New Camera Test Shot

Hello out there in cyber land   Sorry it has been so long since I have posted.  I feel like I have stepped into another universe.  Anyway, I wanted to show off the new camera I recently plunked big bucks down for.  I needed a serious update to capture the best quality images I could for my new photography odyssey of storytelling.  I opted for a Nikon D5200.  This camera right out of the box produced some pretty spectacular results with some images of my flowers.  So, I have posted one of my favorites here.  It is of the rose I won as a door prize about three or so years ago.  I named it Geneva the plant that is, after my mamma   She loved roses.  For your viewing pleasure is one of the first blooms of the season from my Geneva rose.

Until next time my friends.  Keep thinking joyful thoughts and love passionately.

Revving Up

Hello my friends out in blog land.  I decided to post an update that is somewhat doll related.  I finally unpacked my supply cart from my trip to AFICC.  I didn't get around to it until today as I have been busy with the Essex show last week, work at the art supply store and computer stuff.  So, today was the day.  After that I began to get my small cramped studio space at home a bit more organized.  As you can see in the above picture, my creation station is cleaned off a bit and ready for new work.

This next picture is my sewing area and it still needs the tidy man touch.

Here in the third picture are some boxes of supplies that will eventually be transported to the Essex studio space.  That is where the bulk of my work will be happening this summer.

Finally, a picture of two stuffed boxes filled with all the Barbies, Kens and GI joes I have collected these past few months.  I still have a few more coming from a friend in Indy.  This should be enough to get me through many character needs for my photo illustration projects.

I have many goals for myself in the next few months.  The hardest part for me is getting busy doing what I need to do to accomplish all that needs to be done.  My first task is to have a list of goals, a schedule all be it loose one, of what needs to  be done in what order.  My ultimate goal is to have a book ready to print by the end of the year.

One of my goals is to actually get my act together and start playing around with making marionettes   I love the look of one puppet maker in particular   Ronnie Burkett, has been a major influence on me.  His style is so sharp and witty.  His sense of humor seems to mirror my own in many ways.  Check out his work.  I hope some day to actually see a live performance. The biggest issue for me is finding someone I can be mentored by.  I have sent out inquires explaining that I am willing to volunteer to help for free just for the chance to learn under someone.  So far no takers.  But, I know when the time is right a person will show up in my life. Teachers always have a way of doing that.

Well, that's it for now.  I have a commission piece, first one in many years to start.  I am looking forward to the challenge of it.  Otherwise, I will be finishing up my photography class.  I have two more sessions.  One is tonight and the other next week.  It was a great class.  Well worth the money.

Until next time my awesome followers and friends, Cio.

Another Essex Studios show come and gone

Hello my friends.  I hope you are finding this Sunday treating you well.  I wanted to post some pictures I took at the Essex Studios open house this weekend.  As you can see Fitzy made his debut and has found a new home.  His new parent will take good care of him and Fitzy will give much inpsiration back.   The show was a great success for me and my partner.  Summer will be a good time to catch up and get busy making new things and finally getting my photo illustration project rolling in earnest.

Here is the other doll I made at AFICC last weekend.  She was created in Michelle Lynch's class.  I made her in one day.  She too has a new home. Granny Robot will be winding her way to Washington D>C> soon.

Next we have Gus, the tiny headed dancer.  He is a special fella for sure.  He has always dreamt of being a ballerina.  But, being born in the 1940's that wasn't something a little boy was allowed to become.  Now in his mid 70's and becoming a child again in his mind, he is the ballerina he always wanted to be.  He sports his favorite baseball hat.  Unable to stand much he performs his exercises in his chair.

Lastly, we have my version of Oz the Great and Powerful.  He was created for the Wizard of Oz challenge to appear at the AFICC gathering under the DollStreet Dreamers online doll club banner.

So, there you have a few new dolls to keep you entertained for a few minutes.  Thanks as always for stopping by and hope you enjoyed your visit.  The guys always appreciate comments.  Have a great week my friends.  Hope it is inspiring.

Back From Columbus

Howdy gang.  I just returned a few days ago from the Artistic Figures In Cloth and Clay conference held in Columbus Ohio.  It was fours days of fun classes and meets and greets.  It sure was fun hobnobbing with old friends and meeting new ones.  I had three days of classes that helped to fill the old creative well.  One of the classes I took was from Dawn (Dee) Schiller of Odd Fae fame.  It  was her Fetch class.

A quick photo of the side view of my finished Fetch.  He is made from polymer clay and cloth.

This is a front view of him.  He has decided his name is Fitzgerald or Fitzzy for short.  He will be making his debut appearance in Cincinnati at the Essex Studios art walk this coming weekend.

See I told you dolls were in the works.  I will post the finished picture of my other class doll later.  I need to go make dinner now.  Thanks for stopping by.  Until next time, adios amigos and amigas.

Unexpected

Today I found an unexpected gift.  My sister posted a picture of my parents.  It was taken at one of his brothers farm. What is the big deal you may wonder?  Well, I have only one picture and that is of my father when he was in the air force.  This was such a beautiful surprise.  I don't even think my sister really understands how happy I am to see this.   I lost my parents before I turned nine years old.  I never had a chance to grow up with them, laugh with them or see them mature and become wise.  Instead, I have only this fleeting memory of what they looked like in the prime of their lives.

This past nine months has been a powerful journey of healing and now I feel I have come full circle and am now ready to begin my next adventure.  I see symbols and signs everywhere from the Universe that tell me, we move forward, our hearts never forget.  Our energy and that of those we have loved and lost can never be destroyed.  That is a scientific fact.  In this past week of horror in Boston and the seemingly senseless loss of life, I take comfort in knowing they are not completely gone from us.  Only changed in some intangible way we have yet to understand.

This is how I honor my ancestor spirits, my soul family, my circle of life.  You all are a great part of that circle and I am eternally grateful for your friendship and counsel.  Thank you for following along.  I am in the doll mode so I will be posting some new characters soon. Have a great week one and all.

Photography

Sorry, my friends for the long absence in posting.  I have been very busy learning in my photography class.  My class is actually for portraiture but, I am learning much about my camera in the process.  So, I try and practice on things that will eventually aid me in my proposed future projects.  When I decided to start photographing my dolls to create stories or scenes, I began to realize one thing right away.  I needed to refresh my knowledge of photography and also my DSLR camera.  I kept thinking that I would need a new camera and so was a bit depressed.

Well long story short, I have been shown the light so to speak.  My teacher Kate Messer is an awesome teacher.  She is dedicated to her art and she is also a very patient teacher.  You can't ask for anyone better.

As you can see these are not portraits per se but, are floral portraits as I like to view them.  I took these of a neighbors tulips that have decided to shout hello spring has sprung.

Another important lesson for me is in the learning off Lightroom 4 by Adobe for processing my pictures.  I was totally intimidated by this software and now I am finding it a great challenge, a fun challenge to learn.

So don't despair my friends.  Dolls will be making an appearance here again real soon.  I am in the learning mode to better capture my vision of what I wish to convey.  I am finding that I have to adapt as an artist.  As my hands keep getting more and more painful when I sculpt.  I am finding that I have to transition into something else.  So, this is a great tool and hopefully just as interesting to you all.  Thanks for following along on my journey.

I will be heading up to Columbus Ohio next week for AFICC or Artistic Figures in Cloth and Clay.  It's a great doll making conference and I am looking forward to learning some new things, seeing old friends and making new ones.  I will keep you all posted.

See ya.

New Arrivals and Story update

There are a bunch of new arrivals in Codyland.  These story hopefuls will be going into casting directly to see whom they will be portraying in my story project.  My doll friends are being so kind to donate dolls or doll items to me to get this project off the ground.

Have you ever had the feeling that you have bitten off more than you can chew sometimes?  Well, on numerous occasions when I sit and think about all that will be going into this major labor of love.  I get a big lump in my throat.  The usual voices begin there usual parade through my mind.  "Oh, this is just too big." "Who do you think you are to to attempt something like this/"  and so on...  But, despite my own doubts at times, this project is a deeply heart felt one.  Mostly because I am hoping to gain some much needed healing in the areas this project will deal with, secondly I am hoping that it inspires others in many ways.  That is why, I am documenting my process for all who are interested in sharing the journey.  I will be up front in saying here and now, that I am not going to give away the whole story here.  If you really want to read the whole thing, it will be made available in book and other formats at some point. This is a dream project for me as it includes so many of my interest all rolled into one.I am so honored by the support and kind remarks I have received so far.  You all rock.

Now to give you another teaser about the story.  The working title I am using is "The Descendants" .  So, here is another little taste.  I don't have any pictures to go with this passage yet.

Episode One Book One "Mathews Lament

Sometimes we think we know truth.  Facts or evidence, which point to one inevitable conclusion appear in front of us clear as crystal.  And yet, every once in a blue moon, truth sneaks up on us like a loud clap of thunder.  It comes as a shock wave of awareness from our heart.  It's useless to try and wave it away like some bothersome fly. No, it sits there in your lap starring into your eyes, seeing all the way down into your soul.  Life is invariably changed now.  All that we believed to be the truth has withered to dust and is blown away.

Maria sat there on the lone park bench contemplating what the doctor had told her just minutes before.  "Why me? How did this happen? Why?" Maria racked her brain and searched her memories, for some logical explanation.  What eventually popped into her burning head was a strange voice.  Maria thought to herself. "That psychic, she said I was to be a vessel.  No, it couldn't be."  Maria wasn't usually superstitious but, now she needed something to grab onto for a reason. The psychic also told her that what the world needs would come from her.  She was one of three.  The power of three shall set us free.”  That's all she could remember of the visit with the psychic. She shook her head and took a deep cleansing breath.  But, she felt an instant pang of nausea well up from her stomach.

Maria knew she had to tell her parents.  Being from a strong religious background, they are going to go nuts.  She grimaced at the thought. But, she was a good girl.  She'll just tell them the truth.  The truth, yeah the truth.  She didn't even know herself.  Maria gathered her courage and stood up.  An officer was just rounding the bend in the road when he stopped her.  "Are you OK miss?" the officer asked.  "Yes, sir I am fine."  Replied Maria.  "Just on my way home."  She explained. The officer looked at Maria with such kind eyes.  Eyes that were deep.  They were the  kind of eyes that could see all the way down into your soul.  "OK, then just be careful.  There are too many dangerous things out and about in the night." said the officer.  "Have a good evening Miss." the officer gave Maria a parting gaze for what seemed like an eternity then went on his way. "Wow that was lucky." Maria thought to herself.  "The state police are usually quite unpleasant to deal with.  But, there was something oddly different about that officer.  He was so kind." Maria contemplated.

Maria began her dreaded journey back home.  Her life just got a whole lot more complicated than a high school girl should experience.

Hope you enjoyed the little sneak peek.  It is the beginning of the first book or at least that is the plan.  I know I will be rewriting a bit too as the story progresses.  There is a plan for three books.  One for each of the three main characters.  The three main characters will all know each other in some way too which will connect the stories.  Thanks for your interest and stay tuned for more doll and story fun.

And the Winner is......

A big thank you to the fifteen of you who played along with my give away.  It was fun to give that a go in celebration of breaking the 200 followers barrier.  So without further ado the winner of the lovely goblin pictured above is

Mary from Indy.  Mary you have one week to contact me and give me you mailing information so I can send out your prize.  Congratulations to you and I know he will have a good home.

Hope you all are enjoying the first few days of spring.  It still feels like winter here in the Ohio valley.  I think that darn ground hog needs to be sent back to weather school.  Anyway, have a great one and I will be posting progress reports on the project and other things in the days ahead.  So, stay tuned.