It's Halloween!

"This Month on the PFATT Marketplace"

This was the first time in over 17 years that I was not able to participate in a Halloween show.  "A Bewitching Fete" in Pleasanton, Ca. is one of my all time favorite venues to be a part of.   This year I was only able to send a few pieces by themselves.  The owners of ABF were gracious enough to handle the set-up and sales for me.  Halloween is and always has been my favorite

time of year so when I can I still sew Halloween characters I do.... so this month on PFATT I will have four pieces to offer.  The pumpkinheads are my favorite.  I went smaller than the ones I had last year and actually like how they turned out.  I'm hoping to make a couple more, possibly girls this week.  Stewie and Russell, the ones pictured, are a couple of my favs though.   I will also have my traditional and very popular mice but these have a twist, they are actually made atop old rusty and cloth covered cans so they can be used as containers for candy, buttons etc. I must

admit they did turn out rather cute and useful.  Everyone loves a "what-not" box for odds and ends to set on their desk of shelf.   Nothing says "stash" like a mouse does LOL. Each of these cuties is fully dressed in a witchy outfit and hat along with some fun little
odds and ends to hold or

wear.  I have made over 200 witch mice in the last few years and they continue to bring out that Halloween smile and enchantment.  These funny little characters even are popular in England and Ireland and have quite a huge following.  It always makes my day when something I dream up can make another person so happy.... Please check them out on the PFATT Marketplace Oct. 10th... 10am PST and 1pm EST

Where I've been....

I know it has been a VERY long time since I've written here on my blog....months!  This last year has been a challenging one for me and "Soft in the Head".  For many years I have suffered from chronic arthritis but this last year has thrown a wicked curveball my way with creating a series of tremors that has made it difficult for me to do much sewing or for that matter even walking.  Having this happen has also created some deep depression for me....as much as you try to fight depression it has a way of winning the battle and I found myself withdrawing from the world....not good! 

This last week started off with a small light at the end of the tunnel and I began sewing again.  Granted it was only for a couple of hours but I sewed and that is all that truly matters.  I'm hoping to participate in "A Bewitching Fete" this September and also my annual Halloween online sale....keeping my fingers crossed.  As Dan says, "baby steps"....

Not all of this last year has been difficult...I mean, after all our son moved back to the states from China and that in itself has been "wonderful and a blessing".  We became grandparents again for the 7th time and our daughter got her Masters in Science....I would say we hit a plethora of happiness and good news!  

I'm slowly, cause I keep fighting it, approaching my 70th year...I have many life lines settled on my face from all the adventures, bad and good, that I have had these many years which creates the best memories and stories to tell, not all good and some pretty heartbreaking but I wouldn't change a thing.  Two constants I have learned in all my years is to NEVER hold a grudge, it benefits no one least of all yourself and never give up on people...granted they can hurt and disappoint you but they can also be the best part of life.  I truly love people almost as much as my cats LOL   

I'm hoping to change up "Soft in the Head" a bit and start designing more patterns...... one day at a time.  I've had to slow down quite a bit which has been the most difficult part of this new chapter of my life.  Dan and I are still planning our trip to Ireland and we're hoping to be in England soon.  I hear Christmas in England would be amazing, fingers crossed!

I'm not on social media much anymore, hurts to type, but I will try to stay in touch with all my amazing, generous, loving and kind friends.  My cup runneth over with love from all of you.  Keep a positive thought for me and I will do the same for all of you.   Wish me luck!!!!   

It's Been Toooo Long!

"Itching for Halloween"

I noticed by the dates here on my blog that it has been quite a few months since I last posted anything.  This year has been a rough one around here due to my health and many things have had to change, like me working.  I have cut back quite a bit where sewing is concerned and have decided to start changing "Soft in the Head" a bit to fit my new life style.  Change is difficult but in this case it is good and something, after a time, I will truly start to enjoy.  One thing that will NEVER change is my love for Halloween.  I will continue to do my favorite Halloween show, "A Bewitching Feté".  I love doing this show, it is such a great group of people that

run it and the artists are like family.  I've done so many shows in my art career but this one is my fav!  I will continue to do my online Christmas show cause it is so successful I can't give it up.  I will also do an online Fall show as well....but what is really going to change is the pattern part of "Soft in the Head"....we are going to try and go completely with e-patterns and I will be adding some new ones this year as well.  I will also be taking on a couple of employees to help which I needed to do a very long time ago.

My blog and website will soon be combined and re-vamped which I am so excited about.  Been wanting to do that for quite some

time too.  Writing has always been a love of mine and with the encouragement of my future daughter-in-law and the rest of my family I think we will be attempting some stories using my characters as the focus...how fun it that?
Our son recently purchased a wonderful 4 wheel drive truck with an extended cab for Dan and I.  He knows how much we love to travel and thought we should have something much more reliable.  We are over the moon about this cause I have wanted to go visit my dear friend Sheila in

N. Dakota, my good friends Evelyn & Don in Arizona and my best buddy Sylvia in Illinois...not to mention the grandkids!  There are just so many friends I have met over the years in this business that I would love to re-connect with and now I have the means to do it! 
The PFATT Marketplace is growing and has been such fun for both Dan and I that we will continue building it and giving new folk

artists an opportunity to grow and build their business with our help.  Dan truly loves it and enjoys all the artists so much, he calls them his online family LOL
As many of you know our son David is living with us temporarily until he finds a job here in the U.S. after spending the last 13 years in China.  We also have a wedding to plan since he has come

engaged recently.  The fun part of this wedding is that it will be taking place in England...we can't wait!  Dan and I truly have an exciting family.  We now have seven grandchildren, 6 boys and one girl!  I miss my grandchildren so much.  They are all such amazing people and so talented...we are truly blessed!
I will try to keep everyone updated with what is going on with me, "Soft in the Head" and our incredible family and not let months go by before I write anything.  Thank you one and all for letting me be a part of your lives! 

New Pieces Being Added to the Shop

"The Season of the Mouse"

It's the beginning of that special season where people seem to get a bit nicer and red and green saturate the scenery, it's Christmas!  My first Christmas was a HUGE success selling out in almost 10

minutes, thank you!  I had many unfinished pieces that were shouting to be completed so they too could find a home.  I will be adding Christmas characters to my shop through Dec. 12th. 
Today this sweet little pipe organ music box will be added.  The music box play "Ava Maria" and I think is perfect for a couple of little angel mice.
There will also be a sledding mouse who loves dashing down the slopes and my first mouse

ornament, a little mouse nestled inside Frosty's hat.  I also will have my first Mouse candy container.   T truly love making these quaint and funny little characters and have many different styles.  Hope you visit my Christmas shop and see what is new.... softeessellingshop.blogspot.com    These are on a first come first serve basis and orders will not be taken.  Use the "paypal buttons" provided for purchase.   Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to one and ALL!!!!

Soft in the Head Annual Christmas Sale

"We're Having A Mouse Sale"

Due to circumstances beyond my control I had to cancel my local Christmas show which was to be all about my "mice" soooo we here at "Soft in the Head" are going to have a Christmas "Mouse" sale here online.  SO MARK YOUR CALENDARS for Sunday,  November 18th 4pm PST-7pm EST! There will be mostly Christmas mice dressed as

Carolers, Santas and Snowmen but there will also be a few other funny Christmas characters too!  All the pieces are "one of a kind" and cannot be ordered once they are gone...often I add pieces to

them I cannot replace like a miniature plate with cookies or a vintage sleigh so orders are not possible.  I hope you will mark the date and visit: www.softeessellingshop.blogspot.com on Sunday, November 18th

Soft in the Head Halloween Sale

"It's Tyme"

It is once again that tyme of year for my annual Halloween sale.  This year will be smaller than most since I am focusing more on me instead of sewing 24/7.  My show was great with very few

pieces left so I am finishing up on all those partially finished pieces and eliminating random body parts that are laying EVERYWHERE LOL I hope you will take a few minutes Oct 4th. at 5pm PST and 8pm EST to stop by and maybe give one of my characters a place that they can hang

their Halloween hat.  I do love Halloween but Christmas is now calling my name.
Here's the link to my shoppe where the sale will be: www.softeessellingshop.blogspot.com

Headed to "A Bewitching Feté"

"And We're Off"

It was a rough start getting ready for this show, so

many obstacles and curve balls thrown our way but we managed to pull it together and get a car load of characters together for "A Bewitching Feté".  There are some new faces this year in the "Soft in the Head" taxi and we're sure hoping they will be well

received.  Since my arthritis has decided to go to the "darkside" mass sewing is becoming a thing of the past and maybe even shows, for me, will too....we'll see.
The mice are chattering and the witches are

casting spells right and left and I even hear an argument about who is wearing the best hat, some things never change in this little band of misfits.  The pumpkin characters are new this year though they are from an older design I did nine years ago, an old codger name "Boo Trick'em".  I thought I would change him up a bit and add some

legs and that is how the new pumpkin-headed tribe began.  I must admit I am a bit partial to the white heads though, they just have a certain cuteness about them.  I scored a bunch of mini mache pumpkins a couple of years ago and they just fit in so nicely with this new design and

even with a few other funny characters.  Halloween is just so much fun! Dan and I love to travel and the trip down south to California is always one we look forward to.  We will see old friends and spend time with family and get to do an amazing Halloween show too.  "A Bewitching Feté" is different from

other shows I have done.  This one has a cast of artists like I have never seen...the assortment is brilliant.  There is oddities and curiosities dashed with a dose of childhood wonder and cuteness.  I think a bit of something for everyone.  Then you throw in a night of wine tasting and appetizers (Friday night) and you have "trick or treating" for adults!  We're really looking forward to this.  This will be our second year at this show and if it is as good as last year we will be more than pleased...I will be buying those cruise tickets I want LOL   I truly hope to see you at this wonderful Halloween event...for information go to: www.abewitchingfete.com

"This Month on PFATT"

This month on PFATT it is all about Halloween, in fact it is going to be all about Halloween from here on out.  Since my summer has been full of traveling and fun it is time for me to crack down and get to work since I do have a show in a month.  Before I know it "A Bewitching Feté" will be here and it would be very sad indeed to have nothing to bring. Witches of all sizes and colors are on the agenda this year and I

can't wait to get started.  Of course the forever popular mice will be there too but this year I hope to have something a bit different too.  You all will have to wait to see what it is but I must admit I'm excited to give it a whirl.  Be sure to check out the "Bewitching Feté" website, there is going to be so many incredible artists there, some I will be meeting for the first time and others I have known throughout my artful journey.  I can't wait!
Be sure to check out the PFATT marketplace this month.  Everyone is getting their Halloween groove on and the folk art is stellar!

IT"S CHRISTMAS!

It's Christmas in July on the PFATT Marketplace!  I had so much fun coming up with these funny new characters for this month....nothing like thinking about snow in the heat of summer!

This month it is all about the "mice" and of course Santa!  I love bottle brush trees and Santa always needs to have a tree loaded with presents and toys.  This piece is pretty good size and would look good sitting in the middle of a table and since it uses batteries you can light it up anywhere.  One of these days I will keep one of these for

myself.  

You can't have Christmas without at least one snowman or in this case, snow-mouse!  I almost kept this piece cause I truly love the whole snowman on the frame look...this is actually a wooden shadowbox.  I was

lucky to find a small rusty bucket, just perfect for his snowballs!

Many of you know that I LOVE re-purposing vintage/antique finds and with this piece it's an old pewter candlestick.  The candle is clay so it can't be lit but that doesn't stop this little mouse

from trying.  There is just something about red and green on a mouse that steals my heart but nothing says love like "purple"!  

Ever since I had a collector request a mouse clad in purple I have found I'm hooked with the color purple.  This little angel is standing on a purple pin cushion but she has a purple ruffled collar and lavender satin sleeves.  She is lighting the way with her candle and you know what they say about angels and bells...."every time a bell rings an angel gets her wings" well, it worked!  Lucy the angel has a nice pair of wings.  

I hope you will visit the PFATT Marketplace and see all the amazing Christmas folk art that is available for "Christmas in July"....  www.pfattmarketplace.com 

Look What's New.....

"It's June and Fun on the Marketplace"

As the weather starts to warm up my workroom starts buzzing with ideas.  Even though I'm "semi-"retired I still get to plan and design something fun every month for the PFATT Marketplace.  This month it's all kinds of silly starting with my "Worm" pin-keep!  I just love creating pin-keeps!  They're like creating a story in cloth!  This one is exactly what I'm talking about...it's a story

in a tin bucket, made of cloth and yet will be a great place to stick your straight pins. 
Next is another character I enjoy creating, my sleeping mouse.  I have three sizes of this mouse since I started designing it years and years ago.  This particular one is the largest of the group.  She is sound

asleep on top of her spell and potion book.  This piece turned out beautiful and I'm almost tempted to keep it LOL. 
About a month or so ago I finished a custom order of faerie mice, lots and lots of faerie mice.  I had so much fun filling that order that I decided to make another one for this month's Marketplace.  Meet "Marvel the Faerie".  I love purple and nothing makes a better faerie

than purple, right?  LOL  
This definitely is a month of mice cause here's yet another one for the PFATT Marketplace...this is a little "spice witch" named Gretchen!  There is such a collection of old spice cans around here that I just figured it was time to use them, perfect for this little lady.  
All in all I had fun this month creating, kinda like this semi-retired thing, no pressure and I create what I love.  I have been working on Halloween for my next show but I do what I can when I can and feel great about it and I leave time to do some traveling with Dan.  We have so many plans for this next year.  Don't forget to pay PFATT a visit, the artists have out done themselves this month.... www.pfattmarketplace.com 

Classes Start June 6th...Sign Up Now!

  Learn How to Make
   Your own PODD!
(Portly Original Designer Doll)

Meet "Hop-A-Long Bunny a tough hombre from the wild west!   Learn how to mix mediums to get his round body,  pudgy cheeks, floppy ears and fuzzy chaps.  This guy will become your new best friend and open the door to a whole new world of doll making.  How you wonder?  It's easy, just sign-up on "Artful Gathering" the best online tutorial

venue out there... The doors have opened for sign-ups and classes start June 6th. This will be my 3rd year as an instructor for "Artful Gathering" and each year it gets better and better.  They make this an outstanding event for one and all.  Please check out all the amazing classes being offered.  I'm even taking a couple myself.  
"Artful Gathering" is quite an experience not just for the student but also for the instructors.  I've made some wonderful lasting friendships from my classes.  Stop by for a visit: www.artfulgatheringevents.com

Welcome to My New Tutorial....

"Artful Gathering's New Season"

A new season of "Artful Gathering" starts today, May 1st, and this will be my 3rd year as an instructor.  This year will be extra special because I will be offering a workshop teaching how to make my very popular PODD doll.  The PODD's have been a staple of "Soft in the Head" for almost 15 years and only available as a finished piece, NOW for

the first time I'm offering it, not only as a pattern, but I will also show you all my secrets on how to create one of your own.   All the PODD's (which stands for PORTLY ORIGINAL DESIGNER DOLL) characters are made from the same basic body design and then you get to spin your magic to discover what creature lies inside by using clay, fabric, roving, wool felt and a whole bunch of odds and ends.  To get a good idea of what I'm

talking about visit: www.softinthehead-poddsville.blogspot.com and get to know all the residents there.  You will see that they all have the same body but that's where it ends.
This year in "Artful Gathering" the theme is the wild west.  The best way to introduce the wild west is with a cowboy, a cowboy bunny named "Hop-A-Long"!

There will be a kit available for those taking my class.  You will find it in my Etsy shop.  The kit will have all the fabrics you will need, which there is about six different ones and all the accents like buttons, hair, whiskers, lasso and feather. Hope to meet many new artists this year in my PODD class.  The workshops are always so much fun and it's exciting to see what everyone comes up with.  Love sharing all the pictures.  Come join the fun: www.artfulgatheringevents.com

The Changes of Life.....

"And Spring Begins"

As I stand outside and look through the old wood gate my mind begins to drift...Dan and I have been here going on our 3rd year.  Funny how life keeps changing around us but yet we still feel the same as we did many years ago.  I look in the mirror and wonder who that person is staring back at me, I just don't recognize her anymore.  The face looks

much wiser than I remember, a whole lot older but wiser.  The wrinkles are trying to take over but the smile that seems to dominate that face keeps those wrinkles at bay.  The quote from Abraham Lincoln comes to mind as I look at the reflection in the mirror "And in the end it is not the years in your life that count, it's the life in your years".....and Dan and I have had a lot of life!

Standing and looking out over this old gate it's easy to remember what everything will look like in just a few months.  Buds are already popping

out everywhere and the trees are starting to hang heavy with them.  The colors will be pouring out of flower boxes and pots plus the smells will be heavenly.  Right now it looks sad.... 

Spring is such an amazing time of year, it's the birth and beginning for just about everything.  As we

drive to town we see the new lambs and calves playing in the fields.  Garage sale signs are popping up everywhere as everyone gets into the "Spring Cleaning" mode.  The eagles are building their nest and soon we will have another bunch of eaglets forging for food and

diving into our pond after a tasty morsel.  The snow geese are everywhere right now and you can see them pairing off and

looking for possible nesting areas.  Country life is the best, even the smell from the local dairies don't seem to bother me.  
When spring is here you will find me in my humble little "porch" garden planting my sprigs of herbs and veggies and re-potting last years

geraniums.  It may be getting more difficult for me to get out and dig in the dirt to plant my garden so knowing that my neighbors down the road always have a well stocked vegetable stand is nice.  The bird feeders will get hung in front of the window to give Sammy and Issa something to fuss over and so I can enjoy the plethora of color that comes and goes and our squirrels will return to torment poor Sammy which is always fun....WELCOME SPRING we have missed you!