Thursday, October 6, 2011

So I realize I 've been severely neglecting my blog.  I can only say in my defense that summertime finds me outdoors a good deal of the time.  I'm not overly bothered by the heat & when I am I simply retreat into the air conditioning.  I am one of those die-hard cold weather haters and wonder every winter what we are still doing in Pennsylvania.  And of course, as it starts to cool down it's time to kick into high gear creating more art for the Halloween season.

Some of the things that kept me busy this summer were the rebuilding of my pond by ripping out the stream bed and building a real waterfall mound.  I also built a gate for our deck to keep the dog around.  I DO miss my old Jack Russells, Rocco and Pippi who could be let out onto their ungated deck that leads into our unfenced yard & I could trust them to do their business and return in due time.  Willow, just over a year old, tends to be more like the traditional Jack Russell with way too much prey-chasing instinct so unless bound by fence or leash would take off  into the wild blue yonder chasing rabbits and squirrels.  Before I built the gate we used a pain-in-the-butt baby gate & once or twice forgot that it was not in place before leaving Willow onto the deck.  He ran to another block in our development & stole the ball a grandmother was tossing to her grandson.  I'm sure Willow thought he'd won a grand prize by thieving that ball and bringing it back to our house.  Thankfully the grandma-grandson duo thought it was 'cute'.  Regardless, we now have a gate that swings and latches -Yay!

I also built a ladder for our new shed.  We (finally!) bought a new barn-style shed with overhead storage on either side so I made a ladder that can be moved back & forth.  Hubby asked why not just use the step ladder?  To me that would mean that is where the step ladder would have to be stored & not in the attached garage where it is now & we can conveniently retrieve it for use around the house. The ladder is not perfect but it will do the job.

He has finally begun to work on changing our electrical service from 100 amps to 200 so that should allow him to finish the room that is SUPPOSED to become my art studio. Then I can vacate the spare bedroom/computer room and make it into an actual bedroom for the grandkids's sleepovers.  I've got my second on the way & due in February!

And as usual, aside from my day job I've been busy creating art.  I've been redoing some of my unsolds and offering them on eBay.  I just don't have the room to store them so it's either sell them at bargain basement prices or redo them & try to make them more appealing.  Here is my current redo, a little witch - I've repositioned her eyes and traded her cat for a pumpkin.


 Li'l Witch on eBay

5 comments:

maddyrose said...

I got tired just reading about what you've been doing. It must feel good to have all of those things completed. I love your little witch and feel she's got more than a fair chance of being adopted quickly.

Skeleton In My Closet said...

Thanks, Maddy. That little witch has had her final redo. I prefered her wide(r) apart eyes but realize that my taste does not always have widespread appeal. If she doesn't sell, I've promised her to my 6 year-old granddaughter who I don't think really understands when I say she's not to play with.

I gotta love my little sweetie, she's not big on doll babies and dress-up, she's got a collection of rubber snakes, bats and spiders - I wonder if I had any influence on that -LOL!

Dianie said...

Hi Josie,
Wow, you did get a lot accomplished this summer! I admirer your building skills. There are a few projects I'd like to tackle around this place, but first i need to get over the fear of the power saws!!!

I love this re-do you did on the Halloween girl. I enjoy all of your work and I do love your spookier & a little bit creepy creations. This re-do is a nice softer side to your work and I like it too. In fact, she would be stunning on my dining room table ;)

~Diane

Skeleton In My Closet said...

Thanks Dianie! 30 years ago I worked as a sub-contractor for a pair of brothers that ran a company called Sir Thomas Thumb. They made high quality miniatures for doll house collectors. I had to use a drill and a scroll saw so I learned early to use power tools. Now a quarter of our power tools are mine.

Maggie said...

Love your l'il witch! And, the cute story about Willow!