I am back! Phew! I thought I would never get a minute to work on my blog. I haven't had internet service at home for a while and working on my blog at work just isn't an option. But, here I am. On a rainy day, spring break - and I decided to take the break off - and I am still in my jammies and love'in it!

Now, what is this little tea-cup clothed, articulated doll all about. Well. I took a class at Castle in the Air (www.castleintheair.biz)
on April fools day and I had a blast. The class was called Art dolls and was given by Deborah DiSalvo (deborah_disalvo@agilent.com ). There were only 4 of us in the up stairs studio and for 2 hours I was able to let go of any expectations and made this kitty doll and started another one that I plan to finish this week. It was just the simple act of cutting and putting together little articulated paper dolls that opened a flood gate of thoughts.

Recently, I have been working on an art journal that is based on the guidance of "The Creative Entrepreneur: A DIY Visual Guidebook for Making Business Ideas Real" ( by Lisa Sonora Beam) and it is really getting me to think about what exactly do I mean by, "I want to be an artist." Can't make art my business until I know what the heck I really love to do, right? With that said, the art doll class got me thinking about what it is I really like to do. I like to make things. I like the challenge of putting together a design or image and figuring out how to make it real. By training, I am a technical drawer - i.e. I can produce botanical and entomological portraits without a problem. Sigh, they just don't really sustain me. I costume, I like to sew. I like cutting out things and gluing them down. I think the urge to construct things came from my architect father. This art doll class - as simple and fun as it was - became a window into my own soul - a simple eye opener that perhaps my "art" is more craft oriented. I am feeling pretty jazzed about this discovery! In fact, I got a bit over excited and ran right out to get the Xylon machine to make stickers - a great way to back papers to card stock without all the mess of glue. JoAnne Fabrics stores have coupons for discounts all the time for those machines - Score! I also ran out to the Alameda Flea Market on Sunday April 5th and scored some German scrap and other vintage ephemera. So, here we go! On to a new adventure? Yep. The second doll will come.

In the meantime, I am learning to make time for "art and play". I finally got exercise into the routine - making it a natural - must do. Now, getting my art on the same track is going to be important. I am taking another class at Castle in the Air on the 22nd of April. This is a watercolor class centered around birds. I can't wait!