Shelley's Place

Yardwork for friends

2011-06-29T11:21:00.000-07:00

My husband and I volunteered to renew the yard on an old friends house. It is now a rental and not being taken care of. Looks much better!!

Book and CD are DONE!!

2011-04-22T16:55:00.000-07:00

After LOTS of hard work, my first book is finally done. I'm kind of proud of it because I worked six different dolls with different expressions and different techniques used into one book. Because of the astronomical cost of printing (even printing myself) I have also put the book on a CD so that it can be printed by the buyer or not.

Each book and CD comes with a packet of full size patterns for all the doll and clothes parts.

If you are interested you can find it on my website under 'Books & CD's' (or CD's & Books?0 I can't remember which???? My website is www.abracreations@cox.net

Teaching :)

2011-03-24T13:47:00.000-07:00

In July, I will be teaching the San Diego doll club how to create and sculpt Angel. Until then I have to sew all the heads which is the ONLY part about making a doll that I don't like. I pushed this whole idea of teaching off for the last couple of years. The really great part is that I'm really starting to look forward to it.

Late Pictures :(

2011-03-24T13:26:00.000-07:00

I don't know why my pictures didn't post with the first entry but here they are now. EVERYTHING is made from found materials with no money spent!

Obsessions?

2011-03-24T13:04:00.000-07:00

Obsessions can sometimes be a good thing!
Those of you that know me are already aware that I go overboard on EVERYTHING if it has to do with detail I want to go over the top to make it something really special. Well, I told everyone how I was down about not having work and a bit bored with life in general. I put a post out on FOCD asking if anyone would like to trade a dollhouse for a custom made doll. Well, a very special doll friend is going to trade me!!! :)
I am to say the least 'OVER the MOON' happy about it! In fact I have thought of little else which is a good thing right now. Unfortunately I have not received it yet because of problems getting to post it BUT until I get it I am having so much fun making things without spending any money!!

Here is a sample of a few things that I have been working on. The tiny little candy jars will be going into my mini store. The store will be called 'Shelley's Place' Just like my blogg :) It is actually going to be a toy store. There is a little counter top in the store that will hold the jars of candy. The three larger ones are made from tiny polish bottles and the two tall ones are meant to be earrings. The little bed is for my teenager doll. I'm making a tiny quilt to go on it with a dust ruffle. It's all made from scraps of wood. The tiny cradle was a party favor that was lime green in color and had been broken. The crack was fixed and all painted. Then a little mattress with lace, bows and a blanketed baby. This will be a doll for the doll :) I am also working on a dollhouse to go in the dollhouse! I KNOW! I'M CRAZY!! But I am having sooooooooooooooo much fun with it all. I can't wait until I can start actually working on the house. Every little detail will be PERFECT!! Stay tuned :)

Just a sample of my new book

2011-02-17T07:06:00.000-08:00

This is the cover for my book. It's coming along nicely :)

New Book????

2011-01-17T08:25:00.000-08:00

Yep, I've decided to write a book. A book about doll making of course :)
It will be all about bugs. Each bug having it's own unique character. So far I have a Bee, a Lady Bug, and a Dragonfly. I expect to add a Caterpillar and a Butterfly too. This idea has been suggested to me many times and I always blew it off because it would be so time consuming. I feel like now is a good time and I am ready. The book will most likely be called 'BUGS ARE BEAUTIFUL'. What do you think?

I'm almost there!!

2010-11-25T04:48:00.000-08:00

I have almost finished my website!! After getting a new computer over a year ago I was unable to update or change anything. It's been a MESS for soooooooo long. All I have to do is put in the Pay Pal buttons and she's off and running :)
One good thing about being unemployed. I never had time to do this when working. After completion I can go back to work knowing that all is done.

Mummy for a cause

2010-11-10T05:54:00.000-08:00

A dear friend of ours had a Halloween party and collected donations for Breast Cancer. I made this Mummy doll as a raffle price to do my part.

My Baby

2010-10-25T05:11:00.000-07:00

She lights up my life with that smile!

BEAUTIFUL!!

2010-10-25T05:09:00.000-07:00

And very much in LOVE!!

Drazel

2010-07-05T09:48:00.001-07:00

Drazel is a witch with a glass body that is decorated inside and out. She has tiny lights attached to the back of her so the spooky pictures that decorate her glow.

Darcy

2010-07-05T09:45:00.000-07:00

Darcy is a pin cushion and a tool holder doll. I made mine by decoupaging napkins for her body but she can be made using printed material and embellished like crazy!

Squishies

2010-07-05T09:42:00.001-07:00

These are 'Squishies' They are made wit fleece so they are very squishy and lovable. Perfect for children or adults of any age. Even babies if you make them without the faux hair.

FOUR new dolls and patterns

2010-07-05T09:39:00.000-07:00

My website is trashed right now so I'm not sure how I'm going to get these out but here are three more new patterns.

Sometimes I scare myself!!!

2010-06-19T09:43:00.001-07:00

I was in such a hurry with the last post that I didn't even look make sure it was the right picture. Here is my 'Laura' doll. She is so much prettier in person. She actually looks alive in person and it creeps me out because I see her out of the corner of my eye so many times a day and think that someone is watching me. I finally had to put a bag over her head!

I am working to get her on Doll makers journey because my website will not let me add anything new until it's fixed. I also have kits available to make her that have the right amount of skin fabric, hair and allot of the little things that you normally have to buy a bunch of when you only need a couple. She is also an e-pattern but I have no way to sell her right now except through someone else's site. :(

New Doll

2010-06-15T08:29:00.000-07:00

I am actually working on a new doll. She was inspired by my daughter Laura getting married so I named her Laura. She is a mannequin doll with a sculpted face and is dressed as a bride in Lot's of lace and trims. This is just the front of her dress. I'll take more pictures later of all or her. I do like how she turned out and she will be easy to make.

Lunch with the girls

2010-06-15T08:21:00.000-07:00

We were supposed to be checking out the room where the reception will be so that we can figure out how we're going to decorate and move tables around. We met Chelsie for lunch first. Gabbed a salad at an overpriced restaurant on the bay and then went over to the Morena to check the room. Unfortunately they had some kind of weird seminar or something going on in there so it was another waisted trip. I did get a cute picture of the girls in front of the restaurant though.

San Diego

2010-06-15T08:17:00.000-07:00

Yes, I live in San Diego and NO it's not as great as people that don't live here seem to think it is!! I did take a nice picture of a seagull yesterday though.

It's done :)

2010-06-09T03:23:00.000-07:00

I love how the tree turned out (THANK YOU DADDY!!) It will be sitting on a square table with a purple tablecloth so the ribbon around the edge will pop. It's hard to tell but there is cream colored ribbon under the purple ribbon. Butterfly and heart charms are glued to the center of each shelf. My best girlfriend that lives next door is going to make the blueberry cheese cake that goes on top for the Bride and Groom.

Cupcake Tree Beginnings

2010-06-08T05:24:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Sherry G. my Daddy was able to build me this cupcake tree. It doesn't look great just yet but after it's done it will be perfect :)

So Cute

2010-06-08T05:23:00.000-07:00

Just had to share how adorable these two are together :)

Bodie's New coats

2010-06-01T14:02:00.000-07:00

Two of my favorite people in the world moved up to northern California in the mountains and then got a new pup. He needed something warm for the snow so I made him a sweater and a raincoat. I was so happy to see that they fit him perfectly without ever seeing him.

Once upon a time...............

2010-05-29T06:01:00.000-07:00

I was rummaging through some of my old photos and found these beauties. This is when I was cute and BLOND.

To FB or not to FB???

2010-05-29T05:57:00.000-07:00

I had decided that I was not going to get involved in the whole 'Face Book' thing because of security reasons but as long as I don't put anything that is too personal on there I think I will go ahead because I am having sooooo much fun finding old friends!!

A day with old friends and a gift

2010-05-26T14:44:00.001-07:00

I should say that the 'old friends are the gift!' I went to one of the places that I used to work today. I needed to see them and get caught up and also bring my beautiful friend Leeanne a new quilt for her baby grandson. It was weird but so GREAT to see them all. I do miss them and they always meant so much to me when I was there. Some people come and go in your life and they are forgotten. Working there and being with this group of people was so much more like family. I really do love them all dearly and miss seeing them each day. It was also very healing for me to see a few that I had issues with in the past. The hurt is now gone and I can move on.

I have the BEST friends on the planet!!

2010-05-26T14:32:00.000-07:00

You should all know by now that I am very blessed with having alot of friends and that they are the most amazing and generouse friends anyone could ask for. One of them gave me a job today. It's not much of a job. The hours and the pay is pretty terrible but since I am out of unemployment benifits it is better than nothing. This is my new uniform. It's a security office and I will be working out at the pool for eight hours a day making sure that only the people that are suppost to be there are getting in. I will diffinatily be looking for something better but he told me that I can sit by the pool and read or work on my laptop. He said I could even go swiming if I want! So basically I'll be getting paid to work on my tan!! :)

That's my Baby girl :)

2010-05-26T14:29:00.000-07:00

She will probably hate this but I don't care! She is sooooo beautiful that I just have to show her off!!!

A beautiful little family

2010-05-26T05:49:00.000-07:00

The little guy is permanently attached at the hip! Soooo cute!!

Cutest Girl on the Planet!

2010-05-19T07:58:00.000-07:00

A day out with my girls

2010-05-19T07:55:00.001-07:00

PLEASE GOD don't buy the shoes!!

2010-05-17T05:35:00.000-07:00

Yes, my beautiful daughter is WEIRD!! She picks a beautiful short wedding dress and then actually buys these ugly white shoes to go with it!! (Just my opinion of course but NOT for a wedding!) I had to keep my big mouth shut too!

Thank GOD she decided to take them back. She got these cute leopard skin print ones instead. Still weird for a wedding but they do fit her personality and look cute with her dress.

Making Butterflies

2010-05-17T05:26:00.000-07:00

Yep, This is me making a zillion butterflies for Laura's Wedding Cupcakes.

My BEAUTIFUL Girls

2010-05-17T05:19:00.000-07:00

The day I lost my job my girls rescued me by taking me out to play 'Wedding'. My oldest is getting married in August and because of work I haven't really been able to be much help. Now I am right in the middle of things with my girls. We started the day with cocktails.

Is the planet FLAT??

2010-04-12T05:14:00.000-07:00

It must be because I think I fell Off!!
I have been sooooo busy with work and wedding that I haven't been able to touch a doll in FOREVER :(
I am working on a baby quilt for another of my new work friends who is due next month. I am also in the process of making myself a dress for my daughters wedding. I have doll ideas swirling around in my brain but really have to push them aside so that I can function. The weather is warming up so the yards at my parents house are growing like crazy and it is my job to take care of them. I also need to redo my website because it is a disaster! LIFE IS CRAZY!! I will try to get some pictures of the things I'm working on because I know that looking at the pictures is the best part of blog watching.

01/22/1913 03/26/2010

2010-03-30T06:16:00.000-07:00

RIP Dear One

Baby Quilt

2010-03-21T14:09:00.000-07:00

One thing that I love to do is make gifts for my friends. I have a friend at my new job that just had a baby girl so I made a little quilt for her.

I'm in LOVE with Bristol

2010-03-19T06:16:00.002-07:00

This is Bristol. Named by his new Mom before he was ever created. He was a commisioned order and was an absolute pleasure to make because I fell instantly in LOVE with him. I used my new 'Asia' body and 'Nolens' head pattern with some small elfish ears. He is jointed at the leg so he can sit or stand by himself.

I

2010-03-19T06:16:00.001-07:00

5 Generations & 97 years old

2010-02-04T09:37:00.000-08:00

My Grandmother just celebrated her 97th birthday in January so we gathered some of the family together at her care facility to have some cake and gifts. This picture is the five generations of our family. My Mom is in the wheelchair in front of me and my Dad and sister are on the other side with her son and baby.My adorable husband in in the center back and Grandma is in the center front with her Son behind her. She is now rooming with a women that is 103 years old!

Life is GOOD!!

2010-02-03T19:12:00.000-08:00

I told you all that this would be a new wonderful year!
Today I GOT A JOB!!!
I start on Monday and it's less than two miles from my house.
The best part is that they created the job for me because they liked what I had to say :)

First CD Pattern

2010-02-03T18:50:00.000-08:00

I have been working VERY hard on this pattern and am very proud to finally be able to put it up for sale. The dolls name is 'Asia' and she is a light colored African American girl doll. She stands unaided and will also sit nicely because of her jointed legs. Her hands are fully possible and she has custom made vintage style shoes. Included in the CD is 31 full pages of explicit instructions and 115 color photos of each step. As soon as I have the pay pal button set up on my sight you will be able to purchase at abracreations.net for $20.00. The CD includes a printed paper pattern.

My Wide Eyed Wendy Finished

2010-01-24T10:47:00.000-08:00

This little doll is just what I needed as a diversion to everything else I've been doing lately. Time to get back to work.

New things coming!!

2010-01-20T06:38:00.000-08:00

I don't want to post any pictures yet but I am working VERY hard on two new patterns. Both will come out as E-patterns as well as the regular paper type that I have always done. I have a new computer on it's way to replace my laptop (that doesn't even belong to me) so I don't want to do too much set up until that's up and running. I'm stopping right in the middle of everything to do Judy's little 'Wendy' doll. It's just the creative distraction that I needed.
Thank you Judy and Paul!!

New Start

2010-01-09T11:20:00.000-08:00

Well, It's a new year so I thought I would start out with a new fresh start. I will also be changing my website but that takes more time. I will soon be introducing a new series of 'kid friendly' dolls which will be my first pattern release of 2010. One more thing that will be new from Abra Creations is E-Patterns. I would rather not have to raise my prices and I think that this might be the best way to go about it. I will post on FOCD when the new pattern is ready. It's going to be a very good year!!

Laura's roses

2009-11-23T05:54:00.000-08:00

After Rylie (Laura and Kent's dog) ate my garden, I got mad and just hacked away at everything in it. My husband says, 'You can't do that to a rose bush'!! I didn't care at the time and kept hacking. Just a couple of months later this is what became of it. Roses are not such delicate creatures after all.

WIP House

2009-11-23T05:31:00.000-08:00

This is my Daughter and Sons new home. Isn't it BEAUTIFUL? I LOVE IT!! Unfortunately it has allot of trees that have not been cleaned up after and foliage that has not been pruned for a long, long time. I spent allllllll day and only got 1/3 of the front yard done. I didn't even know that there was a stepping stone walkway leading all the way from the street to the house until I raked. What a beautiful surprise!! Well, after filling six or seven large trash cans with leaves and weeds I pooped out. Pretty good start though don't you think?

Crazy WONDERFUL husband!!

2009-11-22T03:52:00.000-08:00

After searching for months my daughter Laura finally found a house. It's big and beautiful and needs allot of work! Unfortunately the 'work' part has to be done quickly so that they can move in and out of the apartment they have been squeezed into. It's in Ramona with a big yard for the dog and next to the boys new school. Everyone has their own room for the first time plus an office and an extra room for guest and hopefully a nursery later :) It is a two story house and EVERYTHING had to be scrubbed and painted. Laura fortunately has the best Daddy on the planet and will put his life in danger to scrub her walls.

Great Friends

2009-11-22T03:47:00.000-08:00

I have to say that my daughter Laura and her Fiance Kent have really excellent friends. While Mark was helping Kent load everything they own in a truck and then also helping him unload it and painting a room afterward, Chelsea was with us scrubbing and painting and running to the store for us. She is really wonderful and we were very lucky and grateful to have her help.

Over IT!!!

2009-11-22T03:44:00.000-08:00

After two days and hours and hours of scrubbing and painting my little girl is wiped out!

New Baby

2009-11-22T03:33:00.000-08:00

Tinkerbell has a new baby sister. Some friends that we camp with brought this four week old baby with them camping because the mother of the litter had killed the five other babies :( Well as soon as I saw her I knew who the perfect Mommy for her would be!! I got her on the cell phone before she even arrived and said, 'I hope you're prepared to have a new baby in the family' Heather and Terry took her home and she is very happy.

Baby Shae's Bed

2009-11-22T03:26:00.000-08:00

Last year my friend Heather got a new puppy 'Tinkerbell' and I made her a cute little pink bed that she LOVES. Well, now of course Baby Shae has to have her own special bed. I also made them each a pair of matching pajamas.

Hang Tag Materials

2009-11-07T05:13:00.000-08:00

You won't need too much when making your hang tags this way. A sheet of 'Shrinky Dink' material for 'Ink jet Printing', ruler, pencil, scissors or slide cutter, paper to bake on (a grocery bag works perfect) Oven or toaster oven and a paper punch.

Instructions for Hang Tags

2009-11-07T05:09:00.000-08:00

The old & the new tags

2009-11-07T04:39:00.000-08:00

For a long time I didn't put any kind of identification on my dolls showing who made them. Many people told me that I should but I couldn't figure out how was the best way to do it. I started sewing a small fabric piece that had 'AC' and the year it was made into the underside of the cloth but that didn't always work. Plus being allot of extra work that I had no ambition to do. Then I got the bright idea of making hang tags out of Shrinky Dink material. For these I use a Business Card template and make a whole sheet just like the others. To give these a more finished look I rounded the corners. I will remove one of these from my Santa but just wanted to share what each looked like.

Easy gift using a hang tag

2009-11-07T04:33:00.000-08:00

I am so overwhelmed with the excellence of care that my Grandmother is getting at her new facility that I decided to make each of the employees a small Christmas gift to show my appreciation. This also shows how I use the smaller hang tags. I will post each step of making these ornaments when I get home from camping. This picture is just to show the hang tags use.

Homemade Shank Buttons

2009-11-04T06:25:00.000-08:00

My beautiful friend Ree posted her idea of homemade shank buttons so I thought that I would do the same. They say that 'Necessity is the Mother of Invention' and that is how these came about. All the materials used were already things that I had in my stash. The 'Shrinky Dink' material is something that I got for the kids to play with when they would visit. They LOVE it because it's like magic and keeps them busy for a long time without the TV going on. It only takes a small amount so even one sheet goes a long way. If using it I would suggest having a toaster oven just for crafts. The wire I used is 19 gauge and is also what I use for leg armature in some of my free standing dolls. I will never buy another button to use on the inside of a doll.

Instructions for homemade Shank Buttons

2009-11-04T06:20:00.000-08:00

My Grandma & Me

2009-10-27T17:08:00.000-07:00

Today my husband and I went to my Grandmas new home and had lunch with her. They specialize in Alzheimer's Disease and she is very happy there. The Staff is completely AMAZING and I can not say enough wonderful things about them. The facility is called 'Alpine View Lodge'. Today the owner asked me to show some of my dolls there so I am very excited about that :)

Landscaping

2009-10-27T05:28:00.000-07:00

This is my parents house and the house where I was raised. While working on Grandma's house which was built by my Dad in back of this one, my Mom decided that the front of her house was 'ugly'. She asked me to plant a flowering bush for her under the bedroom window. Weeelllll.... here I go again!! Except for the five large bushes this is all new landscaping. It will look better when the grass comes up some more but shaping up the hedges and making a bordered flowerbed with bark and stepping stones did make it look much better. I also planted her a small flower garden in the backyard. She has Multiple Sclerosis and is not able to do this for herself. I does make her happy and that's all that matters.

It's FINALLY Done!!

2009-10-27T05:12:00.000-07:00

Grandma's house is finally complete! It's hard to believe that this all started with my volunteering to 'CLEAN' the house.
Well, if you know me then you also know that 'Cleaning' would never have been enough! I asked if I could redo the bathroom because there was so much neglect and damage. When that was done I wanted to do the kitchen. After a while I think my parents just threw their hands up because they said I could do whatever I want :) The house, patio and yard have been completely redone. New paint, fixtures, utility plumbing and landscaping.
The house will be rented to help pay for Grandma's Alzheimer's facility and Steve and I are managing the rental. We already have the perfect person to move in next weekend.

Before & After

2009-10-27T04:47:00.000-07:00

Working on my Grandma's house is part of the reason I have not been working on dolls lately. Here is just a small example of the work that went into it.

It was hard to get good pictures and of course I neglected to take 'Before' pictures of any of it. The dark picture was taken almost ten years ago before the neglect took place. The entire house was this dark paneling. Every inch including the ceiling had to be primed, all paneling was scrubbed, sanded, primed and painted. The tiny bathroom alone took me over 100 hours to complete. I literally spent 12 and 13 hour days 7 days a week in that bathroom.

Beach Camping

2009-10-23T06:35:00.000-07:00

I've been having a hard time getting these pictures to come up right so I put it away for awhile. The beach wasn't showing off for these pictures like it did the next day when I didn't have my camera with me. Normally the waves are big and the water is beautiful and in the morning when I like to walk, there is know one else on the beach! (except for these two playing in the water at 7:00 a.m. bbbrrrrrrrrr...)

HELP!

2009-10-18T07:25:00.000-07:00

Does anyone know why my blogg is showing just one day at a time?
It didn't use to do that and I don't know how to fix it :(
If you do please email me at abracreations@cox.net
Thank you

Crochet and Soccer

2009-10-18T07:13:00.000-07:00

When my daughters were each four years old we got them playing soccer. Well after a few years they were both very good so they were excepted on 'Hotspurs' which is a more skilled set of players. We literally spent all weekend and four week nights on a soccer field until they were sixteen years old. While sitting on the sidelines I have to be doing something so I would crochet. I'm not good! and I have no idea how to follow a pattern. Weeelllllllll.... One of the girls Mothers saw me crocheting all the time and asked if I could do her a hugh favor. It turns out that her Mother had made a crochet blanket for everyone in her family. Unfortunately by the time hers was being made her Mother died. She was left with a blanket that had been started with just four rows and a sheet of hand written instructions. She asked me if I could finish it for her. This is the result. I can not take credit for the first four rows.

Yard Art with Dad :)

2009-10-18T07:02:00.000-07:00

Being who I am, I am ALWAYS looking for something new and different that know one has ever done. Well, I'm not sure but in this area anyway I was the first to create standing wood 'Yard Art'. I actually made pretty good money too and they were fun to make. The best part was that I got to do a project with my Dad :) I would draw the pattern and he would transfer it onto the wood, cut it out with a jigsaw and paint the whole thing with a good anti weather primer. Then I got to do the fun part. Here are just a couple of them. They stand at full height (Santa in 5.5' tall). The part that makes me angry and made me stop creating them is that they were being copied. The people would buy mine and actually trace the pattern from the features and recreate and sale them themselves! That's not even cool!!! :(

A Family of Rino's

2009-10-18T06:57:00.000-07:00

Long ago I had a friend that commissioned me to make this Family of Rino's. She was absolutely obsessed with them and wanted to make a family like her own. Soooooooo, I had to make one that looked like a Dad, a Mom, a boy and a younger girl. These were all cut separately, painted and then glued together to make a 3D version of the family.

On my way

2009-10-18T06:48:00.001-07:00

After that first painting I guess I was inspired to try painting other things. I would LOVE to paint portraits of people but I'm just not very good at it. Animals seem to be 'my thing'. Here are just a few of my personnel favorites.

Starting to paint

2009-10-18T06:42:00.000-07:00

The very first thing that I ever painted was a flag for my nephews boy scout troop. I don't know what made my sister think that I could do it but it did turn out pretty good. This was all painted in Acrylics on a cotton sheet.

(This picture and the others you will see are scanned from paper photos so they don't look as good as they should.)

Inspired to post

2009-10-18T06:38:00.000-07:00

After looking at Rosie's blogg from FOCD I have been inspired to share some of the things I have made in the past. There are ALLOT of things that don't have good photos so I won't share those but I will share a few others.

My Friend

2009-10-14T08:33:00.000-07:00

I haven't posted in soooo long. Mostly because so much is just depressing but I do have a nice picture of my friend Mike. He and his Mom came out to visit us when we were camping. I absolutely LOVE HIM!!!

50th Birthday Party

2009-08-03T06:58:00.000-07:00

I gave my husband a 50th Birthday Party this last weekend. We had most of our friends out to help us celebrate and drink the gallons of alcohol. As you can see from the pictures, he is enjoying his gifts!!

My Girls ")

2009-08-03T06:39:00.000-07:00

Can these two BEAUTIFUL girls actually be MINE???

They are honestly as beautiful on the inside as they are on the outside.

I am so proud of both of them ")

Surgery "(

2009-08-03T06:35:00.000-07:00

Last week my baby boy had to have surgery on his shoulder. This is when I brought him home. You can see that he is being well attended by his trusty cat Jake!! He is doing great and was just very nauseous from the anesthesia.

Puppy Sitting

2009-08-03T06:12:00.000-07:00

Our oldest daughter and her Fiance got a new puppy. The problem, is that they live in an apartment! They are looking for a house and will most likely have one withing a month or two but they unfortunately got caught with the dog that they weren't supposed to have! In steps Mom and Dad. He will be staying with us until they get their house. This picture is of my youngest daughter sleeping on the floor next to the door keeping him company so that he doesn't cry all night. My husband made him a nice dog house that has lots of blankets and he is very happy now. We just can't let him in the house like he is used to because we have two cats.

PupWare

2009-06-15T07:00:00.000-07:00

Today I will be launching my new venture, 'PupWare'. I have had so many comments and compliments on the Puppy clothes that I made that I decided (with the help of my friends) to make it part of my 'Abra Creations' business. After making outfits for 'Tink' and seeing her VERY positive reaction to them, I am inspired to move forward. She is soooo CUTE!! Every time we put one of her new outfits on she would prance over and get into her 'Princess Bed' and pose for everyone to see how beautiful she is ")

She loves the clothes and the bed so I will offer 'PupWare' on my website abracreations.net

The outfit she is wearing here in the photo was made for a 'Crazy Hawaiian' party we did with our camping group. She was the hit of the party!!

Amazing!!

2009-06-14T05:50:00.000-07:00

It's completely AMAZING how time gets away from me. Here I was posting every single day and now it's been a month!!
Well, I'm looking to be inspired ")
I've been working hard at redoing my website so that it's easier to use and have added something new.
All I need to do is add a couple of new Pay-Pal buttons and I can publish.

It's a HIT!!

2009-05-26T09:57:00.000-07:00

One of my best friends had her 50th Birthday this last weekend so I made her this little princess bed for her puppy 'Tinkerbell'. She LOVED it so I was very happy.

A Special Birthday Gift

2009-05-11T07:45:00.000-07:00

A special friend of mine is turning 50 this month. She got herself a new puppy that is the tiniest little thing I have ever seen. Because she is treated like a Princess I made her a Princess bed as a gift. The little pouch in the center is like a little soft sleeping bag that she will be able to put her in to carry her and stay warm while we are outside camping. The tiny dog toy is a baby for the baby. I'll take pictures of her in it Memorial weekend.

Too Cute

2009-05-06T08:03:00.000-07:00

This was too cute not to share. My Grandma was in the shower and Jake was crying to get in. When I went to get the camera he moved to the other side of the basin but it was still cute. The reason I love this so much is that Jake doesn't like ANYBODY except Mom, Dad and daughters. He really took to Grandma which has made things easier.

Baby Claire

2009-05-06T07:53:00.000-07:00

This is my entry for the 'Baby Doll Challenge' on the Doll Net. She is made of muslin and painted with acrylics. I'm not sure her length but she wears a 0-3 month size perfectly. I'm probably not supposed to post her picture but I don't really think I have a chance of winning anything with all the incredible talent out there so I did it anyway.

Getting some much needed excercise!!

2009-04-25T18:51:00.000-07:00

Since my Grandmother has been sick so much of the time she hasn't been able to regain enough strength to walk like she used too. Finally we were able to take a good two mile walk at the Lake a few miles from my house. Can you believe that she is 96 years old? Unfortunately the Alzheimer's makes her seem much older.

Tooooo much too do!!!

2009-04-18T17:15:00.000-07:00

So much has happened since my last entry but I'm just too tired to really go into it all. Grandmas health has been back and forth and her dementia is sometimes off the charts. I've had to put labels on her bedroom door and the bathroom so she knows how to get there. She wants so badly to be of help and it's so much harder to let her help than to just say no thank you. Each day she does the dishes and each day we have to laugh about where we find them. Of course she doesn't know that we're laughing about it. The alternatives to laughing are just to sad and depressing to deal with. We were able to leave her with my Aunt while we went camping last weekend. She was happy to be home but had forgotten where everything was again. That's when I decided to make labels for the doors. I am fortunate to have wonderful friends and a supportive family behind me. I also have the worlds best husband. The hardest part of having her is that she doesn't want to do anything. No kind of craft appeals to her, TV is out and reading has been out too until we went to the library today and I got her a Large print Nora Roberts book. She seems to be interested 'Thank God!!'

I want so badly to work on my baby doll for the challenge and my new doll class coming up but the days are just not long enough and I'm just so tired all the time.

Tomorrow I'll take her to visit my parents while I work in their yard. This gives us each time away from each other plus I get some time in the sun working which is something I love.

Right now I am working on a large dog sweater, a Haywain dress for a party for myself, a matching Haywain shirt for my husband, my baby doll and my class which is three dolls using the same pattern. Is it any wonder I'm so tired????

The pictures are of Grandma with her new library book and my oldest daughters step son working Grandma's puzzle with my husband Steve.

Grandma

2009-03-24T07:20:00.000-07:00

My Grandma has become my priority so I haven't been able to do as much doll making as I would like. But I am getting gratification from her health going from everyone thinking she was only going to be around for a few more months at the most to looking like a shining star! My family has shown great pride and appreciation for my taking care of her and that means allot.

Her Alzheimer's is so much better too so she has become more independent. 'It's a GOOD thing'!! In the photo shown she is making cookies so that we can take them to my Mama in the hospital.

Down for too long!!

2009-03-15T06:38:00.001-07:00

It's been so long since I've posted that I couldn't even remember my password!!

I am working on a new class and it has even grown to three dolls with one pattern. There is two girls 'Asia and Eliza' and a boy 'Samuel'. They are all three dressed in vintage shoes (two different styles) Samuel is an little African American boy. Asia is also African American but has lighter skin and Eliza is a little girl with long blond curls. The class will have three different ways of sculpting depending on which doll you're making. The bodies,legs and arms are all the same on all three.
I've been slowed down lately because my Grandmother is moving in. She is Ninety six years old and has Alzheimer's. It should be an adventure to be sure.

New Class

2009-03-04T04:38:00.000-08:00

I am working on a new class. She is a little African American girl named 'Asia'. I'll post some pictures later when her face is complete.

Tiny Raggity Doll

2009-03-04T04:29:00.000-08:00

I have been so inspired by my girlfriends dollhouse. I have always wanted one but since I don't have the money or the space for such a beautiful luxury I am going to enjoy hers. I made this tiny Raggedy Ann doll for her Baby room. When I took it to her she rearranged the whole house for it! :) I do LOVE her!!

IOLCC Meeting

2009-02-25T07:02:00.000-08:00

Last night I went to my first meeting with the San Diego doll club. I don't normally go because I am night blind and have a hard time getting there but anyway, I sat with Barb Keeling and made a doll with the instruction of Barbara Chapman. I had SUCH a good time! Barb is an absolute LOVE and she kept me laughing all night. Unfortunately that also kept me coughing all night but it was worth it LOL
I did join and will be enjoying there company twice a month.

Sarah's Finished

2009-02-24T09:31:00.000-08:00

Well, I finally finished Sarah. She's been sitting around in her underwear for way too long. Personally I like her better that way. She looks like I would expect anyone to look in that day, tired and needing a break! She is the second in a series of three. Next is Baby Madison. She will have the same body but with baby legs and arms and a modern outfit. She will be a 'Portrait Doll'.

Tiny PC doll and tiny quilt

2009-02-23T13:47:00.000-08:00

For the last two days I have been working on the bedding and the doll for this dollhouse bed frame. I had such a good time making the full size doll that I thought my friend Sylvia's little house should also have one. She is 2.5" tall. I do like how they turned out and they look GREAT in the house with the rose wallpaper. Someday I would love to have my own dollhouse to play with.

Grace is done

2009-02-21T07:34:00.000-08:00

Well, I finished Grace and she is now living comfortably in my studio. She really was fun to make and other than just a couple of small changes for personal preference making her was the first time I've made a doll from someone else's pattern.

'Grace' my Presbyterian doll

2009-02-19T11:13:00.000-08:00

The Vintage doll group that I have been following is doing a challenge where we were given a choice of different kinds of dolls to make. I did make my little KK doll 'Matthew' for that challenge but everyone seems to be having such a good time making 'Presbylla Catherine' that I jumped on the band wagon! LOL

This is my version so far. Her name is Grace. I have never done this kind of doll before. She is painted with acrylics.

Sarah's Undies

2009-02-17T05:52:00.000-08:00

I can't believe how lax I've been about posting!!

Here is a picture of my Sarah in her undies and bonnet. She has a top now but I don't have a picture yet. I'm working on her dress which I'm doing without a pattern so it's taking me longer. I have such a hard time finishing anything because I am plagued with too many ideas in my little brain!! I barely get started on one thing and I can't stop thinking about the next!!

Challenge Doll

2009-02-09T14:09:00.000-08:00

OK, so I'm a big fat liar!! I had to finish this doll after all. I did a doll after my favorite Kathe Kruse and I've named him Matthew. I couldn't just leave it undone.

Sarah

2009-02-08T17:09:00.000-08:00

Mama doll really got me going onto something that I LOVE!! I am using the same head with a more grown up face and grown up arms and legs to make Sarah. Her head is all painted and her bonnet is made. I'm working on her arms and legs which I am also really happy with. She will be like an old vintage portrait doll. I may offer to do portrait dolls for others using this pattern and just painting the face differently. My baby niece will be first. We'll see how that goes. This is a picture of her before I started doing any detail. Just a template so far. I'll take a picture of her completely painted tomorrow. She looks much better all done and I love her bonnet too.

Jady's Shadow

2009-02-08T17:04:00.000-08:00

I have a new friend named Ree Madina. She is a wonderful lady and makes adorable dolls. She has two young sons and they all live in Tennessee. Her youngest son Jady inspired me to make this doll which I call 'Jady's Shadow'. She is on her way to him now as a surprise. Here is also a picture of the beginning.

New 'old' dresser

2009-02-08T17:00:00.000-08:00

One day when I was walking the neighborhood I saw this old dresser in someones driveway and it said 'FREE' on it. I came home real fast and begged my husband to help me pick it up. After I redo it I think it will be great in my studio :)

Catch up!!

2009-02-08T16:55:00.000-08:00

Well, my camera is working so now I just need some good daylight to take some pictures.
Oh yeah, my Kathe Kruse doll is a bust! Love the body and loved the head until I painted it. I made his eyes too big and instead of just painting over the whole thing I threw it out! I know, STUPID :( I can be very hard on myself. I'm not going to stress about doing that challenge right now because I'm in the middle of another project that I'm more excited about.

Sorry!! :(

2009-02-06T07:53:00.000-08:00

For those of you that follow my blog I do have to apologize. I have not posted in way too long. For a full week and a half I was very sick and didn't care about doing anything Not even dolls!! My husband says, 'I know you're sick when you don't want to make your dolls'. That's the truth. Anyway, I personally don't get too interested in just reading someones blog. I love to look at the pictures and if something catches my eye then I will read about it. Unfortunately my camera has not be working really well. Everything is coming out blurry soooooooo even though I am no longer sick I do not have any pictures to share.

I have decided to 'step out of the box' a little. First of all I was inspired to make a doll for a new friends son. She is an Art Doll called 'Jady's Shadow'. She's kind of dark and you all know that I am not that way so she was different. I am also working on a new Vintage style doll. Her name is Sarah and she looks like a vintage portrait doll. Her body is the same as my Mama doll but she has grown up arms and legs. I will make one more doll from this pattern with 'New baby' features and then I will be releasing the pattern with the option of making the three different dolls with the price of one pattern. BUT the pattern will be $15.00 instead of my usual $10.00 because of the amount of paper that will be used to make it.

Sarah's face is more complex than Mama dolls and I will make a more simple face on the third and last doll so that everyone will be able to do at least one of them.
Stay tuned!!

Matthew's Head

2009-01-23T10:46:00.001-08:00

After changing his body to go with the head that I was at first happy with, I did decide to change his head after all. It will have to have a few layers of Gesso and some sanding to help get rid of the fuzzes. Right now his head is on doweling to help with handling but when he is all painted I'll cut the doweling off about two inches below and push it down into the neck opening.