Friday, April 4, 2008

R2RD


I am so excited to be a part of a new group called R2RD. R2RD stands for Rags to Riches Dolls and it is an online eBay group dedicated to the art of making dolls. A very talented group of artists belong to this group and I feel very honored to be considered one of them. Please look for their auctions by typing R2RD into the eBay search engine. And, beginning the week of April 27th, R2RD will present "Days Gone By . . . . Dolls of Yesteryear." This event will showcase wonderful, one of a kind dolls reminiscent of ones that were made many years ago. Please join us for this event. I know you won't be disappointed.

Friday, March 28, 2008

Tools of the Trade


I have acquired a new tool of the trade. Well, it's not actually new, it's an old sewing machine but, it is a wonderful tool, nonetheless. Earlier this week I was looking through the classifieds and there it was . . . an ad for a Singer Slant-o-matic 401A sewing machine in a beautiful cabinet and in excellent condition. My dream machine was just a phone call away. I had done my research and I knew the claims about this particular model and I knew that they call it the best machine ever made. And now I know why. It sews like a dream, purrs like a kitten, it is versatile and it seems to do everything with ease. So, it is with much happiness that I add this machine to my collection. Of course, I was thrilled last year when I bought a Singer Featherweight 221-1, circa 1951. And the year before that it was a brand new Singer CG590 and the year before that . . . well, need I go on? The fact is, I love Singer sewing machines, especially the older ones. So, perhaps I will add another one or two to my collection along the way and it is my hope that someday, someone else will appreciate the charm, the quality and the craftsmanship of these wonderful machines.

Friday, February 8, 2008


Welcome!
It is hard to believe we are already into the month of February. January is gone and we are well on our way into the new year. As I plan out my show schedule for the coming months, I realize that warm weather will be here before we know it. Please keep that in mind all my Northern friends who are suffering through a long, cold and snowy winter.

January has always been my "down" time. It is my time to refresh, reorganize and renew my creative path. Organizing my studio is part of that process and it is usually first on my "To Do List." When you make dolls you accumulate a lot of fabric. Yes, lots of fabric. And keeping it straight has always been a challenge for me because my fabric has been kept in plastic tubs, stacked on top of each other in the corner of the room. So, you can imagine how difficult it was to find something when it was out of sight and hard to get at. Well, this year I made one of the best decisions I have made in a long time. I bought a huge, wooden cabinet with deep, large shelves that is big enough to house all of my fabric. It is wonderful! Now all my fabric is organized and at my fingertips. Sometimes I go to the cabinet, open the doors and just stand there in awe. Life is good. But why didn't I do this years ago?

So, my fabric has been organized, my studio has been cleaned and I am now in the process of making my first dolls of the new year. There will be bunnies, sheep and more surprises along the way. I hope this year brings forth new creations and new opportunities. It is good to take a break, but it is even better to get back to work, especially if you love what you do.