Direction?

I have been struggling with my doll work for a couple of years now. In 2006 I brought my studio back home and finished my Teardrop Series (20) of felt dolls. The last show I did was in 2007 in Frederickburg, VA and frankly I didn't have much to show in merchandise and also in spirit. It was a time of great change for me. I will be closing down my website for a while until I'm sure of where I am headed. The past 8-9 years I have moved 3 times, live a split life between 2 places, had some health issues and so on. Life is change and I guess that is something you can count on. I've had many wonderful productive years as a doll artist and I plan on continuing but not in the competitive, high producing style of my younger years. The past year I have thought a lot about how to give back to those of you who are starting to make dolls. Through CDA and Linda Walsh I have been able to do that and I am grateful. But to pretend to be the 'artiste' when I am struggling to make dolls is a lie. The 3 new body types I've designed I plan on finishing and doing in vignettes but I can't see myself doing series or editions again. There is something in me that doesn't want to do this any more. Where I'm headed next I don't know. I plan on keeping my blog going and if and when I sell dolls again I'll probably do it through Etsey or some other internet venue. I think that what I need to do is to seriously step outside of my box. To tell you the more I know, the more I don't know. I feel such great comfort in those of you I have gotten to know with this blog and in the doll world. So.... I hope to continue to hear from you and I will keep writing to you my friends (& foes!). When you do something for a realy long time it's very scary to think of doing something new but I must and I will. I'll keep you posted. I've learned to never say never so who knows..... tomorrow I may feel entirely different!

a beginning....

In Memorium

My Cissy cat passed today. I've passed many a tear today as she struggled so and so we decided to let her go. Never an easy decision. My husband reminded me to remember the happy times with our cat......an incessant talker, a cat that sat on the roof of our house above the front door, climbed trees, a great hunter, constant companion and friend, a fastidious gal with her grooming and litter box, a bed snuggler, a tiny cat with a big spirit and feistiness, a great soul I shared life with for 17 years. She sat beside me yesterday as I strung together my first ball jointed doll. She urged me to go on. I owe her so much. There will never be another Cissy. I think of all the nick names  friends and family had for her so that will give you an idea about her spirit: Sister Cat, Miss, Twisty, Twister, Twizzie, Twisted Sister, Sister half & half, Babe, Mama Husa......and on and on.

It's been....

a rough week. My Sister cat has been very sick the past two weeks. The vet thinks she has lymphoma. It came on so suddenly! So I have been trying to make her comfortable the past two weeks. She has always been one fiesty cat (17 years old)! We tried chemo for her on Monday but so far she is not eating. So frustrating to feel so helpless. I keep trying to work in my studio. Today I must. There is nothing more I can do.....

taking up the needle....

Materials are coming together for my new designs. Breaking from the flow of a new design puts me in a different place than I was when I a broke off. But ironically when I start again I am somehow in the same place as when I left off. Chronology has nothing to do with creativity!

autumn week

Here are two pictures taken a week apart. It gives you an idea of the snow storm we had here in the mid-atlantic states. The trees were just starting to turn. In the middle of the night the snow on the boughs became too heavy and many branches broke off. I was just about to put my hammock away when the storm hit. You can see the difference. This week was perfect Indian summer for a few days. Mother Nature cannot be predicted!

When life is good.....

you just share it. Here is a recipe for Fall (for those of us in the Northern hemisphere). I found it in Martha Stewart's Everyday Cooking magazine. I just finished the last bowl today of:

Corn and Butternut Squash Chowder (which I have edited)

Serves 4 - Prep time 15 minutes - total time 40 minutes

2 TB. vegetable oil
1 1/2 lbs. butternut squash (do yourself a favor and buy the cut up, pre-packed squash) - cut into 1 inch chunks/about 5 cups
1 medium onion chopped
1 box (10 oz.) frozen corn kernels, thawed (I used cut off corn on the cob that I froze from this past summer...yummy)
1 1/2 tsp. curry powder (optional - I did not add as I did not have any!)
coarse salt and ground pepper
2 cans (14.5 oz. each) vegetable broth (I used vegetarian bouillon - worked great)
1/2 cup heavy cream (I would think that soy milk would work as well but not the low fat kind)

- In a large heavy pot heat oil over medium-high heat, add squash and onion. Cook until onion is soft, about 6 minutes. Add corn and curry powder: cook until curry is fragrant, about 2 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Add broth and simmer until squash is tender, about 25 minutes. In a blender, blend half the soup until smooth. Return to pot and stir in cream: heat through over medium-low (do not boil).