A new beginning 12/28/2010
The importance of simplicity: I love simplicity but it is difficult for me to keep things simple...Not sure why. My brain is complicated and after so many years I know that…but the practice of remembering it is more difficult than I ever knew it would be. I guess I thought that simple meant “easy”. That is not really true. It seems that [what I know] is easy because it is long lived and practiced…but there is nothing easy about what I know or what I have known my entire life. When I actually go back to see where the patterns came from or how they emerged I am brought back to my mother and father. That was a long time ago! My mother was the consummate multi-tasker. After all if you had five children and a husband that was not around during the week [only on weekends for bowling and drinks with friends] you’d learn to multi-task too. I guess I am like my mother; I can and usually do way more than one thing at a time. I’d like to focus on one thing at a time; I imagine that to be very Zen-like and peaceful. BUT for now, I am pleased to be having this dialog, even with myself, about simplicity. I know the practice is long and right now this is all I’ve got to give.
Peace is my goal. I want and love to be good at what I do/or am doing. I always want to best my last performance whatever it is I do. That for me has been my personal challenge throughout my lifetime. That has been ok with me up to now; I am tired and want to love the moments, one at a time. I want to embrace that instance that I do the dishes or walk outside to get something from the car. I want to look up and love seeing the mountains with fresh snow and feel the crisp air on my cheeks. I want to pet a dog and be in that moment…feeling the fur and warm loving feeling from my beloved pet. Right now, it seems that I do ten things instead of one and there is no rest…not even at night when I am in bed needing to sleep to regenerate so I can do this again.
My practice for the past decade has been to be independent and productive, to teach others how to be productive and self motivated; to pay attention to the strengths they posses and put order into their lives so that they can live the life they want and create. It seems that I have forgotten the main or key points to this kind of work; keep it simple, work from your strengths; be present and pay attention. So today, I say thank you and begin again.
It's that time of the year!
Signing off for now,
Feeling good about getting my energy back. I've had friends showing up all over since my return and it has been very exciting and energizing. Today has been a good reminder of the many wonders in my life; I am grateful.
For my friends and family....the one person image-wise I missed sharing with you yesterday was my new friend, Mary. Here she is in full regalia, smiling and feeling the "Heidi-vibe". She really helped me laugh and enjoy the week on my feet in Louisville along with Charlotte, Heidi, Benny, Catherine, David, Gary, and of course my sisters!!! I can feel the Louisville trip becoming a distant memory but for the people I met who worked their way into my heart!
and Mary and Charlotte who are not in my pictures:(
Here is a shot of the "Paper Preview".........don't even know what that is; probably because I did not have a very formal wedding with all the trimmings. BUT, I am very happy to have been a part of this beautiful affair! Seriously, how great and idea is giving fans as a gift to all guests at an outdoor summer wedding celebration!!! I was thrilled when they sent me this photo. It is beautiful and obviously the fans will be appreciated during the hot hours in the afternoon dancing and feasting........in celebration of this most wonderful event!
It is a rare occasion that I get to see where my work ends up! This is one of the wonderful ways a piece of mine is being used. Isn't she amazing? I am grateful for having had the opportunity to create this especially for a fabulous photographer who had an idea. To do what I love to do and to collaborate with other artists is amazing and such a great feeling.
Yes...........this is my sister, my "older" sister. When she is not hiding and hugging dollies she is a therapist, a play therapist specializing childhood issues including trauma. She is quite well known and respected in the field of child therapy and teaches parents how to work with their children so that there is consistency and a smoother transition for the child from her office/playroom back home! Cindy is the recipient of the Louise Guerney award this year. It is a great honor and accomplishment to be recognized in your field for your work! Congratulations Sis! Now take off your mask! Oh, by the way, she is the one in the green:)
This is Dolly.......the original PlayPal! I made Dolly 21 years ago for my daughter the year before we moved to Colorado from Pennsylvania; I made one for my son too. My idea was to have a friend to keep them company since we were traveling in tandem.......three vehicles. The kids were little, 7 and 4 years old. It was a big change going from a neighborhood to the middle of "no where". It was such a change that the "little friend" would give them someone to hug on the journey.
These are the beginning of a fairly large collection she has in her playroom in Carlisle, PA. Cindy is owner operator of The Beech Street Program. She is quite an accomplished play therapist, family therapist, and filial trainer. She recently won the Guerney Award! A big honor which was given to her this month in Indiana, PA at the Pennsylvania Play Therapy Association yearly conference. This is what Cin has to say about PlayPals. 
This group of dolls was created for the 2001 a National Association for Play Therapy Conference held in Portland Oregon [I think, I've done a few of these conferences]. It was great fun and one of PlayPals and my first introductions to the public other than a call here and there from one therapist who had seen those dolls in Cindy's playroom.
This is Dr. Charles Schaefer who is a well known and respected authority on play therapy. He has written many books and trained huge numbers of people in the field. I met Dr. S at one of the international play therapy conferences and he gave me permission to use this photo. He was very happy with the dollies way back when. I am anxious for him to see the newer dolls this year in October at the 2010 International Association of Play Therapy Conference in Kentucky. This picture was taken, I believe in 2001 and this will be 9 years.................."Thanks Dr. S for your support!"
This little guy is now 16 and has tucked his dolls in a safe place for his children........one day. They stood up to lots of love, hugs, and tosses!
Then and now........it's been a long fun ride. In the past 15 years, I have created 734 dolls including the dolls I have begun creating for the upcoming conference; there will be more, you can count on that! I have sold 697. My hope is that every therapist has at least one doll and every child who finds themselves alone in a bed waiting for mom and dad to finish speaking with the doctor, has a doll beside them. I love making them, I hope you love seeing them and I wish you would all want to have one just because you want to give a hug!
Maggie on the move from LA to Portland & the next good thing!
but life goes on and so begins the move to her new life in the northwest.
What the heck is a Dalle? I should have paid more attention in geology class so I could understand a little bit about the amazing terrain in my own country. The natural regional differences in this country are huge and I have to say I have never [to date] seen anything such as this........along the Columbia river. 
Nice, eh?
Not only am I grateful for the assistance..........but had I not painted parasols for your wedding, I wouldn't have known how much fun I could have! Give your bride a huge hug from me!
OR you have a shop and as Summer approaches you ponder the "window-redo"........how will you attract buyers and display your wares?
What's your color? You choose and I'll create a parasol just for you!
Making connections" to me means making a difference.............this is why I make my little dollies! No kidding, this is the icing on the cake! I spent a few hours with the Social Worker, Donna, and my dolls........ meeting some of the Juniper Village family and walked away with tears in my eyes and joy in my heart.
Social Worker, Donna and Juniper Village Director, Jill Weinger suggested the dolls be smaller than larger. It makes perfect sense that the dolls for elders [in care centers] be smaller, to hold and cuddle. The larger dolls children use as companions in play therapy or the larger doll becomes an adult who the child sees as a relationship needing work. Children seem to be drawn to larger dolls more "their size"; the larger doll is like having a peer beside you and the smaller doll suggests care needed...............so size does matter! At least with these dolls.
This is Dawn. She's a therapist who recently purchased the two dolls you see with her on the sofa. She gave me permission to show you this picture of her and the dolls and where they now live! Read what she has to say:
This is a question I hear a lot. Here are the reasons and when you know the reasons you may ask, "Why don't you charge more?" I've said more than once, that it takes me 3 1/2 to 4 hours to make each doll. The materials per doll cost on average about $15 give or take a little, sometimes up to $20. I really make an effort to keep the cost down. I make each body part one at a time, put it all together; create the face, fingers, toes, hair, and personality. I live 30 miles out of town so getting supplies takes time. I am actually pretty good with time economy so I do lots of things on one trip; pick up the stuffing, the clothes, etc. Then I wash all the clothes since they are clothes that actual children have worn. The face and the hair take the most time, each process can take up to an hour. After creating all the limbs loosely, I work on the head. I create the actual face first so I can "get to know" each doll. That then, determines what he/she will be wearing. It is time to fine-tune the limbs so I work on one arm then the other, etc. until I am able to assemble all the parts and Voila........a dolly. It is then that I begin working on the hair do which can be quite challenging and much of the hair choice [as with any person] is determined by the personality or attitude! Which is why I chose the guy in the corner to represent the dolls for this conversation! Can you hear him explaining this to you? He cracks me up!
So..................there you have it. As an artist I know that I will never be paid realistically by time alone, but I love creating ........ so I do. What's really funny is.......I am really fast and I have been making them for so long that I have the time down to the bare bones. I like to keep each doll different with personality so the child or adult can choose the one that speaks to them. Big, small, it doesn't seem to matter unless the doll is life size, the adult life size:) That doll is more expensive -
