Creager Studios

Our Newest Miniature..Bathilda Bagshot

2012-01-07T14:44:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year everybody....hope your first week has brought joyous events and glorious things...

We are off and rolling ...tipi sitting, walking, semi sorta diet , and planning new works for the new year.

The piece above was just completed about a week ago...it was a commission from one of our collectors...she adores Harry Potter things about as much if not more than we do...which makes creating for her a dream come true...

This characters name is Bathilda Bagshot ...she is a very old witch and author of several books , she lived in the small village where Harry's parents lived...

Richard made all the furniture and the plaster walled tutor room... I made the books, rug and the doll.... she was so much fun to create ...we love a detailed piece because we both can get into it at different times and at the same time...we even photographed it together...

by the by this is a 1:12th scale miniature...she stands approx. 5 1/2 inches tall...

Not sure what is next... we are putting on thinking caps to see what pops up... I have a hankering to do another witch...didn't do enough of them this last fall...

Enjoy the new year...stay happy and healthy ...

Hugs

Happy New Year One and All

2011-12-31T07:05:00.000-08:00

Just wanted to pop in and wish everyone a very Happy New Year ....and remember ...

No matter how sticky and sharp situations in life can seem at times.... if we keep Hearts and Minds open we can always see the beauty that appears right in the middle of it all...

May you witness Beauty and Joy in the New Year... and hold on tight through the year...

Hugs and Love,

Jodi and Richard

HOLY COW is it REALLY almost Christmas????

2011-12-22T07:16:00.000-08:00

This is the time of year that I ALWAYS find myself saying the very same thing...year after year ... "HOLY COW...is it REALLY almost Christmas" ... Funny thing is we ALL know it is coming...6 months earlier, heck...on December 26th we know it will be here again...yet that little detail seems to slip our minds until almost sitting in it's lap!!! I know I am not alone in this feeling....and no matter how hard you dig those heels in to slow the natural progression of time...still it arrives at your doorstep like a very loud, gaudy and over bearing great aunt come for a visit!!! Don't get me wrong, I love the holidays...after all, they were designed to delight all of our senses...right??? Glorious foods (that we somehow now have permission to eat) , colors and sounds,Flashing twinkling lights filling every window in your neighborhood ( ferreting out the suspected curmudgeons who refuse to partake in the glitz...)...and the children!! The glorious children...whose eyes grow twice their size with the thrill of it all.... that right there is worth the whole price of the Holiday Ticket! It is that one moment of 'wonderment' that if you look very closely you can actually see all the generations of Christmas Past...even your own! Wonderful memories full of fun and pure excitement...no matter the geographic location or the moment in time...a kid, is a kid is a kid...and for that I am grateful.....gives me hope that purity of heart and soul is lodged somewhere deep in our foundations and we will carry it with us into adulthood, drawing from it when most needed.

A funny thing also happens for me this time each year (at least for me personally) ....I plan, retool and re sculpt my direction in life...calling it my Holiday 'Gift to Myself' ...

Now I don't know if it is the lights, the music, the food, or just the thought itself of this ending year celebration ...but instead of sugarplums dancing in my head, or snowmen singing to me or a fat dude squeezing down my chimney...my thoughts wander to change!! (and not the loose stuff in your pocket kinda change) ..but rather the pathway or course kinda change. For me it is almost as if the lights, smells and sounds trigger a metamorphosis ... and I look at this as a very cool thing indeed. I plan, make notes, jot down things about myself that I like ..and don't like..(.DAMN, that list is growing) ... and then treat myself to the option of accepting or rejecting the change. After long talks with myself (I think I told you in past post that I do like to have conversation with myself, often times not listening to a word I am saying)...I digress!!...I decide what avenue to take and at what pace to travel. Over the years this has worked well for me...but this year it seems I am even more determined to 'change' ...not just me myself and I kinda change but an overall view of things kinda change...I feel the need to 'complete things' this coming year, leaving not a single thing dangling! To reach out my hand further than ever before with the offering of help and kindness ...artistically I would like to step into a realm of change, although i know realistically at my age and long time firmly planted feet may not allow this...so I plan to accept fully the circle I have drawn for myself....and be content with the graceful curves that always lead me back home.....I guess that is the true going 'full circle'...hee hee!

So bottom line, Christmas is many things to many people... to me, it is not always the gift you give others, but that special 'gift' you give yourself... and in turn...give others...Full Circle!!

Merry Bright Holidays to All

Hugs,

Jodi

Greetings from Holiday Crazy land!

2011-12-02T07:22:00.000-08:00

Howdy Do.... I know I know.... been ages again since I have been here..well, that's not really true...I do pop in from time to time but I swear when I do my mind goes blank and what I was going to write I stop and think..."Jodi, they don't want to hear that dribble, that silly banter of what you do or don't do...just back away from the computer Jodi and no one gets hurt"!!! SEE, during the holidays I talk to myself even more than usual.... scary really!!!
So then I decided...what the heck...just dribble on... what is the worse that can happen??? (actually I have learned not to ask) So this is a mish mash of silly stuff that has been happening to me of late....
I learned to make Pancakes!!! YES, it's true...I have never ever been able to make a decent pancake to save my soul, but I had a real hankering for 'Sour Milk Pancakes' like my grandma used to make....got several recipes from Internet friends (Thanks one and all) and VIOLA!!! One morning I set out to take charge of the elusive Pancake Monster that lurked in my inner being.... found it...and beat the crap out of it and Mastered the 'Pancake' ....I am busting buttons left and right and truly feel there needs to be a medal of some kind offered to the person who tried the hardest to make a pancake.....maybe I could make a hat of some kind...hmmmmmm! Anyway, they were delicious with butter and raspberry syrup .... I even had a few left over that I wrapped up in a baggie and keep in the fridge...I think mainly just to visit them a few times a day and say to myself "I made those" ...lol!! Yes I know...I really need to get a life.....

This was our Thanksgiving table...only 4 of us this year....Mom, Sis, Richard and myself. My Mom and Sis were in the middle of a 'Move from Hell' so they didn't feel up to cooking or eating for that matter...so I thought I would make a nice dinner (thought about slipping them a few pancakes so they could OooOoo and AhhHhHHhH at my new found ability! ) But alas we ate a small bird and some of the best taters and gravy I have ever made.....(not as good as the pancakes...hummmmmm! Pancakes with gravy, interesting thought) All in all it was a fun evening (sure hope they found those baggies of pancakes in their purses by now!!!)

This is a project Richard and I worked on one day...only about 2 years in the making . Richard and I are natural born scavengers , many a time Richard has coming home all beaming over the 'object' he has found along side the road or in a field somewhere..... 9 out of 10 times it is pretty darn cool...and this was one of those times. On his way to the post office one day he looked in a vacant lot to see a small pile of flagstone pieces , well he loaded up the Bronco and returned home with his find ..and said "There is plenty more where these came from" (almost sounded like "Thar's plenty 'O' gold left in them thar hills, let's saddle up the pack mules and head out") So I threw on some work clothes, grabbed garden gloves (and a small sack of pancakes...for you never know how hungry you will get on the trail) and we got approx. 3 more car loads.... after some time of thinking on what to do with these new shards of joy.... we finally decided to do a rock relief of sorts on our back wall. The stucco was crumbling a bit and we had removed a BIG Agave and that bare spot was staring me down ...so we 'Liquid Nailed' the shards to the wall...to somewhat resemble a desert mountain range...our plan is to follow it around the side and then do hit and miss ranges throughout the backyard wall..and of course do some night time lighting effects.... needless to say, bending and sitting on our knees all day left us hobbling around (rather like old miners) .... so I heated up some pancakes and slapped them on the old knees...felt better in no time!!

Now most people in these here parts down think 'Con Trails' are very pretty....we look at them as adventures, people going places, meeting up at the end of it all with those they love, stories to tell ...basically it is movement in the sky highway. Winter time is the best time to see them as the temps are just right to keep the trails hanging and changing shape in the sky...Sky Art if you will.... I found this one really fascinating and like nothing I have ever seen before...looks like they took a sharp turn left at the last minute....I could almost hear an 'OOPS" !!

And last but never least....our baby Tess..... getting decorations out and in the box is always a Christmas toy or two from the previous year that Tess goes nuts over...like a long lost friend she is meeting up with after a years absence... she is so much fun to watch and she brings us miles of smiles each and every day (and she likes pancakes too!!)

So that's it for now....of course we are working on commissions ....and soon will be posting pics....I am thinking about listing some small tidy bits of ETSY too...have not done that in ages!!! Keep an eye peeled for those (wonder how well pancakes would do there??)

Hugs and Holiday Greetings

Our newest Halloween Piece

2011-10-24T06:21:00.000-07:00

Greetings to all my favorite Spooky friends.... hope your holiday season has been filled with delicious delights and spooky sensations. Ours has been quiet this year...I did little to no decoration this year (believe it or not) as we have the great joy of visiting friends over Halloween who have the most spectacular Halloween house display and over 500 kids...to our 4-5! Should be a blast......

We have been using the 'decoration' time to work on house projects that are long overdo to be finished... the weather here in Havasu is simply fantastic and as they say, gotta make hay while the sun shines ....

We have been working on a few commissions in-between lifting rocks and building wall frames...

and our last Halloween piece for EBAY this year ...

"Waldo's Very Happy Halloween"!!

The story of a young 'yard ogre' who loves Halloween and was supposed to go trick'o' treating with his Monster Kid Pals the previous year but the sniffles kept him home...but this year he is going by hook or by crook.... His plan...to sneak into line with a couple of Neighborhood children in hopes of 'blending in' ...with hand scribbled 'treet' written on his rumpled grocery bag and a scarf his mom made him wear....Waldo is as happy as a clam ...of course the little boy in front is not at all sure what to think...

Hope everyone has a great Halloween....

Hugs,

Jodi

Our Newest Mini...Halloween Grows Close!

2011-09-15T20:00:00.000-07:00

Howdy Do Everyone.... Been a very hectic long Hot Summer (for many I hear) ...but lately I have been feeling very fall'ish!! We had a few degrees drop in our local weather and I jumped right on the Hay Wagon headed for a Fall Frenzie!!!

This is our latest Miniature (1:12th scale) Halloween Ghostie offering...

'The Lady in Blue Meets Jacob" (the poem kinda explains it all...)

We will list this one Sunday on EBAY...

Now onto our next Halloween Setting.... told you I was on a Halloween Frenzie High...

Hugs to All

Newest Mini and ...HEAT!

2011-08-03T15:53:00.001-07:00

Howdy Hot Summer Do from the Creager Studios...where cooking an egg on the sidewalk is the favorite past-time of many!

Heck it is only 119 here today...almost a slight 'chill' in the air...YEAH RIGHT!! It has been hot and very humid this summer for us... and I have found that the hotter it gets and the longer it hangs on...the More 'Cranky' I get ...grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr! Actually I feel rather like our Newest Miniature above...'Kreacher'!

For those that may not recognize this little fellow he is from the harry Potter Series of Books and Movies...the House Elf of the Sirus Black Family....

Ever nasty and expressing his feeling about Muggles and anyone not of the Black Family!

This little guy is in 1:12th scale and he stands just at (if not a tidbit under) 2 1/2 inches tall.

Richard made the backdrop which I adore ...he is at his best when he works on things like this...

Just wanted to share our newest...

Hope everyone is having a great summer ...here's hoping much cooler than us.

Time to start thinking of fall and Halloween... the night time spooky chill of a crisp Hallows eve always serves to cool the mind and spirit!

Hugs to All

Jodi

Our Latest Mini

2011-06-30T20:10:00.001-07:00

OK...don't look at the date I was last here....lol! Hope everyone is having a wonderful summer...ours has been fun, hectic, slow, fast and full of surprises...oh, and hot...120 so far has been the high...with more on the way...UGH!

Anyway we have been busy with work and some of the work we have completed is our newest Miniature 1:12th scale Japanese 'White Heron Dancer' . Years ago we did a large scale male version of this one and since we started the minis I have wanted to create this one again...tiny...don't ask why...OK, I will tell you...I AM NUTS!!!

This was actually harder than the large one ...dozens of hand cut paper feathers strung together, paper mache 2 1/2 inch tale Heron Head, gold leaf hand painted pants and other mind exploding details that will be a long time to get over...LOL. In truth is was a true joy to create just very time consuming and great 'fretting' material!!! It is on our website in the 'Dolls Available' section if you want to see more pictures and read about her... ( http://www.creagers.com )

I think we are now hoping onto a 12 inch Forest witch who will be lots of fun.... stay tuned...

Hugs to All

Sharing the Old to create the New

2011-05-17T09:27:00.001-07:00

Got up this morning thinking what new thing do I have to share on my blog...I am in-between dolls , no trips planned, the weather is average, no new recipe, ...so I started going through my boxes and baskets filled with old pictures, ideas, poems and stories and these 3 photos literally 'popped' out at me...(actually I picked up a stack of stuff and these 3 pictures fell out of the lot) so one who believes in signs..I saw this as one and scanned to share.

Now the explanations as to what these pics are... first off...they are VERY old dolls of ours from many many a moon ago....(YIKES... near 20 years ago)... I had almost forgotten about these characters ...and like an old friend it is always wonderful meeting up with them again....I figure anything that makes you smile and think fondly of old times is a very good thing...right!

These were made before we had anything other than a 35mm and a 4x5 camera... ahhhh the wonderful wacky days of film photography... each shot nerve wracking until you had them developed...praying all along to the Film Gods for decent shots! (no photoshop either) lol...

So these were just a few examples of Richard's and my early polymer clay dolls.... as you can see, I was just learning but damn we had fun! Each stood approx. 12-13 inches tall then...and as with our work now...we made each and every thing that you see in the shots....

Bucket, rocks, leaves and icicles of 'Jack Frost' ...and the second one 'The Show must go on' is one of our favs of all times... Richard designed and built the stage, stools, all the accessories including the little Thermos and cup, the sandwich and even the bag of tiny pretzels and beer can. I painted the backdrop setting and made the puppets...we LOVED all of the details and kept adding and adding...had to finally stop...LOL!

Went to a great collector friend of ours.

The third was our beginning and first fascination with ventriloquists and their 'dummies' The Great Ventrillo and his Pal Barney'... ...The Great Ventrillo had a wicked sense of humor...he was reading to Barney ' Woodpeckers of North America' ...poor Barney is a tad nervous and does not appreciate the humor. Richard made all the accessories including the small oak chair and mic and bowler. Sold him at the Disneyworld Doll Show.

Those really were some fun dolls and each holds a great memory for us.

I always think it is fun to share past works and to never forget the starting places of careers...

I have always said, artists learn from each piece they create, growing and discovering new paths to walk down... and from past works to the work we all create now , if the journey has taught lessons and the creations have brought smiles... then you are a success in your chosen field..

Thanks for stopping by...

Hugs

Our Newest..warning .. may appear a little bland to many!

2011-05-11T15:53:00.000-07:00

Happy Wednesday Everyone...thou I am writing this late in the day may already be Thursday in other places...in that case...happy Thursday!

We just finished out latest miniature doll for EBAY (listing today) 'Ikebana' ...I felt a very strong need to do a peaceful piece ...that feeling hits me once in a while ... ooooommmmmm!

She was very relaxing to create and satisfying for us both... the Japanese pieces usually are , just something about the color, and flow that makes one smile...

But as I stated in my title... warning!! may be a little too bland for many! LOL...By that I mean,

I have been looking all through Friends blog Pages today and yesterday...playing catch up to see what has been happening in bloglandia... and all I can say is ...MY GOODNESS! There are some exciting and extreme art pieces out there beyond my door... right to the edge art and a tad beyond in many cases...visually stimulating and mind boggling . I could not help but think..."WOW, the world of art (doll art in particular) as changed so so much since I started...and it's times like this when I see extreme art and art that tests the very fabrics of our souls that I can help but wonder ...are we to calm in our approach to doll art.?? Actually this is a funny statement for me and specially for those that know me well...I am anything but calm and laid back....as a matter of fact...the words 'Nuts' and 'Wacky' pop up often when I am being described to a group of people... but I guess when it comes to Art (dolls) I tend to be more grounded ...

This is neither good nor bad.... just who I am as an artist... or rather the direction I took as an artist...but as they say...inside every person there is another... dwelling, lurking and begging to get out.

I admire so the 'edge' people who hang it out there for all to see... creating from a mysterious place of uniqueness and individuality ...I have always adored art that just makes you exclaimed out loud..."Wow" !!

Oh to be 30 years younger and not so firmly entrenched in life's pathway...

But alas...I love what I do, it brings me joy , it keeps me focused and offers up a a righteous serving of soul ....

What makes Art such a splendid form of self expression is it's ability to be what each person/artist needs it to be .. total freedom.

Hugs

Happy Mothers Day to All the Moms

2011-05-08T08:20:00.000-07:00

It is a glorious day here in Arizona...warmish winds and blue skies ... and the feeling in the air that there are many Happy Moms spread throughout the land.

I am having my Mother (picture above when she was approx. 20) who is now 88 over for a lovely breakfast of Eggs Benedict , fresh strawberries and pink grapefruit slice and Mimosas. ..this just happens to be her favorite..so I can feel her excitement as I ready myself to pick her up at 10:00am. Mom makes it clear to me all the time that she wants nothing and needs nothing...so it is hard to buy for this lady , fixing her a meal is a wonderful treat for her ...and it makes me so happy to do this.

But of course we did get her a plant , a bottle of her favorite wine, and I made her a card...

We will eat, chat, play a game or two of dominoes and reminisce ...then she will want to go home for a good nap... all in all a day well spent in comfort and love for us both...

I will then thank my lucky stars that I had he another year from last mothers day ...this is my Mothers Day Gift to 'Me'....

Hope everyone of you has a Glorious Day filled with good times and the creation of good memories for the days to come...

Hugs....

Said Bye Bye to Facebook

2011-05-05T08:16:00.000-07:00

Well I am back to chat!!

I left Facebook 2 days ago (not sure anyone has even noticed yet...lol) and I am feeling pretty good so far. I was beginning to feel a little like the baby birdies atop .. sapped of energy...I found there is a lot of 'upkeep' on FB ...and being one to never throw anything out...I had over 3,000 emails generated by Facebook .that were stashed in my save file...no wonder my computer had the lightening speed of a banana slug. So I 'cleaned house' took a vacation from FB and have decided that anything I needed to say or if anyone wanted to chat...I could do it all right here ... I can tell you one thing for sure...I am getting about 90% less spam mail daily...FB seems to generate tons of it... and it all finds it's way into my mailbox...

There is something very freeing about being disconnected from FB... though I miss friends there...I know I have great ones here...

Also I have done so much work in the past 2 days...unbelievable!
So my plan is this... to work, accomplish what I had a hard time doing before, chatting here more often, keeping everyone up on my doings and dolls and viewing all the lovely stories of friends in Bloglandia...

She's BaaAaaAack!!!

Barkley Von Muttley...Dog about Town!

2011-04-21T15:32:00.001-07:00

Howdy Doody Bloglandians! We just finished another doll...er, uh...Dog! and I thought I would pop him on here for a quick look see. His name is as above 'Barkley Von Muttley' and he is indeed a Dog About Town! Hope you can read his little poem that I wrote...kinda explains everything about him...it's his story and he is stickin to it!!

I love doing animals (specially in clothing) ..oh, also bugs (note to self: Need to do another one of those again soon).. anyway, back to dogs in clothing...this little fellow just sorta 'popped' out from no where (you know those dolls...lucking just under the surface and it takes the slightest thing to bring them out)...well, this is he! Actually for a very long time now (5-6 years) I have been kicking around the idea of 'Semi Deranged ' Critters...chickens, rats, rabbits, dogs, cats, birds etc... and one of these 'critters' was 'Deliriously Deranged Dog' that looked strangely enough like Barkley...only with clothing..so this is what popped out...It was quick and fun and feed the artistic soul nicely ...we all need these little morsels every so often.

So Barkley has made me laugh for the last 2 days, and Richard...even our Dog seems to be chuckling under her breath... all good signs! Anything in art that makes you laugh and enjoy...is healthy and rejuvenating.

We are about to pop onto some more serious pieces so this bit of humor i can nibble on for a while.

I am popping Barkley onto EBAY this evening ...not sure at all if he is any ones cup of tea other than my own...but again...a good thing to feed ones own inner being.

Hope you enjoy our little canine critter...and that he brings you smiles enough to nibble for a good long while...

Hugs

Hobby Lobby...pinch me, I am dreaming

2011-04-18T07:57:00.001-07:00

Be still my heart...we are getting a Hobby Lobby in Lake Havasu!!! OK OK, I know that more than likely 98 % of you out there reading this are saying "What's the Big Deal...we have 8 of them in our town" ...But to us in this little semi sleepy desert town of Lake Havasu ,AZ...it is a Big Deal and cause for celebration of artists and craftsmen alike...we are damn near ready to take to the streets in a out of control dance of unabashed Joy! Remember anything they build here keeps us for a 2+ hour drive to the Bigger City...and I simple HATE hitchin up the buckboard ...do you know how much freakin hay those horses eat..and the price of hay is through the roof...you do realize I am kidding...right!!

Anyway...little by little our town is coming out of the retail dark ages and putting in stores that we can all enjoy...instead of Flip Flop, Bikini and fast boat retailers...ZOWIE this is great news!

The old Walmart turned into a Super Walmart in a different location and the Hobby Lobby took it over...and this sucker looks like it is going to by Gynormous!! We do have a Michaels...but...as Michaels go...this is a poor excuse for one...Michaels Light!! So I am sure they are sweating bullets just about now, and they better get with the retail pleasing program otherwise Michaels will soon be "Buy some shit at Mike's Craft Barn"...

So I offering up 'gifts' at the Great Craft/Art Alter of life in thanks for this new addition to our tiny town...

Does anyone else out there love or at least strongly like their Hobby Lobby? Hey, as my dad use to say..."Better than a Poke in the Eye with a Sharp Stick"!!??

Hugs

'WormTail'...the Rat!!

2011-04-14T10:51:00.000-07:00

Well Peter Pettigrew (aka Wormtail) is at last finished. For those that already have seen him on Facebook, thanks kindly for all your wonderful comments...

Wormtail was another labor of love for us...from start to finish it was a blast watching this little guy come to life. Of course I tend to *sigh* a lot and drool when I see Richard kickin into full gear making settings and little things to make a room seem so real...this has truly been one of my favorite things about doll making...watching him work (a true fan here...LOL) anyway... we truly enjoyed this piece because of the setting. He was a commission piece as are all of our Harry Potter Pieces... Now we are thinking about actually working on a miniature Haunted House Setting (2 stories with an attic) ...that is one thing we have yet to do...and seems like a fun challenge. Richard did make for my father as a Christmas Present about 28 years ago a lovely Wood Working Shop in inch and a half scale. My dad had retired from music and started working on his dream of building early American furniture ..so Richard made him a small detailed shop...dad cried and I said "hmmmmm" (maybe we are onto something...LOL!

Anyway, not since then have we built another like a room box or house...so now maybe the time. Of course and speaking of time...it will take a lot of it and I am not sure that with this economy we could sell it...so that is the dilemma in art...what the artist desire to create is often times guided but if it will sell or not...the curse of a self employed artist....ahhhhhhh to be independently wealthy!!LOL... YEAH RIGHT!!!

Anyway...it is something we are kicking around...we shall see. Now onto the next piece...and that too we are kicking around...UGH! My heart says one thing but my brain and logic says another ... I am going through a real thing lately...asking waaaay to many questions before starting anything...to me, bad thing to do as an artist, tends to cramp direction and style.

So that's about it from us...always heading forward...some days one step forward and two back and other days two forward and one back... not sure what today is...

Have a Great Weekend everyone..

Hugs,

Jodi

If it's Friday I must be finishing up something!

2011-04-08T06:53:00.000-07:00

Well here are a few of the things that I just 'finished up' ...and Yes, it's Friday!...Of course in the world of self employed...days of the week mean little to nothing...one day rolls into the next ..can be enjoyable and maddening all at the same time. All I know is ...Friday is normally the first day I take a deep breath , survey the finished landscape and 'REALLY' enjoy my glass of wine in peace and comfort.

For those that have not seen her...the little Baby child is 'Alice' from the famous 'In Wonderland' fame... this is how I imagined her in her infancy ...before the journey began...I mean, we all start out as babies...right! She is a miniature and sold on ebay to a wonderful collector.

The first photo (a face only a Rat Mom could love) is our version of 'Peter Petigrew' aka Wormtail..from Harry Potter fame. One of our dearest collectors wished to have this gent in her collection...we were thrilled as this is one we have always wanted to do... I just popped this pic on my desk ...while Richard was putting the finishing touches on the display.... of which, he is having the best time. It is rather like modeling for him again on his railroad...he is making a small section of the Shrieking Shack ...so wonderful, we are both so jazzed about working on this we are seriously considering make small 'room boxes' or settings... I think I have said it before, I am most happy when I am elbow deep in paint and glue... lol!

Now onward to something else for ebay...not sure what yet... have had a hankering to do ghostie things again (though far away from Halloween) it's always time for ghosties and witches in my book!

It is an overcast gloomy day today in the desert...rain expected, so we went from 102 to 67 in a matter of 2 days...weird on the body!

Going to see a friends band tonight and have dinner and drinks with friends...always a highlight of any weeks end.

Tipi will come down in about a month...sniff sniff! But fall time will come soon enough!

Have a Great Weekend everyone..

Hugs to All

Lost in Space and Time...again!!!

2011-03-24T13:08:00.000-07:00

OK...OK...I know it has been ages and ages since I was last here...couple of months in fact...and I think that is actually way past the 'BAD Jodi ..no Biscuit' stage of punishment... Lets just say I was a little 'stuck' in life's syrupy sidewalk of life... No excuse really other than this and that and the other kept throwing itself at me......if I could juggle better I am sure I would have had the whole thing handled...Nope, not I!

So since we last spoke ...I turned the Gigantic '60' ...HOLY CRAP-OLEEE Batman!!! Had a Big 60's inspired Hippie Party with friends and family (see above shots) fun fun fun...wonderful band, great eats, good wine and lots of lively talk of every ones '60's experiences...I could write a book!!! So with that finished I have officially stopped celebrating 'getting older' birthdays...put a fork in it...birthdays are Done!!

We have been doing lots of 'stuff' around the house...with the weather nice and all...and enjoying as much as we can our tipi that sits there telling me daily..."FINISH painting me"...but do I listen... nope!! She will be coming down for the season I am afraid before that task is completed..but...we always have the fall time...

We have not been in the water with the kayaks yet this spring season... that is what we feel the worst about ...but it has been so cold this winter and not that fun to kayak ...the weather now is just getting bearable to us...(we are desert weenies and can't take temps much below 60!!lol)

Richard is fixing up a trailer to haul the kayaks more easily...(yet another project)

As for dolls...we have had some commissions and finished all of those...then did Edgar Allan Poe in Miniature...listing him on EBAY...if someone would like and you have not yet seen him...I would be happy to post pictures here...just let me know...

Working now on a miniature Alice ...from Wonderland fame...a bit different! Lost of fun and we hope to list by Sunday.

Not sure whats up next...maybe some miniature Portrait settings...

We go to NIADA this August (National Institute of American Doll Artists) in Denver , CO and we are very excited...get to see old friends and make new ones...if you are in the area...please stop by...

OK...I best get back to Alice...

Talk to you all soon...

Hugs,

Jodi

Beading with my Beady Eyes!!

2011-01-12T09:43:00.000-08:00

Well, I have been literally 'Lost' in the wonderful world of Native American Beading for the last week... a place I really do not have any right to be ...talk about a stranger in a strange land!! I admit that I know little to nothing about this intricate and detailed process of art... but I have a strong passion to learn... so that obsession has propelled me forward into an unknown place.... it's scary in here at times!!

I have several girl and guy friends who are beaders Extraordinaire they blow my mind with their skills and talents to create fantastic designs and patterns ...why I have been known to drool while viewing their beautiful work... though I marvel at what they do...my love of beading is approached from another direction ... I want to learn how to Bead like the Native Americans did back in the 1800's ...

I adore the breath-taking beaded elk and deer hide bags , with the odd sized glass trade beads with the unique colors of 'greasy yellow , blue and red' muted tones of well worn beads , trade goods of brass, shells , woolen fabrics, utilized bone fragments , teeth ,antlers, dew claws of deer. Each bag has a distinct personality of it's maker and displays with breathtaking beauty the too numerous to count hours of dedicated work. There is pride in the making of each bag ..and pride in the wearing... I adore the entire process , history and art of each bag I see.

I certainly cannot afford to purchase any of this art ...but rather buy the books that contain these timeless treasures...so I have made it my own personal mission to try and recreate the best I can their beauty..I can never do them true justice ...but I am loving the learning process and with each bead I hand sew into the hide my mind takes me on a wonderful journey through history...I guess it is my own way of paying respect.

I will say again, I am no beader! I have only made 4 bags (2 bigger and 2 smaller) and have so far to go ...Silly Me! I choose this to do now at this time in my life...pushing 60 and eyesight that is not half what it use to be...what, am I Nuts!!! (don't answer that) ...

But when a passion hits...it hits...and who am I to ask questions!!

Each bag that I make is a 'gift' to our Tipi.... and with each gift a sense of pride comes over me..

I will do this for as long as I can...grow in skill and spirit with each that I make ..and feel content in this New Art form I have embraced...

By the by...this bag is a Sioux 'Strike-a-light' Bag...for keeping fire starting materials while on horse and traveling...also used to keep basic necessities , worn on belt. This bag is approx. 16 inches long by 6 inches wide.

Thanks for taking a peek...

Jodi

Monday Monday... be good to me!!

2011-01-03T10:23:00.000-08:00

Well I trust we are all rested and raring to get our New Year Week Started?? HMMMMM!!!

Boy I had every intention of doing just that very thing... but as I look at the clock and realize it is already 11:30 AM (mountain time) I am beginning to think that this first Monday of the New Year is not as organized and rock'em sock'em as I had hoped it would be... more of a two step forward one step back kinda day...but alas the day is still fairly young so anything is possible.

This is actually my first day 'back' (didn't really go anywhere I just place 'me' in a self appointed time out from work and life for a few weeks prior to Christmas..hoping to regenerate the old batteries etc) ... and truth be told...it worked wonderfully. I feel more energetic, at least 20 minutes younger, and have a clearer view of so called artistic horizon .. but... as it always is with me... frustration and confusion smacks me along side of the head with that ever nagging questions of "Now What"??.."Jodi, what do you want to do first"??..."Where do you think you should start"?? "You didn't plan this very well did ya sista"?? "You lookin at me" ???? ...I could go on...

I have never been one to plan well..organization is not one of my stronger suits...I am more of a fly by the seat of my pants kinda gal. I had hoped that while on my 'time out' ..I would discover the deep dark secrets of organization, that I would emerge from creative hibernation into a clear vista of uncluttered mind matter and just naturally know the path to take....silly girl!!! I fear that I am as unfocused as ever and will continue to wade through the waist deep questions of life ... waiting patiently for that 'tap tap tap' on my shoulder from an idea wanting to happen... but then, maybe this is how I work best. ..and that to have all the answers laid out before me all neat and tidy may tend to freak me out a little ...possibly I thrive best on the element of artistic surprise...

I can tell you that my batteries are charged , there is a full tank, the windows are cleaned and the seat is in an upright position ready to blast into a new creative year ...I just need to find that road map....

Jodi

Click

2010-12-31T14:52:00.000-08:00

Well the Year in winding down...slowly at first now it is picking up the pace a bit...soon 2010 will seem like just a memory... So many things to be Thankful for, a few reasons to feel sadness, Lots of Joy and sharing, Tears, always lots of tears... and memories enough for *two* two thousand and tens!! Each old year that closes and gives way to the New ..I always search my soul for the possible things I should have done, could have done, would have done... the events and issues that seemed to slip by me , never to return...the weight I should have lost or the phone calls I should have made, the trip I should have taken ... but in the end...I never regret a thing, the would'haves, should'haves and could'haves ...all seem small and unimportant in the scheme of things... I think if at the end of a year...or at the end of anything for that matter...if you can say to yourself..."My, that was fun and such a wonderful adventure" ... then you have accomplished just exactly what you should have ...the ability to smile at the end of it all.

I shall bask in the happiness of friendships here in Bloglandia well into the New Year...for love and friendships are really the only thing that bring the inner peace we all seek...

So until I see you all again in the New Year.... I am *Clicking* this photo of you all out there and keeping it close to my heart for whenever an extra smile is needed...

Happy new year One and All

Big Hugs,

Jodi and Richard

Christmas Memories...

2010-12-23T10:07:00.001-08:00

As we grow ever closer to that Eve of all Eve's ...it always makes me remember and dream fondly of seasons past…Great memories always come flooding in….and thus my tears freely flow out. I always cry a lot this time of the year , never sadness tears, even of those I have loved so and lost along the way …those tears are special to me and each represents my own personal connection to those that made me who I am. The regular Holidays tears I always consider my yearly ‘soul cleansing’ …tidbits of sentimental and emotional chaff that builds and then releases upon the hearing of the first Christmas Carol of the year…and then does not stop until Auld Lang Syne is heard…. Everything is a trigger…commercial, cookies, kids, dept. store Santas, old movies, Christmas trees, pretty bright paper and bows, snow fall, tinsel, bell ringers at store entrances, holly, smelling pine…well …I could go on and on but you get the picture! Reading this is sounds as if I grew up in Connecticut …far from it…sunny Southern California …where Santa often times wore shades….but I did grow up in the ‘50’s and I do believe that 50’s were universal from coast to coast .
It is hard to pick just one fantastic memory of Christmas Time Past ..
I miss it so much ,lived as fully as I could the great times of my youth. ..and held (and still am holding) onto every tidbit I can…each a gift I give to myself over and over again year after year, I guess you can say the true Gift that Keeps on Giving!!.
I remember everyone gathering at grandpa and grandmas house Christmas Day… all the cousins playing and describing in detail the gifts Santa brought while the aunts and uncles sipped nog laughed and relaxed from a long winters night of Christmas Morn preparation.

I remember well the ‘sneaking’ around with gifts, hiding things hear and there…it was always my quest each year to ‘find’ those hiding spots…but…NEVER EVER look inside the bag, instead I loved the guessing of what could it be by the size and dimensions of the sack… that was a fun game.
I remember the cookies…soooo many cookies, every kids dream and delight, my eyes hurt from being ‘so wide’ for so long!!
I remember the singing…always the singing…and EVERYONE Sang…regardless of age …I can still hear my grandpa’s very deep baritone voice singing ‘Oh Christmas Tree’ in german…the only time he brought out his last remaining dialog of his youth…it was a treat I looked forward to each year.
Of course I remember the bikes (Goldie…she had a plastic saddle!!) , Barbies, Poor Pitiful Pearl, Micky Mouse Watch, Tiny Tears, Baseball Cards, Lincoln Log, coloring books with a brand new box of unbroken crayons just waiting to brighten my world…, and of course the homemade dresses, jammies, hats, socks new shoes….ugh!
I loved the Christmas Sock best… though we didn’t have a fireplace (which freaked me out a little each year due to the stories of Santas entrance into the home) Mom always explained it away with a “by the time he gets out west, he has eaten so many cookies his belly is to fat to squeeze down a fireplace anyway ,so at this point he prefers to use the front door anyway”…OK, I could live with that!! Our stockings were always placed near the front door or front window to make it easier on Santa… Stockings were the coolest cause I always imagined Santa ‘touching’ these the last thing after dropping off the gifts …I would imagine his big hands lifting up the stocking and carefully placing the LifeSaver Box, BIG Fat Candy Cane, Juicy Fruit Gum, Jacks, puzzles ,comic book and the typical assortment of nuts and a nice big orange…to me this was stuff that ‘he knew’ I liked and wanted.. Which meant Santa knew my style and tastes …he paid attention to me, these were the personal things that meant so much, gifts were cool but you made a list for all that stuff…Stocking Stuff’ were the things that you secretly liked and used…personal treats from the Big Guy! I liked Stockings best…

But in thinking back to all the fun memories of this Holiday Season …I always come back to when I was very young and we would decorate the tree…I loved the lights and the ‘light wheel’ that Dad would use…I was totally mesmerized by the twinkling and shadows cast…One year when was about 4 …the tree was decorate, light wheel placed. we all sat and gazed with joy at the pretty tree…and then my Mom said…”Oh look, there is an Angel in our tree” …WHAT WHAT…AN ANGEL???!!! WHERE??? Mom pointed out the shadowed profile of a beautiful angel on the wall behind the tree, when the wheel moved a certain rotation there she was big as ya please….it was truly magical that year. Next year not really thinking about the angel…we set up the tree and light wheel as usual …and there behind the tree was our Christmas Angel just waiting for us….WOW!! That was pretty cool…another beautiful Angel to share Christmas with us… following year..there she was again…even after dad moved the wheel to another position, I am sure Mom and Dad by this time are thinking that this was pretty weird…but they never let on to my sister and I. This became a yearly family Holiday tradition…Find the Angel in the tree…until one Christmas we spent on the road in Las Vegas when my Dad was with a band…we stayed in a quaint little motel for a few months…Mom always brought little items from home to make us all feel comfortable and more normal…including Christmas Ornaments … I was in a panic at this point…wondering if our Angel who had been with us for several years now would find us in the desert…. We decorated the tree ..and waited, no angel! Ate dinner and played a board game…still no angel..very bummed by this time… off to bed *sigh* … A short while later and fast asleep by folks came in and excitedly woke my sister and I up with “The Angel is back” . decked out in my Doctor Dention’s .and blurry eyed..I ran to the tree and there before me was our Angel…right behind the tree as she always was but lovelier than ever… now I will never know how or why she appeared later rather than earlier (I choose not to believe that Mom and Dad fiddled with the light until she popped out) but rather I tend to believe, even to this day… that I wished for her so strongly when I drifted off to sleep that she came through my dreams as my Christmas Wish….my best gift of all that year.

We saw her for many more years after that…changing shapes and sizes with the passing years..sometimes becoming so small that she seemed barely there…but we knew she was…
Eventually I grew up and started putting up my own tree.. and on certain nights if I squint ever so slightly and turn my head just so…I still can see her …

Merry Christmas to One and All
May Your New Year be filled with all the brightness that Happiness brings

Jodi and Richard

And There it Sits!!!

2010-12-04T10:02:00.000-08:00

First off I do not want anyone to think I have lost interest in our tipi...on the contrary...we are both so excited that we find ourselves embarrassingly jumping up and down at random moments during the day... but timing is everything I always say and this exact moment is not the perfect one for setting up the tipi...

As you may have guessed...our New Tipi 'Cover' has arrived safe and sound ...and you are SOOOOO excited that..Ooops...wait for here...here comes the random jumps....ahhhh that feels better! The only reason it is not up yet and we are happily sitting in it is that there are a few steps that we must do first...DAMN I hate

being mature and responsible... UGH! First and foremost we must finish our doll work ...and find that perfect window of opportunity...then we have to stretch it out on the ground that we have cleaned (in this case the driveway) ...waiting for neighbors to go to work as they already think we are a bit round the bend... then we must draw out our design and then paint the top part of the tipi near the smoke flaps... let it dry....then tie all onto the lifting pole ...setting aside....tie new ribbons onto the poles , apply near rawhide strips , attach the horse tail, then erect the 16 poles (each is 22 feet long) ...then goes up the 80 lb (pole and canvas) lifting pole....placed in it's spot...then we unfold the canvas around the poles...then pound in the iron stakes at each tie point...until all is attached , then we tie rope inside for the liner at mid point and bottom of poles, attach the painted lining, place in rain guides at each pole under rope, then place in the flooring and then start to bring in our 'goodies' ...buffalo hide, furs, bags , pillows seats, boxes, baskets etc.... set everything up.... so that night we can enjoy our first fire.... then within a day or two we will paint the bottom part of the tipi while it is up and stretched... giving it a few days to relax and stretch...

As you can see we are excited to get started ...it is such an important part of our life...for relaxation , inspiration and personal entertainment...

Now to find that golden 'Window of opportunity' ...don't know when it will be but am guessing within the week we will get started ...weather plays a big part too... but as soon as it is up...we are safe for all manner of weather and storm... protected in mother tipi.

The above pictures are moments after the tipi arrived...first is kinda blurry of our dear Tess checking out her new tipi (she thinks we get it for her...well...maybe we do!!) and the second is the bag it all comes it...always amazes me how something so large comes in something that seems so small.... that is 60 pounds of small all neatly rolled...but trust me...after she is out of her canvas bag and exposed to the elements she seems to grow...and stretch...and will never again fit in that bag...

OK...off to finish a project so we can begin on our new adventure... what a wonderful Christmas it will be... hope Santa knows to find me in the tipi...I can see him now heading down the smoke flaps ..maybe I should write another note and tell him it's ok to use the canvas door...

Hugs to all on this Lovely Saturday!

Need Help!!!

2010-12-01T08:24:00.000-08:00

Howdy to everyone out there in BLOGLANDIA!!! I have a BIG Favor to ask of you all...

What I need is your 'Vote' ...please look to the 'sidebar' and click the Union Pacific banner and follow the simple instructions ..

Basically what this is...it's a contest of sorts...something we never enter...but...this one is all about TRAINS...the UNION PACIFIC to be exact... My Dear Richard's Favorite train...for any of you that have read my blog you already know that my dear honey is a TRAIN NUT...his father was an engineer for the Union Pacific... and Richard has always dreamed of being one (woulda shoulda coulda) ...anyway ...along came this cool contest put out by U.P. (you can read all the simple instructions when you click that button at the sidebar of my blog) ...basically you 'Vote for your hometown where you would like to see the UP train come through (it actually will when voting is done)...we chose Boulder City, Nevada as that is one of the towns that Richard's Dad drove through and Richard is a Nevada Boy!! OK...so...from this link every time you vote (once a day) Richard receives an additional 'point' ...the one with the most points gets to Ride in the Locomotive as an Honorary Engineer...wouldn't it be nice to send my Hard Workin Honey on this Dream Trip of a Life Time...Please vote, oh and you can actually VOTE once a day we just started yesterday and he has 5 point so far, the lead guy has around 360 ...I figure with all my friends out there in Bloglandia we can pass this guy easily...but we do need help from our friends out there...please help my Richard get his dream.......

Hugs to All and Many Thanks to ALL our Friends....

2010-11-27T19:37:00.000-08:00

Boy...is anyone as sick of Turkey as I am ??? GOOD LORD...if I see another piece I swear I shall bust o gut!! I am feeling like Italian just about now!! and what, it's been like 2-3 days!!
Hope everyone who celebrated the big 'T' day had a wonderful time with friends and family ... and that wonderful New memories were created for the coming years.
We had a blast...ate ourselves silly and laughed till it hurt... and believe it or not got to bed at a decent hour , all was cleaned and put away ...and little to no indigestion...to speak of!!... all in all a swell Thanksgiving seemed to be had by all...

Now Christmas...Oh CRAP!! When did that sneak in!!! I know I am not going to be ready for this one either...losing all track of time these days ...MY GOD, my neighbor across the street had her tree up yesterday...shining brightly in her front window ...ugh!! I need to get a plan of attack...and soon. Right now we are finishing up a few commissions and that's my main focus...then onto 'Holiday Ho Ho Ho's' ...first I need to buy some egg nog...saw that it was in the store during Thanksgiving... but I am weird with egg nog...can't buy it to soon or to late... and can't start the so called Holiday Season without a cup of that thick overly sweetened nutmeggy glog!! Always puts me in the mood! Next comes the songs...yes the truth can now be told...I sing non stop through this season and I drive Richard absolutely insane!! I adore Christmas tunes...both good and bad ones ...years ago we use to do the harvest festival circuit in California and each season would hear Elmo and patsy perform..."Grandma got run over by a reindeer' ...over and over and over and over and over and over ,...until I would almost swear Richard's head swelled up and looked like it would *pop* ... I now slip that song into my repertoire each year and then run like hell after singing with Richard in close pursuit!! Ahhhh it's the good times we remember!! tee hee...

A few days from now I will start digging out the ornaments and other holiday decorations ..I always hope to add new ones and shoot for new themes but alas this year like last slipped away from me yet again... So it will be once again Nog and Grog, Carols and Perils, gripes and lights...and so on and so forth....

Happy Holidays one and all... may the joy remain throughout the entire season...

Jodi

Turkey, Giblets and other Thankful things!

2010-11-16T07:26:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving will be here very soon...TOO Soon if you ask me...I am NOT Ready!!! I am once again having friends and family over for this special day (so of course I start to worry about everything!!) ...will be approx. 10-13 people ...this is the part I love the very most...the gathering!! I could have P,B and J's and still be thrilled..to me it is all about the people. Last year it was a go until...2 days prior and both Richard and I caught a friends bad cold...UGH!! Had to cancel and send friends and family into a turkeyless night...felt HORRIBLE...so now of course I live in fear this will happen again... I plan NOT to go into public at all a week prior ...which means I better get my ass in gear and START SHOPPIN!!

But it never stops with the shopping...I also Love to decorate the place...Richard wants to get the Christmas lights up prior (he better get his ass in gear...as we have dolls to finish)!!

I think we are going to try 2 turkeys...1 traditional and one smoked on the BBQ ...fun!

Good Food, Good Wine, Good Friends and Games afterwards.. it does not get much better than this...

So what is everyone out there in Bloglandia doing for Thanksgiving?

Hugs and Happy Bird Day to All...

Halloween Thriller!!

2010-11-03T10:49:00.001-07:00

Hope everyone had a particularly Spooky Halloween, got and gave lots of treats and had a good fill of old horror films on TV... I sure did.

I also went down to the Halloween Michael Jackson 'Thriller' Dance on our Main Street Halloween Night...as we get approx. 1 and 1/2 children any more ...decided it was time to haunt other things. They did this dance routine last year (as did the rest of the country) and they decided to do it yet again this year... we have about 6 friends in this group of 40+ 'Zombie'fied' folks ...Our good friend Sheila Carlson is the above mentioned Zelda Zombie (her first year to dance with the group) and she did fantastic...was rather scary too, hey...she scared me!!! Trust me...she is lovely without the makeup!!

Who knows as Halloween Trick 'O' Treaters are thinning out to dribs and drabs...I may just join the group next year to dance my little heart out (possibly literally!!) as a ghoulish globby grotesque Zombie....hmmm already thinking of my outfit...LOL!

Hugs,

Jodi

BOO!!!!

2010-10-29T07:19:00.001-07:00

My Halloween Card this Year ... I know, a tad scary but it was the mood I was in at the time....if I made it today probably would be orange and black with plump little witches and cute kitties... did I ever mention I was a Pisces!! A little nutty and swimming in all directions!!!
Anyway a few months ago I kinda threw out a challenge to some facebook friends to create
a Halloween Card...well time being what it is...it ran short and I basically forgot!! A few stepped up to the challenge and I put this one together quickly...
I LOVE skulls and skellymen and of course Black and White...with a 'hint' of color!!lol

So off to plan my Hollygobbleween...
Happy Friday..may your weekend be filled with spooky delights , haints in the morning Goblins by night!

Hugs,
Jodi

Halloween and 'Stuff'

2010-10-28T08:10:00.001-07:00

OK...so I have been missing in action once again... lost in the hinterlands of life... no excuse really other than ...there is so much of 'it' (life) going on...really hard to get all my ducks in a row...those little suckers like to wander off!! I do short little blips here and there on Facebook...that is because Facebook is designed to be in that format..short posts of this and that...like texting with pictures! But as I have said about a billion times Blogs are like a Great Big Hefty Chunk of what you really want to say... my problem...I never allow myself the time to actually sit down and say em!! But this morning I had a long talk with myself about my blog absence ...giving myself a piece of my mind (and now we are not speaking...looooong story) anyway...here I am... Popping on to say Howdy do just a few short days before All Hallows Eve.....BOO!

So ...what have I been up to you may ask... and I would answer.... a little of this, and a whole lot of that! Working on a few commissions at the moment ...with a couple more to start shortly.. then we just finished an auction on EBAY that was super fun... 3 little 'Monster Kids' Trick 'O' Treating ...and by monster I actually mean the real thing...not costumed kids... The Mummy's Kid, Wendy The Witch's daughter, and Frankenstein (aka the 'Monster) little boy...you might say a chip off his old man's block! This is the only time of the year they can blend into public without people freaking out...and besides...Lil Monsters like candy too! So that auction finished Tuesday...

I have been in the process of re-vamping my studio for weeks now...basically that's a really nice way of saying 'Cleaning' it up!! Out of control...and if it is driving me nuts you can imagine what it is doing to my neat-nik hubby!! I think I have gained control (for the time being!!) ...

Now that our weather is nice and not boiling hot any longer we are outside working on projects that desperately need to get done ... first up fixing the ground and fire ring where our new tipi cover will sit.... Yes! we ordered our new tipi cover and it should be here within the next 2 weeks...YIPPPEEE!!! We needed to do some repairs to the ground (leveling) and we are mortaring in our fire pit rocks . When it gets here we will paint the top and then put it up and paint the bottom...we can't wait...planning a bit tipi sitting party when all is ready...

We are also building a small patio area cover (shade) next to the pool...for BBQ and just sitting and relaxing. Also fixing our patio outside our back door that houses our pool table and kayaks...it is our little Wicked Waheni Lounge with rustic decking, grass roofed tropical feel meets English Pub Billiard room...I know I know bizarro combo...but it works, believe me!! But we are now needing to fix permanent sun and cold barrier walls in the form of cool painted (looks like real brink) covers ...we want to back them swivel in and out for air and light... Richard has it all jotted down on paper how it will work... should be very cool! The floor in that room is concrete that we have painted a solid warm green ages ago...we had grass mats all over the floor...but..they are falling apart with wear and people are beginning to trip on them...SooOooOoo I am going to actually attempt to 'paint' faux realistic looking grass mats on the concrete...I think it should look pretty cool ...maybe a few crabs, shells and a billiard ball for good measure! We already have a neat wooden deck stage that we painted a few years back for a party we had...with a band... So...this is my plan...and I hope to get started this week... I LOVE to faux paint..must be in my blood from my Grandpa.

We have been repotting lots of plants around the yard .. and trimming and pruning many already planted...and you have not lived until you prune 'Cactus' ...stickers, glochids , spikey thingies...and lots of other things that REALLY hurt...we spent one evening just picking things out of our hands and arms...ouch!

And we are also planning to clean out the garage by have a huge garage sale... and or giving to the local Pet rescue shelter.

On top of that all Richard is teaching me some guitar, I am trying to juggle again, I am sewing a bit and am about to paint the living room. Oh Oh...just got a wine chiller yesterday... something we have wanted for a few years now , they finally came down to a price we could afford...and we LOVE it...well...actually we got '2' ...because the area we wanted to put it in was to small , so we have this lovely older oak stand that would believe it our not hold not one big one but 2 smaller ones...so that's the route we went... so they sit side by side...and I keep my white in one and Richard keeps his red in the other...hey, works for me... ended up actually spending less!!

So this brings me to Halloween ...for some weird reason my heart is not in it this year...I mean, I have a 'few' things up...very few and certainly nothing like what I normally do...we get no kids...grrrrr...they all go 'Trunk or Treating'... BS if you ask me!! anyway...I decided to combine holidays...Yes...I am going to combine 'Halloween, Thanksgiving in the middle and Christmas'...I understand from another artist that there are a few out there doing this very thing ..like a club...I think they call it 'Hallowthanksmas' ..I think I will call mine 'Hollygobbleween' ....I will attempt to join my Halloween decorations...with my fall colors and Christmas Spirit and lights...should be interesting to say the least... I have always wanted to do a Jack Skellyton and Sally and Zero so I will be cutting them out of thin plywood, painting them and putting up all my gravestones with faux (there is that word again!!) snow... lots of stuff like that.... I promise to take pictures....

OK I have bent your ears (or strained your eyeballs) long enough...for those that stuck with this loooooong posting...I thank you and will pay up to 10% of your therapy bill!

I wait long times between but make up for it with non stop jibber jabber...

Great seeing all my Friends again.. and to those New Friends...Welcome!

Happy Halloween or as I like to say 'Happy Hollygobbleween'

Hugs,

Jodi

Already October 2nd and the Halloween Buzz has got me!!

2010-10-02T09:25:00.000-07:00

I ADORE this time of the year...if it were up to me to arrange and set up holidays for everyone...I am pretty sure that I would make Halloween last approx. 8 months...and have it mandatory for everyone to wear costumes all that time...eat lots of candy and say "BOO" a lot... wow...how cool would that be... bet war would be a thing of the past!!!ahhhh...but I digress!!

It is October 2nd and my Halloween Itch is working over time... and I always seem to have about a gazillion irons in the fire...I have to do things these days in 'spurts' so I am

s l o w l y getting stuff (decorations I mean...) out of boxes and placing here and there...which I am finding thrilling for a change...normally I do it all in one fell swoop... really liking this new method... allows me to enjoy it more and longer! This morning Richard and I decorated the mail box...classic webbing and giant spider...I personally wanted to place a rubber rat inside our box but Richard pointed out that we like our mail lady to much for that ...so web and spider it is...fun! Then my classic Halloween sign post that Richard made for me YEARS ago ...that is a tradition and goes up in the first wave of decorating... I like tradition and using the same stuff over and over...it becomes like an old friend you enjoy visiting with after a year away.... but I do add new stuff from time to time ...in my area hard to find anything really cool (although I did get that great Skull Glass bottle this year.... they did have actually mouth moving talking spooky busts at Sam's Club that I almost got... but I found them boring and the man and woman fought like the Bikersons so thought...not cool! But the month is still young so I may find something neat yet...in the meantime I enjoy my old familiars... and...and...I can start wearing my witches hat out and about in town.... OooOoo I do miss that!! The remarks I get are priceless...

So on this Saturday...I will slowly go through more boxes... and greet each 'old friend' with love and respect saying.."come out come out...let's play!!"

Have a Great Saturday Everyone...and tell us...what wonderful goodies did you get this year and has decorating begun in your house!!

Hugs

Posthumous Posey's

2010-09-20T08:06:00.000-07:00

OK...guess I was in a 'Mood' this weekend... sorting through 'stuff' finding lost things and I happened onto an old book with waxed paper sticking out one side ??? so I opened it up and found some flowers (old corsage) 'pressed' between the pages and wax paper that Richard gave me over 30 years ago.... they were pretty dried but holding together well, I thought back to when the flowers were fresh ,full and fragrant...alive, but how I felt they still had 'life' of the past in them...sooooo...I made 4 little 'dried corsages' with total Halloween Spirit...called them 'Posthumous Posey's...here is one...popping them on ETSY...just fun art that pops into ones head when it's least expected.

Now thinking about the next doll...wanna do another mini...but what to do...what to do. Thinking about a really sexy Vampire...hubba hubba...but then a tiny witch doing something 'witchly' or a really odd ball thing I have been thinking about lately...probably totally un-saleable!!! Why is it that those are the things we are drawn to the most... odd!

Have a wonderful Monday All..

Hugs,
Jodi

Our First Halloween Witch for the Season

2010-09-14T07:18:00.001-07:00

Happy 'Mid' September to one and all.... again the time keeps on slippin slippin slippin into the future!! can it be only a couple weeks till October??!!! The Bewitching'est and Most magical month of the year!!!
I am getting very inspired with all these thoughts of haints, spookies, witches and anything else that Bumps in the night... I am sure that I do not need to explains these energetic and electric feelings to most of you who already know all too well the

Excitement that is Halloween Season!!! Oh to live in Halloween town 365 days a year...ahhhhhh!

Anyway, started to get out a few decorations and even have bought a few new things for the New Halloween Year and that all got me excited about doing a doll. So we started work on this little lady above...'Madda Gnatwick Gribblegob' ...and of course her familiar 'Sir Scribe' . I remember well from my childhood when teachers (or visiting grandmas) would come in and read to the class...either in school or the library... that was a great time of my life... I myself was not a big reader...to fidgety, but when someone read to me...I was very still and alll ears!! I have heard that today this is a more rare occurrence...and though they do have library reading hours in a few libraries here and there...they are still few and far between...so sad. I know the school system of today is bogged down with many children and reading hour is more difficult... So I thought...A Retired Witch...who loves to read and write , she has nothing but time on her hands what with all the spells etc being put aside in retirement... how about she joins the volunteer force that grows daily and starts reading stories to the kids... bingo!!

I like this lady...she represents everything positive in life... time spent worthwhile ... a positive force , a guiding figure that teaches the mind to grow and use imagination....

So up popped Madda!!! I am very pleased with this doll...she is one of those dolls that came out exactly how I envisioned her and did not stray one bit from my mental and heart design on who she should be... I can even smell the candy corn and candy apples...lol.

So I figure this is a great way to get the Halloween Season off to a good start for myself...

Hope you enjoy this little lady.... I have put her on EBAY

there you can read more of her story and see more pictures... Thanks for taking a peek

Happy Pre-Haunting Everyone...

Hugs,

Jodi

Can it be September Already???

2010-09-02T13:02:00.001-07:00

Where the heck did August go???? Where did Summer go???? and I fear it will not be to long and I will be saying the same for September ...YIKES!!!!
I love the fall...pretty colors, nice smells in the air, Halloween, Candy Corn.... you get the picture...but as I get a-hem!! OLDER time keeps on slippin slippin slippin into the future...at an alarming rate.

Our mornings here in Havasu are getting nice and cool...great to sit outside in the morning and have coffee and watch our pup swim. Soon we will be dipping the kayaks into our beautiful lake and heading out for glorious mornings of adventure and excitement ...can not wait!!
Soon we will once again be setting up the Old Tipi for the winter months...really looking forward to that...get some of my best ideas in there ...it is safe and secure...like a canvas womb!

Last couple of week I have been jotting down possible dolls to make this season through winter and I am pretty excited...now I secretly know that I will never get them all done...so now the process of elimination starts , this year I do not look forward to it.
Working on a witch right now...she is not mini...but rather approx. 11" tall ..I like to really shaking it up in sizes...keeps ya artistically frosty. Miniature to 9 inch to 11 back to 5 1/2 ...smoke is coming from my left ear...is that a good sign or bad...lol!!

Anyway I like this little lady...reminds me a lot of one of our favorite characters from several years back... 'Matilda Thistlewise' ...the witch who roamed the forest selling her wares to the fairies and other magical creatures...
This is similar in size...colors are different and my little lady is a retired witch...filling up her newly found free time with interesting projects... you'll see.... she is fun and I am enjoying costuming her.
No name firm yet...but I have several good ones jotted down...but will have to wait till the lace bit of lace is added and her Hat placed firmly onto her head before she will pick her name...hopefully it is one of the ones I have chosen.

OK...just wanted to pop in and say howdy do and wish everyone a safe Holiday weekend.... may the hurricane pass way out to sea and pass you by completely...

Hugs To All

Jodi

Stormy Weather Weekend...somewhere else!!!

2010-08-29T10:06:00.000-07:00

TSK TSK...yet another weekend filled with Promising Down Pours , threatening light shows and booms from the sky that make your hair stand on end... but nary a drop fell on the old Creager Homestead!! Now there were rumors floating around that my Mom and Sis got a nice little pouring at there place...less than 1/2 miles away and another on the northside..even closer... but if we wanted to feel any moisture here we would have to tie the hose to the fence and run back and forth under it till satisfaction was achieved!! I told Richard...we need to become 'Storm Chasers' only in this case 'Rain Chasers' listen to weather radio and then hop in the car and drive like a bat out of hell towards the moisture if we want to enjoy any summer rain this year. We have tried washing the car as the clouds were mounting, we have set out wooden ware on the pool deck, hung up laundry on the line, planned outdoor event...and purposely did not patch a small hole we have in our patio roof...just in hopes that all of these 'PLEASE DEAR GOD DON'T RAIN' signs would send a signal...to Rain!! But alas..it was all for not!! The clouds Billow and poof....explode and erupt from inside with a light show to rival any fireworks display, we get that Red Sky in Morning Sailor take warning view out our window almost every day...nutin!! The air is so heavy with humidity you can achieve a fairly decent 'facial' just heading to the market...'Nada a Droppa' .... I even suggested to a local artist friend that we gather as a group of disgruntled individuals down at the edge of the lake and actually hold a 'Rain Dance' ...I mean, what could it hurt...right!!

I know many this summer have realized an over abundance of rain across the country...and I should not complain and wish for anything 'big' ...but when you live in a place that is dry and hot as Western AZ ...rain is like a blessing during these almost unbearable months ...like little individual wet gifts from on high... we love it, the plants love it the air loves it... this has been our driest summer since we have moved here close to 10 years ago...

All I ask for is a few kind drops...is that to much to ask??

So in-between waiting...I catch snaps of the storms all around us...very close... I swear in that one cloud shot....I see 'a laughing face'!!!!! UGH

Dry as a Bone in my Havasu Home Jodi

Just Back and a New Award Awaits

2010-08-24T07:46:00.000-07:00

Well I am back from the hinterland called Facebook.... got lost for a bit and ended up eating all the bread crumbs I left to find my way out ...but somehow I found my way back to Bloglandia... now to balance between the two...
In returning I found that Dear Moriah presented me with a Fun Award... 'Strange Men in Pinstripe Suits'..... seems this is an award that is given to the strangest of individuals... as I take this as a very High Compliment...I eagerly and happily accept your award Moriah ...and will continue to wear my 'Pinstripe Suit' with Pride and continued panache!

Off now to add to my Mantel of Friendship 'Gifts'

Hugs

Reached my 300th Post and Other Strange Tales!

2010-08-23T08:02:00.000-07:00

Naughty Naughty Naughty Jodi for letting one complete Month go by without posting a single word here on what is truly my favorite place to jot down thoughts!!! Those of you who read me on Facebook will probably say "well Jodi, you seem to do a fair amount of Chatting over on Facebook don't you, THAT appears to be your favorite place to hang out...explain yourself!!!!!"

Well true be told ...and I am pretty sure I may have mentioned this already once of twice here...My Blog is my 'Freedom Spot'... it's ALLLL Mine and I can say and do as I please ...from designing the layout to jotting down thoughts... this space is my sanctuary and truly is my favorite place to just chill and enjoy Your Company!! Facebook (in analyzing it) is a 'drug' that you get and give in small doses to and with so many...they seem easier to find and to find you! But though many spill their inner most thoughts there ...it always seems to be in smaller more condensed form...where as a Blog ...you can go on and on and on and on ...BREATH...and on and on and on and on...BREATH...on and on and on...you get the picture!! Here I feel like I am really talking with friends in a very friendly format , like sitting down with a cup of coffee, a few cookies and the latest happenings in all of our lives... I don't get that same feeling over there. Though I will admit it is easy to get 'hooked' on that particular drug called 'Facebooktesy'... between old friends from High School or past life acquaintances, Old boyfriends , New friends, causes, organizations, Liking this and that, all that 'poking' and prodding ... Fanning this and grouping with that ...Facebook is a very hard drug to kick... it's easy, widespread and keeps you unbelievably curious to find out more...

I really have decided that I need to chill more ... and ...Work More!! (believe it or not I can easily chill when wrapped in work) ...and I am actually having a hard time with the 'socializing' aspect of my life and also getting the work done that I want...no...Need to get done!! So I always say, somethings got to give... so keeping fingers crossed and if the Art Gods are Willing... I will 'peel' myself slowly from the clutches of FB and devote more of that time to my beloved Blog and Art that I am craving to create.

So how's that for a 300th Post... I have so much more to yammer about but my new doll is calling ... she has a touch of Halloween to her...which is making the old Halloween Juices Flow Again after a long hot summer of being dormant ... this is the Best Time of the year...the coming of Autumn...

Hugs To All 'Blog On'

Jodi

Trelawney and Neville

2010-07-23T07:22:00.000-07:00

At Last.... we have finished our commission of Professor Trelawney and Neville Longbottom...and just about now the collector should be receiving the set...I always hate to publish before I know they get to see it first!

This was a fun set to work on.... I have always loved making dolls that 'interact' with one another...tells the story so well.

This is all in 1:12th miniature scale...with Trelawney standing at just a breath over 5 1/2 inches tall. Richard made a little wooden table for under the cloth cover...I told him "you don't have to put to much detail in this table as it will be totally covered...he didn't listen to me and carved it and stained it....saying "I KNOW what's under there"!! lol...

On the table is a little brass Incense Burner complete with little incense sticks. A silver holder for her crystal ball when not in use.... Tea Cups (thank You Jayne) ...one with hand painted tea leaves in the shape of 'The Grimm' ... Neville sits on a red velvet hassock ..following along in his book ' Unfogging the Future' by Cassandra Vablatsky...he wears his house colors of 'Gryffindor' even his sweater has the colors sewn in. Trelawney Glasses were the most fun... Richard fashioned the frames from brass, hand painting them with a special finish, he then turned the curvature into each lens and polished them much like a Optician would..they magnify her eyes perfectly...no, I didn't make her eyes bigger...this is all from the lenses.

Her fabrics are hand dyed and printed... boots are sculpted.

As I said...we had a blast with this one.

Now we are onto little Japanese Elves again....to go onto EBAY soon... keeping fingers crossed that I can also make a few smaller items for ETSY ...like things I made in the past... miniature with Hat's, Witch and 'creature' Busts, Ghosties....and other odd ball goodies...

Thanks for taking a Peek...

Hugs to All,

Jodi

A Summer of 'HAIR' ..and I don't mean the Musical...

2010-07-19T07:52:00.000-07:00

OK...so this has been a totally odd and emotionally revealing summer for me (so far) ... it seems to be a summer of ' I HAVE to Get Dones' and a age old bugaboo that has been haunting me since early childhood.... 'HAIR'....

Since before I can remember Hair has played some sort of role in my life... I have a real Love Hate relationship with it ...it taunts me and challenges me...it turns it's back on me and then out of the blue is on it's very best behavior ... it makes me want to cut it all off (and I have..many times)...I have dyed it to change it's appearance hoping to gain favor with the new look .... I have curled it , permed it, knotted it ...and as stated in the wonderful musical Hair...Twisted, Beaded and braided it...and YES, it has gotten 'caught' in trees. I have ironed it, set it on orange juice cans overnight, Hot curled...Hot Oiled.... Streaked and Highlighted. I have Bobbed it, page boyed it, flipped it, French rolled it, french Braided it, Chignoned it, pony tailed it ,added every manor of hair ornament under the sun to it , wear a wide assortment of hats.... all for sake of the Almighty thing called Hair!!! It screws with us when we are going out and will NOT cooperate ...it actually has a 'Day' named after it 'Bad Hair Days' ..it many times looks FANTASTIC moments before we lay our head on the pillow for a great nights sleep...only to look like something the cat dragged in the next morning. It taunts us in Hair commercials and Movies where the Gal wakes up looking like she just stepped out of a Salon 'YEAH RIGHT"!!!

It has days where it shines so bright and vividly displays the ancestry of your redheaded grandfather or molasses hued strands of distant relatives you have never met... It is one of those things you wear that are remembered or easily forgotten depending on how your 'treat it' it can be your shining badge of glory or your Helmet of disaster !!!

And ultimately in the end...it changes colors all on it's own ...strand by strand it announces to the world " Yeah that's right...I am an Older Woman!!!" I really actually like the gray and in a weird way I am anxious to see where this New Hair Journey Takes Me...

So to add to my 'Summer of Hair Issues" ...I have been making myself ' Cloth Turbans' or Hair Wraps (to make it sound a little less 'Gloria Swanson'ish' ) and something I have ALWAYS wanted for my own but didn't have the right type of hair for it.... Dreadlocks! I am fascinated with this look and the free attitude to carry it all off and make that unique statement... religiously or otherwise. SooOOoOOo in my continuing search for "where will my Hair Take me This Week and will it be kind"? I have Made myself 'Felted Wool Dreadlocks' ...Thanks Nikki for inspiring me with your wonderful Felted Wool Designs you have been sharing with us all.

Just another avenue to travel... just another way to mask the 'BHD's" ... they are Fun! Wacky, Colorful and for now make me happy.... let's just hope the Hair God looks favorably upon this Newest Offering....

Happy Trails

Jodi

I am in Need Of

2010-07-08T07:48:00.000-07:00

HEEEEEELP!!!.......A Miniature Tea Cup and Saucer .... for our newest Harry Potter Piece.... We tried to make it ourselves but found we both had very large thumbs and 'lots' of them....
If anyone out there reading this in the U.S. has a 1:12th scale miniature Tea Cup and Saucer they are willing to part with (I will pay of course any price) I would be forever in your debt. In this little town we have no miniatures to speak of ...closest is driving up to Vegas... a few hours away...
Does not have to be fancy as the one above ... but would like it as delicate and realistic as possible
nothing inside the cup as we will be doing 'tea leaves of the 'Grim' inside ...

You are my only Hope ObiWan with all the fine miniature ... please let me know asap ...can email me at creagers@aol.com

I will pay fast shipping as well.... THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU...

Hugs to all my Fine Miniature Makers out there in Bloglandia...

Jodi

Mystical Professor Trelawney

2010-07-06T09:00:00.000-07:00

OK...I was being crazy this morning (I am still thinking it is just now Monday and not Tuesday...clock in brain is off a click or two) anyway...popped a couple of quick shots of Professor Trelawney ...but quickly realized that my photography pales severely to that of Richard's ...soooo got on photoshop and 'played a bit' ...making her appear to be in the 'Beyond' ...lol... Richard will pop a few good ones later and I will post them... Now I get started on Neville Longbottom and the setting....

Have a Great Monday...ahhh errrrr Tuesday!!

Hugs,
Jodi

Commission Time....

2010-06-22T08:10:00.000-07:00

Hey Gang.... Richard and I have been busy with about a gabillion things around the house and yard....that I finally decided it was time to come in and work on a recent commission. As many of you have probably figured out by now...I am COO COO for HARRY POTTER!!!! ...and my goal has been to create any and all characters and objects from this most Inspirational Group of Books and Movies. We have a very good collector who has the majority of our Potter Pieces ...and she now wishes 'Madam Trelawney'...Professor of Divination. Also there will be one of her tables in the setting (complete with lots of goodies), an overstuffed brightly colored ottoman and our very first 'Hogwarts Student' ...I am thinking 'Neville Longbottom'....not sure on that one yet...

So my tootsies are curling in delight at the thought of creating this piece. I have seen several Miniature Trelawney's out there...wonderful all... and that is the joy of creation... for each artist to put their own artistic touch to a character...variations on a theme I always say...

So I am off and running to a day filled with H.P. Movies , Magic and Happiness.... OH GOODIE GOODIE...lost in work once again...I really need this ....

Hope everyone has an extremely Magical Day ...

Hugs,

Jodi

Dobby...the House Elf

2010-06-15T06:39:00.001-07:00

Dobby is one of the characters that I have secretly yearned to create since we started making several One of a Kind characters from Harry Potter... this gentle little fellow seemed like the Cherry on top of the cake to me and though we have many other character we will be making...I could wait no longer. With these photos it is a classic case of 'Photos do not do him justice' In person he is so small and peaceful looking...photos with a good camera make him seem to close and in your face. He is fully sculpted over armature and if standing would be no bigger than 3 inches tall (but I have given him a firm order NOT to stand on the stool!!) He proudly holds his little 'Gift' of a sock.... he is now his own House Elf..... a man about town!!

I will be putting him on ebay later today after Richard shoots a couple more shots ...

Hope you like this little fellow as much as I.... it will be hard to part with him....

Hugs,

Jodi

Scalloped Tomatoes...YUM YUM

2010-06-11T15:59:00.000-07:00

This is one of my favorite recipes ...I could eat it at least 3 times a week...maybe more... Richard and I love this for dinner... Just thought I would share one of my favorite things to eat...

Scalloped Tomatoes

Ingredients
Good olive oil
2 cups (1/2-inch diced) bread from a French boule, crusts removed (I like crusts on)
16 plum tomatoes (Romas) , cut 1/2-inch dice (about 2 1/2 pounds)
1 tablespoon minced garlic (3 cloves)
2 tablespoons sugar
2 teaspoons sea salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/2 cup julienned basil leaves, lightly packed
1 cup freshly grated Asiago or Parmesan cheese

Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Heat 3 tablespoons of olive oil in a large (12 inch) saute pan over medium heat. Add the bread cubes and stir to coat with the oil. Cook over medium to medium-high heat for 5 minutes, stirring often, until the cubes are evenly browned.
Meanwhile, combine the tomatoes, garlic, sugar, salt, and pepper in a large bowl. When the bread cubes are done, add the tomato mixture and continue to cook, stirring often, for 5 minutes. Off the heat, stir in the basil.Pour the tomato mixture into a shallow (6 to 8 cup) baking dish. Sprinkle evenly with the Parmesan cheese and drizzle with 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes until the top is browned and the tomatoes are bubbly. Serve hot or warm.

Have a Curious Monday

2010-06-07T08:02:00.001-07:00

Today I have decided to explore and experiment , challenge my brain and dabble in areas I have yet to travel . I figure that it is a very good thing to be curious...for without curiosity we are mere land masses collecting only the tinyest of tidbits that blow our way.

Go Out There a Be Curious!!

Hugs,

Jodi

Our 35th...Zowie!

2010-05-28T08:48:00.000-07:00

These things just sorta sneak up on ya don't they.... seems like only yesterday that I spotted a tall dark and handsome guy walking through the isles of Sears Dept. Store in Las Vegas Nevada and found my breath literally being sucked from my body...I was speechless and actually blushing each time I would see him walk in on his break to the little coffee shop right next to the candy dept where I worked ...*SIGH*!!! VEEEERY Long story short...we at last met, spoke ...he asked me on a date...second date he told me he loved me...third date he asked me to marry him and 4 months later we were married...only waited cause we didn't have the funds for our own place. ...and the rest they say is history!! It was I believe written in the stars, destiny as they say. I was truly one of the lucky ones that did indeed meet their soul mate...and whats better yet...he feels the same...we had no other path to follow ...this was it and what a glorious path it has been.

Richard and I make each other laugh everyday, we sing to each other, we cuddle, we cry at movies, drink a glass of wine each night while watching the sun set , we work side by side, and have fun adventures together as often as we can... we feel this is what has made this journey so enjoyable ... two people placed at the right place at the right time and the rest was up to us ..we consider ourselves lucky and blessed to have found a best friend in each other that also fell in love....wow...what are the odds!!

So I mentioned our plans for our 35th in my last Blog Post...well I am going to share that in my next post either later today or tomorrow...the day before we head out...

More pictures to add...

Thanks so much everyone for hanging out at my blog and stopping by to say howdy now and then...

BIG HUGS

Jodi and Richard

P.S. The pics above are Richard and I through the years ...the graying hair and weight gain should tell you their order...LOL

Pizza Pie Party

2010-05-21T11:05:00.000-07:00

It's Friday...hot diggity dog! Been a week filled with emotions, projects, planning , working , cleaning and basically getting caught up from last week... but tonight is Friday... and Friday's are for relaxing, recharging, rejuvenating and rejoicing!!
Gathering at friends this evening for a night of home made pizza making , delicious salad, yummy wine, and 'Music Concerts' on TV...starting off with a little Tom Petty and ending the evening with Steve Winwood and Eric Clapton !!

I always look forward to sitting with several friends and chatting up how the week went for us all, local politics, and all of our plans for the future...
Sounds like a perfect evening to me...

June 1st is our 35th wedding anniversary...and Richard and I have something really fun planned for that...more later...

Have a wonderful weekend one and all ...please share what your doing, I love hearing...

Hugs,
Jodi

May 18, 1980 Mt. St. Helens goes BOOM

2010-05-18T12:15:00.000-07:00

It is a day we will never forget as long as we live.... Richard and I were living in Portland, Oregon on this day and would stay another 4 years...but this day was one that would rattle us both with excitement, fear and awe forever!

I was making little crafty items at that time...you know, kitchen witches, magnets, people flower pots, dolls our of cloth etc etc and selling here and there...trying like heck to get accepted into the very popular Portland 'Saturday Market' under the Burnside Bridge...a wonderful place where all the fine craftsmen and artists would sell... well the closest I got was finally being accepted to the 'Sunday Market' under the Burnside Bridge...same thing only different day and far less people...but I was a happy camper... and this day I was finally accepted...May 18th, 1980!!! 30 years ago today!!! Yep, that's right...the big BOOM day!! All was going well...we set up there were people milling about looking...and all seemed right with the world. The Mountain had been popping and spewing for a few months now ...nothing to really worry about, even had some quiet moments....but today was different. I remember sitting at my booth thinking hmmmm...this is odd...where are all the people all of a sudden , including the artists ...then someone came running down the stairs from the top of the bridge yelling that Mt. St. Helens just Blew Up!!!! WHAT!!!

Richard and I ran to the top of the bridge and stood with everyone else as we watched the mountain exploding ...it seemed to cover the entire sky...the first shot (not my photograph) was taken on the far side of Portland...what we experienced was much much closer...it's funny...we were afraid yet thrilled and shocked all at the same time...no one spoke and of course few had cameras ...the mountain just caught everyone off guard. We stood for the longest time just watching the clouds of ash grow higher and higher and spread out wider and wider, then it dawned on us...'What direction is all this ash heading'?? Then you could see and feel your fellow spectators getting nervous...then everyone started to move from the bridge rather quickly...'Was is coming our way'??? We vacated the bridge...packed up our work and headed back home (so much for my career of selling art under the Burnside Bridge)... part way back home ...a small suburb just west of Portland...we heard on the news that the ash was heading east... good news for us...back for those east of the blast zone...
It would be 2 more months before the mountain built up another head of steam and Blew her top again..man, who knew she had anything left to blow since the last big one...but she did!!! And this time it was heading west..towards us. This time we had a friend from out of town staying with us and doing a three day art show in a local Mall .... the mountain blew on the second day of the show...we told him he should head back to our place asap, but he went out to dinner with fellow artists... not retuning until almost midnight in a rain storm of falling ash... we of course waited up...in a panic, this is looooong before cell phones. We laughed about it years later that I greeted him at the door , tapping my foot and shaking my punishing finger in my robe ...like his Mom!!! "WHERE have YOU BEEN!!"" LOL...did not seem funny at the time.... Anyway...he got back safe...and we all woke up in the morning to a totally gray landscape...every tree, bush, lawn, building was covered in a light gray ash...like the moon! when you walked in it little puffs of fine ash would poof up, it was the most surreal moment of my life , like a gray dream (of which I never ever have) , no sound...like over night it had snowed very deeply, only the snow was actual ash! We scooped and shoveled ash off roofs ,cars , bushes and roads for the next several days...wearing scarfs around our noses and wrapping panty hose around the intake filter on the car so as not to damage the engine...which turned out perfect for us as I was working in panty hose at the time and had about a hundred pairs laying around...dolls that would never be made yet they sacrificed themselves for the safety of the cars...LOL!!

Our friend would tell us later that he was still sweeping ash out of his door jams and tail gate 3 months after retuning home....and "Thanks for the BIG adventure"

I love ingenuity...it was very shortly after the big 'ash fallout' that glass artists started using this 'manna from heaven' to create lovely glass ornaments and selling them where else... but the Portland Saturday Market under the Burnside Bridge!! Full Circle!!
It was an experience to be sure one that gave me a new respect for mother natures powers , and to realize how small we are in the whole scheme of things ....

The pictures above are ones we took when we visited Mt. St. Helens on the 10th anniversary ...with friends (we were then living in Calif) ...as a matter of fact, this is the same guy who was visiting us when the second blow occurred... he married and moved to Portland... guess no Volcano is gonna scare him off...LOL!

The lake is the famous Spirit Lake , You can see all the trees still down...and look at how close we were to the mountain...well, that has all changed, that area in now closed off and you now can only get to within 10 miles of it I believe ... so we feel lucky to have been able to get this close.

They say the mountain is not finished yet...that she still has something to say , possibly louder this time... here's hoping that she keeps mum and goes back to sleep ..

I am still in shock that it has been 30 years...where did the time go??

Hugs to All

Jodi

A Humanitarian Gesture for a Wonderful Giveaway

2010-05-05T06:53:00.000-07:00

Good Friend and Brilliant Miniature artist Jayne... of TALLULAH-BELLE ORIGINALS came up with a Wonderful Idea to celebrate her 200 Follower on Blogspot (Congrats by the way Jayne) ..instead of the normal fanfare or simple giveaway for being the 10th caller...she is ingeniously challenging us all to

step up to the plate and share our hearts with those in need...for something as simple as 'Drinking Water'...something we each take for granted each and every day. I stepped up to the plate last night and have been thinking about it ever since... PLEASE do the right thing...visit her blog spot above and read... your heart will surly lead you in the right direction .

But Jayne being the VERY giving person that she is... there will be an actual 'goodie' giveaway too for helping others...please go read all about it....

I Thank You from the bottom of my heart Jayne for bringing this situation further out in the open....

Our Newest on EBAY..

2010-05-03T07:57:00.001-07:00

Well we did it.... 2 things we never thought we would do....1.) Be away from EBAY this long....MAN can you believe it...6 long months...WOW where did the time go?? and 2.) Create anything 'Steampunk'...

Now we love EBAY...I know most are not a fan of this selling venue but EBAY has always been good to us...we do ETSY but have a hard time selling my jewelry let alone a doll...so we stick with EBAY until we start to have issues. And we just adore Steampunk anything...SOOOOOO much talent out there and creative minds ...WOW!!! So to dabble in that realm felt a bit uncomfortable...with all that has been done already...but ya know what I always say...try everything at least once!! But I musts tell you...we really got into this piece...loved it from the get go.... Richard needed to turn loose...and loose he was... he took his love of trains and all that is 'Steam Powered' and went nutso on this little broom....now I can't swear to it but if I had to stake money on the probability that this little Steam Based Broom could actually 'fly' I think it would be a bet worth taking!!!! He has it all worked out and it was so funny to see him explaining to me the ins and outs and the workings of this broom...He was like one of those 'New Car Salesmen' giving me the 'pitch' ...he did everything but 'kick' the broom corn!! I just LOVE IT when he gets so involved in a project ...his focus was on tunnel vision overdrive ...and to get the broom away from him so I could do my part was no easy task believe me!! I got to make the hat this time...normally he does but I remember once making a little top hat that I really enjoyed...not taking into account it was about 7 times larger... but I think it worked out just fine.

What I really liked was his 'base' design ...normally he creates a simple wooden base but he was so on a roll with the brass... he decided to create one that really went hand in hand with the broom... I like it, it is sorta Flash Gordon meets Steampunk....classic!

So there you have it our 're-entering' the EBAY Market ...oh by the by you can get to our auction if you wanna see more pics on the 'side panel' EBAY Badge...or... CLICK HERE

Thanks for taking a peek....

Hugs,

Jodi and Richard

A Tiny Fuzzy Walnut...

2010-04-30T07:37:00.000-07:00

OK...I think I have said this about a million times before here in 'Bloglandia' ..."Things happen for a reason..."... well we had another yesterday.

I think I may have mentioned that things on Bali Drive have been Hectic and Torn Asunder for a few weeks now with all the New Sewer/Street work that is going on...each day is filled with the sounds of loud booming noises , the roar of trucks, water trucks spraying our now dirt streets every 5 minutes (water + dirt = MUD) ... I am ok with this... really I am, these inconveniences are called 'Improvements' and we each must endure them ...and I do realize that there is 'light' (or quiet) at the end of the tunnel...soooo, I just keep on keeping on....and so does Nature!!!

Birdies sing as if nothing is amiss, hummingbirds sip nectar on a regular basis as if at a peaceful spa...and Babies are 'hatched' on a regular schedule with no amount of noise or disruption keeping them from entering the world. But sometimes 'disruption' causes things to go a little awry...such is the case for this little precious baby quail...or Fuzzy Walnut!!

Yesterday was a particularly loud day...our driveway is being jack hammered, holes half way to China are being dug and workers are buzzing here and there in trucks that whizz up and down the street at an even faster pace... a perfect storm of disruption for natures presence.

Towards the end of the day I stepped out into our front yard to see the work they had finished in our elderly neighbors front yard (a New Tree Planted...very nice)...I had no shoes on so didn't go to the edge of our wall...I went in to get Richard so he could identify the tree that was planted...he did have shoes on and went to the edge of our 6 ft high wall, within 2 seconds he was over the wall...that man can move FAST!! I had no idea what was happening....but when he comes back with his hands cupped close to his chest...I always know that he found something (I always pray it is not a snake!!) ... As I mentioned...things happen for a reason...and I believe with all of my heart...that Timing was perfect that he found this little 'very alone and lost' Baby Quail...peep peep peeping as he was running around our neighbors driveway...5 seconds later and he would have blended into the rocks. It was cold yesterday in Havasu...and very windy... and this baby was lost and cold. Richard searched all over the wide area to see if he could find the Mom and Dad, brothers and sisters... but we fear they were long gone...and were probably separated in all the street commotion. F.W. looked to be born that day... was very scared, cold and confused... actually ran towards Richard and welcomed his warm hands...

Sad when they get separated from their family...but we were so pleased that timing was right...no way he/she would have survived alone overnight... not with all the very hungry Ravens, Hawks, Mockingbirds and Roadrunners we have around...

This has happened before to us a few years ago...then we tried to raise it as our own until we found out they are Highly Protected in AZ... and there is jail time involved if caught with a quail....gulp!

So we called a local Vet who specializes in caring for 'desert critters' found...from tortoises to bunnies quails to skunks... she is great! Then there is another lady here is town that is licenced by the state to care for wildlife until they are able to be released back into the wild....

Of course before heading out... We popped a few pictures...now tell me that little Fuzzy Wuzzie does not look comfee in Richard's Hands....

We felt great that timing was perfect ...and we were in the right place at the right time...

Hugs,

Jodi

Some little Ditties on ETSY

2010-04-27T08:04:00.000-07:00

I am once again starting to list some little pins etc.... on ETSY...

Starting off with lots of different 'Happy Sun' Faces cause it is how I am feeling at the moment ...and one Fun and Funky Skull...cause I miss Halloween..so am getting a 'jump' on the season...lol. Thanks for taking a peek.... http://www.etsy.com/shop/creagerstudios1

Hugs,

Jodi

Popping On to Say "Hey"....and that I am still here...

2010-04-21T16:47:00.000-07:00

I Always feel bad when I have not been here in a while....my favorite place on the Internet...My Blog. I think of it daily and try like heck to get to it all the time...but it is that old devil time that keeps me tied up! I pop on Facebook and write little bits here and there ...but my Blog...I like to 'linger' talk up one side and down the other...the only place on the Internet where I feel the freedom to chat longer than 1-2 sentences and people actually listen...or not...does not matter...I just like to ramble if only to myself!!

Richard and I have been seriously tied up on our newest piece and the focus level has been really put to the test with our torn up street and loud trucks, backhoes, grinders, smoother's, blenders and any other kind of 'ers' there are out there...they are on our street... I have been trying to tun most sounds out...with Jazz, Blues and Ella...always Ella! Working pretty good...as we are making good headway.

This morning there was actual quiet...thought for a brief moment I had gone deaf...but then heard birds chirping...so knew all was well...but the Birds drew me outside on this lovely spring morning ...only to see the beauty that I almost over looked in my backyard.... Blooming Blooming Blooming!! Our Opuntia's are going nuts...and this is just starting, Jasmine and Bougainvillea are over the top and the front yard Agaves are after all these years Flowering...providing delightful little individual cups of sweetened Agave Syrup for the Hummingbirds to feast on...and feasting they are!! When finished flowering and providing nectar...the plant goes bye bye...very sad that such a large plant dies...but all the joy it gave to human and critter kind is quite a legacy....more will follow.

The Cutter bees are going nuts on the opuntia flowers... almost drunk with ecstasy while wallowing in the Pollen Joy... and the hummingbirds dart all around almost pushing you out of the way to get to their sticky gold....

It is funny.... I have been so focused on work lately...that I almost let these little moments slip by...I am so glad that today was quiet...a quiet that drew me outside thus introducing me once again to nature happenings in my own yard... made me smile, happy, rejuvenated and fulfilled....

Still Smiling!!

Hugs,

Jodi

What a difference a day makes...

2010-04-16T08:18:00.000-07:00

What a difference a day can make ... ya just wake up and say to yourself...SELF.. "ain't Nobody gonna railroad me...don't try and tell a lady she ain't Free" (lyrics from one of my fav songs) Woke up singing it and will proceed through the day smiling, singing and pushing on with it.

OK...I am Not truly, mortally or emotionally wounded... I just get myself in a mental dust bunny mode once in a while... giving waaaay to much power to what others think and say... I seem to function much better listening to ONLY the little voice I have inside... sometimes I wanna 'whack' that voice around and say "snap out of it" but most times it guides me in the right direct...

OK...so I lost a week because of 'life's little 'Get in the Ways' but I have gained strength and a more clear vision ... The pathway is swept, obstacle's are removed and I feel like I have on brand new tennies that can take me anywhere...

Back to work on our latest piece...it has my undivided attention and I shall not stray from the goal I have set...

I hope everyone who has them....can sweep away the mental dust bunnies and step firmly onto the pathway ...see you there!

Hugs,

Jodi

Can it actually be Thursday already??? REALLY???!!!

2010-04-15T05:48:00.001-07:00

Time keeps on Slippin Slippin Slippin into the future...gotta love Steve Millers profound song and words...and today I feel like I am in the middle of one of them. Ever have a week disappear?? I mean literally *POOF* you blink and it's at the end of it!! Where did the first part go...and what about the middle, wasn't there supposed to be a middle?? This seems to be happening to me more and more lately... I find that if I don't get a serious 'grip' on things on Sunday or Monday....the week runs free and wild... much like a cowboy lassoing a steer...if you don't get that rope around the horns and neck first try... they run amuck and you chase it till ya do!! and then there is always that chance of the steer blending into the rest of the herd ...what I like to call...'weeks into months'!! Well my 'steer' got away from me and has 'blended well'!!

All I can do now is set my sights on next week and give it another go!!

I am one of those that when I work...I NEED to dedicate ALL of my time to the effort...with no straying off the pathway...one toe out of line and it's like I have developed A.D.D (Artistic Deficit Disorder) ...anything can pull my attention elsewhere... kittens need saving from a mine cave in...I AM THERE, Vaccinations needed in outer Mongolia ...COUNT ME IN!! You need someone for a 24 Hour 'Stare-A-Thon' ...I AM YOUR GAL!!! Sick really that I so easily get distracted ... and lately life has been throwing me straight down the middle distraction balls that I don't see coming.

When I am on my game the skies the limit...I can achieve anything in record time.... but I feel like I have been sitting the bench a lot lately and inside I am screaming "SEND ME IN COACH"!!!

In my defence, I have been talking with several friends that claim to have the same malady ...so it is either common, normal or contagious!

My table is filled with projects each waiting for me to sink my teeth into them and finish the job ...but those darn days "keep slippin"

I think today (reason I got up so early this morning 3:30-ish AM) I shall dig in my heels , don the blinders and ear plugs , duct tape myself to the work table and make weeks end progress...so that by Friday (tomorrow...GULP) I can wave that victory flag of *** YEA BABY...I got Something Done this Week*** Wooo-Hoooo....

Hmmm...maybe I should design 'Flags'...hmmm ....BAD JODI BAD...NO BISCUIT!!!

Hugs

Newest Commission..Molly Weasley!

2010-04-05T09:44:00.000-07:00

Well the commission is complete and ready to be shipped off to her new home. This, for those that don't know the character, is Mrs. Molly Weasley ...wife to Arthur Weasley and Mother to several Weasley Children including Ron, Ginny, Fred and George. She is from the Harry Potter Stories and just happens to be one of my favorite characters... she is sweet and dear, and a wonderful Mother and wife...but what I love is she can be every bit the strong and forceful Witch when someone she loves is in harms way...

This doll setting is Miniature (1:12th scale) ..Molly stands approx. 5 1/2 inches tall ...so that gives you an idea of what size the chair is. The wonderful chair Richard made...I adore all the colors and patterns he chose...I know in the movies The Weasley Home is all comfy and down home basic...and the 'chairs' are covered with slip covers etc...but this is what 'we' imagine a favorite Weasley Home chair might look like under the cover...lol! Richard made the chair with a wooden frame and then covered with fine batt and then the fabric and trim....I want a Big one like this!!lol

The 'magical' knitting in the chair seat is the little tiny knitting I was ripping my hair out over...UGH!! although I must admit, by the time I got to the end of it...I think I was getting the hang of it and starting to enjoy it!! Molly's shoes are sculpted and painted to look like leather... her over apron is the 'mini' fabric I was working on...all trimmed in 1/8th inch silk ribbon. Her sweater is hand dyed and pieced together vintage tatted doilies I have had in my collection for years... there are about 8 different ones in each sleeve...

She was so much fun to work on...

Thanks for taking a peek...

Hugs,

Jodi

A Tail of Two Ears...

2010-04-04T10:34:00.001-07:00

Happy Easter to one and all!!! Though I no longer received an Easter Basket after the age of 17...it did not stop me from still dressing the part!! This picture is Easter 1975 Richard and I are not yet married yet I still convinced him to 'hop' into one of those 5 shots for a buck fifty photo booths and don some paper rabbit ears and 'teeth' that I made...what a sport!! and Cute too!!!

Hugs,

Jodi and Richard

The Last Easter Basket...a tale of Woe!

2010-04-03T07:53:00.001-07:00

At what point do you suppose that kids come to the realization that this is not just a Hormone Fed gigantic rabbit clutching them... but a sweaty dude in a furry suit just trying to make a buck. WHY do they have to make them so 'creepy' and dangerous looking...it is weird enough to think that a rabbit somehow makes it into YOUR Yard to 'hide' multi-color cooked eggs (when did he find the time to do THAT??) and then jimmies your locked door to violate the inner sanctum of your family home by placing more eggs on shelves, behind chair and other hard to find places that surely if not found that day...will be in a week or so when the smell emits... this furry dude has a bizarre sense of humor!! And then to make it all right he gives you a basket of sweets ...including a hollowed out chocolate likeness of himself ...who , when stared at long enough 'encourages' you to bite off the ears rendering the likeness mutated ...and then 'blinded' with the plucking off of the little candied eye!! OhhHhh the horrors of it all !!! But I must admit there is nothing quite like the finding of that last very stale sticky old jelly bean engulfed in layers of faux grass weeks later when you thought all were gone...and it's a RED ONE!!!! ...MAGIC!!

I did love the whole Easter Scene.... I remember sneaking a peek in the middle of the night draped in my Doctor Dentions watching my Mom feverishly coloring our breakfast food (eggs) with the smell of vinegar hanging heavy in the air.... and when she caught me peeking and realized the jig was up.. her knee jerk reaction was to say " Mr. Cottontale (he had a NAME???) asked if I would help out this year and color up some eggs for him....he will be by around midnight to pick up the eggs"... so of course I thought to myself...what a cool thing, Mr. C has singled out MY MOM for Egg Duty...I had a true moment of pride!! Of course that did not explain the loose grass and scattered jelly beans I saw on the table.... no matter, I was sure Mom had it all worked out with her new employer ..and as a reward I would be getting a swell basket of goodies in the morning....all was right with the world.

My very last Easter Basket that I received was at the age of 16 !! Seriously...!! The Rabbit Ritual all out in the open years earlier...I still would get the famous booty each Easter Morning ...made you somehow feel all cozy inside.... but alas on the 17th year...the counter was 'empty' ...no choco rabbit likeness, no sticky jelly beans, no peeps anywhere...sniff sniff.... that was a cold Spring Morning when I realized that the bunny would no longer be visiting and left me cold turkey ... seriously jonesing for that gooey marshmallow foil wrapped surprise...a day that will live in infamy....

How old were YOU when the bunny paid his last visit to YOUR humble abode??

Happy Easter All....

Jodi

Great Saying for the Day

2010-04-02T14:25:00.001-07:00

Draggin my 'Bee-Hind' today...

2010-03-28T07:35:00.000-07:00

Well Yesterday I proved to one and all that I am a mighty strong woman...something I already knew !!! Because of some pending street / new sewer work on our Bali Drive that will be starting shortly ...Richard and I had to 'lift that barge and tote that bail' yesterday ... which translates into moving VERY large boulders , removing very large bushes , removing fences, raking back gravel , uprooting bricks that are very firm and settled right where they are, replacing siding on our garage wall... wheelbarrowing dirt and then replanting some palms.... WHEW!!! Strong but VERY exhausted. It was a job that has needed to be done for quite a while now and it feels GREAT to at last get it all done... besides nothing feels better than to get outside and do some much needed yard work ...the physical properties alone are enough to lift the spirits and mental well being!! But in truth today, I don't know if it is all the physical labor of yesterday or the 2 hour 'knitting' session I did last night on 3/4 inch sized knitting needles that Richard made!!! First off...I DON'T KNIT...I mean it...I DON'T KNIT!! I never have been able to master the technique...oh, I can cast on and do the 'very basic' stuff ... but it is always left looking like 'Bo Bo the Saucy Chimp' had a hand in it!! And now...to do it this small...well, needless to say my body was so tense from grasping those tiny needles tightly in mortal fear of dropping a stitch ...I feel today like I was in a Knitting 'Smack Down' last night...and Lost!!!

My hat is tipped to all those that have mastered and thrived in the wonderful wacky world of Knitting..
By the by this is for a miniature doll we are doing and I am knitting with ultra fine Speed Cro-Sheen (SP) .... big question now...should I worry that there is a non-stop flow of drool coming from the left side of my mouth???

I have about 3 more inches to knit... by then I am sure I will be certifiable ...all I ask is that you kind people drop me a line once in a while...with just a few kind words and maybe an occasional box of Chocolates.... please send all correspondence to the 'Sunnydale Home for Rest and Mental Rejuvenation' ...do you think they will allow me to 'tie-dye' my straight jacket???

Have a Great Sunday All

Jodi (aka Bo Bo !)

When Irish Eyes are Smilin

2010-03-17T08:50:00.001-07:00

Now I don't think I have one single ounce of Irish in me...well, maybe a smidgen ...But I do have a love for all things Irish...specially my darlin Irish Man ...Richard! His Mothers folks came from Ireland (McMillan Clan) ...and he is mighty proud... So even though we have but one in the household today that is Irish...today...all things be Irish!! I can smell my corned beef and potatoes cookin in the Slow Cooker, Irish soda bread is bakin we have the 'All Irish Music All Day' channel on cable ...he is wearin green and walkin around the house singin happy Irish Tunes.... of course it could be the fact that he finished off the rest of the stout that didn't go in the Corned Beef.... It's a Happy Day indeed and I just love those days....

So a VERY HAPPY St. Paddy's Day to one and All.... "May the clover comfort your feet as you walk through life...and may Rainbows End settle in your soul bringin a Blessed Future in that pot of Gold"

The Artistic Vortex!!

2010-03-15T08:28:00.000-07:00

HELP...I am caught in the middle of an 'Artistic Vortex' ... this sucker hit me dead on and there was no time to step to the left or right of it....BOOM!!!...head on ...smack dab dead center it hit!! OUCH!!.. This I must admit happens to me every so often...so I am no stranger to this ' situation' ...the trouble is, I never know where or when it will hit!! Unfortunately it is not like Hurricane season that they can predict with some sort of certainty ...between this month and that month... it is a confusing little sucker as it comes from 'within' and when you least expect, it finds someway to 'ooze' out ...gather strength and then double back at you full bore

!!! I always know it will come...it always does...it always has... at different ages in different places brought on by who knows what!!!... and once again... this little emotion sapping... creative tapping... senses zapping entity found my address and is camped out on my doorstep...rap tap tapping at my Door!!! ...and I AM NOT falling for the Old "CANDY GRAM" bit this time!!!

My Artistic Vortex (as I like to call it) it when my fingers want to do something creative, but my brain can't make up it's mind on what to do, and then a sneaky side slips in with the voice of doubt that it can't be done anyway whatever I might decide... while yet another voice whispers "why bother" ...and then a mental note arrives about that time with overwhelming messages of 'reason and logic' "doubt and questionings'.... all coming back to my fingers that just wanna do something but they are held prisoner by volumes of mixed signal missages!

And on top of that Artistic Hell ...I am then pelted with a barrage of creative rockets that thrill and inspire ...only to hear that DAMNED little voice again... "Are you Nuts...it's been done, is being done, this is not your style, you have no style, stay within the lines, it will take too long, don't reach that far, reach farther....have another cookie"!!!

If you have not guessed already...my Artistic Vortex is my own inner self throwing up every road block it can to repress the natural flow of Art. My definition of Art has always been freedom of mind, spirit and emotion... ...the Artistic Vortex is like having 'clogged pipes' where nothing flows through ...ahhhhh to have a Brain and Soul 'Plunger' ...

My feet are stuck and my objective is 10 feet in front of me...just out of reach... and I swear it just stuck it's tongue out at me!!!

The Good News....this is always short lived... I will learn to curb the voices with ear plugs, pamper the soul with promises of understanding and let my fingers do the the creative dance they so enjoy doing...

Jodi

Thanks one and all for the Birthday Greeting...Update

2010-03-11T08:28:00.001-08:00

I got a Brand New Set of Billiard Balls from my Dear Richard (he KNOWS what I like and what I want!) ... some ladies like diamonds...I prefer a good game of pool! Now to get the table!!! ONLY KIDDING ...we have a table on our back patio it is a 7 ft'r ..what they call 'Pub Sized' just a tad smaller than the regulation size....which is perfect as we don't really have the room for the big'n out there... I love my table and I LOVE Pool! It has always been a dream to get my own table one day as I am really not much for hangin out in smokey bars these days! Happenstance and Kismet aligned a few months ago when a neighbor who is parting ways with her hubby asked if we knew anyone who wanted to buy a pool table.....WHAT!!!!!!... my heart skipped several beats and I was down at her house before she was! Thanks to good friends and a few strong backs we managed to up the table onto dollies and roll it up the street...in the middle of the street to be exact... waving traffic around us (thank goodness we live on a quiet street!) Anyway it happily sits on my patio next to kayaks and dart boards, tiki gods and cloth brick walls (got ya curious don't I) ...Sooooooooo...whose up for a game??????

Birthdays come but once a Year...THANK GOODNESS!!!

2010-03-10T09:14:00.000-08:00

I should clarify...I am really not that opposed to Birthdays...YES it means we are a year older, ...YES you can more easily hear the sands of time pouring through the hour glass,... YES we can hear the bones creak 'Over' the sands of time spilling... YES we find stray hairs in the oddest of places,... YES we say "What" more often ...YES the subjects of 'aches, pains and infirmities' are starting to replace the 'Oddest place you have had Sex ' topic at cocktail Parties... YES cocktail Parties are now Wine, Snacks and Sweats gatherings... YES names elude more often but "What's his face" is perfectly acceptable if you pick the right crowd to hang with....and between 6 people...YOU WILL get the name... YES it is now acceptable to 'Share a Brain' with your mate (as long as you are informed ahead of time whose day it is.) ...YES the twinge of excitement has at last replaced the overwhelming urge the 'Strangle Youth' when asked if you want the 'Senior Discount' when out at a restaurant or movie ...YES you can't do many of the things you did in your more youthful days, but they are joyously replaced with a resounding "WHO CARES" ...and you mean it!!

It is 2010... 'Gray is the New Blond' "It is finally Hip to wear Glasses' 'Size 14 is the REAL Norm and they are at last admitting it' "We've seen things others have not, experienced events others only read about and have a wisdom that is ONLY gained with age...

I do embrace all of my 59 years ...and Thank the Birthday Gods of allowing me this many and the clear memories of all those I have shared my years with ... There are days when being a certain age are not pretty, not comfortable, not as popular ...but there are other days when I would not like to be any other age than what I am...and most days age is nothing more than a number jotted down on paper.... One of my very favorite quotes of all times was by the late great baseball player Satchel Page....and I quote " If you didn't know how old you were...how old would you be"?? To me...that speaks volumes on how a person should live their life...

On a personal note.... I found two of my favorite pictures ....and wanted to share. The top picture was of my father and Me on my first Birthday...I was not unhappy ..just tired....you see my Dad was a musician and often did not get home until 2:00AM ...he made my Mom promise not to have my first Birthday Cake without him...so they got me up at 2:00 to celebrate...he was Thrilled as you can tell, I was on the other hand, confused! And do you know that to this day...I wake up at 2:00 am each morning...I kid you not...it may be for just a few seconds... but I do come awake ....hell on the rem stage but I would not trade it for anything.

So at 25 years of age I wanted to recreate the setting ...shy of 2:00am (and my dad shy a few fingers) I donned my grownup footed jammies, hopped up on the table and posed a little more alert while Richard popped the picture. We giggled and cried and enjoyed the moment... Great Birthday Memories.

A Birthday Blessing

2010-03-09T17:41:00.000-08:00

Today I received what I will always consider a Birthday Blessing Gift from a New Friend in Sweden! 'Eva-Liisa Eriksson Kukkonen of the Wonderful Blog 'Ottilias Veranda'

I have always believed that things happen for the most wonderful reasons and without the need for any explanation other than...'It just Happens'...and from time to time we are touched by the hearts of others no matter how far.... I have indeed been touched by a Painting from a friend...a new friend that I received the day before my 59th Birthday .... and although it was my VERY Lucky Win from the OWOH Giveaway...I will always consider it a Birthday Blessing!

I have hung this 'gift' in a special spot to me...amongst some of my favorite things...and just below a special treasure , my grandfathers remaining brush....his favorite.

My breath has been taken away...and I am lost in the beauty of this art piece. Everyone Needs to visit this site and enjoy the wonderful works of Liisa...

Thank You from the bottom of my heart.

I truly have been Blessed with Wonderful Artistic Gifts from New Friends ...Thank You OWOH... you truly are just that...'One World...One Heart'!!!

Hugs,

Jodi

Sunday Ramblings...a little of this and a chunk of that!

2010-03-07T06:46:00.001-08:00

It is a lovely Rainy Sunday here in the desert ...and though many of you know I am not a big fan of the rain...this particular rain is a nice soaking , readying the desert floor for a Beautiful Spring of lovely desert bloom....that I like! Plus the color outside is amazing...a bluish gray, dappled with dark and light...the kind of sky that stirs up memories of childhood rain days at school! Anyone remember School Rain Days? When it was too wet to go out for recess , and playtime was confined to the classroom (MY FAV) ...where we would paint and draw, play jacks under the desk , sit and giggle with friends in the corner or sit spell bound in our seats while the teacher read stories of adventure ...like Marco Polo or Tom Sawyer, and then eat our lunch at our desks, I can still smell the heavy aroma of bologna sandwiches, bananas and homemade peanut butter cookies that hung in the air at the united opening of 20 paper lunch sacks...OoOOo I loved those days. To me, anything that was slightly off kilter from the normal was an exciting adventure... This feels like one of those days...I woke up with it this morning and it is still going strong, I now have this mad desire for a bologna sandwich!!!! Come On Rain...give me all ya got....I am livin large in my Childhood memories!!

An update on last Thursday's 'TAD' Day.... Well...the wind was there but much less and there were a few more people because of it. But I am now pretty convinced that this outdoor selling venue is really not my cup of Tea!! Although I did sell a 'Small' amount (2 items...please please, hold the applause!) I feel that what I create is not what the Snowbird Capital of Havasu is looking for and if they are interested they want to 'talk you' down in price....WHAT!!!

It was a blast and I so enjoy spending time with good friends... but I can do that without putting myself through the 'slow tooth pulling' agony of trying to sell in a market that looks at me like I have lobsters crawling out of my ears!! SoooOooOOooooo... that was fun.... now back to serious work... new dolls and a few ditty's on EBAY and ETSY.

OK...The Oscars tonight.... I like to watch them...lets face it, I am one of those that likes to see what outfits are being worn and guess who is drunk by the time they exit the limo!! Richard and I were at one time BIG movie goers, but lately with the expense and incredibly Bad Popcorn being served at ridiculous prices....we opt to stay home, buy the movie and enjoy without someone kicking my seat or sneezing over my shoulder!! So several of the movies I have not seen that are up for awards... We did rent 'Hurt Locker' last night ...though a disturbing Movie (I hate war) it was brilliantly directed and acted... I think this one could get best of both those categories! Avatar was great, but I still have issues with it winning best movie. Visually it was one of the most stunning movies, but I must admit too, I am not a big fan of 3-D !! I admit I am more the Film Noir type!!!

But I will enjoy the show tonight with a glass of wine and cheer, cry, laugh and sigh with everyone else...I always get very weepy over 'Those we Lost' segment...

There are at least a dozen or two birds chattering outside my window right now...I took a peek, seems they have found shelter from the rain on our 'Tipi Poles' housed on shelves Richard made on the side of the house... always makes me feel good to know they found comfort....but I have to lay down the rules early...you can keep dry there...BUT NO NEST BUILDING!!! Maybe I should put up a sign...hmmmmm!!!

Cleaning Studio today ...such a mess, need to organize a bit before I get seriously into work... or it will be Mess on Mess!

Hope everyone is having a Wonderful Sunday....filled with unexpected things that bring smiles and good memories!

Hugs,

Jodi

If it's Thursday...it must be Havasu!!

2010-03-04T07:09:00.000-08:00

Yes Friends in Bloglandia ...it is Thursday once again ... and you all know what that means....

It's 'TAD' (Torture Artist Day) ... After much Pontification and Convincing by my Dear Richard ...I have reluctantly decided to once again brave the elements (we may have winds gusting to 22 mph this afternoon, believe me I am asking myself WHY!!) and drag Art Work down to an open lot in downtown Lake Havasu at 2:00 pm until 7:00 this evening....GULP!! We will once again batten down hatches , Reef the Tops'L , Secure the Rigging and begin to pray!! I think I have said this many times before throughout my blog posts..."I do love a challenge" so this has to explain WHY I am putting myself through this yet again...

But then when I think more on this Blustery Subject...I guess it comes down to 'Braving the elements to meet with friends for a few hours of fun and to Announce and Laugh in the face of 'Mariah ... B*#ch Goddess of Wind' "HELL NO.... you won't get the Best of US"...

WOW...can you tell I am approaching this whole thing with a bit of an attitude today!!! Onward and Upward..... Give Me Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of something really heavy to weight things down.

Send Good Vibes....

Hugs,

Jodi

OK...so a funny thing happened on the way to the Mailbox...

2010-03-03T11:59:00.000-08:00

Have you ever ventured out to your Mailbox preparing to retrieve the mail only to hear a muffled voice coming from inside the mailbox ..ME Either ...well I have now had that experience!!! No wonder the mail lady sped off quicker than I have ever seen before...

There inside the mailbox was a Package from my Friend Jacqui of ODD Dolls
and it was then that I discovered that the small muffled voice that I had heard before came from that box!! I can't be sure but I swear the 'box' claimed to be thirsty and hungry and also asked "where in the hell am I"??
Straight to my studio I headed to open my OWOH Winning Giveaway from Jacqui .... when out popped the fastest little creature I have ever laid eyes on ...It was none other than 'Lenny the Elf and his little friend 'Lyle' ...already, gone out of sight in my home...Now I have already been warned that this duo was a handful and pay close attention for they live to conduct mischievous deeds at every turn...well, we were off to a good start in that department. Even my dog Tess could not find them.... the refrigerator was open and my white wine open...so I knew they were headed to the back part of the house.
At last I tracked them down in the back yard (actually with a lot of help from Tess...who kept a noticeable safe distance from the naughty Duo)
I got my camera and popped a few pictures from a safe distance (right next to Tess) ...seems Lenny found our old Gravestone out back (real gravestone...no body!!) He seemed fascinated with it, a little TOO Fascinated if you ask me!!!!.... now what I would like to ask Jacqui is ...should I be nervous in the fact that Lenny has started to dig a little hole right next to our gravestone (I have NO IDEA where he got the little shovel!!)...I mean, should I be worried??? I suppose if I see another one next to this one ...I will need to give you a call for further instructions on 'Handling' Lenny and Lyle!!!
I eventually coaxed him inside with cake and Cheetos and convinced him that he looks absolutely stunning sitting on my Nightmare Before Christmas Shelf...next to Jack!! (he actually insisted that he thinks he looks 'Better' than Jack... I agreed with a wink and a nod... I think I am getting on his Good Side ...at least for now... I will be in touch soon if things turn ugly!!!
Thank You Dear Jacqui ...this little Pair brought a smile and I absolutely LOVE them
to pieces!!! Your Work is SUPER!! I am a lucky lucky girl!!

But I must admit....I intend to keep one eye peeled at all times!!!

Hugs,
Jodi

The Art Aftermath!!

2010-02-26T05:58:00.001-08:00

Flash!!! News Update....."Artist Survives exposure to crowds... because crowds were non existent"... Story to follow!!

Did I ever mention that in the late winter / early spring here in Lake Havasu, AZ....it gets pretty windy!!!??? Not Dorothy in Kansas windy... but more like a blustery "boy it's a great day to go and fly a kite kinda day (but for petes sake DON'T set up an art booth!!) ...such was my experience last evening. Bless Richard's heart for making our booth VERY secure with 'Iron Tipi Stakes' , secure ropes and massively large clamps.... all secure!! Unfortunately many others were not... and because of the windy situation several 'Artists' (who are no fools when it comes
to displaying their hand crafted wares)...just decided to not show up...thus the show was very small this week and filled with more of a mish mash of odd ball items. But a few of us artists hung in there...and sold a few items ..so who can complain...we did a local show and got to sleep in our own bed ...all is right with the world. Had a fun time chatting with friends for a few hours, discussing our lives and new art projects ...also met some 'interesting' new people (one of my favorite things) ..one being a bedraggled young man with a wonderful dread lock do , a dog and a very small table set up selling rocks he finds in the desert and the wire jewelry he makes with the geodes and rocks he finds...all the while he is talking to you he is spinning tales of adventure as he is working on his jewelry... I forgot how Art Venues tend to bring out the very cool and interesting people....
I am neither discouraged nor dismayed .. I will again 'show up' next week to do battle with whatever the elements offer .... standing tall with purpose , hands on hips and proclaiming to the world...."I am Artist.... hear me roar" (loudly over the wind!!)

Thanks For all the Kind Words of encouragement

Hugs,
Jodi

Testing the 'LIVE' Selling Market this evening GULP!

2010-02-25T07:23:00.000-08:00

Well doing something this early evening that I have not done in a very long time... selling (hopefully) some of my jewelry at a local Art Fair 'LIVE'...GULP! Joining with 2 other Friends and Artists that we know here in Havasu in a booth for 'Thursday Market'...a blend of Arts, Crafts, Food, Local Produce ...a small quaint Home Town Venue held every Thursday in downtown Lake Havasu. I am SOOOOO out of practice...When we did the show circuit years and years ago I was really good at it, now...my knees are shaking! Ask anyone, I can 'talk' with the best of them...and sell ANYONE'S Art...except My Own!!! LOL....strange!!! Should be fun though...Pins,Bracelets, Necklaces..OH MY!! ..at least the weather is BEAUTIFUL Today (knocking wood)... I am having fun 'recreating' some ideas for jewelry that I had several years ago and putting new twists to them...if they go OK...I might try them on ETSY....need to get some work in there...been ages! I think the Necklace above will just be displayed this evening but go on ETSY.

Wish me Luck....and say a little Crafty Prayer that I remain erect through the whole evening (no fainting allowed)

Hugs,

Jodi

Bored...get a pencil and find some dead flies!

2010-02-24T08:05:00.000-08:00

(No Flies were hurt or killed in the making of these cartoons, just found in window sills)

(p.s. art borrowed from another creative artist)

'It's Alive ...part Deux"

2010-02-22T06:42:00.000-08:00

Frank Has Legs!!!! And a body for that matter... now what would have been really funny is to have put him together with spare 'doll parts' ...DANG!! Should have thought of that sooner...Kiddin!! We still have the Bride (the collector wanted to have us send them both together and also have them photographer together...so I added one shot of them...she looks none to happy with the situation , and there he is, still trying to impress her... some things never change!! Of course I prefer the dark Moody shots ...'Dolls Noir'... I do like the drama of it all...and the black and white.... just get out of my way if there is a Robert Mitchem film noir movie on the TV....I get lost in the lighting and angle shots...

So here he is.... getting ready to head off to his new home..... Now onto something else.... scratching here here as to what...hmmmmmmm...anyone have any ideas????LOL....

Hugs to All

Jodi

My 2010 OWOH Win...

2010-02-21T09:41:00.000-08:00

LOOKIE LOOKIE What I won on the OWOH 2010 Giveaway ...A Wonderful Polymer Clay and Brass Bracelet by the extremely talented Alice Stroppel ...I was floored to win this.... If you have not visited her site yet...then 'run as fast as you can' over to see her lovely and creative designs ...you are in for a real treat. Thank You Alice... I love it and will wear often...

I am a Lucky Girl.

Hugs to All

Jodi

It's ALIVE!!!!!

2010-02-19T13:49:00.001-08:00

Well I am almost finished with my Miniature Frankenstein's Monster ...putting on the finishing touches today.... but I just had to share this head shot with you.

Since childhood I have been completely and utterly fascinated with Boris Karloff's Face...in every character he became in the movies...I was never really afraid, just mesmerized speechless. His eyes seem to speak volumes and get the point across so well without words.... truth be told I always thought it might be kinda cool to be that little Bavarian girl with the daisy's down by the water's edge when 'The Monster' paid a visit...I know I know...weird!! But how she was not afraid of him is how I would have been...only if things got ugly...I'll bet I could run faster than her.....!!! Anyway... This was my chance to try and create 'Mr. Karloff' as the famous Monster...only in miniature (1:12th scale)...and I must say, I am tickled with the results. The eyes were all important to me. Richard of course helped with the Neck Electrodes!!! And then proceeded to explain to me how they would work...TO MUCH INFORMATION!!!

So...Here is the same head...with 3 different effects the first one is a straight out of camera shot...albeit moody!! The 3rd a bit more soft...but the middle one is my fav...now that is the Frank I remember from the movies!!

I will post the whole fellow soon...

Hugs,

Jodi

Kayak'n and Yack'n!

2010-02-18T06:11:00.000-08:00

(Sheila, Me, Kate and Richard...Alice taking pics)

"Beautiful Coves, Beautiful Canyon Walls"

What a MARVELOUS DAY we had yesterday... decided to join with friends and meet down at Cattail Cove ...for a relaxing Day of Kayak'n, Yack'n and Lunch'n !! Our Good Friends...Kate, Sheila, Alice joined Richard and I for a crazy fun time.... that's what happens when you get a bunch of '60's gals (and guy) together... fun fun fun. The day was beautiful, around 75, blue sky with light clouds here and here...and not a single soul on the lake (except for one lone fisherman in a cove) ...until we started heading back...then it seems many 'woke up' and decided to go out on the lake to 'make some noise' but the morning was ours...not a sound except birds, fish leaping from the water, possible Beavers making their 'den building' noises...and of course laughter and sounds from good friends.... what a day it was, a much needed R&R!!

Now back to work....

Hugs,

Jodi

And the Winner is...

2010-02-15T19:10:00.001-08:00

Trudy 'True' of 'True's Gifts From the Heart'.... a GREAT BIG CONGRATS True. I contacted True this morning to let her know ... and due to lots of 'stuff' on my plate today was unable to make the winning announcement here until just now...

I want to Thanks each and every person who visited my Giveaway and left such remarkable words behind.... I want you to know ... though I did not respond to each kind word....I did read and take them all in...and by visiting your blogs I can happily say I am a very rich person in spirit from all the new friends I have gained.... So wonderful to meet you all...I look forward to chatting more ...

Thank You again...Big Hugs to All and True...your necklace will be heading your way very soon... CONGRATS again...

Jodi

Happy 'Heart' Day

2010-02-14T07:16:00.000-08:00

Hello Young Lovers where ever you are....!!! Happy Valentines Day One and ALL!!!
Hope your Day is Super Special and filled with good memories and warm loving thoughts... Hug those you love and admire, speak lovingly kind of those no longer with us...and embrace what you have in your life at this time... for LOVE truly makes the world go around and feeds the soul a feast of joy and contentment.

My funny Valentine
Sweet comic Valentine
You make me smile with my heart....

A Magical Day of Life Saving

2010-02-12T13:11:00.000-08:00

There are some days in life that are set aside by the 'Powers that be' as 'Do good life saver days'... and this is one of them for us. From the time we got up this morning seems this is all we have been doing....a bug here, a bee there ...but when this little Hummingbird came into our life today..we knew we were on that set path . Richard walked in this afternoon calling to me "come here Jodi...see what I have" ...knowing Richard as I do this statement can either thrill or strike fear in ones heart... who knows what he has found and brought inside... but this time my heart sank...it was a Male Costas Hummingbird ...in pure 'torpor' . Richard found it on the ground out on our back patio ...very still with eyes closed.... poor little thing was chilled and probably starving . We have no idea what happened...we are guessing there was a 'H. Bird fight' over the feeder and this little guy took the worst of it.... Richard held him in his very warm cupped hands for over an hour ...and the little fellow began to move a bit....I mixed up a small batch of sugar water and with a tiny spoon fed it and to our surprise...it's little tongue lapped it up ...more energy and eyes began to open ...I popped a few pictures as Richard held him...but we feared the worst...possibly this fellow was older and at the end of his time.... we got a small box with warm padding and placed him inside we remained that way for another hour or so...we checked on him about every 10 minutes...then one time I came out and Mr. H was sitting up on the edge of the padding...both eyes open....as it is a warm sunny day we decided to set him outside in the box on a chair...just in case he decided to fly...and sure enough a few minutes later when we checked on him....he was gone.... our hearts soared with him...

I am a true believer in timing and being at the right place at the right time for the right reason...and today proved my belief ...

A good feeling on this most beautiful day....

Hugs

Are You Ready for 'Vintage Black Friday'.....

2010-02-05T12:07:00.001-08:00

OK...I only just found out about this 'Fun Event' this morning from my good friend Patty's Blog

Anyway...sounded fun and involved the color 'Black' (right up my alley) so I thought what the heck. It seems this event takes place the First Friday of each new month...and the Only Rules are that you display something on your blog that is A.) Black...and B.) Vintage!!! So I literally grabbed the first thing I could see .. Richard's 'Cybister Beetle' It is an Aquatic Beetle from the La Brea Tar Pits (Los Angeles) and lived between 10,000 - 40,000 years ago...that's pretty Vintage!! It rests in a matrix of asphalt. Richard has had this in his collection for about 25 years ...for from what we understand pieces like this are no longer being sold...the museum is now hanging onto all things found in the 'Pits' . I loved the Tar Pits as a child...located right in downtown L.A. ...we would go there on school field trips ...and they found many a 'ancient' bone in there...the Pits even 'bubbled' coooool stuff!

So there you have it...My something Black and Vintage... thanks Patty for the fun event!! Come on everybody...join in....

Hugs,

Jodi

Commission Complete!!!!

2010-02-03T06:17:00.001-08:00

AT LAST!!! Our Commission is complete and in the collection of our Collector!! Just wanted to share a few of the photos with you. I must say this piece has taken us much longer than expected... between bouts with colds (both of us) , the Holidays, short trips, unexpected happenings on the home front ...it seemed at one point we would never finish this piece....but our love for it kept pushing us forward ...and not until that last day with the final touches...did we take our final "WHEW'S"....

We are most pleased with the outcome and the Collector is over the moon happy...so all is right in Creager Land!!!

If you have not seen them already there are early shots of the 'making of the Rickshaw' on our blog.... since those shots much has been accomplished with this piece...the dolls for example....no dolls in the early shots. The Rickshaw has been painted and trimmed, cloth cover added to the folding shade top (that moves up and down to shade him) , metal blackened and polished... there also is a base (not shown) . The dolls hats and shoes were made by Richard as was the fan he holds. I made the dolls faces and hands as well as clothing and misc. details on the clothing... The gentleman riding is comfortably sitting up against 2 Chinese silk dragon pillows...edged in silk rope trim.
Richard carved the wooden seats inside the carriage and I painted to resemble leather...as always, the details never seem to show up in photographs...bummer.

So at last... we are happy to share what we have been doing for the past few months...among a few other things of course... Now onto some Miniatures ...Doing a Frankenstein to go along with 'The Bride' that we did ...and I think I really have a hankering to do some Alice in Wonderland Figures... we will see what falls out when I shake that creative tree...hmmmm maybe a Cheshire Cat!!!

Hugs to All,

Jodi and Richard

A Shout Out for a Couple of Friends...Must See Blogs

2010-02-01T07:25:00.000-08:00

I am a very fortunate individual, I have been blessed with meeting soooo many wonderful and talented artists over the years simply because of my Profession. It always seems that the Moon and Stars align just right to put me on the perfect pathway to meet others walking the same walk. These artists I have meet over the years have enriched and fulfilled my artistic and spiritual journey that I can't help but feel blessed. Each and every day I cross paths with New 'Travelers' on this artistic journey... and most days I consider myself the luckiest Person in the world...

One of the Terrific ways of sharing art of course are through 'Blogs' and Web Sites... And we have two very talented friends that I would like share with you. Kathryn Uster Profera (Kate) has been my kindred Spirit friend for the last 8 years ..we know we are sisters that somehow were 'split apart' at birth. Kate is a very talented Lady whose artistic skills are demonstrated boldly in whatever she is working on...be it collage, painting, jewelry, sculpture or working to keep the Earth Green and Safe ...my friend shines! Here husband Tony (a Musical Genius) and Kate are our best friends here in Havasu, and the only people that can keep us up talking past 1:00am....LOL!!!.

Kate has been working on her 'New Blog' ...Please pop over and Say 'Hi' to my Buddy... KATHRYN USTER COLLAGE

Richard and I have known the Multi-Talented Tom Banwell since the very early days of our careers... We actually did the California Harvest Festival Circuit Together back in the 80's ...back then he blew us away with his Wooden Creations... Over the years Tom has worked in Numerous Media ...Leather, Glass, Resin just to name a few...Tom was the very talented artist that cast our Anatomy Studies that we sculpted years ago. We lived in the same neck of the woods at one time and have enjoyed dinner and wine on several occasions with he and his wife Jill...."HI' Jill. I remember Tom having a real thing for Hats (me too!!) But his hats were like no others...now he is creating Marvelous Steampunk Designs that take our Breath away... yet another wonderful artistic direction Tom has taken...and once again....his Artistic Star Shines Bright. Please visit his Blog... TOM BANWELL LEATHER AND RESIN PROJECTS

A Tale of Woe..& That's How it Goes!!!

2010-01-28T14:02:00.000-08:00

For anybody who has read my past blog posts or talked to me in person...you know I am one to go on and on about our Magical Tipi , and how much we adore it... well 'Woe' came a knockin on our door this morning... when we stepped outside to the backyard to assess any damage that might have taken place during our recent rain and wind storms...we were not fully prepared to see this gaping hole in the side our our statuesque beauty.... It literally took our breath away for a second or two... as if something very precious was taken from you and you were helpless to do anything about it...

My second reaction (after the first one of shock) was the need to quickly cover the hole with anything I could...not to keep anything bad out ( after all it was a bright sunny day with no rain in sight) but rather my knee jerk reaction was to cover the hole so as to not let anything out!! I know it sounds weird but I do believe very good things dwell within the canvas skins of our magical tipi...be they spirits of those before us, energy harnessed from visiting friends or even Dreams gathered and stored there....whatever it was...I did not want them to escape and be lost forever! The hole was facing the S.W. so this was good as it would not confuse the Morning Sun as it entered our tipi from the east.

Richard and I both realized that something like his would happen at some point...yet we really did not speak of it ...EVER! You see...we leave our Spiritual Abode up year round (can't even imagine not having it up to enjoy)...and with our blistering summer heat with it's relentless penetrating rays constantly beating up against her skin ..and the hot and cold winds that blow from both North and South , and the summer rains that drench her and leave her damped for sometimes days ...Our Spiritual Lady was bound to suffer this tragic end at some point . We painted her to protect her...and those colorful markings still hold true and strong... but her more exposed canvas accepts all that nature has to offer....and she did a wonderful job for 3 years straight. So now it is time to take her down and let her bones dry out a bit in the sunshine and to expose the ground for all manner of critter to scurry . Come this late spring when they finish the road work on our street and the weather warm and drys out ...we will buy our lovely lady a New Wrap and paint it pretty once again...

Soon there will be a new energy , spirits will once again gather and dreams will fill the inner walls of our magical place..

Hugs,

Jodi

Article Published in ADQ!!

2010-01-26T06:57:00.000-08:00

Howdy Do....

Just got notice that the New Art Doll Quarterly Magazine hit the stands (Spring Issue) ...actually found out through a friend on her Blog.... Artists are always the last to know!!!LOL... Anyway...this is the magazine that I wrote an article for on our Little Joury Nell ...also some steps that went into making her...it was a blast to write and I hope to try my hand at some more in the future. I have not yet received my copy...but I am guessing this is now on stands.

Check out the cool doll on the cover...wild!!! I so enjoy the direction many of the new dolls are taking these days... Over the Top Creations...so much imagination!

Anyway...just thought I would let you know, a few wrote to me privately and asked for me to let them know when it hit the stands.... It Hit!!!

Hugs ,

Jodi

P.S. Hey if you have not done so yet.... put your name into the hat for my Necklace Giveaway....

OWOH -One World One Heart Blog Giveaway

2010-01-25T10:01:00.000-08:00

CLOSED!!!!!

Thanks so much for joining in....

QUICK NOTE: This Giveaway Ends SOON.... will close doors 10:00AM PST Monday February 15th...

Back in 2007 ...Lisa at a Whimsical Bohemian (Cool Name Huh!) Started this great way of Bloggers meeting each other...Bloglandia can be a pretty big place and this unique way of bringing us all together is genius. I do look forward meeting tons of new people and enjoying their blogs. Be sure to pop over to Lisa Blog and participate in all the fun adventures that await you... hold onto your hats...it is going to be a fun exciting ride through Bloglandia!

This is my First Year to Participate (Thank You 'Sprite') for letting me know about this fun event.

My 'Giveaway' is one of my Sculptural Wear Necklaces...primarily I am a Doll Maker but I do love to dabble in jewelry (as long as there is a face involved).

This necklace is handmade from Polymer Clay, Art Papers, Vintage Stones, Brass, Ivory, glass and stone.
From bottom stone to ivory beads on top...is approx. 8 inches. Silver hook on leather cord finishes the pieces off nicely.

Here's How to Enter... Simply leave a comment on this post (Thank You for that) ... Last chance to enter will be Midnight (EST) February 14th . I will use the automatic generator number picker to select the winner...and then will announce the winner here on my Blog on the 15th.... I will contact you at that point....

Again Thanks for stopping by my Blog... I look forward to visiting yours...

Hugs,
Jodi

Rain Rain Go Away

2010-01-21T13:07:00.000-08:00

Pardon the Play on Words 'Pun -isms'...could not help myself...the rain is making my brain soggy!! We have been blasted with the stuff... we are getting it on the tails of poor California...UGH! I actually like rain...but when it brings hundreds of little 'leaks' I am not amused! That's what happens when you have a house in the 'dry' desert...rain happens and leaks pop up everywhere from shock! On top of everything else...boy Richard and I have developed little head colds...nothing bad from what I can tell and keeping fingers crossed won't go anywhere beyond a few sniffles, a sneeze or two and desire for hot tea with honey... not sure where we got this one ...I am so good about being in public with germs... but this too shall pass...wow...two colds in the span of two months...UNFAIR!!! But even as I type this I am feeling better....

WOW...just took a peek...I am at 299 Followers... one shy of 300!!!! ZOWIE...DING DING DING ... I could not be more thrilled...

OK...off to chew some more gum to patch the new holes.... if it does not stop soon... Richard's next project might be an Arc!!

Hugs,

Jodi

Happy Birthday E.A. Poe

2010-01-19T08:41:00.001-08:00

I almost forgot that today is Edgar Allan Poe's Birthday .... HAPPY BIRTHDAY E.A.

Such an inspiring writer...whose words can warm your heart or chill you to the bone . I have always had a 'thing' for artists who suffer for their work or because of their work... some call it suffering, I call it dedication of the soul. Van Gogh, Toulouse-Lautrec , Kerouac, Poe...and so many others. Think how different our visions would be without their dedications to the soul.

And the raven, never flitting, still is sitting, still is sitting

On the pallid bust of Pallas just above my chamber door;

And his eyes have all the seeming of a demon's that is dreaming,

And the lamp-light o'er him streaming throws his shadow on the floor;

And my soul from out that shadow that lies floating on the floor Shall be lifted - nevermore!

My Find

2010-01-18T09:16:00.000-08:00

There are few pleasures I enjoy more than Haunting Thrift and Second Hand Shops... In an oddly perverse way I thrive on the sometimes dusty musty Older smells that are wafting on the air when I open the door...I always think to myself...TREASURES AWAIT!!! I do love a good treasure hunt (always have) and my routine of the hunt is etched in stone after years and years of seek and find! I am a 'quick scan' kinda gal...feel somewhat like the terminator when he scans the room for human life ... complete with little lights flashing and numbers running in sequence across my eyeballs... and then *BINGO*...I zoom in on whatever it is that excites me the most...and then work out from there. Most who journey with me to these shops know my routine and also know 10 seconds into the store...I am gone!!! Better keep up or get out of my way...I am a girl on a mission ...a mission to seek out the fun, weird, odd, unique ,different, bizarre and one of a kind things that all have my name on them. Richard has learned this over the years and does indeed gently wave as I leave him in a small cloud of dust in my self proclaimed 'Zip Fest'!! I am lucky in that most items that appeal to me...seldom if ever appeal to others... I ADORE the expression on the clerks faces when I check out...I can almost hear their thoughts... "GEESH...we were Wondering who in the hell would buy this *THING*...figures, it's a girl in Bib Overalls"!!! Then I tell them my plans for said item and the little light of OhhHHhH I understand now and what a cool idea as they fondle the item longingly....MINE I think to myself!!!! Oh the hunt and chase is soooo much fun!

So just the other day we were visiting one of our local ' Thriftporiums' and I found a cool pillow and a glass whatchamacallit ...and then Richard (still shaking off the left behind dust I emitted) pointed out a painting he had found way over in the corner... well I went nuts ...it is a lovely 5 feet by 4 feet original acrylic abstract with great colors that I just KNEW would go smashing over our bed (we had been looking for ages for something to fit the blank spot)...and there it was... I would have done a back flip of joy if it were not for the glass whatchamacallit in my arms ... and the Price was unbelievable..let's just say the canvas alone would cost twice what we paid. As we stood back to look at it from a distance of about 6 feet...a man walked up and saw what we were looking at and promptly made a move for it...well like a segment out of 'Six Million Dollar Man' ...I Lept over an old plaid ottoman and reached out my arm to grab before he made it there... (now that would have made a fun YOUTUBE) . Anyway as you see it is hanging on my wall...guess who won the dash!!!!!

This photo does not do it justice ...it is big and bold and reminds both Richard and I of 'Space' and when we each described what we saw...we were both sooo close in our vision...fun!

Being an artist I realize the shock factor of one day finding one of your works hanging on a Thriftemporium' wall ...but, Art can find itself in the strangest places for the strangest reasons...from attics to basements, garages to tag sales ...wherever is ends up and is found... the art lover is blessed to find it and give it the proper home it deserves. I look at art found as breathing a second life into the creation, like a second chance to love it and allow it to continue to bring joy... so no matter where you find it...discovered art can mean as much as the day it is created.

Hugs,

Jodi (aka Lucky Puppy)

Thrilled to Pieces...

2010-01-15T15:29:00.001-08:00

Yes I know I know...I have been absent from my favorite place for a very long time now...well at least since the 6th...and for somebody that likes to talk as much as I do...that is an Eternity!!! Been finishing up a few commission pieces one very big one and that is just teetering on being finished...soooo close I can see the end in sight.... and one other Project that was just finished and uploaded last evening.... A Podcast Interview with the Wonderful and always delightful Rice Freeman Zachery of 'Voodoo Cafe'
What a fun time we had and boy does she know how to get 'stuff' out of me.... she's GOOD!!
So if ya have a hankering to hear yours truly spill her guts to the world about Art, Dolls, Marriage etc... you can pop over to the right hand column of this page right at the top and 'click' the button...

Hugs,
Jodi (a.k.a. Chatty Cathy)

Tea Time...and pass me one of those Crumpets!!

2010-01-06T08:33:00.000-08:00

I Just finished reading a blog posting by doll maker friend Wendie , I always enjoy her posting so much...

In her blog she mentioned 'Tea Time'...Favorite Tea Pots and gathering with friend for good conversation and a cup of Tea... this got me to thinking....

I LOVE Tea...I REALLY love Tea more so lately than I ever have before... We have so many Wonderful English Friends here in Bloglandia...I would LOVE to hear about favorite Tea Recipes (i.e. methods of brewing) , types of Tea preferred ...one lump or 2...milk verses lemon, times to sup a good cup..... etc....

I have been to High Teas, have enjoyed several types of Tea (Green is NOT my favorite..YUCK)

I think mostly I enjoy the ritual of Tea Time .... I prefer loose tea to bagged...but bagged works in a very nice quick pinch! Speaking for myself I prefer milk...and two lumps...and something YUMMY and Sweet to eat as an added Treat!!

Would LOVE to hear those favorite Tea Tales...

Hugs,

Jodi

P.S. OK...I am an admitted Coffee-holic!! But lately Tea brings a certain calmness...I drink coffee on the run...but I stop to enjoy a good cup of Tea...

New Year Magical Moment...

2010-01-04T05:57:00.001-08:00

Every once in a while in ones life...something really extraordinary happens...and if we really pay attention and 'See' it can set you on a path that is magical and enlightening to follow...

the above was mine!

Putting away the Christmas tree and taking down all the lights can be a depressing act...basically the joy and illumination of the season are finished...time to move on....always a sad time for me. This year we have been doing it in steps to make it appear not so radical and final. The last bits of lights were yesterday ...around the front windows and the tree into the box. I removed the lights from the big front window and thought to myself...I really need to clean this window...spotted and dusty from our last rain and wind.... I went to get the cleaner and paper towels and as I approached the window again...there it was...this image ...it actually took my breath for a second. Why did I not see it before, I swear it was not there ...or was it but I only saw it from this angle. I quickly got my camera. I must add that these photos are untouched... nothing more than a slight bump in the contrast . Now I KNOW what this is.... it is the imprint of a Dove that obviously flew into our window and then flew off...this has happened before several times (the curse of keeping your windows clean)...poor little guys just see it as a straight flight path... and 'thump' into the glass when taking off from eating seed on the ground. Knocking Wood...we have yet to lose one, it just knocks them loopy for a few seconds and off they go. Just to be safe Richard and I scoured the front to see if there was a helpless little Dove sitting outside somewhere...nope! For those that may not know...most all birds have dust in and on their wings from 'dust baths' etc..also Birdie 'dander' ...so when they hit...this can be distributed on the surface they hit...we have seen this before... but what we have not seen before is the 'full' imprint.... and when I changed from color to B&W ...there it was... a face...an almost angelic face...WOW, breath taken away again...I so hope you can see it. Now I am NOT one of those Faces of Jesus in a Grilled Cheese Sandwich kinda gals, nor a follower of Heavenly Faces of Mary on the side of a Barn... but faces that I see and cannot explain that's another story all together...

As a child growing up, part of my Christmas Tradition (started by my parents) was to 'Find the Christmas Angel' ...we would set up the tree with lights and the color wheel spinning it's bright colors onto the tree (dating myself here) and look on the walls ,floor and ceiling for the Angel....sometimes it would take as much as a week or more to finally see her... but there she always was... our own Christmas Angel! Her silhouette appearing faintly on the wall or ceiling and then disappearing again , back and forth back and forth I would be absolutely mesmerized by her appearance...she was always there....Magical!! I loved this Holiday Tradition best...it gathered the family each night and we joined together in the search.... it made us use our imaginations. And when we finally found her... we each described what we saw , how she looked to us ...they were lovely moments...and ones that I will never forget.

The Angel has been absent for many years now...but I will admit, I still look for her each time the tree is set up.... this year, I believe my Angel came in a different form .... and she is the brightest and most detailed yet.... for whatever reason and however long it took for her to appear once again, I am so grateful that she did...her comfort is welcomed and the memories she brought are the perfect touch to this Ending Season of Joy.

Wishing you Magical Moments in the New Year

Jodi

Happy New Year One and All....

2009-12-31T06:35:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year One and All... 2009 has had it's ups and downs but all in all we got through it, over it, under it, around it and now we are driving Stakes in the ground for another interesting year filled with the unknown , uncertain,unfamiliar, uncharted, unprecedented offerings of Life....

but isn't that what makes... Life Exciting and worth living...

Hold Loved ones close, Tell only truths, Hurt no one and Reach higher and farther than you ever have ...Wonderous Miracles are waiting to tickle your fingertips.

May You New Year Enter with a Glorious Bang

Filled with Sparkles, Sizzle and Brightness Enough to Last

the Whole Year Through

Hugs,

Jodi

Merry Christmas Tonight...don't let the Martians Bite!

2009-12-23T12:15:00.000-08:00

Having one of those days were I swear to you...I thought I had two more days 'BEFORE' Christmas Eve....YIKES... found our a short time ago that TOMORROW was Christmas Eve!!! Great Galloping Goblins...where did the week go??
I am blaming it on the 'Martians'...

We are having my Mom and Sister over for Christmas Eve Dinner ... having Crab (tradition be damned!) and a Caesar Salad, and Creme Brulee for dessert, it was my Moms request...YUM-O-RAMA!!!

We open gifts and sing songs (Richard and I have been working on a rendition of Baby it's Cold Outside to surprise my Mom with) ... We normally chat about old times and good memories...
Might play some games too....
Basically it is a quiet silent night filled with peaceful feelings.

Christmas Day we are going over to my Moms apt. building and dropping off some gifts for a few of the kids whose parents are having a bit of a struggle this year with work and all ...these are great little children ... filled with so much love and hope in their hearts... We are just gonna tell em that Santa got just a little confused with street directions and that he accidentally dropped off these goodies at our house by mistake .. but that I already was in touch with Santa to tell him no problem, we would straighten it out for him...and deliver the goodies to the right address....

So what is everyone doing on Christmas Eve or Day? What are your traditions?

Merry Christmas to ALL...and To All a Really Good Night!!

Hugs,
Jodi and Richard

A little Scary ...Not for the Kiddies!

2009-12-19T06:25:00.000-08:00

I shudder to think this is the direct things have gone or will go in.... but it does make you think. I am a Old Fashioned girl at heart...choosing not to live beyond my budget and making most presents for friends and family....

I laugh at commercials selling stuff.... stuff I gotta have...YEAH RIGHT!!!

Hope no one takes offence to this nasty little 'Twist' on Santa...

Holiday Hugs

Jodi

More Snowman Humor

2009-12-18T08:29:00.001-08:00

OK...Now some Holiday Humor before the Weekend

2009-12-18T08:20:00.001-08:00

2009-12-17T07:31:00.000-08:00

New on Etsy

2009-12-11T09:32:00.001-08:00

I just listed 5 of these little Happy Sun Santa Pins on ETSY ... I will only be doing 5 this year...

Thanks for taking a peek

Holiday Hugs

Jodi

Had to Add More!!

2009-12-10T08:57:00.001-08:00

A few more pages to share...such COOOOOOL stuff!

Does anyone remember any of these toys...I sure do.

Creager Studios

Our Newest Miniature..Bathilda Bagshot

Happy New Year One and All

HOLY COW is it REALLY almost Christmas????

Greetings from Holiday Crazy land!

Our newest Halloween Piece

Our Newest Mini...Halloween Grows Close!

Newest Mini and ...HEAT!

Our Latest Mini

Sharing the Old to create the New

Our Newest..warning .. may appear a little bland to many!

Happy Mothers Day to All the Moms

Said Bye Bye to Facebook

Barkley Von Muttley...Dog about Town!

Hobby Lobby...pinch me, I am dreaming

'WormTail'...the Rat!!

If it's Friday I must be finishing up something!

Lost in Space and Time...again!!!

Beading with my Beady Eyes!!

Monday Monday... be good to me!!

*Click*

Christmas Memories...

And There it Sits!!!

Need Help!!!

Turkey, Giblets and other Thankful things!

Halloween Thriller!!

BOO!!!!

Halloween and 'Stuff'

Already October 2nd and the Halloween Buzz has got me!!

Posthumous Posey's

Our First Halloween Witch for the Season

Can it be September Already???

Stormy Weather Weekend...somewhere else!!!

Just Back and a New Award Awaits

Reached my 300th Post and Other Strange Tales!

Trelawney and Neville

A Summer of 'HAIR' ..and I don't mean the Musical...

I am in Need Of

Mystical Professor Trelawney

Commission Time....

Dobby...the House Elf

Scalloped Tomatoes...YUM YUM

Have a Curious Monday

Our 35th...Zowie!

Pizza Pie Party

May 18, 1980 Mt. St. Helens goes *BOOM*

A Humanitarian Gesture for a Wonderful Giveaway

Our Newest on EBAY..

A Tiny Fuzzy Walnut...

Some little Ditties on ETSY

Popping On to Say "Hey"....and that I am still here...

What a difference a day makes...

Can it actually be Thursday already??? REALLY???!!!

Newest Commission..Molly Weasley!

A Tail of Two Ears...

The Last Easter Basket...a tale of Woe!

Great Saying for the Day

Draggin my 'Bee-Hind' today...

When Irish Eyes are Smilin

The Artistic Vortex!!

Thanks one and all for the Birthday Greeting...Update

Birthdays come but once a Year...THANK GOODNESS!!!

A Birthday Blessing

Sunday Ramblings...a little of this and a chunk of that!

If it's Thursday...it must be Havasu!!

OK...so a funny thing happened on the way to the Mailbox...

The Art Aftermath!!

Testing the 'LIVE' Selling Market this evening GULP!

Bored...get a pencil and find some dead flies!

'It's Alive ...part Deux"

My 2010 OWOH Win...

It's ALIVE!!!!!

Kayak'n and Yack'n!

And the Winner is...

Happy 'Heart' Day

A Magical Day of Life Saving

Are You Ready for 'Vintage Black Friday'.....

Commission Complete!!!!

A Shout Out for a Couple of Friends...Must See Blogs

A Tale of Woe..& That's How it Goes!!!

Click

May 18, 1980 Mt. St. Helens goes BOOM