Some of what I've been doing this summer.....

Re-do of the Etsy Shop

My etsy shop has been updated and loaded up!  I spent the whole day yesterday on re-do's of the photos...used my new backdrop and re-wrote descriptions.  Take a look, at least now it looks a little more cohesive:

http://www.etsy.com/shop/DOXIEDOO

I put in everything I had in the sewing room plus any dolls I had from the OZ-Stravaganza.  In the next couple days I'm going to go thru the bins in the basement to see what I have left from last years shows and list them as well.
I feel like I'm finally getting a hold of things around here and getting ahead.  Now I can go back and fill in the gaps of things I've been wanting to do, but didn't think I had time.

But today, I am off to wrestle with the DMV... I can't understand heads or tails of that website, every link you click leads you down another lonely alley of confusion.  I've tried to call the past two days and keep getting a recording that they can't take my call.  Frustrating.  So I'm going to put on some shoes and take myself over there.  I'll take my nook and a pillow and hang out til someone will talk to me.

This is the second Hen Pecked Lady from the Sweetmeadows farm pattern.  I cleaned up her photo a bit and listed her in my shop.  She's a cutie.

Last minute additions

Os-Stravaganza in Chittenango starts tomorrow.  I went and set up the tent and tables this evening and was surpised at the sweet spot I was assigned.  It is right across from the autograph tent with no one in front of me.  Great spot!

 I finnished up a couple more witches and a queen/princess/Glinda doll.  I have another scarecrow and another pink doll on the work table right now.  If I don't get them done in the morning, I can work on them in the evening and be able to add them to the show on Saturday.  Tomorrow is 1-6 then Sat and Sun all day.

 I must admit, I'm rather proud of all that I got done.  I have about 19 regular size dolls, 3 munchkins and a handful of misc. dolls.  I also did some altered journals and a crystal ball with a witches hat.  Come to think of it, I didn't take a picture of the crystal ball... will have to do that tomorrow.  I would have liked to have had more of the smaller dolls done, but I guess I always want more :o)  If all goes well, I can start working on next years and have more than a month to pull it off!

A few of my characters for OZ-Stravaganza

I'm starting to stress, but I keep telling myself I have almost two more weeks to keep working... I have this thing where I like to worry.  A lot.  I worry about not having enough dolls for a show.  I worry I will have too many dolls for a show.  I worry the dolls won't like the show and won't show up.... It's not a healthy habit and unfortunately, it is a trait that carries beyond the doll making corner of my life.  Worry. Some days I worry that tomorrow I won't have anything to worry about.

Anyways, the sane part of me says that I'm doing fine... I have about 12 big dolls done, a handful of small ones, two more big ones that just need hats/hair and I have body parts galore all over the place ready to go. If I can keep my butt in the house this week, and focus, I should be able to feel confident by the end of the week.  I want to spend the last week on just details..

So here is wishing us all a productive week!  Focus!

New Listing on PrimNest

I know it's nowhere's near Halloween.  Or fall. I like making witches and I make them all year round....

I was trying out this pattern by Victoria Lynn and decided I really liked her so I listed her on PrimNest this morning thinking maybe someone else would appreciate a nice Beltane witch......

Here is her link : http://www.primnest.com/artist/54/Folk+Art+by+Carol+Ann/

New listing on Ebay

                                                                   Americana Girl

To check her out click on the link in the sidebar......

Picasa

I downloaded Picasa and watched a couple youtube videos and ta-da!  I made a collage.  I need to send photos out for juried shows and I was stressing over how to get decent photos that actually look like my dolls.  A facebook group I'm in recommended Picasa so I figured for free, it's worth a try.   Anyone who knows me knows how much I hate the photo editor I have on my computer... I complain a lot... This one was so much more Carol Ann friendly...I really need to practice the photo process more.  I just don't like taking pictures.  I know so many people this comes naturally for but I'm just not one of them.  Going to have to trade off with someone who's better at it.  

So that's my first collage to share.  I'm going to tweak it a little more before I send them out.  I've got two more shows I'm trying to get into for the fall.  I was approved for the Oz-stravaganza in June so I've been working like crazy on Wizard of Oz themed dolls.  I'm rather proud of the first batch...I was kinda surprised because I've never really been drawn to the Oz theme.  Funny what you can do when you stop and take your time to think about it.  I will post some photos when it gets closer :o)