Vulnerability

 

I’ve never been one to post my own picture…

I find myself in love with

being behind the camera

and 

letting that imagery speak

of who I am.

Social Media opens 

To our vulnerabilities, 

And I am struck

That it is so much easier

To show my work…

Which is my heart and soul~

(Really, how vulnerable is that?)

This photo is not my most recent, 

It is a little over a year old,

But I chose it for a reason.

I grew up with Auburn Hair

And it stood out.

I was very shy,

 and was uncomfortable standing out.

So now,

the auburn has turned dark 

 to salt and pepper.

No longer am I 

Defined as a ginger.

After a slight wobble 

Back and forth with hair color,

I’m finding that I really like 

This older version 

Of me. 

So how is it not 

As hard to show my work, and not feel as vulnerable?

Well, aside from the fact, 

that creating and sending my lovelies off,

 is how I make my living.

The answer is,

Quite frankly,

 I’m not.

It’s all a leap of Faith.

Over the years,

I have taken parts of creating,

That I have never felt 

Were my strongest suit.

I dove into them

As a personal challenge

To tackle.

All while showing them on the internet.

My Patterns?

I only had a badly made tote bag

 and simple shirt

Under my belt. 

…and let’s a not forget that time,

 when it was cool to make your bell bottoms longer with fabric strips…

What did Stacey do?

Took some cues from a friend and mentor

And pushed my way thru

To do folky dolls

For local craft shows…

And then use the designs for a pattern line.

It gave me the opportunity

To work from home, 

something that I

Desperately needed to do

As a caregiver and a single Mom.

Then, to keep a promise to 

My Father,

I promised to show 

That I could draw and sculpt.

I took on my fear of Ink

And created imagery

With the help

Of Monahan Papers.

and finally…

The dolls.

I knew that

If I was going to sculpt,

They needed to be dolls.

But…

Faces were my nemesis 

And so my friends…

You have watched me over the years.

Very much at my most

Vulnerable.

Holding my breath

And hoping that

With each

Leap of faith

And 

My wonky beginnings 

That you would be 

Beside me as I grew the skills.

Let’s not forget

About my weird….

Pumpkin ladies?

 Moon and whale ladies?

All of the Victorian Mourning inspired?

No matter who I have been becoming,

I have had wonderful

Friends in you….

Even, at my most vulnerable

Sipping Tea On A Chilly Morning

This morning finds 

Me sipping more than one cup of tea.

English Breakfast tea seems extra soothing.

I want to thank everyone of you,

For visiting last night and those that tried to 

Bring one of the Funeral Directors home.

 I am amazed at the numbers; 

Seems to be an understatement!

I am so very humbled ….

There were just under 

A thousand visits.

I am in wonder of it all.

There were only two available

As I was given opportunity

For something special.

I had fun creating these guys.

They are actually inspired by

A couple of textile designs from my early Prim days.

They grew up!

I worked out the kinks and have been learning how to do wonky sculpted hands.

I love it and I will certainly be revisiting

The characters!

I love a Halloween that speaks

Of Early America

And a dash of Dickens.

Mourning and Funerary

I have found,

Has been a way to work

Through my own grief,

And in a way

That isn’t so stuffy.

We took a drive this weekend,

To deliver our Grand doggie

Back home. 

It was perfect timing…

My Hometown sits in New York,

on the Vermont border.

The best of both! 

I love this view

Of The Green Mountains.

Memories of horseback riding,

along with the smell and crunch of the leaves,

Lays deep in my heart.

This is always home for me

And this is my favorite time of year. 

I wish it could last longer…

One of the best places

To just sit

And just be….

Take me home…

Country Roads,

To the place, I belong…

This picture should have probably been first.

As a military kid,

We would see the Three Sisters

And always know that we have come home.

Thank you for stopping by 

And spending some of your time here.

I hope that you have enjoyed

A little break away

And a few sips of something hot

To warm you~

 

Offerings ~ The Grim Brother's Funeral Home

 

Hello, my friends~

Welcome to tonight's offering. I will try to have offerings here on occasion. 

You will need to email me 

the name of the lovely

that you would like.

It can just be written on the subject line~

I will get back to you!

Please allow a few minutes...

it may take a little time 

for everyone's emails to come thru.

thegoodewife.folkart@yahoo.com

Details~

Each of my lovelies 

are hand made

in the finest manner.

they are unique 

and made with love and care.

Harry and Larry Grim

are hanging 

friends.

They are wonky and silly...

made in a Primitive manner.

They are sculpted from paper clay

and have soft bodies.

Larry and Harry each hold

a glass jar of ashes...

(the ashes are from the wood stove,

and no human or critter remains.

It will be our little secret...)

They are approximately 13 unlucky inches tall

They are 290.00

and 14.50

for an insured ticket home.

Continental US only.

They are for decor purposes only.

Harry Grim (spoken for)

                               Larry Grim (spoken for)

Thank you so much

for taking time from your evening

and stopping by! 

I hope you find the blog a soft place to land.

Back Home Again~

   

  

I love the hum of a lawn mower on lazy Saturday afternoons. 

Especially in Fall, 

when the days hold a crispness 

and a 

Mug of cider or tea is in order.

Tim has chicken soup simmering for us, 

as I am not feeling my best.

Those long hours catch up with me and my bones complain. 

My heart is content though…

Like my purring cat.

The Bewitching Peddlers of Halloween show was a week ago.

It is always the best adventure. 

We see family and share a meal or two~

Then it’s off to the grand adventure. 

I have a team of helpers~

 my dear friend of many years; 

Angie and 

her sweet guy, Shawn.

I could not do this without my village.

Tim takes on the brunt of the home in the month or so leading up to our departure.

My daughters each helped. 

One helping me pack and holding down the Fort, 

and the other, 

packing my sweet Maggie 

and taking her to the Farmhouse.

And so, the crew worked on…

Show family 

Stopped by and we went a visiting

As well.

After all….

It has been a whole year!

And there is never enough time.

My create time, 

Was shortened~ 

But, I was able to pull off

Two bigger pieces.

I was short a couple more

From last year,

But our booth filled up nicely.

Each piece talked a good amount of time

And drying.

The dresses are made and fit

To each one, specifically.

It can take a day to dress one.

The Twilights are wee, sculpted 

Birdcage dolls

And their dresses’ are made from paper.

It’s quite tricky~

one false move

And it is done~

That is,

Until I can cover the paper

With layers of a clear seal.

A wee tea light under each dress 

Makes them magical.

My newer friends

Were well received.

I settled into mourning

A little deeper with the dollhouse dolls.

My work is often reflective

And 

That is how I landed.

I tried some

New paint techniques

Ands learned how to use 

Iridescent water colors for the

First time

And now, 

I have notes and ideas…

New techniques to put forward

And lots of gears spinning in my head.

 As the unpacking and book work finishes,

My new work year will begin. 

Hello October,

My dear friend!