00.000-05:00

here are "the fairies" all done...

now i am off to find out their names and post them to etsy or ebay (still not sure which! advice?).

5 Things

2007-12-13T16:06:00.000-05:00

my dear friend and artist suzanne urban (also in ODACT) tagged me to play a game:

HERE ARE THE RULES:
1. Post these rules on your Blog.
2. Link to your Tagger. This is a wonderful PR tool for the GOOGLE search engines. HENCE THE NAME TAGGED!
3. Share 5 facts about yourself on your Blog. Some facts can be random & some unusual. Sharing on Tagger's Blog is optional.
4. Tag 5 people at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their Blogs.
5. Let them know they are Tagged by leaving a comment on their Blog.

so here I go...

i worked at the 1996 Olympic games as video coordinator for gymnastics. i got to sit right at the table on the floor. oh so important!
my father was an art professor and used to use slides of my 2-7 year old artwork in his lectures. i vaguely remember being in the classroom a couple of times and how weird it was to see all these grown-ups talking about my drawings and looking at me.
i did not know i wanted to "be an artist" until 1998 when my sweet hubby took me to a paint your own pottery studio as a gift for my birthday. that's when i realized i had been an artist inside all along. from then on art has been a huge part of my life.
i spent years collecting inspirational quotes and sayings. i have volumes of them!
i have coached gymnastics for 21 years.

ok, now i have to tag others. this is hard! i don't want to burden anyone with something they may not want to do!
let me think...
1. Mo'a Romig Boyles
2. Mimi Kirchner

Advice Needed

2007-12-08T14:12:00.000-05:00

HELP!
remember my recent works in progress? I am almost ready to list them on etsy but now i am not sure which shop they belong in. are they more Art? or Craft?
Hmm, what do you think?

Teeny-Tiny Dolls Unite

2007-12-03T19:21:00.001-05:00

well, i decided to make a sister pair out of my Teeny-Tiny doll singles. it was soooo fun that i matched up tons of them as sisters, friends or families. it was challenging since they are many different skin tones and hair colors. i put one sister pair, Emma & Sophie (above) on my etsy craft shop and there will be more to come!

my great friend suzanne urban has "tagged" me which is a type of blog round robin game. i will answer in my next post!

Works in Progress

2007-12-01T15:53:00.001-05:00

my new bendy dolls are so fun! i can't wait to finish them, i am stepping all over myself in my excitement. i am not sure which of my shops they belong on though. art? craft? hmmm...
and how much to charge...oh no!

Esty changes

2007-11-14T06:46:00.000-05:00

well, i did it.
i made a second etsy shop so i can post my gift/crafty stuff separate from my art dolls. everything is so different, it just looked weird together.
now i have both:
www.dawnalicedesigns.etsy.com - crafty stuff
www.dawnalicerogers.etsy.com - art dolls

i just started listing my tiny wooden dolls on the crafty site. i just love these, they are so fun to make!

Works in progress

2007-11-11T20:24:00.000-05:00

just a few photos of what I am working on.

just a few photos of what I am working on.

progress

2007-10-30T09:42:00.000-04:00

a little progress...

Transition

2007-10-23T07:15:00.000-04:00

i've decided to make this blog exclusively about my art rather than family life. i couldn't make up my mind which topic to write about which made me post less often.
no more!
so, onward...
the craft show was good, but not great. i sold an art doll and lots of tiny wooden peg dolls and clothes. i would have liked to have sold more though. many, many people said very nice things about my products but not enough people took one home!

now i am starting to make tiny art dolls to use as ornaments.

they are just like the big dolls, but made to sit or hang. and small! my friend suzanne urban has an ebay group of ornament sellers. i need to get on the ball and join in!

it is very strange to use the clay again after primarily sewing recently. strange and wonderful!

those and halloween costumes are what is on my desk today. (sorry about the crummy early morning photos!)

Getting Ready for a Craft Show

2007-09-14T15:34:00.000-04:00

i have tons of stuff i am taking to sell. elephants, wooden dolls, mannequin dolls, clothes with mucha art on them, kids clothes with owls, elephants, gnomes, mushrooms and goldfish. and antique linens.
phew!
i am ready!
when it is all over i will post the unsold items on my etsy site. wish me luck!

Stupid Blogger!

2007-09-04T23:25:00.000-04:00

below is a post that looked good until i posted it and now it looks crappy!
scroll waaaay down to find it and de-scramble it as you go in your brain.
after 2 hours of trying to fix it ... i give up!

Goodbye Summer

2007-09-04T21:35:00.000-04:00

baby E's favorite book right now is Goodnight Moon. after
reading it to her (again) i often find myself thinking in the rhythm of
the book. until next year...

goodbye evening shabbat services on the beach.

goodbye painting the driveway purple.

goodbye hanging out eating ice pops by our "pool".

goodbye to picking tons of Poppie's flowers and using them to decorate
the table.

goodbye town parades and free kids music concerts.

goodbye family dance night on the beach.

goodbye swimming at our friend's house.

goodbye late night sewing with cats.

goodbye to the (freakin' hot) zoo.

goodbye naps on the beach with your wiggly sister.

goodbye berry picking (hello apples and pumpkins!).

goodbye eating messy cupcakes and cleaning off in the beach shower.

goodbye birthday parties.

goodbye chasing bubbles and dancing in the park to your inner music.

we had a WONDERFUL summer!

Cool Toy

2007-08-25T08:17:00.000-04:00

i saw this while reading a lovely designer blog, marvellous mouse designs. it's the coolest little toy i have seen in a while! i love it that you can search for whatever you want.

Evenings on the Beach

2007-06-30T20:21:00.001-04:00

Our Raccoons

2007-06-27T19:27:00.000-04:00

here are some shots of our raccoons! they live in our front yard tree. every year we have lived here, the same mommy raises her babies in a hole in the tree. this year there are 4 babies. we like to think that they enjoy watching us as much as we do watching them. they watch us a lot. and loll about on the branches all limp when they are hot like yesterday. and play-fight together and learn how to climb.
today all i could see of them was 3 legs dangling out of their hole. sleeping i guess.

then we have our own climber, Baby E. reaching for my keys. gotta love baby tushie!

Strawberries

2007-06-26T19:21:00.001-04:00

Thursday my sister went with the girls and I to pick strawberries. it was wonderful!

Miss B wore a dress with strawberries on it, which she loved.
the berries were SO ripe, so sweet, they melted in your mouth. just LOOK at these berries!

Lucky,Me!!

2007-06-24T11:15:00.000-04:00

I am so lucky! Sandi from Portabellopixie gave her fabric scraps to people who had good ways of using them, and she chose me! Oh, I wish I had my camera (R.I.P.) to show these beautiful, fun scraps! I love them, they are all useful to me. I am already planning new elephants and other animals that I can use them on. Thanks so much Sandi!

Wonderful Stuff - June

2007-06-24T11:12:00.000-04:00

~ Special Events ~

June 9th our house goes on the market.

June 9th is our 11 year anniversary!

June 11th Baby E turns one year old!

~ Art & Craft ~

Cloth doll for Miss B.

Sewing collage pants for craft show.

~ Entertainment ~

Shows via internet: Desperate Housewives, Survivor Fiji, House

~ Music ~

Martin Sexton’s new album Seeds!!

~ Yummy Stuff ~

Ice cream with mini-marshmallows added.

Starlight peppermints (but only the ones from Walgreen’s).

Warm corn tortillas.

~ I Want, I Want! ~

Fabric, fabric, fabric! No seriously, I have an addiction.

~ Miss B ~

Reading out-loud her favorite books by memory.

Done with 1st year of nursery school!

Started gymnastics classes.

~ Baby E ~

Standing and balancing.

“Singing” Twinkle Twinkle Little Star with hand motions.

Chasing the vacuum cleaner and laughing manically.

~ Mr. Rogers ~

Applying for a new job! May the force be with you.

Let's Get Outta Here!

2007-06-10T18:23:00.000-04:00

Yay! The House of Hell is officially on the market to sell! We have our fingers crossed that we can sell it and move on at some point soon. I'm hoping for it to sell within 6 months, is that too optimistic? Well, even if it is longer than that, eventually it will sell and we can move on.

In Mourning

2007-06-06T13:14:00.000-04:00

My heart is heavy over the death of my beloved canon digital camera. Rest in Peace, my faithful friend. You will be missed.
2004-2007

Cupcakes for B

2007-06-01T15:57:00.000-04:00

it was miss b's last day of nursery school "2's" yesterday. wow, time flies.
they had a summer birthdays celebration for the kids who didn't get to celebrate during the school year. i made these "watermelon cupcakes" for b's treat to share with the class. it was fun to make them! i just cut slabs of watermelon and used a star-shaped cookie cutter to cut it. i put the stars in the cupcake cups and used frozen blueberries to fill in the "cake" part around the stars.
b had a great time the last day. here she is with her best buddy Z.

Supply Addict

2007-05-28T17:08:00.001-04:00

we love summer!

i have such a craving for supplies. any kind. art stuff, craft stuff, books. below is my newest aquisition. glorious felt!

Sofite Swap: Adopted!

2007-05-05T11:53:00.000-04:00

I got my softie from the softie swap from Karla. It is so sweet! A baby soft green bunny with the cutest knotted whiskers. She was almost immediately adopted by my daughter, so cute, it was impossible for her to resist. I didn't have the heart to argue, and I did retain visitation rights. Thanks so much Karla! And also thank you to Claire for having the softie swap in the first place, it was so fun!

Below is the little elephant that I sent to Karla in the swap. I had so much fun making her that I decided to make more of them! Now I am making them with their ears matching my kids clothes outfits I am working on. I love elephants!

I will post photos of the clothes I am working on soon!

Today Sucked

2007-04-24T22:56:00.000-04:00

pee on floor
rude toddler
whiny baby
poop on toy dinosaur
I wasted my mommy time screwing up and then fixing a pair of pants
went out to lunch with friends, B got finger squished in freezer door, really hurt, very sad
both girls cried/screamed the entire ride home
spent all of B's nap trying to get E to sleep
E threw up on my bed
etc ...

Pants

2007-04-23T14:39:00.000-04:00

I have been totally enjoying using fabric from my precious stash to make pants. I've been cutting up the fabric and sort of collaging it onto the pants. One pair I made is on B in this photo. Others are in the works. Fun, fun, fun!

We went on our first family vacation last week. My in-laws gave the trip to us as a gift. We all went together to the Jersey shore. It was really, really nice, but not the weather. It was a huge flooding rain that week and so we did lots of things indoors. It was still wonderful just to be together and get away.

My parents have a river behind their house that overflowed in the storm. It washed away their brand new dock and lots of land. At least spring has finally come!

Baby Gifts

2007-04-08T18:18:00.000-04:00

I have so many friends with new babies! Since I am working on my sewing skills, I made these appliquéd initials on a onezie for gifts. My first try at making appliqués. I like it!

The part to get used to is the sewing around the edges. Especially turning corners. But it's not too hard.

These onesies are for Ryan, A.J., Elias, Ryan (another one) & Brady. Lots of boy babies! Since I finished these ones, a Grace has been born. Back to the sewing machine I go!

Diversion

2007-03-27T19:14:00.000-04:00

Not much to blog about right now except the many, many illnesses that are plaguing our family and sapping my energy. I swear, it must be something about this house that keeps us all sick! Tomorrow I get to go to the dentist to have a tooth worked on. Goody.

My good friend Suzanne Urban from ODACT has started blogging! Here are a few links to my fellow Connecticut-area artists. Check them out, they are all fascinating and fabulously talented.

Suzanne's Blog
Linda
Donna May
Mo'a

Here are some family photos to enjoy while I recoup from the cooties.

Cute Miss B in mid-air...

Cute Baby E...
Cute x2...

My beautiful Little Sister Emery...

Nice Sunny Day

2007-03-12T14:07:00.000-04:00

it's such a nice warm, sunny day we had to sit out and play a bit.
This past weekend, two of B's friends had birthday parties. For one, I decorated a dress and for the other a pair of pants. Dress-friend likes butterflies and purple. Pants-friend likes ladybugs and blue. Here is a bit of the pants. I have yet to get photos of the dress, I'll post them when I do.

Lots of fun doing those clothes!

When you wish upon a star

2007-02-26T23:25:00.000-05:00

Tax refunds are coming! let's dream a little, shall we?

for me:
leather paints for the blank shoes. every color!
new hearing aids
a haircut! i look like a fuzzy mop
a dustbuster and another cordless hardwood floor vacuum. don't ask. i just love these things!

for hubby:
some cool techie thing. i think lately he wants something to do with the internet. he keeps asking me "don't you think we need faster internet?" uhh... NO! but we are just dreaming here, so he can have it. :)
a snow blower
healthy home cooked meals. home cooked by someone else, that is. preferably my mom. she makes great food.
a couple of day trips to NYC with money to go to the cool museums, restaurants and zoos.
money to pay back the wonderful people in our lives who have helped us along the way.

for Miss B:
a kiddie gymnastics class or camp (she has LOTS of energy. she is currently channeling it into doing a kids yoga DVD from netflix. very cute with her mat on the floor and her chanting "om" and "namaste".)

a dance class (did i mention that she has lots of energy? lately she has been jumping on coffee tables, climbing the baby gates at the stairs, climbing on Baby E's crib to wake her up when they are supposed to be napping...)

a year's supply of crayola paint & craft supplies

i never thought i would say this, but a computer and a kiddie keypad and mouse. yes, i am finally ready to let her plug in to another electronic device. i am a weak person!

for Baby E:
a My Gym class (GREAT place. we love them here in our town. E is tired of just watching B and she wants to have fun too!)
a baby play table (they stand at it and play with all the bells and whistles on the top)
what else do you need in life when you are healthy and you look like this...?

Alas, in reality we will pay bills and save. that is the rational thing to do with a tax refund. too bad!

Snow finally

2007-02-26T23:15:00.000-05:00

snow finally! we love the snow
even these people

Happiness Is...

2007-02-17T19:42:00.000-05:00

Happiness is...

Possibilities

Whoo hoo!

2007-02-08T14:19:00.000-05:00

I love a great sale!

I went to the kids consignment store today to get a baby walker for E (long story) and more potty chairs for B (even longer story), and I got a flyer about their upcoming sale. Next weekend it's fill a bag for $15! I’m there! I will be stuffing my bag with unused clothes and shoes for my artwork, used stuff for my girls, ponytail holders, socks… ooo…I get all excited just thinking about it! I hope it is not just part of the store. It probably is just the clothes, not toys and gear. We will see.

I did score some great unused leather kids shoes. I am going to get leather paint and make fun pairs to go with my art outfits. I am hoping to make each outfit a full set with shoes, socks, and accessories to match. I will probably also paint a few pairs of shoes that don't match anything. This is too much fun!

Here are a few of the outfits in progress. (sorry, the photos are not great)

“The Elephant Dress” the one that started my interest in kids clothes. Little Miss B wanted an elephant so I added them to one of her dresses that needed a fashion intervention. I also made a stuffed elephant to match the ones on the dress for her to play with. She loves it! I think this dress needs something more (like eyes for them, shoulder lace or a pocket) but hubby thinks it’s done and I should leave it as-is. What do you think? Tell me any advice in the comments, I want to know! This photo is of the back, the dress buttons up the front.

I wonder where that little stuffed elephant went? Hmmm.

Black corduroy overalls with pink and white. The bear is a stand-in for the one I will make to match. This set will have a white long sleeved button down shirt.

A denim jumper with purple and orange. I will probably make a short sleeved t shirt to match it. I love this one! Don't have more photos yet though.

Cat overalls. I used the same fabric that I used to make the appliqués to make a stuffed cat-in-the-pocket. The cat is attached to the inside of the pocket by a snap on his tail. Didn’t hurt a bit, I asked.

I'm having fun and I can't wait to work on more!

Funny Video

2007-02-04T10:07:00.000-05:00

I can't resist this!
Enjoy!

Book Review: Where Women Create

2007-01-30T15:11:00.000-05:00

Once in a while, I'm going to review stuff. I enjoy reading opinions before I buy something so maybe this will help someone out there. Or maybe not, but I'm going to do it anyway because I feel like it. So there!

Where Women Create: Inspiring Work Spaces of Extraordinary Women by Jo Packham.
I love this book! Essentially, it is a coffee table book of beautiful photos of women artists in their work space. Whatever that space is for them. There is quite a bit of text as well, telling about how each artist organizes, how she feels about her studio and how she uses it. Each artist has a favorite quote as well, which is one of my favorite parts. This book is not a how-to book about decorating or organizing, it is all about inspiration.
I would have liked the book for the photos alone. I love seeing other peoples creative spaces. It feels very inspiring. But the text adds a great deal to an already enjoyable topic.
Since I am never free to just sit around and read books, I have been slowly savoring the book one artist at a time. It is becoming one of my favorite books in my collection.

Enjoying Myself

2007-01-30T14:11:00.000-05:00

I am working exclusively now on children's clothes. I really am on doll sabbatical!

I have been accenting a pair of black corduroy overalls with deep pink and white ribbon and a black ruffle. Also a denim jumper dress with lace and appliqués I made from this fabric. Love that! I am also going to add some gold embroidery to that piece.

The appliqué making and attaching, the ruffles, and the embroidering are all new to me. I am learning these as I go from my fabulous stash of craft books. Boy am I enjoying this!

I don't have photos of any of these projects yet because I keep getting distracted by this:

Lucky, Lucky Me!!

2007-01-21T20:21:00.001-05:00

I am SO happy!

We are cleaning up The House of Hell in order to put it on the market, ASAP. This means dismantling my studio corner in the sun room. (We "made" a studio by blocking in my stuff in half of the room with a baby gate, a buffet, and a few shelves.) Faced with this horrible reality and still wanting to USE MY STUFF rather than just pack it away, I was struck with a moment of brilliance. Ask my Mom and Dad if I can set up shop in their house! My sister's room is mostly unoccupied since she lives in the city now and only comes home to visit. My mom said I could use it. After a weekend of packing, moving and unpacking, I now have a new studio!!

The work area:
My wonderful sister Em has no idea she has a roomie. (Until now... Hiya Em!) But I know she will share. I am the eldest after all, so really she has no choice. I did have to make a few modifications to the room, such as...
a) move her bed against the wall
b) move her shelf of photo albums and special stuff
c) move anything else in my way *hehe*

and most important...
d) cover the freakish fashion model collages on the walls! They creep me out. Now I don't mind all the dance posters and other dancer tchotchkies, but really, those scary models had to go! I used a bulletin board and the book Scrapplique leaned against the wall to cover the worst ones above the worktable. I still have to live with Angelina Jolie and Kiera Knightly watching me from the other wall but I can handle it. I am brave.

I labeled everything with my handy-dandy Brother P-Touch which I love with an OCD passion. Note the labels below.
I have a shelf for all the clothes waiting for me to transform them with my brilliant artistic touch:

It also holds my precious collection of craft books:

I am in bliss. All I need now is a surger and more fabric and my world will be complete!
(I love to make links!)

I Used To Be Normal, But...

2007-01-18T16:30:00.000-05:00

Words That Are Now Part of My Vocabulary:

darn it (it's similar to another phrase I used to use frequently, yet different!)
silly
toushie
kissy
bye-bye
ni-night
potty
pee-pee
poop
poopy-do
poopy-head
poopy-doop
I love kids but, these people are insane.

More past projects

2007-01-17T20:14:00.000-05:00

Looking around my house, I realize I have made lots of things over the years. Here is another cabinet with beaded fringe. It now lives in our dining room.

I had lots of fun painting these cabinets in my pre-motherhood days!

Almost Success

2007-01-15T11:11:00.000-05:00

But not quite.
I loved the fabric for the dress, loved my fun "design" as you work, loved making it. But I did not love the way it lay when B wore it. So it was fun but it's off to the seam ripper now. I'm sure it will be just as fun to re-design it!

The Dress that Almost Was:

Once upon a time...

2007-01-09T19:39:00.000-05:00

I enjoy painting. I paint on paper, ceramics and wood. The shelf on my side bar is taken from a photo of one of my painted cabinets. It is a short cabinet I painted for my mom to use as a bedside table. I added the beaded fringe before I had kids! Here is the front and top:

A poem

2007-01-09T08:25:00.000-05:00

A beautiful poem from A Mom on a Mission (who has a wonderfully opinionated blog, check it out!):

Anything you do
from the soulful self
will help lighten
the burdens of the world.
Anything.
You have no idea what the
smallest word,
the tiniest generosity
can cause to be set in motion.
Be outrageous in forgiving.
Be dramatic in reconciling.
Be off the charts in kindness.
In whatever you are called to,
strive to be devoted to it
in all aspects large and small.
Fall short? Try again.
Mastery is in increments, not in
leaps.
Be brave, be fierce, be visionary.
Mend the parts of the world
that are "within your reach."
To live this way is the most
dramatic gift you can
ever give to the world.
Consider yourselves assigned.

~Clarissa Pinkola Estes

The House of Hell

2007-01-08T19:09:00.000-05:00

I am living in the house of hell. It would take tons of posts to even begin to describe all of the things that have gone wrong here since we bought it 5 years ago. All I can comment on is the recent past and our current life of despair.

Warning: Complaints Ahead...

We put in a new kitchen and had the house sided and windows replaced. But the master bath and second floor bathroom need to be redone to replace the plumbing and tile. The garbage disposal died. The fridge icemaker died. The washing machine has backed up numerous times. The plumbing leading to the washer had to be redone. The master shower never has worked. The master bath tub leaked water down into the first floor ceiling. The hand railings came off the front steps to the house. The second floor bath room has had a leaking tub, leaking toilet, and tile that is cracking and slowly dissolving away.

The ceiling lights in two closets and in the dining room broke. The dining room problem is due to a wiring issue, that I know. A tree fell in our front yard and into the neighbor’s. Our main plumbing line backed up and had to be cleared to about 200 yards all the way into the street. The furnace needs to be replaced but is so large and so old that it must be dismantled and removed piece by piece first. All new electrical wiring had to be replaced in both bedrooms.

Our bedroom ceiling (plaster) caved in on us at 3am one fine morning a few months back. This resulted in our moving out of the master bedroom and into the nursery with Baby E. We needed a new ceiling and whole new roof. But only the ceiling is covered by insurance, of course, not the roof.

Today the toilet overflowed like Niagara falls. Huge amounts of water. Baby E was in her seat on the floor, B was sitting on her potty, and I was standing in the middle of the room hopping about and trying to unplug the toilet with a plunger. The plumber came and was oh so helpful, informing me that they had told us to replace the toilet before and that it is so old it doesn’t even have a shut off valve. Now there is water dripping from the ceiling downstairs and a visible outline of the bathroom floor on the ceiling in the kitchen.

All I can say in our defense is that the house was an incredible deal (wonder why?) and was all that we could afford at the time. We knew there were problems with it but thought we could fix stuff as we went along. Unfortunately, the things that break seem to all happen at the same time and we find ourselves struggling to catch up instead of being one step ahead of the problems.

People always say what a wonderful old house this is, and such a great street! And they are right. It has beautiful rooms, hardwood floors, lots of space, and a great location. It has glass doorknobs, great yard, beautiful molding and art deco style details. Both my girls were born while we’ve lived here. We have loved this house and tried so hard to make it work. At this point though, I give up. we are ready to sell. We will start fresh in a nice small rental and try to be sensible from now on. I actually cant wait to do this! But the House of Hell must first be prettied up and sold.

There are larger issues we are thinking about as well. Simplifying life in general is very appealing. This area (state? Country?) seems to be focused on acquiring, greed, gluttony, go faster, do more, be the smartest, richest and best. I just don’t feel like that. I feel like a simpler life. More free time. Less running around. Smaller house, less stuff. A quiet life.

Well, my rant is done. I'll continue this saga another time. Right now it's time for Naked Babies in the Bathtub. Ah, that's the good life!

What am I up to now?

2007-01-05T21:30:00.000-05:00

What am I doing now that I am not working on dolls?

One thing I am doing is using this beautiful fabric by Amy Butler to make a skirt/jumper for B. I've never made clothes before but I am learning slowly. I just play until I like it. No patterns. This one was a denim dress until I cut off the skirt and am using the top bodice as a foundation for the new skirt. I'll post photos of it soon. Go look at Amy Butler's site, I just love her designs!
I am also playing with other ways to dress up boring clothes. So far this skirt/jumper and "The Elephant Dress" are my first attempts. Check back for more photos. I'm just waiting for a sunny day to take them!

Things I Like

2007-01-04T17:52:00.000-05:00

Since I am learning the blogging ropes as I go, I don't know if this is a common idea or not. I am going to periodically post about random things I like (or don't). The length of these types of posts will vary, but I'll try to give some details. I have tons of links I love on the internet and haven't yet put them on this page, but I will. Until then I'll post links I like here too. Feel free to tell me your opinions anytime.

I LOVE sleeping babies.
Sleeping B:
Sleeping E:
My other baby: