Dragging my Behind!! BARELY...

WHEW!! The last few days have been EXHAUSTING ...and that is putting it mildly!

Right smack dab in the middle of our next doll Richard and I both got the hair brained idea to start a project we have been thinking about for the last 7 years with our house... it was literally like the Big Light Bulb appeared above both of our heads at the exact same time... so we 'temporarily' set aside our project and ran out to the front yard to start our 'project'...of course thinking it would only take us a few short hours as it really was not a Big Project...more like one of those small silly tasks that bother you until done... LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL... boy were we wrong!!!!!!
What started out as a 'small, silly few hours project' ...ended as the Project from HELL!!!!! You know the kind I am talking about...the ones that appear easy on the surface and as soon as you started digging into it 'Literally' you find all kinds of surprises waiting for you just under the surface. Project was...to remove a flower bed (sans flowers) from beside the front door...and replace with something more tidy and organized. I think this was actually the Devils Flower bed at one time cause it gave us such grief at each turn of the shovel!!! We first needed to remove at least 8 inches of hardened top soil...corralled by 20 extremely ugly brick like pavers that were apparently 'glued' by time to the soil itself... then remove 2 struggling bushes that between them had 8 1/2 leaves...but roots that headed for middle earth...and attached!! In removing all of this we discover half of our water system pipes have been pushed upward close to the surface by a root system that closely resembles the L.A. Freeway system from our nearby Oleanders. As a matter of fact we believe the root system from our entire neighborhood seemed to converge on our little 10 ft x 4 ft innocent looking flowerbed. So brandishing every kind of cutting device this side of a machete we hacked and whacked till mid afternoon (oh did I mention we started this at around 5:30 am)... it actually became a process of dig a little find a new Root source...hack hack hack...then dig some more....WHERE WERE THEY COMING FROM!! We called it quits for the day and passed out somewhere in the hallway...they were truly the 'roots of all evil'..

New Day....new outlook... and sore and bent over to the point of resembling 2 giant pretzels...Richard and I set to task of finishing our little garden plot from hell!! We dug dirt , wheelbarrowed it to other parts of the yard...moved gravel (from parts of the yard) ...replaced water piping and painted the whole outer wall...then filled it all in nicely with gravel and flagstone , potted a couple of palms ...OooOoO it all looked so nice...from our bent over view! And there it was sticking out of the ground of our finished area...one nasty little 'root' ...almost as if it were waving at us...and yelling "YA MISSED ME" hee hee hee..... then Richard ...with a look I have never seen on his face in all our 34 years together walked slowly up to that root, stood over it gritting his teeth and said "Ya Feeling Lucky...punk"...and gave it a sharp tug that is still being felt in ripples throughout the neighborhood. But it got done...2 very hard days of work in not very cool weather... and as the crowing glory to back breaking work and 'root madness' ...I broke a crown in my mouth....

I swear...this has been a most interesting weekend ... but I now look forward to some normalcy and working on our doll...

Did anyone see the movie Carrie? I am not quite ready to stand over our new front area...for fear a root will reach out and grab my ankle and pull me under... until then...I will enjoy from afar...

Have a Great Week Everyone...

Jodi

P.S. A few wanted to see the finished shots of the cleaned up area out front... the scene of the crime as it were.... so I popped a couple of shots this morning to give you an idea.... looks like a simple task...don't let the 'hidden roots fool you....they are there, lurking in the dark....WAITING....WAITING....

Blast from the Past.....

Often we are asked how we got started making Miniature Dolls ... and what were the first characters... ?? Well... in going through a lot of photos and files lately I am running into all sorts of little 'Blasts from the Past'... and this is one of them.... our very first Miniature Dolls.

We were commissioned back in 1995 to create various 'Railroad Characters' for a collector and friend Rod Johnston . He had this great idea of building a Beautiful Train Station and a working 1" Scale Railroad on his Property in Canada... with working platform, Trains, tracks etc... the only thing he was lacking were the People to inhabit the highly detailed setting. So Rod (who was a collector of our larger dolls) asked if we would be interested in creating the 1:12th scale miniature Train Dolls for him....

Hmmmmmm let me think.... Do I think it MIGHT be possible to convince Richard to do ANYTHING Train related...hmmmmm...might have to really twist his arm ...YEAH RIGHT!!!! Richard was Entirely Crazy about the idea and said YES YES YES...never mind the fact that we had never made anything at this point under 10 inches!!! As I have mentioned many times before here in this blog..."We love a Challenge"!!

So we taught ourselves how to scale down and think really small...that included sculpting, clothing, shoes, accessories ...the whole ball of wax...GULP!! Talk about on the job training..(no Pun Intended!!) But in truth...we knew we could do it before we even started ...we just wanted to do it well. He started with 8 Characters ...we did one a month ...in-between our regular Bigger Doll Commissions...bouncing from Big to small was interesting in itself...in the end, Richard and I agreed that creating Small was so fun. We started to create Bigger dolls with 'smaller' dolls, puppets, babies etc.... things were growing smaller in our studios.... but to this point we still were not making 1:12th scale dolls to sell in shows or even advertise that we were making. Then some time later we received more commissions...for Wizards and Witches (something close to my heart) ... it was at that point that we made the turn to miniatures. Although we still create Bigger Doll Settings through commissions...primarily our focus these days are more geared towards miniatures.

The Photos above were taken by Rod and have been featured in magazines as well as a Video. Our characters were An Engineer, Conductor, Car Tonk,Brakeman, Hobo, Elderly waiting passenger, Red Cap, Attractive Passenger, a Traveling Anvil Salesman. Richard also made the luggage cart that the Red Cap is pushing and suitcases.

This was a joy to create...and we Thank Rod each day for giving us the 'directional push' into the Wonderful World of Miniatures....

Happy Wednesday All...

Jodi and Richard

Aunt Dodi's Chinese Chicken Salad Recipe

Hey There...

I posted this recipe that several of you asked for in the messages...but got to thinking many may not see it....so decided to post here... It is really yummy, quick and knocks peoples socks off... you can add or change anything you want...this is just the exact recipe that my Aunt Dodi gave to me... I add things all the time...change is good and fun!
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Aunt Dodi’s Chinese Chicken Salad

4 skinless boneless chicken breasts
1 or 2 heads of lettuce
½ pkg Mufan Brand rice stick (follow directions on package for frying)
6 green onions chopped
1 small package sliced almonds (toasted in oven)
¼ cup sesame seeds (toasted in oven)
½ lb fresh snow peas (steamed in Micro Wave oven or stove)

Dressing
2 tbles sugar
3 tbles. Rice vinegar
½ tsp. Black pepper
1 tsp. Sesame oil
1 tsp. Salt
½ cup oil
Mix in jar and set aside (can be made day earlier)

Teriyaki Sauce (Marinade)
½ cup soy sauce
¼ cup sherry
½ cup white Karo Syrup
½ cup sugar
chopped fresh garlic and ginger (any amount you desire)

Mix Marinade...Pour oven chicken in a baking dish, bake in 325 degree oven for 1 hour. Cool and cut into bite size pieces. Put the chicken in a zip lock bag with the marinade that you cooked in and let marinate again oven night. I drain it in the morning. Cook Rice Sticks. Oven toast almonds and sesame seeds. Lightly steam Peas till just soft but still crunchy. Tear lettuce and put in large bowl and mix in all other ingredients...adding the Rice Sticks last....toss well....serve. ENJOY!!!

While I am at it... my Aunt Shirley's Zucchini Casserole....
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Zucchini Casserole

1 ¼ lbs zucchini (about 4 medium ones)
4 eggs, lightly beaten
½ cup milk
½ cup jack cheese
½ cup grated sharp cheddar cheese
2 tsp. Baking powder
½ tsp. Salt
3 tbles. Flour
¼ cup chopped fresh parsley
1 4oz can diced green chilies
3 tbles. Butter
Parmesan Cheese

Parboil whole zucchini in salted water till semi soft about 4 minutes. Drain, cool and cube (leaving on skin). Mix all the ingredients together and then pour into a 9” casserole. Dot with butter…sprinkle with Parmesan Cheese…bake 30 minutes at 350.
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I feel like Betty 'Freakin' Crocker..... I think I was channeling Julia Child there for a moment!!!

Have a great day all...Bon Appetite!

Jodi

OK...so let me tell you about my day...and night!

So by now you probably thought I have either fallen off the face of the earth or been abducted by Craft Aliens and taken to planets void of Art so that our little group could spread the joy of Color and Crafts!!! NOPE... just been a very hectic weekend filled with projects and 'loose end tying' ....

So...let me talk about Friday 'Craft Day at the Creagers'!!! WHAT A FUN DAY IT WAS!!! Days like this always make me realize how fortunate I am in my life that I am surrounded by Good friends who are fun and talented and amazing to be around... recharged my batteries 10 times over! Everyone got here about 9:00am ...we always gab a bit and drink some coffee to catch up and share what products everyone brought to play with....and there were A LOT!!! We were 5 that day (one could not make it as she owns a Health Food Store and it has been busy) Each are brillant Artist in their field...Collage Artist and Painter (who is being featured soon on the Arizona Highway Magazine TV Show), Award Winning Beader, A Fine Art Cloth Artist, a Seamstress and Cloth Artist...and me. Each approaches things differently with their own unique touch...I love that. I don't think any of us really knew what we were going to create (purse skins were the plan) and I think we stuck with that pretty much. Speaking for myself I am so regimented in my doll making... staying with realism ...even if it is fantasy....that I wanted to do something avant guard / abstract ... finding a fun place to play! I LOVE Abstract...but try as I may...I just cannot get to the zone I would like to be in...again, to regimented even in that...I have always been fascinated with free art and I admire greatly those that can so easily achieve that look. ..my dream...to create a full wall mural that makes no sense at all to the viewer...but thrills me to pieces!! So we jumped in and started gettin crazy with our gessoed canvas ...the idea was to make small purses either as a clutch or over the shoulder. Alice is very prolific and she made (painted) 8 to everyone Else's 2...but then that's our Alice....she is a girl on a misson and LOVES her art...she also loves fine glitter...which now my Patio, decking, driveway , pool and various parts of the house glimmer and glint when the light hits it just right... looks like there was a 'Fairy' Orgy here....!!lol.... We tease her and she gives us a hug...leaving behind slight traces of 'sparkle' ...love our Alice! Kate is a brilliant artist who is capable of anything and her mind works in mysterious ways...she is capable of making something absolutely stunning out of absolutely nothing! She is an avid recycler and Free Bird who has this uncanny knack for bringing something that once was...back to life again! Sheila is an incredible Beader who makes jewelry so beautiful and detailed that it takes your breath away...she is a Scorpio like Richard so her ability to focus in great detail comes easy...she has the patience of jobe and creates till it's right. Jill (my sister) is sooo talented and remarkable with whatever she wishes to create...but for so long she has been focused on work...so now newly retired ...she is learning to jump in again and reacquaint herself with art...I could not be more pleased!

We played for a few hours...and BOY were we lucky...it has been 107 by day here...but the last few days we have been having weather in the low 90's with mornings at low 70's ...totally unheard of for our area at this time of year...so I figure the Craft Gods were with us in our outdoor painting frenzy ...hmmmmm, maybe it was all that glitter...

We had a delicious lunch...painted some more.... and called it a day...relaxed, reinvigorated , rejuvenated and artistically replenished.

But it did not stop there.... we all decided to meet back here around 7:00PM for BBQ Chicken, salad and drinks... and allow our Mates to come...hee hee! We had a super time and all talked non stop until after 1:00 AM....it was a looooong day but I was not one ounce tired...we all agreed when leaving...we need to do this more often.

The rest of the weekend was filled with house projects...painting, moving furniture, getting ride of furniture, cleaning Oleander Trimming and other yard stuff.

Now it is Monday Morning and I am raring to get going with stuff... miniatures to make, dolls to pack and send and an article to write for a magazine.

Great being back in Bloglandia...

Have a Great Week Everyone

Jodi

Fun Friday!

There is gonna be a wild and crazy Paintin Day at the old Creager Studio today!!! I am having some Artist Friends and My Sis over for Art/Craft Day ...we do this every so often when we feel the Need to release artistic tension .... and it's gonna get messy...OOOOOOOOoooOoooo just how I like it. I think we are going to make purses today ...all I know is there will be lots of paint involved, sewing, beading, embellishing and who knows what else...all bets off. I have drop cloths spread on the patio floor, plastic sheeting on my work tables...tubes of paint,boxes of beads, stacks of fabric and who knows what else spread out every which away. Should be fun...these are some very talented ladies and fun gals to be with....and dare I say...just a wee bit crazy!

I will try to 'sneak' a few photos and post later...that is if they don't catch me doing that...and paint me into a corner...if that is the case...I will have them pop a pic of 'that'.

Everybody needs a 'Release' day... from the routine of life and work... Oh, and I am serving my famous 'Aunt Dodi's Chinese Chicken Salad' for lunch...YUM!!!

Get back to you later...Happy Friday Everyone

Jodi

BEEP BEEP!!!!

Good Morning from the beautiful Desert of Arizona... our friend and local artist Eddo Earley sent us this pic this morning....he takes such great shots of local wild life.... anyway I thought some of you might get a kick out of this one... Not many get to see a Roadrunner up this close .....Ed said he came out on his patio this morning and there was the Roadrunner just sitting on his railing ...relaxed and just checkin things out.... I love these birds...they are so curious and fun to watch....

Have a Great day...and 'Thanks' Eddo for another lovely and fascinating look into the wilds of Arizona...

Jodi

Anniversary Time..

I woke this morning with a thought of both joy and panic.... Joyful in that I am still residing in blissful Happiness with the man laying beside me ... yet panic in that I REALLY want to know where the last 34 years has gone??!! I swear to you I was JUST 23 ... had no butt and no 'extra' chin ..and he was void of gray.... how does this happen??? Oh Well...I guess it is just some sort of ancient mystery that will never be explained...so for now, I am one of the luckiest girls in the world in that I found my Perfect Match and Mate in Richard...and he in me.

34 years ago almost to the minute of me jotting this message...Richard and I were wed in his Mother's Backyard under a mulberry tree that Richard planted when he was a boy ...sitting on hand made quilts that his mother made... we wanted this setting and not a church as we felt more spiritual in his mothers yard.. I made my dress from cotton linen and sewed on beads , nuts and organic little pods....I made Richard shirt .... our wedding party was casual and laid back...a small gathering of friends and family...we ate Veggie Burgers (I was a Vegetarian when I met Richard) and had homemade carrot cake in the shape of a big natural log (one of my friends was a baker)...pretty cool. We drank Nectar Rose Wine (they no longer make this wine) and listened to Seals and Crofts, Crosby Stills and Nash and John Denver. Then Richard and I headed to the wilds of outdoor camping in Utah and Colorado...it was heaven!

I created a 'Gallery of Memories' on our PBASE Gallery if anyone wants to 'Witness the Aging Process' and Gallery of Glasses and Hair-dos over the last 34 years.... kinda fun...
http://www.pbase.com/creagers/our_34th_anniversary

Hugs to All

Jodi and Richard