The Toad House

I gave my son a copy of an organic gardening book that I found at a book sale earlier in the year.  He was captivated by the idea of a toad house that is mentioned in the book.  I went on a Gurdjieff work week locally and made a few pieces of pottery, one being a toad house.  It was crafted with a mulberry roof!

How to make a Poppet

First I take charcoal and trace a form on some material.  I had been using muslin but an old sheet works too.

I trace the human form out on double folded fabric and stitch around on the charcoal line.  Next I cut it out  and right side it.  This photo is of my process to turn it right side out. 

You must clip corners and trim curves prior to right side outing the doll.  This one I left his shoulder for the stuffing entrance but sometimes I leave a side open.

This little guy needs to have a blue suit made with a red tie and white shirt.

Lavender Sachets

I had another blog, Amiable Blogservations which I have been writing for years and years.  I decided to eliminate it because it has socially incriminating thoughts and ideas in it.  I have three months to change my mind. 

I sew for a local organization and this is my work.  These sell for 18 dollars for a group of three.  They are lavender sachets.

If anybody reads this who is a reader of the other blog and wants to advise me, that would be great.  I would like to hear if I should keep it on the internet.

Saint Henry of Uppsala

This is St. Henry and a poppet of myself.

St Henry became a martyr when he excommunicated a murderer.  The murderer murdered him, wo he was wise not to absolve him.  Pope Francis likes to sell a Christianity where there is no limit to God's forgiveness.  There is actually, and a watered down version of Christianity is not honest or fair.  If you blaspheme the Holy Spirit, that is an unforgivable sin.  If you do not have true contrition, then you don't deserve absolution.

Latest Sketches July 2014

Here are some of my latest sketches.

the apple is gouache

gouache with ink.

Charcoal and gouache.  This is a porcelain monkey family figurine.  My mother used to tell me when I was six or seven that that was our family.  Then my sister was adopted and it was no longer true.

And another selfie- eyes are a bit dark.

A Drawing a day helps to keep the Blues Away

I have been experiencing a "block" I haven't been able to write blogs like I am used to.  As an exercise to prevent a "frozen" block I try to do a little sketch each day.  This is a little right brain work to help prevent me from becoming depressed....It is charcoal pencil.

 Floppy Lamby- a little stuffed animal among the pillows

 A Christmas cactus on a little table.  My son gave me the parent of this cutting in 2003 for my birthday.



 A little carved wooden bird on a placemat.

A pressed wooden highchair in my dining room area of the apartment.

Oil Pastel Experiment

This oil pastel is just an exercise.  It was meant for me to find out about oil pastels.

reference photo below.

Oil pastels are not as smugeable as chalk pastels.  I read on line that one method was mixing paint thinner with the pastel after it has been applied.  This gave it the soft look.  I used Turpenoid Natural.  I don't think that this is the correct product as the container said it was just for cleaning brushes.  I don't consider this piece finished as the colors need beefing up.  I think it was fun to just play around with the medium and see how difficult it was to get it to look halfway decent.