A Weekend Break

I had a nice little weekend break. I finished Zandar on Friday and was actually bursting at the seams to start something else but forced myself to kick back a little and not go near the sewing machine :)

I decided to give myself a summer goal and go through all my "stuff" (everything that I don't use that is in need of another home). I'm planning on having a few garage sales throughout the summer season so I'm going through everything room by room. It really is just plain ol' time to get rid of things and make some room.

I began with my master bathroom cabinets. You know the things you keep putting in the basket that holds your blow dryer and curling iron? yah, that's the stuff that needs to go, lol, no really. So I worked on that room on Friday and made some major headway! I was so excited! Nothing in that room though that I could use for the garage sale :( But that's ok, I got to throw away a lot of old lotions and soaps from vacations (hotels and mini's that I would buy to take with).

I started on the guest bath, partially, on Sat and then got sidetracked with some reading and some hunting for the next doll project! I know, I had to stop myself after a while, realizing that I had promised not to do any new project work, ugh that's so hard to adhere to. So back to the guest bath, haha, didnt get much done as the day passed by so quickly. I also had a bbq to go to so that shortened things a bit. Good bbq though :)I brought along some buffalo chicken dip, ohhhhh soooo goood.

Then here came Sunday and I decided that breakfast with my Andrea sounded like a great idea so I text her and off we went, mmmm, it was great as usual. Came home after a few quick errands and of course the sewing/art room was calling my name :) so I gave in, ahhh.

All in all I put together a pattern for a bird that Ms Sophia could play with. She was in need since her previous bird, that was handed down to her by my Tiger cat that is no longer with me, had a few holes in it. So I'll leave you with a few pictures of Sophia's bird (she has it pretty ragged looking already) and the new bird I made today for her big brother (my Andrea's cat) Leo.

Enjoy, I'll be back soon with a new project! I think I already know what I'm going to make :D

Loving this feeling of creativity!

Michelle

Zandar is here!

I am happy to say that Zandar the Elf is here in all his splendor!

I had thought that I would be finished by tuesday at the latest but just as I was finishing the details......there just seemed to be more to add!

I've had so much fun with Zandar and am very happy to have him join my family.
A FEW OF THE DETAILS......
His hair is hand stitched and his clothes are part pattern and mostly modification :) I like to start with a basic pattern piece and then adjust and modify as I go so that it fits just right. Depending on a fold, a seam, a dart or hem..things can change. It all depends on the personality of the doll, and they do end up having one ;D

I gave Zandar a walking stick...its part of a dried flower arrangement that I have in my living room! I took only a portion of it and of course gave the other half to Sophia :) she loves it.

The boots are made from a piece of upholstery suede that I found a few weeks ago...haha, I just knew I would need it sometime soon. I have hand sewn them with some button/upholstery thread that I had in a box of bits and pieces that my Mom left me. Thanks Mom.

His earrings are actually jump rings from my jewelry making supplies and his coat trim is a strand of beads that I started during the Holidays for a gift and didnt finish. They had a place after all :)

I have painted his face with gesso only in the places that were to be filled in with color, Eyes, mouth,& nostrils. I have used water color pencils for all three areas and blushed his cheeks with a bit of my powder blush.

Hope you enjoyed the ride, I LOVED it!
Love~Peace~Balance~Harmony
Michelle

HAPPY POPS DAY!

Wishing all you fathers out there an absolutely amazing, WHATEVER you want it to be, kind of day :D

Michelle

ZANDAR THE ELF :D

I've been very busy working on Zandar and he's almost ready to make his finalized "Presentation" to our beautiful Universe. I'm so excited with all the recent additions that I've made to this wonderful being and I can't wait for you to see him.

I've enjoyed every minute I've worked on my precious Zandar. And I have even incorporated my Sophia ( she's my dear little 6 month old jet black kitten, for those of you who have not had the pleasure of meeting her ) successfully to the doll making process. She is my newly appointed quality control officer :D. She makes sure that all dolls are happy and having fun and being as silly as she is, he,he. She is such a cute little button and a stinker bug at the same time and I love her lots. If by chance there is a flaw of any sort then Sophia gets that piece as a play toy. You can imagine how many pieces she deems unfit for doll making!

I will post the final pictures of Zandar on Monday, Tuesday at the latest if there are any glitches. Well, its getting late and sleep is on my list so I will see you all in the next few days. Have an amazing Sunday!

This is a pic of me, probably somewhere around the age of 4-5. I remember already sitting at my Mom's side while she was sewing any chance I could! Which was very often....

Michelle the Elf maker and Sophia the kitty assistant :)

Zandar has a beautiful face!

My Zandar has a beautiful face! I just finished painting Zandar's features and im very pleased. I may clean up the mouth area and detail it a bit more but all in all Im very happy :) I will post his picture, he almost looks too pretty to be a male but hey, there is beauty in the male world also!

I have a PT (physical therapy) appt that I need to attend and also I will check in on Sophia, I dropped her off at the vets this morning to be spayed. So I will be back a little later. I want to work on Zandar's outfit for awhile today and I also have some cleaning that I'd like to get to. One more picture, cause Im loving the way his face turned out :) and then im off on my daily venture.

My day has only just begun....Michelle

New Pictures of Zandar :D

I have some new pictures of Zandar, I'll post them and then I have to go to the market to get them printed so that I have room for more pictures! See you soon,

Michelle

Congratulations!

A very big congratulations to my friends Anna and Matt on the birth of their beautiful daughter Sophia Elizabeth! Im so very happy for both of you ;D Many happy days ahead.

and as for Zandar, he is coming along just fine. The body is complete and I have the face gessoed in the places that I want to paint. I also have his clothing on its way. His pants and jacket are cut out and minor sewing has taken place :). Im loving the material that I have chosen and also the material that I just picked up yesterday! I told you I can't pass up the sale isle, haha!

I will take some pictures tomorrow and post them for you to take a gander! So much summer fun...and yes I know it's not actually summer just yet but hey, I can dream :D

Talk to you soon, Michelle the bright summer days dreamer......mmmm

Monday, Monday...

Can't believe that I haven't posted since Friday. But I was really enjoying the sun and some friends and family at the pool this weekend so I didnt feel much like staying inside. I didnt work on Zandar with all the activity but I certainly did enjoy the visitors and Sun :D

The arm/hand is now dry, haha-should be by now, and I am planning on turning it tonight. Everything is hand sewing from here on as far as the body and then I can start painting his face. That will be the last piece to sew/attach to the body.

I'm really excited about making his clothing and truly can't decide just exactly how to dress him. I've been picking up material here and there all winter long each time I have seen a sale. Who am I kidding...I always pick up material, haha. Sometimes I have to actually talk myself out of going to the fabric shops or going over to the fabric isle(in the Super stores)just to take a peek to see if they might have something fun or unusual on sale! Its a habit my mother taught me, thanks Mom :)

So as for Zandar, I'm going to finish turning his hand and then start attaching all his body parts, except the head of course, that's last. I'll be back tomorrow to show you how things are progressing :)

no picture today, tried to upload but twice the website wouldn't take it. so no picture :( tomorrow,yes :)

Be back soon, Michelle

One Elf on Its way :)

I thought that I would name him Zandar. I almost have the body finished, had to remake one of the hands because I blew out too many fingers! So I have sewn it and glued it and am waiting for it to dry. In the mean time I will sew the legs to the torso, I have one arm already sewn on.

I can't decide if I want to paint the entire face or not. By that I mean..do I want to gesso the entire face and paint on that or do I just want to primer the places that I want color on? Hmm, I'm not sure. I like the way the material looks now, with the slightly fuzzy effect. But I don't think the paint will come out the way I want it to without any primer. So definitely will have to prime at least the spots that I want to paint, like the eye and mouth area. I can do the blush without any primer.

Yep, I will only primer the eyes and mouth. I love talking to myself...haha, it really helps me think things out.

So here's what we have so far, a naked Elf! I will post some pictures of what I have put together and then be back with more tomorrow.

Also I have a picture of Ms. Sophia with one of the "mistake legs" I made. I had sewn it on the wrong side and didn't realize it until I went to stuff it. Oh well, a great cat toy. She loves to carry it around in her mouth, throw it up in the air and catch it, roll around all over the ground and then start all over again :)

Im having a great time with this project, and of course I feel great! yay!

Enjoy the rest of your day and I'll see you soon :D

Michelle, once again dreamweaving.....