pug time

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Hurray for something getting finished! I am feeling very far behind right now so I checked how many dolls I’d made by this point last year- yep, I’m behind. Last year on this date I posted #29- 2013 doll. These pugs are #20 and #21- 2014. Not too bad but still need to do some catch up.

4:3:black pug 1

This fellow is made of black cashmere and a wool plaid shirt that I bought at the thrift store- my son got first dibs on it but he passed. Now, a new life! And a wool felt bow tie.

4:3:black pug 2

4:3:black pug 3

4:3:black pug 4

She is cashmere body, beige and black, vintage wool plaid shirt and cashmere knit skirt. I used some gorgeous wool felt from A Child’s Dream, recommended by Salley Mavor. I bought an assortment pack of hand dyed felt right after Christmas but this is the first time I’ve used any. I love it- it is softer to the touch than my standard felt and also softer color. Uh-oh, might have to buy some more!

4:3:plaid pug 1

4:3:plaid pug 2

4:3:plaid pug 3

4:3:plaid pug 4

If you are interested in either of these pugs, they are $100 ea + shipping. Email me at mimik@pobox.com. There will be more pugs tomorrow!

lots and lots of WIPs

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My etsy shop is bare and I am trying to get my inventory back up before show season. I’ve started working on many, many new pieces. Step one, cut out the parts. With the tattooed dolls this means the pieces that need to be dyed- the “skin” parts.

3:29:wip 1

3:29:wip 2

3:29:wip 3

I cut and cut and kept cutting. I now have a LOT of bodies, ready for the next step- dyeing.

3:29:wip 6

After I have these all dyed, then I cut out all the other pieces. Then construction starts.

Next I pulled out all my bins of wool and my fish pattern-

3:29:wip 4

and now there are 29 fish cut out and ready to move forward.

3:29:wip 5

And I am moving forward on foxes, already sewn. I’m stuffing them and next come the faces.

3:29:wip 7

And I’m sewing up some pugs. Yep, I’m all over the place. That’s why nothing is getting finished but things are moving forward all over the place. Hopefully something will get done this week.

shaggy owl

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You’d think I’d be done with owls for a while, wouldn’t you. This one was waiting on my desk when I got back to the studio. I just had to finish him up.

3:21:owl a

3:21:owl b

3:21:owl c

Do you know what he is sitting next to in this pic? Snowdrops! Hurray! Spring might actually be on the way!

3:21:owl d

And here is my pile-o-owls on the sofa.

3:21:owl e

Sweet Paul Makerie Weekend

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It was amazing. Here is where I set up my teaching space-

3:19:sweetpaulmakerie 1

It was so bright and sunny and lots of elbow room. Everyone; teachers, students, organizers, was full of positive energy and enthusiasm. Everyone just jumped right in and got to work. It was so much fun to see what everyone came up with and the ways they made each owls their own.

3:19:sweetpaulmakerie 2

3:19:sweetpaulmakerie 3

I had great plans to take tons of photos and document everyone’s owls but… I was crazy busy and as usual started out taking some photos and then… not a single pic from day 2. Oh well, luckily some other people did better- there is a Flickr photo set with some wonderful pics here.

I have never been around so many people who “get” what I do and it will take me a few days more to settle back down to earth and real life. Besides all the amazing creative energy, we were fed delicious meals for the entire weekend. Can you say SPOILED?? Oh yeah. I wish I could have been 2 people- I loved teaching but wish I could have also taken all the classes and had time to sit back and talk to more of the participants. It was fun to figure out who was there- I met a number of people who came with friends or daughters- meeting up in NYC from other parts of the country or traveling as a group. I did get to take one class- cookie decorating with Patti Page. I’m all ready to up my Christmas cookie game now!

3:19:sweetpaulmakerie 4

And here is Sweet Paul himself, giving my guys a hug-

3:19:sweetpaulmakerie 5(photo by Studio BC)

Thanks Sweet Paul and The Makerie! I had SO MUCH FUN!!!

dark owl

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I am leaving for a weekend in NYC tomorrow. I am SO excited to be part of the first Sweet Paul Makerie Retreat. I am teaching 3 owl classes so this week has been very busy and very owl focused.

3:9:owl1b

3:9:owl1a

3:9:owl1c

3:9:owl1d

I’ve been spending a bunch of time working on some clothes too. That’s what I do when I have to leave the house and be sociable. I’ll post about that next week when I’m back.