Fat Belly Babe

I had another opportunity to take a class with Ankie Daanen and I couldn't pass it up.
This time we made Fat Belly Babe to go with our Fat Belly Boy. This is Ankie's sample without her skirt.

A close up of Ankie's doll.

Some of the finished dolls.

Painted Heads - Unpainted Bodies

Hands in the process.

High heel shoes.

Sculpting the face.

Bodies with jackets.

My doll parts ready for assembly.

Diane's almost finished doll.

Barbi's Doll

My Doll - Spikey

A Thought For Today

A thought for today and everyday from a favorite actress.
"For attractive lips, speak words of kindness. For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people. For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry. For beautiful hair, let a child run their fingers through it once a day. For poise, walk with the knowledge that you never walk alone. People, even more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed, and redeemed; never throw out anyone. Remember, if you ever need a helping hand, you will find one at the end of each of your arms. As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands; one for helping yourself, and the other for helping others." - Audrey Hepburn

Mangler Retreat

Fabric Manglers Retreat
Camp Hazen
April 29-May 1, 2011

"A journey is best measured in friends rather than miles"
Tim Cahill

"Expectations"
Expectations with a
talented group found a groove
after a slow start.
(A newspaper poem)

It had been 8 years since the last Mangler retreat at beautiful Camp Hazen on Cedar Lake in Cheshire, Connecticut. It was time to re institute the retreat. It was our weekend to relax, rejuvenate, reconnect, and create. We planned some group activities and some time to work on our own projects. The resident chef prepared gourmet meals for us and accommodated our individual needs. The staff was always there for us whether is was to take our picture or show us the walking trail.

Friday evening, after arriving and settling in we gathered in the lakeside room, which would become our studio for the week end, to create crowns and scepters compliments of Colleen.

We shared information and techniques.

We started Saturday morning working on our Standing Guardian dolls compliments of Patty.

It wouldn't be a Mangler Retreat without the company of dolls.

We seemed to have brought everything except the one thing we needed most, but someone would always come to the rescue. You would think there wasn't much left at home. But if you know a doll artist, there is always more where this came from.

We used paint sticks to paint on fabric complements of Angie.

Gail shared her Zentangles with us.

A work in progress.

Sunday morning came and after cleaning up we had time to relax and work a little before lunch
and saying our good byes until next year.

Today
Water rushes past
Youth meets time and pays no heed
Shrubs grow and wither
Memories flash and are savored
Maturity takes its price
(A Tanka poem)

8th MS Walk

Team Chase For The Cure

This is the eighth year that we have participated in annual MS Walk.

Early into the walk Chase says, "Come on Princess, you can do it!",
as the actress pretends to be tired.

The Princess gets to ride on her Daddy's back.
The rest of the team still had to walk.

I think I see the finish line.

We were greeted at the finish line with bagpipe music.

PHS Student Art Show

Student Art Show
Portland Library

I took my granddaughter to the student art show at the
Portland Library. There was an activity scheduled for
the room so we only a few minutes to view the artwork.
Upon entering the room my granddaughter exclaimed,
"Grammy look at the octopus!!". After walking around the
room, she asked, "Grammy when is the show going to start?"

Sand Garden Museum

The Sand Garden Museum
It was a beautiful Spring afternoon and The Princess
wanted to open her sandbox. And open it we did!
It was in pristine condition after a very long winter.
First she wanted to make a garden in the sandbox using
dried leaves and sticks. Then she wanted to plant daffodils.
As the play progressed, she began creating museum pieces for the
Sand Garden Museum.
There were nine exhibits created for the museum.
I sat by and threw a ball for Bailey, as I wasn't permitted
to look until the exhibit was complete. Photography was
allowed, so I grabbed my camera before entering the museum.
Admission was a twig, and the curator, creator took down
each exhibit and placed it on a stand as she told the name
and described the piece.

The Museum

The Princess as creates the museum exhibits.

Exhibit 1 - Sand Pile Rock

Exhibit 2 - Rock Sand

Exhibit 3 - Bird Flier

Exhibit 4 - Sand Rock

Exhibit 5 - Pot For Delicious

Exhibit 6 - Beadie Rock

Exhibit 7 - Elmo Pot

Exhibit 8 - Flower Delicious

Exhibit 9 - Sand Experiment

I hope your enjoyed your virtual tour of the museum.
The pieces have been carefully preserved under the cover of the sandbox
for future exhibits of Sand Garden Art.