Mystery Trip solved

I have never been on a bus so huge. You could see forever out of those windows. Our first stop was at Boutique & Quilters, Inc. outside Melbourne. They were so friendly and helpful with dolls everywhere. I was able to find a better hair for my dolls. I am taking a Patti Culea doll workshop this spring '08. They tried to get her but she was booked up in West Palm Beach – whoops!

Back on the road, we were always buzzing about where we were going next. . .looking at signs and the direction of the sun, trying to figure out where we were and where we were going :-) Such fun we had. I didn't have a chance to eat breakfast, so I was glad for the sliced apples, cheese and crackers on the bus. The movie (The King and I) I didn't watch, but did listen to intently, because I worked on my dolls. I got fingers & Toes sewed - the faces had been sculpted and made up prior to the trip. A sign said New Smyrna Beach. . . . .but we kept on driving the back roads, . .the back road was the only way to Deland. We had lunch downtown in an Old historic building. Lunch was OK. Their quilt shop. . .wasn't easy to shop. There were no prices anywhere. . . .they were friendly and had a lot of things.

Back on the road. . .I thought St. Augustine. . . . .everyone else thought west coast. Neither. . . .it was Mount Dora. What a quaint, old, family, friendly place. Amazing. They have a 'belt line' where all the fast food, Target, K-mart, etc. are located and our motel. We stayed in a Comfort Inn. How those have changed. . . .we had a refrigerator, microwave, hair dryer, coffee maker and iron!!!!! The beds were very comfortable. I'm use to sleeping in a water bed.

After dinner we looked at decorations through the town. The bus was big the town streets were small, but he didn't hit or break anything. Great driver. . .even the trees with their overhang drug the top of the bus, I wouldn't want to be him when his boss finds that out. . . .finally because the streets were blocked off, he let us out to walk downtown. Oh My Gosh. . .the decorations were so beautiful and awesome – like a wonderland of lights and sounds. . . . .the choir was singing and the big (real) trees were looped from top to bottom with lights. After the singing, we then walked on downtown where a band was playing. They were wrapping up, but gave their CD to everyone.

The next morning we had breakfast at the motel. . . .cereal with fruit, or eggs (boiled) or bagels, but I had a huge waffle in an amazing waffle cooker. . . After breakfast, we walked the dock on the lake to the gazebo. So peaceful and beautiful.

We went to My Quilting Friends quilt shop. That was a great shop. We had a lot of fun. The shop was in an old house and every room was filled with materials, patterns for projects and books. Then we went downtown for the rest of the day. We saw quaint shops and storekeepers were so friendly.

We ate at The Windsor Rose Old English Tea Room. The food was great, the atmosphere was magnificent and we were treated like royalty. After lunch, we walked down to Lake Dora. A very large Lake with it's own lighthouse at one end. We walked back uptown to the parade (the place is very hilly and I know it would be quite healthy living there). The parade went on forever. We shopped at antique stores, a yarn store, and a doggie food/accessory store before having homemade ice cream (there are 3 ice cream shops downtown).

Finally it was time to head back to the bus. . .there was an art show in the central building we voted for our favorite work of art – we don't know how it turned out though. It was such a fun time. We waited on a bench in the shade of the trees. The big old Victorian house across the street was the masonic lodge. Back on the bus. We got home around 7 p.m. POOPED!

Have a Great New Year

Mystery Quilt Trip

Hi,
I having something fun to look forward to the weekend after next. I have no idea where we are going but I know it won't be a far trip since it is only 2-days. I am looking forward to spending a fair amount of time with people who are like minded and fun to be around.

My office just moved closer to where I live so I will not have the long commute. I am on the 3rd floor in a hurricane proof building. I love to watch the clouds, see the water and look at the sky.

The grands are growing and are so fun and interesting. They love the new dolls. Feel free to go to the website (http://www.j30ad.org/jkwgalleries/artdolls.html) and look at all the dolls. I hope you had good holidays too.

Happy Christmas, Jan

IL vacation - 91 year old Daddy

Hi,
I went to see my 91 year old daddy. He is fit and trim and good to go. He loves waffles, getting out and about and walking 2-3 miles a day. I took him one of the aliens and he is loving it. The people I met at the residential center are in their late 80s and early 90s. They do not look or act that old. They are very precious people that I enjoy talking to and getting to know.

My sister and I stopped by a quilt shoppe and we could not walk out with nothing. More projects on the agenda for both of us. Starbucks was the perfect place to catch up with a loving renewal.

Normal IL is the home of Illinois State University, Steak & Shake and ME. It was 50 when I arrive, it warmed up and it was 48 when I left. Life is wonderful here in the sunshine state 80s . . .ahhh. Yes, I know Noel is out there and could come aboard, but we won't worry about that right this minute.

Thank you for visiting
Jan

A New Bébé

Hi,
The little Bébé turned into a very big girl. She has a pacifier looking thing in her mouth. She is made up of two different kinds of yarn-like material. She is really too young to tell me where she has come from, but she is so much fun to look at. She pulls the strings of my heart.

I have two more up on the website but not sure where I am going with them. I need to get back to the dolls. I have found the pictures of the house my husband and I built to utilize for the top of a crazy quilt memory block.

I missed the bus trip to Jacksonville to the quilt show. I was very disappointed. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed it. I was obligated to work those two days. I am looking forward to the next trip.

Thank you for looking at the newest creation.

Jan

New addition: Alien

I want to introduce my newest addition to the doll family. Alien is crochet. Notice that he put his nose on his chest!! He has a tuft of hair, I think he's try to be normal, whatever that is.

I did a show and tell with my doll (first picture posted) and the quilt group thought I should teach. However, she is my first doll and I want to become much more experienced before I try to teach dolls. I love trying everything before I settle on one.

The Jacksonville quilt show in Sept. should be quite fun since we stop on the way up and on the way back at quilt and antique shops. What fun.

Thank you for stopping by,
Jan

Introduction

Hi,

Welcome, please make your self at home and let me know if there is something you would like to know that I haven't thought of.

I have just begun making Art Dolls and the picture you see is my first experience. I had an Internet business for the past 6 years and closed it December 2006. My daughter and I offered jewelry, note cards, art (canvas and glass), and bead dolls. I still enjoy making the bead dolls. This has also inspired me to create ACEO cards with stories. I have a thread going about bulldogs meeting and dating. You can also see all of my work.

My wild Art Doll is cloth and learning to sculpt and make up her face has been the most difficult. She has been warmly received everywhere she has gone.

I have written for an ezine which is no longer available. I enjoyed the feedback from those articles. I have written a children's picture book and a political intrigue young adult novel.

As a genealogist I am interested in Crazy quilting with pictures of the past. I will be learning about this new craft.

I just joined a local quilt club. We are going on a bus trip to a quilt showing and on the way we will be stopping at antique shops and quilt shops. I look forward to being with people who love the same things I do.

I work full time but not in the art world. Being with like minded people have opened up a whole new world that I look forward to exploring.

Thank you for visiting. I look forward to hearing from you.