Doll Journey: PPD

After a big project, there is usually a period of not knowing what to do with myself  while I am avoiding the necessary cleanup that awaits me and trying to escape  the inability to have a clever idea inspire me. I call it PPD- instead of Post Partum Depression it is - Post Project Depression.

But not this time!

 I have managed to knock out much of the needed cleanup. There is still a bit of untidy that I just can't seem to tackle. With the spring like weather- who really wants to do spring cleaning, or any kind of cleaning?

Even the clever ideas that inspire  me are  coming  so much faster after this project.

There are so many projects to do that there is no time to have the blues anyway.

I believe in staying busy and my family and friends are happy to help out.

Here is my version of the

"To Do List"

Gualtier Challenge from the DBS

Bird Round Robin

Shreveport Doll Round Robin

Vests for a friend

Alterations for a family member (and her friend)

New Outfit to go with challenge piece

Create an advanced Cog Kit for Bead Fest students

Find supplies for Melanie Potter Class

Here is a picture of my Bird Round Robin form.



Buttons
He has a face already but I don't have the photo ready to share.



Firefly  has made it to her destinations at the King of Glory Church and will be on display from the 23rd to the 25th at the Riverstone Church in Kennesaw, GA.

(Atlanta Metro area)

Time to go work on some curtains for a special friend- normally I don't do curtains....

Blessings!

Doll Journey: Now for the Trip!

The deadline to submit artwork for the exhibit was the 1st. The announcements were supposed to go out on  the 5th. Due to an unexpected amount of submissions, the announcements were delayed until the 9th.

 HEY!

 That is TODAY-

I have anxiusly awaited this day!

Here is a portion of the email I received....

Thank you for submitting your entry to the 2012 Unlocking the Heart of the

Artist Exhibit. It is our honor to let you know that your work has been

chosen to be a part of the exhibit. The following pieces have been chosen:

Alex VanRossom -IGNDA

Areille Sinnett - Barefoot Lovers

Diane McFerrin - Hopeful Chicken

Gaylen Brainard - Unlocking the Heart of the Artist

Kathy Brusnighan - His Heart in Me

Jan Nosakowski - Joy of His Heart

Julie Deane - With the Spirit-With these Hands

Kelley Miller - The Key is the Cross

Marion Traub - His Heartbeat

Mimi Morris - OpenHeart

PamLacey - The Great Good Bye Usher

Rachael Picone - Key

Rachel Relaford -Position Yourself

Rebecca Drummond - Angels

Rhonda Waters - Surrender

Ralonda Patterson - Firefly

Shawna Diehl - Revival of the Heart

Teressa Sinnett - Back to Basics

Dawn Verhey - HERE

Jay Sandifier - Time Capsule

Lydia Mallison-Jones - The Piece

Jelena Bogdanovic - Dangerous Species

Melissa Alagon - Silence Into Symphony

Linda DeLoach Brooks - Sometimes in the Quiet

Gabrielle Dearman - Happiness in Heart

We did it my friends,

WE did it!

Praise God!

Congratulations to all the other exhibitors,

 I cannot wait to see your art!

Blessings.

Doll Journey: It Isn't over Yet!

Some might call this the end of the journey, when the project is complete, but it isn't over yet!

It is really only just beginning.

 A new doll has been born!

A new season! A new Birth to celebrate!

A name has been chosen!

It is my privilege to introduce to you:

"Firefly"

Her name is quite simple and may not totally relate to the multiple meanings, but it suits.

I think of the little light these little bugs give off in an increasingly darkening sky.

They joy they gave me as a child and the wonder of how they lit up.

It totally suits!

I want to send out a special thanks again to the 14 ladies that gave her wings.

Joetta Adams,

Judi Burkhalter,

Jeanne Evans,

Aryd’ell Hotelling,

Gail Isbel,

Rose Mary Jameson,

Catherine King,

Gwen Mazzocco,

Candys McCulley,

Gale Michel,

Ann Page,

Karan Parker,

Debra Pyeatt, and

Jena Tuntas

You all sent so many home to me that not all of them were used but everyone of them blessed me!

I am sure they will all find a home at some point.

 You made it possible for me to meet the deadline with a completed vision.

And thanks to Natalie with her camera and to

my husband  building a light box, I have awesome photos!

Now to see if she is accepted into the exhibit....

Blessings to each one of you!

Doll Journey: Timing

If there is anything I have learned about beading, it is how much time it really takes to accomplish something. After all, the main reason I pursued beading was because it consumed more of my time, which slowed ME down. I naturally zoom through life and that is NOT always a good thing.

I have learned to pace myself or to set realistic goals when something needs to be done.

What exactly HAS to be done by WHEN?

I decided that both legs needed to be beaded by the 18th so that I can bead the back and arms just before putting on the wings and feathers. Somewhere in there, the hair has to be figured in.  I am still up in the air on that one because it will catch on everything but  then again so will the feathers.

I am almost done with both legs! I am going to stick my neck out to get some of the back done before I crash tonight. I am going to need a little leeway for the hair and or feathers.

Here is how it looks to this moment.

Just a little more to do under on the back of the calf and at the knee.

Nearly there!

This isn't the most recent, but it shows the flow of the scrolls so nicely!

 Here are the first 7 packages of feathers to arrive.

The ladies from BeadDreamz (and DBS) have graciously donated a bit of their time to give this doll wings to fly. Each package here contains more feathers than I initially asked for. They beaded until they couldn't bead anymore. One lady even beaded all but the last 4 15's onto a feather because she totally ran out of beads at that point! (Thanks Debra you rock and have a great sense of humor!)

I can see her done! I cannot wait until you can too!

Blessings!

Doll Journey: The spirit of Beaded 2 Bless

When beads become a blessing, you have hit the nail on the head.

Today I received some "happy mail".

You know the kind of mail that brings a gift or an unexpected nicety instead of a bill or application.

In the mail I found the first 3 packages from my "Bead Sisters" containing feathers!

Wow, 3 at one time, the power of numbers doesn't fall dead on the brain.

Let me back track a moment.

 I sent a post on a yahoo group  that  asked for urgent help making feathers. I asked  those interested to email me for more details. What they didn't expect was that I wanted them to create the feathers while listening to praise/ worship music, the word or while they prayed. I knew that some might be completely turned off at the idea but I was not ready for the amazing words that came from some of the participants. Many of them said they "would be honored" to help. One lady was "blown away" by my request as she hasn't been a Christian for very long.  I sent  packages to those that agreed that contained beads to make 15 feathers, return address label and even return postage ($2) a total of  15 people. They also had a pdf tutorial for how to make the feathers that was emailed to them- they take less than 30 minutes.

What really warmed my heart, besides the returned packages with more feathers than requested by each person, was the notes inside. They even sent back the return postage! The spirit that these feathers carried was so overwhelming that I have been overwhelmed with tears of joy on several occasions today.

That IS BEADED 2 BLESS, and it has blessed my socks off!

 Now I am more determined than ever to get this doll done and sent in by the deadline!

I can do this- WE can do this!

Here is proof positive.



This leg is totally beaded now!

 

It was not easy getting the back of her calves and thighs but it is done too.

   

I love the position of these feet.

This is today's progress so far, I know I am posting on Tuesday but I think there will be another post on Friday too!  I am certain that this leg will either be done or be so close it won't matter. I need for it to be totally done by then so that is what I am praying for!

Not a great photo : (



I felt like I have been all thumbs today when I bead, but there is still progress. I still have another hour before bedtime too.

Blessings!

Doll Journey: Purpose

One thing that always resonates with me in my art is purpose.

I prefer to have a reason to make something,  for it to have a function or  a particular purpose.

It gives me motivation on a whole new level.

 Now this doll has its very own purpose, more than just materializing a vision.

The push to finish her and have her photographed and submitted by March first is ON.

I have 16 helpers making those feathers in 3 different shades from white to dark grey.

They will be given credit as those who helped give her wings.

Here is my progress.

It is not the most recent bit of progress but you can already tell how much more quickly I am working when there is purpose.

The most recent progress has most of this thigh top and bottom done.

I love the pose of the feet in this picture.

I am feeling confident that this can be done- thanks to the other ladies.

Blessings!

Doll Journey: A Gentle Push

I received an email that gave me more than just a gentle push to finish.

It gave me a jump through my butt to get it done kind of motivation.

A call for entries...from

   The Worship Studio   

 "Unlocking the Heart of the Artist"

Could it possibly be a better fit for my doll?

Uhh, NO.

I think I am going to need a little (a lot) of help. Remember those feather pieces??? You do?!



Feathers...



 Well I am going to need help making those.... a lot of them. The due date, get this, is MARCH 1st!!!

 I may have just lost my mind to even try to have this done by then.

"I can do all things!"

It's blurry, but this is the progress since last week.

I know it doesn't look like much but you should see the SBR  RR doll I had put a lot of my time into instead. I would show you but  Oceana's (the whale doll's) mommy doesn't want to peek at her yet.

I got to get to work and finish the other RR doll on my table so I can get busy on this "flaming" doll.

Blessings!