(Taking) the Long Way Home

Ok, I've been listening to Supertramp lately. But what I'm really trying to say is that I always seem to make things more difficult than they need to be.

I'm working on a doll for doll club, using one of the two patterns chosen for this challenge. Someone said the designer of the pattern I'm using creates patterns that don't quite go together. So I thought I'd just make one in plain muslin to check out that theory, without wasting my good skin fabric. As it turns out the body pattern did NOT go together well, and I had to do quite a bit of modifying.

Here's the rub: After all the modifying, sewing and stuffing, I really didn't want to start over with the good fabric. Now I've got a really white doll (and I don't mean Caucasian). So I decided to paint it. Of course, I'd already attached the arms, making this a bit trickier. I also painted on layers of Messy Mix and gesso before the paint. Her arms are sticking up in the air for ease in painting and drying, with one coat of acrylic skin color in place.

She's headless, because I'm not particularly happy with the head shape, either. I thought I could just augment it with a little paperclay. Easy peasy. Except I thought I really ought to paint the neck/body first, before sticking the head on. If I do this right, I'll have a fabric/paperclay head that can turn side to side. Of course, I'll need to paint that, too.

New Video Camera

I've finally taken the plunge and decided to purchase a digital video camera. So far, any videos I've taken have been on my little digital camera ~ and therefore are very short in duration.

So last night I did some research (like I know what I'm doing - Hah!) and got out the credit cardI settled on this Canon. It's been shipped, and should be here in a few days. B&H Photo is my favorite site for cameras - and I've purchased quite a few for myself and others (no affiliation, yada yada).

Having a nice camera like this may make it possible to develop some video tutorials.

Canon's VIXIA HG21 Hard Disk Drive Camcorder with a 120GB HDD and additional storage for video or 3.1Mp stills available on SD/SDHC cards provides you with all the space you'll ever need. Because you can capture up to 45 hours and 55 minutes of true 1920 x 1080 high definition video (in LP mode) when shooting to the HDD you'll never have to worry about changing discs or tapes right at the key moment...
• Record
Record to both the 120GB Hard Disk Drive for up to 45 hours and 55 minutes (HD video in LP mode) and to external SD/SDHC memory cards when you need the extra storage. In addition, the video you record on the HDD can be copied to the SDHC card and inserted into your computer or HDTV's card reader slot for instant viewing. You can also transfer still images from the SDHC card to the internal memory.
• 1920 x 1080 Full HD Recording
Capture each and every image in true 1920 x 1080 HD. Your images will also be output and recorded in the amazing quality and clarity of full HD. Record at the highest AVCHD bitrate of 24Mbps.

Where have I been, and just what have I been doing?

Well, it's truly autumn here, and life/work has been busy. I've been itching to make a doll, but it hasn't been in the cards. We're seeing many folks with the flu or "flu-like symptoms" present to the ER every day. Most of us have had our flu shots, but I get the feeling it's only a matter of time before we all start dropping like flies.

I attended a great trauma class last week (certification is required every 4 years). You might notice that the instructors are teaching in a hotel room. That's because the person coordinating the class lacks some organizational skills.

Not pointing fingers ~ I'm just saying...
Good thing they're real ER nurses, and therefore very adaptable and able to go with the flow (though she said she couldn't sleep until she put the dummy away.)

TNCC (Trauma Nurses Core Course) is a comprehensive class, with written and practical exams. When I finished my one-on-one practical exam, the tester asked what courses I instructed. That caught me by surprise. I said, "Uh, doll making?" That's not what he was talking about. He said I'd make a good TNCC instructor because I like "control." I guess I do, but I think I'd rather teach dollmaking ;-)

We also babysit our grandson every Monday and Wednesday. Yesterday (during a rain break) we went to the local park with Ivan. He's so much fun to be around, and his vocabulary is expanding weekly. Dare I say, he's a genius?

Monday, my oldest son announced that he and his fiancee are expecting a girl in April. It came as quite a shock, but at least he knew to tell me in person and not via email. He's very excited and happy about it, and I'm happy that he's happy.

In just a little over a month we'll be celebrating Christmas. I'm sure I'll be ill-prepared as usual. Our Christmas party/auction is on December 19, and we've put together a little ER band for entertainment. We've just started rehearsing a set of songs to perform. The band has two new members that both work in the ER - Ian (drummer) and Kyle (my youngest son, on sax and is learning a little electric guitar). I'll also be playing the electric guitar for the first time. That should be entertaining.

I've also become a little bit addicted to karaoke (at home, in private). Myspace.com has a karaoke feature, which is a good way to exercise the voice. I bought a mic for the computer, and now I can experience the pain of hearing recordings of myself.

Happy Halloween!

Worked my butt off - lots of ambulances and flu people in the ER today. Came home, had no Trick-or-Treaters, so more candy for ME!

Little Red

It's a beautiful Saturday, and I'll be headed to doll club in a couple hours. We'll be meeting at Roxanne's house in Newberg (Oregon). We've met there once before, and her home is lovely.

Our usual meeting place (fire station in St. Helens) is currently off-limits, due to the prevalence of H1N1 influenza. The hope is by preventing outsiders into the facility, the first responders will have less exposure to the virus and stay healthy so they can do their jobs. I can appreciate that. I got my H1N1 shot a few days ago, will no ill effects.
Little Red will be coming to doll club with me. I used Lucinda Durbin's Presbyterian doll pattern, a reproduction based on the original dolls. I had to adapt the pattern a little, as I wanted to try a photo face doll. She still needs her basket, and some sort of hair-do. You can find some information about these original dolls HERE, on Sherrie Nordgren's blog.

The Wobblin' Goblin

I've been trying to remember the lyrics to a song my mom used to sing around this time of year. I looked it up on youtube, and was tickled to hear the original, as sung by Rosemary Clooney.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eh3cF0h7KM4

The Wobblin Goblin

(Intro)
There once was a sad little goblin,
Who had a broken broom
When he went anywhere, it would wobble in the air
And his heart would fill with gloom
He tried to hard to fix it every night
But he just couldn't get it working right

The Wobblin goblin with the broken broom
Could never fly too high
For right after take-off
Another piece would break off
And soon he would be danglin' in the sky!

Each evening just as he would leave the ground
His radio would say:
"Control tower to Goblin,
Your broom stick is wobblin',
You better make a landing right away."

It soon got so he could only ride
When the witches took him piggy back
Until at last, he used his brain,
And bought himself an aero-plane!

So if you look for him on Halloween
You'll see him zip and zoom
No harm can befall him, no longer can they call him,
The Wobblin' Goblin with the Broken Broom!

Reigning Dolls & Bears club pin done

Today I finished my doll club pin, designed by club member Martha Checkett. Well almost done ~ I may add a little banner/scroll with my name, so I can use the pin as a name tag. The pin 3-1/2 by almost 4 inches in size. The head is about the size of a nickel.

Next, I'm going to try to finish my Little Red Riding Hood challenge doll, using a Presbyterian doll repro pattern by Lucinda Durbin. She just needs her hair and red cape. I've also got to finish our August challenge doll, using one of two patterns we selected from the old The Cloth Doll magazine.

Tombstone Angel Wallhanging ~ prototype #1

Last night I added some detail stitching on my Tombstone Angel Wallhanging prototype. I tried adding the wing detail with the sewing machine, but didn't like the look. So I ripped that out and hand-sewed them instead, using thread just a little bit lighter in color. I also added some pupils, which helps a bit.

Today I'm drafting the Tombstone Angel pin doll/ornie version of the pattern. It's almost identical to the other angel, but a little fuller in the chest and wings.

Today's the perfect day to work on this project. The weather's stormy and gloomy ~ no reason at all to go outside. I'm planning to make Tombstone into a pattern. It takes me a really long time to write the instructions, but maybe I can get the bulk of it done today.

Pumpkinhead Doll Finished

My pumpkinhead doll is finally done. Well maybe. I might still paint her some boots and possibly add some lace along the hem of her dress. Or maybe not. She's about 16 inches tall (from her feet to the top of her stem). Her clothing is removable. She's all cloth, with a paperclay sculpted over her badly formed stuffed cloth head. You'll notice I didn't include a photo of her stuffed head with my first progress photos.

She turned out just a little darker than I'd intended, especially after the wash of walnut ink was applied. It doesn't help that these photos turned out a little dark and grainy.

I wonder how the other doll club members' challenge dolls turned out?

The Great Columbia Crossing

Today was the 28th Annual Great Columbia Crossing- a 10K/6.2 mile Walk/Run that crosses the Columbia River near its mouth. This is the third or fourth time I've participated. The sunrise this morning was gorgeous.

This year I walked with my sister. My son and nephew ran. Here I am with my youngest (Kyle). We got up very early and rode the shuttle bus to the Washington side of the Columbia River, where we had two hours to kill before start time. It was very breezy and cold - about 40 degrees, I think. Hats and gloves would have been nice - next year we'll be better prepared.

Three thousand walkers and runners gathered at the Dismal Nitchrest area. After a mile, we crossed the 4.1 mile-long Astoria-Megler Bridge (usually open to vehicle and cycle traffic only) and finished in Oregon.

This is my sister and I (Deb's on the left, I'm on the right). It's not easy to have a good hair day with all that wind. I'm SO thankful it didn't rain this year.

We'd like to train for next year and try running it. Neither of us are natural runners, so I'm sure we'll suffer mightily, trained or not. The rise and span of the bridge are deceptively long.

This bridge is the longest continuous three-span truss bridge in the world. It rises 205 feet above the river, over a major shipping channel. It used to be a toll bridge, back when I was new to the area (some 23 years ago). Once the bridge was paid for, the toll went away. Hey! I see my friend and coworker Shaun in this photo. Many hospital staff participated today.

This photo was taken at the top of the span. We're just starting to get our autumn colors here. I think October is my favorite month. Very crisp and cool, but sort of risky for an event like this.

If you have time, check out the links in this post for a little history.



I really don't think we need to leave quite so early next year. The thing is, parking can be a challenge. I suggested we walk to the shuttles (about 1-1/2 mile from our house), but for some reason no one was interested.

Oh, and I did get the T-shirt.