Lovely Friday- Sunflower

"Just living is not enough...one must have sunshine, freedom, and a little flower." -Hans Christian Anderson

I think the sunflower must be the happiest flower in the world.
Doesn't this guy just look happy?

This is actually in our neighbor's yard, but he decided to turn and look up our driveway when he blossomed.
He makes me smile every time I look outside.

Next to our old house, there's a big field of sunflowers. Every year, I mean to go out there when they're all blooming to take pictures, and every year I wait too long to do it.
They don't seem to bloom nearly long enough.
Hopefully I'll get around to it this year.

Anyway, I'm off to run a garage sale today and tomorrow. Fun times.

What do you love today?

Silly Little Monkey

My aunt and I are really close.
She's basically an older sister to me (we're actually closer in age than she and my mom are).

I was pretty broken hearted when she moved away to NC a week ago.
This past Saturday was her birthday so I wanted to make her something.

She loves monkeys and these are her favorite colors.
(It didn't hit me until later that his colors are similar to Boots the Monkey from Dora...D'oh!)

He's 11" tall (although most of that is legs, lol).

To be honest, I'm not 100% happy with his face.
One day I'll get it through my thick skull that I am not an embroiderer.
The whole process is a struggle for me.
I curse as I thread the needle.
I curse as I attempt to pull the thread through the fabric.
In the end, I'm all mad and frizzy haired
(yes, my hair gets frizzy when I'm mad. I think it's my super power.)
I think the whole process makes me not care for any creature I attempt to embroider lol.

But I don't hate how he looks either.
I'm sure my aunt will love him. :)

My favorite part about this little guy is his body.
It just fits so perfectly in my hand.
I'm really excited to make a little doll with the same body.
I think she'll be the perfect little companion doll.

Anyway, happy monday!
What are you working on this week?

Lovely Friday- Monster High

Today I love my Monster High dolls.
They're kinda my guilty pleasure...

I get just as excited as my three year old when we go to the toy section of Target!
I love seeing if I'll be lucky enough to stumble on any new dolls.

I adore their body designs and just the whole overall concept of the dolls.
They're pretty much just as fun to pose as my bjd's (and they only cost $12-$20, so big bonus there).

I knew when I heard they were coming out with a Phantom of the Opera themed doll, I would have to buy her as soon as I found her.
This is Operetta. I didn't take a picture, but she has the coolest shoes.

Robecca Steam is my newest addition. I just love her pretty face.

I love Rochelle's outfit and her color scheme. She also came with the cutest gargoyle pet.

I bought Abby on a whim (she was one of the cheaper Gloom Beach dolls), but once I opened her she immediately became my favorite. I'm not even sure why.
For some reason her posing feels more natural than the others.
She has such a pretty face and her skin has sparkles in it. So pretty.
I confess, I keep her close at hand so I can play with her. ;)

I have a couple more that are my current in progress customization victims (Frankie and Lagoona).
As much as I love the Monster High dolls, I really love them when they've been repainted.
I'm hoping to get decent enough so I can repaint my favorites.

Anyway, back to work on a little birthday present...

What do you love today?

Meet Bliss

Have you ever finished a project and loved it so much that it made your heart sing?

I've created things before that I liked. I've created things before that I've been pretty proud of.
This is the first thing I've made that has filled me with such joy.

I've always dreamed of creating something I felt worthy of labeling an "art doll."
This doll has been my muse ever since I first taught myself to sew in 2009.
She's been patiently waiting these past few years for me to figure out how to create her.

Sure, there's still some edits I want to make to my pattern and still lots of room for improvement, but that's part of the fun, right?

Anyway, I'm really excited to finally introduce you to Bliss.

She came out way larger than I originally planned...24" tall!
(I think I'll shrink my pattern some for the next one, lol.)

She is jointed at the shoulders, elbows, hips, and knees.
She and I had so much fun taking these photos!

She's the first of what I'm calling my Muse dolls...and I have a feeling there's going to be many more!

(Seriously, I've got a long list already written out of dolls I want to create!)

I can hardly wait to get started on the next one!

Hope you guys like her. :)

Lovely Friday- Baby Feet

Today I'm loving baby feet.

I'm really not a foot person.
I don't want to touch anyone's feet and I really don't want anyone to touch my feet.

But there's something about cute little tiny baby feet that gets me every time...


What do you love today?

Dishes

I don't know about you guys, but I hate doing dishes. It's one of my least favorite chores.
It's also the only chore that I have to do every single day.
I've tried slacking off on it before, but it just means way more work later.
Bleh.
I can't complain though.
I don't cook. It's never interested me in the least.
I confess, I hate touching food...can't stand to get my hands dirty!
Luckily, my husband loves to cook. It's only fair that I have to clean.
Do you have a least favorite chore?


I spent a lot of time today chasing a certain little boy around.

How he can stand to run nonstop in 100 degree weather, I have no idea.
Must be a perk when you're three years old. :)

Personally, I think Summer had a much better idea...

Hope you guys have a great week!

We're going to be busy busy with family in town to visit.

Bliss

Today has been such a wonderful day.

I think it's pretty obvious I adore my two kids.
They make me laugh with their silly antics.
They constantly inspire me with their personalities...but they also wear me out!

Today both kids spent the day at my mother-in-law's home.
After weeks of being on the go constantly, my husband and I finally found we had a day together with NO responsibilities.
It was pure bliss.

We went out to lunch at a nice restaurant and strolled around the local outdoor mall
(and nearly melted from the terribly painful heat!).
We finally ended up in Barnes and Noble.
I gathered a stack of artsy books and we found a quiet corner to read and drink overpriced coffee.
I feel SO much better.

It's funny how much we took these "date days" for granted before we had kids.

I'm now back in my art room, waiting for the kids to get home, and doing as much of this as I can before they do...

I am beyond excited about my current project.
It's something I've been dreaming about for years and it's finally coming together.
I can not wait to share it with you guys...
I'm actually so excited, I don't even want to show it until it's completed!

I have so many ideas brewing right now and I'm just dying to start putting it all together.
Hopefully I can rework how I handle my days to make more time for creating.
In the meantime, here's some sketchbook doodles.

Anyone have any exciting plans for the weekend?
Or working on any exciting projects?
I'd love to hear about it!