Early Summer and Simplifying

I am finally closing down the doll making.  After ten years, and who knows how many dolls, I am through. 

The creative urge will never go away, of course, so my work is changing more toward useful things, textile arts, or else y'all would find me posting from a padded cell.  (Do they allow computers in padded cells?  No?  Oh well.)  My reasons for leaving the doll phase of my art behind me are complex, but if I had to sum it up, I'd say a combination of a very weak doll market and a need to stop making things that collect dust and/or take up closet room. 

It seems the older I get, the less patience I have with things that are not functional.  Please don't get the idea that my home is in ANY way minimalist or sparse--I do still have a smallish collection of antique and art dolls, a million books, and more than enough tchotchkies and seasonal decorations.  But compared to a few years ago, my house is practically bare.  And getting simpler all the time. 

The point is, why make things to sell that I wouldn't buy?  I love the dolls my friends make, and I know I will miss the sculpting so much--seeing that little personality emerge like magic.  But I'll have to live that part vicariously, because right now I'm up to my ears in a world of rug hooking, needle punch, wool applique, and crazy quilting.  I'll publish patterns for the items I make for my home or for gifts I give to others, but with the exception of original small gifty type things (fancy pin cushions, reading glass cases, etc), I probably won't have much but patterns and supplies in my Etsy store. 

I'm finding my own way to the understanding of Mr. Thoreau's words: "Our life is frittered away by detail...simplify, simplify."  This process will take me a decade, but I've made a start. 

Am I equating doll-making with frittering my life away?  NO!  When I was caught in the passion of learning that art, the absolute zen of any particular aspect--from how to make a good hip joint to how to pain Izzy curls--I was building my life.  Building who I am.  But change is part of life, and I guess I've changed with it.  What challenges me now is to see if I can make the things I'd love to have in my home--rugs on my floors, hangings on the wall (that roll up small and tidy for next season), textures and colors with infinite stitching. 

There's a detail to fritter away one's life, eh?  Hand stitching?  Ha!  But it satisfies me the way the doll challenges used to, so I'll take my cue from it. 

Forgive the long philosophical post, please.  Here's the second in the Seasonal Wall Hanging series I'm working on.  This one is Summer.  Forgive the photo placement--Blogger has a big hiccup in its photo adding function that seems incurable. 

Have a fine Wednesday.




 


 

It's Friday!

It's Friday!!! Yay!!!

We're going to an agility competition down in Phoenix this weekend with the parents-in-law.  Should be as interesting as the dog shows we like to see, only more active.  My husband has plans after he retires to participate in agility with a future dog that we'll have.  Not as a fiercely competitive do-or-die kinda thing, but for fun bond of working and training.  

So that's for future (near and far) but today's to-do list includes: brine the pork shoulder for Sunday's smoker, finish laundry, housework, and water the flower beds.  Oh--and deconstruct the wool skirts and jackets I got thrift shopping this week.  Wool!  Lovely wool. 

My change of focus from dolls to more of the textile arts is strange but refreshing, and to that end, I'm ready to quilt the Summer wall hanging (wool applique on cotton).  Here's a photo of finished "Spring"--a pattern I will have published in...um, some days.

I've gotten brave and started working toward actually sewing my antique Singer sewing machine.  So far I don't even know how to thread it.  Bought last summer, (with much eye rolling at self) and researched to discover: one of 25,000 machines of its type made in late January of 1931.  The cabinet is solid but neglected--a little (lot) of wood polish is in order. 

There is a local group here whose expertise extends to these machines, so I'll beg or barter for a little help, and then--off I go!  This machine was one that used to be in treadle cabinets, but was outfitted with motors in the 1930's--a crazy new innovation.  She's been refurbished and tuned up, and is patiently waiting for me to give her a try. 

So here are photos of Lady Singer...more on how it goes later.  (Wish me luck!)  :P

  I hope your weekend is lovely...whether your weather is cooperating or not.  Cheers, y'all.

One little box left.

Recently, because four million things on my to-do list is just not enough, I joined Primitive Handmades Mercantile.  I listed three things--Rachel, a not-quite-Izannah doll, and two little wool-applique boxes. I confess I stink at remembering to post it around on social media, but I'll get better.

Anyway, Rachel sold, and the little Thistle button box sold, but I still have the little covered notions box.  I'd never covered a box with cloth before, but it was not too hard, and the results were pleasing.  I guess I'll have four million and one things to do now, because I want to cover a bunch of storage boxes I keep my Christmas decorations in, atop the cabinets in our office! 

I hope your week goes wonderfully, and you discover something fabulous in your travels.