Patriotic Challenge Doll

To make myself finally create a doll I decided to join the Patriotic primitive doll challenge. It is always disappointing that I don't win when the judges and voting is by other doll makers. I still enjoy my dolls and over the years have sold most of the ones I have made so I guess someone must like them. So here she is. I haven't made many primitive types and usually I don't enjoy painting cloth dolls but this one was really fun. I am off to the beach with the entire extended family where I hope to make mermaid paperdolls and envelope books with my young nieces. More about that to come.

Summer is Really Here

Never let me say again that I have a black thumb. I have kept this pink geranium alive and re- potted it since I got it from my granddaughter for Mother's day. I have been too busy to realize that it really was summer but now most of my commitments are over. I can clean and create, I hope. I am going to the beach in a couple of weeks but that is fun, not work! Here is a card I made for a digiday challenge. It says it all for summer. I should be able to post more regularly now. Happy Summer DAy!

Christmas Ornament Challenge

Yes I am still here. In the interest of staying inspired I joined a Christmas challenge that lasts until November. The first challenge was an ornament that was due today. Here is my Victorian Paper ornament. I meant to sew one but time is so fleeting. I wonder what happened to the lazy days of summer. I have been so busy this June. Oh well, I will be back soon with more.

Mermaids on the Brain!

Mermaids on the brain. I have a special affinity and love of mermaids. My favorite fairy tale is the real Little Mermaid by Hans Christian Anderson not that sappy sugarzied version by Disney with the happy ending. In the real fairy tale she dies as a sacrifice rather than kill the prince. Anyway I shouldn't get started about that. The real reason I love mermaids is because the mermaids taught me how to swim when I was 5. No I am not insane. We lived 12 miles from Weekie Wachee in Florida. During the daytime the mermaids from the show at the Spring of Live Mermaids taught(as a side job) locals how to swim. We learned in the icy water of the springs. I was always fascinated by the giant conch shell that was sometimes on the beach. I didn't realize that it was from the show. So I love mermaids. Currently I am entered into a mermaid paperdoll swap plus I have just made proto type mermaid paper dolls with my mother for her doll club to try making and I just got a lovely mermaid stamp.

When I was a little older we would go to Webb City Saint Petersburg, Fl the worlds biggest department store. It had a display that was like a giant cave and you could look thru the openings and see what was in it. There was a beach and manequins that were mermaids and pirates. There was a treasure chest with pirates treasure and a voice over of a woman singing and talking. It was very real and exciting to an 8 year old.

I am currently trying to get back into cloth doll making and I hope to make mermaid dolls first. Of the pictured mermaids my mother made the bottom one. I am so proud of her for making stuff with me. I think I like hers best!

Helen, Georgia

Well we're here in lovely Helen, Georgia staying at the Loreley Timeshares. The grounds are beautiful this time of year with lots of green stuff, flowers and geese. We are thrifting a lot and have made some great finds. I am using windows 7 so I don't really know what I am doing with pics but here are a few. The moving valentine and old card came from the Murphy NC flea market yesterday. More to come soon. Happy Spring!

Card Swap

Got my cards from Missy's card swap(see Sidebar) yesterday. They are great. Not a disappointing one in the bunch. Here are a couple of pics. I have been making stuff slowly. I really want to get in there and get to work but life keeps getting in the way. I am going to Helen, Ga to meet my parents on Monday and spend a week of Thrifting and maybe a little crafting. Then Friday we're are moving on to North Carolina to see my daughter the vet(homeless parrot on side bar). Looking forward to a great week. Will post pics of my thrifting finds and perhaps some works of art too. Have a great week!

New Cards

Well I was finally able to stay home ALL DAY! Of course this will be the last day for about a month but I enjoyed it. All the new goodies made me really want to make cards and I did. The owl card was a challenge to use a border punch in a masculine card. I used my Martha Stewart eyelet border. Who'd have thought it would work out? Happy Mother's Day Everyone!