Doll Artist and Teacher: Preserving the art of making dolls and Artist Member of the Original Doll Artist Council of America (ODACA).
The Race is On!
Hello Reader,
Are you ready for the holidays? I am most certainly not. Minimal shopping done, no Christmas tree, no decorations, no wrapping, no baking, and no ideas.
I had a burst of activity over the past few weeks while preparing for a small holiday fair. I sewed quite a few Santa ornaments (nearly all sold), and one larger Santa (which will be a gift for a family member). There's only so much time in the day, so this productivity diverted me from my usual holiday prep. I'm exhausted.
I find myself looking ahead to 2023, and the thought that next year time I might actually be organized and prepared for the holidays. Yes, the countdown to retirement has begun! Everyone tells me I'll be busier than I am now, but I'm skeptical.
What will life be like without my day job? If you've been paying attention to the news, you may have heard that hospital emergency departments (and Oregon is one of the states that has been hit particularly hard) are boarding more patients than they ever have, thanks to influenza, RSV and COVID. Thankfully, and miraculously, I have not had any of these viruses (knocks on wood).
I sewed over 200 masks at the beginning of the pandemic - another activity that certainly diverted me from more enjoyable and artistic endeavors, but I felt (anxiously) compelled to do this.
I also designed a pandemic costume for one of my dolls and a free ornament pattern to commemorate 2020, a year to remember.
| COVID Ornament |
My Emergency Department holiday party is this Saturday, and we have all signed up for themed "charcuterie" boards. Mine is the dessert charcuterie. I didn't even know that was a thing (thank goodness for Pinterest!)
| 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, It took over two weeks, but the new pattern is finally completed. Creating a new pattern means making another doll, writing instructions and photographing each step, proofreading I don't know how many times, and drawing the pattern pieces (without being overly caffeinated. 'Tis the Season She still needs her official photo shoot (she's kind of washed out in this photo), but she is done. I've just added the pattern to my Etsy store and website, but wanted to offer it here at a...
Hello Reader, As one of my New Year's Resolutions, I took on the daunting task of cleaning out the attic. We've lived in this old Craftsman (built around 1918) since 1993 and during that time, the attic, while convenient (too convenient, apparently) facilitated the accumulation of many things. I'm a sentimental fool, but as I pulled boxes, crates, sacks and bins of stuff out of the two attic spaces (east and west sides of the house), I became less precious. After many trips to Goodwill and...
Hello Reader, I've been thinking about this year's Christmas ornament design/pattern. I have a few ideas, but have decided to make a caroler. Yesterday I took a break from the "Big Project" to get a start on a prototype. I hope to have the caroler holding a music book, dressed in winter attire, and with an open mouth (painted) to mimic singing. Right now I'm working on proportions. If this first draft is too big, I can always reduce it while still maintaining these proportions. Already I can...