Doll

I finished my valentine/ heart themed postcards. I wanted to make note cards from them. I also wanted to donate one to our local Art Center February show. I ran out of time. It took longer then I expected to make the cards. The time at the printers overlapped with the deadline to enter into the show- then I was paralyzed. What do I do!? Through shear ineptness (is that a word?) I managed to miss the drop-off deadline which helped me make a decision. The cards are at the printers now and hopefully I will have sets of the 6 images in my etsy shop by the end of the week. A bit late for Valentines Day, but really I think these cards would be good any old time.

We are having winter today-

It was cold in my studio, but it was cold everywhere else too, so I worked anyway.

Here is the one week update on my blanket project-

technical information - I cast on 155 stitches with worsted weight wool. I am doing only garter stitch. I am using size 10.5 plastic circular needles, 29 inches long. It is about 50 inches wide and so far about 18″ long. It weighs 1/2 pound so far. My design- knit irregular rows (ie 3 or 5 rows of each color except when I run out of yarn), 2 shades of similar colors and a dark brown stripe between. The goal- use up what I already have.

I am working on Valentines with several thoughts in mind. I am thinking of doing the cafepress cards. And several galleries I know are having small works February Valentine’s themed shows- some for charity, some not. We’ll see where I end up going. These are similar to ones I’ve done before-

and here is an idea I’ve been playing with with the robots- sweetheart robots?

This is my desk after I cleaned up. Yes. It is.

I know it really isn’t cleared off. It must have been for a minute or two, but then I got started on something. While I was clearing things, I kept finding little sketches that I’ve done in the past few months- things I was thinking about, but I was in the middle of something else.

Now that it is time to get back to work, there are so many possible directions to go in. Which ever one I chose will very likely lead me down a path where these other ideas get forgotten or at least delayed a lot longer. They are all calling to me! So, I freeze up. But I know it is important to do something, anything, start somewhere. Start on the thing that has a deadline of sorts. So I am making Valentine postcards and Valentine robots-

above, that is my work table. Below, the ironing board. All surfaces are covered again. In my studio, that seems to be a good thing.

and here are the rest of the seasons-
Summer-

and Fall-

I’ve done with postcards for now- I’ve run out of Peltex 72, which is what I make the cards on, and my local fabric store says they sell it out as soon as it comes in. I’ve ordered a bolt and now can stop thinking about the postcards and get back to work on the dolls. I went out to some of my favorite local thrift shops this week. I got a load of nice sweaters in wool, cashmere, angora and mixes of these. I needed some bright colors for the babies. I was also able to get a nice old wool blanket and some fun, vintage woven wool yardage. I am always on the look-out for stripes in colors that I like, but they are very hard to find. I’ve been giving the washing machine a workout since I brought it all home.

Spring-

Winter- I really like these. I used a few sequins on each one to add a little sparkle.
I like how on this one, the sky fabric has nothing to do with snow and yet that’s what the design turns into-

I like how the face on this one is painted- pink cheeks, chin and nose- so cold!

and in this one, I used some wool blend felt which I’d washed and it puffed up- I like how it looks for the jacket.

I guess this fits into Summer- it was the first one before I’d really thought things out. The birds are printed on the fabric- I didn’t do that part.

I’ve finished the rest. I’ll photograph and post them tomorrow.

I had a great expedition up to the Fiber Studio. It was a beautiful day for a drive and so after scooting up on the highways, we meandered back to Boston on back roads. I bought wool roving and batting to do wet felting. There was such an amazing assortment of colors and types of sheep and all kinds of other variables that I don’t know how to figure into the equation… so I chose solely based on color. Well, actually I bought a bag of assorted colors (the smaller balls) and then filled in with what wasn’t in that. I like playing with felt for doll hair and embellishments. I was inspired by these juggling ball also, so who knows where I’ll go with it.

Now I’m back to work starting with postcards. Here is what I’ve done in the past 2 days- 7 postcards, ironed onto the backing but I still have to satin stitch around the edge and then cut them apart. I’m working on a “Seasons” theme.

for a swap. I need to send out 4. This was probably the hardest swap I’ve done. I struggled to find a way to relate to the subject. I looked at google images to get inspiration. I ended up thinking about it in terms of the end of the natural year… as in the garden, autumn.

In the end, I am happy with how they turned out- especially this last one. The actual cards took me a lot longer then I expected/hoped. All the embroidery is labor intensive and my fingers are like pin cushions now. I’ve got to get back on track to make things for the sales I’m doing.

I thought these were done- the blue one was finished months and months ago, but I ‘ve made 3 more. I brought them down from my studio, set them up to photograph and then I could see… not done. Hrmph! They’ve gone back up for a little more work.

I did a little rearranging this morning. I cleaned out a drawer in my desk- it was full of patterns for dolls and doll clothes, most of which I’ve never looked at, none in the past 2 years. I put them all into a box and filled up the drawer with my embroidery wool- much better use of the space.

Then, I got to work on my Day of the Dead postcards for a swap.

I’ve worked on them all day- I was hoping to get them done today, but not gonna happen.

Here are the other 9-

Some good stuff has been happening lately.

On Sunday, Mary, of A Saloia fame, came over to see me. She is with her family in the Boston area and so we were able to meet up. We sat around in my studio, looking at fabric, chatting about doll-making and blogs, among other things. Then we wandered down the street and went to my corner fabric store where we each managed to find something we “needed”. Now I have some pretty fabric bits that will remind me of our afternoon together when I use them.

I have finished up my atc’s for Kirsten’s Bird atc swap. I made 10 and 6 will be sent off to Minneapolis. I still need to make the little envelopes. They are always fun.

On Tuesday, I was the very grateful recipient of a treasure trove of embroidery threads- Mostly wool (about 200! skeins) but also some wonderful embroidery thread called Danish Flower Thread. It is a matte, vegetable-dyed thread (I don’t know if that is the right word?) in beautiful soft colors. I love sewing with it. Lucky, lucky me!

And lastly, one of the reasons I’ve been doing postcards recently , is that I have several friends who have been ill and need them. I went to see my friend in the hospital today. She was so much better then I was expecting and I can tell you, I am very relieved. I was so happy to be able to give her this card-

Now I have to do the other 9 and make another series!