Milestones

My friend Tammy introduced me to Sunday Scribblings and this is my first post. The subject this week is Milestones. So my mind starts pondering what exactly does that word mean to me.In essence, milestones are constructed to provide reference points along the road. Well they are many milestones on the world scale. For ones the 80's. Which I am slightly to stuck in. But I wanted to get a little closer to home as I reflect on the word milestone. What are some the markers/ reference points in my life?
Let's see, when I was 10yrs old, I got my own room. This was huge. My oldest sister was 20 and had moved out on her own thus allowing my other sister to take over the now vacant room. It was heaven. No more sharing drawers and closet. I had my own space. My own private sanctuary.
When I was 20yrs old, I met the guy of my dreams. I didn't know it at the time. As a matter of fact, I had considered him to be my summer fling. I had had it with guys and I was going to start calling the shots. A month into my new found control and authority, Cupid shot me. Although I was in denial, by the end of the summer I knew I was going to be with this guy for awhile.
30's were big. The year I turned 30 was a year for change. That guy and I had now been married 8 yrs and were going to start our own business. I kept my regular job while he got the biz going. We bought the sweetest little house and got pregnant. Buying the house was the easy part. The business was a challenge and we didn't have a lot of resources to fall back on. The baby was the hardest. After 7 years of trying we finally went to a fertility clinic. First try.Success. The year flew by, I couldn't imagine what the rest of the 30's would be like. Turbulent and yet joyful. The whole decade was full of change: I changed my career, my husband suffered a serious brain injury being the victim of a drunk driver, we moved into a bigger house, are just a few of the highlights.
As I approached the 40's I realized I had evolved into a more confident and successful woman. Successful in that I had made it out the other side of some pretty traumatic experiences~stronger and resilient. Just months before I turned 40 I took another big leap and opened a new business, this time with my bestest girlfriend. With the full support of my hubby of 18yrs, my friend and I took a leap and opened the most amazing store for women. A shop that empowers women and makes them feel confident and beautiful.
I have some pretty incredible milestones (some I do not care to record so publicly) all of which have molded and shaped me into the woman I am today. And for the first time in 40 yrs. I like the woman staring back at me in the mirror.

time out

I have been working night and day on a couple deadlines so I decided to take Friday afternoon off and treat myself to an art class. June Cable was teaching a Felting/ embellishment class at the Saint John Arts Centre and I was very much interested in participating. So glad I did. For one, I needed the time out to do something for me and two, I am really interested in creating fibre art. The ability to take wool and use it to create a picture is so imaginative to me. First, June showed how to needle felt and made us each design a heart on a wool swatch. Once we felt comfortable (pun intended) we could then begin creating on the object we brought to the class. Most brought clothing, I brought a purse. The class was such a great stress reliever for me. The instructor is also a doll maker,another reason I wanted to take her class, which afforded me a little time to talk to her about doll making and learning how to incorporate different fibres and techniques. She offered me many names of artists and authors of books on design and technique. The class was becoming more valuable to me by the minute.

I am not sure I am going to take the skills I learned and apply them to my art dolls, I am developing a certain style for those already. However, I am planning out my first piece of felt art in my mind already. Part of learning how to make the dolls I have also tried to learn how to draw faces so I am going to take one my sketches and transfer it to a piece of burlap via wools and exotic fibres. This will take some time as I want to map it out in my head completely before transfering it to the burlap canvas.

In the meantime, I have lots to do with my dolls. I have finished painting the legs and just added fifty or more tiny seed beads to the bodice of her dress.I will attach her legs as soon as they are dry and be done with her. I think I have had enough practice and am ready to start creating my doll entry for the Hoffman Challenge.

Life couldn't be better. As I listen to Billie Holiday sing Nice Work If You Can Get It, I reflect on my life and I think it is pretty great. I have two great partnerships ~one with my husband and best friend, and one with dearest friend and kindred spirit. I love married life (18yrs strong) and we have the most incredible daughter. And although life has thrown us a few curveballs it couldn't be sweeter. As hectic as life is, I still manage to find time for myself and indulge in my passion for art and creativity.

Month End

I haven't had a whole lot of progress on my dolls this week as it is week 3 of training my new assistant and also quarterly tax return and my year end for the Lab (business that pays the bills). Plus I managed to spend a couple days at the bra shop (business that gives me a lift ~ ha). Life is busy this week.

Here's what I got done (in between work, my daughter's guitar and fencing lessons annnnnnnnnd I managed to steal away an hour in the tub with a glass of wine, candles and my book earlier this evening, it was bliss) I have done and redone the bodice of the dolls dress 3 times and finally am satisfied with it. I have a picture of me holding her with a dark teal bodice and no hair. Well the teal came off and then I switched to ivory and I didn't like that either. Lace from an old bra worked beautifully. I also sewed 100 little ivory roses around her waist and gave her some beautiful hair. (well it is yarn, but I like it and that's all that matters) I have been working on her legs also, not happy with my choices for shoes or stockings I decided I would attempt painting her shoes and stockings on. She is a bit eclectic by nature so I think it will work just fine. Next I am going to try and make a beaded necklace/ collar for her as I find her neckline is a little plain and needs a little bling.
It is 12:30 am so I think I will call it a night. I have a lot to do tomorrow. Hoping I can enjoy a bit of time this weekend working on the dolls, possibly finishing them.

Dinner with the Girls

We have the most amazing team of women working for us at the Girls. All so unique and interesting in their own right. I decided to invite them all over for dinner. We decided to go with a Mediterranean theme and bring our favorite wines to share. The food was a amazing (must get the recipes), the wines where bold and smooth, the conversations were full of laughter and yet full of substance, well okay may the bra flashings were not too full of substance but it wouldn't be a gathering of the girls without a flashing or too. Ha.
I tidied up the house a bit. It was nice knowing I only had to prepare the salad. The Girls were each bringing a part of the meal. I had the table all set when everyone arrived. Candles lit, wine in the decanter, my good china, charger plates, and Norah Jones playing the background. The food was so good. From Tammy's Spanokipita and chicken brochettes and Teresa's roasted garlic, brie and baguettes, to my ceasar salad and Susanne's Lasagna and the final touch was Katherine's dessert which I couldn't begin to pronounce or spell. Teresa described it best when she took a bite and said "ummmm, tastes like warm sugar." After everyone left, Tammy - my business partner and I enjoyed the quiet and cleaned up before our men returned. Did I mention, the evening was just for us girls? The men were not invited. I so appreciate each of the women we have working for us. They are such incredible individuals and yet such a great team.
I think Tammy summed it up best while we were cleaning up, when she said "this dinner wouldn't have been the same with any other women or friends. We hired women we like and would actually hang out with."

Misfit

So I have come to a stand still with my doll as I have been waiting for the fabric to arrive for my doll (it arrived today and it is beautiful). Putting in the time I decided to take all the bad parts-that is, the parts that didn't turn out right and had to be redone - and make something with them. I figured I need the practice. I found some old green and burgundy paisley fabric I had purchased years ago to make a Christmas tablecloth. I had just enough to make a body and legs. I loosely followed the pattern out of Patti's book but made a few variations (just to see if I could). I used the arthretic hands I had made. Even though I am happy that I actually got them turned without wrecking them, I don't feel they are good enough for the doll I want to submit to the Hoffman challenge. I also used the head that I had sewn upside down and surprisingly, the nose does not look like it is snooty. It took me 3 evenings to finish her. I know I have a lot to learn and practice will only improve my technique, but I am really quite pleased with how she turned out. I made her hair of suede yarn. I think beside the hands, the hair will be a challenge for me. I made her skirt from a sheer burgundy voile and cut it into strips and then seared the edges over the flame of a candle. Something's missing, I'm just not sure what. I have attached a couple pics. Oh, I named her Paisley.

Head above the rest

I am up early and can't sleep so with a fresh cup of coffee I decided to blog my thoughts this morning. I decided to change the photo at the top of my blog. This is a piece of a broken vase we found on the beach when kayaking in the Atlantic Ocean last September. We decided to make a pit stop on a sand dune and go for a stroll, where we found so many interesting things. Over 30 seals were sunbathing on the sunny, crisp, Fall afternoon. A tire draped with seaweed, hundreds of moon snails and this broken vase. I love the little particles of sand and the itty bitty starfish and snails who have made it their home. Our day trip of kayaking was amazing. the seals followed and played with us for a bit. You could see Cape Breton, NS on the horizon, and a few crazy waves added a little excitment to the paddle back. Our time on Poverty Beach is always peaceful and relaxing. So thankful to have friends on the island.

As for an update on my doll progress. I have had so much enjoyment out of painting my dolls face. She is really coming to life. Although no name has come to mind for her yet.I can't quite decide how I want to make her outfit. So I have been digging through some of my baskets of materials searching for ideas. I decided I would have another go at the hands as I am not quite satisfied with the ones I did. I know I can do better if I keep at it, and don't forget I still have the first head I put together (upside down). I think I am going to take all these misfit parts and make a quirky doll. She will be unique and beautiful in her own way. Much like me. Ha.

Finally have my head attached

What with running the bra shop and training a new assistant at the lab, plus parent teacher meetings and a birthday for my 10yr old,it has been a very busy week and not much time to spend on my doll. I did manage to steal away a few hours and attempt turning my second set of hands. To no success, I might add. I almost had it but,on the 5th finger, wrecked all my hard work, and then again on the other. Crips!
After the birthday party was all cleaned up yesterday I went to my sewing room and sewed a third set of hands. I actually think the setting and mood were perfect for the job. The silence was incredibly beautiful. So I curled up on the sofa, plugged my ipod in and set it to chapter one of The Outlander by Diana Gabaldon, grabbed my hemostats and began the task of turning those wretched little fingers. I will be so happy when my parcel arrives from Cloth Doll Supply and I will have the little tool that I keep reading will help me with this painstaking task. Once I got them successfully turned I thought it best to put them away and quit for the night.
Today was the most beautiful day. The sky was clear blue and the sun shone so bright, so what if it was a mere -13C outside. Church was great, I so enjoyed the worship this morning. After lunch, I took my place on the sofa and pressed play to continue listening to Outlander. I sat for a minute to admire my work on the hands. I was so proud of them the night before, but in the daylight they looked a little more arthretic than I had hoped. I tried manipulating as best I could but soon had to come to terms with the fact that they were not going to get any better. SO I proceeded to attached them to the arms.
Next, I stuffed the head. Now I was getting excited. I am really happy how the head turned out. I grabbed the book to read and reread the instructions. I have come so far, now was not the time to be messing up. "5. Hand sew the head to the neck of the body. Gather your drawing and sculpting materials" the book read.
I am ready to do her face. I am so excited, she is really coming to life now.

Doll Update

Okay, this afternoon I took a break from work and went to my craft room to attempt hands for a 2nd time. I also sewed the doll head together. Here's what I have got so far. 2 hands that need turning. I desperately need to get my hands on some hemostats and turning tools. And the head? well I sewed beautifully. SO proud of it until I turned it and I realized that I sewed the front upside down to the back. This is going to take some patience. I will try again tomorrow.

Sock Monkey

Tuesday was my little g's 10th birthday. It was also the last day of Christmas vacation before heading back to school. We made the most of it. The day started of with being lazy and curling up together in a big comfy blankie and reading together. We then decided we neede to get crafty. So little g went to her sock drawer and grab a pair of pink and burgundy striped socks. We were going to make a sock monkey. Follow the idea of the original sock monkeys made out of the old grey work socks with the red heels and toes. It is really cute but looks more like a lemur than a monkey. No matter. It was fun mom- daughter project and the stuffy is so cuddly and little g is proud of her accomplishment, and brought the monkey with her to her birthday celebration. She took it to school today to show her classmates what she did over the holidays. Eventually I will get a picture of it on here too. Once I find that camera of mine.

Tiny Fingers

Yesterday was my last day of Christmas vacation. I spent it turning body parts inside out and stuffing. My eyes were stinging and my fingers cramped at the end of the day. It all turned out pretty good except the hands. I have never been so frustrated. After many hours I managed to get 4 out of 5 fingers turned on each hand. I just couldn't get it right. I will have to redo both of them. Then I spent many late hours surfing the net for tools to make this task easier. (I managed to find a couple of good blogs of very talented doll makers that lended me valuable advice. I have listed them in my "Sites'.) But no tools. Well no tools or supply shops in Canada that is. Doll making is not a big thing in NB. I thought I would at least find an online shop that is in Canada but nope. No luck there either. Nearest is Joggles.com and I think they are in Rhode Island and out of stock of everything I need at the moment. Despite the fact I am facing a few obstacles and not a whole lot of knowledge I am sucked in completely, I am thinking about my doll constantly. Excited as I watch her take shape. I will post a few pics of my progress.

Playing with Dolls

About six months ago I was in NFLD on business. Trying to save money we stayed at a friend’s house. She had a vast collection of books in her book case so while having breakfast each morning I would peruse her bookcase for something to read. I came across “Creative Cloth Doll Faces” by Patti Medaris Culea. I found the dolls to be very intriguing. So magical and expressive. An art form I had never seen before. As soon as I arrived back home. I immediately went to the book store to find a copy of this book. These dolls are created with fabrics and fibres and their faces painted with watercolours. I knew nothing about painting faces or even drawing a face. So next I picked up a sketch pad and some sketching pencils and watercolours. Unfortunately Indigo was sold out of Patti’s books but they had another there “ Doll Fashionistas” by Ellen Lumpkin Brown that looked pretty good and actually a little more simple than Patti’s creations. So I bought the book thinking it would be a good place to start.

I studied the book, cover to cover and began drawing faces. I felt I needed to be comfortable with that before ever attempting a doll. But I was completely sucked in and wanted to learn.

3 months, 2 full sketch pads and 2 dolls later I am ready to tackle a Patti Culea doll. I have managed to get a copy of that first book that got me hooked. My first doll turned pretty good I think. I named her Gwendolyn. You can tell I am a beginner at this but overall she turned out pretty good. Of course my 9 yr old wanted one too, so I made 2 at the same time. I thought why not, it will give me more practice. Sadly, I did not put as much care into little g’s doll as I did Gwendolyn. I learned a lot form making the first 2 dolls, hopefully that will be reflected in the quality of my next one. The pattern I used is much larger and rounder features. I plan to stick to the patterns for the first few but with time, I see myself finding my own style.

I started my 3rd doll on Dec 27th. So far I have logged 10 hrs, sewn all the body parts together, stuffed the body and half of one leg, ran out of stuffing and realized I need to get me some proper doll making tools. If it wasn’t for that storm outside ( it has shut everything down), I would’ve made a trip into Michael's and WalMart so I could keep working on her. Tomorrow, as soon as church is done, I heading into the city for supplies. I am excited to see her come to life.

Happy New Year

It's the beginning of a new year. 2010. I can't believe it. 2009 was such a ride. I wonder what 2010 will be like. I have successfully seen the first year anniversary of my shop. My business partner and I have survived our first year and are excited about the next. My hubby's business has grown yet again and I am so thankful. Now if we can just hang on to this new secretary that is about to start.
I managed to keep 36 lbs off and have another 30 to go. It has been tough, as I have never fully sacrificed my love of food and wine. So I have decided to follow the guidelines set out by my dietian but treat myself too and when I do, I better make sure I have burned enough calories to compensate. Sadly, my treadmill broke on Christmas Day. Hopefully, Grant will have it fixed soon. In the meantime, I have taken up Wii Active Personal Trainer and am waiting for my new Wii Fit and balance board to arrive in the mail.
Resolutions: Not really sure I have any. I guess I would say my 2010 resolution would be to stay better connected with my friends. I haven't made any time for them at all. Of course, Grant and Georgia will always come first. But I think I could make a little more effort in keeping my friends. I am already planning a evening of wine and food with my girlfriends for a few weeks from now and plan to try and do it once a month. It's a start.
I am not going to dwell on 2009, it seemed to fly by at rapid speed fueled by a lot of stress. So I am hoping to have a year filled with laughter, love, peace and happiness.