Halfway

Today is the halfway point of my yearlong paper doll challenge. Please look at the new issue of Cloth Paper Scissors magazine. Click on the picture of the cover with the dress form on it and you will see a link to my artwork which is in the issue that comes out next week. I have looked at the site more than a few times! This is the first time I have ever been published and I am SO excitied I can hardly stand it!!

The hairdo on today's doll reminds me of Brittany Murphy's character in Girl, Interrupted.

Back to Normal

I feel human again and caught up on sleep. My energy level is back to it's ususal state so I can get some stuff done around here. I have the strongest urge to work in the yard and plant flowers this summer. Last summer I didn't do anything cute in the yard because I was so sad over my grandmother passing in May.

I am working on an embroidered velvet camera case. There is just no soul in those black nylon bags. I'll post a pic when it's done.

I just read Valley of the Dolls - what a hoot. I MUST see the film right away. I am going to the video store this afternoon to see if they have it. I saw the film on tv when I was about 11 or 12, but I didn't get it and it HAD to be edited. My favorite thing about the film is that it was released in the Best Year Ever - 1967!

so tired

I got home from my week at Arrowmont at about 10pm Friday. I has slept a total of maybe 14 hours for the week...I just can't sleep at that school. It's a combination of being hyperfocused on art and uncomfortable in the heat and the dorm room with people I don't know. I could not wait to get home. Yes, I missed my husband, too.

I felt ok yesterday morning, but felt more and more tired as the day went on. We went shopping for new soccer cleats for our youngest and I just tried to be quiet because I was so out of sorts I was afraid I would say something mean. I skipped lunch and that combined with the sleep deprivation made for a brain busting migraine. I notice as I get older that I am more sensitive with my headaches. I have to have everthing just right to stay pain-free. My head hurt so bad last night that I had a panic attack.

By the grace of God, I survived the night, but I feel lousy today. I managed to get through church and brunch and a load of laundry and I still need to go to the grocery store and get stuff for the girls to take their lunch to British Challengers soccer camp this week. When I was at Penland in '04, Shanna Leino and I were talking about how we are so tired after a craft school session. She said next time we shoud go to a spa for a couple of days before heading home - so true. I feel like I have to be right back into mom mode and I don't feel up to it, but that's really not fair,so I plug along and guzzle coffee.

England won and I am glad. David Beckahm is a work of art.

Happy Book Day

This doll's body is a book because it's my Book Day - exactly 4 years ago today, I made my first book. THis trip has not been long and strange; really, it's been more short and joyous, so far, but I know the best is yet to come.

i'm still here

i just haven't posted for a week. too busy and too over the paper dolls. oh i'm still making one a day - and i have remade my book for them - much mo' better than the first one i had.

i'm getting ready to go to ARROWMONT the best place on the planet. i finally get to meet legendary DOLPH SMITH. i'll keep you updated.

Happy Birthday Chris

OK...this is really today's doll

Happy Anny, ma -n- pa

Today is my mom and dad's 42nd anniversary. They got married in 1964, just after they graduated from high school. My dad had just turned 18 and my mom was 17 (October birthday). No, they are not cousins; they just got married young. I wasn't born until until three years later.

Update on the Cloth Paper Scissors thing I told you about - I will have work published in the issue that comes out July 5. I actually talked to the editor, Patricia Bolton,last Wednesday. She was super nice and asked to see some pics of my other work. I started Thursday morning trying to put together an up-to-date portfolio. I wound up making a little book with lots of photos ow my work over the last four years. It was so cute, even if I do say so myself. I didn't have to buy anything to make it. That's the thing about making lots of stuff - you get pretty fluent in you own design vocabulary so when you buy paper on sale at hobby lobby, you just are able to pick out the stuff you know you will use and then when you sit down to make something, you have everything already.

One of my goals for 2006 was to get published in a magazine.

JUNE JUNE JUNE

The best month ever invented! MY month! My birthday is next Friday - 39 - I'm getting a new 'do Thursday, my kids are going to camp for 5 days AND I get to go to ARROWMONT on the 18th and be gone for a whole week doing ART!!