Spikey has a new home - and - working from my chair
Great news -- the hand sewn creature I made for the Holly Dolly fundraiser at Paint Creek Center for the Arts (Rochester, MI) has a new home!
A friend of a real life friend friended me on Facebook a short while ago. I didn't realize at the time that she was not local to us. Her name is Tammy and she is a friend of Peggy's, and now we are Facebook friends.
Today I was absolutely thrilled to see this photo on Facebook with the caption: "Spikey said it was a long flight and to get him out of that box!"
That was when I "discovered" that Tammy lives in Pennsylvania.
Wow -- so number one, PCCA gets the donation for the sale of Spikey. Number two, Spikey has a new home. And number three, Tammy liked Spikey enough (from photos) to purchase him and have him shipped to PA!
I am so happy for ALL of us -- thank you, Tammy! And Spikey -- you behave!
in other news...
This morning I finally had the MRI done on my right knee. I wasn't feeling so bad this morning when I was getting ready to go and I was half-wondering if maybe I had "gotten over" whatever I had done to my knee in late October. Yeah...right. When I arrived at the medical building and got out of my car, my knee did the locking up thing. I could barely move. I step/dragged it up to the building then my knee unlocked. When I got on the elevator my knee locked up again...really painful. I made it down to the MRI office and got checked in. While I was waiting my knee was really hurting.
The tech called me in and got me situated on the table. Oh man...owwwww. Then he put a pillow under my knee to support it in the device and then he packed stuff around it (I couldn't see what he was doing) then it felt like he strapped it in a little and he told me NOT to move during the entire process. He gave me ear plugs and said it was going to get loud in there. He gave me what felt like a blood pressure bulb and said to squeeze it if I got into trouble. All I can say is that I wanted to get it over as quickly and smoothly as possible.
O.M.F.G. -- if I had any glimmer whatsoever that my knee was even partially "okay" it was totally dashed after the first five minutes of staying still. The tech was really great about talking to me over a loudspeaker and letting me know how many more films (I don't remember the word he used) we had to do, but it was just excruciating to not move my leg. I felt like Richard Parker was feasting on my knee, slowly and thoroughly. All I could do was try to control my breathing and lay there and let the tears flow.
Finally it was over and I hobbled/stepped-and-dragged my way back out to my car and drove myself home. Yes. There is absolutely something wrong with my knee. I hope I can avoid surgery -- my sister says her husband also had a torn medial meniscus and that he had outpatient surgery with like four small incisions. I can only hope for something that "easy". I am not a good candidate for surgery...among many, many other things I just don't heal well. I have an appointment with my regular doctor on Monday and I guess we will see where I go from there. Fingers crossed. (Sorry for unloading all of that.)
BUT...that brings me to why all of the photos for today are from my chair...I often do a lot of work from here while watching television but now my recliner has become my new HQ for the better part of the day/night until things get settled...including the photos.
That's a cold pack in a flannel pillow case over my knee/thigh. That's about normal for my ankle...I have edema issues, too.
Okay -- enough of the waaaaah, poor Took-ing!
Today I am reworking a hand sewn guy I started a few weeks ago. I am reusing as much of the embroidery floss as I can...I only basted stuff together.
Hard to tell, but this is his head. The pink thread is now his jaw line and the brown fabric has been cut away. That was going to be an ear at one point. Not a long dangly dog ear (like it looks) but more like a bear ear that was sectioned by thread right on the head.
I started making some spikes for the top of his head. Solid color ones for that area. These are leftover thumbs from gloves I use for finger puppets.
This shows his new head shape.
A little stuffing pushed into the head to test out the shape...for now.
This triangle is marked on the inside of the fabric of the head to show me where to put the spikes.
The first spike.
Stuffing out, the first few spikes get attached.
I like not knowing how he is going to turn out. I really have no solid plans for him yet...he will happen as he happens.
experimenting with spikes...and news of Spikey
Much of today was spent at a car dealership test driving, waiting, talking, another test drive, and more waiting. My knee is shot. Tonight I have been experimenting a bit with the spikes for the second hand sewn creature I am working on.
Spikey's spikes are more pointed and were more about getting a lot of color onto him.
These spikes will be more about the stripes, and I think a lot of them will not be very pointy, but more blunt. These are taking a LOT more time than Spikey's spikes...and those were not very quick to begin with.
I have to really fold, tuck in, and hold down the knitted material of these spikes. My left hand totally cramped up into those spasms where you have no control over your fingers...they just kinda curl up and really hurt until you drop what is in your hand and your fingers relax again. And yes, I did that three times so far tonight...sheesh.
And now for the somewhat disappointing news about Spikey. He didn't get any bids at the Holly Dolly fundraiser. Here is a part of the email:
"Your doll Spikey did not receive any bids the night of the
event. There are a few dolls that were not bid on. We have them on display in
the gallery, so that anyone who had to miss the event will have the opportunity
to purchase them. We have already sold several of
them."
Well...maybe someone will be shopping at Paint Creek's wonderful Holiday Gift Gallery and fall in love with him. That would be cool. And perhaps even more people will see him in the gift shop...maybe his potential new owners couldn't make it out for the auction that night. Fingers crossed...we'll see!
In the meantime, on the off-chance that someone might see this blog post, here are some shots of Spikey:
Spikey in his sleeping postion -- arms folded across his chest and leaning down.
He does sit up on his own, btw.
Awww...what a cute face. And look at those wacky fingers.
And don't forget his arms change color with the heat from your hands. They go from a sherbet-y orange color to yellow.
The Holiday Gift Gallery at Paint Creek Center for the Arts runs from November 17 - December 30. The galleries will be filled with fabulous handmade works and artful objects created by Michigan artists.
Paint Creek Center for the Arts
407 Pine Street
Rochester, MI 48307
(248) 651-4110
For more information, hours, and directions to PCCA, please visit their website...click HERE.
done -- and delivered!
Well, after I posted last night's blog I got back to work on my creature for the Holly Dolly fundraiser. I took a couple of ten-minute breaks but I basically worked straight through until I finished him -- at 5:30 this morning.
All of the pins are out and the parts are sewn...trying to figure out what exactly to do to the face.
First I tried tacking down the edges of his mouth but I decided he needed a more roundy mouth.
Ooops...nearly forgot to give him ears! (the blue one is one of his ears.
I attached the arms (and completely over-sewed them to the body...there is NO way these are coming apart!)
I took out the tacking and started over on the mouth. YES -- this is more what I had in mind for the shape of the muzzle. I had a draft horse's muzzle in mind...close enough.
Yep -- more roundy...I hope it will keep this shape.
A little farther along with the mouth...this was a really time consuming stitch and really made my fingers sore and tired -- the material(s) are really thick there.
The "ta-daaaaaa" moment at 5:30 a.m.
Next, a quick photo shoot with the creature...LOL.
Sometimes he looks to me like a guy in a sleeveless t-shirt.
Awwwwww...
Flat down on his tummy.
Yes -- I am pretty pleased with the way he turned out!
I'm not angry with him, just holding him out straight away from me as far as possible while taking a photo.
Getting ready to leave for Juana's house this morning...get in the bag, you!
Juana and I arrive at the main gallery at Paint Creek Center for the Arts -- in Rochester, MI.
Mary takes Juana's dolls.
Juana's hippie girl doll...Mary liked her a lot.
Detail of Juana's hippie girl's face.
Juana's crab dol -- too wonderful!
Mary takes a look at my guy.
ha ha
Awww...
Juana looking over the dolls that have arrived (so far).
I wanted to show Mary how Spikey folds up to go to sleep.
She might display him this way because it shows his spikes and face pretty well.
This fundraiser takes place on Friday. I will blog more about it in a day or two. Right now (and for the rest of the night) I just want to sit and bask in the "that was my last official deadline of this year"-ness. It really wore me out working so late into the wee hours this morning and then the trip out to Rochester. I am goofy yawny achy and sleepy.
