Amy Lou Dressed Herself

This is my newest doll. I am calling her Amy Lou and it is obvious that she dressed herself. She has on a summer calico print dress ( I inked in the red design), she raided her mom's disco closet and got a lacy turtleneck number. Her mom drew the line, though and made her wear leggings. She is carrying her favorite pink pig. I'm not sure if it is a toy or a pet. She does not have facial features. Mainly because there is so much going on with the rest of her. I'm not sure what she will look like by the time of our next art show, but you just never know. By the way, here is the link for our show last month. The pictures are fabulous. They did such a nice job with our art.

Well, that's all for now. See you soon. Ta, Ta.

The challange...HANDS

Hello, all. I don't have any beautiful gems of wisdom to impart today. Thanks to all who left such sweet comments to my recent post, they were much appreciated. I agree and think it would be interesting to hear the story of your hands or the hands of someone you loved or respected.

Here's the challenge... tell us about your hands. Take a picture if you want to, post a link to famous hands, whatever moves you. I love hands. (You might have noticed my new banner, it has my hands drawn in as wings). Anything you want to do with hands.

Art, jokes, stories, pictures, whatever you want. It will be fun and interesting, and we just might learn something. Well, it's off to be creative now. I'll be checking back often to see your take on HANDS.

(I have to go finish watching The Lone Ranger)

These hands...

These are my hands

I had DH take this shot to show off my freshly manicured nails. I look at these hands, and suddenly, I see many things. These are the hands that learned when they were very young, that three squeezes from your uncle's hand means "I Love You". These are the hands that left chocolate milk in my china tea pot and neglected to tell anyone. These are the hands that never really mastered an etch-a-sketch and could not get the hang of a paddle ball. These hands held a paintbrush after school and on Saturday for a fifth-grade teacher taking her own time to help me with art, because she saw something she called "potential".

These are the same hands that mastered Klackers when everyone else was afraid of them. These hands played matchstick poker with my younger brother and his friends and then lined them up and gave them squared up neckline haircuts; because they all had decided to let their hair grow and I didn't want them to be shaggy. These same hands, I'm sorry to say, smoked cigarettes for longer than I will admit to. These hands sewed patches onto all the caps of the local volunteer fire department... simply because. These same hands, also sewed seventy garments in one year for my mom and me to wear to work, and we thought we were "all that" in our homemade outfits. Polyester was so easy to work with, I loved it.

These hands typed and took notes and worked cleaning motel rooms and rang cash registers and even filled car batteries with acid at the auto parts store. These hands have kept rhythm, as my feet moved... to pop, disco, country, alternative, bluegrass and soul.

Fast forward to 1988. These hands trembled in excitement as we stood before the minister at the little wedding chapel and said our "I Do's". Both so in love, but a little scared. For the past 20 years these hands have done so many wonderful things, all with my husband by my side. These hands are often folded in a prayer of gratitude for such a wonderful, wonderful life.

The reason for this little post is that when I looked at the picture of my hands, they looked so mature. Not the smooth, unlined hands that I expect to see when I look down at them. I am not ashamed of these hands. I remember seeing my mom's hands, and my grandma's hands and loving them so much. I would pat their sweet, little hands and be so happy and now when I think about it, that's what I see. The legacy of these hands.


.....OPI's Strawberry Margarita

Monday Greetings...

I’ve been tagged by Leslie at Funky Art Queen. This is fun. I'm a newbie to blogging and I am quite happy to be tagged.

Here are the rules: 1. Link to the person that tagged you. 2. Post the rules on your blog. 3. Share six non-important things/habits/quirks about yourself. 4. Tag five or six random people at the end of your post by linking to their blogs. 5. Let each random person know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their website.

Here are some quirky things about me.

1. Some of my past nicknames: Baby Sue, Peachy and Pebbles
2. Sometimes I sneak and change my clothes, so I will match what my husband is wearing.
3. I used to tell my sister that I kept my car window rolled up because monkeys might jump in and make us wreck. (we had no monkeys in our area)
   
4. I took ballroom dancing as a child .
   
5. Whenever I made a cheese sandwich for my brother, I always left the plastic wrapper on the cheese slice.
6. I learned to sew before I learned to tie my shoes.

I am tagging the following folks:

Suze at http://pinkcrayonstudio.blogspot.com/

Christine at http://christinelefever.blogspot.com/

Fran at http://www.mydollland.blogspot.com/

Teesha at http://www.teeshascircus.blogspot.com/

Jo at http://thecartbeforethehorse.blogspot.com/

Consider yourself tagged. I've tagged some new, some familiar, all great. If you don’t have time to participate, that’s ok, we understand. If you feel like playing, go for it and thanks!

Two Things I want to Do More Of...

Well I've made dolls and worked on my journal pages and have lots of stuff to do today. Like...


And definitely...


Seriously, I feel I need to do more of these things, so after I get my Sunday things done, I'm off to the studio to get deeper into my art. I downloaded the free image from Gail' blog on the 15th. I found this through Linda's post of the same image. I like Linda's take on it. I will be working on mine some more before I torture you with it.

One last note, I have just started getting spam comments, I am trying to catch them all, before they harm any of my friends. I have updated my securities and may have to enable more comment security. So far, it has stopped. If you can, let me know of any weird spam going around that you have heard about.

Well, that's all for now. We'll talk soon. Toodles!

Well, it's up and running...

I got my Etsy shop up and running. Please let me know what you think and if you think it needs to be changed. Here is a picture of the dolls in a basket. I think they look much cuter this way, but I needed to show them individually. I had fun with the descriptions, but if they are too wordy, let me know . I am not going to be ultra sensitive about this... don't worry about that.

Well, that's all for now. We'll talk soon. Ta, Ta from Susan and all the dollies.

Thought for today...

Here is my journal page for today. I will not fear rejection. My curiosity about whether my dolls will sell completely overshadows any fears I might have. My doll listings should be complete and ready to blog about on Sunday. Wish me well, I will be working on tying up all loose ends for my shop tomorrow. In the mean time, check out my psychedelic page, man.



By the way, for those of you who hadn't noticed, a "sneak peak" of a few of my dolls is shown in my art showcase at the top right of my page. Notice the guitar pick placed in the basket for size reference.

Well, it's late and I'm going to turn in. Talk to you soon. TA.

Seek and Search

Thanks to all who wished me well from my mini cold. I'm all better now.




Here is the journal page I worked on this week. I have worked so much on little dolls to sell, that one even found her way onto the journal page. The journaling for this page reads:

Wisdom is there for you
But you must seek her
Remember to do your part
Search and Seek and
You will find
Do not stop seeking
You never get it all

The dolls are made, and I have my descriptions ready. All I need to do is take their little pictures and list them. I am so hesitant to do this. Everyone at the library encouraged me to sell them. Everyone seemed to like them. But still, I am so new to this aspect of art. It is just different for me. I've never really sold any of my work. I sometimes give it away. I guess I'll just go for it and see what happens.

Well that's all for now. Let's stay in tomorrow if it is icy, and if you have to go out, please, please be careful. (I know, I'm a mother hen). Ta, Ta.

My Swap Box Arrived!!!

(Quick edit: Check out the red nose and cheeks, I have a bit of a cold. Yikes!!)

Today, call me the queen of the quick post. Here is a shot of me with my swap box that I got from Mo at Mo's Musings. Thanks Mo!! She sent me so many fun things. Things I certainly don't see in my searches for neat stuff. This all came about because of Funky Art Queen and her idea to swap art supplies.

Thanks again for all the fun things that my blogger babies make happen.

Got to go watch Idol, and Big Brother, and Wife Swap, and.... Ta, Ta.

Congrats, Congrats!!!

Just a quick post to say congrats to our blogger friend, Jennifer from Stiletto Heights, she is the featured artist on Etsy. Be sure to check it out and give her the props she deserves.

Milo is the Star

We have added two videos to our YouTube site. One is DH doing another music video (which we taped on our deck) and the other is lots of images of Baby Milo, to the music of the Stray Cats doing a live version of the Stray Cat Strut. DH really did a professional job on both of these.
Check it out!!

Such a nice time...

We had such a nice time and a great turnout at the library today. Here is a long shot of the displays that we had.




This is Fabric Art. Can you find Pinky and the Pirate??




Here is Tricia from A Little Birdie Told Me, discussing Altered Books. She is wearing an apron to protect her clothing. Why do I never think of that? Her sweet daughter Olivia was there, as were some of Olivia's friends. I talked to them for a long time, especially Olivia and Tessa. I got lots of input from them on the dolls, like which ones they liked and why. Such smart children. They are the hope of our future, and believe me, our future looks very, very bright.



We displayed Collages and Assemblages.


We really had a nice time, and as a little thank you gift to Marnie, I presented her with what she calls a Grr doll. Yes, Marnie, as tired as you were, I am still posting your picture. You worked really hard, as did all the Library folks. Thanks again.

Well, as they say " a good time was had by all". My pillow dolls were such a hit. I talked to lots of people and everyone seemed to like them. I had them arranged in a fashion, that showed a progression of the doll itself. The paper pattern, then the little patch faces, then the doll sewed and stuffed, and finally, I was embellishing them with buttons, beads and such while we all enjoyed coffee, teas, yummy cakes, nuts and so on.

It was such a hit that they want us to do it again at the Library Headquarters in May. Yikes. I need to make more dolls. I think I will do Goth dolls next time. What do you think??

Well, once again, I must depart to have a warm beverage and let some ideas bounce around in my pea brain, until they come out as art. See you soon. Ta, Ta.

There's an elephant in the room...

Well, I have just enough time to dash off a quick post before I go to our library event. I finally found some time to go help out at the library yesterday. Except, I wasn't much help. I went to step up on a short table that we had been using as a ladder, and as I got halfway up, I knew...I was going to fall. Well, you know how it is, stuff happened so quickly, that I couldn't yell for anyone. So I fell back, hoping I would at least land gracefully. No such luck. I am sure I looked it looked like elephant pinball, me bouncing from a stack of chairs on my right, to whacking the table on my left , finally landing with a thud on my somewhat plump backside. Fortunately nothing was really hurt, but my pride. Everyone saw it and will be asking me if I'm ok. Shoot. I'm ok, but I am . . . .

...disappointed in myself. I usually don't talk about my age, not because I'm ashamed of it, but I just don't do it. Here's the deal I will be "double-nickel" this April, I have been out of the workforce for a year now and I haven't exercised for weeks, maybe months. I never have been an athlete, but now I don't have the strength in my legs that I think I should have. I need to get into shape. Anyone that wants to send me motivational comments, feel free. I have an exercise program called Slim in Six, it's really sort of hard, but it works for me if I do it. So, now I feel like I really need to step it up. I will probably start Monday. I have the time, I have the space, I have the program. I just need to do it.

Well, I'm off to the library and hopefully, I will be sitting down working on dolls, so everyone should be safe. See you later. Ta, Ta.

I am honored

I am so tickled to have been picked by Maralena for the "You Make My Day Award". Her blog is one of the first ones that I latched onto and I am always inspired by it. I am very blessed to have such great friends and I certainly consider her to be one of the best.

The rules for the "You Make My Day" award are to re-present it to 10 people whose blogs bring you happiness and inspiration and make you feel happy about blog land. Let them know through email or by posting a comment on their blog so they can pass it on. Beware you may get the award several times, and if you do, consider yourself really, really loved.

I am truly honored to have received this award from my funky, funky friend. MCDC3S, you are the best. Thanks so much!

I am now going to be busy passing this award on to some of my favorite places to stop and visit. Hope to see you soon, put the kettle on and we'll chat.

Hello, Dolly....

That is what my little 75 year old friend will be saying when she gets her Valentine. Here is a shot of the dolls that I have been working on.




I sent her one of the darker pink ones. I am hoping to make a lot more of them to embellish while we are at the library Saturday.

In case I hadn't mentioned for a while, our group of "Altered Artists" will have a little gallery set up at the library this Saturday, in place of our usual monthly get together. We will be showing and working on various things, such as Collage art, Assemblage, Fabric Arts, Paintings, Jewelry and Bookmaking. There will be Stamping, Assemblage, Art Cards and even paper arts like origami and paper dolls.

There will be food and beverages also. This will be like a "real" gallery showing. I have not been able to volunteer my time, as I had hoped, and I really want to say thanks to all those involved and to let them know how much I appreciate this event. It is sponsored by our County Library and lots of people have worked very hard to make it happen.

Well, I'd better get crackin' and get some more dolls made, oh, wait... I think I hear Starbucks calling me for a latte. I'll make dolls when I get back. See you soon.

New Do

Prepare yourself for another long entry.

Well, it only took three hours to get the new look, and so far, I am really happy with it. DH went to the salon with me last night and watched movies on the laptop while I was there. That way I didn't have to drive home in the dark by myself. He is such a sweetie. Good thing he had headphones, that salon got pretty loud. So here is the result...


I am a natural brunette and I started to go gray when I was in my twenty's. I have colored my hair every color under the sun to combat this. Being an artist, I have used my hair as one might use a canvas. I have always been fearless when it comes to my hair. Most of the time I colored it myself. I recently decided to stop coloring my silver streaks and am quite happy with the results. My stylist and I have been working for about a year to get my hair to this point. I would have high lights put in because I wasn't quite "ready" to go natural. Then I would have low lights put in because the previous color had left my hair too red... Some of you out there know this routine. Any way, this is the current look. The dark parts are low lights that are as close to my natural color as we could come. Almost all of the light color is natural, she didn't touch it at all. There is some blond left on the ends of the silver, but the color is so close, you really can't tell the difference. So I guess I can actually say I "went blond" instead of gray (gray sounds so gloomy, and gloomy I am not).

I'll check back in soon, going to the studio to make dolls, just wanted you to see the new do.

Later.

Happy New Year !

The Year of the Rat!!!

I am posting my entry for My Pink Turtles' contest for The Year of the Rat, even though she had to postpone the event.

For my submission, I wanted to use a well known and beloved phrase. I felt the only thing fitting was the universally known Vulcan greeting "Live Long and Prosper". I attempted to create a piece of art that gives you the feeling of the Chinese New Year without being offensive to the Vulcan people. This piece is done on a 8" x 10" canvas panel, layered with acrylic paints, gold leafing pen and lots of beads glued down. The banners, as well as Mr. Spock and his hat, were drawn by hand, then colored, cut out and attached to the canvas using small pieces of form core for a raised look. I made his top hat from glossy black card stock with a shiny gold hat band (which is showing up blue for some reason). Mr. Spock has his hand raised in the traditional Vulcan greeting and is dressed for this occasion in his regulation Star Trek uniform, complete with the Star Fleet insignia (of which the Enterprise is a member) . Note the shiny black hair and the pointed ears, both physical features that indicate his proud Vulcan heritage.

Please join Mr. Spock and me in wishing everyone a Prosperous 2008, the Year of the Rat.

I Wuv You THIS Much...

(Advance apology for the long post)

I guess a lot of you remember the little statues that proclaimed their love with arms flung wide. This little girl reminds me of one of those. She is cutting her eyes at this cute pirate she just met on the Treasure Ship Cruise for Single Stuffies . The Gentleman Pirate seemed a little lonely, so I created Pinky for company, since one of the things I had planned on doing while on break was moving my sewing stuff downstairs to my studio, I thought I this would be a good way to get them together.

Her hair is an unusual "plastic-y" yarn that I got in a California yarn shop several years back, that I added lots of plastic pony beads to, and her face was natural muslin, that I "dyed" with my alcohol markers to coordinate with her body fabric. Her face is hand drawn, by your's truly. Being a lover of all things sparklie, I gave her some hair adornments, and beaded eye shadow, as well as a necklace and matching earrings. I haven't quite decided what to do with her arms yet. This is the same pattern that we used at the Altered Art group, so I may exhibit her at our art show this month.

One of the things I found out when I was sewing her, was that my machine needed service. So I took it in today, and they will keep it for a week . I have a really nice sewing/embroidery machine, that I plan on using a lot more. I see all this neat art that folks do with fabrics sewn onto their art. I have never done anything other than make apparel, or the occasional doll or toy, so I am making that one of of new mini goals. I may take some classes to get to know my machine better.

I was initially going to take a longer break from posting, as I felt I had lots to do here at the house. Unfortunately, we had an ice storm the next day, and the power kept going out. It's hard to do housework by candlelight. Cuddling with DH and Baby Milo while we watched movies on the laptop made the power outage worth it, though. Three days have passed and I really haven't gotten anything special done, except make a doll, and put together, and mail, my swap box. So I certainly cannot blame "blogging" for my lack of productivity. I loved reading your blogs, but felt like I was missing something. What was I missing, you might ask? Posting. There I've said it. I love all my new friends, reading their blogs and comments, but it wasn't enough. I missed posting. I may take a day or two off, here and there, but I just couldn't go cold turkey. I will be introducing my Rat on Wednesday, but will have a busy day (haircut and meeting) on Thursday, and Friday I hope to make time to clean up the studio, and get ready for lots of new art.

One of the local florist shop owners approached me about putting some of my art dolls and jewelry in her gift shop. I am thinking about doing that, but I am also thinking about an Etsy shop. I'm not sure what will be best for my art. I can't imagine anyone buying my art, but we will see.



Here is a piece that I did (wow, I can't believe it) 10 years ago and it is still one of my favorite family portraits. I love anything colorful and might incorporate this style into my work again. I did it with artist's acrylics on a 12 x 12 piece of thin Luan plywood. It's easy to handle, sand, etc. It comes in a rather large sheet, DH cut mine to size, but you may be able get it cut at the lumber store, if you don't have those type tools.

Well, I guess that's all for now, I am glad to be back and hope to have new art and fun stories to post soon. Ta, Ta, for now.

p.s. Thanks for the love.