My first blog post was May 9, 2004. Twelve years ago!!

So odd to think I've been blogging since 2004. First with Wordpress, then here.  Now they have come up with "compliance" issues and I don't really think I am going to be able to fix everything. I'm sure there are folks out there that will charge to get your blog to compliance, but this is basically only for me, I don't think anyone else ever reads it. So I've been investigating, and I don't even understand what they are talking about. 

So this might be my last post. I may start a new one, and make sure it is compliant, but I don't think so. I'm getting old now, and starting over sounds just, well, silly. I'm using a computer that runs Windows 8, and why should I get another more up to date computer only for this?

But I hate that all my writing will be lost. So I've got a lot of thinking to do, and communicating with blogspot. I've sent them a message, but will they answer?

Hmm.

I doubt if this will be my last post. I can't help but write, even if nobody is listening!!!

How to get unfrozen?

Today, went to the thrift store to get hubby some shorts. His go-to shorts have a shredded pocket. I've replaced pockets before, patched just about everything. But where sewing is concerned, I'm frozen. I have a bunch of doll clothes to make, some even cut out and ready to sew. I set up the sewing machine today. Even ironed some fabric. BUT>>>>>> 

Just can't seem to make myself do it. And I LIKE sewing, quilting, dolls, etc.... and I don't understand. The old "I might not do a good job" or "I don't have time" or I don't know whatever other excuse. I don't get it.

Husband will not be home tomorrow. Will that help? For some reason, I can do more when he's not here. Like cooking. I have HB that needs to be made into taco meat. It's frozen, but in small packages so it's easy to thaw. When he said he would be gone, I thought, "I'll get the sink unclogged, cook that meat, sweep that back hallway and get the special litter rug under the cat box. I'll do this, and that, and this, and that. Why not when he's here???

Sigh. Well, here's some pictures of what I didn't bring home today.

Unimax dolls.... what about a wardrobe for them? Any interest in patterns? I took Chelly Wood's class...

I signed up for a pants drafting class for doll clothes. I figured I would use the Unimax girls for the project because I have no patterns for them. They are unique. Dresses from Fashion Friends fit them, although they are very long. Not a big problem, really. I haven't found any pants from other dolls that fit, however, although Paola Reina is pretty close. So I am hoping by the end of February to have a pattern drafted, and pants made. *** EDIT well I finished the class in April. Too many crazies in February and March. I'm excited to make pants for the Unimax girls from the pattern I made. I also made a slope for a top, so I will also draft a top and/or a dress. I took a drafting class many years ago, and I am remembering... ***

I think my biggest problem with everything, is lack of self esteem. I never feel like I can do anything right. BUT. I've made plenty of doll clothes, my own clothes, quilts, wall hangings... I just need to zoom in and borrow some of the confidence I had then and apply it to the future. 

So this is just a little post, of hopeful.

What I HAVE been doing is painting rocks. I started the 14th so there are love ones, although I didn't get them hidden anywhere. I did one in memory of a friend that died of fentanyl poisoning; yesterday was her birthday. Her family planted a tree in her honor in a park near me, so I left it there.

Not sure where these are going. Hopefully within the next few days.

I did three tonight, no pictures. One says "Keep Dancing" and the other is a little bird above the word "Sing". The third just says "Don't give up". 

One foot in front of the other.

Thoughts on decluttering (again)

Too much thinking, too little getting rid of. The obstacles I find easily.  

Things that were my parents' such as picture albums and keepsakes... I know that it won't make sense to anyone but me, so COULD downsize... but.....

photo albums of my parents lives!

cookbooks from grandmas and favorite children's books

 

 

Ron Scofield's prints,
poems that hung on my wall growing up,
my mother in law's painting, my dad's ceramics....

a nativity I made that's less than 2 inches tall

a decorative thing I made for my mom
many years ago, out of beans!!! It
hung in her kitchen for 20+ years 

made by my dad

painted by my aunt

made by my grandson

made by different grandsons

my son James' santa

You get the idea. Why are some people so neat and tidy and unsentimental? My mom was. It was gone in a flash if she thought it was unused. Then there's me. It's like having my loved ones around me. I miss them all. 

As if MY stuff isn't enough, now I've added some of Judy's. I kept some, because I couldn't just toss them. I donated a lot though, before I could think too much about it. 

Take pictures, you say. Well there they are. Now to print them out and put them in an album? Or just think, I'm bound to have dementia, so who cares?? 

I always feel like things need documenting. For who???

I try to let things, go, and sometimes I'm successful. Often, I'm not.

Crazy Cat Update

Last year when I lost my cousin, I inherited a cat. She was very very very scared of anyone. For awhile I thought we were going to have to give up and take her to the shelter. I didn't want to do that, but thought maybe she would be better off with someone else.

I'm glad we didn't, although she hid from us for TWO MONTHS. Finally she started coming out. Little by little we made friends. She's still not a very friendly cat, she has very limited petting tolerance but will sit for hours on my lap as I discovered one day when I wasn't feeling well and spent my day on the couch. 

One of Judy's friends got Judy a fluffy fleece blanket, and the cat fell in love. So that was one way we tried to coax her out/ Nothing seemed to work. I haven't been too great with cats, I'm more of a dog lover. They are way more predictable, you know where you stand, and you can go on walks.

I never thought a CAT could be leash trained, but she kept trying to escape to outside, and she was declawed in the life before Judy had her, and she's somewhere around 10 to 15 years old and we have lots of fighting cats around here so I wasn't comfortable just letting her out. So we got a harness and leash!! To my absolute surprise she didn't fight it, and we now go on walks. Not like dog walks where the human decides where you're going, but the cat version, where the cat decides. 

If you're old enough, you'll remember a song that goes with this.  

 "Walking my Cat Named Dog" by Norma Tanega. 1966

True story song. Norma moved to a New York apartment where dogs weren't allowed, so she got a cat and named it Dog. 

"Dog is a good old cat

People what you think of that

That's where I'm at..."

Dolls dolls dolls.... Unimax Dolls of All Nations

I need to severely purge my doll collection. I stopped collecting bigger dolls altogether, and am only going to keep a few. Decisions, decisions. 

As I've said a million times, the first two dolls that started my collection of play dolls was two lovely girls that I didn't know anything about. 

They were not wearing costumes, I just loved their size and young girl look and pretty faces. They are still not wearing their costumes, they don't even have any. The dress on the left is an odd dress that was in a thrift shop bag, and the one on the right was made by Susan Israel of JUSTBEME on etsy.

Turns out they were produced by Target in the 1990s, mostly 1995 and 1996. They were made by the Unimax company, that makes many other toys. They are 12 inches tall, just right for little hands 

So I found a couple more in the thrift shop, but most of these came from Ebay or Etsy. Some were really inexpensive, like $4. Some were as much as $20.  I am in the process of drafting some patterns for them. They are nearly the same size as Wellie Wishers and Paola Reina dolls. Except they are only 12 inches tall! So instead of a skinny body, they look like normal people. 

 

 

Anybody have experience with these dolls? The last one I got is Native American. She is the only one I have ever gotten that has a wobbly head! Fine for display, but I think not for play. Anyone made clothes for them? They are really sturdy dolls. Not really poseable, but easy to dress with the clothes from Paola Reina and the Fashion Friends. My current project is clothes for these dolls, my grand daughter has a couple of them, and she will soon be the age that she will enjoy them. 

The one sitting down is one I got with part of a Mexican costume, but she didn't look like the Mexican doll so I got a Mexican doll. So far, she's my favorite, because I have no idea of her "ethnicity" so she represents my beloved country, America, where we are a melting pot of so many cultures! 

Night Rambling

Where sleep is concerned, I am The Princess and The Pea. You know, that princess that could feel a pea under the mattress, and even under many mattresses? I forget the tale, really, just that she couldn't get comfortable. 

I get into bed. I am picky, because the sheets need to be tucked in right so feet don't stick out unless I want them sticking out. I hate waking up with cold feet. Everything must be smoothed properly, too. I feel every wrinkle. Pillows (4 of them!) must be arranged just right or else my neck gives me grief. 

So now you know why it's 2:30 am and I am sitting here writing a silly blog post.

I am actually planning a good one, about dolls.