Merry Christmas

Good morning from a somewhat surprisingly chilly Sierra Vista, Arizona. Yesterday was Christmas day and I spent it here in Arizona with my daughter Alexandria and her family. It was a lovely day with great company and good food - just what Christmas should be - in my mind. Zachary and Chad were happy with the gifts that they received as was everyone. The day was bright and sunny and we all just relaxed. Telephone calls to family members were made and received and all was well.

Mike is in NYC filling in on the show Awesome 80's Prom today. Hopefully all goes well - it usually does and I think he enjoys the City in small doses.

Not much happening on the crafting front but I am feeling the bug so I'm sure I will get back to dolls soon. I've only made two teddy bears and a few jewlery items this year and am feeling rather stiff - kind of like how I feel when I've sat too long without moving. Need to flex my creative muscles. (Use it or lose it as my mother said.)

Today is December 26 or the day that I have come to know as tweener day. Ted's birthday was December 27 and so the day between the 25 and 27 is - tweener day. I'm still keeping tweener day and this first one without Ted is for him - Happy Tweener-day!

My next project I think will be to try and sculpt some small baby figures. I find them very intriguing and they will probably keep my interest for a while. I'll post some pictures when I get started. (Which will hopefully be as soon as I get home - unless I find myself in a store that sells clay in the next couple of days.) I am here until January 3rd and then I fly back home. Hopefully the weather will cooperate and I don't get stuck anywhere along the way back. Coming down I thought that Salt Lake City was going to be an unscheduled break in my trip. Snow storms and air travel do not mix well.

Have a great day, and enjoy your holiday season!

Happy Columbus Day!

Well another span of time has gone by and life is chilly here in Upstate NY. The leaves here have colored and dropped quickly. I am feeling the need to go get apples and (surprisingly) missing the garden and Ted's big harvest push. I always grumbled about being the one stuck in the kitchen cleaning and freezing and canning - but now that I don't have that - I miss it - kind of. Life is funny and we as people are funnier. I'm working on a blue teddy bear for my church raffle and will hopefully post pictures soon. I'm also feeling the urge to make a witch and all number of other things - so who knows - maybe new stuff will be coming soon. I can only hope. My little cat, Magic, loves me to sit in my craft room and sew at my machine. She is reclusive and is rarely seen, but as soon as I sit to sew, she is in my chair with me and will stay for hours. Some things remain as constants which I am truly thankful for now. Peace and more soon.

Theodore R Bear for Ronald McDonald House

Hi - I wanted to post my new teddy bear, named Theodore R Bear. I made him for the auction to benefit the Albany Ronald McDonald House. He is 5.5 inches tall seated and 6 inches toe to toe. I dressed him festively so people will smile looking at him.

Happy August 3rd!

Just a quick post to say hello to August and ask the question so often heard around upstate NY this year - What the heck happened to Summer? Oh well. Saturday was a beautiful day, Sunday was another wet one, today was gorgeous too (although I spent it inside at a desk) and tomorrow is supposed to rain again. One good one not so - oh well - no drought here. Take care and more another time. K

Sunday, June 7, 2009 another day

This is my daughter Rebecca and her daughter Jacquelyn. In May, Becky graduated from College with a four year degree in Phsycology. This week she starts summer courses to earn a nursing degree to go with it. Way to go Becky - Cum Laude!

Well, a lot has happened in the last six months. Some of it is good and some no so good. The last week has been another not so good but I won't belabor that here. I have been taking some pictures of balloons from my house. This weekend was the annual Cambridge Valley balloon festival and although I haven't gone into Town for the festivities - some of it has come to me.

I've also picked a strawberry from our strawberry plant (now plants) that Ted and our grandson Zachary planted last summer.

After all this time I've also ordered and received some fresh polymer clay - so who knows - maybe a good time to makes some new dolls and things. I need to get my head straight and maybe it will help.

Last July we went to France for Aaron and Annelise's wedding. Her mother Karn is like family. We had such a wonderful time and were very comfortable. Karn is very ill right now and in my thoughts and prayers daily. I hope that anyone who takes a moment to read this blog entry will also take a moment and say a prayer and send some beautiful energy for Karn.

Ted's Aunt Helen and his older brother. Alan, both passed away this last week. Very sad in a way but in a way okay. Aunt Helen was a beautiful person who lived a long and good life and is now at rest with her beloved Clarence. Alan, leaves behind his beautiful daughter, Cora but I hope that he has found peace. He really needed a rest and I hope finds solace.

Any way, I am going to post some pictures of the house as it is now and some other pictures that I want to share. I hope you have a beautiful week.
This is a little rock waterfall that I built beside the house yesterday. Its running water from a spring on the property.

Thursday night, March 5, 2009 - just a note...

Time goes on and spring is coming. I am so looking forward to the spring flowers and the green of the awakening earth. The cold this winter has been very disconcerting. I am hoping that March is nice this year and goes quietly like a lamb - but from what I'm hearing on the weather - looks like it's supposed to be a little warmer in the next couple of days and then back to the freezer for us.

I haven't been able to do much with my dolls or other art yet. I want to but I just can't seem to do it. All in time I guess. I am posting here so I think that's a good sign. Have a safe and happy night.

Time, so fleeting and so precious

THEODORE REYNOLDS BELL 12/27/1947 TO 01/12/2009 Beloved husband and father...


It has been a while since I last posted. As a matter of fact January 11, 2009 was a nightmare day as it turned out. My precious, darling Ted; the other half of me had a fatal stroke and passed away officially on January 12, 2009. I am only posting this because I can't not post it. To not post it would be to ignore his importance in my life - and Ted was an all important part of me. His life was precious to me and a terrible loss that I will feel for a very, very long time - or at the very least, for the rest of my life. The joy of Ted was immeasurable and a blessing that I would not have missed - even for this pain of loss. So I give you this view...
Until we meet again my love.

January 11, 2009

I've been remiss in posting and have not posted any thing art related in a while. I haven't been totally without artistic ambition though. Angel pin dolls were the subject of December's Pin Doll Alley swap and I made a pin doll for Heera. I am posting a picture of the Pin Doll Angel that I made but sadly, I still have to take a picture of the beautiful Angel that Heera made for me - so that will be up at a later time.

I am working on a crocheted afghan right now - really off pace with doll making, or polymer clay but a needed change I think. Change is good and crocheting lets my mind wander and relax. I think my next project will be some crazy quilting which I do in smaller scale than large piano scarves - but I really enjoy the fabrics and the stitches. I'm thinking of incorporating some of the crazy quilting into my next doll project. I've done that before and I always enjoy the outcome, since it adds such a beautiful depth and dimension.

This is a picture of the Angel that I sent to Heera: