So Much For November

Well, November has been pretty much a bust as far as creativity goes around here.  I have several works in progress – but the progress has been So-o-o-o Slo-o-o-o-o-w!  So slow, in fact, that there hasn’t been much of anything to take photos of. 

One reason I haven’t been very crafty involved a trip to the ER and a quick surgery to remove a “rotten” gall bladder.  Medical procedures are so advanced these days!  Quick in and out and three weeks later I’m as good as new.  Except for those four little scars, anyway!

 

But the MAJOR disruption has been a new laptop for my studio/sewing room.  I do a lot of planning, designing, and creating on my computer and it was past time for an upgrade.  I was running out of space, and everything was getting bogged down and frustrating!  So I shopped around and worried about the cost and all that, and finally ordered a Toshiba.  I knew it would take some work to install my software and transfer (a lot of) data files, but I used to do this all this time.  Plus, I had a PLAN.

I’m sure you can see what’s coming . . . even Plan B was not.quite.working.  You see, several of my applications need to have internal data exported and imported, which I did.  The real problem, tho, was with tagging my files in Photoshop Elements.  I have about 40K digital art files cataloged in PSE, and without tags I would never find anything.  (I want to note here, that each letter of the alphabet in each style and/or color is an individual file.  Still, I DO have a lot of stuffs!)  So I was careful to write-to-metadata and import-with-tags and likewise mumbo jumbo.

Imagine my reaction when I discovered that roughly half of those files did not come through with any tags at all!  Well, maybe you don’t want to think about that!  So, for the past most-of-a-month, every moment I can spare has gone into re-tagging all those files.  Thankfully, I have learned some tricks and shortcuts over the past year so it isn’t quite as awful as it could be. 

And I’m down to about 2 thousand files, which is pretty darn good!  I’m hoping to have something creative to show you pretty soon.  Thanks for your patience.  And thanks to Microsoft ClipArt, ClipartOf.com and DeviantArt.com for the pictures in this post.  I couldn’t post without pictures of some kind!

A New Year Cometh

Welcome to 2010!  

I hear there is some discussion going on about how to pronounce this year.  Not that anyone cares, but for the record . . . I am saying "Twenty-Ten."  Do whatever you want with that!

Last year, you remember I set up a kind of complicated Goals system. It worked reasonably well and I did get lots of projects done in 2009. My readers (that’s you guys!) were very encouraging and that helped me stay with the program all year. Follow through isn’t really one of my strong points, so I am quite pleased with how I did. It was successful enough to try again some time. Just not this year.

I can hear you. You are thinking “and why not?” Short answer? We’d all perish of boredom! Let me ‘splain.

I have signed up for some monthly challenges/exchanges/group fun whatevers for this year. So if I were to post monthly goals they would all start out the same way! And since I do intend to keep up with all of those monthly projects, the monthly reviews would all be the same, too. Not much reason to check up on my progress that way, is there? Plus, if I get too far behind, I might get too discouraged to even post anything for y’all to see anyway. We can’t be having that!

So. I’ve been doing a lot of thinking and some planning (and re-thinking!) and  decided to give you an idea of what to expect this year. I won’t be posting a regular list of goals, but I will be letting you in on what I hope to be doing.

Block/Exchange of the Month

 

I have signed up for a Thimbleberries BOM at the local quilt shop. I think the pattern is really pretty and can hardly wait to get started. I’ll for sure be sharing each month’s progress. As I posted earlier, I have joined the Traveling Page group and have already started working on my first page. These pages will be traveling to new owners each month, and I will be expecting to have one for my own book to arrive each month. I’ll be posting progress reports on this blog and on the Traveling Pages blog, so stop in over there when you think of it. I will also be participating in the Stitchin’ Fingers fabric postcard exchanges. That group generally has a monthly exchange and there is also a birthday group. Oooh. My birthday should be lots of fun this year!

WIPs/UFOs/PIGS/SINGs

I have way, way too many projects that are either partly done, started and abandoned, or collected and not started. I really really want to work through some of these projects this year. In case you are wondering:

• WIPs = Works in Progress. Project has been partly done and I don’t consider it abandoned - yet.
• UFOs = Unfinished Objects. I abandoned this project at some point, usually for a lame reason, but with the intention of finishing it eventually.
• PIGS = Projects in Grocery Sacks - or boxes, or bags, etc. These are usually projects that have not actually been started. The materials and pattern, etc., been collected and it’s all ready to go whenever I am!
• SINGs = Stuff I’ll Never Get to. This could be a UFO or a PIGS with the major difference being I have acknowledged it is a lost cause. I need to give it up and recycle the materials into something else.

I’ll be writing about these projects as I work my way through them. You might get a few laughs out of it!

Learning Fun Stuff

As I looked at a list of projects that I’ve been wanting to do lately, I tried to see if there was any recurring theme. Something they have in common. Mostly, what I am seeing is that they involve learning a new technique or trying a new material. You shouldn’t be surprised to hear that I love to take classes. And I have already identified some classes I want to take this year (check out the list at Joggles - they are great!). Clay sculpture, beading, embroidery. There’s so much out there to play with! Oh yeah! And some classes I’ve taken in the past and never quite finished. Heh, heh. Do those count as UFOs??

Well, the year sure filled up fast, didn’t it? On second thought, let’s skip ahead to 2011!  Nah.  Then we'd miss out on the fun!

More Thinking (Deep thoughts)

Since I recently asked myself why I blog, I've done some more reading, as well as 'discussing' the idea with e-mail and blog friends.  One word that keeps coming up is Connection.

I've read it many times - and it is true for me as well - that someone started blogging in order to keep friends and family updated on their activities.  I had moved halfway across the country and wanted to stay in touch with people in my old home.  This is a very good reason to blog, and for many people is as far as it goes.

But after I'd been blogging a little while, I noticed that it was growing into something a bit larger than that!  As I read other blogs, I felt I needed to leave comments occasionally.  That led to receiving comments on my own posts.  Oh boy!  That is such a high!!!  So I wanted more, of course, and started looking at how to get it.  Connecting, that's how.  One makes a comment and receives a response which triggers a conversation through which common interests are discovered.  I found myself connecting to people all over the globe!

So blogging is becoming about expanding my circle of friends as much as staying in contact with the old ones.  I find myself feeling part of a community.  Blogging has been called a social activity and I'd have to agree.  As humans we are hard-wired to need a certain amount of social interaction.  If you live in a small community - as I do - there is plenty of interaction, but it tends to have little variety - and variety is another thing we seem to need.  Blogging gives me a sense of belonging to a broader community and my thinking and creativity are energized by the diversity.

While one friend cautioned against letting the blogging world become more important than real live and real friends, she admits there is a "blurry bit in the middle".  Others have mentioned that real life becomes more interesting when you know you will be blogging about it.  Composing a post in your mind gives you a fresh perspective on everyday matters. 

As with most of life's activities, blogging and other online time needs to be balanced appropriately with the real world.  Each aspect enriches the other and that's what we all reach for . . . a life well lived and well loved.

This isn't the end of my thought processes, though.  Later I have some things to say about creativity and the blog world. 

An Award!

I received this award from Ute.  Oh my goodness.  Isn't this exciting?

Most awards these days come with rules, but this one is easy.  I am to post the meaning of the award and then pass it on to eight other bloggers.

"This blog invests and believes in the PROXIMITY -- nearness in space, time and relationships. These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in prizes or self-aggrandizement! Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these blogs!”

 

Choosing eight recipients was hard - or rather - choosing ONLY eight was hard!

• Annie Bebop
• Rivkah Mizrahi
• Vicki W
• Pat Winter
• Melissa & Emmit
• Kay
• Recie
• Rev Deb 

I hope you have fun visiting these blogs.

The Winnah . . .

. . . and new World Champeeen!  Oh - wait!  Wrong contest!  Heh!

I asked Jake to help me pick the Giveaway winner.  He was happy to help - after I buried some treats in the basket, of course!  He's very good at finding treats!  Once the comments had been thoroughly mixed up, we picked one. 

Drumroll, please.  And the winner is . . .

Suze please e-mail me at dolls4liz (at) yahoo (dot) com and tell me which journal you would like.  I can send you some pictures and give dimensions, etc., so you can pick your absolute favorite.

Thank you all so much for your lovely comments, both for the giveaway and for the recent posts.  I wish I could send you all a special gift, but virtual hugs will have to do.  I hope you will keep reading and commenting.  I'll try to make it worth your while.

And now - we will return to regular programming.  Boy!  I sure admire those of you who have something to post every day.  That was hard work!  So I am going back to every 4 to 7 days - so I've got time to make stuff!!!!

I'll leave you with a little preview.  I cut fabric yesterday, so I hope to get at least some sewing done this week.

Celebrate!

Yipee!  Wahoo!  Yoweee!  Other words to that effect!

Today is the first anniversary of my blog.  This is also my 100th post!  Isn't this the most exciting thing that has ever happened?  Well, if it is - you need to get a life!  Sorry, but while this may be a big day for me - the rest of the world probably hasn't given it much thought.  One blog among millions.  BUT - I have readers!  More than two, in fact!  How cool is that?

So, we ought to pause - briefly - and reflect on what it means to have a blog that has survived a whole year.   One thing that it says is that I'm pretty stubborn!  I think I have things to say and pictures to share - and by golly, someone is going to see them!

But it says even more.  I have actually found enjoyment in showing  off my work and throwing some random words out into the world to see what happens.  It really is an adventure.  And guess what?  Somebody answers!!

Oh my!  People are coming to see what I've done - and coming back for more.  That feels very nice.  I am making virtual friends and expanding my creativity.  You, dear readers, have been most supportive and have helped me step into the unknown.  I try to return the favor by following up on comments - or visiting your blogs and commenting.  It doesn't always work out even (I personally think I am getting the better part of the deal!) but I plan to continue working on that. 

So here we are!   The day I've been looking forward to!  It's been quite a week - coming up with something to post about daily.  And reading all your wonderful comments!  A special thanks to Paula and Judy, who knew I could do it and egged me on!

This is the Last Chance to sign up for the giveaway!  Just for my wonderful readers.  I will close the polls - so to speak - this evening - and tomorrow I will draw the lucky winner.  Stay tuned to this channel!

Parchment Paper, Where Art Thou?

I have a nice bundle of parchment paper.  And I use it - I really do!  Except . . . er, when I don't, that is.

This, dear friends, is what my ironing board looks like these days.  Why?  Because I fused two pieces of paper together.  Just a quick job with the iron.  It won't take a minute.  Parchment paper?  Oh!  You mean that stuff that protects the iron and the board from fugitive dyes?  Yeah, that's the stuff!  The stuff I didn't use!

Good things come from all mistakes if we look for them.

(1) I have more of that paper and it will make a cool print on plain fabric.

(2) A couple passes with the iron set the inks so it does NOT come off onto Sarge's shirts!  Phew!

Wow!  This is post number 99.  So, I will take a day off so that post number 100 will be on Friday October 31, one year's worth of blogging.  I've done it!  Don't forget to sign up for my giveaway here. 

Spellcheck

What do you do when the biggest dictionaries have not kept up with the language yet? 

I've been looking around for how to spell the term meaning "blog anniversary."  One can find it spelled all kinds of ways out on the 'net: 

Blogaversary

Blogoversary

Blogiversary

So how's one to know which is correct?

Actually, just the word "Blog" can be hard to find in the dictionaries.  Cambridge and Oxford don't have it yet, although there is a reference (apparently) in the Oxford Dictionary of Modern Slang.  At least Miriam-Webster can tell you what a blog is, along with blogger and blogging!

But I did find somewhere that could answer my question.  The Urban Dictionary.  However, the site's Terms of Service include this quote:

The Company cannot control all Content posted by third parties to the Website, and does not guarantee the accuracy, integrity or quality of such Content.

Hardly the same cachet as Oxford and Webster, is it?  But it's what we've got for now.  And the verdict is . . . blogiversary! For the record, Blogoversary is an on-line service to help you remember this important date.  I tell ya'.  These folks think of everything!

This is post number 96.  Gettin' there!  If you haven't signed up for my giveaway, go here to do so.

Blogiversary Coming Soon

I've been thinking about this one-year on the blogging whirligig thing. It seems that it is customary to celebrate the milestone - and the most common way to celebrate is by having a Giveaway!

Well, I may resist being conventional and all that. But I kind of like the idea of a Giveaway. So, how about if I plan to give away some goodies on October 31?

Hmmm. What could I give away? There are a few ideas floating around. I have some Dotee dolls and I have some postcards. And I have a few journals that are actually presentable. Yeah, that sounds good.

So, here is the deal:

Leave a comment on this post between now and October 31. I will choose one randomly and announce the winner November 1st.

And the winner will get their choice of one of the journals I've made.

These are all journals - or notebooks, whatever - that I have made in the two classes taken from Sue Bleiweiss. I have found some styles more useful than others, but someone else may have a different idea and need a style that I haven't done much with. That is why I will let you choose. And just think! One day when I am rich and famous, you can say you have a Lizzie Original! (Er, that's a joke, people!)

Besides. I love comments. This is as good a way as any to beg people to leave me a comment, huh?

P.S. This is post number 94!

10 Posts in 10 Days?

I was just checking my records and yesterday's post was my 90th! I put up my very first post on October 31 last year. So . . .

in ten days I will have a blogiversary - one year! And . . .

in ten more posts (nine, now) I will have 100 posts!

Both are reasons to celebrate.

But, what are the chances they will occur at the same time? Can I do ten posts in ten days?

Ha ha ha, chortle, giggle, guffaw, snort! ROFL!!

What do you think?

Buster Brown

. . . is what I am calling my newly finished lap quilt. It is a Crazy Nine-Patch pattern from the "Stash Busters" book. It is also one of the reasons I have been a no-show in the blog world lately. Finishing up a quilt is a long process - and I was determined to get this thing done, by golly!

The backing is pieced from leftover fabric used in the top. Then straight line quilting following the 9-patch pieces on the quilt top with a simple wave like quilting on the border. An interesting experience, but not one I'm anxious to repeat right away!

So, almost all of my other projects have been on hold while I worked on this thing! I did have a postcard swap and a small doll swap, which I will have to get pictures taken, edited, and loaded for a post soon. I have also made some small progress on my Take It Further pieces. So, no need to worry that I might not have enough to do. HaHaHaHaHa! I might work through all my projects and stash some day - if I live to be 150!

That's enough hilarity for one day. Hopefully my schedule will return to something like normal now and the projects will be more manageable. We

have a new, faster computer now, so posting should be a breeze. No more excuses!

[I haven't loaded Live Writer on the new PC yet so am back to using Blogger's default editor. The image handling is lousy! Are you reading this, Blogger?]

Where Have I Been?

  I know, I know.  I've been on the Missing Blogger list lately.  I'd love to tell you all about the wonderful things I've been doing and fascinating places I've been, but . . . it would be a lie!

Yup, I've been right here.  Doing some of this and that.  I kept thinking I should post some in-progress notes, but never quite found the time.  Sure, there have been some doctor appointments and some afternoons in the garden and visiting family and shopping trips.  You know, all that Real Life stuff that gets in the way.  But good golly molly, not that much!  Well, let me catch you up now.  Sit back and relax - this could take a little while.

Meow

The big project these past weeks has been a crib-size quilt for Project Linus.  I have the top all finished, using several cat prints.  As I started preparing the "sandwich", I came across a tutorial at Anyone Can Quilt.  Just the information I needed to get going!  It is all ready to start quilting next week.  Just grid quilting for this one, but the tutorial has some nice tips for free motion quilting, too.  Oh boy!

Button, Button

My little town is preparing for the annual festival.  This year I was asked to make a sash and button for the parade grand marshal.  Nothing very fancy, but I did need to do some research about honor sashes to figure how wide and long, and then hunt down some 4-inch ribbon.  Lots of good Christmas ribbons just coming out now, but I didn't want red or silver or gold!  I know - picky, picky.  The button was easy, thanks to Nellie and her post last May about making award medallions.  It worked like a charm.  Thanks, Nellie!

More Peacocks?

Last month Rivkah posted about a vintage peacock block pattern she had found.  She has been working on this quilt for two years and making very slow progress.  She figured it would never get done unless she got some help.  So I volunteered.  Why, you ask?  I mean, I don't already have tons of projects?  Well, it was just after I finished Percy and shipped him off and I was loving all things peacock.  I figured I could at least do a block or two - and maybe wind up with a cool pattern, too.  Rivkah makes wonderful dolls and we don't want  that kind of talent getting stuck on another two year project, do we?  Well, I made a block for her quilt - and another for myself.  Hers is ready to go in the mail on Monday.  Mine?  Well, it will go on the wall for now.  I will find a project for it eventually.

Speaking of Peacocks . . .

If you haven't already heard . . . Percy won a prize in the Hoffman Challenge!  He and Pegwyn were selected as the Most Humorous entry!  This weekend all 300 plus traveling entries are at the Rocky Mountain Quilt Festival in Loveland, CO.  They will then begin a yearlong tour of shops and shows before coming back home to me.  Percy has been all atwitter.  I suppose he will be even more obnoxious than ever.  Oh my.  The price of fame!

Doll Club Meets!

And, of course, I've been to a doll club meeting.  We always have a good time and this month was no exception.  We had some really great Show N Tell items, too.  I put together a photo collage to give you an idea.  Some of the Flap dolls are finished and there are always new ideas showing up.  One of our members is doing some drastic de-stashing and brought many, many boxes of goodies for us to rummage through.  To a fiber addict, nothing is better than rummaging through boxes of fabric, lace, feathers, leather, trim, and seriously necessary "stuff."  I brought home a stack of fabric (actually a fairly modest stack [no, really!]) and some leather and  lace.   See all  those butterflies in the bottom corner?  Wow!  I see butterflies in my future!

 

Well, that brings my blog about up to date.  Once the "Meow" has been quilted, I should be able to get back to a normal schedule.  One can only hope!

Testing . . .and Doll 2

I've already blogged today, but I am testing out a new tool.  Windows Live Writer.  Let's see how this works . . .

In the previous post I mentioned I've been working on two dolls lately.  The second doll is for the Hoffman Challenge.  Many of you know what that is, because I have been seeing a lot of posts on other blogs. 

I think my creation is going well so far.  It just took a really long time to get something going!  My creative Muse is pretty hard to work with sometimes.  We might both agree on an idea or concept, but then we will get signals crossed on just how to realize that idea!  It's a problem!  But it is a problem that I am now beginning to understand.  I've joined some discussions on Stitchin' Fingers about design principles and where ideas come from.  And I am now taking a class from SharonB called Studio Journals, which is helping me see what my Muse needs from me in the first place.  There's always Hope!

So, as for the Hoffman Challenge:  This doll doesn't have a name yet - and she's still in multiple pieces - so all I have to show are some fragment shots.  "Teasers" if you will.

Stay tuned!

Reading Blogs

I have to share my latest "discovery" with you. It's called RSS Feed. I know, it's been around for a long time, but MS Explorer 7 has made it much easier to use so I finally decided to test it out last week.

I can't remember which blog I started out with, but I just marked them as Favorites and would go back and check about once a week. That was OK with just 5 or 6 that I wanted to read regularly. Well, now there are almost 40 - and I seem to add one every day or two. It takes a lo-o-o-ng time to check them all, only to find there are only 5 or 6 that have a new post!

I have to thank SharonB for posting about how she keeps up with her blogs - check this out - because that's when I realized I had put this off for way too long. I also checked Microsoft's instructions here. There are numerous Feed readers available and each one takes a little different approach. Here is my favorite method:

In MS Internet Explorer 7.0, I have an icon on my toolbar that looks kind of like this

When I am reading a new blog that I want to keep tabs on I can click that icon and complete the subscription form. Usually pretty easy. When I'm ready to check for new posts, I open the Task Pane - pull down View menu, choose Explorer Bar and click Feeds - or use the shortcut Ctrl-Shift-J. The Task Pane lists all my subscribed feeds and the ones with new information are highlighted. I know that the others have not been updated since my last visit, so I don't have to go there. Keeping up with all the creativity and neat ideas takes just a few minutes a day now! I can even comment without feeling like a Johnny-come-lately (sometimes I'm even the first to comment. Oh wow!).

Well, this is not really what my blog is all about, but I found it quite exciting. Guess it doesn't take much to entertain me! In the meantime, I have been doing some creative work. Here is a sneak peek of the current project. I have lots of fun things planned for 2008, so this space should be getting pretty busy soon. Stay tuned. Oh - and have a Very Happy New Year!

Meet Birdie

This doll is from our club's "parts" exchange. We all made doll parts for a twelve inch doll. To exchange, we put parts into paper bags and each member drew parts for the person sitting next to them! The parts were all colors and shapes - and even sizes. It appears that "twelve inch doll" is a pretty broad designation for some people! I think I made out pretty well. The doll parts I got were closer in size than just about anyone else's. Mine sure looked closest to a conventional doll! I can't wait to see what the rest of the dolls look like! Saturday after next - a long wait sometimes!


I'm slowly learning about blogging. This one is pretty simple so far, but never fear. Eventually it will be slightly overdone like the rest of my work! Today I learned to put titles on each blog. Nice little box at the top marked "Title:" - duh!

First post

Oh, Hi. It's Liz. You know - Liz in Kansas. This is my first post and, not surprisingly, I'm at a loss for words! So I guess I'll just tell you why I decided to start a blog. I'm a crafter, sewer, and doll maker and I like to share pictures of my work with friends and family. Only sometimes I forget! Or the pictures don't turn out as well on someone else's e-mail. So I will try it this way - I'll post pictures and explanations once - and anybody who's interested can come here and see what I've been up to.

A few thoughts on blogging before we get started. I find it quite frustrating to visit a favorite blog site and find nothing new has been posted for more than a month. Arrgh! So I pledge to really, really try to post at least once a week.

Also, I personally find long blogs with no pictures boring. Short attention span! And this one is all about pictures anyway. I hope to improve my picture taking skills as well, so stay tuned.

This blog is about what I do creatively. Of course, my personal life will creep in occasionally, but if you want to know how my family is doing or what the weather is like in Kansas, use my personal e-mail. If those things are any of your business, you know the e-mail address. (Oh my, that sounded - well, rude - didn't it? You'll survive.)

OK, now I need to figure out how to post a picture.


Some time later . . .

Well, that's not going well. I'll have to get back to you.