Sarah Niemela

Embarking.

2011-12-22T08:47:00.000-08:00

So....we arrive in St. Cloud to the turn-of-the century Amtrak trail station. We have so much luggage (don't know why and don't ask) and it is soooo cold out. After a wait in the station the train pulls up and we all lug out there. We wait. And wait. And wait.
One party gets led to their car only to have on of them schlep on the ice while we all gasp. I look at the elderly waiting with their walkers and tentative steps. Wonder who will be next.
The station guy starts spreading salt while we wait some more. I go back inside since I freeze in no time flat.
Now remember this is at 12:45 am. Not exactly the best time to be out in the cold.
The train pulls a little further up the track. A few more people embark. Raino motions me to come out. I run out and we wait, and wait and wait.
The train needs to pull up again. We are told to proceed along the icy trail again. The door opens and we are told to go to the left. Now we had reserved seats but no seat numbers assigned.
We need to get our heavy luggage up the steps and into cubbies that are already full. We peek inside the car and walk around in the dark amidst sleeping people to look for empty seats. We find two empty seats together and two more single ones.
So I have to wake up one lady who jumps up like I was some scary ghost. Ashley gets to climb over her while I go sit with another kind lady who moves over for me.
Okay, train has already started moving a long time ago and we have our assorted luggage stowed - now its time to sleep. Right.
A few stops down the track two more seats empty out. Ash and Hannah grab them and we are good to go again.
Now to find comfortable postions when they weren't to be found. I did see Little Falls, Staples, Detroit Lakes and Fargo and Grand Forks. So pretty at night. JK
More later.....

Amtrak to Montana

2011-12-21T17:08:00.000-08:00

Our suit cases are packed once again. This time another one of our little families gets the honor of our presence for a few days. We had mini Christmases with some of our families here. The food cooler is waiting, granola bars and power drinks tucked into place in their tote, the Nook and Ipod's ready to go, what are we waiting for?
12:40 am. Of all hours. Geesh. Waaaayy past our bedtime.
Off we will trudge into the dark night with our pillows and blankies, to make the hour drive to wait out in the cold for our Amtrak to Montana.
After finding some seats we will have to settle down to....sleep?? We'll see about that.
Should be a fun adventure! We don't quite know yet what to expect but will hope for the best!
WoooooHooooo!
Wishing all of you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

"I will make sure their wings don't fall off".

2011-12-05T04:54:00.000-08:00

I am babysitting Laura's little cherubs for a few days while she welcomes her new baby boy into this world.
Since her kids are early birds (like me...!) I got up extra early to get some angels made. Avery was the first one up - 6 am. So by now, 6:55 she is bored and waiting for the time to go see her baby brother.
She already read "Children Like Me" and studied the globe to figure out where they all live. She looked through my Nutcracker book (she always finds things for me to make in there). She examined the dolls in my studio and declared that they are so "beautiful"!
So now she wanted my Bosu ball from my bedroom closet. I told her she would have to get it by herself - thinking she will go back to her books. No - she said she will drag it.
So off she went and got as far as the bedroom door. She came and asked me very politely that if I would carry it to the living room for her she would watch my angels to make sure their wings didn't fall off.
Stay tuned..it will be an interesting three days!

New Sleeping Babies

2011-12-01T13:24:00.000-08:00

Here's a few new orders I finished! Whew! These take a while - lots of fussy stuff. But they are all covered with German glass glitter - love the stuff! These are variations of my star and moon babies. Oh, yes and a pea pod baby. Shhhhhh.....

Snow babies

2011-11-30T11:37:00.000-08:00

New babies

Snow angel ornament

2011-11-21T05:39:00.000-08:00

So now that I have been "teaching" myself to shoot photos of my little stuff I am totally frustrated. The more I do the more I realize how little I know. So I quit!
Back to work - i have only two days before I am off to the western Rockies and so much to do.
So sorry for all of the bad pictures I took (don't confuse me with my great professional photographer Rod Radtke please. I am sure he is horrified that I would post some of the ones I took).
This angel ornament was a gift for my dear friend who had a birthday! I won't tell you which friend or which birthday though.....

Snow angel!

2011-11-19T13:34:00.001-08:00

A perfect day for a snow angel!

Another short night..

2011-11-19T03:38:00.000-08:00

Another short night....sigh. But there is still so much to do. I spent the last few days on these snow babies and of course I keep thinking of new designs.
When I work on the large dolls the new ideas swirl and never get completed. There is simply not enough time to do everything. So even though I know IDEX is just around the corner AGAIN, I have to get these out of my head.
I think I spend more time photographing them then actually making them. Today I am going to let my 13 year old daughter do some photographing. She thinks she can take better shots. I will try to post later.

Pink snow babies in progress.

2011-11-17T17:27:00.000-08:00

I really like these pictures. I will have to try some tomorrow using only natural light. I will be listing these plus three more snow babies on Etsy tomorrow also. Or should I do them tonight? Hannah needs me to help her with her art project so I better do that next....
Had a fun day creating!

Snowbabies

2011-11-15T12:07:00.000-08:00

Okay, so I did a very bad thing. I listed some of these snow babies on Etsy and then i DROPPED THE PRICE. I decided that I would try to just get a few sold. They only had a very few views each so I thought nobody would remember the first price!
I know it is hard to get seen on Etsy at first so I don't know how long I will stick it out. My daughter (Ablemabel) does very well. But she has been at it a few years and her darling stuff is very affordable and very practical. Sigh.
Every year at this time I get the itch to just do Christmas stuff. Trouble is - I can't get motivated the rest of the year. I need a good Christmas show to do.....
Well, I will make more of these and if they don't sell then I have gifts to give! How good is that?

Hi again!

2011-11-14T16:17:00.001-08:00

Okay, it's time to get started with the blog again. I am sorry for the no-update thing. Now it is almost Thanksgiving and time to write!
It has been a sort of weird year for me. I work everyday in this studio but I don't know what I ever complete. Maybe it is a learning year for me.
Or maybe just lots of messes.
This Little Red Riding Hood was one of my favorites this year. I discovered I can sew that wonderful silk velvet. You should see more velvet on my dolls after this.

Anne of Green Gables is totally different from Little Red. I like her also. She is one of my more earthy dolls. Her costume was so fun to create.
Now Suzanne and Sugar are more contemporary and fun! Sugar is having his birthday party and of course Suzanne made him a birthday cake! Had loads of good times with this piece.
My next piece is "The Velveteen Rabbit"...wish I would get it done already. But life has it's ways of interfering and maybe tomorrow I will get going on it again!

Happy Valentines Day!

2011-02-14T06:41:00.000-08:00

Happy Valentines Day! I know I posted this picture earlier but here he is again....!

A few more...

2011-01-20T14:53:00.000-08:00

Here are the pinkie twins...

And Marcy...

And Stella...
Callie...

And Monica...

Just some more little ones...

More little ones

2011-01-19T06:15:00.001-08:00

Okay well I tried to share the last post with Facebook but it tells me I can't. So I will keep posting in both places I guess.
Here are some more of the little ones I finished:

I named him Tucker...don't you think he looks like him?

This one is Jasmine - a common name for me...

And Vivian...so pretty in white...

This is rock-a-bye-baby....so precious...(I think!)

IDEX is less than two weeks away and...

2011-01-18T17:19:00.000-08:00

So here is little Cupid....all tired out. And it isn't even Valentines Day yet. Guess what I made those arrows out of.....

This is Chloe...all tucked in with her dollie.

And who can resist a sleeping lady bug? I know I can't.

This one could be my own! This is the Velveteen Rabbit doll. I think his blankie looks like an old chenille blanket. But it is glass....glitter that is....

So these are four of the little things I am bringing to IDEX. A little different from my BIG dolls. But these are fun and I am hoping some of my collectors will want to have more than one!

They are sculpted with clay and then covered with German glass glitter. I guess you probably already know that from previous blogs.

I bought some glitter from www.rosemille.com. Love it! I also bought from www.germancornerstore.com. There's is fine but I think the quality of rose mille is better. The German store has more choices.

I will post more pictures another time. I have to get back to work.

I'm still here!

2011-01-07T07:57:00.000-08:00

Okay...so maybe I will write a little.....
So much has happened since the last post.
And here I am still buried in my studio.
I had such a rich but short time with my so wonderful family over the holidays. I got to visit most of my kids....except one.....boo hoo.....well, maybe I will see her this spring!!!
Anyways....Christmas is done, Carrie's wedding is over...out of state kids have returned (and the out of country one..well, two).!
This has been a weird year in terms of my dolls. At the last IDEX show things were smoking! I had orders and was on a roll. Then spring came and it sort of started spiraling slowly down hill.
Something was wrong with the clay (Cernit). Something was wrong with my sculpting. My neck hurt, my eyes ran, my head spun.
Any decision I would make would instantly change to just the opposite.
So I took the summer off and traveled!
Well, do you know what happens when you don't sculpt for a while?? It gets even worse.
But as IDEX is still my major show I knew I had to have SOMETHING. But NOTHING was what I was getting.
But then...something happened with one of the dolls I was working on (and still not finished with)...
I started sculpting these little dolls for her (I HATE sculpting small). And dressing small things? Not for me.
Now it would'nt be fun if I told you the whole story all at once would it?

New sleeping baby ornaments....!

2010-12-06T06:12:00.001-08:00

Here are some new sleeping baby ornaments......Pearl baby...
Blue fluff baby....
Pinkie baby....
And a REAL ONE!!!

Sleeping Baby Ornaments

2010-11-24T13:57:00.000-08:00

Ha! Ha! Fooled you!! This one is awake!
But those sleeping babies.....
I've spent the day uploading pictures to my Etsy site as you may know. The brain is weary. But I always have something else to learn. My camera is not the best but I definitely am LEARNING how to use it's limited capabilities. It should prepare me for when I get a REAL camera.
These ornaments I listed are a little sidekick from the real deal. But they are fun anyways and if they don't sell then I will have some nifty gifts...!
Tonight I have a couple of white babies and another pink one. I don't think I will get them on tonight, maybe tomorrow morning.
As you can imagine there is glitter everywhere! But, hey, it cleans up, right????
Tomorrow the gang comes and I get to play grandma...
I AM VERY THANKFUL FOR THE BLESSINGS OF MY FAMILY AND THE LOVE THEY ALWAYS SHOW TO ME.
HAVE A HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

I make the best.....

2010-11-22T14:23:00.000-08:00

RICE PUDDING!!!
Sometimes I put other things in the oven besides doll parts.....
I am the only one in this house who will eat the stuff so I am pretty lucky.!
Do you want the recipe?
Well, here it is anyways....

2 cups cooked rice (1 cup uncooked)
2 cups scalded milk
2 eggs
1/3 cup sugar
little bit of salt
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1/4 cup craisins or raisins or blueberries or raspberries

Beat the eggs with the sugar, add the salt. Add the hot rice and hot milk. Add the vanilla.
Pour into casserole dish and sprinkle with cinnamon.

Place in pan of 1" water and bake at 350 degrees for 45-50 minutes or when knife inserted comes out clean.

Eat all at once before it gets cold. Serves one.!!! JK - probably four.

Angel doll part six

2010-11-16T05:16:00.001-08:00

Ta-Dah! She's done!

2010-11-15T16:54:00.001-08:00

Oh, dear, you will have to wait until tomorrow....sorry....

Off to the photographer

2010-11-15T09:50:00.000-08:00

We are off to the photographer so hopefully there will be some good pictures later.....

angel doll part five

2010-11-15T05:49:00.000-08:00

Only one picture so far this morning......what were you expecting? It's only 8 am...I slept in....but pictures are this afternoon so she is getting her hair styled first before putting the finishing touches on her dress and wings.....
Stay tuned...it's getting close!!

angel doll part four

2010-11-13T18:25:00.000-08:00

A few more pictures for you to look at....

angel doll part three

2010-11-13T12:47:00.000-08:00

So now if anyone is reading this they wonder if I am still sleeping on this snowy Saturday morning....well, no, I have been up since around 6 am. I did sleep in a little today, sorry.
Winter arrived sometime during the night in all of it's glory. Good thing my studio is not outside.
Work resumed on this poor little dolly. I am sewing with silk chiffon - kind of scary stuff but love how it looks. Why do I always try something new when I am in a hurry?

So many little gathers...
Always hoping it will fit....

Love this Perfect Paper Adhesive. It is not sticky and dries so nice and clear. I am applying it to the the bottom of this sheer fabric.

She will have to wait until I go to the Saturday Market....
Made it back safe and sound. It's still snowing....

Angel doll part two

2010-11-12T13:50:00.000-08:00

Okay, so now she gets her arms....

Her dress is mocked up....will have to revise.....

Someone is watching....someone is bored....

Next project

2010-11-12T09:58:00.001-08:00

Think I can finish this angel by Monday? We'll see. That's my next deadline. Sorry for the dreadful gray images. Need a new camera - can you tell? And sorry too for the backward progress....no time to fix it.

You sculpt what?

2010-11-12T03:08:00.000-08:00

Snowmen. Actually these are for our church sale tomorrow. They are just kind of fun and easy. They brought back memories of the good old days making ornaments.

Back to the Cernit problem. I ordered some "new" stuff - it is supposed to be rid of the issues that have been plaguing it for the past two years. We'll see.

In the meantime I decided to finish a piece that I had started. I am making one of my annual Christmas angels. I had one half package left of the old and now precious Cernit from way back. It sculpted up like a dream. Pretty sad day. UNLESS the new stuff is just as good as the old stuff.....

Now what?

2010-11-01T08:55:00.000-07:00

So as you can imagine I have been muddling around kind of lost in this messy studio.
1. Cernit has changed. It has been very hard to work with.
2. My arms and shoulders are totally wrecked.
3. My eyes are crossed.
4. Been experimenting with Puppen Fimo.
5. Been sculpting tiny stuff - used to hate it....getting to like it...
6. Every year at this time the Christmas crafts call my name....
7. IDEX usually cancels the call.
8. This year I answered quietly.
9. IDEX still looms.
10. I made some really cute sleeping baby ornaments.
11. The floodgates opened.....
12. Angels, more babies, more angels, Santa Lucia's, birds, glitter, glitter, glitter...
oh my. now what?

I think I can, I think I can...

2010-10-15T10:27:00.000-07:00

So this sculpting engine is s-l-o-w-l-y getting back to speed. I think I can, I think I can.... IDEX is looming ever so near....I've been on "vacation" of sorts throughout the summer and whenever that happens...well...the sculpting...is...sort...of....slow.
I have to learn it all over again. AND
they have been messing with CERNIT...trying to take out the bad stuff that comes into your skin and gives you cancer if you use it too much (only since 1990 or so).
The stuff I bought back in April is USELESS. I bought ONE bar just to try it a few weeks ago and it still was too STIFF and PINK. Yuck.
I mixed it with LIVING DOLL and it was okay to sculpt with but not like THE OLD STUFF....wahhhhhh!
Okay, then I tried FIMO PUPPEN. On little stuff. Okay. I want my OLD CERNIT back again. I ordered some more...should come today since it didn't come yesterday.
I'll try again.
Will let you know how it goes.
I have been sculping TINY and TINIER. My last face is about 3/4"!! Hope to make a press mold with it and make some ornaments....in between the bigger stuff....
I did many TINY fingers..until my eyes crossed. But I am no longer AFRAID of sulpting small!
I may post some pictures......

It seems like....

2010-10-11T06:18:00.000-07:00

It seems like there was something I was supposed to do today.......good thing for notes....written by child who needs an x-ray.....
But there was another thing....oh, yes, the giveaway...but that was supposed to happen last week. Oh, well, better late than never.
So Beth gets a set of greeting cards...I know she didn't actually "comment" except to hit "like" on Facebook but that counts this time since I got so few comments.
So thank you to all of you! I sold two dolls this weekend! Go to The Dollery for their online show that will be posted until sometime in November.

Sculpting tiny faces and the giveaway!

2010-10-05T04:57:00.000-07:00

So yesterday's project was to sculpt a face and it was so tiny I can't even photograph it. At the end of the day I didn't like how the mouth turned out so I may be still working on it. Today Ann comes again to work (Yay!). I am going to sculpt a little bigger face. It will be another sleeping baby. I decided to add one more baby to the piece I am working on.
I am sculpting with Fimo Puppen. I tried the Living Doll on the last little sleeping baby. I think I like this Puppen although the color seems a little pink to me. We'll see when I get it baked.
Now don't forget to comment on the Alice doll post. You don't have to say anything about the doll - just make a comment about whatever! The greeting card giveaway is coming up on Thursday!

Alice in Wonderland doll and the giveaway!

2010-09-30T05:48:00.000-07:00

Here are the photos I promised. This little girl dressed up like Alice in Wonderland playing with her white rabbit is one of my latest pieces.
She is one of my larger dolls - she sits about 14" tall. If she were standing she would be about 24".
She is a OOAK sculpted from Cernit. I needle felted the rabbit - my first try - took me a whole day!
I sewed all of the clothing. I think I spent more hours on the rabbit's little tiny stuff than on her outfit.
For those of you that are not familiar with one-of-a-kind dolls just know that everything is done from scratch. I work from the inside out when I sculpt. I have a set of drawings of kids of different ages. I use them for all of my measuring. I am not the sort of artist that can just do things from the top of my head. I need dimensions to work from.
Then I sculpt the head, arms and legs, paint them, make the body, attach everything together, make the clothes, make the wig, make (or sometimes buy) the accessories, and then SOMETIMES take it all apart and remake what I don't like!!!!
Then you have to find someone who wants it. I think I will start making dolls that I want to keep. That sounds a little easier.
Oh, yes, if you comment on her (Facebook comments are accepted also) I will do a giveaway (another set of 8 of my greeting cards) a week from today. !
One more thing - she will be available from The Dollery.

Getting Kenisha ready for the show!

2010-09-27T12:06:00.000-07:00

Getting Kenisha ready for her long trip to The Dollery for their 13th Annual Doll Show! I wrap her limbs and her neck with strips of batting, then wrap her up with bubble wrap and tissue before packing her into her sturdy box filled with packing peanuts.
I always worry about breakage.....so far so good.....let's hope she makes it!

Weekend retreat

2010-09-27T06:10:00.000-07:00

We took a weekend trip to the UP and enjoyed a Couples Retreat! It was a wonderful weekend - came back refreshed and now I have to work hard this week because we may go up there again next weekend!

Alice doll

2010-09-24T09:00:00.000-07:00

Here is one of the pieces I am working on..almost finished...she will be available through the Dollery. I will have more pictures next week! She sits about 15" tall - the rabbit is about 14". I needle felted him. He is dressed in a suit coat, vest, shirt and tie! He has a vintage clock in his pocket.
The little girl dressed like Alice in Wonderland has a blue silk dress and a white Swiss dotted pinafore.
I will do another give-away next week when I post more pictures...stay tuned!!

Love my laundry guy

2010-09-22T08:44:00.001-07:00

I really love my laundry guy. When I married him almost 36 years ago I had no idea he could do laundry! But that's what happens when an organized person doesn't do his homework and ends up with someone that is always trying to be organized but never really gets there.
Okay, so, I was there once. During the first years of our marriage when we lived in Seattle I baked, sewed, cooked, DID LAUNDRY, crafted, did art, decorated, painted, laid tile, shingled. You get the picture. Oh, yes, I was having a few babies at the same time.
For instance,we moved into a travel trailer while we built our first house. 28 feet. I bought a straw bale and MADE straw wreaths (they were the greatest thing) and then decorated them with corn husk dolls THAT I MADE. And, yes, I did it all in that trailer.
So anyways, I have always been a little weird.
My laundry piles continued to grow. There would be no end.
We moved the family to Minnesota and my organizational trend ended. It not only ended but it got worse the older I got. The laundry piles continued to grow. There would be no end.
The arts and crafts also continued. As did the babies. I can't believe what a busy life I have had. And so blessed.
But back to the laundry. Somewhere along the way it started a long slow descent. As the kids got older they of course pitched in and then they were responsible for their own. I finally got it down to everyone doing their own!
Where my laundry guy comes in......he found out that if he was going to have clean socks and also not lost socks then he better do his own laundry too.
It's sort of his fault anyways. Whenever life got me overwhelmed he told me to go make more dolls. (The dolls started in the mid-90's in case you were wondering)
So that's what I do. And our laundry gets done by my handsome and hardworking husband.
Who knew when I got married at 18 it would turn out so well.

Speaking of Hannah...

2010-09-20T12:37:00.001-07:00

This is for Becky who thinks I am a fun mom because I have all these girls over for a birthday party.
You don't know Hannah - she gets what she wants because she does all the arranging.
In fourth grade I forgot about her school conference (been there done that too many times) so she got the papers from her teacher and sat down to go through them individually with me.
She also was her own tooth fairy (a week of waiting was too much for her..). I did have to have a lesson on truth telling after that...
She reminded me of her upcoming birthday for probably a week in advance. I hemmed and hawed many times.
Finally the day before I gave her my full attention and told her NO SLEEPOVER. I hope I am done with them.....
So it was decided that she could have as many friends as she wanted as long as they found their own way here and it would be from 10 am to 4pm.
I left for the evening and she proceeded to bake her own birthday cake. She did it from scratch and told me it didn't turn out. It tasted like Play-doh and could I please pick up a cake mix for her?
She called all her friends, reminded me to buy her a gift and made a second cake.
Now today I find out she arranged her next year of piano lessons with our neighbor.
I think my parenting days are coming to a fast end here. Oh, that's right, still have the teenage years to get through....

Happy Birthday Hannah!

2010-09-19T07:37:00.000-07:00

Happy birthday Hannah!

I taught the birthday girls to make wool bracelets.

Here is what they made!

Happy Birthday Hannah!

Rain, sunflowers, ears and lunch.

2010-09-15T09:45:00.000-07:00

Looks like I am the only one enjoying this rain around here. After five days in Phoenix the rain actually feels good! Let's hope it doesn't stick around too long.....
We had a marvelous trip (as usual) and got to see two of our long-away living girls and one new grandbaby! Well, she is not so brand new anymore but new to us!! And what a doll - loved her immediately. Now that sounds pretty lame but it was true!!
You will have to see my Facebook page to see some sunshine pictures.
My studio is humming again, nothing like getting right to work. The unpacking can wait. I am going to get on a roooooolllllllll and produce like never before!!!!

Nice ear huh?? That's what happened this morning. Now the second one better match the first one. Hope nobody checks too closely.
And now I got sidetracked again - I promised my DH he could have lunch soon. Better get off this and into the kitchen.....
And, no, I don't know why one sunflower grew so much taller than the others.

Felting!

2010-09-07T09:43:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I made a long overdue trip to see my friend Detta. When I drove up I didn't think it was her place since the yard was full of tall trees. I just remember an open field.....man that time flies.
Anyways, she owns Detta's Spindle. I was in the mood for some Merino wool to do some felting. She has so many fibers! She is well known for spinning dog hair.
So Hannah and I came home with a bag full of COLORFUL wool....yummy!!! I hope to make some sweet little doll clothing with it.....! In the meantime I made a couple pair of real baby booties and a few bracelets. I know my girls will have fun with it so hopefully they can use it all up!

Cernit, Living Doll and Fimo

2010-09-03T05:02:00.000-07:00

Cernit has changed - it is very pink and sort of well, different. I guess they took out the bad stuff and a new company is producing it. I have only a small amount of the good Cernit from months ago.
When I bought the new Cernit I also bought Sculpey's new clay called Living Doll and some Puppen Fimo.
I mixed 2 ozs. of Cernit with 1 oz. of Living Doll for my first sculpt after many months of not sculpting.
So far it is okay to work with. It appears to not show seams too bad and right now I am doing lots of scraping away and no bubbles are showing.
I don't know how translucent it will be.
I may try the Puppen with Cernit next.
Stay tuned....
(This is a boring blog entry if you are not a sculptor of polymer clays.....sorry.)

Sculpting again...

2010-08-31T04:45:00.001-07:00

Sculpting again...can you believe it? I can't. And only for a few hours - my girls are waiting for a MOA trip today.
I'll have to ease my body into the sculpting position slowly. My joints hurt already just thinking about it....better get back to yoga soon. It helps so much.

Baby booties?

2010-08-24T05:58:00.001-07:00

Baby booties?
That's what happens when my creative friend, Lavona, comes over! We were either going to make chickens, dogs, flowers, purses or just work on our dolls. Lavona has been taking my private lessons and really needs to finish up her doll! Maybe next time.
Anyways, I have had this book on felting sitting here for three years or so. Maybe not that long but anyways.
So we settled on baby booties. Well - we did them smaller to be doll booties but I am afraid mine turned out too thick and short and they might fit a dog foot.
After she left I wanted to make another pair that was bigger. You see, I think this would be a GREAT project to teach for young moms.....so I had to try them.
They took a couple of hours to do. Not bad for a beginner. Now I have to see if they are functional. I am sending them off to Ablemabel so LouLou can do her 500 in them. We'll see what her mother says about them. May have to tweak the pattern.

Weekend away with friends.

2010-08-23T10:57:00.000-07:00

What else do you do when you go up north with friends besides:
Eat!

Act goofy!

Eat and take pictures of food.

Shop!

Craft!

Show it off!
Snooze.
Fun times.

Dyeing Day

2010-08-19T09:16:00.000-07:00

While my blazer, jacket and shirt are simmering on the stove....and the other two jackets are hanging to dry out in the porch....and the buttons for my Alice dress are cooling off...the clay I ordered is on it's way here!!....I should keep cleaning this studio...
So my "yellow" jacket turned out "pumpkin orange" and my "green" jacket turned out sort of blackish brownish greenish...love it! The plum jackets and shirt are still undecided if they will be blackish plumish or plumish blackish.
Will post a picture when they all dry.
Maybe my studio will get cleaned up unless I start another project...

And the winner is...

2010-08-19T07:02:00.000-07:00

And the winner is.......Lori Metcalf!!
Sorry Selma...try again.
Lori - if you email me your address I will send you a set of my greeting cards!

thanks everyone - will do this again with another doll!
Sarah

Eeeek!! The giveaway!!

2010-08-19T06:39:00.000-07:00

What day is it??? Did I say you had until the end of the day on WEDNESDAY?? And today is THURSDAY??
I have been cleaning my studio (you would too if you were having Swedish company tomorrow), ordering more clay, putting away jewelry making stuff, washing clothes, dyeing clothes....????
S'cuse me while I jump up to stir the yellow pot on the stove. At least if it boils over it will match my counter tops.
Yes, fall is coming and I don't want any white left in my closet. Besides don't you think three white jackets is too many?
One is turning yellow, one green and that tan one I always wear....maybe I can do it plum, gray, black...we'll see.
Anyways back to the giveaway...
Thanks so much for commenting all of you. I hope to do this again!
Will get the names now and put them in a hat and draw out one!

Mallory and the giveaway

2010-08-14T08:34:00.000-07:00

Here is Mallory and her baby doll. I did this sculpt a while ago and never finished her. She reminds me of a sweet and gentle little girl that has no cares in the world. She takes good care of her dolly and does whatever her mom wants her to do!!!
JK - that sounds too good to be true. Well it is! She is only a doll and you can make up anything when you are the artist!!!
She is one of my larger sculpts - if she were standing she would be about 22" or so. She is dressed in silks - white taffeta on top and pink seersucker for the skirt. The ribbon and roses trim is all silk - love this stuff - I use it often.
The baby doll is another sculpt I have had laying around here. Her top is bought - love finding little stuff I can use. Have you ever tried to sew tiny clothes??
I made her little bloomers to match the skirt. I used some hand-dyed lace and made her hat! Lots of hand sewing went into that!
Her pearl headband is made from Austrian Swarovski pearls. Love them too.
I made her wig out of mohair (that comes from goats - really!). Have you seen auburn colored goats?? It's the newest thing.
Not really.
So now if you comment on Mallory by the end of the day Wednesday August 18th I will do a giveaway to one of you - a full set of greeting cards (my own of course). You can see them on my website: www.sarahniemela.com. If you are the winner you will have to send me your real address when I contact you.
If you are the only one who comments - well, that was easy!

Wedding bells

2010-08-12T10:29:00.000-07:00

Which one will be the head of the family?

My sons and I! Don't they look tough?
Happy us!

The family who made it there!

Okay...so this is why I haven't updated. I am too tired from this whole summer of family fun to sit down and keep trying to write about it!
Do you remember that I once went on this long trip from Minnesota to Washington State? That was soooo long ago! Well, I did.
I had a few days to get ready to get on the road again. This time we went up to the prairies of Saskatchewan. (My kids once told me the saying to always remember how to spell Saskatchewan but I forgot it and it looks like I spelled it right since spell check didn't underline it in red.)
Have you ever driven up there? This was our first time (well, we were both up there separately waaaay back in 1974, but that is another story). Our kids have done the trip plenty of times since they have lots of friends up there.
So anyways, it is about 15 or so hours so it makes for a long day.
Son #3 (birth order, not the order of my favorites) married a very sweet and pretty Sask girl. Since she loves the prairies so much and he loves her so much my son got his dual citizenship (his father was born in B.C.) and they will reside up there for now and he can get a job right away and save his money to make a trip down here!
So now I don't have any more excuses to not get back to work.

Emma

2010-08-03T13:13:00.000-07:00

After many hours of nail biting I think my computer is fixed again. Geesh. It gets overwhelmed so easily. Just like me.
Here's Emma - she got mailed of to The Dollery today...hope she arrives safe and sound!
I am trying to finish up lots of loose ends before I head north to Sask. (can't remember how to spell Saskatchewan.)
I haven't started to panic yet....

I'll try one more time

2010-08-02T06:19:00.001-07:00

Here is Mallory - one of the dolls I just finished! I posted her earlier and she went onto my family blog instead of this one. So I will try again!

Mallory again

2010-08-02T05:32:00.001-07:00

This is Mallory's baby doll...

So much to finish, so little time.

2010-07-30T05:50:00.000-07:00

So now......what?
The Cernit I bought back in April is bad. No clay to start anything new. Five dolls to consider revising before photo shoot tomorrow.....
Still one doll to dress....
So it doesn't matter if I have no clay, right? Except that I haven't sculpted for so long...where would I start?

Oh, wait...I just thought of something...
I still need a piece of something on the bodice of this outfit....

out come the dye bottles again....
Colorhue silk dyes...gotta love them.

I hate it when i don't have the perfect trim but it's okay to get creative I guess.
Let's try something...

So here is the Venice lace I dyed earlier paired with another trim that started out light pink and bronze. It's okay...
But this one has a little more punch. I'll go with this one. Maybe.
Or maybe I will go for a run...

Seattle and beyond

2010-07-28T04:28:00.000-07:00

Turning my trusty van northward Hannah and I navigated the heavy I-5 traffic to Sister
C's on Lake Tapps. She has a wonderful house (which her and hubby designed and built) and it overlooks the beautiful lake.
She never fails to cook up something wonderful and she did it again! (Plus she lets me share the sushi - something none of my other siblings would eat I bet.)
After a dinner of shrimp and beef kabobs we took the boat out for a nice cruise of the lake.
Another hour north I dropped off Hannah at her cousins and went to my MIL's house. She lives in Snohomish.
The next day was spent waiting for my not-so-trusy-van that wouldn't start but sometimes started to be diagnosed. After a new starter was put in it was ready to roll.
Supper that evening was spent visiting my two SIL's at Macaroni Grill. A very good time.
Friday my dear husband arrived via Delta!!! Was a glorious day! Of course he took me to my favorite Seattle fabric store: Nancy's Sewing Basket which a person could spend the day in and come out with way too many projects. I bought a few piddly pieces of white silk splendor and some trim to match. I've got to find more wholesale sources......

Saturday brought us to Ashley's confirmation. It was so nice to see the kids and know that they were well taken care of for those days at camp.

In the afternoon we of course had to go to another waterfall. This time it was Snoqualmie Falls. We had hoped to go to the bottom but it has since been closed up. We last went there in about 1974!
Leaving Seattle on Sunday morning we made our way back to Whitefish so hubby could see the our little family there. We will be back someday to stay longer, Heather. As we were going out Aaron and Anita were going in! So they will be busy this week!

Now we are home - ready for the next stage in life. Our son moves out tonight - all the way to Sask. Canada. It's weird. But somehow I suppose I will get used to it.
We leave for his wedding next week so maybe I will get this studio cleaned up and ready to roll for fall. Maybe. First I get to go see another new grandchild: Felix Anthony!!!
Better get to work.

Leaving Longview and heading north to Seattle.

2010-07-21T08:04:00.000-07:00

This morning I will zip down Sister A's driveway and down the mountain to Brother's house to pick up baby Hannah then careen back up the mountain to Sister B's house to follow her back down the mountain and up a different mountain for a brunch invitation!
After that my trusty old van will head north on I-5 to Sister C's mansion on Lake Tapps. Hopefully the elusive sun will appear and we can have a few hours by the beautiful lake. After a delicious supper (I am pretty confident in Sister C's cooking skills) I will hit 405 to Snohomish to stay with my dear MIL.
And tomorrow......don't know yet!
But Friday....dear HUSBAND flies in......can't wait!!!
Back on the road Saturday or Sunday with a stop back in Whitefish!
I may not be able to write much more now until I get back home early next week.
Was a fun few days here! Hopefully I will get back again soon.
Thanks, Sister A (Beth) for all you've done for me! You still are the superwoman I have always said you were!

Sand angel

2010-07-20T07:41:00.000-07:00

This is how vacation feels!!! Love that beach and the sand that gets everywhere! But alas...it looks like I only get a few hours on the Pacific this time. This little girl calls me "grandma". I must look like one. She lives in Phoenix and gets a little mixed up when it comes to "snow angels"!
Now for those who don't know "Longview" it is a town in southern Washington state that sits on the Columbia River. Since the town was built on logging and has several mills on the river it always has the odor of the mills. Well, it used to be worse way back when. We used to say: "Longivew and Kelso smell so." I have come here ever since my sister moved here way back in 1973 and got married. I moved from Minnesota in 1974 but went to Seattle.
My younger brother came out as did two more sisters. My brother married my sister's husband's first cousin and another sister married his brother! My other sister moved to Seattle where I was and lives there still. I married my sweetheart in Seattle and we lived there for nine years until we moved to Minnesota.
I didn't plan to tell my family history but now you know why I come to Longview as often as I do! And if you are confused, don't worry, so am I.
Now Longview is basically flat surrounded by these hills which my siblings decided to settle on. The three of them live on the same hill but there are not any roads that go across the tops of the hills.
To get there you first have to make a left turn into mid-air. It takes lots of practice and these natives manage to do it at about sixty MPH. It's kind of like bungee jumping only you are not tied down.
As you careen down the hill you make a series of turns up and down through the woods with a mountain on one side and a ravine on the other. You do all this and still maintain your speed of 60 MPH.
There is never anything stalled on the road behind each curve in the road.
To get to sister A you have to find a small dark opening between the towering trees. As you go up into the dark the driveway suddenly goes straight up. It is always a dilemma for the car. Should it keep going up or give up and go down? How much gravel is okay to spit out behind you? Should I add to the potholes or not?
Sister B lives above the clouds. On her part of the hill you speed upwards still at 60 MPH. But there are more bends that go every which way up, down, left, right, backwards and sideways until you level off and then try to decide which look alike driveway might be hers.
Brother lives not as high as Sister B. But you still have to go down each hill of Sisters A and B to get to his hill before you go up again. It's manageable because I never come here during an ice storm.
And they live here so I have to come here. And I am never sorry I came!
I am off to Seattle today or tomorrow.....

A few random pictures

2010-07-19T21:40:00.001-07:00

A REAL doll!

Megan and Heather

McDonalds - a must for all grandparents. Even if you don't like McDonalds it is important to take your grandkids there. I found the only humid spot in Whitefish - the playplace. It was horrid. I suffered through it because the kids had so much fun! Don't tell Heather that Alex picked up a french fry from the floor and ate it.

Go west old lady, go west.

2010-07-19T08:21:00.000-07:00

Let's see, where did I leave off?? The week I spent with Heather and family was just what I needed....no schedule, no deadlines, beautiful weather, hiking, being with grandkids, sitting at the beach with no worries, holding my precious newborn grandson, and, yes, even vacuuming and scrubbing!
Heather and Conor love Whitefish and I can see why. Hope to be back soon!
Megan went east to Minnesota while Hannah and I continued westward. We left at about 8 am and headed for I-90 southwest to Longview, Washington.
We listened to "Hattie Big Sky" for the day and I didn't fall asleep at the wheel! It was a long day - we stopped in Spokane for lunch, had ice cream at the vegetable place near Pasco, hiked the Multnomah Falls on the Columbia Gorge and got into town about 9 pm.!
My brother Danny and his daughter Linnea made me do a run with them EARLY Sunday morning! I pooped out on them - couldn't get these stiff legs to keep going. Oh, well, it was still fun! After church on Sunday we went to the beach - a destination that is required when you come here - no matter the weather.
So now after another EARLY morning walk (uphill - I swear my feet will be permanently pointing uphill forever) I am going to teach a bead class!
So I guess I better get going...
The clouds didn't dampen our spirits and we spent an enjoyable day there!

Whitefish, Montana

2010-07-16T13:21:00.000-07:00

Okay so.....we left Livingston KOA a loooong time ago and began our second phase of this westward trip. Megan Hannah and I (Ashley stayed behind to head straight west with her cousin) drove the six hours to Whitefish MT.
We turned north out of Missoula heading to Flathead Lake. Just a mile or two from the freeway we turned a corner and encountered some BEAUTIFUL mountains that you can't see from the freeway!!!
After an hour or so we first saw Flathead Lake and we followed it for most of the trip! Beauty!!! It is huge!!
We finally found my daughter Heather's place and was very warmly welcomed by her little cherubs who began to run around the yard when we pulled up!! It's so fun to be a grandma!!
We met sweet little Owen Williams - only two weeks old! Darling! (Of course.)
Kayla, Jed, Alex and Meg - Precious! (Of course.)
This week has been busy enjoying this young family and some of what this area has to offer.
I took a couple of hikes - so fun! We went to the lake, did the alpine slides (Jed, "Oh, man what a ride"!), took the chair lift, hiked some more, shopped, took lots of pictures and tried not to let Heather get too tired.
Now Hannah and I leave tomorrow (Megan goes back home with friends) for Longview WA. It is a ten hour drive - do you think I can do it??
I will be on the freeway most of the way. We will stop when we get bored or tired and hopefully stay awake!

My trip westward continues

2010-07-14T16:35:00.001-07:00

My sisters!
Our evening bonfire....don't worry, the little kid is farther away than you think....

Hikes to the waterfall!
A Susan tale...

Maybe I can load a few more pictures today while this household is napping. This computer takes it's jolly time so we'll see.
These pictures are still back at the Livingston KOA campground where my family had their reunion. We were celebrating my dad's 80th birthday. All of my siblings made it there so we had some special times together.
More later.....

My trip westward again

2010-07-14T07:32:00.000-07:00

Here is one picture from the start of our trip. I am off to hike for the next few hours so I will post more later!

My trip westward

2010-07-13T17:04:00.000-07:00

I made it to my family's reunion in Livingston Montana and now I continued westward around beautiful Flathead Lake up to Whitefish. So much beauty surrounds this place. And I even found a bead store pretty close. Tonight we do some more shopping....
Will post pictures soon - stay tuned.
Tomorrow I go hiking, can't wait!!!

Violet stew?

2010-07-08T05:02:00.000-07:00

Violet stew? Could be. Can we wear them? In Montana. The day before my big trip and I finally dye the shirts we have to wear for our family reunion!! But they got done and now are in the washing machine. I am hoping the dye won't all run down the drain.
If I listed everything I still have to do today you would get too bored so i will tell you that I can still multi-task. I have tons of anxieties about doing this trip and not having my wonderful strong smart protective handsome husband along. He tells me I will be fine. I just have to get that tire from keep going flat.
So later today or early tomorrow morning I will head northwest to North Dakota and that long ribbon of highway. I am taking three daughters and a van full of stuff that I probably won't need.
If I had an internet phone I could keep you posted all along the way! Maybe I will have to try out Dave's new phone once we get to the campground.
Wish me luck today that I get everything done!

Our wonderful weekend!

2010-07-05T05:57:00.000-07:00

Here is my older sister, Beth! We spent the weekend together at our annual church services! I had a wonderful weekend and now we both will meet again in Livingston Montana next weekend with the rest of our siblings and our parents!!!
I will then continue northwest to see one of my newest grandbabies, Owen Williams! Then I will head Southwest to Beth's house in Washington State! Then north to Seattle before heading home again.......
Once I am home for a week or so it will be North west again to Sask. Canada for my son's wedding. And for some wishful thinking I will head Southwest to Colorado after the wedding to see baby Louise Miriam!!
My head is spinning now - just think what it will be like after I do all that. I better go back to bed. After I get this next doll done.
And oh, yes, check out Beth's Etsy for her beautiful baby blankets, clothing and stuff!

Crazy-busy-fun

2010-06-28T05:53:00.001-07:00

Entering into a crazy-busy-fun time...lots of out-of-town family coming and friends from far away places...a three-week trip to plan (driving to Seattle with a few stops along the way)....my son's wedding in August waaaay up on Sask (can't remember how to spell it)...
But for now I have a studio to clean up, dolls to finish, a house to clean, meals to prepare.....
Is it a wonder my head is spinning???

This is the life!

2010-06-26T08:41:00.000-07:00

I work while Ashley cleans my cupboards!! How sweet is that?

A fun day...

2010-06-21T19:42:00.000-07:00

Today all started with a yummy farm fresh breakfast at my friend's farm......6:45 am with the milking of Daisy.....I don't have pictures because the barn was too dark........but the chickens and rooster made a lovely display for me....
Susan made the egg and sausage dish, I brought fruit and Becky made muffins.....so delicious!
Here we all are...so lucky!
Off we went to tour and shop in Minneapolis and St. Paul...wish I had more pictures..we were all over the place...Stone Arch bridge, sculpture garden, Crafty Planet, Grand Avenue shops, Granite City, Opitz Outlet (found shoes for my son's wedding for $13!), TJ Maxx, a few Starbucks and we ended the trip with our coffees along Lake Minnetonka in Wayzata. A rainy morning turned into a beautiful evening.
Now I promise I will get back to work tomorrow sometime....

Saturday morning

2010-06-19T05:25:00.000-07:00

I never made it to The Fiber Studio but I did get some fun fabrics from Treadle Yard Goods. And no, I didn't get pink or white. And yes, I spent enough for five dolls.
I have one more piece to finish up the body, one more set of arms to sculpt and then I can begin to dress five dolls....
I still have needle felting on my brain - oh the things I could make! Maybe I could begin an Alice series that I have talked about for so long.... The white rabbit, a flamingo, a pig, and of course the mad hatter all come to mind.....I wish someone would just order all of the above and then I could get started......
Oh, well, I always have too many ideas that never get finished.

The Fiber Studio

2010-06-17T06:40:00.000-07:00

Today I am off to The Fiber Studio (needlefelting!) and then to the only real fabric store around here - Treadle Yard Goods....

Off to buy flowers

2010-06-14T05:41:00.000-07:00

Today I am off to buy flowers for the wedding of my godchild. I will attempt to create three bouquets using gardenias, orchids, sweet peas, freesia, hydrangea and hypericum. Wish me luck. I don't do this very often and there is always a learning curve looming ahead.
The bride's nature is sweet, mild and accepting and that works in my favor!
I will put them together tomorrow morning. Yes, this is a Tuesday wedding!
Next I should sculpt a bride and flower girl...........

Needle felting

2010-06-12T20:42:00.001-07:00

This is the scene tonight as I am finishing up and heading to bed. I think these girls will be in here all night. I just cleaned up all the bead mess this morning and now Megan is spreading her beads everywhere.
I needle-felted this rabbit this afternoon. This was the first time I have tried it even though I have had my needles for a few years. I found this old bag of wool roving that I bought probably 15 years ago from my friend Detta from Detta's Spindle.
I love the fact that I could make this rabbit and not have to stitch and stuff. (I hate stuffing)
See you Monday....

My friend Jeanette

2010-06-11T05:21:00.001-07:00

Now my friend is in the studio! Jeanette came over last night to make some beads! She is the most productive person I know. She will make hundreds of these beads in no time! She used turquoise, orange, yellow, gold and brown. (I think)!
I can't wait to see it all strung....
She also does cardmaking (she gave me a stack of her beautiful cards!!), knitting, scrapbooking, quiltmaking, embellishing and anything she can get her hands on. I wish she worked for me.
I keep trying to get her to make dolls......

Grandkids in the studio

2010-06-10T04:56:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was a busy day in the studio. The grandkids were busy making polymer clay beads into jewelry....

Meanwhile I was working on this doll - trying to get her body put together......Should we cut your hair and use it for this doll???
I think she will keep her hair long for a while yet......
They had fun visiting with this unfinished doll.....
Off they went to their northern home and I was able to finish the body.....
Today I will get her ready for her wig and clothes. Still deciding what she will wear.....

What a day!

2010-06-09T05:03:00.000-07:00

The sun is shining and I have arms and legs in the oven! What a way to start the day! I can't wait to finish this doll. She is quite large for my latest endeavors. I can't believe how long she took to sculpt. I went through so much clay!
Now let's hope it bakes without air bubbles...
Summer vacation is almost here for the girls. Janelle and family are here for two nights. We have been pretty busy with life and all its busyness.
I think I will be traveling for a few weeks this summer so I really need to get some dolls FINISHED so I am not so far behind this fall.

Dilemma

2010-05-18T09:53:00.001-07:00

We moved into our current house about 17 years ago and I have NEVER sprayed our large yard for weeds. It was in pristine condition from the previous owners for a few years and then slowly the weeds came. We are out in the country so we didn't have to worry about neighbors looking at this grass.
I always had the excuse that I didn't want the kids stepping in the poison, or I didn't want it seeping down into the creek etc.
It has always been an embarrassment for me when I have to look at those ugly weeds and I kept saying each year - this is the year!! But that year would come and go and still ugly weeds....
Well - THIS IS THE YEAR!!! I could do just the front yard with the hose and sprayer. I bought some Ortho Weed-be-gone, got a little sprayer to attach to the hose - the weather was perfect this week - got everything all hooked up - ready to go - and a black van drives up the driveway.
Yes - grandkids.
I tried to shoo them away.
No avail.
There mom was going to work and Katie was going to babysit.
What do you think I did?
I sprayed anyways. Supposedly they will stay in the back yard which has to be sprayed with a big sprayer later.....
So anyways...back to the dolls I guess. My yard work is over for the season.

Aleshia - a bright face for a gloomy day

2010-05-13T04:47:00.000-07:00

I made Aleshia IDEX 2010 this past January. I found a picture of just these legs in a magazine advertisement and kept it around for a few years. I was waiting to do "baby's first steps" for a while. Super fun! She is available through Melanie Friend, a retailer from Alabama.
Aleshia is a bright face for a gloomy day....

Dog day

2010-05-12T13:46:00.000-07:00

Lots of nervous giggles from my baby when she got to hold one of my students doggie!! She would love a dog of her own but I told her when she GROWS UP she can have all the dogs that she wants!!! We'll see what she does about that.
She does know how to hold babies and sometimes I let her hold my dolls.

Redressing dolls

2010-04-29T06:26:00.000-07:00

Here is a doll that I redressed for Kim at the Dollery. I like her so much better! It was a fun dress to make. I had bought her skirt material from Treadle Yard Goods in St. Paul and it was one of those indecision's that I like to make!
Should I or shouldn't I?? There was only a small amount left on the bolt and it was on sale but I didn't know what doll to put it on.
I of course buy fabric all the time that I NEVER use so I am trying to be more cautious.
I had enough of the yummy pink silk fabric to finish this dress. Now I have to either order some more of the pink from Germany or wait until IDEX see if I can get some more. I love this fabric.
The sweater fabric I bought in NY when I was there last fall. I can't wait to make a sweater for a toddler now!!! So fun!!

Munro Crafts

2010-04-26T09:06:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite vendors is Munro Crafts. They are friendly and VERY prompt. The only down side is that you have to pick up the phone and call in your order......I don't know why that is so hard.
The more you order the more of a discount you get so that is a good thing!!
I order my polymer clay from them and have not been dissatisfied yet. Now I wish they had good hand-blown glass eyes.......that is another story.....

Rice Lake

2010-04-20T17:44:00.000-07:00

So what do you do when you can't sculpt?? Run around the lake that's what.
I took my 11-year old "baby" and ran/walked for almost four miles. It was a lovely time!! She could have ran the whole thing probably but had to wait up for me......

Lips

2010-04-20T13:10:00.000-07:00

It's been one of those days.......
I posted on Facebook that lips were slowly getting easier to sculpt.....and how many hours have I spent today sculpting lips?????Grrrrr......
I had read on one site where someone just said she doesn't sculpt the lips because they are too hard!!!!! That would be a novel idea......
Well, the sun is shining and calling my name. I would like to go walk around a lake again today - you never know when the sun will go away and the bugs will come out.....

Eloisa

2010-04-19T10:39:00.000-07:00

Okay Jan - here are some more of Eloisa....

2010-04-17T05:52:00.001-07:00

These last two weeks have been filled with lots of dollmaking and working with students. It's great fun to have company in my studio.
Raino and I attended the American Craft Council Show in St. Paul. That's the picture at the top. It was fun to see the professionalism there. We tried to study the lighting and booth set up to see which ones were the most exciting.
My fellow doll artist, Lucia Friedericy, did the Baltimore show. Maybe she will come here next year!
The second picture is of my student Lavona who won an award for her watercolor painting at a local art show! How exciting is that? She also entered an art doll in a show that will open tonight. Will wait and see how that one goes!
I will take pictures of my latest doll sometime today and maybe remember to post it!!

ning.com

2010-04-15T05:33:00.000-07:00

Well now I have a few more sites to figure out.....my latest is ning.com. It would be fun to do some tutorials but so much of this is confusing.
Guess I will just get back to work. I do know how to make fingers and toes.....
But lately the polymer clay beads have been calling...go figure.

Spring break is over...

2010-04-05T05:39:00.001-07:00

After a wonderful Spring Break week with much family I am back in my studio wondering where to start. We had wonderful weather all week!!!
I did mail off three dolls last week and taught a bead class on Saturday.
The Easter weekend was full and complete. I have so much to be thankful for.
The girls are back in school and this house is quiet again.
I always start my day on the computer. Some days I spend way to much time....
It's always amazing what other people do for art!
But...I have orders waiting......
First I need to put away all of my bead stuff and get the sculpting tools out.
BTW - this is Vivian - another "birthday girl" I finished last week. I am starting a different version of her today!

Facebook Fan Page

2010-03-08T06:15:00.000-08:00

I am trying to figure out what the advantages are for having a Facebook Fan Page....maybe I will just go to my yoga class instead.

Monday morning

2010-02-08T05:33:00.000-08:00

So now life is back to "normal". My early morning wake up call is now 5:30 instead of 4:30.!! It's time to get back to work and try to make this year my best ever!
I am really going to try to empty out some inventory that I am not going to use. I know that is a big job but it has to be done. I am drowning in stuff around here.
I hope this is the year I purchase a better camera......a new sewing machine......something else I was thinking of but can't remember.....
This is me and Diane Drake from Diane's Doll Shoppe! She bought Jada (top picture!) and so if you want her you can contact her at: http://dianesdollshoppe.com
Okay, back to work...

Pictures from IDEX 2010 in Orlando

2010-02-03T06:33:00.000-08:00

Day 2 of IDEX.

Lucia and I with Barry from The Toy Shoppe.

My booth.
Two of the participants of the Girl Scout Treasure Hunt!

Pre-IDEX

2010-01-21T04:30:00.000-08:00

I sent off five boxes yesterday and today will send off four more! Then I can take a chill pill and just enjoy my last few days before the rush of IDEX!
I am also chomping at the bit to get my house ORGANIZED! Maybe the urge will go away. I haven't sculpted in a few weeks and if I don't' get my clay out I will have to go through a terrible learning curve again....
I will have nine dolls to show at IDEX. I am in booth #314 - so stop by!
Here is my latest....

Countdown to IDEX

2010-01-15T05:12:00.000-08:00

Here is my latest project with my chief hair-braider - Megan!! She looks so happy to be helping me!
I'm on the last stretch and not feeling the panic I felt last year. I don't know what's wrong with me...
Procrastination is in the air. I am sure the very very very last minute scramble will be coming very soon!
I am finishing up a three-some and hope to have them photographed by early next week.
I spent the day making ruffles for one dress..love how it turned out but it was lots of work!!
Silk is an amazing fabric. Love it.
I have one dress left and absolutely no idea of the design yet....

Monday again

2010-01-11T09:48:00.000-08:00

Monday again!! Of course I was up at 4 am. Well, first I wake up every night at 1:23 am and wonder if it is 4:00 yet!! I know you are not supposed to look at the clock in the night but I can't help it. Once IDEX is over I can relax again. I am kind of liking these early hours more and more!!
Today I am putting together three dolls. They WILL be done by the end of the week!!! (probably not...)
I do know the weeks are just flying by faster than I think possible.
I will post pictures soon....

Another day..

2010-01-06T05:00:00.000-08:00

As 4:00 am rolled around my eyes dutifully opened, ready to start the day. I really didn't want to get out of bed so I allowed myself to think, think,think.
By 4:45 I was ready to start poking around this studio. With IDEX coming up very fast I don't really have much precious time to think.
Action is what I need.
So out come the fabrics.....what a mess I can make! But maybe I have some solutions...
I am working on a three-some that need coordinating colors....a chaise lounge needs to be recovered - don't really know how to do it - should I try??
Another doll needs arms and legs but first she needs to know what she will be doing with them....
And what to wear??? She already has her sort of sad face on....so....no happiness for her.
I better make her outfit very warm and cuddly....
One more doll sitting all dressed waiting for some sort of thing to wear on her head...hat? headband? Sparklies? Hopefully the answer will come in the next couple of weeks.
Next is my boy with boat....is it really a boy face? Should he be standing in the pond sort of boy? Or at the photo studio just pretending to be a boy with a boat?
Well - the oven is hot enough - time to get those arms in....

Happy New Year!

2010-01-02T06:35:00.001-08:00

2010 is starting out very cold around here. It is -20 this morning. The good thing is that I don't really have to go out to work. I can slide right into my wonderful studio and get busy. There is always something to do.
January is always crunch time for IDEX. I wish the show was two months later. Of course maybe I should just get started earlier.!!
I have three dolls that are in various stages of completion that I will be working on today.....hope they all turn out.
I have four dolls packed up and ready to ship out.! That feels good!
If I don't have time to write this month at least you will know I am still here working hard.

2009 Christmas Greeting

2009-12-25T09:46:00.000-08:00

A little concert just for you!

2009-12-21T05:59:00.000-08:00

Here is a little concert put on by my daughter and her sweet little family. Missing is the youngest who will probably be joining them in full force very soon. Her violin is very tiny! She is just four. So enjoy!

Happy Anniversary to us!!!

2009-12-14T06:35:00.000-08:00

Happy 35th Anniversary to us!!! Too busy to celebrate today.....maybe later.....
Oh, well...I am sure it will be fine. This picture is 3 1/2 years old but wish we were celebrating somewhere warm.....
I am working on "baby's first steps"....have to rework the body....am working too long on these fat little arms...
Arms are really hard for me. And baby arms - well - let's say i still have alot to learn.
This doll is coming a little larger than some of my recent ones.
Hopefully she will be done by the end of the week!!!! (Wishful thinking).
Will start my Christmas shopping next week.

IDEX 2010

2009-12-09T06:44:00.000-08:00

Well, the first colllllllld blast of winter is here. I hope I don't have to go anywhere for a few days..
Time to get some serious sculpting done.
Whenever I get a new idea for a new face I always end up starting about five. That's why I have so many heads laying around my studio....
By the time I get around to finishing them I don't like them anymore....
I did get this little doll done for IDEX. She is a OOAK like all of my dolls. I have one more ready for the camera and another one almost ready....

Birthday cake again.....

2009-11-30T05:14:00.001-08:00

Okay, I am on my third try for the birthday cake. This one will probably be the keeper. I made it smaller and now it is all glittered up and maybe ready to go.
I ordered some little tea sets and will add them to the piece if they are the right size. (You really never know until you get them in place.)

Happy birthday doll.

2009-11-19T12:58:00.000-08:00

Okay, seriously, I never update this thing. I must think my life is pretty boring. Nothing to talk about.
Well, today I am finishing up a doll and making a birthday cake for her. I don't do cakes very pretty so I may have to ask my daughter Jen to do it for me.
Except she has never used clay to make a cake. I haven't either I guess.
I also need a set of fancy dishes. Should I make them also? I hate to have to go shopping for little dishes that are just the perfect size....
I wish I had a little chair and table also.....
but maybe this little person will just have to sit on the floor with her cake in front of her.
Oh, yes, I have to make balloons and a birthday hat and a squeaker for her to hold.
Better get busy....!! And all that before the end of the month!
See why I never write??