It's a Mystery...

Working on this most recent Izannah doll, I used the regular Krylon matte varnish, as I have for ages. 

But I'm not sure what happened!  No unusual material/paint/coating under the varnish, so maybe it was a factor of temperature or humidity?  At any rate, there is a very slight crackle effect on the lower part of this doll's face.  As it seems not to affect the adhesion of the paint or varnish, and it is subtle enough to actually enhance the doll, I left it as it was.  (Also, I didn't want to totally repaint, since I was happy with her at that point!) 

Maybe I'll figure it out, but I doubt it. 

Guess we'll see--I've got a set of boy & girl twins to make now! 

Really? That many?

As I posted on the MAIDA forum:

I was messing around with my blog, and decided to add a couple pages as "albums" for doll photographs. The tabs above separate them into types.  They don't show all the dolls, by any stretch, but they do show a wide variety of types!

Judging by the files, I have made between 250 & 300 dolls in the last decade.  Since I know I didn't consistently average two dolls a month, there must have been some seriously busy months in there!

Not-so-lazy Monday.

Supposed to be a day off--at least the hubs has off.  I'm making Izannah dolls--cutting out fabric, planning, sketching, etc.   But when you work in your pajamas, is it really work?

Lately I've been thinking about NOT taking things for granted--health, running water & electricity, a roof & good walls.  When I'm tempted to fuss or whine, it's helped me to be thankful instead.  I have a washer & dryer that work, so who minds laundry?  If my eyes don't see as well as they used to, I DO have good glasses that help.  Sometimes it pays to just sit and appreciate feeling good.   

We've had a fine three day weekend, with enjoyable time at the dog park, the luxury of reading for hours, and plenty of food in the fridge--even if it won't arrange itself into a meal. 

So on that note, I'll go and start supper. 

I hope your weekend was lovely, with lots to be grateful for. 

Clean Sheet Day

I won't bore anyone with long sad tales of medical mayhem at the Conwell's house (and the people said, "hurrah!") so suffice it to say; I am SO very glad it's January. 

All that medical mess started last summer, and finally finished up at the end of the year.  So this month we are moving slowly, deliberately, working and choring.  And healing.

That part takes a while, and sometimes the line of progress is not straight up in a tidy line.  When you're down, lots of what you used to think of as Must Dos suddenly become When I Get To Its.  But eventually you're up, and there's sweeping and laundry, and (yay!) Clean Sheet Day.  I love clean sheet day.

In other news, I have an order for a small Izannah (15") and I'm enjoying the challenge of smaller work.  I don't seem to be able to work on the Winter wall hanging--though I'm almost ready to bat & back it for quilting.  Just that close.  See, I somehow managed to curse myself with a ZILLION pine needles in this design.  And kinda no way out.  (There will be a recommendation in the published version to use pine-needle printed fabric.  You're welcome, or Don't Say I Didn't Warn You--whichever applies.) 

So I'm guiltily thrilled to make an Izzy instead of stitching pine needles. 

Stay warm, and have a grand 2019.