Well, I’ve been back for 2+ weeks and finally getting to posting. I had an amazing trip and a very busy 2 weeks since I’ve been back. Not busy with work unfortunately- I came home with some California germs and was busy sleeping and getting better. Plus some other family “busy”. But finally…
This is the view from where I sat before everything started. Across the pool is the classroom/studio. I haven’t taught since before Covid so I was nervous but it couldn’t have gone better! Working with Robert was a dream. He is so organized and makes everyone feel welcome and special. These little vases of flowers had each person’s name and cabin on a little tag.
Here is the classroom on the first night. We are getting introductions and a warm-up project.
My view at dawn from my cabin door. BTW, dawn was at 7am :-)
And we got to work on the Tiny Worlds- Gorgeous felt and other supplies from Benzie Design– thanks so much to them for the supplies! Highly recommend!
And this is what was made-
This isn’t all but my video wouldn’t upload so sorry about that. Check out Roberts video for a fantastic overview of the project.
And here is the other project I led- the Makers Hand, and some people got very creative with it!
I had a wonderful time, met so many wonderful crafty people, and if you want to have an amazing crafty spa/retreat/vacation, I would highly recommend!
The last photo is my newly rearranged studio. I am surprised to realize that I didn’t make any Tiny Worlds this year. I also want to make some more dogs. I will start posting some 2026 pieces soon!
Thank you to everyone who comes and visits my blog, who supports my work, who cheers me on. It means the world to me.
Happy 2024! Wow, I haven’t been here in a long time. Lots of things happening.
The best thing is that I got a studio in the same building as our apartment which someday, hopefully, we will be moving into 😂 Here is a video of the studio space from when I first first got it in mid-November.
It doesn’t look anything like that now! I will catch up in the next week. I’ve got to get myself back in the habit.
2021 turned out to be a pretty good year for me in my studio. I continue to sell mostly online (through my Etsy shop and direct messaging on Instagram and Facebook) but doing 2 in-person shows was inspiring. Here is my yearly review. I made 24 tiny world pincushions. And thank you to the friends who gave me some beautiful cups this year!
I made lots of new men including Lumberjacks (3), Greenmen (2), Sailors (3), Pirates, Farmers, Men in old-fashioned bathing suits, and of course Mermen.
That equals 129 dolls and 24 Tiny Worlds! I thought the number was 128 from my Flickr count but found I’d made an error in my numbers. Oh well, I’m not going back and editing them all!
I’m back to work- first up owls. I’m also working on some quilt projects. I will be doing my first in-person show of 2022 in March at Paradise City in Marlborough MA. Happy New Year everyone!
I do a review every year although sometimes it happens a little late (like this year). What a crazy day- I was a bit reluctant to post this today with the high of the win in Georgia followed by the madness in Washington. But I will do it anyway because who knows what tomorrow will bring. And honestly, maybe posting about a crazy year is best done on a crazy day.
I made a lot of masks for family and friends. Oh yes, and 150 scrub caps. I donated 100 caps to health providers (mostly nurses) in the Boston area. Then I sold a bunch on Etsy and donated the money to local causes helping people affected by the pandemic. It relieved some of the stress to feel like I was doing something to help.
I worked on some ornament patterns but my head wasn’t in the right space. This past year I needed meditative creative work, not painfully stretching my cognitive skills! Hopefully this year I can make it happen.
My business was all conducted online this year and I am grateful that I already have an online shop and all the social media set up and didn’t have to worry about that! I have been depending on the Post Office and so thankful that I can mostly get my packages picked up right at my door. This past Fall and up until now, the pressure on the Post Office (political and Covid) has been stressful; I think all my packages made it to their destinations by now? Most have taken at least 2 extra weeks.
So Yikes, what a year. I count my blessing that I have been relatively healthy and so has my family. I am hoping that life can return to a more normal in 2021 although I don’t count on that yet. Lets hear it for a better 2021! I have hope again!
These were my most “liked” posts on Instagram this year- always kind of interesting.
And here is a bigger version of my top 9 that you can actually see. These are the photos on my Instagram that got the most reaction but aren’t necessarily my favorites- faves would definitely have included some of the girl dolls.
And a quilt!
I am shocked to see that I didn’t make any swaddled babies this year.
Here are some links to my most recent other yearly mosaics- 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014.
The opening for Child’s Play was excellent. The artwork is amazing, I have some new favorite artists, and there were lots of interesting people to talk to. I hope you get a chance to see the show! Here is a video-
And some specific pieces that I really liked. The pieces by Peter Thibeault were the ones I would have taken home if I could have sneaked them out.
A clock-
And here is a close-up-
Mr.and Mrs. Potato Head by Carol Bugarin. All the “parts” are glass.
I will be part of a show called Child’s Play, at The Society of Arts and Crafts in Boston, November 21- January 18, 2020. The opening is this Thursday, Nov. 21, 6 – 9 pm. I would love to see and meet people at the opening but also would love to hear if you get a chance to see the show while it is happening.
And a little video from the last day of the show. As the days go on, I tend to put more and more dolls out. I feel sorry for the ones that never get out of storage!
It’s been a banner year for my doll-making- 166! That is a record for me!
I made 39 men- including 3 Green men, 8 Mermen, 2 Scotsmen in kilts, 6 Lumberjacks, and 1 Sailor. I’ve been focusing more on the different characters because they are more fun for me these days.
7 Tattooed Ladies and 10 Dogs.
12 Big Lady pillow dolls which I hadn’t made in a lot of years, and 12 Babies. The ladies and the babies go together in my head- both are about the wool applique.
7 Girls dolls and 29 Owls. I had fun with the girls but they were very labor-intensive. There will be more in 2019 though; I just sewed up a bunch. The owls were very popular at the shows I did and that is why I ended up making so many. Doing shows is all about having enough inventory.
17 foxes and 11 Kitties- I learned that B & W kitties are very popular.
And 21 Fish.
Not dolls, I also made 26 Tiny Worlds,
And a quilt!
It has been a very busy year for me. I know that a lot of the reason I ended up making so much was because of the shows I did- Smithsonian, ACC San Francisco, and Arts Providence. I am very inspired by a deadline.
Here are some links to my most recent other yearly mosaics- 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014.
