Doll Artist and Teacher: Preserving the art of making dolls and Artist Member of the Original Doll Artist Council of America (ODACA).
2023, Here We Come
Hello Reader,
Boy, it's been a rough few weeks. I burned the candle at both ends trying to prepare for the holidays while working my day job and trying to grow my doll business in preparation for retirement; seeing an overwhelming number of really sick patients with respiratory illnesses; dealing with terrible weather and all that comes with that... loss of power, loss of internet/WiFi, loss of a part of our roof (while the whole family was sick with Covid).
I so appreciate everyone who emailed me with get-well wishes.
I'm looking forward to a fresh start in 2023.
I'm a big maker of lists. Some might think pathologically so (my husband). I feel much satisfaction in crossing off completed tasks; it's my way of triaging what needs to be done first (and affirming that I DID something).
Toward the end of my Covid isolation, I took the time to formalize the pattern and instructions for my Santa head ornament (and yes, I crossed that off my list). This meant I had to make one more ornament in order to photograph the various steps. I add photos in my pattern instructions because I'm a very visual learner, as are many others. In this pattern, I talk about minimizing the appearance of center seams by ensuring your seam allowances lie in the same direction. It really makes a difference!
I've added the pattern to my website and Etsy shop.
My next big priority project is preparing and finalizing a doll class I'll be teaching in March, followed by another one in April. Lots to do!
| My Patterns are Here |
| Instant Downloads on Etsy |
Deanna Hogan
www.blueherondolls.com
deanna@blueherondolls.com
Deanna Hogan, Blue Heron Dolls
Doll Artist and Teacher: Preserving the art of making dolls and Artist Member of the Original Doll Artist Council of America (ODACA).
Hello Reader, We had no trick-or-treaters yesterday, so now we have a Costco-sized bag of candy to dispose of (one way or the other). It's now November 1st, and it's (again) a dark, dreary, rainy day here on the north Oregon coast - perfect for starting a new project. This time last year I was busy designing a new holiday ornament - Mortimer Moose (http://www.blueherondolls.com/Mortimer%20Moose.html). I had the idea that I might design a new ornie every year, and if that's going to happen I'd...
Hello Reader, Autumn is my favorite time of year. It was sprinkling a little as I let the dog out to do his business, and immediately noted the nostalgically distinct and comforting smell of petrichor. When I informed my husband, he had to look it up (yay, finally a vocabulary he didn't know!) I spent last week sewing the Old World Santa I mentioned in my last newsletter. He's essentially done, though he's holding a temporary lantern (I think the scale is just a little too large for him), so...
Hello Reader, I can't believe we're nearly halfway through September! This summer was gone in the blink of an eye. I published my last newsletter in July, right before the UFDC Convention / ODACA Day. I'd hoped to send another before now, but life conspired. My husband and I caught COVID in Kansas City (or on the flight home) so we lost a week, followed by three weeks of babysitting grandchildren. So on weekends (when the upstairs studio temperatures were tolerable) I worked on my {secret}...