Bleuette ensemble ebay auctions closing today...all have been marked down to $20 or less with free shipping.

I did it again. I had a few minutes to spare so I sat down and found myself wandering through the fabric aisles of Ebay....then click click and I was at Hancocks online...why do I do this? I'm addicted to fabric! Specifically vintage or reproduction vintage fabrics...with a heavy usage of 1930-40s cotton...the reds, the yellows, the florals...the pinks, the greens, the geometric patterns....it's exilirating to unfold a crisp new or well worn, soft vintage FQ [fat quarter an 18x22 inch square of fabric]....so many dolly clothes...so many quilts!

But I will spend not. We are saving for the baby. I have crib quilts to be sewing...rooms to be rearranging, clutter and books to clean out for the resale "pay for baby" pile for ebay....I should not be roaming through fabric shoppes salivating over fabric...pretty 1950s stripes...pretty 1930s florals recycled from an old farm apron...teensy polka dots red on turquoise....or my other weakness: 1930-50s kitchen fabrics that can be whipped up in a matter of minutes into spiffy, bold and homey tablecloths...


I love the brightness of the kitchen fabrics...the eccentricity of the patterns...whimsical kitchen views, bold eye-popping florals, or strange dancing vegetables and singing fruits....they're all there in those piles of cast away fabric that I find at so and so's dead aunt Mattie's house cleaning garage sale, god rest her soul.

Stuck under stacks of 1970s Family Circles and crocheted potholders...under the stacks of multi-hued crocheted afghans and macrame plantholders...I find the boxes of wooden spooled threads in brilliant hues -- cottons not that polyster crap they sell today -- and in the water-damaged box under the table of fluffy pink commode covers and golden fillagree kleenex box covers, I find the gold mine: vintage fabric. Sometimes it's an old house dress thrown into the clothes pile...sometimes, and these are glorious times, it's boxes and boxes of carefully folded vintage fabric.

I hold these fabrics wondering what project the old aunt, the old grandmother, the old mom had in store for them...did they mean to sew just one more quilt before arthritis finally claimed their hands? Did they mean to make just one more jumper or pinafore for a much loved grandchild before all the grandbabies grew up and only wore jeans and t-shirts? Did they intend to sew just one more housedress to wear around the house on lazy days? So many prospects.

Usually the family sees no value in these fabrics and threads...I get whole boxes for $1...I've had people go back to the shed, the bedroom, the garage and pull out more boxes, some full of old handstitched quilts, aprons, baby clothes and tell me "Just take it"...glad to be rid of these relics of the past when every woman knew her way around a sewing machine and there was nothing that couldn't be whipped up in an afternoon if it was needed.

It makes me sad sometimes. A quarter for a quilt constructed of carefully saved and matched feed sack fabrics, lovingly stitched by hand in dim light after a long day's work of raising children and feeding the family of hand-washing and hanging laundry...no tvs to blare, no movies to watch, no internet to suck the time away....just one woman and a lapful of fabric diligently transforming the small into something large enough to cover a sleeping baby, a thrashing, yawning child, or a dead-tired husband.

I pile my mildewed scented boxes into my car, waving happily at the family that was oh so ecstatic to get rid of Aunt Milly's boxes of crap...Aunt Milly's boxes of hopes and dreams...Aunt Milly's boxes of warmth and love and hard work and dedication....and I take them home and empty them into piles, wash and iron and fold them...

And sew them into all those items and projects that Aunt Milly didn't get a chance to get to...and I imagine I can see her smiling, happy her beloved fabric didn't end up in a black plastic trash sack in the city dump.

And some day...my children will face the same situation...after the weed through our books and books and books...they'll come to my boxes of fabric carefully ironed and folded and waiting to live as something useful and beautiful...

But just maybe I will have instilled in my daughters and maybe sons the same love that I have for watching an unsuspecting piece of fabric become something wonderful beneath the movement of their hands...and they'll pick up a piece and rub it between knowing fingers and feel the "hand" of it, and envision something beautiful...and take it home...

and repeat the cycle.

So...I push my chair away and turn to my work...knowing that there will be more fabric waiting again for me once babies are toddlers and toddlers are children and children are teenagers and then....adults. And then there will be even more time to collect that fabric, iron it and fold it and put it away.

Fearzone has Symphony for the Forgotten listed as an editor's pick for 2008. Go read the list! Woot!

There has been a delay and Symphony for the Forgotten won't be released until 2009. I have requested the work be removed from the Bram Stoker Recommended work List, the book will be eligible for Stoker consideration in 2009 now. Thank you to those who have recommended the collection. I really appreciate your support. To all those who have emailed asking where to find it or when it will be available...it's coming. I promise!

Meanwhile, work continues on my other collection due out Fall 2009 from Dark Regions Press. This one is not to be confused with Shades of Blood and Shadow, also coming out from Dark Regions Press in Spring 2009. SoBaS has been turned into the publisher and is being illustrated by Tom Moran. I'm VERY excited about these collections, stay tuned for more news with this publisher!

Sewing news: I've been sewing like a crazy person and hope to get the ensembles I've finished over the holidays listed on ebay soon. Right now there are a handful of items listed, and I've removed all of the Christmas/holiday ensembles. If you're a member of ForBleuette, the 3 remaining holiday ensembles have been marked down in my album there, otherwise they'll be held for holiday listing next year.

UGH! I have to go do sales taxes...ugh ugh ugh...fortunately, I'm a meticulous record keeper so the process is always uneventful, but tedious all the same. After that, we have to do the big whammy...Income taxes....[making the very 80s gag me hand to mouth gesture].

No big New Year's Eve/Day plans. Teh Hotness will probably be studying for his Biology test and I'll be writing...I told the kidlets they can attempt to stay up and watch the ball drop on TV if they so desire, but they have to do it in the family room because us old ones will be working downstairs. I'll be surprised if they make it past 9 pm. lol.

Okay...off to do taxes. Coffee...need coffee....

Ha! Now everyone will have that evil song stuck in their heads! lol...

Thank you to everyone who commented on my depressive journal entry yesterday. Today is much improved.

Chapter 4 begins tonight on the horror novel...yay!

Many Bleuette ensembles and some other assorted stuff listed on ebay: in the continuing Buy the Boy Child A Computer For Christmas Campaign. This is the last of the house clean-out stuff with the exception of books and DVDs/VHS that we're still going through...and of course the doll stuff which goes up year round.

Been re-editing 3 other novels to send out to agents/publishers again. Took a break while I was writing the other Fantasy novel[collaboration with Christopher Fulbright]...now writing new horror novel [also a collaboration but not with Christopher]...need to send out some queries checking on "stuff" that's been out for a while now.

Last night I sewed Scootles aka Snoodles [my Christmas doll that I'm allowed to repair and dress, then must go into Chris's closet til Christmas] combination undergarments in a flocked white dotted pink voile...so cute! Also got a few minutes of sewing in on another Christmas Bleuette ensemble, while waiting for the kiddos at school.

TOMORROW:

I'll be signing books at the grand opening of Eerie Books in Wylie, Texas [205 N. Ballard Street ]  this Saturday, October 18th, from 2 -4 pm. Eerie Books has the distinction of being the only ALL HORROR bookstore in Texas. I will have proofs of my new collection SYMPHONY FOR THE FORGOTTEN which is due out SOON.

The Wylie square has several wonderful cafes and restaurants, as well as an awesome coffee house/antique store...so come on out for lunch and then pop by the bookstore and say hello!

Eerie Books celebrates its grand opening on Saturday, October 18, 2008 by giving away free horror movies and free horror books to the first 100 visitors to the store that day. In addition to horror books, Eerie Books also carries horror movies on DVD (both new and used) and other horror collectibles, like comic books, games, and artwork.

Okay, off to make Halloween ghost cookies for the kidlets...

The Connection Magazine which showcases events, businesses and people in the Wylie, Murphy, and Sachse Texas area has a wonderful article about Christopher and myself smack dab in the middle of it [awesome, the magazine opens right to the article!] as a Halloween feature! Download a copy for free here.

I will also be a featured guest on the Ken Hudnall Show, a radio broadcast out of El Paso, Texas in the near future. More info on that when I get the air date etc.

Writing, continues. Sewing, continues. Bzzz Bzzz Bzzz goes the worker bee...

Quote for the day:

"Some men see things the way they are and ask 'Why?'  I dream things that never were, and ask 'Why not?'"
-George Bernard Shaw

Angie's Easy Salsa

1 can diced tomatoes with green chilies
1 can diced tomatoes
1 TBS chopped fresh Cilantro [y'all above the mason dixon might call this Chinese Parsley]
1 TBS sugar
1 tsp salt
1 tsp red pepper
1/4 tsp Cayene pepper
1/2 cup chopped onion
2-3 TBS chopped jalopenos [I use fresh that I've pickled in vinegar & salt, but you can use jarred or canned]
2-3 cloves chopped fresh garlic [can be frozen or thawed]
1 squirt lime juice [optional]
1 qt Mason jar or other recycled jar [glass keeps the strong odor out of your fridge]
* optional - 1/4 cup chopped green pepper

Drain both cans of tomatoes. Add the tomatoes w/green chilies to the jar. Add all chopped products and spices. Add the other can of diced tomatoes. Screw on lid. Shake until well blended. Chill for at least 2 hours. Keeps up to 2 wks in fridge [maybe longer but in our house it only lasts tops 4-5 days til it's all eaten] The salsa's hotness will get stronger the longer it is in the jar/refrigerated.

Writing News:
30k from finishing fantasy novel. Next up: horror novel.

Sewing News:
Finished another Bleuette ensemble and need to list on ebay. Will be listing another Alien baby doll as the other one got himself adopted. Yay. Currently the red demon baby in the vintage black velvet christening gown has been bid on and will be going to his/her new home in a few days! Currently working on beautiful and darling pink felt, embroidered baby booties [for real or loved like they're real babies]. Will be sewing for Kiddo#2 shortly. Have fabric, buttons, patterns, etc. Most auctions closing in next 24 hrs, go here to bid:

Doll News: I'm so excited. I have a new Bambino who is going to be a Bambina for me [Bleuette's little sister] doll coming home to me soon. She's been on layaway. I also have on layaway a Daisyette [the American version of Bleuette] and a reproduction of an antique Japanese doll. Yay! Also, I won an AMAZING auction on ebay this past week. A Patsy doll [circa 1930s] and her travel trunk and matching smaller trunk! Got an amazing deal on it. Nearly was outbid in the last seconds of the auction, but I managed to snipe it back and my computer didn't freeze up as it normally does when I don't want it to! lol. So, sewing up a storm! Expecting some repro patterns for the Patsy doll so I can sew for her too!

Summer News: The last weeks of summer are winding down. It was 108 here yesterday. School clothes are in the final stages of being purchased. We have new backpacks and shoes and clothes and excitement is building. Class rosters get posted in 2 wks. The kids are already talking about who they might or might not get for a teacher. Christopher heads back to class the same time the kiddos do. Kiddo#2's birthday [Sept 2] gifts have been purchased. She waived the party in favor of more gifts. She wanted the Elizabeth and Felicity American Girl dolls and many ensembles. We've divided the list among the family. She won't be disappointed!

I'm nearly finished with the year's worth of photos in my scrapbooking album.  Whew. Still easier to haul all the stuff and all the photos out every summer and live with the mess for 2 wks then it is to break out the stuff every few months.

Because everyone else is doing it:
First, the rules:

1. You must answer yes or no.
2. You may not explain unless someone asks you to.

Have you ever....

Taken a picture naked? Yes
Made money illegally? No
Had a one-night stand? No
Been in a fistfight? Yes
Slept with your best friend? Yes
Had sex in a public place? Yes
Ditched work to have sex? Yes
Slept with a member of the same sex? No
Seen someone die? No
Run from the police? No
Woke up somewhere and not remember how you got there? Yes
Worn your partner's unmentionables? No
Fallen asleep at work? Yes
Used toys in the bedroom? Yes
Run a red light? Yes
Been fired? No
Been in a car accident? Yes
Pole danced or done a striptease? Yes
Loved someone you shouldn't? No
Sung karaoke? No
Done something you told yourself you wouldn't? Yes
Laughed so hard you peed your pants? Yes
Caught someone having sex? Yes
Kissed a perfect stranger? No
Shaved your partner? Yes
Given your private parts a nickname? Yes
Gone in public without underwear? Yes
Had sex on a rooftop? No
Played chicken? No
Mooned/flashed someone? Yes
Slept naked? Yes
Blacked out from drinking? Yes
Felt like killing someone? Yes
Had sex more than 5 times in one day? Yes
Been with someone because they were in a band? No
Taken 10 shots of liquor in a day? No
Shot a gun? Yes
Gone outside naked? Yes

And that's all folks...lol.

Auctions closing on the demon and satyr baby dolls. I won't be re-listing whatever is left after the auctions for awhile, as I'm going to be taking them to some conventions and art shows.
Bleuette ensembles closing as well. Still running the buy 2 ensembles get a cute 4 inch jointed doll for free offer. See photo of cute dolly below!




Novel progressing. We're submitting the novella this week, our REHupa zine, and I'm submitting my Kabar collection. Finished the first book in Janrae Frank's Lycan Blood series and it's AWESOME!

We spent our weekend shopping at thrift stores, using our 50% off coupons at all of the area Half Price Bookstores. We had a long lunch with Jim and Charlee Jacob, and then did some more book shopping. We had items at all of the stores that we had our eyes on for a while, so ran to use the 50% off coupons. I got an antique cardboard treasure chest w/20 little books, an awesome 1950s [London Eng publisher] fold around Doll house book ...awesome 50s detailing!, Chris got some cool deals, among them the entire Indiana Jones collection [w/out new one of course] in dvd format, among other things. Scored some nice clothes for Kiddo#1 and myself at the resale shops.

Busy weekend!

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Writing news: Novel progresses. Novella: my part will be finished tonight. New Kabar story: got turned in last week.

Symphony for the Forgotten all but 2 blurbs in. It's moving right along.

Events/Appearances: Myself and Christopher Fulbright will be guests in Tulsa, OK next weekend at Conestoga. I asked to be removed from the reading and added to the 10 am Sat Horror panel...I was removed from the Reading but no word yet on the Horror panel.

Here's my schedule:

Angeline Itinerary:

Sat 11 AM   Salon F               1.0    Panels, Interview        Religion in Fantasy & Horror

Sat 01 PM    Salon G              1.0    Writers Workshop      Collaborating: The care and feeding of your partner

Sat 03 PM    Signing Table    1.0     Signings                     Signing

Here's Christopher's:

Christopher Itinerary:

Sat 10 AM       Salon F       1.0   Panels, Interview Oh, the horror

Sat 11 AM       Chairman    1.0   Reading           Dark Fantasy

Sat 01 PM        Salon G   1.0  Writers Workshop Collaborating: The care & feeding of your partner

Sewing/Doll news: Finished 3 ensembles, soon to be 4. Will list next week. Bought a wholesale lot of matching doll shoes and pink socks, so soon will offer complete Bleuette ensembles at an affordable price!  Hit an awesome sale and got some grab bags of trim and ribbons/lace coming in the mail. Also found an awesome reproduction fabric website, and they also have awesome japanese imported fabric. Bought a few 1/2 yard pieces for Bleuette clothes. Most of the fabric has been accrued for the making of Kiddo#2's dresses/pinafores.

Other Stuff: Have most of the kiddos school clothes purchased and either in the mail coming here, or here. Woot. Backpacks and shoes also purchased. School supplies purchased through PTA pre-assembled packages in May. Lunch boxes have been deemed in new condition still and will be reused from last year. I bought 3 double/triple your money new Gymboree lots on ebay for Kiddo#2 and hit the Children's Place 50% off online sale...so woot! Great savings! The shoes were averaging about $4 a pair so I stocked up in the next 2 sizes for Kiddo#2. Nice to get it all done before the soccer mom's lose all shreds of sanity and converge on all shopping places in a mad frenzy. Not for me. Give me the computer, a website or two and the UPS and USPS deliveries!

That's about it! I'm off to do laundry, dishes, make some of my almost perfected rip-off of Starbucks Frappacino, and finish sewing an ensemble. I also promised a game of Spongebob Operation [it's like the buzzerific Operation we played as kids, only they wussed it all up and made it easy and less loud...I guess they determined jolting heart attacks caused by loud-ass vibrating metal wasn't good for kids].

And YAY! We've got 50% off 1/2 Price Bookstore coupons for Sunday so we shall be making runs on all of the 1/2 price bookstores in a 60 mile radius. Quake in our wake!

The introduction by Michael Largo for my collection has been turned in. I love it! I think he really captures the essence of the collection. Have a handful of promotional blurbs, waiting on the others to roll in.

On the sewing front, One of each of the monster baby dolls have been listed on ebay, and a ton of new DARLING Bleuette ensembles. I've kicked the Bleuette sewing into high gear to save for school clothes for the kiddos. I've been making little dresses with poodle fabric, and the dresses come complete with vintage poodle figurine [most are porcelain]...SO CUTE!

Yesterday was a productive day. I felt good and got 4 dozen molasses cookies baked, and 4 dozen Lemon sugar cookies baked. I also made Italian Vegetable Chicken soup and homemade bread. The garden is coming along nicely. We've had green beans, Cilantro and Jalopeno peppers so far, and 2 tomatoes are turning red! Yay!

I'm also busily working on a new Kabar of El Hazzar story for a hush hush anthology. This story takes him to China and involves Chinese mythology. It's been a lot of research, but very intriguing. [You can read the latest Kabar stories in Flashing Sword Magazine and the anthology: The Return of the Sword].

Work on the novel progresses. I've taken about a week break in order to write the new story, but will be back on the horse as soon as I get the new story written and typed up. I hand write my short stories, then type them up, then edit/rewrite on the computer. I don't know why that is, but I can't seem to break the habit. Novellas and Novels I do on the computer, but those short stories have to come out via pen and hand. That's just the way it works for me.

I'm very excited and can't wait for the debut of Spicy Slipstream Stories at Readercon this month. The anthology edited by Jay Lake and Nick Mamatas features some outstanding authors. The story I wrote for the anthology, "The Fantastical Aquisition of the Sword of General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna", was one of the most challenging stories I have ever written as I had to figure out exactly WHAT the genre WAS before I could start writing. The story itself was SO much fun to write...like nothing I've ever written and was a rollercoaster of action and surprises. I hope the book does well. No cover image has been released to the authors yet, but I'll post it once I have it.

Okay...whew...I'm off to check the mail!

My creepy monster baby dolls are featured at FearZone.

They live!!! hee hee

You can adopt baby Demon in gothic black christening gown/bonnet created from antique black velvet here.

Baby Satyr's auction for his adoption closes in 6 hours....he has 15 watches...he would love to come home with you!!

A new story from my fantasy series, Tales of the Barbarian Kabar of El Hazzar, is coming May 1 in the May issue of Flashing Swords.

"Sacrifice of the Utukki: From the Tales of the Barbarian Kabar of El Hazzar" is a story featuring Kabar's wife, Adina. I thought it would be nice to feature a woman warrior for a change of pace. When Kabar is aiding King Segmund of Ur, Queen Tiamat of Caldana comes to Woldenstag for his help. Adina, Kabar’s wife, agrees to rescue Duzi, heir to the throne of Caldana, from the clutches of the Utukki. She must cross through the three gates of Kish to reach the demon realm of the Utukki.

In Other News:
Writing continues.
Sewing on the Bleuette ensembles continues. I have 2 more to finish then will be listing a new batch on ebay.
The Creepy Doll production continues. I am painting the bodies/faces of the Alien-Human hybrids right now and deciding on designs for their clothing. The demon baby parts are in various stages of molding and drying. Woot.

Now I must go walk on my treadmill and watch the crap that passes as daytime news.

Was interviewed by a new Horror Collectors website. Check it out.

Spring Clearance sale at my online doll store. Making room for new stuff. The prices really are clearance prices...so if you're in the market for girly gifts [there are also jumpers/sundresses for 18mos-2t] pop on over.

Writing News: Hard at work on the fantasy novel. Taking another run through on a sci fi/thriller novel that needs to go out. It's been sitting on my desk for too long. One short story in final editing stages. Yay!

Sewing News: 4 summer tops are completely finished. Hope to add all of the shorts and possibly a dress or 2 to the finished pile today.
Monster Baby News: Poured another head/hands/feet set. Pattern coming in the mail for the christening gowns/layette. 3 head molds on their way by FedEx. Soooo excited! I start body construction as soon as I finish the summer clothes for Kiddo#2.

Other News: The final roll of wallpaper border for Kiddo #1's Dallas Cowboys room came yesterday for the 3 feet that I didn't have enough border to cover. Add that to my to do list.
Garden is doing fantastic. Green beans and radishes, tomatoes and jalopenos are doing the best. The cucumbers, boo, not so much. Have to go get already grown cucumber plants from Home Depot. Also, the raspberry bush is doing really well. Still haven't purchased the strawberry plants but have determined they need to go in a pot until I can get another, separate, garden patch broke for them. Strawberries tend to take over everything. Chris and I are looking at Pear trees and Pecan trees for planting. Yay canning!
Put together my new treadmill. Yay!
The Bleuette sewing continues, and my sales on ebay are doing wonderful. Need to finish a couple of ensembles before I list on ebay again.

This weekend is the public library book sale in Grand Prairie AND the Spring sale at the Antique Mall in Mansfield. Double Double Sale fun!

Okay...that's the scoop.
 

Really, I'm not jokin'.

*Shipped ebay packages. [which included changing the ink in my printer, labels, tape, etc etc]

* laundry [a day job in itself, lol]

*edits for a new Isgor Chronicle story [Oy]

*Poked on the drying latex doll head/parts...oooooo....awesome....the monster baby line is in the works now! Patterns down and eyeing my fabric stash for darling baby gowns to dress the cutesy wootsy baby monsters in...seriously, this is something you'll want to snag once I've got them for sale for that horror lover who has EVERYTHING...realistic looking cutesy monster babies...

*Planted green bean, cucumber and radish plants I've been greenhousing in the kitchen

*Helped with homework. Kiddo #1 AND Kiddo #2

*Started sewing a new Bleuette ensemble

*Finished sewing a new Bleuette ensemble and packaged and labeled for sales purposes

*Cooking a chicken and veggies

*fixing to help kiddo#2 sew...serving dinner soonish...

I'm Teh Tired now.

I'm now taking orders for custom-created doll dresses for Mother's Day.

Does your mother, grandmother, wife, have a special doll sitting/laying around that could use a spruce up, or just a new dress authentic to the time period the doll was created? A custom-made doll dress is just the thing to create a special moment of something JUST for that special mom.

It's easier than you think! Send me the measurements [head to foot, waist to ankle, shoulder to wrist, around the chest, around the neck] and if you know it what kind of doll it is, an emailed photo would really help too! Tell me the date your mother, etc would have played with the doll [1940s, etc] and for $25 + $5 for s/h[paypal or money order], I'll create a custom, one of a kind, ensemble for the doll.

Email me if interested! angelinehawkes@yahoo.com

I need at least 2 wks prior to mother's day May 11th, to complete your wonderful creation!

I was hard at work sewing this weekend for a Bleudoor challenge. Lottie is in the red and black, in her LSDS 1928 #9 Visiting Dress and LSDS 1925 #50 Velvet hat. Lizette is helping with maman's laundry. She's wearing a LSDS 1921 #39 Peasant dress. Both are busy working at the salesman sample replica wringer/washer that was a pre-Valentine's Day gift from Teh Hotness.

Besides sewing, I finished/edited chapter 10 and finished and edited chapter 11...and started chapter 12....so <sticking out tongue> I did WORK too!

All work and no dollies makes Angie a bored girl....

OH! PS! I won the aforementioned head! So, a SFBJ 60 Bleuette head is on its way to me from England! Woot!

Work on chapter 10 of the current novel progresses....oh, and one fantasy story needs editing. I've got a ton of submissions that need to be sent out...hopefully this weekend.

Congrats to all the nominees on the Final Stoker Ballot!

Decided what to wear to our date tonight...a black, tango-inspired dress with black pumps/hose. Yay. Painted my finger/toe nails a new color.

Getting hair cut/permed next week. Praying to god it turns out good and not the disaster it did the last time I decided to get a style and perm...4 years ago. I was that traumatized.  But, examining the Texas Frightmare Weekend guest list and I decided I needed to update to compete with all the young chicks posted there...sigh. Getting old sucks.

The sewing continues. Mailed my Snowbabies Round Robin off...so much fun. I have another ensemble that I need to sew one more button on and then I can list it on the new doll auction site. Bidding on an SFBJ Bleuette Gold 60 head...some turd keeps trying to steal it from me. Bad enough I had to peruse the UK markets to find one...please, please, please...The craptacular part of the auction on ebay is that it closes at the exact time my butt will be sitting outside of the school picking up the kiddos...so whoever the turd is trying to outbid me will have ample opportunity to STEAL MY HEAD FROM ME!! Grrr...but anyway, IF I can win this head, I'll have 2 of the 3 types of Bleuettes and will only lack the Premiere head. Fingers crossed! If I win, I get to pick out the eyes...since the head is eyeless. I'm picking green. Eyes like Teh Hotness. And I have brown and blue eyed dollies already.



Will post pictures of the cute salesman sample wringer washing machine Teh Hotness let me buy for the Bleuettes. It's so cute!





New meds working well. The first day was awesome. Now I'm somewhere in between same ole same ole and awesome. I think the key is the muscle relaxer at night...but that puts me out of commission the next morning til 11 am...so...it's a trade-off. Mild pain today, but cold front and rain moving in....still my hands aren't as stiff as normal and my feet don't feel like someone dropped a cement block on them, so that's something! The back, ribs, shoulder blades and collar bones are a bit stiff, and more extreme pain in the upper right portion of spine/shoulder blades/ribs...but at least it's not the WHOLE back...overall, the drugs are REALLY working for once! Now, let's pray I can continue taking them without some sort of liver/kidney failure or some such crap.

Okay...off to do laundry.

Oh! I'm going to be having a China doll contest on my LJ soon...the entries won't be anything expensive or anything. Keep watching!

The girls: Belle, Lottie and Anne Marie [all SFBJ 301 Silver Bleuettes] pose in a holiday photo. [All clothing from LSDS patterns]. The newest dress LSDS Summer Dress #24, 1908. I hand embroidered 100 inches of duckies and dots to use with this reproduction 1930s fabric. It turned out fabulous! Lottie is proudly modeling it! I have enough duckie embroidery to sew another dress like this one to sell, and maybe enough for an LSDS pattern apron. The pattern was in the new book Teh Hotness got me for Christmas that has Bleuette clothing patterns from 1905-1916. Yay!

Today: Final edits on The Swan Road.

Pictures of The Hole Under The Stairs [From where all things writing spring]:



The Hole Under the Stairs [in all of its Holiday Messy Madness; The Wall of "Look What I Did Good!"; The Shelf of Weirdness




And finally,  I leave you with Teh Hotness Family Christmas Tree from the home of Teh Hotness, Teh Hotness #2, Hotness Junior, and Lil Hotness.

Munchkins are out for the holidays! Yay! Teh Hotness is also now on a 2 wk school break as well. Sadly, he must still report to the job.

Holiday baking was this past Friday. I made 4 dozen sugar cookies. All that remains are broken angel heads and the tops of the Christmas trees [cookie cutter design flaw]. I ate the half a star that I found at the bottom of the cookie jar with my Pepsi I had for breakfast. lol.

I bought a $5 mink stole off ebay and made the former Bodiless Lottie a mink coat, I still need to tweak the LSDS pattern a bit as the sleeves came out too full and the collar a bit too pouffy:


Also pictured is Belle in the ensemble I created from 100+ yr old Antique satin moiree. Also, Lottie again in her 1909 LSDS pattern Tablier des dimanches [Sunday Apron] apron from the recent Bleuette group apron challenge.  I had fun making the mink coat. I'm trying to win another mink stole off ebay to sew a few more coats to sell. I also recently acquired 2 new heads as well through trades. I traded a fellow Bleuette group member some ensembles for a head. Cute little SFBJ Silver 301 with a blonde bob wig. No body yet.
I've also gotten an SFBJ 247 Twirp...no wig or body for her.

Okay...I am cold. There is much pain. I've been working on the Stoker Internet Mailer that goes out tomorrow, but now I am going to go sew. I finished a baby quilt and several blocks on Kiddo#2's Southern Belle quilt I've been making for her bed and need to sew the pcs together/stitch the binding.

I hurt too much to actively create, so no writing for the afternoon. Bah Humbug.