It's ALIVE!

I'm so happy my studio is clean and in good working order.  I mean...I can walk in there right now, and find any single thing I need.  If you knew how many "single things" I have in that room, that would be much more amazing.  Trust me on this.

To prove it (the number of "single things, AND the fact that each one has a place), I have taken some photos.  Don't be afraid.  There will be no great, thunderous avalanche of materials if you make too loud a step.  I even vacuumed in there and didn't kill the vacuum cleaner.  It's a Christmas Miracle.

You can click on the photos to enlarge and see detail.  I know there's it's a lot of visual clutter...but my aim is to get it all where I can use it, not a spread in House Beautiful.  We'll start the tour with a shot from the doorway.  

The entry into my little Queendom.

The painting/sculpting side of the work table.

Always remove closet doors and throw them in the attic.  You'll have better access to the storage.

All things sewing-related.  Trims, thread, buttons, lace, elastic, bias tape, etc., etc., etc.

The sewing side of the table.  (Sewing stuff in previous photo is behind the chair.)

The cutting and ironing table.  I  haven't seen this surface in six months or more.  Sad but true.

I stood on a stool to get this shot.  A thing of beauty.

The hubs built the table so I could fit stacked bins under it...but these Walmart shelves just happen to fit too!  These are stamps, stuffing pellets, and Styrofoam for doll heads.

Hats, hair and wig-making supplies, shoes and shoe-making supplies, patterns, and accessories.

The Great Walls O'Fabric.  This is my upper body workout...those bins are heavy.

That little set of white shelves is full of beading and jewelry and such...very useful.

I love paint.  This is my happiest place.

I never knew a serger could be so useful! 

From the sewing seat, looking out the door...and the end of the tour.  Thanks for visiting!

I have one primary goal for the new year...but it is a two-fold goal: to keep this room in the condition it is in these photos, and to learn to apply the same dedication and organization to the PAPERWORK side of my business.  That's all the challenge I can handle in one year. 

Y'all have a fabulous New Year!

Time for a break.

Well, Noel Night came and went.  I had fun, and sold some dolls...it wasn't like a doll show in any way, and I wasn't really prepared for that, but it was fun all the same.  I got to dress up silly, and quite a few folks asked to take my picture. (Edited to note: that fan I'm holding is not a prop.  Menopause, lots of layers, and a crowded antique mall make for one hot momma.)

The display was nice, but I think I prefer a doll show, so dolls are down where people can touch them.

This is Patti, the proprietor of the store, and the store's namesake, Emma.

But now that all the hoopla is over, I've got three commissions to get going.  I will wait til after Christmas, because...I've got to clean my studio!  I needed to clean it after the doll show in October, but then I got slammed with commissions (yes, it's a good problem to have) and never was able to just stop and spend a few days reorganizing.  It'll take a week now...it really is that bad.  I'd post a photo, but I don't want the Horder Police to come and haul me off.

So, I'll peck away at it this week, listen to lots of Christmas music, and hope you all are having a wonderful season full of family, love, and blessings.

It's beginning to look a lot ... well, you know.

I finally got a tree up this weekend...started the day after Thanksgiving, but put off the tree until I had some ornaments made.  I'm sort of shifting to a little less shiny-bauble and a little more natural materials.  Just something I've felt like doing the last couple of years.  Of course, I saved the ones the kids have made for me over the years, but now it's pine cones, cinnamon dough, and silly wooden toys stolen from the doll-making shop.  I even took apart a few strings of red beads, added tan beads that I'd found thrift shopping, and made a new garland.  That took an evening, but it was fun.

 

Juniper's first Christmas.  She's three now...and still loves the lights.

Here's hoping you enjoy a Christmas season of family and fun.  We don't have much of our family close, but I keep up with the ones who are far away and am loving their posts and stories of snow-play and the wonder of their children. 

Peace, y'all. 

Noel Night

There's a lady in Chandler AZ (about 2 hours from me, south east of Phoenix) who has an antique store within an antique mall.  She actually has five booths, all put together to make one shop, so to stay she has a store is not overstating matters.  Carries the most fascinating mix of antiques, Victorian themed art and clothing, architectural scavenges, and folk art.  I could stand there all day and not see all of it, so much detail.

Well, she found me at a doll show and asked if we could talk...the result of which talk was that she'll now be carrying my dolls in her store.  (I think I already posted this news, but didn't go back to see.)  Each year, the antique mall has an event called Noel Night, during which all the merchants have a sale and stay open late.  There's a restaurant which has great food, and music, etc., and it's apparently a pretty busy night.  Patti asked if I would make a particular doll for Noel Night, and of course I did.  Her name is Victoria Noel, and she's 28" tall.  Cloth and clay, as usual, and wool hair.

I've got three more dolls in the works for this event, and hope to have them all finished in time!  I'll post them when they're done.  But in the meantime, here is Victoria (Patti wanted an "attic fairy").