Prim and Proper Folks Update

It has been a long, long, LONG summer, hasn't it? It feels so good to be able to spend time in the studio again. It feels like I've been away for a year. I've been busy dusting things off and getting everything back in working order here. I LOVE Halloween and all the Halloween handmades that become available this time of year, don't you? I will have a couple of Halloween cuties to introduce you to in the next few days....no peeking!!



Just some quick updates...I am currently updating my website, so don't worry when you see that "This Site is Coming Soon" page, ok? I am hoping to have everything in order shortly. In the meantime, you can find my patterns on PatternMart and my one of a kind dollies are available in my Etsy Shop.

Wishing you many blessings...Susan

Gosh, I've missed you!

Wow...what a summer! It's been hotter than you-know-what in Hotlanta this summer! Life has gotten the better of me these past few weeks, but I'm happy to say I'm actually sitting in the studio writing this little update. :-) I've had such a hard time focusing on new dollie ideas...do you ever feel like you're in a creative slump? I might just be ready for something new...I don't know.

I had the chance to go out with an old friend, Pam, to see the movie The Proposal last week! Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds are so funny together. It is a 'typical' Sandra Bullock movie, so if you need a good belly-laugh, I highly recommend this one!

Pam and I go way back...we were pregnant together back in '88! Pam with her son, Dan and I was pregnant with the twins, Matthew and Patrick. We had a lot of laughs together going through our pregnancies during the heat of an Atlanta summer! We spent lots of time in the kiddie pool with our older children, that's for sure! Seeing my old friend inspired me to create this mixed media canvas....

Blessed with a friend....


I wanted to share some pictures from the Willow Workshop in Buffalo last month. (I know, I know...I am so far behind schedule these days...) Thank you so much to the ladies that participated! And a big THANK YOU to our Hostess-with-the Mostest, Jackie Hooper!!!!



Blessings to you, my friends...Susan

Beautiful Upstate New York

Hello from New York! I just wanted to write a quick note to tell you the Willow Workshop was a great success! We all had such a nice time and I made some wonderful new friends at the workshop. Thank you so much to my host, Jackie Hooper, for all of your hard work and warm welcome to the area! The ladies were great and so patient with me as I worked through my first workshop. I'll be sure to share some pics with you after I return home later this week. :-)

The Humble Arts Gallery updated last night with some wonderful new summertime offerings. I hope you'll be able to stop by and take a peek!! I finished up a sweet Goldilocks and the Three Bears to share with you and have added her pic to the column on the right. You can click her picture to visit her if you like!

I also finished up a very sweet Red Riding Hood dollie that I will be offering later this week. I'll be sure to let you know when she's available.

I brought both gals with me to the Workshop and they were a big hit!!! They almost didn't make it back into the car to ride home to Atlanta!! hee hee

I hope you are having a great week. I'll be sure and write again real soon....

Blessings...Susan

Headed to New York!!

I am so excited to be on my way today to New York!!! I will have very limited internet access while I am there, so I probably won't be posting again until I return. I will be sure to share some pics with you of all the fun at the Willow Workshop in Buffalo this weekend!!

I have finished two very sweet dollies this week...Goldilocks and the Three Bears (which will be available on the 1st at the Humble Arts Gallery and L'il Red Riding Hood will be available on my Website June 4th. I'm taking both with me to my class in Buffalo to share with my new friends.

Here is a sneak peek at Goldilocks



Wishing you a blessed week this week....Susan

Happy Memorial Day Weekend!!!

My family and I want to thank and honor those that gave their lives for the sake of our freedom! We will forever be in your debt for your sacrifice!!



I've been on a sort of 'hiatus' these past few weeks due to some health issues and it feels so good to be back creating again. I am getting back to my old self slowly but surely! I have missed chatting with everyone out here in blogland and hope to be able to get back into the swing of things on a regular basis now. Thank you so much for the kind and uplifting emails...you have helped me more than you know!

I am so excited to be going to New York to teach my first dollmaking class! I will be sharing the weekend with about 22 other ladies that also love to sew and create! We will be working from my Willow pattern below to create dollies and have some laughs together!! My parents live in the area also, so I am planning on spending some time with them while I'm up north and my dear sweet Mom will be going to the class with me. I'm really looking forward to this....I'll be sure to share some pics with you after I return to Atlanta!!



Have a blessed day today...Susan

Happy Easter

Wishing you the beautiful blessings of Easter!

The Easter Egg Parade and Golden Egg Hunt is ON!!

Morning all!!! The Prim and Whimsy Easter Egg Parade is well underway! Several of the PWGL artists have created beautiful Easter Eggs...some to sell, some just to share with you. Be sure to stop by the Prim and Whimsy Girls Blog to get the full instructions, but I'll give you a little hint...there are three SUPER FANTASTIC Easter Baskets filled to the brim with art supplies and crafting goodies that will be given away. Stop by and leave a comment telling us which egg is your favorite and you'll be entered for a chance to win one of the baskets. What a second chance to win? Well...there's a Golden Egg hidden on one of the PWGL blog/website that you will have to find. Find the Golden Egg and leave a comment on that blog/website and you'll be entered again!

Happy Thursday!

Morning! I'm playing around in the studio today, on this rainy day in Atlanta. Everything is really starting to 'green up' here in the South. I think our azaleas might be popping open this weekend if we get a little sunshine. I took these photos a couple of years ago when they were in full bloom. I love the look of the mix of light and dark pink against that bright green leaf, don't you? When we first bought our home, my husband and I moved a dozen leland cypress trees from this location and planted a dozen $1.00 azaleas bushes in their place. They couldn't have been more than 6" tall at the time and we wondered if they would even make it! They have filled in so nicely and really seem to like their sunny spot.Can you find the little honey bee in this one? See that little black hiney in the center of the photo? He's getting busy with his pollinating chores, isn't he? haha I look forward to seeing these pop every spring.

I've been having a lot of fun in the studio these days..I finished a sweet Peter Cottontail for The Humble Arts gallery update on the 1st AND I made a set of three Easter Eggs that I am offering on my websitefor the Prim and Whimsy Girls Easter Egg Hunt April 4-10th. There are some wonderful pieces being offered...I hope you'll be able to stop by and check it out!

I hope you have a wonderful day today...Susan

Here I go again!

Okay...I am not sure what happened to my well made plans of writing at least on a weekly basis, but here it is three weeks later and I am just now posting! Hmmmph...that just won't do, will it!?

My workspace is just a wreck and I believe that is why I am having such a hard time sitting down and writing here (okay...at least that's my excuse for today :-)). So...I have decided to give my computer workspace a makeover. I have a beautiful workspace pictured in my mind that would be more inviting and therefore (at least I hope) feel inspired to work here.

Here is my BEFORE picture:



Okay...it's not TERRIBLE, but it's no very inspiring either. If I could create my dream workspace I would have:

1. room for all my filing - no more crates and no more paper sorters on my desktop.

2. printer space - right now my big old ugly printer sits on a folding table - maybe an attractive filing cabinet (that rolls) would fit the bill and provide storage for my files at the same time! I like that - two birds with one stone - multifunctional is good, right?

3. attractive storage - okay...this goes along with the #2 - it has to look good and be functional. But also I would like some storage bins for the cubbies above the monitor. I could store lots of the little things on my desk without having to look at the clutter.

4. clean workspace - I have a glass top on my desktop, but with all the clutter, it's hard to keep it clean, so I think this might be part deaux of #3. Also, I'm thinking it might be nice to put a pretty fabric under the glass...maybe something to match the memory board? hmmmm...

5. comfortable chair - I would LOVE to have a functional, armless office chair. My old dining room chair needs to be retired or put to better use. Maybe I could even recover and paint it to use as chairs in hubby's office?

6. memory/memo board - I'm thinking about making a memory board for the back of the armoire/workspace. It would definitely be nicer to look at, but functional. I could post my daily to do list and maybe a picture or two of the fam?

7. Daily to do list - I've heard it takes 21 days to create a habit...I'm going to have to get into the habit of making a to do list, but I think there is a daily list of things that I would like to accomplish that never changes. This would be a good addition to the memory board, don't you think?

I'll take an after pic to share with you, ok? BUT, I would love to see pics of your computer space (if you would like to share with me)! email them to me at primandproper@bellsouth.net. I welcome any suggestions as I am feeling organizationally-challenged these days! haha

I wanted to share some great news with you...I have been accepted as a member of a wonderful group of artists...Prim and Whimsy Girls! Prim and Whimsy Girls can be found on Ebay by typing PWGL in your Ebay search bar, as well as on their website Prim and Whimsy Girls. There is always something fun happening with this group! I hope you'll be able to visit and I'll be sure to give you updates as I move forward with this talented group of artists!

Okay...I'm going to close for now, but I PROMISE to share more with you later this week!!! Wishing you many blessings today....Susan

New Offerings!

What a great week! I've had so much fun in the studio this week. It's time to unveil my latest offerings for the TDIPT Mercantile.

I hinted last post about some new dollies I have been working on this week...well, here they are: Sister Angels! Creating them really challenged me in new ways, first and foremost because of their size...they are only 12" tall. Those of you familiar with my work know that I work on a MUCH larger scale! haha Adding all the details to their dresses and wings and even their serene 'mask' faces was exciting and very rewarding in the end. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do! :-)



I thought it might be fun to mix and match fabrics from different collections, but with the same colors to tie them together and I got this explosion of Spring colors and Spring Queen was born! This sweet girl makes me smile and has been very good company this week in the studio. Being a Queen, well, don't you know she's very well behaved! :-)



I hope you'll get a chance to pop over to the Mercantile to take a peek at all the wonderful Spring offerings available. In celebration of our 2nd Anniversary, we are having a Birthday Bash complete with door prizes so be sure to enter to win, ok?

Have a wonderful evening...Susan