Finished Belle

Well, I've finally finished Belle. She is a doll designed by Cindee Moyer and I started her 2 years ago but never made her. Last year I decided to make her out of different fabric and chose these fabrics but she still didn't get made. I think this doll intimidated me for some reason but when I made her I discovered she was so simple to make! My only mistake (problably not the only) was painting her face before fitting it into the hat, I would have made her eyes a little lower but I'm happy with her. Like I said she was really simple to make. She's my only Christmas doll so far. I started to make Colleen Babcock's "Give us a Kiss" but I'm not sure she'll be done for Christmas. There is no reason for her not to be done except I'm just not feeling like making dolls right now.
The weather here is horrible, this is the most depressing place I have ever lived and it is really hard for me to function when I look out the window and see this solid color of gray in the sky. It is really hard for me to deal with but I have to accept it and try to work through it. Oh well, what are you going to do??!!
I wish anyone who has taken the time to look at my blog a Happy Holiday Season and thank you for visiting me.

Finn Darien is finished

This is my Finn Darien from the Barbara Schoenoff workshop that my doll club, Time for Dolls sponsored.

We had a wonderful weekend, there were 17 students in all and we had a great time.

I'm not totally happy with this doll, it's not my best work by far. There were a combination of things that came together, this was the first time I had used Airtex filling in a doll and I think I need a little more experience with it. Poor Finn's face wasn't stuffed well at all and I wasn't crazy about the colors I chose for his clothes. I don't like earth colors especially brown but this doll really required those colors I thought, so his clothes came out ok but I'm just not feeling "it". Then the doctor called the Monday before the workshop and moved my surgery up a week so it was the day after the workshop - aaauuuggghhh! I had to change appointments, freak out about the surgery, finish the pre-work for the doll, finish the name tags, freak out about the surgery, Pam and I set up the classroom, had to get the ice for the water, freak out about the surgery - YIKES!!

Anyway, everyone did have a great time at the workshop although I didn't enjoy it as much as I would have liked to but it was great.

So, tomorrow is the 4 week mark for the hysterectomy. Still feeling more pain then I thought I would, and I have zero energy, can not believe how tired I am all the time. I bought some vitamins today so hopefully that will help. Some people I know told me I would love having this surgery, well guess what - NOT LOVING IT!!! They probably loved it because they were having big problems and felt so much better after. My situation wasn't like that but it was really a good thing I did have it because my pathology report was a lot worse than I thought it would be but we caught everything in time and now all I have to do is heal.

Unfortunately with having no energy I haven't made any dolls. I have 2 Christmas dolls waiting to be made and a purse that I want to make. I go in my sewing room and sit for a while then get up and go lay down on the couch, but I guess I just need more time.

Well, I do write this blog basically for myself but if anyone out there in cyberspace is reading I hope you have a Happy and safe Thanksgiving weekend.

Little Christmas Elf

My other doll club, the Doll Gatherers in Aurora, OH made little elfs from Allison Marano's pattern - Ghillie Guerkin. Allison designed this little guy as a "Brownie" but it was decided that we would make him as an elf. Someone else in the club made him as a Christmas elf and I really liked that idea because they are going to be hung on a Christmas tree at Howard Hannah in Aurora.

Howard Hannah has a communty meeting room and that is where the club meets. And, Howard Hannah has a luncheon every year where the community attends and there are silent auctions to raise money for the Akron Children's Hospital. So, our little elfs will be auctioned off. He really came out very cute, I hate to see him leave but it is for a good cause and I'm making myself another one. I plan to make an everyday "Brownie" but I may also make another one for Christmas. He was a lot of fun to make although he definitely has a mind of his own, he reminds me of the little house elf (that's not what they're called, can't think of the correct name) in Harry Potter. A bit obstinate.