More work space!

As many of you know we live in a very small, very old house. When Isabel was born I always just had her crib in my room, and then when she got older we had to decide what to do about a bedroom. Her sister Chelsea's room is the smallest room in the house, and I always thought I would move my studio up there and give the larger room to the girls. But as time went on, my stash grew bigger, and my need for more work space grew as well. It soon became clear there was no way to fit all my stuff in that tiny room. So Chelsea stayed up there, and Isabel and I shared the larger room for a workroom/bedroom. Chelsea was already 16 when we decided this, so we knew it would only be temporary. ANYHOW, long story short, Chelsea has now moved into an apartment of her own, and Isabel is getting ready to take over her room. THIS MEANS FINALLY ADEQUATE WORKSPACE FOR ME!!! I am getting excited and beginning to think about what I need to do to finally really get myself organized.
I have decided to divide my space into 5 sections.
1. Sewing area
this will incororate my machines, ironing board and cutting table.
2. Painting area
this will be my drawing table, all my paints, glues and messy craft stuff that I need to keep away from the fabrics, etc.
3.Office area
this is for my pc, files, paperwork and research; all the things I need for running the business of dollmaking and pattern publishing.
4.Photo area
this will be a small permanent set up for photographing dolls
5.Storage area
this will encompass all my large cabinets and bookshelves. all of my stash will NOT fit in here, and it will still be necessary to have the overflow stored in the basement.

I really hope to accomplish this soon(and also throw in here the renovating of the tiny bedroom for Isabel, which needs new everything!), before the busy fall season begins! Wish me luck!

Just for fun here is picture of my immense stash as it looked when we decided to combine my workspace and Isabels bedroom. Gasp! What a load!!

Too much stash!

Workin away!

Here is the head sculpt for an Izannah Walker style doll I am making out of paper clay. She will have a cloth body, arms and legs.

Another great design from Gail!

Gail Wilson's Izannah Walker doll

I finished this doll about a week ago. I love the way she turned out. The design is ingenious. You actually make the head and shoulders out of ribbed cotton knit and then sew it to the body. It does look very much like the stockinette that was used on cloth dolls in the 19th century.

Doll collector jokes!

Here is a pic of my shelf of Gail Wilson dolls that I have made. I have more now, and will have to take a more current picture.

Now the jokes:

Q: What do you call a doll collector with shelf space?

A: An amateur!


Q: How do you find a doll collectors house?

A: Follow the UPS truck!

Ha! Ha!

Here is another picture