Hobby Lobby...pinch me, I am dreaming

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!!

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!

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!!!

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!!

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!!

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*

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