I've put the chair together for my Halloween witch. It's glued in the joints, and now I have to stitch the arms and legs in place. What a great project this is, lots of work but the end result is so much fun...Trims will be added, but I am going to work on the witch first and see how she fits on the chair.
So here are the first stages of a Halloween challenge I'm working on for our doll club. Lots of work just to do this part, but the end result is great and once it's totally put together, I think it will be amazing. I can't wait now to see it all together... The approx. size will be 22" tall and about 13" wide.
Anyone else working on Halloween goodies...???
I don't often post anything political or controversial, but this is something that has really bothered me since we first started hearing about it. It's all the hype (yes, I call it hype) over the Swine flu/H1N1 hysteria. While I do not claim in any way to be a health care expert, what I do promote is being well informed. I don't believe the first thing that comes out of a news alert, or even the hundreds of times the information is hurled at me by news anchor after news anchor to convince me that what they are saying is right. I prefer to use my rational mind to discern for myself, get more information and then make up my own mind about what I think it's right for me.
My personal view and not based on some lengthy stay in a institution of higher learning tells me, that the only people who are going to benefit by this H1N1 vaccine are the pharmaceutical companies that are producing this vaccine. While I maintain that the flu does have a history of making people very sick and even causing death, I think this latest round of discussions has done nothing more than to convince people the necessity of getting those vaccinations and cause undo stress and anxiety.
But, have you really examined what it is that you are allowing someone to inject you with. I used to work in one area of health care that required us to have the flu shot, but since working, I won't go near those flu shots. You've read all the information or heard on tv or radio all the reasons why you should get the vaccine, but consider another alternative that is healthier and from those who do not have a financial reason to inject you, rather their sole reason is to keep you healthy. I am seeing my Naturopathic Doctor and having a series of immune boosting injections, designed to simply boost my bodies ability to fight possible infection and do it naturally as it should be.
There are of course those who are in a higher risk area and even those people really should consider getting a second opinion before just simply lining up like lemmings and allowing something to be injected into your body that you have no idea of what the long term effects could be. If you want to read more about my approach to my own health care, please follow the two links below (parts 1 and 2) to a document that gives a different perspective. If nothing else, you will at least have an understanding from another field of health care and be able to decide what is best for you. This is from an American source, and I am not advocating for this site, just simply drawing your attention to it.
It's Monday night, the last night of Summer and look at this pretty view. We went for a walk after dinner, along the waterfront and this was the view. The sky, the water and the horizon alternated between pink and blue everywhere you looked. It was beautiful. My favourite season starts tomorrow. I love Autumn, I hope we get some blustery days soon. There's nothing nicer than wrapping up and heading out for a walk on a windy day. It's free and invigorating... Love it...
I received this in an email this morning and thought it was really good and should be shared with more people.
Believe while others ...
Believe while others are doubting.
Plan while others are playing.
Study while others are sleeping.
Decide while others are delaying.
Prepare while others are daydreaming.
Begin while others are procrastinating.
Work while others are wishing.
Save while others are wasting.
Listen while others are talking.
Smile while others are frowning.
Commend while others are criticizing.
Persist while others are quitting.
By William Arthur Ward
And then I found this image. I think I'm having a thought filled day..
Over at Missouri Star Quilt Co. they are having a Jelly Roll giveaway. Wondering what the heck a jelly roll is. The picture below will give you an idea, but if you're a quilter, you already know what a treat they really are..
What quilter would want to pass up on this offer. The rules are easy to enter, just click on the Jelly Roll image to head over to their site for all the information... The deadline is coming up fast, so don't delay...
The results are in over at Cloth Doll Artistry in the Santa studio, for the winners of the Fat Quarter Challenge. This was my entry in the silliest Santa category. Congratulations to the winners....
She now has her jacket and a few more embellishments. She's looking quite beautiful. As usual I am further along than the pictures show, but I'm almost done. You can see a teaser in the bottom picture. Sorry to be so naughty. This doll, like Morris that I did with Barbara some time ago, is a work of art more than a doll.
I have to finish her today because she's heading to the doll club meeting tonight. Yikes, better get moving. Her base is put together, but now needs painting or trimming or whatever it ends up being. Stay tuned.
As promised here are some more steps to Henrietta. And of course, now I'm further along than these pictures, but tomorrow is another day.
Here is how she looks with her vest, what's hidden under her poof, her sleeves and trims. and because everyone always look, what's under her skirt... It's the nosey side of us that demands to know..
The vest is an oriental brocade and is also found in one of the sleeve treatments. The large poof at the top of the right arm is the same as the lining on the swags for the skirt. The pretty beaded piece under the vest is one I got from Leta Benedict when she taught here in March. The ivory beaded trim and the dark metallic one (hard to see, but look at the top of the left arm) is from my favourite eBay seller. Leslie of Embellish the Thought, has the best trims and is a total treasure to buy from. Check her out here. Now on to Henrietta.
I haven't stitched her head down yet, because I want to make sure the position is right first. I tend to want them star gazing, so I have to learn not to be so anxious for the head to be sewn at the beginning.
I've been doing Barbara Schoenoff's newest class on Joggles. Henrietta. Such a great piece if you're a person who loves to fiddle and play around with trying different fabric and trims. She will be a really big girl when she's done.
The widest part of her skirt is 15" because of the way it's made. Also, once she has her hat and trims on, and placed in her yet unfinished pedestal, she could be as tall (pedestal included) 30". She may end up shorter, but it will depend on what it's going to take to make her balance. She's absolutely a joy to work on. I have more done than shows in this picture, but I'll share more tomorrow....
The class is not in the current class listings at Joggles for this session, but I'm sure if there is enough interest in Henrietta it will be run again. Make sure to request it from the link, you won't be sorry.
Here are the rest of the dahlias for this year. I hope you enjoy them. We used to grow about 100 plants every year. The driveway on both sides was covered with them. However, they are a lot of work when it comes to digging them up, cleaning them off and storing them, so over time we're down to about 15.
This one hasn't been named, so the tag reads #46. It's a great cutting dahlia, wonderful for bouquets.
This dahlia was a surprize. It was supposed to be a dark burgundy cactus and ended up being a lovely big dinner plate dahlia. It's much like Ben Houston from yesterdays post, but this has rounded petals as opposed to the cactus type. This one is big also, about 12" across or slightly better.
One of my favourites is Chat Noir (French for Black Cat). Appropriate since we have a black cat and several that visit every day. ;o) Below you can see how lovely they look next to a bright white dahlia.
Our dahlias have been amazing this year. Such a painters palette. Everyone that's out for their walks either slows down going by or stops all together. Sometimes they keep walking but their head keeps turning to look back. It's nice to give people something to smile about. Here are a few for today and I'll post some more tomorrow...
I got this first one specifically for hubby, he loves the dinner plate dahlias. It's name is Ben Houston. This one measures approx. 12". Click on the pictures to see them better and bigger.
