I worked on this today...

It's the cover for my 2007 art journal. My husband thinks it looks like some kind of quilting explosion. I pieced it over a couple of days and machine scribble quilted it this morning early - done before 9:00am. I put the chipboard pieces in it and made the

lining this aftern00n. Sat and Sun I will finish the edges by hand and then, the easy part, bind the book.

I did not fall down today. I did, however, make a fuss every time I had to bend my knees - SO sore today. I will heal.

Here is yesterday's doll - only 3 more to go. Wow. Time flies. We are doing inventory at the shop this week - yuck. Sunday after church we are going shopping. There's a Tanger outlet a little over an hour away and we get over there 2 or 3 times a year. We're not really shopping for anything special. They have a good adidas outlet and one of the girls always need soccer cleats. We got whit's kangaroos there for 50 instead of 200. I usually hit the gap and banana republic. The holiday break has seemed like a bunch of Saturdays in a row. The big difference for me over this break is that I have been working out instead of sitting around and watching tv. It's good to see my priorities shifting a little. One step at a time.

Wind it up

That song is so stuck in my head. Let the beat wind you up and don't stop til your time is up. Haven't made a doll yet today, but I will tell youwhat I did do today - I fell down, hard, on the sidewalk, out in public, and I hurt myself, both knees, my right hand and my pride. I have done a crazy thing. I have signed up with a group here in town to train for the Indy 500 mini marathon. Our official first group workout is Monday, but I have been hitting the pavement - literally, today - this week a little extra since I am out of school. I was trotting along and tripped over an uneven bit in the sidewalk. I thought I was going to catch myself. I did not stop to look at the damage and I had Whit's pod in my ears so I couldn't hear if anybody hooted at me. My girls are doing the mini too, but they are natural athletes, like their Dad. I am not. I am a natural maker of things, not runner of races. I just needed a good kick in the seat to get back in shape. The guy leading the group is a marathoner/triathlete/machine and our eye doctor. I think he will be encouraging and nice and not make fun of the clumsy art lady. We shall see. I am thinking of keeping a workout and diet log in this blog or starting a new one to document my success - I am not even entertaining the thought of failure. I did decide something, though. I don't have to be a superstar at this. I am thinking about this like when I teach an adult art class. I really just want people to embrace their OWN creativity and take ownership of their process and have independent art thoughts - I don't care what their stuff looks like. I don't expect my students to all be artists. I am not going to expect to turn myself into a champion runner. Good enough is good enough in this case.

my best gift

My husband, J.R., had these made for me for xmas. It's my cover and the little pink house from CPS printed onto metal plates and mounted on wooden plaques to hang on the wall, trophy style.

The year of paper dolls is almost over - whew! I spent about an hour in the studio today working on my art journal for next year. It's 11" x 14", about 3" thick. I'm doing a crazy patch fabric cover with clear vinyl pockets for ATC's, maybe.

I have fininshed 3 more Kendrick dolls, 3 more are stuffed and ready to decorate. I am thinking about hanging them on my stairway wall.

It's always a surprise where blogger will put a picture for me. The first picture is the purse I made my mom. It has pink faux fur lining. She gave me a big, juicy Kathy van Zeeland bag. It's red and has lots of bang-danglies and dodads. I think it will also double as a door stop.

christmas

this doll is made from a gift box, shreds from a set of purdy-smellin' lotions and the fortune I got at lunch yesterday

Merry

It's about an hour before christmas eve and I'm not running around like a chicken with my head cut off - what's wrong? I have baked my last 12 or so dozen cookies for the year and iced and decorated with Courtney's help. I will take some to our friends, the Wongs tomorrow at lunch. We have church at 10:00, lunch reservations at the Wong's restaurant at 11:30 with my husbands clan to celebrate his mom and dad's anny - 45 years. Our Colts kick off at 1:00 or so, but I think the girls and I are going to do some rubbernecking at the last minute shoppers at the supercenter - entertainment in a small town. We have to be at my mom and dad's at 5:00 for dinner and gifts. I will post a pic of my mom's gift - which I made and I want to keep - later. Mom reads this sometimes. Christmas morning we have presents at home with the girls, then to my husband's granny in Martin County at mid day, his mom and dad's at night. I sewed up 6 dolls today that I can turn and stuff and embellish over the next couple of days while sitting and visiting with the kin.

I already got a set of bright pink luggage becasue my husband didn't want to wrap it. I'm probably getting the new Gwen Stefani CD, but I don't know what else.

Whatever it is that you want, I hope you get it!

those dolls!

I made 2 in fabric yesterday and one in paper. I hope you have seen this pattern in the Winter Cloth Paper Scissors. Did you see the ones on Teesha's blog? I don't what it is about these dolls that is so vexing! I want 100 of them! Thank you, Katie Kendrick, for giving me a reason to buy more fabric!

why oh why

the words and pics in the previous post were in a totally different arrangement when I typed the post. I hit "publish" and the whole order changed and the words are in the WRONG place!

My kids and my pink tree

This the bookcase you see when you walk into my front door. The pink tree was 50%off at Hobby Lobby back in October. It's one of 3 three trees we have up this year. In the foreground you can see a couple of Katie Kendrick style dolls I made today. There are a few of my cushier books in the mix, as well as a poppet doll from Claudine's second book and some ceramic mice I have owned since I was a baby.

These are my daughters last nite, ready for their dress up dance. I know they're mine and it's not polite to say so, but I think they are so cute!

What a difference 19 years make...

nineteen years ago tonight, my husband and I went on our first date. He gave me a pair of Thomas Mann earrings this morning before I went to school. tonight, i chaperoned a dress up dance at our daughters' middle school. Courtney screamed like a banshee when I tried to put eyeliner on her.

IT WORKED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I guess the blogger gnome has smiled upon me and let my blog work again! I made 28 xmas card/books today while my girls had soccer training at Wabash College. We ate lunch at Little Mexico, this homey, kitchsy little place in Crawfordsville. I am watching Mean Girls on TBS so the bad words are taken out. Not too good. I don't really like LL. I am suew you have seen the new "tag" about 5 wierd things about yourself. Hate that.
Check out www.shannaleino.com for cool books and tools.

slow and contrary

Both me and my computer!
I am so busy right now with basketball games - something like 12 games in 10 days, making my xmas cards, making candy and cookies, shopping, trying to exercise regularly - and I feel guilty about being tired.

off to the gym...

No Doll

Not because I haven't made one. I still haven't skipped a day this year of paper doll making. I am posting from a secret secondary location. I am thinking my stupid Dell is up to its old tricks and that is why I keep getting kicked off at home.

Have you ever wanted something to happen and you were sure it would be a super big life changing deal and then it happens and it just feels natural? I am not sure if I love that feeling or hate that feeling.

scream

The last 135 times I have tried to get in here betablogger has kicked me off! What is going on?

WOW

I have tried to put the starbucks doll up 3 times, but kept getting kicked off of blogger. I did the change to the beta blogger and it went up like a hot knife thru warm butter!

Hope this works

I have tried to put this up twice already, but blogger keeps kicking me off.

Soccer Girl

This is my oldest daughter, Whitley. Yesterday she played her last fall season club soccer match. Next fall season, she will be in high school.

Trick or Treat

I haven't bought any Halloween candy. That's a good thing, considering we don't get ant trick or treaters and I'm on a diet.
This is the journal page I put on my t-shirt, with some painted curlicues and stuff.

The movie "Heathers" is on - can you believe it - Lifetime. Remember when Winona Ryder was cool and edgy? I am helping my daughter with a worksheet about Hungary and where the 2 villages Buda and Pest were located. Boring.

Tomorrow we find out if they made the basketball team. Hope so.

cake

Marie Antoinette is my new fascination!

Rainy Monday

It's pouring rain and forty something degrees outside - yuck. Today was the only regular school day of the week. Tue is a half day for kids, but we stay until 7pm for conferences and in my case an art teacher meeting. I am doing the make - n - take for our meeting and teaching those flat glass marble magnets to my colleagues. Wed is half day for all and no school thur or fri! I cannot wait to clean house and watch Starting Over!

Do you watch that show about the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders? I don't really like it...so why am I?


I guess because Breaking Bonaduce isn't on.

Happy Birthday Mom

It's so cold outside! We already have the heat on and I had to scrape the windshield the other day. The weather just makes me think about the holidays which makes me think about how fast my kids are growing up which makes me think about them leaving home which makes me very nervous.



On a different note - Have you seen the movie Fight Club? I still DO NOT understand it. Could somebody please explain it to me?

Gettin' it tight, gettin' it right

Where did September go? I have been so disorganized lately, but I think I can get back on track. I love this month. Orange is my favorite color and I adore pumpkins and Halloween -y stuff. As soon as I have 3 dolls done and on a background, I'm going to make a "Halloween Fairies" t-shirt from the image. I'll try to post a pic.

Coffee Doll

Before my coffee cup could find its way into the trash, it became a paper doll. The writing on the side is a quote about art - I think that's what got me to thinking. This is from MY Starbucks, in my town, not a land far, far away, like Bloomington or Indianapolis. I think I shall save all my cups and make a bunch of these to give to my coffee drinkin buddies for xmas ornaments. The only problem is that the coffee spilled over the side a bit, making stains. Next time, I'm going to "dye" the whole cup with a little coffee on a napkin before I add the milk. Oh, yeah, and I stapled the stuff on because of the waxy coating on the inside of the cup. On a "real" one, I'll either use eyelets or sew the stuff on with waxed linen thread.

We spent a 5 hr round trip in the car yesterday going to a soccer match, in which my daughters scored a combined 3 goals and their team won, 8 - 1. Then we hit a couple of malls, one with a great store called Memoirs, that has lots of scrap stuff and really cool paper. I bought some red and green sheets so I can get busy on my holiday cards. I had to get a baby shower gift for a little girl, so I bought the cutest faux leopard coat ever. My girls are into stores like Pac Sun, Wet Seal and Delia's these days. They NEVER wear just jeans and t-shirt, it has to be the whole outfit, shoes, jewelry, purse - the whole shebang.

Coffee Doll

Before my coffee cup could find its way into the trash, it became a paper doll. The writing on the side is a quote about art - I think that's what got me to thinking. This is from MY Starbucks, in my town, not a land far, far away, like Bloomington or Indianapolis. I think I shall save all my cups and make a bunch of these to give to my coffee drinkin buddies for xmas ornaments. The only problem is that the coffee spilled over the side a bit, making stains. Next time, I'm going to "dye" the whole cup with a little coffee on a napkin before I add the milk. Oh, yeah, and I stapled the stuff on because of the waxy coating on the inside of the cup. On a "real" one, I'll either use eyelets or sew the stuff on with waxed linen thread.

We spent a 5 hr round trip in the car yesterday going to a soccer match, in which my daughters scored a combined 3 goals and their team won, 8 - 1. Then we hit a couple of malls, one with a great store called Memoirs, that has lots of scrap stuff and really cool paper. I bought some red and green sheets so I can get busy on my holiday cards. I had to get a baby shower gift for a little girl, so I bought the cutest faux leopard coat ever. My girls are into stores like Pac Sun, Wet Seal and Delia's these days. They NEVER wear just jeans and t-shirt, it has to be the whole outfit, shoes, jewelry, purse - the whole shebang.

can't believe it

Wow - it worked!

Not to toot my own horn or anything, but


I AM A COVERGIRL!!!


Check out www.clothpaperscissors.com and go to Editor's Blog for a peek at the cover which hits stores in about a week.

somebody pinch me...there are real artists in that magazine.

aaaargh

I have spent the last 2 nites trying to upload a picture of a doll!! Won't work!

Keep your eyes peeled for the new Cloth Paper Scissors!!

sad soccer day

yesterday I had a tereible experience at my daughters' soccer match. both our team and me personally were threatened with physical violence by our opponents and their parents

scary

i mean, i get that there are mean people in the world, but NOT in my world. over a soccer match, anyway.

if they had made the threats that they made on an airplane, they would have been arrested.

i feel a little wounded spiritually over it.

sad soccer day

yesterday I had a tereible experience at my daughters' soccer match. both our team and me personally were threatened with physical violence by our opponents and their parents

scary

i mean, i get that there are mean people in the world, but NOT in my world. over a soccer match, anyway.

if they had made the threats that they made on an airplane, they would have been arrested.

i feel a little wounded spiritually over it.

sad soccer day

yesterday I had a tereible experience at my daughters' soccer match. both our team and me personally were threatened with physical violence by our opponents and their parents

scary

i mean, i get that there are mean people in the world, but NOT in my world. over a soccer match, anyway.

if they had made the threats that they made on an airplane, they would have been arrested.

i feel a little wounded spiritually over it.

what's up?

I got signed into blogger with no problem tonight, so maybe my problem is "fixed" and I can get back to daily dolls. When the whole computer thing doesn't work, I just get sick of farting around with it and I don't even try to blog.

1. I think Suri Cruise is a little doll.
2. When I read that Jessica Simpson was dating John Mayer, I felt a little ill.
3. But then I saw that he broke up with her, so I felt better.
4. My town just got a little cooler - Starbucks opened yesterday!!!
5. I bought Traci Bautista's book - LOVE it
6. I hate the smell of self tanner.
7. Mona Lisa Smile is on TV
8. Do you remember Julia Stiles in the miniseries The 60's?
9. I bought some new black shoes
10. I want to sew something on the machine, but it's at the studio and I'm at home.

Love ya, miss ya, mean it!

what's up?

fingers crossed

finally

at least for today, it worked

check out scott radke - supa cool

goin' nutty

I CANNOT get blogger to work! The little box at the top where you sign in comes up with one of those "page unavailable" messages at home. It's time to change ISPs.

Still making dolls.

not my life

Been having some computer troubles at home...frustrating!


Something happened Thursday that seemed like I was living somebody else's life. I was sitting in the drivethru at Starbucks, when a magazine editor called me on my cell phone. Things like this don't happen in my plain little life. Five years ago, I had never had Starbucks, I didn't know any magazine editors (or, rather, no magazine editors knew me) and I did not have a cell phone.

Five years ago, September 11 hadn't happened yet.

Innocence.

cute?

Not into this right now

I feel so divorced from this paper doll project lately. I am not making great dolls and, at the time, I don't care. I do care, however, when I post inferior work, as is shown above. The doll of my granny was still on the scanner when I scanned these, so she makes another appearance. School starts in one week and I am glad. Might as well be, right? My girls are ready to go back and get back in the groove of sports, homework and friends. I don't know how parents of kids who hate school get through the transition time. Maybe my work will perk up when I get back into the school routine. Hope so.

Catching up

This, on the left, is the doll from August 2, but I couldn't get it to upload. All the parts except the head and arms are from an Anthropologie catalog. Speaking of cute clothes, have you seen the shirts on randomnicole ? So cute. I think I am going to save my quarters for one. I can't decide which one I like best.

Project Runway was a stinker this week. Why do I always love the bad boys? Last season, I was so in love with Santino's work and everybody hated him, from Nina on down the list. This season, it was Keith -so smug and stuck up and just tearing up that first challenge with the first dress he ever made! Okay, so now who do I like? Maybe that blond girl or Robert? I'll have to get over Keith for a week or 2 before I can like anybody else.

The doll on the right is made from a photo of my Grandma, who would have been 80 yesterday. I used the same photo on one of the ATC's in the Little Pink House project in Cloth Paper Scissors. You can see her in the magazine. I know she is getting a big kick out of that and lording it over sisters that SHE's in a magazine and they're not.

Happy Birthday Whitley

Whit turned 14 today. We got her an ipod. Five years ago she was starting third grade. Five years from now, she will be starting college.

Back

Back home from another great trip to New Mexico's Hummingbird Art Camp. This is the doll I made the day after the teachers trip to Sante Fe. There's a lot I want to say about art camp, but it's too soon and I'm too tired. I need to let the details settle in my brain for a few days. The only thing I can say is that ther are some of the coolest people in the world at that camp.

Tomorrow I will be taking off for a week to go to New Mexico and teach at art camp. No internet acess or even cell phones. I have a connection in San Antonio - I've never been in Texas.

When I get back, we will have two weeks until school starts and I have GOT to get back on schedule sleep wise. I have been sleeping until the late, late hour of 7:00am routinely and that will not work during the school year!

I have a boo-boo on my back, due to an unfortunate accident with a suitcase. I have always heard people complain about thier backs hurting and not paid too much mind to it, but, wow, I have never had this kind of pain. I guess the thing about your spine is that all movement generates from there, so when it hurts, any movement hurts. Last Thursday, it hurt to talk loud. I haven't wanted to do much of anything. Don't want to sit here any longer...

peace,

debbi

The Runway

Project Runway starts again tonight!

Did I tell you I rented Valley of the Dolls? Well, I was so disappointed. The film doesn't follow the book at all. Characters are combined, whole people are left out, and ANNE TURNS DOWN LYON'S PROPOSAL AFTER RETURNING TO LAWRENCEVILLE!

hate that - i was so juiced to see the film after reading the book

I will be traveling by plane soon and I need a good book - any suggestions?

what it means

So I am in two magazines - what does that mean? I think it means, to me, anyway, that I have not just been farting around the last four years, that I have made something good, that other people respond to, that maybe I am an artist, after all. Do I think it is necessary to have outside validation to call oneself an "artist"? Not really, but I have always thought that "artist" is not a title you give yourself. I mean, did Wayne Gretsky call himself "The Great"?

This doll was made on the sewing machine, just sewing thru cardstock to draw the body, arms, legs and crown. My favorite thing about it is that there is no glue involved.

And I leave you with a quote that I repeat to my girls ALL the time:

" You miss one hundred per cent of the shots you don't take."
--Wayne Gretsky

I think this applies to EVERYTHING, not just hockey.

2

So I couldn't wait any longer and I went - with my mom and sister - to Barnes and Noble. There it was - MY magazine! How exciting! I took a picture of the mag open on the B & N magazine rack and that photo became the body of this doll. On the way to pay for Cloth Paper Scissors, I grabbed the new Somerset Studio, the Paris issue and flipped through it. You'll never guess what! My work was in that one, too. I had submitted a book for the Paris theme way back in February and had no idea it had made it into the magazine. TWO magazines in one day - are you kidding me?

The wings, hem and necklace are all made from a Starbucks coffee cardboard holder thing I got at the B& N Starbucks yesterday. The same hot pink ball fringe that is on the Little Pink House of Cards is on the bottom of the dress. I just love it when artists refer back to their own work in new pieces. Even if it is literal and cheesy.

no cps yet

My copy hasn't come yet in the mail. I am not patient and not looking to become more so.

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!!