The Nightmare of November Continues into December

I was hoping that this month was going to be better but it's not. Here's the run down on what's been going on so far.

1. Did get the dryer finally fixed but had to try a new guy. He seems ok but does charge more. Fingers crossed that he didn't nick the dryer belt or do anything else. I know I'm such a pessimist!

2. Was so excited when I finally got new end tables, a coffee table, and a leather lazy boy. It was all expensive stuff but saved a ton as the store was closing. I've been putting off getting new furniture because the cat tended to scratch everything ( he died so that was no longer a problem), my oldest dog (15) has accidents that include both ends, and the other 2 dogs race around and jump on the furniture. The lab also has another problem, he has the need to 'cover' over the Spice's pee accidents. She got stuck when I was moving furniture to clean and peed on the floor. Murphy not only peed on the spot, but on her, and the new leather chair! Didn't see him but as the other dog is small we knew it was him. Cleaned it up and used odor remover. Guess that wasn't enough because he did it again yesterday. Ready to have a stress induced break down.

3. Then there's Paypal shipping. For 3 days I had trouble printing postage. For one customer I had to retype her entire address because they wouldn't ok it. After 9 times and 3 days it finally went thru. Dial-up is a pain put this made it even more aggravating.

4. The cold I've had since the beginning of Nov. is playing come and go. One day I feel fine and the next it's back. I'm wondering if it's just allergies again.

5. I'm working on 3 elves and 3 snowgirls right now but it seems every time I get started on them something comes up, DOGS-PHONE-COMPUTER-HUSBAND-SHOPPING-HOUSE-MAIL-DOGS.

6. I've really got a case of over stress and it's causing the bah humbugs. I did get the outside of the house decorated but nothing is up inside. I also dread getting the mail each day cause there might be another Christmas card. I'm just not in the mood to send any.

7. Joined in one of my ebay group's Christmas ornament exchange. Made sure to finish the gift and get it plus some extra tatted wreath pins in the mail before the deadline. Haven't heard from my exchange partner and she hasn't bothered to post that she got mine. Guess she's too embarrassed to admit she got her gift but never send one.

8. Found out for sure that Kodak won't fix my camera and can't find suggestions on how to fix it. Don't know whether to see if a guy in Pittsburgh who work on cameras can fix it or not. So , so, so upset over this. It's just another example of our throw-away society when you can't get things fixed.

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Managed to get all five of the tree toppers up but no nibbles yet. I find it amazing when I see other doll makers getting $200, $300, even over $400 for their cloth dolls. I need to find a group of people who like my work!

Here are a few pictures. For more go to my store from the link at the right side of the blog.

Nightmare of a Month

Wow, I'm so glad this month is finally ending and HOPE next month will be better!

It all started with a cold I got at the beginning of the month that just won't go away ( Probably from one of the Halloweeners we got this year). Every time I start to feel better it comes back the next day. It makes me so tired I'm having trouble finishing anything. I cut out 5 tree top angel/fairies, 2 elves and 2 snow girls right at the beginning of the month and am still working on the tree toppers (haven't started the others yet). Three are done, whoo hoo!

I'd post pictures but that leads me to my next headache. My so easy to use Kodak camera quit working Thanksgiving morning. The lens won't extend. Seems this is a problem with this type of camera. Wonder if house dust causes this? It sits in it's dock ready to go all the time. Maybe I needed a camera cozy! I'm trying to decide whether to have it fixed, buy a new one, or learn to use the husbands complicated dig cam. It's so frustrating that the camera broke because I'm always SO careful with it. It never leaves the house & never has been dropped. I HATE STUFF BREAKING!!!!

Speaking of stuff breaking there's my clothes dryer. It was working fine, dried 3 loads but when I put in the 4th, POOF! Broke! Worse my regular repair guy isn't answering his messages. That was on Monday and I'm still waiting. This Monday I call someone else. It's so cold out but I'm hanging laundry outside and in the basement. Not looking forward to hanging all the whites tomorrow! I know, I know I could take them to the landro but I hate to sit around in there. It's hard to breath when I don't have a cold but now I'd be a runny mess from all the steam.

Then there's our sewer. It started backing up into the basement drains the Tuesday before Thanksgiving. Got the drains cleaned out and then yesterday they started again. Thank goodness I have a great sewer guy who came back, fixed it and didn't charge me again. We have to have them cleaned out every fall. It's either that or cut done trees (NEVER!).

One of the ebay groups I joined is doing an ornament exchange. I got someone who sells primitive embroidery so I'm doing a slide charm ,unsoldiered cause I haven't taken the time to learn how to yet! I finished it this morning and I really like it. I wraped it with rusty wire and added 2 rusty snowflakes and a bell. At the top I put torn strips of plaid homespun and narrow vintage looking tinsel garland. I also plan on making a folded envelope to put it in and will send a few of my tatted wreath pins. Gotta get it in the mail by Sat!

I'm off to see if I can join another halloween group at eBay. It's the one I originally wanted to join but they weren't taking new members at the time, now they are. Wish me luck!

Dreams of actually finishing things!

I'm trying to move on to making things for Christmas to put up on eBay but have come down with a nasty cold that has sapped most of my strength.

I'm working on 5 tree top angels at one time. Last night got most of an Americana one done. The others need dressed, they all need hair and faces done. I really like making these and hope they'll sell. I saw a tree top snowman on eBay yesterday that looked just like the pattern I had printed in Soft Dolls & Animals. I'm thinking about selling the snowman I made for the magazine. I am filling too many Rubbermaid tubs with dolls from magazines and patterns.

With no Joann fabrics local any more it's become harder to find what I need. I bought some great vintage looking thin tinsel at www.backporchpickins.com and some rusty bells and wire. I'm having a go at folk art prim dolls. This is so new for me. I've cut out 2 snow people and will sew them when I get the toppers done. I also have 2 cute elves to sew up. Don't know if I'll even get to the snow fairies I planned on making. EBay has so many fairy makers, mostly sculpted clay.

I'm finding it interesting finding how folk art designers are staining fabric. Some use tea or coffee with vanilla or cinnamon, some actually rub spices into the dolls for a grungy look, and a few are using dye or watered down paint. I prefer tea or natural dye. For the Americana doll I quick dyed the fabric with cutch bark that I bought years ago. It's a great color but leaves an odd smell. I think I'll spray her with some tea to cover it. I have a box of natural dyes I had planned on using to dye ribbon and pearl cotton to sell but never got around to. Every summer I take some white fabric cut into quilter's quarters and have fun dying it.

It's time to get back to work. Hope to finish at least 3 of the dolls by Saturday!

Searching For the Perfect Group~

Are you like me and have been searching for the perfect doll making group to join? Just when I said I was leaving most of my Yahoo groups I signed up to join 3 more! Two are pending so I have to wait to see what happens there. One is a local Pittsburgh group and even though I won't be going to monthly meeting it would be cool to be a member.

This time I have to be cruel, I have to try them out and if they're not right get out before I feel I have to stay. Yahoo groups are so easy to and then can take way too much time. I can't be involved any more with groups that expect full participation, no must sends, trades , or must participates. Of the five eBay groups I joined last week I'm ready to leave one, maybe 2.

I find it hard to leave the groups I've joined all because of a graphics tag group I belonged to ages ago. This was before Gmail and my email wouldn't handle the large volume so I had to leave to stop the bouncing. The moderator of this group had a set email to those who leave that was so mean and just down right rude that I now break out in a sweat whenever I leave a group hoping never to come across another leave message like that again. I used to make up being ill but now I just admit I'm too busy to stay. Some one should start a web site with excusses to use when you need to leave any group!

Hope you all had a fun Halloween! I had trick or treaters for the first time in 2 years!

I'm way behind with sewing again having spent too much time on this group fixation I've developed. I had planned on posting 3 baby dragons in a cage on eBay this weekend but I've yet to finish cutting them out. I did get a new pattern from Back Porch Pickins. Yes I do buy other people's patterns! It's the only way for me to learn new techniques other than take online classes. Tonya has great prices on rusty stuff and tinsel garland. She also doesn't over charge on postage. Makes me realize just how bad my web site ordering needs updated!