Linda July 31st, 2010
For my and my daughters birthday we went to a vacation house in Pacific Beach Wa. Lovely quiet place to go–small small small (did I small?) town and you just walk everywhere..beach is just a few blocks away. We were playing at the play ground the first night we were there. I was feeling sprightly and decided to jump out of the swing I was swinging on…landed mostly on my right foot–heard/felt a “pop”…and you can see the result. Iced it, wrapped it and then proceeded as normal. Dh convinced me to go to the Dr. when we got home (4 days later). I am told that I broke my ankle (or some such thing). It really does not hurt all that much and now is starting to itch. The biggest annoyance is the walking boot I need to wear and have my 17 year old drive me ;0( This on top of, Scott gave me a fancy Brother sewing machine for my b-day and I can’t use it because of the stupid robo-foot I now have…ARGH!!!!!!!!!!
(the colors have actually gotten more intense and vibrant at this point–LOL). I told Scott that next time I jump out of a swing I will use “spotters”…the little girls at work feel sorry for my ankle but think I am very cool for breaking it that way LOL!!! Nice picture of one of my tatts huh?!
Linda July 28th, 2010
Another 2 headed bunny. A collector requested this for a very good friend of hers. This is the result. I really like working with this fur. It is very forgiving–does not stretch, covers up the stitching and have a vintage look to it. I bought the last of a bolt the last time I found it at a fabric shop. I just wish it was done in other colors.
More movies….
Strings: this is an amazing movie. It is done all with marionettes. And they are beautiful—carved out of wood and given a natural finish. And unlike other marionette movies this one incorporates the strings (hence the name) into the story. Just watching the scenery and how life like the puppets move just made me want to watch it over again, even before I finished watching it the first time. Now, the story was VERY predictable…king has bad brother, bad brother covers up kings suicide and most importantly “his will”. Son was supposed to take over throne but bad brother does this instead–Kings daughter is given as a reward to bad brothers henchmen….etc. Blah, blah, blah….but if you are in to “visual arts”…watch this!!!
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo: YUCK! I had started to read this book because of all the hype–you hear about it about once a day on NPR. Could not get into it, so I thought watching the movie would be easy to follow. To me it was just another murder mystery that held no surprises. It was graphic–violence towards women, violence to a man–sex and more sex–pictures of mutilated bodies repeatedly shown etc. I can take a certain amount, but this was just dark and yucky, and not a very good mystery. I am not sure what all the hype is all about–perhaps it is because the author died shortly after writing the series and did not live to see its success. Or because his family is fighting over his estate?! It has stuck with me and not in a good way.
Linda July 12th, 2010
Here is a sweet little doll that I made a corset for—it was requested that I make one a size smaller (from Sd sized to Msd sized). Here she is. Her owner was happy with the results–whew, always makes me nervous when selling to people as a request. Her owner is having a dolly coffin made for her so the skull theme on the corset fit rights in. I am right now finishing up another request (a 2 headed bunny) that I will be posting pics here soon. Then I am onto giving Scott’s Hujoos a face-up (yup, you read that right). He bought a Berry Girl and a Hujoo Girl Tan. His plan is to use them for his “photo shoots” and for featuring his “fabric lines.” Hey, gives me an excuse to play with some more dolls.
I also is working on making small blank journals that could be used as props or as just small travel journals, beading yet more pins (sadly the gallery that I have others in is closing, lack of sales in this recession), necklace ideas and a beaded gypsy doll..whew ;0)
Linda July 1st, 2010
In between making dolly corsets and a 2 headed rabbit, I have been reading:
I heard this author on NPR (National Public Radio) one day while in the the car and found it intriguing. Lo and behold the library had it. It took me about 2 days to read it cover to cover. Now the first thing I must say about this book is that I did not agree with her final conclusion but found the information that she presented very compelling and touching. Barbara Bradly Hagardly is a religion correspondent for NPR. As she accounts in her book, she was raised christian science (my grandmothers sister was too which has caused not end of disapproval in my family). But has found that that “brand” faith was not working for her so she is now a “born-again” christian. As a reporter she wanted to delve into the question of spirituality and science–to see what science has to say about this very important part of our life and if science could approve or dis-prove our beliefs. What sticks with me the most is that when a person is “touched” by a divine incident that there is an actual change in the brain (she calls it God’s fingerprint). It is a documented fact–while people have been meditating or praying while in a MRI there is a noticeable/recordable change. This book piggyback on to another book that was mentioned in this one and again I head a brief interview on NPR.
John Geiger recounts stories of people in awful circumstances that while in the midst of these (mainly mountain climbers–all of the men as you will note and sailors–again men?! Whats with that I ask???) who feel or see a presence that aids and comforts them. The most famous being Sir Ernest Shackleton…while tracking across frozen ice and over mountains mentions the presence of a 4th man when there were only three of them. As Geiger points out, explorers are not surprised by hearing stories such as that because it is a know occurrence among them. These presences have steered ships, talked people down off of mountains, given hope and comfort, and alerted people to danger. He documents story after story of people experiencing this..and one of the things that they all have in common is that the “other” is very there, very real, and it is a very moving experience (almost to the point that most don’t talk about it, because to talk about it would “cheapen” the incident). Never do they experience fear but only overwhelming care and companionship. I read this book in a day.
Linda June 23rd, 2010
I have been working on a few commissions lately. Below is a 2 headed cat that I made for a lady in New Orleans. I like how the button collars worked out. I have a bracelet that a wonderful friend (Hi Jeanette!) made for me. I get tons of compliments on it and one day I was wearing it as I was working on this cat…..hmmmmm.
In the bottom two photos the “girl” head had one set of button eyes and the customer did not like those so they got changed out–both her and I were happy with the outcome. The head bow is elastic and removable. The pattern if mine–I just adjust the ears or nose to make a different type of animal..I think if I can find some nubby grey fabric, an elephant would be very cute!
I was also commissioned by a customer from Etsy to make a Bjd corset for a smalled size (1/4 msd) doll. It will have the skulls on it–the customer is having another artist on Etsy make a coffin for her doll–so the corset would be in theme with it.
Still working on beaded pins for the up coming magazine “ad”….I must admit, I am getting alittle bored with them.
Movies:
10,000 B.c.: this is a movie that Scott added in to the queue. It was just o.k. When he ordered it I thought immediately of the 1 million B.c. You know, the one with Raquel Welch in the fur bikini?! We went back and added that one ;0)
Linda June 20th, 2010
Well, I have been madly beading pins and finishing up stuff for the kids’ school. Summer is here but the warm weather is not—argh!!!
Donny Darko:two words–don’t bother. Enough said.
Dr. Horrible’s singalong blog: Good but at the end it lands flat. It is done by Joss Whedon–they guy who did Firefly and Buffy the Vampire Slayer (never seen it). The video is only 43 minutes and has the guy from Dugie Houser M.d. (did I spell that right?) in it as Dr. Horrible. I watched it because it is kinda of a cult classic but if you don’t feel the need to see this because of that you will not have missed much. Clever idea, why Joss did it, I am not sure.
Neverwhere: a book by Neil Gaiman that I totally adore (a very twisted Alice in Wonderland via Neil G.) I had read that this movie was awful but watched it anyway. It really was not as bad as all that. It was a BBC production so the effects were not Hollywood splashy but it followed the story perfectly( I had read that the book was written AFTER the movie was made?!). Out of 5 stars I give it a 3.
Blades of Glory: think Zoolander meets ice skating. Will Ferrel seems to act all the same parts–a doofy guy who thinks he is a sex symbol and as a result is crude and gross. The other guy in this is the guy who was Napoleon Dynamite and for the life of me can’t remember his name and will probably go down in history known as “the guy who played Napoleon Dynamite”….sad. Anyway, this movie did have some funny funny parts–”iron lotus”. It is a good thing that I was not in a theatre when I saw this because I laughed so hard and long (and still kinda find a chuckle in it) that I would of been kicked out. Yes, I am a sick person ;0) I would of given this movie a 3 out of 5 stars.
I did buy a bunch of “B” rated VHS’s (ha, remember those!!!!???) at a garage sale: Attack of the 50 foot woman, Revenge of the Creature, The Invisible Man, The Raven and the Black Cat. I also scored one of my most favorite movies of ALL time–Slaughter House Five (from a book by the most brilliant Kurt Vonnegut). I am saving that one for a special night ;0). My kids were shocked by the title but really it is not as it sounds. K. Vonnegut survived the bombing of Dresden. The hero, Billy Pilgrim, is in a bomb shelter called “slaughter haus 5″ when that happens. I love this movie–it is thought provoking, sad, funny and sci-fi all rolled into one as only Vonnegut could do.
Linda June 15th, 2010
Melissa Maher called me today. She is the editor in charge of the “bling” section of the magazine Quilters Home. My pins will be in the Oct/Nov issue and on newsstands in late Sept. One of Scott’s quilts will also be featured in the same issue. Hmmmm, where oh where do you think the path will lead?
Linda June 14th, 2010
I know that some of you are not entirely interested in my “other” dolls so I will not bore you here–but if interested there is new picture added of Tifa and Adsel.
On another note: we have signed up for Netflix and I must confess, I REALLY like it. We decided to drop our basic cable because my daughter was cruising the channels and watching some in appropriate stuff (a lot of it was commercials!!!). It really only saves us out $3 a month but it is fun! So far I have watched:
1)District 9 (all I have to say about this is, I think the main character was stupid and what do you THINK happens when you play around with alien technology?! Be warned–plenty of “gibs” in this movie.)
2)The Informant (Yawn, neither Scott nor I could make heads or tails out of this movie and only watched about half of it.)
3)Tideland (not for the faint of heart–I am still trying to make up my mind about this movie…it was directed by one of my favorite directors, Terry Gilliam, so you must realize that it will be “odd”. I can see how it can be disturbing–as most of his can be–he has a dark sense of humour. So don’t say I didn’t warn you..it does stick with a person though–kinda like onion or garlic ;0)
4)The Mysterium of Dr. Parnissuss (Yes, another Terry Gilliam movie–this one will probably be known for being Heath Ledgers last movie–he died during production and Jude Law, Colin Ferral and Johnny Depp to over his part. I LOVED this movie and during the first 5 minutes of the movie knew I had to own it. Sometimes Terry Gilliam’s narration seems a little wobbly–like he has ADHD but this one seemed to be more linear but also had more complexity to it. I adore this movie! Visually it is a yummy sticky treat.)
5)On direct download I have been watching “Neverwhere” by Neil Gaimen (it is done by BBC so the “special” effect are not very high tech. but just okay–esp.if you are like me, a child of the 60′s when we could see the outline of space ships and stuff. I don’t think this production is as bad as I had read other places and it follows the book or visa versa almost word for word. It is just okay and I am glad I didn’t buy it but am happy that I can see it too. )
6)Mimi has The Chipmunks the Squeakwell in the queue–bleech–won’t be watching that anytime soon but she is happy!
Linda June 10th, 2010
Scott has been home from quilt market for about 2 weeks and the dust (or rather fabric) has had time to settle. He made lots of good contacts (Amy Butler for one) and the new Editor of Quilter’s Home for another. I had sent him with a couple of my beaded pins to give away. Amy loved hers and so did the Editor (oops-forgot her name here, senior moment! Is it Jake?). Anyway, it was so well received that this Editor wants to highlight them in her “bling” section of the magazine sometime in the Fall. I am told there will be a “small” phone interview with me (just the idea makes me all squirmy!). So with that said I have been making new pins to put on my Etsy shop like a mad women…this along with the state messing with the funding for my kids’ alternative school, Noel taking the Sat, signing kids up for Fall classes, one dental crown for me, wisdom teeth removal for Noel, gypsy doll to finish, AND a requested custom made 2 headed cat.
This is what my desk looks like at the moment. You can see the fabric color card from Quilt Market (very cool stuff, it is a 50/50 silk cotton blend–look for it, very fun stuff!). The 2 headed teddy that started the request, beads to the left and a great pile of button in front (this is only PART of my button stash–oh I do love finding jars of buttons at garage sales nothing is better except the smell of old fabric!) The body parts for the 2 headed cat are in purple-the middle–my desk do not normally look this way (LOL but Scott’s does !!!!). I will post pics of the cat when I am done.
Oh and if you have time–check out a place on line called GraphJam.com!!!!
Linda June 9th, 2010
Here is the progress on my “gypsy” doll so far. 
The bead strands below will be part of her “hair”. I have had to put this project on hold for awhile….the reason is in my next post. Stay tuned..”same bat channel, same bat station” (yes, I AM dating myself LOL!).
