My new obsession

I have become totally obsessed with Robert Tonner fashion dolls, and I've spent the last two days making my first outfit for this exquisite doll.  Though I've got a lot to learn, I'm happy with my first outfit, which is a hybrid of a McCall's pattern I bought at an Etsy shop and my own design. The skirt has ten layers of tulle (sp?) over a satin petticoat, and the bodice and skirt yoke are a gauzy material with silver sparkles over the same satin. The wrap around her hips is more tulle, twisted and knotted.

I'm hopelessly hooked.

Peggy

Day 110: Two Flamingos and Two Parakeets

I got home from Florida a couple of nights ago.  It's always so hard saying good-bye to my Mom and my Dad.  They are both almost ninety-three years old, and my heroes in life.  There were a lot of tears this time.
Last night Watson and I were invited to Ollie the dog's birthday party.  It was a fun thing to do when I was feeling very weepy. There was even a liver-flavored birthday cake (which I politely declined to sample).  Watson had a piece, and enjoyed it wholeheartedly.  I got to give Grace her present from Florida, which was a huge hit.  Everybody wanted one!
This afternoon, Janneke came over with some new origami paper, beautifully patterned, and we made these parakeets, and the paper box one of them is sitting on.  We're still stumped by the hummingbird; we keep getting to step 18, and can go no further.  I think we're going to have to find some Origami Master to show us how.  But we had a lot of fun, and since it's still cold and rainy here, all the dogs were happy to stay inside with us.
It's good to be home, but my heart is still in Florida, with Mom and Dad.

Peggy

Day 109: Sketchbook Birds

I did these two sketchbook pages last night while I was watching the news with my Dad.  I was sitting at the computer, and I did a Google Images search for "Birds", and picked two photos out of the literally hundreds of thousands available.  Before the internet, I spent most of my down time in libraries and bookstores, looking for reference photos.  Now, sadly, a good number of the libraries and bookstores are gone, and with them the chance of stumbling upon something really interesting--though totally irrelevent--that transports one to a whole new world.
Sigh
Peggy

Day 108: A Parrot at the Airport

Yesterday I spent the day in airports, travelling down to Florida to visit my folks.  Since there's a lot of hanging around at the airport, it's an ideal place to doodle.  This pen and ink drawing is based on a watercolor by an artist named Anna Heyward Taylor.  My friend Felicia, an alum of the University of South Carolina, gave me a newsletter announcing the publication of a book about this "South Carolina Artist and World Traveler."  Taylor lived from 1879 to 1956, and did paintings, drawings, woodblocks, and book cover design.  I tore this scrap from the newsletter, and it seemed appropriate that I do a sketch based on her art, as I headed south.
Peggy

Day 107: A Bird for my Mom

Today was Mother's Day, so naturally I had to make a bird for my Mom.  I'm going down to visit my parents this Thursday, so I'll bring it with me.
This pattern was from Carolyn Vosburg Hall's book, Sewing Tiny Toys, see the bat on Day 42 for another pattern from this book.  This little bird was a surprisingly complex and intricate design:  with darts, slots, and curves, and it took all day to make up.  Vosburg Hall is a very accomplished pattern-draftsman.  I was amazed to see how her very odd-shaped pattern pieces all came together to make a very charming little creature.
Happy Mother's Day, Mom!
Love,
Peggy

Day 106: Another Zentangle Bird

I haven't 'tangled' for a while (that's the verb to use when creating a Zentangle), so tonight I decided to make another bird with this technique.  The fun thing about Zentangles is that you never know quite how they will come out.  This bird seems to be wearing an Elizabethan ruffed collar and cap--quite unplanned. 
When I signed and dated my Zentangle, which you are always supposed to do, I noticed that today is 5/5/11.
Peggy