I had a car to my self for the whole week and I managed to resist the urge to take a road trip to the Mannings. It was tough, but I resisted the urge to go and fondle the wool. Someday soon, I will go and fondle the wool.

My daughter and I had a lunch date. I took her out to Issac's Deli for lunch. We giggled, colored, and played tic-tac-toe. I have been promising her more Mommy/Daughter time and today I took the opportunity. Princess got a real kick out of my problems getting a pickle off my pickle toothpick so I could get some pickled carrot. She found it much funnier than I did. It was nice having some quality time with Princess. Things have been so busy lately, we haven't had time to just the two of us. Just a note, if you get to Issac's this summer, I recommend their Savannah Salad (greens, red onions, croutons, blueberries, and mandarin oranges with orange vinegrette dressing).

I was playing around the other day and did my self-portrait.

Right after I got PSP I found this tutorial on making collage images by painting over photographs in the program. I lost the tutorial for a while, but found it the other say. I took a few liberties with my hair color and the image is wearing more make-up than I normally wear. All in all, I like it, it was a fun exercise.

I know that I've been a little quiet lately and I must appologize. You see, I'm working diligently on a hush-hush project. My sister-in-law just graduated with a Master's degree and I'm making a doll for her. She knows she's getting a doll, but I don't want to share pics of it until after I give her the doll. As soon as the doll is in her hands, I will share pics with everyone.

I have also been working hard on my fruity pebbles socks. Sock one is done and I'm about to start the heel flap on sock two. I'll post pics as soon as I take them.

I'd like you all to meet Peter. Peter (I didn't look to see if he was a boy or girl) lives under my deck. Yesterday while Hubby was mowing he startled Peter who then ran and froze under the swingset. Hubby called me out to see our houseguest. Isn't he just precious? Peter allowed me to pick him up, pose for a picture, and then place him at the front door of his little bunny home. He was very calm the whole time. I love bunnies, even if they do eat the herbs in my garden. And there is something truly magical about holding a wild bunny in your hands. I did look up what rabbit means according to "Animal Speak"--it means oportunities. Maybe this little guy came along to let us know that we would find our new home soon.

It's not my personal accomplishment we've been celebrating around here. It's the accomplishment of the lovely young lady in the photo we have been celebrating. My niece graduated from High School last week. Congratulations are extended to the Grad. This fantastic lady is going to be a pastry chef someday and plans to attend one of the best culinary schools in the country. Way to go Girl!

Who invented Summer Vacation? It's not that I don't love my daughter, but who decided that they needed to spend 3 months at home everyday. Princess just left on the bus for her last day of Second Grade. In a few short hours, I will be picking up a crying little girl at the busstop. She gets strongly attatched to her teachers and it breaks her heart to say good-bye at the end of the year. She cried for an hour when it was the student teacher's last day. This year is especially hard for her, because we are moving shortly and we don't know if we will be in the same district after the move.

In other news, I'm busy on the Kroy Sock 2.0. I made the first sock, got at far as one row before binding off and realized that I hated the way the sock looked and that it wasn't going to fit properly. So, I was strong and I frogged the whole sock. Changed needle size, found a different pattern, and tried a new cast on. The result is a sock that I like. I tried it on last night and it fits nicely. I have another inch of foot to do and then I can start the toes. The end is near for this sock. I started calling them Fruity Pebbles, because they remind me of the delightfully sweet cereal. The picture doesn't do them justice, they are red, yellow, orange, green, and blue. Think October day near the lake. It always amazes me that handknit socks look bigger than store bought ones, but they fit snugger. I guess store bought socks just have too much elastic in them.

I know several people who make these really cool wrap dolls. They almost remind me of mummys wrapped in sacred clothes adorned with special trinkets and death masks. I know, it's a morbid image, but some of these dolls are beautiful. I recieved a wrap doll from Griselda as part of a doll swap and was inspired to try to make one of my own.

Goya Solaris began as my entry into the GoddessDolls Yahoo Group's Celestial Goddess Doll Challange. Sadly, I didn't get more than the face finished before the challange deadline. Her face was sculpted out of polymer clay Part of her name comes from the fact that I built the face up around a soda cap from a bottle of Goya soda. Yummy! I love their sodas, especially the sangria. Anyhow, her face was sculpted and garnished with glass seed beads and a copper spiral.

I then made a wire cigar shaped base for her body. The frame was wrapped with a piece of wool sweater and then covered with blue cotton. I stitched the top fabric on in order to keep it secure and to keep all the seams smooth. I'm a little anal about unfinished seams. I then wrapped the doll in wire and yarn. I added beads, charms, and wire spirals that are all securely sewn on. I then gave her some blue hair and black feather wings. I've very proud of her.

GoyaSolaris will remain part of my collection. While finishing her, I cracked the one ray on her face. It's been fixed but that flaw makes it look sloppy to me. I plan to make another wrapped doll for sale at some later point.