Huckleberry

How I love this little face!

Back Yard in Snow

Here is a rough panoramic view of the back yard this afternoon.

Junco at Feeder

We had about eight inches of snow. Here is a Junco feasting on thistle right outside my studio door.

Yet More Leaves...

Here are two more fallen oak leaves. The very contorted leaf on top is done in pencil – my preferred method of making marks on paper – because you can erase ‘em! On the lower leaf, I played with pen stippling. I have to work very carefully in pen from right to left because I’m left handed – and that danged left hand wants to smudge everything in its path!

Nature Journal Sketch: Contorted Leaf

Nature Journal Sketch: Stippled Leaf

Stash Sunday (2/5/06)

This week’s Stash Sunday theme is “tools.” Here are four that I find indispensable: Gingher scissors, the hemostat (that I got from our vet) for stuffing dolls, a light box (for tracing designs) and my old Fast Turn set (how did I ever live without that?). I always make sure to wear eye protection when using the Fast Turn set.

Favorite Tools

More Leaves...

Here is another page of fallen oak leaves. These dead, convoluted leaves make the best models – and are interesting to draw from all angles.

Nature Journal Sketch: Oak Leaves

Working on New Santa Doll

It’s so hard to believe that it’s already February 3rd. Where’d January go? I started working on another Santa doll. I just have to get him painted and dressed. I’m not sure whether I’ll put him up for auction right away or try to build up some “stock” on my web site store. I’m afraid my visitors are going to get awfully bored with nothing new to see. I’ve been researching auctions on EBAY and noticing that some doll makers have good success selling Santas year round…

New Joggles Class

I signed up for Susan Sorrell’s next course, “Personal Symbols,” at Joggles. I have no idea what to expect but, if it’s anything like her previous classes, it will be fun and interesting and it will cause my little brain to think about things in new ways.

Dead Oak Leaves on Branch

Today’s temperature reached the low 60s. This has been such a warm winter. Here are a few dead oak leaves still attached to a branch. It won’t be too long and I’ll be outside drawing the baby oak and sassafras trees just sprouting. I can’t wait for spring…

Nature Journal Sketch: Dead Oak Leaves

Roses

The supermarket sells individual roses for $1.00 each!

Nature Journal Sketch: Roses

String Printing

Here’s another lesson from the monprinting course, string printing. I drew a simple oak leaf shape and used that to make my printing plate. I stamped once on fabric, then stamped again, slightly offsetting the plate (hehe, I meant to do that!). This is an interesting (fun and freeing) technique but, I have to admit, I think I like the painted printing plate better than the fabric piece!

Printed Fabric


Painted Printing Plate

Stash Sunday (1/22/06)

This week’s theme is about things we have bought on-line or through the mail. Here is a wonderful, vintage (1958) hand printed fabric I recently purchased on EBAY. I fell in love with the design and color combination (hot pink, orange, plum and lime green). The lime green looks almost fluorescent. The piece looks more like it was produced in 1968 (Hippie era), but printed on the selvage edge is “PAISLEY” GENE MCDONALD HAND PRINT COPYRIGHT 1958.

Vintage Fabric

Painting on Fusible Web

I’ve been playing a little more with the monoprinting lessons. Here is my first attempt at painting on fusible web. The leaves were traced from ivy drawings in my sketchbook. They were then bonded to fabric (dyed awhile back using transparent paints and sea salt). This technique may have possibilities for future experiments. I’m thinking about adding veining details with thread, then adding a thin piece of batting and backing fabric - and quilting.

Shaving Cream Prints Revisited

Hey, I'm getting jiggy with it...somewhat...



Shaving Cream Prints on Lutradur

Shaving Cream Prints

Today I decided I’d better go back through my monoprinting lessons and try to do some of the projects I missed. Here are my first attempts at making shaving cream prints. The one on the left was made on kona cotton, the one on the right, lutradur. My results fell a little short of expectations but the process was fun and something I will definitely revisit. And I can use these as backgrounds for other techniques.

Shaving Cream Prints

My Poor Poinsettia

Here is a drawing of my sad and spindly poinsettia. I always purchase these holiday plants with such good intentions of caring for them diligently. But they invariably end up straggly and starved for attention…

Nature Journal Sketch: Poinsettia

Stash Sunday (1/8/06)

This week’s theme is “Novelties.” Here are some cat buttons I’ve collected over the past few years and a cat-printed fabric.

Cat Buttons and Fabric

The Storage Barn is Here...

The barn finally arrived yesterday afternoon. We were expecting it before Christmas but “better late than never,” as they say… We are very happy with it as it will really help to relieve some of our storage problems. I mentioned before that it is small (only 10’x16’) but, as you can see from the interior photo, the roof is pitched very high (10’) so we’ll be able to create a storage loft. We need to start looking for a weathervane to attach to the cupola – something with a cat, maybe? And I can’t wait for spring so I can plant the window boxes. I’ll need to plant something that thrives in the shade…





Storage Barn Progress Shots 1/7/06

I'm Still Here and a Caution

I thought I’d better check in to say hello. I haven’t had time to work on anything creative in the past few days as I’ve been helping DH in a growing phase of our business, courtroom presentations. I’ve been time stamping, that is, synching video depositions to their corresponding transcripts. It is very time-consuming and (eek!) I really have to concentrate on what I’m doing! But watching the depositions is fascinating. I have many more hours of testimony to go through by the weekend and then we will create “clips” to integrate into a multimedia courtroom presentation.

The case we are working on involves a freestanding range that was tipped over onto two children as they used the door as a stepladder to reach something on top of the stove. The children were badly burned because there happened to be boiling food that fell on them. I know some of you have small children and grandchildren. Please check and make sure your stoves are anchored to the floor with brackets. This is a potential hazard that I never would have thought of if it hadn’t been for working on this case…

Stash Sunday (1/1/06)

Here is some red for this week's theme. There is velveteen, wool, crepe and knitted suede. The buttons on the card are vintage glass. The other buttons are modern plastic. While I was pulling fabrics for this photograph, it came as a bit of a shock to me that, as a Santa maker, I have so little red in my stash. I'll definitely have to remedy that... I love red!

Seeing Red

Christmas Eve 2005

I haven’t posted in a few days because I’ve been busy playing with my new toys! Here is a photo of Christmas Eve 2005, my birthday! DH surprised me with a laptop (so I can work in the screenhouse in the summer – YAY!), a keyboard controller and new digital music software. For Christmas, I got sewing books and supplies, beads, a very cool rolling bead storage unit, an Ott Lite with magnifier and other assorted goodies… I am really looking forward to having lots of fun in 2006!

Christmas Eve 2005

Stash Sunday (12/25/05)

Some purple stuff for Stash Sunday…

Merry Christmas & Happy Chanukah!

Hope Your Holidays are Yummy!

Bedroom Christmas Tree

Here is the little pre-decorated tree I use in the bedroom. I made this for my mom a few years before she died. The “Santa” figure looks just like my grandfather, Chauncey. I got him in Michael’s for $5.00 (!).

Bedroom Tree on Dresser

Stash Sunday (12/18/05)

Here is just a little Christmassy glitter for this week's theme. The thread on the bigger spools is Madeira Glamour. The smaller spools are Sulky metallics. Three buttons are antique glass with gold accents, one is a twinkle with a red mirror back , the other is a vintage red rhinestone button.

Glitter

Waiting for the Barn...

The weather has cleared enough to add the gravel. The ground is still a bit soggy but the barn is due any day now so this preparation work had to be done. The firewood still sits, as you can see, unstacked - probably won’t get to it until after the holidays.

Storage Barn Progress Shot 12/16/05

Meet Gavril

I just finished another Santa! Woohoo! Gavril, whose name is Slavic for “believer in God,” is wearing a coat made from a tea-stained vintage chenille bedspread in pale seafoam trimmed with three mismatched mother of pearl buttons. His pajama pants are made from a beautiful piece of vintage drapery fabric, one of several gorgeous remnants given to me by my friend, jewelry designer Linda Bertino of Charming Trinkets. Gavril is holding a bag made from a vintage doily tied with an old piece of cotton twill seam tape (right out of my mom’s old sewing box).

Gavril

Stash Sunday (12/11/05)

Well, this week’s theme for Stash Sunday is supposed to be about extravagant purchases. I am pretty much of a bargain hunter so there isn’t too much around here that wasn’t half off the red tag special. I have made some button purchases on EBAY, however, that were a little over the top for me. Here are three large celluloid buttons (from the Thirties, I think) that I just had to have…

Celluloid Buttons (1 3/4")

Graycee Update

Graycee spends most of her time in the studio with me (she’s my little “helper”) but she is being gradually integrated into the rest of the house. While Huckleberry (who has some territorial issues) is not exactly bubbly over her, he has not gone completely ballistic as we had feared – just the odd hiss or two and then he pretty much ignores her. Here she is in front of the Christmas tree. I am very tempted to color in those lips with a red felt pen…

Graycee

Stash Sunday (12/04/05)

What in the world possessed me to purchase 1/3 yard of this???

Cat Faces on Cotton

Storage Barn Progress

The railroad ties are placed as guides to help determine level ground. We will be adding gravel to even everything out. The barn will be relatively small, only 10x16. But that should be plenty of room for the tractor and other garden-related things: fertilizer, rakes, shovels, etc.

Storage Barn Progress Shot 12/02/05

Clotilde Fall Clearance!

I just checked out the Clotilde web site in my side-bar. They are having their fall clearance sale until December 31st. Lots of great bargains, especially on books. I added these to my Christmas list: SHADOW APPLIQUE, SOFT ANIMALS, A to Z and MOTIFS FOR CRAZY QUILTING.

Lemuel Going and Storage Barn Coming...

Lemuel is on his way to his new home today. He was sold on EBAY on Sunday night. He'll be joining his brother, Leonard, and the Santa holding the Hitty doll - all purchased by the same wonderful customer. I am trying to finish a patriotic Santa but his top hat is still in the design process - so I'm not sure how far I'll get with him before Christmas.

We are also working on getting the ground prepared for a storage barn that will be delivered in a few weeks. DH bought himself a garden tractor in the spring and needed a place to store it and all of its accessories. Here is where we are so far - the area is cleared of brush and sand is being spread. We need to start stacking the firewood that was just delivered, too. Too many chores!

Storage Barn Progress Shot

Stash Sunday (11/27/05)

This week’s theme was to post something from our stash for which we are thankful. I am grateful to have my mom’s old sewing box (rescued from my sister’s garage). It is full of old seam tape, rickrack, elastic and wonderful memories of my mom’s creativity. This little package of labels was in there, too (they say “Specially Handmade by Marjorie”). I remember when she ordered these from a magazine ad and how excited she was when they arrived. That had to be over forty years ago…

Happy Thanksgiving, Everyone!

DH and I have been vegetarians since our late twenties – that’s a lot of tofu, believe me. Tomorrow, we will celebrate the day with Stouffer’s Vegetable Lasagna (it’s tradition!) and a salad – and we will watch one of our all-time favorite movies, “Bernard and the Genie.” I can’t wait…

Another Santa is Going Home…

Father Christmas and Hitty were sold to a very lovely person on EBAY. Father Christmas was the only new doll I added to my Just Clauses web site this season. I had another one “brewing” but just didn’t get to it – the prim Santas took much more time than I thought they would.

Father Christmas &Hitty

Lemuel

I finished my latest Santa, Lemuel, yesterday. His name means "devoted to God" in Hebrew. He is dressed in a gorgeous vintage drapery fabric given to me by my friend (and neighbor), Linda. I made him a tabard from a tea-stained vintage lace doily. A very old piece of bronzy gold seam tape ties front to back. His hat is trimmed with a vintage scrap of lace, a twinkle button and tassel. I added two antique black glass and gold (they may actually be real jet) buttons to his sleeves. He is holding a darling little prayer book (copyright 1936) with beautiful illustrations called The Little Keys to Heaven.

Today, I need to really get down to some serious work on two brochures (in a rush, of course) from a major account. I hate it when work interferes with my play time...

Stash Sunday (11/20/05)

This week someone suggested that we post something funny from our stashes or abandoned projects that we were gung ho on at one time. Years ago, I made a chicken doll from Miriam Gourley’s charming book, WHIMSICAL ANIMALS. I added long eyelashes in turkey (turkey?!) work. I was so delighted with it, I must have decided to go into the poultry business!!! What in the world was I thinking??? Here are three – and I know there are more around somewhere! I even made little dresses for them…sheesh…

No One Here But Us Chickens...

Forest Wolf Spider

The temperatures remain mild (currently 70 degrees) – but more seasonably cold weather is predicted for tonight. Here is a large furry spider photographed on the front step the other day. I believe this is a forest wolf spider (Lyosa gulosa). The female carries her babies on her back until they can fend for themselves.

Forest Wolf Spider

Sailing Right Along...

Zale was auctioned on EBAY Sunday night.

And I just listed my latest Santa from my Just Clauses site. I finished him last night and got him photographed this afternoon. He is holding my interpretation of a cloth Hitty doll (June archives). She can be removed from his arms for dollhouse visits. Here she is in her holiday dress...

Stash Sunday (11/13/05)

This was the latest addition to my stash (a piece of kona cotton that I painted to use as a base for a monoprinting technique) -

until I shopped at Michael’s on Saturday and bought this piece of (coordinating?) fabric for $1.00!

Fallen Leaves

The temperature has been unseasonably warm but the ground is littered with dead leaves – my favorite subjects for drawing…

Nature Journal Sketch: Dead Oak Leaves

My "Dockside Santa" is Going Home...

"Dockside Santa" sold on EBAY tonight. Here is a close-up view of his face which was needle sculpted on muslin, painted, antiqued and varnished.

"Dockside Santa" (Close-up)

Stash Sunday (11/06/05)

It's Stash Sunday time again! Here is my favorite piece of old lace. I believe this is point de Venise needle lace. All outlining of motifs and connecting brides are made entirely of buttonhole stitches. I bought this piece around twenty years ago at an antique show for just a few dollars with the intention of framing it. It has some rust marks and a broken bride but I still love it.

Old Lace

Warm Day, Cool Bug...

It was just another gorgeous, sunny autumn day. The rest of the week will be the same - lots of sunshine with above average temperatures...

We found this little guy in the foundation plantings this afternoon - haven't been able to identify him. He is about two inches long.

Unidentified Bug

Good-bye Leonard...

Leonard was sold at auction Sunday night and shipped off to his new home yesterday. Selling on EBAY has been a very pleasant experience and I'm meeting some awfully nice people. I am still working on two more Santas to add to my Shanty Claus site. Can you believe it is already November 1st? My Christmas trees go up Thanksgiving Day, that's the 24th…

Leonard