Doll Crafter & Costuming shutting down!

I just got an email from Heidi Heideman the editor at Doll Crafter & Costuming magazine to say the last magazine to be published with be the Oct. issue. Wow! I'm really sorry to see another doll magazine gone even though they didn't have a lot for cloth doll makers. From the letters printed in the magazine there always seemed to be a problem with subscribers and the content. They tried to have something for all the different kinds of dolls but why would someone who made cloth dolls buy a magazine that only had one pattern for that style. Same with hand sculpted or porcelain. I think they were trying too hard to appeal to too many and ended up losing the people who originally liked it the way it was when it had no cloth dolls. Well, no matter, it's just sad to see the end of a very nice magazine.

Ok, what have I been doing with my summer so far? Jumping from one project to another as usual!
1. The fall tatting pattern is still waiting for me to sit and finish all the charts. I have the cover photo done and ordered them this week at Snapfish. I'm working on the winter patterns when I feel like tatting.
2. The bag doll is on the bottom of the pile of things I've been working on because I just can't move on with it.
3. I have a fantastic blue dragon almost done. I'm planning on finishing it tonight.
4. This afternoon I finished a doll for a contest at my doll group at ning. It's for a patriotic doll contest. They provided the doll body pattern and we had to go from there.
5. I also have 2 mermaids I'm working on. When I finish the dragon I'll probably move on to them.
6. Then there's all the books I've been reading. Last night I finished 'The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood'. I know it's been out for ages and I've had a copy of the book for ages but never got around to it. I have a lot of books since I'm addicted to going to library book sales and it's just one that kept getting ignored until now. I finally get all the excitement about the book now! I loved it and plan on getting the other books Rebecca Wells has written.

Before Divine Secrets... I read 'Garden Spells' by Sarah Addison Allen. Loved it, too. It's another one I bought and left on the shelf. I paid full price, it wasn't a library sale book and still I let it set! Kind of reminded me of Alice Hoffmann's 'Practical Magic' without all thew beautiful prose she uses. Yesterday I stopped at the library and got another book she's written called 'The Sugar Queen' along with some other books. I know I spend too much time reading when I should be working.

Will post pics of my Patriotic doll next time!

Dreaming of More Time as Always!

Don't we all need more time? I could get so much more done if I had either more time or less to do. Add to my regular huge list taking care of a garden. Have a tiny bunny I just can't seem to keep out. It's eating my pea plants!

I'm still working on new patterns and I'm taking a new class on Paint Shop Pro. I'm learning to write tutorials. Like I really need to do this, but I thought it's similar to writing directions when designing my dolls and stuff so it would be eay to do. WRONG! I forgot about all the screen captures for the graphics and then there's the problem of deciding just what to design. Lots of work but I am enjoying it. Love to learn new things don't you?

Update on the Fall Tatting Pattern. Still finishing the charts for the directions. With the class it's made me slower than usual (which is slooooow). Have started on pieces for a winter pattern. I tat when I get tired of sewing or is it I sew when I get tired of tatting?

The new doll has been pushed back as as uusal I can't make up my mind about trims and things. She's so close to being done. I also started a new mermaid pattern. This one is much larger that any of my other ones. I got so tired of just staring at the first doll that I cut out and sewed the mermaid. I've got a lot to do on her, too.

Hope you all have a great summer!

Cover of Fall Tatting Patterns

I'm still writing the directions for this pattern but this what the cover will look like. Remember when you buy my tatting patterns you get more than directions for tatting, you get the directions for the finished projects! This one has 2 tote bags, a wall hanging, a sachet, and a card. I just have to do the tree and sunflower patterns for the pattern to be ready. Watch the blog for when it's done!

Had a HUGE surprise in July Soft Dolls & Animals!

Soft Dolls & Animals July 2010 issue has an article about selling online by me. It was such a surprise to get my subscription issue and find I had an article published. I thought I was only providing them with info for an article to be written in house. They did a great job of editing it and I received 3 free copies! Next they will be printing another of my felt bear patterns. When I find out what issue I'll post it here. I think it will be the August issue.