Traveling Gypsy Series dolls and living in tranquilty..

Gypsy dolls

I know that Gypsies don't have a very good reputation. As a matter a fact they have a horrible reputation. But I've always been someone who has moved around a lot in life and have lived out of a vehicle mostly in my 20's by choice. Some people used to call me a Gypsy because of that lifestyle. I did some research online about Gypsies and found some very interesting photos. this one in particular from the website called "Up For Anything"

           Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves

 I think the information given is pretty interesting. and it's very interesting to see how people lived back then and why they lived that way. 

Here are some photos from a website called  "Vintage Everyday"

of Gypsies

 Not a whole lot of glamor going on is there?? Well of course not, they were very poor. That's just the way it was and still sort of is for many gypsies these days.

Anyways, I decided to make a cute group of traveling gypsy dolls. This one below is the first one of the series. I really had no idea what I was going to do with this doll. I always have a plan on what kind of doll I'm going to be making, but it never, I mean it NEVER turns out the way I plan it to. I always change the doll to a completely different theme all together.  I went online to find a cute Gypsy name for a girl. I have to say most of the names I found I didn't like and I couldn't pronounce. I did find the name "Freedom" which is supposed to be a name derived from England. So here she is so far..       

"Freedom"

Freedom is an old Romani Gypsy name for a girl. I still need to add some beads and sew some parts. After that I'll be working on another one. I would like to make a group including men, children and babies. I'll be using light soft colors and sweet facial expressions.

 I'm using vintage linens and laces that I picked up at my local thrift shop which supports the Human Society in Prescott Arizona. I also purchased sweaters for repurposing for doll clothes. I always get asked by the clerk behind the counter on what I plan on doing with sweaters during the summertime. And I always say, "I make doll clothes". They always tell say "Why don't you just use baby clothes?"  Then I say "Because it's not the same, they won't fit right. Besides these clothes are like ultra mini adult clothes for adult type dolls not babies". I guess people won't understand unless they actually make dolls themselves. 















Besides the Gypsy dolls. I came across a really great find online. I found an article about how to start writing "Morning Pages". A morning page is actually three pages of long hand writing that you do in the morning. You let out exactly what you are thinking before doing anything in the morning and this in turn helps you not carry around anger all day long. It also helps you figure out things that you have questions to. I like to write, I enjoy it but I never did that in the morning and just "let it all out" so to speak. There are a lot of people who have gotten great results in other areas of their life because of doing morning pages. 

 

 Till next time,

Wendylee says BYE!

You with the sad eyes

don't be discouraged oh I realize..

I grew up with 80's music all around me. Those were very sad times but being 40 years old now it just brings back happy times with myself and how music took pain away while I was in a secluded room all alone with just me and my thoughts. Although I was too young to really get this song at the time, it completely resonates with me now and how the world is so judgmental towards others. I think that's why it's so hard for people to really be themselves because people are afraid of the judgement and rejection that society will put on them.

Wish we grew up in a world where people could be what they feel without fear of judgement. I think I would dress in Gypsy costumes daily just for the heck of it walk around bare foot and live in a little RV selling my artwork out of it. I don't know why that's so appealing but it is. I've always wanted to travel, see NY City and walk down the crazy streets that I've only seen on T.V. Then travel to the mountains and sit on a rock near a bubbling brook with my feet in the water just listening to the birds and other wildlife that might creep me out.The creepiness of not knowing what is out there just adds on the adrenaline rush. Curiosity might get me there someday.

I'd love to live in a cottage like this one next to a stream

like this one. You get the picture.

















Don't get me wrong, I love my life. But can't you just see yourself viewing the ocean or the mountains in this Class C RV!! Just traveling around without a care in the world and nothing and nobody to worry about but yourself and your dog.

I just love to dream of adventure from time to time :)

This all makes me realize that if you want to do something in this life you can't wait on others to take the plunge with you and have the same desires as you, you just have to do it on your own and be brave about it. After all we only live one time and this life is short. 

 Anyways, enough about that. I wanted to come on here to not only talk about that, but my Etsy store, and my doll making adventures. I'm really trying to build up some stock before I reopen my store again. I would hate to just put a couple of things in there. I'd rather have a variety of things. I mean, I like shopping online at Etsy and seeing more than a few things in a store. It sort of gives me an idea of what type of artist the person is, that's if they sell art and not vintage items. I have a few dolls right now and some jewelry but I just need to make more before I feel comfortable putting anything in there. 

I'm working on a "Traveling Gypsy doll series". As you can clearly see in this blog, it's the feeling that I'm getting right now  "Traveling, moving, exploring, adventure, living on the edge so to speak", so why not make dolls to showcase those thoughts and feelings right? Isn't that what art work is? Self expression.

So, I guess that's all for now folks!!

-Wendylee

about this "diet" thing...

My Nutribullet experience..

A few days ago I went online to try to see if I could find reviews on the best personal blenders. I found that many people on the website called "Myfitness Pal" really recommend the Nutribullet. Even compared to other blenders such as the Ninja, the Nutribullet still came out to have much better reviews. So I took the plunge and bought one.

This is the exact one that I got from Walmart which set me back a little over $100. Not bad.

Anyways, I tried it out for the first time today. I really like it but it's going to take some getting used to because there is a certain way you work this thing. What I mean is there is a recipe book that states how you put the veggies and fruits in. I really didn't know that it was this way, I thought that it was just a blender and you can add whatever you want in any order. But unfortunately you have to put the food in a certain order. That's fine and all but again, I didn't expect that. 

So, here's my plan:

Breakfast: Detox smoothie
Lunch: Detox smoothie
Dinner: Anything sensible

That doesn't look like a lot does it? I do plan on eating more than that, it's just going to be a variety daily so I don't get sick and tired of eating the same things over and over again.

My main reason for wanting to lose weight is because I'm about 40 pounds overweight and I managed to get type 2 diabetes because of it. Can't blame anyone but myself.

So, I'm putting forth both feet and taking a stand against obesity. I know this isn't going to be easy but I have to be honest with myself and do what I need to do in order to get healthy and take this weight off. 

I'll update this blog often.

Love to myself Always,

Wendylee

New doll find and Evening thoughts.

This is true. "Whatever the mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve."

It's a matter of taking action towards the things that you want in life. I think it takes a lot of hard work to get what you want but in the end it's all worth the blood, sweat and tears. 

Today I made a list of what I need to complete to put into my Etsy store. I just can't believe how long the list is. I have so many things I need to purchase in order to complete all of my projects to my liking. My significant other is a person who hurries though any and everything. When it comes to art and your craft, it has to be exactly the way you want it otherwise there is no point in doing it at all. I don't know that he understands that though :)

Anyways, the doll that I posted about in my previous post is a major trial and error project. I just recently repainted her face because the previous face was just too harsh. Here's what she looks like currently. Not so good of a shot, but you get the point.

 She's obviously not done, I have so much more to go. But when she is done, I'll be happy as heck! 

I went to a thrift shop today and found a handmade doll that was not finished. I immediately fell in love. She has no hair but that is ok. Take a look at her.

Doesn't she have the most perfect face? Someone handmade this doll and embroidered her face. She is in perfect condition. The price tag says $3.99 but I got her for half off that which was $2 and then 25% off of that (because my significant other is a senior citizen!) so she came out to $1.50. ***WHOOP WHOOP**!!

I have to say that I have the worst face drawing skills. I have to go over and over what I draw till my doll is halfway decent. I love this embroidered look. I went online on Amazon.com and found a book called "Storybook Toys" which shows how to embroider a doll face. I had to get it. I did however, find it cheaper on Ebay. I would love to know how to do this. Even though I typically work with clay, I would still work with cloth heads and do this because it is so so cute and perfect! Who ever made this doll did a pretty darn good job on her. But she is getting "revamped" so to speak.

For some odd reason, I felt like I had to rescue her from the store! How strange it that? I mean, it's not like she is alive or anything. 

I'm in a doll group on Facebook and a lady had posted that exact same question today, it went a little something like this; "Do any of you feel the need to rescue dolls from the thrift shop or garage sales?". How funny that she put that up there! Because I had just did that today for the very first time ever and I felt that way, like I had to rescue this doll! Oh my goodness, atleast I'm not the only one who feels this way. There are so many others who do. 

An obsessive doll person I am. But it's not going out an buying them, it's making them. It feels so much like I'm giving them life. Oh my, how strange. Ha ha! 

Well, anyways I thought I would put in a posting on this little blog of mine. It seems that people don't blog as much as they used too. Some people that I followed back in 2007-2012 don't blog anymore. Their blogs are like little ghost towns on the internet. Sad but true. Even if I don't ever get any followers on blogger, I'll still blog. It sets my mind free, after all I need to do that somewhere.

Until next time around,

Take care...

Wendylee

"A girl in the garden" so far.. she's a W.I.P for sure!

W.I.P means "work in progress" by the way (just in case you didn't know) This is the garden dolly I've been working on, she's not done yet. So many more things to do.

I used sharpie markers to draw out her face and just acrylic black paint for her hair. Notice how her arms have green and brown and blue? It's glimmer mist from Lindy's Stamp Gang. I wanted to give her nature colors since she's a girl in the garden. 

She still needs pantaloons or maybe just maybe I'll make pants instead. I don't know yet. I might even add a little hat. Not sure. We'll see.

Anyways, quote of the day on FB

It's so hard to forget the past, but when I read this I realized that I don't have to forget it. I have to think of what I did and what has been done to me and I have to take a lesson from it. 

In other words, instead of getting mad and holding a grudge just think of how you learned and what lesson you can get out of it. 

One major example is the abuse I had to deal with as a child. This taught me a lesson. Don't trust anyone, even if they are relatives. I will not forget the past, but I have gained knowledge from it.




Another one I seen today is this one:

It's really up to each and everyone of us what we want to do with our selves daily. We can be happy or sad. We can let our past dictate our future if we let it; or we can turn it all around and discover who we really are and what greatness we are capable of doing in this life. How we can help others and how we can help ourselves.

Till next time,

Love to all..

Wendylee

Sneek peek of dolly and early morning thoughts..

So far this is what she looks like. I have so much work to do on this doll. Not so happy with the mouth, kind of reminds me of thumbalina the frog lady and I don't want her to look like a frog. It's really not what I was going for.
I have an idea of creating dolls that care for a garden, since it's summer and I'm getting my garden ready for planting, I just came up with an idea of little dolls that take care of the lizards, butterflies and bugs of all sorts in the garden. So, we'll see how this goes.


  Anyways, on to another topic. I was reading this quote on FB. (I always read inspirational quotes because I think they are so cool) and it was this one.

I mean think about this. How many people actually "stay" in your life? When I think about my own life there are not too many who do unless they get what they want out of me and if they don't they leave. I have a really close friend who has never used me in any kind of way. I think God sent her to me because really I'm nothing special but she is and I really and truly trust her. 

I also came across this quote;

 My God this is so true! I never really thought about it this way though so it hit me like a ton of bricks this morning.

Last year sometime I started watching videos on YouTube about "The Law of Attraction" and in every video, all the people who talked about The Law of Attraction would say; "You attract what you think of". Ok this makes sense but I think of things that I never attract and that's because I don't act upon those thoughts. If I become what I want then I'll attract what I want. I have to be it in order to attract it. Example is wanting to lose weight. I think about it, I want it but it's not going to come unless I become the person who acts on it.I have to be that woman who exercises and runs, I have to just be it otherwise it's just wasted wishes. 

I also came across this quote:

 This is also very true. I think we all have to be so careful what we focus on and where we put our energy. 

Being human we can easily fall into temptation and make mistakes, but I think that's good because then we learn what we should and shouldn't do. 

I made a huge mistake today and replied to someone online who replied to a comment that I made about a post. This guy was hateful and I just gave it right back in a smart ass kind of way. I should've just ignored him because I think I really hurt his feelings. Even though he was a jerk, I'm sure he has feelings too. Next time I'm not doing that, I'm going to ignore anyone who does that to me. It's not worth my time, my energy, my happiness and most certainly not worth hurting someone else even if their intent is to hurt me. 

That's all I got.

Till next time,


Wendylee

I have a new dolly pattern in the works!

I'm working on a new doll pattern. I have never in my life made a doll pattern to sell. I only make them for myself and even then I only use them one time. 

So far, lots of trial and error with sizing. I've done my homework and I know how to draft out an entire pattern from scratch. Hopefully I can get this done by the end of April.

till next time,

Wendylee