Delia's home

Getting my Thanksgiving shopping done already made for a satisfying day and then Delia surprised me with her early arrival! I'm so pleased to have Black Eyed Suzie in my collection at last!


She is so incredibly dainty and sweet when you have her in your hands, I love her! It's always a treat to open packages from other artists; there's always such thought put into the packaging and special inserts. Along with Delia came a little photograph of November Rain and I can't wait to frame it to add to my growing art collection.


*Photographs borrowed from Sarah Faber of Black Eyed Suzie. Thank you Sarah :)

Hopefully I have a doll of my own to post soon, I have one ready to dress so it's my goal over the long weekend coming up. I've been working on my Christmas cards and should be posting those soon as well. Aww, 4 day weekend...I can't wait!

Inspiration strikes again...

I knew I'd been neglecting my blog but didn't quite realize what a stretch it was. True to form I changed my focus entirely the day I bought a BodyHoop...no new dolls with the exception of a bunch of hands made more for practice and experimenting with Super Sculpey than anything else, no blogging, I didn't even check my e-mail for an entire week. It always hits me after a period of time though, that cranky burned out on everything feeling that comes when too much time passes without creating. Yeah, learning to hoop dance is a creative outlet but it's just not the same as making something with your own two hands. I got some of the "To Do" list out the way early today and got back in my pj's all afternoon with a blanket and music and finished my ornaments I started last year...what? ornaments from last year not finished? That's not like me :)


I also treated myself at the bookstore, I was feeling the winter in the air and being indoors reading and drinking hot tea made buying everything I wanted much more appealing than having to choose just one. Artful Blogging is always a tough one to pass up, I've been eyeing Stitch Alchemy since I first saw it and I'm hoping the creative journaling will help with my writers block here on my little ol' blog. We shall see.


And of course since inspiration was high with new books in hand and an afternoon at home in the near future, I stopped by the craft store which is conveniently located right next to the book store and picked up some scrapbooking paper. I'm not into scrapbooking but love shredding up the papers for collages and the next project starting tomorrow is a batch of Christmas cards using techniques from my new book...my intention is to send these cards out THIS year. I'm feeling excited and inspired so things are looking good.


But first...off to pick up my love from the airport. Driving to LA at 10:00 Saturday night? Not fun. Having him home for the day before getting back to work on Monday? SO FUN!!

Inspiration

Busy with life, pulling together my Olive Oyl costume for Halloween and working on new dolls...not much time for blogging this week but couldn't resist posting this photo from National Geographic. SO SWEET!!



Oh, and I'm very excited that I've now added a link to my shop! Have a fantastic Friday everyone :)

A Hauntingly Magical Celebration (Halloween 2009)

The moon was full and there was an eerie feeling in the air. Zordy wondered if her and Charlee should stay in tonight. "Oh, don't be silly," she thought to herself, "it's just the full moon and autumn air, tonight will be no different than any other night."


They reached the nearby park, which was normally lush and green and noticed something strange. It appeared that all the tree's had died! As they slowly walked toward the trees to get a closer look they began to hear haunting sounds echoing throughout the park and suddenly a glowing spirit appeared; she was singing but her song sounded more like moaning and crying. The spirit warned them that the field mice were feisty tonight.


Zordy and Charlee were so frightened by the glowing spirit, without a word they began to turn around and run out of there when when she was attacked by an enormous field mouse! All she could see was fangs coming straight towards her face when a loud "caw caw....caw caw," came from somewhere in the darkness.


The fanged mouse was distracted just long enough for Zordy and Charlee to try to run again but he quickly realized he'd been had and was hot on their trail.


They didn't dare turn around for fear of being caught, so little did they know they were being watched by a one eyed raven from behind a bush of black roses.


Zordy felt something tug at the back of her dress and sure that she'd been caught she just closed her eyes and began to cry but felt the sensation of being lifted off the ground...she opened her eyes just in time to scoop up Charlee and off they flew!


After the raven dropped them into one of the trees they were momentarily relieved to have been saved from the feisty fanged field mouse but when they looked down to find their way out of the tree they realized they were surrounded...Now by the largest freakiest spiders they'd ever seen!


"Oh dear, How will we ever get home?"



Head back over to The Fanciful Twist to visit all the other partiers!

Swine Flu Paranoia

Received this photo in an e-mail from a friend...just a little stuffed animal / current events humor for a rainy day!

Happy Fall and Circus Doll

Hello, hello, fall is here and seems to have come so suddenly. I love Halloween and the holidays but the time goes fast enough the rest of the year and as soon as October hits it always feels like everything is in fast forward!! I was hoping to make a Halloween collection and I don't even have an idea for my own costume yet and my mind is already moving on to Christmas...oh, dear. The cold weather always makes staying indoors and creating so inviting; I love laying out a blanket in the living room and lugging all my doll supplies from my studio to my private art picnic and watching movies with the kitty...even though she often confuses it with play time :)


Here's my newest piece for the Art Dolls Only Mini Monthly Challenge, Clowns. My inspiration was more "circus" than "clown." I've also been watching the Britney Spears, circus video on YouTube and loving it so part of my idea was from the whole ring master thing. Some people make fun of me for liking her but what can I say, her performances are quite entertaining and her videos make me want to pass on the french fries and go for a hike...you like what you like I guess :)


She stands 20" tall which is the largest piece I've made yet and I loved working in this scale, it was great to have extra room for details. I finally used the yarn I got on my recent trip to San Francisco and I added a little bling to her eyes! Now I'm off to continue my next piece, I have 3 hours before I head out to the airport to pick up my boyfriend. Yay, I love when he gets home :)

Spirit Doll

So here's my 1st attempt at a Halloween themed doll. I really loved making her!

My vision was a spirit with dark eyes and my original plan was to make her lace dress all tattered but the lace had such great texture on it's own I didn't go that route and she ended up turning out quite elegant. Perfect for one of the little rhinestone buttons I've been dying to use. ($4.00 Banana Republic sweater with 12 rhinestones buttons, it was a steal for them!)

I didn't have much time to photograph her but was too anxious to post, more elaborate photography to come for the Fanciful Twist halloween party.

You did what?!

I've had the most delightful day drinking my cinnamon latte and sculpting...with paperclay. I wish I could say my polymer attempt this week went well, but instead it went up in smoke, literally. Note to self: Do not place styrofoam balls in toaster ovens or they will melt and release toxic fumes into your kitchen. The deformed piece may still end up a finished doll since after all, halloween is just around the corner. Here's my current work in progress, I'm loving her little mouth!

In other news, I am now a member of Art Dolls Only. I'm so thrilled to be part of such an amazing community of artists! If you haven't already, check them out

Giraffes and Toaster Ovens

What's more fun than getting home from the office on Monday? A package with your name on it waiting for you on your doorstep! I can't explain where my obsession with giraffes came from but it happened suddenly about a year ago...the best part of the card is it's actually printed "29, right?" inside of it and I happen to be 29 this week. I'd say that was meant to be. (Thanks Dad!)

I also made a very practical and exciting purchase today with the Target gift card I got from a friend...wait for it...a Toaster Oven!! I was loving paperclay because when learning to sculpt it was much more forgiving in that you couldn't smash the nose by mistake while working on the mouth and so on because each section would dry as you went a long, but I think I'm ready to revisit the wonderful world of polymer. I have literally spent hours on a sculpt then accidentally smashed it or accidentally burned it, not a little, it was black. I have high hopes for this go around, and now an oven just for doll parts :)

Love and Inspiration

Saturday morning heading out on our usual bike ride downtown for coffee and a walk up to the cross I was pleasantly surprised when the garage opened and Blair had put a basket on my bike and filled it with everything I could have possibly wanted for my birthday! I was so overwhelmed with emotion it brought me to tears, it was PERFECT!

Along with the white butterfly scarf I've been eyeing in the window of Blue Moon, was this collage by Sue Harding which cracks me up and matches my sentiments exactly. The picture does not do it justice because the rich textures don't show up as well as they do in person (The pillows are sewn and stuffed and velcroed on so they're removable).

As if an original piece of artwork wasn't enough, try two original pieces of artwork! I absolutely love the work of Loopy Boopy and now I have one of my very own added to my growing doll collection. Meet Amelia and Tugs hanging around downtown, I rode my bike around all day yesterday with her in the basket, I couldn't bear to be apart on our first day. Oh yes, and let me not forget the tickets to see Gogol Bordello next month at the Ventura Theatre, I could watch Filth and Wisdom a thousand more times, can't wait!

Once up at the cross, the girls all sat around taking in the nature and sunshine, there's nothing like girl talk at the park.

Then they went exploring to find the perfect settings for individual photoshoots...

This rock is just my size...

Feeling serene on the steps leading up to the famous cross...

Just layin' around in the grass on a sunny day, so much on my mind...

and two nooks in the tree, a perfect place to take in the beautiful view of downtown and the ocean...

Then as if that wasn't enough fun and surprises for one weekend, we stumbled upon a parking lot sale this morning where I found a pile of gorgeous old lace (my favorite!) and this fantastic little lamp that's about 1 1/2 inches tall.

Then a few tables down, already satisfied with my treasures this kind lady gave me this sweet little vintage doll hat for free! The only thing better than vintage doll hats is FREE vintage doll hats :)

I'm feeling so loved and inspired today, time to translate that into my creations...off to an afternoon of uninterrupted studio time.

Show and Tell (#2)

A while back I posted "Show and Tell (#1)" in which I made a commitment to myself to share something from my collection and whatever was going on in my life each week. In the same post I also made a commitment to myself to post an inpiration journal page each week. That was exactly one month ago today, what can I say, it's been a little busier than I'd anticipated and photographing journal pages is not turning out to be an easy feat...but it may still happen yet ;)

This little guy was made at one of my families Craft Wednesday's a few years ago and since I couldn't bear to part with him, he became part of my personal collection of tiny animals (He's 2" tall). My mom and my aunt each made lovely little creatures that day too. This is making me think felt...in fact, last night I was thinking how fun it might be to be a life size stuffy for halloween!

I officially sent off my submission to Art Doll Quarterly today ("Sprout" is a few posts down) and it felt fantastic! Now I just have to patiently wait and see what happens. In the meantime my new focus is on the Halloween party coming up October 17th at A Fanciful Twist and a collection to submit to the Red Brick Gallery here in town. I wasn't sure whether the gallery would be interested in artdolls because I hadn't seen anything like it in there before, but my boyfriend mentioned me in passing and she seemed interested in the possibility of something new. I have an idea for my whole display but don't want to share it until it's ready...coming soon!

Happy Birthday grandma

Today is my grandma's birthday and I've spent much of the day thinking of all the little ways she influenced my creative life so I thought I'd share some of my favorite memories. I remember her always sitting in her spot in the living room next to her writing desk keeping correspondence through snail mail long after e-mail had taken over; the best was when she'd send me little packages with random comics or tid bits she'd collected with a little letter on a scrap of recycled paper...so much love in those little envelopes. She would tediously cut out the stamps off the letters she'd receive or pictures from greeting cards or stationary to put inside a desk special for when my sister and I would visit so we could glue together all the scraps and make our own pictures...she was on to something with that, just look at how huge scrapbooking has become only people buy their scraps now! She drew me endless paperdolls and taught me to draw my own so I could play fashion designer. She taught me to make dolls and their clothes from the odd sock bag that hung in the washroom and doll houses from shoe boxes.

I learned the fine art of thrift shopping and the joy of the early bird garage sale hunt from her. Only after doing a few odd jobs around the house to get the few dollars to spend on treasures, because after all, money doesn't grow on trees! She'd always have a special sweet treat hidden away so nobody else could find it and tell me where it was when it was just the two of us left to indulge. I loved digging through her bottomless purse for gum and lifesavers, trying to unwrap them quietly in church and the endless chopped and skinned apples while we played in the livingroom (although, I ate those apples well into my college years). The best was her always changing collection of "things" collected and sorted into various drawers and containers and hanging out on the bed in her room while she went drawer by drawer seeing if there was anything we could use while telling us stories about people we didn't even know and would probably never meet. I miss those stories the most :)

Moving along with a smile

So I'd been anxiously waiting for a response from Art Dolls Only (ADO) about my membership application and yesterday it came...and...drum roll please....they're not accepting members as they are full. Well, where one door closes another opens and in the meantime I'm just happy creating and blogging. The world's probably just saving me from making a commitment I'm not ready for so we'll just see what happens with the waiting list...anyhow, without further ADO (ha ha) my Upcycled Doll for the Art Doll Quarterly challenge...

All fabrics for her dress and hat are recycled and the doll herself and her hair are my usual materials. The only thing left to finish now are her boots and she'll be on her way to stardom! Just playing, I'd love to see her in a magazine but really I'm just excited that I'm trying and that I finally realized things were only out of my reach because I wasn't reaching for them. Wow, how profound...it's almost embarrassing to admit but my purpose is to share my creative journey and a big part of that is my own personal growth so there it is.

Tid bits of my trip

Just got home from a mini vacation to San Francisco and wine country, both refreshed and exhausted if that's possible. Something about not having a schedule or list of things to do for 5 days makes coming back to the reality of my life welcoming. On our last day I was actually a little homesick for my studio and wishing I'd stashed some doll making supplies in my bag! I love when I have those thoughts because it makes me feel like I've really found my niche in the art world and I know I'm finally headed in the right direction on this journey. People watching in the city is such great inspiration for dollmaking with all it's diversity and uniqueness, I could have roamed around all day photographing random people to turn into dolls.

While in the city having tea at a little corner cafe on 18th St. I spotted ImagiKnit across the way and fell in love with these artisan crafted yarns from Ozark Handspun. I settled for the one that drew me in first but could have bought every one they had!

After the little city adventure it was off to wine country for good food, good wine, good friends, a breath of fresh air and of course some silly photo's. This is what I like to call his handsome boy modeling school look, it's one of my favorites.

I could have stayed in this place listening to the creek forever...and a tiny tepee, really?! How could I resist?

Now off to add brightly colored dreadlock hair extensions to my latest creation, yipee! Can't wait to see where this wild hair will lead me when I get to dressing her.

A Hauntingly Magical Celebration

I've just signed up for the Halloween Celebration being hosted by 'A Fanciful Twist' and I'm SO EXCITED!! I have not made halloween themed dolls yet and the ideas are already brewing. Looks like I'll be doing some sketching on my flight tomorrow. Hmmm.........

I've been wanting to take some time to make fun props and backgrounds for photographing dolls so I think I'll work on a whole set for this photo shoot since it's 60 days away, oh what fun! Maybe little giraffe from two posts down will get a removable costume so he can get in on the action for the day, ha ha!!

Lovely Sunday (a little late)

Although I was sick, I had a great weekend as always. We enjoyed our usual Sunday morning, getting coffee downtown and walking up to the cross (a point up on a hill that overlooks Ventura and the ocean) in our Vibrams. I always feel calm and inspired there.

From up on top of the hill I was able to zoom in to get a picture of the Ventura County fair where my Earth doll was residing at the time, with her 1st place blue ribbon! It's been a family tradition to submit artwork to the fair each year. True to form, it was a hazy day on the coast.

I always love to look up through the trees on this particular walk and thanks to blogging I actually remember to bring my camera with me now so I can capture these moments.

I spent lots of quality dollmaking time once we got home, mostly sculpting and painting. It's exciting and encouraging to see each face come together a little easier, a little faster and a little better each time. Now lots to do before I leave for vacation on Wednesday, so I'll be back next week with pictures from my trip and two new dolls!

Walking in A Dream

Here's a work in progress that's been monopolizing my work table for a while now, I can't seem to focus on one thing until it's complete always jumping from one thing to another and eventually back again...

And my little giraffe who's been near finished forever has been begging me to bring him to life and tonight he finally received his eyes!

He's staring at me at this very moment wondering why I've abandoned him once again, but my head is pounding from the cold I've been fighting and dinner unfortunately is not going to make itself. Just wanted to drop in for a quick update from the studio...

Show and Tell (#1)

"The truth will set you free. But first, it will piss you off."

~Gloria Steinem~

You know those moments in the middle of a good argument where you're not sure how it started or what it's even about anymore and those moments the next day when something that was said is still echoing around in your head and you're battling with it because you want to believe that they didn't mean it but you know in your heart that some part of it is true? Yep, I had one of those moments this weekend.

What it came down to is that my blog is bunch of fluff because I don't know who I am or what I want, which brings me back to the "some part of it is true" bit because it's not fluff in that it's not genuine or true, it's just not everything. I struggle with what to share about, I feel like if I don't have a new doll or collage that it's worthless to post so maybe the skeleton that's left is a little lifeless. I've always wanted to be the type to journal everyday and I just never was.

The truth is I want to share more freely, create more passionately and live my dreams more fully but I'm more scared to embark upon and share that journey than I realized when I excitedly started my blog and jumped into an online marketing course.

I've been trying to think of ways to be more consistent and subtly introduce more of myself to the online world while reaching toward my goal to create daily so I bought a sketchbook to draw new dolls and collect inspiration and my commitment for now is to complete and share at least one page each week.

Another idea I had was weekly Show & Tell, the one thing I miss most about being in Kindergarten, except for nap time! It might be a fun way to share whatever's going on my life at the moment and all my favorite things in my collection...

One End :: Another Beginning

I've spent whatever time in the last 6 weeks after work, life and days too beautiful to stay indoors pouring over the information in my e-course. Now that class is over it's time to balance the seemingly endless list of things to do with more dollmaking so I'm planning to participate in another challenge, this time in an attempt to get one of my dolls published! The challenge is "Upcycled Dolls" for Art Doll Quarterly magazine and it's right up my alley, here's the blurb copied straight from ADQ's website.

Do you have worn-out clothes, old ties or pants that are too short? Maybe a favorite piece of clothing that you can’t wear anymore but just can’t bear to get rid of? Like Cara L. Johnson did with her “Upcycled Geisha,” (featured in our summer issue, May/June/July 2009) re-use those old clothes (or anything else!) and bring to life a new doll. For this challenge, think outside of the box to use old materials and create an upcycled creation of your own. We expect to be blown away by your creativity when saving and re-using. Deadline for artwork to be received: September 15, 2009.

I already have an idea of some of the materials I'd like to use, a hat and blouse I've rescued from my own donation pile countless times and my favorite tablecloth purchased at a thrift shop in Seattle 8 years ago.

ADO 4 Elements Challenge: Earth

Thanks for stopping by, I hope you enjoy her as much as I do!

I chose Earth for my doll because lately my life has been very influenced by getting back to nature and going more green. Everything from shopping for local organic foods at the Farmers Market, hiking a few times a week, getting sun out at the beach, riding my bike instead of driving and bringing my own shopping bag everywhere I go.

The majority of her clothing is made from recycled clothing picked up from garage sales and a handmade doily found in a thrift shop. I wanted her to have a slightly imperfect and organic feel because I think that's the beauty in nature that's missing from all things manufactured.

And now off to check out all the other lovlies (participants are listed here). I enjoyed this theme so much, I think I'll continue and make the other 3 Elements. Thanks for all the inspiration!

Now I just have to say, I'm amazed by the all the possibilities that exist when it comes to digital media. In a pinch out of town in my hotel room, I was able to photograph her with my cell phone, send them from my phone to an online album, copy them into a photo hosting site to edit them and finally upload them into my blog. I love that art blogs create the perfect balance between two mediums...digital and handmade.

Real Life Doll

I spent the morning in the hospital welcoming my newest nephew to the world.  What a lovely reason to take a day off of work and enjoy the summertime. 

Now I'm off to spend the rest of the afternoon finishing up my doll for the ADO challenge, squeezing in a hike and hopefully adding a layer to the collage I'm working on.  Artwork coming soon, it's been too long!

Happiness

As planned I spent the morning (okay, and part of the afternoon) exploring the links of all my fellow fish I'll be spending the next 6 weeks with in the e-course "in the fish bowl."  What a diverse and inspiring bunch of people!  I saw similar posts at many blogs I visited about things that make you happy and what makes you smile so I decided to share the space in my "real" world that always brings a smile to my face and a complete sense of joy.  This is where I'm sitting at this very moment still sipping my now cold coffee from this morning and listening to the birds and wind chimes in the soft breeze outside my window. The little round photo is my grandma who I know would love it here. She taught me to make my first doll when I was a little girl...and how to collect things I might need later!! 

Here's where I store all the magical materials that go into my creations and some of my favorite dolls, toys and photos of me and my best faraway friends (I miss you Krista and Jen!)  

A few pieces of my own art, my Rowan Chase clock, a framed butterfly received as a gift and one of my very first dolls sitting in a pin cushion chair. I moved my cat's bed into my studio next to the window today in an attempt to keep her from laying on my keyboard, attacking my pencil, drinking paint water...etc.  It's working!  She's been watching birds sitting on my neighbors roof for the last hour and a half, bless her little heart.

And now where the creating is done. My sweet, supportive, and encouraging boyfriend surprised me with this table for Christmas. It's big and tall enough to stand at and I LOVE IT!! (Don't mind the pile underneath it)  

And a little close up of the space where I sit surrounded with all my supplies bringing my dolls and creatures to life. My favorite fabrics are stashed in that chest.

And last, but definitely not least, the person who always brings a smile to my face who has given me the opportunity to have this amazing space and encouraged me to take my dreams seriously and pursue whatever makes me happy. (xoxo)

In the fish bowl :: the questions

To begin the e-course "In the fish bowl" all of us were asked some simple, yet sometimes not so simple questions about ourselves. I began my blog as a place to document and hopefully share my creative journey so here we go:

I love what I create because my heart and soul go into each and every piece and it's a visual representation of who I am. I loose all sense of time when I'm working on my dolls and creatures because they're light hearted, colorful, playful little things that remind me to keep life simple and just be happy with who I am, where I'm at in life and not loose my inner child in the journey into adulthood.

I'm feeling good about my work right now. I've made a relatively small number of dolls but I feel my style and technique has developed quite a bit with each piece. I'm confident in my creativity and do believe it when people tell me I'm talented, but I would be lying if I said I wasn't also feeling a little vulnerable. Close friends have always praised my work but this is the first time in my life I've ever attempted to put myself and my work out where the world can see it. I'm excited about the doors that have opened in the short period of time since I made the decision to actively pursue a more creative life, and my mind is spinning with the seemingly endless possibilities; and I thought I spent a lot of time daydreaming at work before!

Success in a general life sense to me is pushing yourself to be the best you can be, making healthy choices, surrounding yourself with positive, like-minded people and nurturing your soul and those relationships that matter the most. Of course, in a different light, I could also define success as the day I quit my day job and wake up each morning, walk over to my studio and create the day away...while paying the rent, buying groceries, need I say more?

When I daydream about my future and what my success looks like I'm a happy, healthy, wife, (not to get crazy, but sometimes mother), artist, (gourmet organic chef, of course!) and my days are spent in my studio...not behind a computer in a corporate office. I don't know what I'm wearing but it's not a business suit and I look pretty hot (Ha!), the sun is shining through the window, I'm leafing through the latest publication I've been featured in and all I hear is a robins song...oh, and my cat begging for attention!

I must remember

"The true idealist is no dewy-eyed dreamer but a 

committed foot soldier in the cause of her vision."

I'm anxious and overjoyed with all the possibilities floating around my head today but I have to keep a firm grasp on this quote when life gets busy so I remember to steal every minute I can to continue making progress.  I start my online class 'In the Fish Bowl' next Thursday with Marisa Haedike of Creative Thursday which I'm SO excited about that I've already made a section in my Daydream Retreat binder to collect all the information I receive. Soon after, I plan to set up my ETSY shop and join ADO (I'm hoping)...wish me luck!

Moving right along

Finally managed to squeeze out some face painting time on Sunday.  I'm so pleased with the eyes for my 1st attempt at hand painting them! One of these days I'll find the patience to sand a bit more before painting, or maybe it's character building? (ha) Now I'm facing the tough decision of cleaning my house for company or making her wig...hmmmmm.  If only there were more time in a day, then I suppose there would just be more work too.

Do you ever amaze yourself?

All day today I was looking forward to my dollmaking time this evening.  Since my divine shopping trip to Fabric Town on Sunday I've been anxiously waiting to use this amazingly bright pint lace I scored in the clearance section of all places. But first things first, sculpting and attaching the limbs. I'm not sure if my excitement to wrap her in bright pink lace or my recent practice was on my side tonight but I ended up with a face I love in ONE hour...my record time by far!

The only heads I've made up until now have had purchased eyes or closed eyelids so cutting out my own eye shape to paint was really fun.  It's amazing the things your hands can do when you set your mind to it. Now I just hope my first attempt at actually painting the eyes goes as smoothly as the sculpting part.  We shall see.

I'm SO lucky!

I created the weekend away but haven't quite finished the pieces yet so I thought I'd share the Two Headed Bear I won in a give away at Miss Mabel's Studio.  I can't wait to hug him and love him and squeeze him!!

Peaceful

I just love this photo and her peaceful little smile. I actually used a Sculpey mold to create a mask that I molded into a full head. Normally I sculpt the faces myself...a rewarding yet long and somewhat painful process since I'm still learning but watching your creation come to life with their own little personality is the best thing ever! 

If you build it, will they come?

I've spent the last 6+ years at my corporate office job daydreaming about doing something more creative. Over those 6 years I've had my ups and downs in life but have finally reached a place where it dawned on me, "What are you waiting for?" This is who I am and what I love and my boyfriend has inspired and encouraged me to grab onto it, work it and watch it materialize. (Thanks love!)

So, I put together a silly little binder. A safe haven where I can record my goals, ideas and inspirations...complete with a doll photo on the front, of course! Since making this decision a few weeks ago I have spent every free moment stitching, photographing, reading other blogs and so on in order to get this ball rolling.

Daydream Retreat is about bringing life to the creativity that's been floating around inside my head for years and sharing it with the world. Whether anyone sees this or not, I'll have a visual record of my journey I can revisit whenever I need a little reminder of the simple pleasures in this life.

New doll...1st post

I started this doll knowing only that her wig would be made from the light turquoise wool I'd picked up from The Treasure Hunt.

On a break from work and sewing, I brought her along to join us at the beach.

Finally, after adding buttons and lace I still felt something was missing.  Ahh, a hat...and viola!