Doings in my Garden

I have a small garden - two 4' x 8' raised beds.  I planted late-beginning of June and purchased the plants at a local farm.  I bought all  heirloom to make sure no GMOs and he said he didn't spray with any insecticides.  We used organic soil to fill the beds.  Next year, going to move the garden away from the tent garage and satellite dish (Huge old kind not in service except as an eyesore and topic of conversation) where it will get more sun.  I planted 4 eggplant, 2 cucumber, 2 sweet potato, 4 yukon gold potato, 2 san marzano hybrid tomatos, 4 pepper plants, and 8 heirloom tomatoes including Box Car Willie, Jersey Boy, and two others I never heard of.  So far they have all been great though right now lots of green slowly turning red.  About a dozen eggplant but none ready to pic, some hot peppers and cherry peppers but the red bells are slowly turning red hopefully before they rot! and lots of Cukes!  Forgot to put in Zucchini, next year.

More about "The Emporer's New Clothes-His Vision"

I almost didn't enter this year's Hoffman Challenge.  My MIL Helen passed away in December 2014 at the age of 98 (she used to say she was getting old!)  She lived with us for almost 10 years until her Dementia got too bad for us to deal with on a 24 hr basis.  Around the same time, my Mother started to decline.  She was in Hopice since October, 2014 and sadly passed away in January at the age of 94. My siblings and I decided the best thing to do with my Father, who also has Dementia, was put him into an assisted living and sell his house. This was a hard decision - they had the house built in 1963 and lived there for 52 years.  As we were  cleaning out the house and disposing of their beautiful possessions, I kept looking at this one statue my mother had.  It was a colorful happy emporer. I started him the end of June, we went on vacation for a week the beginning of July so ready or not when I got home, he had to be mailed!  I think my Mother was watching over my shoulder.  He won Second Place. (you can see previous posts for his pics)  He is also perched on a base from her collection.  Thanks Mother.

Long time no Post

It has been a long time since I posted.  Lots happening but sadly nothing associated with dolls or art.  I did finish my Hoffman Doll, though I think I need to change his base-makes him slightly over 18" (1/4" over).  I wasn't too inspired by this fabric at first, drew 2 sketches that were OK but not OOOH I gotta make that!  Then I got an idea and ran with it.  Another Man.  I haven't named him yet, maybe "the Emporer's Treasurer"?  The Happy Emporer? Here are front and back views.  I used lots of gold coins - the kind used on belly dancer costumes.  I repressed them to give them different designs since they had greek/roman heads on them.  Totally unsuitable.  I also aged them with Ranger Patinas, Viva Decor Inca Gold, and Gilders Paste.



More pics, his head close-up and the original sketch.  I am heading off to Las Vegas tomorrow and will be there until Wednesday - or at least close.  My Husband is doing the Spring Hill Driving School.  I'm planning on spending time at the Bellagio to see the Chuhuli glass pieces.  Love his work. Also looking forward to the fireworks as I am sure there will be plenty.  I will also be at Spring Mountain - bringing my sketchbook, iPod, iPad with 400 books so I think I will keep busy. Will mail him when I get back after I change the base.

Hope everyone has a safe and joyful July 4th.  I am thankful for the freedoms we are celebrating thanks to the bravery and forethought of our founding fathers.

Today

I seem to have caught a spring cold so I am home taking it east, no visit to my Dad which saddens me but I don't want to spread germs!  So this afternoon, I thought I would play with some beads.  A good friend has a book out of beaded rings.  I don't wear rings but haven't beaded in quite awhile, so thought I would give it a whirl.  All I can say is I finished it!  Here is a pic of the book by Giovanna Fuime followed by my ring.

Elven Flora is Done

 Elf Flora Done.  I gave her false eyelashes because I wasn't happy with her too wide open eyes and the green lashes just didn't stand out enough.

Progress on new Elf Flora

The Stitch-a-long with Flirty Flora is still ongoing on Facebook.  I am amazed at all the variety and overjoyed at how many are personalizing the pattern.  I made another Flora, this time with the petal skirt.  I wanted to start with plain fabrics and dyed them to suit.  I dyed the fabrics for the skirt layers then used Portfolio Water Soluble Oil Pastels to add details. These started out as white fabrics.  Love how they turned out.  The green with the gold glitter directly behind the pink on the top also started life as a white fabric with the gold leaves.  I dyed it a light green.  I also dyed the fabric for her body a pale green and her hair.  I used ready made fabric for her shoes but altered it with matte medium, crackle paint and rubs.  I also used the green tulle for her underskirt from the bolt.  Her had is also hand dyed fabrics.  Here are prelim pics.

 

For her bodice and hat, I stitched petals on fabric.  For her hat, I used purple and pink fabrics, for her bodice i used a green batik and outlined the leaves in zigzag before cutting them out and adding glitter glue highlights.  I made 40 of them!  Locks of her hair drying, Pic of her with ears and her hat, and her shoes.

Finished pic later.

Flirty Flora debating who to throw that snow ball at!and great mail day!

First the mail.  I'm a cover girl!!!  How exciting!

This started as a class at the Artsy Soul, but we had to keep canceling so I submitted the pattern to SD&A and they published it.

I also finished the Flirty Flora for the stitch along which officially started yesterday.  Fabric choices are being shared and I haven't seen one I didn't want to do!  I am pleased with her though I think her skirt is too long so I already trimmed over an inch on her bottom slip but didn't take a new pic yet.