Weekend with Colleen Babcock

Well, I haven't written much of anything for a long time. Colleen was coming to our club Time For Dolls to teach a weekend class, Finders Keepers and she was going to stay with me at my home. To put it nicely my house looked like a tornado had just run through it - YIKES - what a mess. So... I set off to paint, move furniture, buy new furniture, assemble said furniture, clean carpets (not me the guy with the truck) and have new carpet installed. Mind you I had 6 years to get this done but as usual time just got away from me. (That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it!) I like my house now, anything would have been better, but I do like it. There still are some rooms to finish but that is for another time, hopefully time that doesn't get too far away from me.

So, to the point of this post. Colleen came to teach Finders Keepers, the most darling little doll. The class was so interesting and we all learned new techniques, we learned about body sizes and how to adjust for a taller body, it was great. Everyone except me decided to make the doll the original size. I wanted her a little taller. It was so strange - after the workshop when I had my doll to the point where she was wire armatured, batted and head on she didn't look like a little girl to me anymore, she looked older. Just by adding that inch or so to her height made such a difference. I had picked out the cutest fabrics for a little girl doll, mostly pink, the dress would have cherries, pink polka-dot socks, very cute. Oh well, I guess I just have to make another doll, but smaller. I'll publish a picture of the doll I am making and the new fabrics that I chose when she is finished.

The workshop was really intense the first day, there was a lot to do so unfortunately I didn't do a very good job of getting pictures taken. I do have pics of some of the ladies and I'm sorry I didn't get every one. And I didn't get a group shot of everyone together with Colleen.

This is Deborah, with the green top, with her doll head. Then there is Pam

whose head got chopped off, with her doll head. And then there is Teresa with the purple top. And here is Paloma with the red top.

Here are a couple of pictures of Colleen demo'ing how to sculpt feet and boobs. And a picture
of Colleen with Pam and Sheila ready to help.

And Colleen demo'ing hands

Colleen was so generous to donate a doll to our club for a silent auction with the proceeds going to the club to help defray costs for our next workshop. Colleen made this doll, impeccably I might add, it is an Angela Jarecki design. It was beautiful and Sheila was the lucky winner. Sheila was so excited to have the doll, I'm very happy for her.

And on a personal note, Colleen was my house guest who quickly turned into a dear friend and family member. She quickly became comfortable enough to make herself completely at home and that made me feel great. Colleen has a special diet she must follow so we shopped at a health food store and found lots of things for her to eat and she was great to just jump in and cook what she wanted, when she wanted. And, she loved my dog Lucy (I don't know who wouldn't!)

Boy, Lucy really missed Colleen after she left, when I returned from the airport after dropping Colleen off Lucy was looking all over for her Colleen.

Here is something I never do, I took a picture with Colleen, which is fine, but I am publishing it - aaacccckkk! Anyway, Colleen of course is the cute, young, skinny one on the left and well, I'm not!!

Colleen, you were a fabulous teacher, I know everyone enjoyed you and the class so much, thank you, THANK YOU!!! And on a personal note thank you for being such a great guest, my husband LOVED that you loved hockey and he finally had someone to talk to about it.

Lady Pod and Sweetpea

Linda Misa, a very talented doll artist from Australia, is in the process of moving this week actually. Anyway, she decided to sell some of her dolls at extremely reasonable prices so I decided I had to have one. I bought Lady Pod and Sweetpea. I have had the pattern for a couple of years but other dollmaking got in the way and so I never did make her, but when I saw that Linda was selling hers I was so excited. She has arrived, in great shape I might add considering her long trip.

When I finish redecorating my house I will have to find the perfect spot to display her. Right now she sits on my sewing table so I can see her every time I sew. Of course right now that is not as often as I want it to be since I'm painting walls and moving furniture and changing rooms and TRYING to get workers to show up and repair a few things! Anyway here are some pictures of my beautiful new doll that I bought.

Nesting Robin

Well Spring has certainly arrived in my back yard. I have a pretty small back yard, just a few very large spruce trees where the birds love to nest, they are almost like apartment buildings for birds. Some birds like to own the whole building (tree) like the cardinals, they like their privacy.

It seems that the trees were full this year so this little Robin had to find accomodations elsewhere. She is nesting on the downspout along the fireplace and right next to the sliding doors to the deck. Most of the time when I open the door, usually to let my sweet little Lucy out -

isn't she adorable?

Sorry, I digress, anyway back to the Robin, usually when I open the slider she flies away - not very far of course - then comes back to the nest when we go inside. There have been a couple of occasions where she didn't leave the nest, maybe her hatching time is near, so I took the opportunity to snap a few photos.

Then yesterday when I was leaving home I noticed across the street where there are 2 ponds that 2 geese where standing by the road and they had a whole bunch of adorable little babies. The babies where so tiny and fluffy yellow so cute! I love watching the Canada Geese and their babies because they stay with their parents for a long time and it's great to watch them grow up. Ahhh, nature at its best.