A few new outfits now listed on Etsy:
The Fine Line Between Inspired and Overwhelmed
I am easily inspired. I am also easily overwhelmed. And the two often go hand in hand.
Some of my inspiration comes from real life. Some comes from the internet. The unexpected juxtaposition of two fabrics in the wastebasket can be the inspiration for my next outfit.
But, with a limited amount of time to sew and create, I really only need a limited amount of inspiration. Too many ideas and possibilities and juxtapositions can make me feel immobilized. I am unsure which idea to start on, which is better, will I remember all of them and...oh no.. time suddenly starts to squeeze me. I can waste time figuring out where to start.
I love Pinterest and it is great for inspiration. But it offers too much--an infinitude of gorgeous images and how-tos. The visual stimulation can be inspiring, or overwhelming. So many projects and so little time.
The trick is a small amount of inspiration, balanced with a good deal of focused craft time. It takes some discipline and planning to achieve that balance. Something I will always be working on.
Three new Phoebes...completely complete
I've listed three new Phoebe dolls on Etsy. Later this week I hope to list a few more clothing sets. Would love to hear what you think...
Happy Day!
New wool, new dolls, new year. All good.
New Year's Eve Pajamas
Pajamas for Pink Haired Phoebe.
My Speed Bump
After the holidays were over, I was looking forward to using any free time I found to sew more dolls. The Etsy shop looks a bit sad and depleted, and most importantly, it is what I love to do. I had a vision of having a few more dolls ready by the new year.
But as I contentedly stuffed limbs and heads, I saw that my large tuft of lofty stuffing wool had shrunk to only a puff. Although I like to stash my materials, surprisingly, there was no stash for this, one of my most essential components. I guess during the flurry and chaos of holiday and school vacation activities, I hadn't been paying attention.
More is on the way, and it may even arrive Monday or Tuesday, but until then I need to pivot and refocus, which sometimes for me is a challenge.
I like to make my dolls in a very certain order (the subject of a whole other post either about my OCDish tendencies or doll-making). Making the faces, clothes and hair before the body is entirely complete feels a bit discombobulated to me.
I am hoping maybe I'll learn something more about the process by switching up the order. Maybe one of those happy accidents will occur that so often do when you are creating something.
Off to Australia
Not us. We are home for the holidays. But Phoebe is traveling. She's off to Australia to join her new family.
A Few Goals for 2014
- Learn to spin. Handspun yarn makes great hair.
- Improve my yarn dying skills. A very certain type of hand-dyed makes good hair.
- Try making a Tibetan Lambskin doll wig.
- Learn Lightroom. iPhoto has terrible photo organizing capabilities.
- Interview other doll-makers on my blog.
- Get a better grip on international shipping so it doesn't stress me out.
- Design a few simple sewing patterns (for Phoebe and Egg) to sell.
- Continue to learn Photoshop. Again, iPhoto has its limits.
- Try Twitter.
- Make some Twitter friends.
- Like Twitter.
- I actually have a few specific dolls I can't wait to make, but those will be a surprise.
Off to a new family
Pink-haired Phoebe is very excited to fly off to the middle of America and spend Xmas with her new family.
Pretty in Pink
My pink-haired Phoebe doll was sold before she was even finished. Here she enjoys a few minutes on a photo ledge in our guest bedroom before departing. Next to Phoebe are the Chinese baby shoes my youngest daughter (Egg) was wearing when she was placed in my arms.
