Saturday, October 20, 2012

Boy, Oh Boy how life can change in a minute.

This month is a month I would like to have completely pasted if I could.  On the last Sunday of September, I found my husband, John, on the floor at 7:30am.  He was in the chair when I left the room and when I came back a few minutes later he was on the floor.  He wanted me to help him up but I could see right away that he had had a stroke.  I immediately called 911 and the paramedics were here within 5 minutes.  The fire station is only a little over a mile from our house.  They took him to the hospital right away and at this time John could still speak and answer questions.  

I got myself dressed and then went to the hospital, a mile and a half down the road.  I got there and signed him in before I even got to see him.  I then was able to go back to the ER and he just wanted some thing as he had a big headache he said.  He was hooked up to a bunch of monitors and I said they not going to give you anything right now.  The doctor came in and said they had done a CAT scan and he did have a stroke and would I like him to get the shot they give to stroke patients because he was in the window to be able to have it.  I said yes.  This drug (expensive) is a super blood thinner which is giving in an IV.  First a super shot and then an hour of drip.  As he was having the drip he was getting further and further out of it.  Couldn't talk and throwing his arms around.  I had to hold his arm down and talk to him so he would lay still.  The nurse and doctor kept checking him and they wanted to do another CAT scan because he was worse than when he came in.  So off they took him.  When they brought him back and while we waited for a room in ICU they told me that his brain didn't have a bleed. It took another hour or more to get a room for him.

He got in the room and I was able after a bit to go see him.  Very little movement in the whole left side and he was pretty much out of it.  He tried to talk but he really couldn't.  They told me I might as well leave and go have something to eat as by this time it was after lunch time.  I came back in the afternoon and there still was very little change so I only stayed long enough to talk to the nurses on duty.

Monday he was some better and you could understand part of what he said and he could move his arms and legs.  I visited in the morning and again in the afternoon then for the next 8 days in ICU.

Each day he got a little better.  I finally got to bring him home on the 8th of October.  He is quite weak on the left side and can't do things like put a shirt on or button it or tie shoes.  Couldn't pull the zipper on his pants so we went and bought he some sweat pants.  He can do pretty much any thing else by himself.  He does have problems with a fork or spoon because he is left handed and the left hand doesn't always cooperate.

He is still facing surgery on the artery in his neck as it is 90% blocked and it needs to be cleaned out.  He still has some swelling on the brain or they would have done the surgery right away so now we think that may be the middle to end of November.

He still has a lot of confusion, especially as the day goes on.  He can't always get out what he wants to say either.  He is taking a bunch of pills every day.  

We now have a visiting nurse once a week and physical therapy will be started this week.

I am so thankful for our wonderful kids.  Our daughter was here the day after John came home from the hospital and she was a wonderful help.  To me mentally because I really needed someone to talk tooShe left on this past Tuesday and so we have been by ourselves most of this week and will be all this next week before our youngest son will be coming to live with us.    

So right now we are going through a lot of changes and John is not really pleased with them all but there is nothing else we can do.  I don't think John really understands just how sick he still is and that the surgery is not going to make things back to the old way.  During all the CAT scans, (3), and the MRI, they found that he has had three strokes.  Two old minor ones and then this massive one.

With all of this going on, I have not done any work on dolls or doll clothes.  I really want to get back to doing that and with the holiday season coming up, I need to get the stuff out there or I will completely miss all the good sales I normally would have during this season.     Lucky I didn't have any shows scheduled because I would not have been able to do any of them anyway.

I did get a chance to update and reduce some of the things I have on my website so I hope you will all go take a look and see if there is any thing that you might like.  I have so much that is not on my website and that was one of my goals for this fall to get pictures of everything and get it on the website.  Don't think I will get it done now.  Website:  http://www.ejcrafts.com

We are living day by day and hope the next day will be better.  I have to thank all my friends, relatives and all the other people who have sent prayers and positive thoughts for us.  They sure have helped us get this far.

    

Thursday, May 31, 2012

A quick update on the coats and hats.

I have completed two more coats and hats.  These are for the large dolls.  The coat will fit dolls from 26 inches to 32 inches.  These are both a wool blend, burgundy in color and lined with a burgundy satin.  The hat matches and is in a pillbox style. 

The first coat I did with a long very soft white faux fur and the second one I wanted a more vintage look so it was made with a leopard print shorter fur.  I remember seeing this type of coat on ladies when I was growing up.  I have designed all the coats myself and do take custom orders for any of the coats that I have posted.  The coats on here are all listed on my website if you want to go check them out.


















The coats are both shown on dolls from the 1970's  They are both Eegee walking dolls.  The first is a 32 inch doll and the second a 31 inch doll.

I hope you enjoy looking at the coats and hats and that you will check out my website at http://www.ejcrafts.com and look at all the coats, hats, sweaters and jackets that I have made.  It is never to early to order for fall and winter as I probably will not be able to get many more of them made for general sales because of custom orders.


Friday, May 25, 2012

More coats and other things

Well I worked on some different type of coats.  These coats have raglan sleeves so that will fit different size dolls plus I rolled under the fur on the cuffs so that can even be let out for a taller doll.  I am showing these on 20 inch dolls.



















The one on the left is a grey with brown and black plaid strips and a dark tan faux fur and the one on the right is a hunter green suede like cloth with a beige and rust colored faux fur.  They are both fully lined in a heavy off white satin.

I have also been crocheting again and have make a few sweatera and hats for the dolls.  This sweater is a pink and lavender with buttons to match and there is also a hat not shown.





Then I made and dressed a 25 inch baby doll in a satin brocade outfit, satin baby shoes and trimmed all with pink ribbon.  For her I also made a pink and white sweater and hat to match.  She is a large baby and sits in a child's rocker.



 So now you can see what all I have been working on the last couple of weeks.
I sure am enjoying back crocheting which I haven't been able to do for a while.



 








Monday, May 7, 2012

Coats and More coats

I think I may have skipped right over April.  I have been very busy with making doll clothes for my regular customers and now that is done for a couple of weeks, I can breathe for a while so I started something new.

I have designed coats for dolls.  These are for 18 inch through 27 inch dolls.  I have a lot of faux furs left over from my bear making days so I thought how can I use some of it up and so it is being made into coats for dolls. So here are the 3 coats I have made so far.

 
















So seeing that these were fairly easy to make and I did line them all just like a regular coat, I thought how about some fleece jackets.  Here are the fleece jackets then.






I ran out of fleece so then what was left to make coats out of.....cloth of course.  This past week then I made 2 heavy linen coats. 





Do you think I will stop at these coats?  I don't think so although today I did go back and make an outfit for one of the tote full of dolls that need clothes. 

You will have to check back because I ordered so rabbit like faux fur which should be here tomorrow.  I want to see what I can do with that.  I know I should not order fur but my husband says, do it because these should look great.  I just hope with all these different coats, that they will start to sell.  Only time will tell I guess.

Have a great day!

Monday, March 26, 2012

Getting ready for a show this weekend............

Today has been busy as I needed to get a doll outfit made.  I had this doll for over a year and I just didn't like the outfit I had made back then.  I found this fabric a couple of weeks ago and I knew then what doll I wanted to use with this fabric.  So today was the only day that I had any time at all to get it made up.  

This is a 30 inch walking doll made by Eegee.  Year not sure but probably in the 50's or 60's.  She walks perfect but being made of hard plastic, she has a crack on the body part of the shoulder.  She has pretty green eyes and she really needed an outfit to match the eyes.

 Now isn't she just the picture of spring?  Tomorrow if I have a few extra minutes, I would like to make a drawstring purse out of the same fabric.

I really have to get all my dolls and doll furniture ready for the 3 day show this weekend and I still have so much more to do.  The show is at the AVI Casino & Resort in Laughlin,NV starting on Friday.  The good thing it is in the convention center and we will be able to set up on Thursday.  This will be the first time that I have two spaces for the show.  I have so many dolls that I am going to keep my prices really low.  Nothing over $30.  A lot of them at $10 and $15 so I am hoping that anyone in the area will come and see me and find that perfect doll to take home.

 

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

How about some doll furniture....

I found this doll size desk/chair at the thrift store the other day and I thought it was so cute and  reminded me of the chairs that I used in high school.  I don't know if they still use this type of chair or not.  I always had problems with these chairs because I am left handed and these were all set up for right handed people.

The chair was super dirty when I got it so it must have been used a lot.  I know it would fit a toddler so maybe that was who used it.  Your wonder sometimes where has this chair been and who used it.  It would be great to hear of the history of the chair. 

I cleaned it up with some wood cleaner and because it was pretty scuffed up, I use a little stain on it the same that the chair original was done it.  It took all the marked off and I think it almost looks new.

Now this is the next neat piece of furniture that I found.  Also at a thrift store.  It was not in too bad of shape.  The top rocks and with a little wood cleaning and some oil it came out really nice.  I have added a cushion in the bottom, a doll and a quilted blanket that I made and I really like it.

This is a picture I took from the top so that you can see what I did on the inside.  I sell these all separate or with a doll and blanket of chose.

Just thought I would show you a couple of the things I have been picking up.  My hubby and I do a lot of scouting for doll furniture and for dolls and we both really enjoy the hunt.  It is always so much fun to found something a little different from the modern plastic stuff you can buy in the store.

Of course, we also have some of the plastic doll beds, strollers and carriers so we do have a large variety of things to show to all the customers.  We only have one show yet to do this spring and that is in two weeks at the AVI Casino and Resort in Laughlin, NV.  After that all that I have left will go on my website and some will go on eBay.  It is too hot here in the summer for shows so the internet is my only way to sell.  Then I will do a couple of fall shows but don't know the schedule yet on those.  I don't plan too far ahead as I don't know how my health or my hubby's health will be.  We are just taking it one day, one week at a time.

Enjoy the pictures and post a comment.  I always like to hear what others think.


Friday, March 9, 2012

Time for my dolls

Here I am posting again and it feels good to be able to get to posting.  We have had a busy week and today was no exception.  We decided that we would go looking for some small porcelain heads for a wonderful friend in Canada.  We didn't have much luck with that project.  We live in a small town and there is not much to choose from but we needed the adventure out.  On our way down to the only hobby store in the area we stopped at the Goodwill and found another doll.  A cute little Precious Moments birthday doll.  She is for November but is missing the November sign.  She is dressed in the nicest turquoise dress and feather wings and has feathers and a bow in her hair.  We also found a wooden doll size desk chair.  I didn't get all cleaned up today but will get to it tomorrow.

It was then on to the hobby store which was a bust but you never know what you will find so we left there and went down to Home Depot to look at sheet vinyl for our kitchen.  We found some and one of these days we will get it and have it installed.  I did buy a house plant while we were there.  A pretty lavender and white double African Violet.  We started back up the road (we only have one main road through town) and stopped at the Salvation Army thrift store.  We have stopped there before but usually can't find anything.  Today I found three dolls and a brand new package of 8 crochet hooks.  You can never have too much crochet hooks and I have a problem when I want a size hook and can't find the right one in the house.  You know that thing where you put something away for safe keeping but never remember where that spot is.  After that it was on to the third thrift store where we came away empty.  Just up the road from that store is Joann's Fabric so we went there to look for porcelain heads and boy they were way overpriced but I did find some beautiful soft yarn on sale so bought that to make a doll blanket.  After all the stop and go from store to store we were tired and hungry so we came home to have some lunch.

I then cleaned dolls and washed some of the clothing.  Started on cleaning up the desk chair and ran out of steam so played on the computer for a while.

Oh!  I did start the doll blanket tonight and it is going to be so soft and pretty.

So here is one of the dolls I picked up today.  She has been cleaned up and I really didn't know the marking on her neck so I asked some Facebook friends and they know who so was.  A Eric Krozer doll out of Germany.  A vintage doll from the 70's and in good condition with all the original clothing.

 So now it is almost bed time again but I thought maybe you would like to see one more of the dolls I got earlier in the week.  This is a Cititoy, 2007 baby.  She runs on batteries and so much fun to see her crawl across the floor.  She moves her head back and forth while laughing and then she fall from her hands to her arms and cries and gets back up on her hands and keeps right on crawling.  She was without clothing when I got her plus it took almost a full day to be able to open her to put new batteries in her.  Had to soak the screw in WD40 before I could loosen it, but once the new batteries were in her, she took off.  I have put a little pink outfit on her but I think I am going to change it to a diaper and short shirt because then you can see her legs move.  This way you can't.  I just love the expression on her face.  I only buy dolls that I could love and would want in my collection.  Of course, I can't keep everything so almost every thing I buy then clean and dress, will be for sale.

 So good night now and I hope everyone has a safe and wonderful weekend.

Tomorrow is another crafting day.  First we will celebrate my husband John's birthday by going to the casino so he can do his favorite thing, play blackjack.































Monday, March 5, 2012

Where has the time gone???

It has been months since I was able to get to my blog again.  I hope that I will be able to keep it up now.  Since the first of the year a lot has happened that kept me away from writing.  I having even been able to do much with finding and redoing the dolls.  Now that is sad as I really love working with the dolls.

First I was sick, starting last November and it pretty much ran through the end of January.  Then on top of this my hubby gets a lump on his forehead which was a squamous cell carcinoma.  A very aggressive and fast growing cancer.  After the biopsy and two surgeries, we hope it is now gone.  The final surgery was just last week and he has a lot of stitches in his head.  He will have to see the dermatologist every three months for the next year to make sure it doesn't come back.  This is because it grew so fast and was so large. 

His brother was no so lucky five years ago (he didn't go to the doctor right away) with one on the side of his head and ended up with multiple surgeries plus radiation which ended up doing more damage.  If you haven't seen a dermatologist  within this last year DO IT NOW and be checked.  This lump my hubby had only appeared in late December and we were at the doctor's office the first week of January and it grew that fast.  Don't take for granted it is just a pimple because it may not be.

I did an antique show in February and did quite well and I have a art and craft show scheduled for the last weekend of March.  Two very different types of shows but a lot of the stuff I had for the antique show can be shown at the craft show plus all the stuff I made that couldn't be shown at the antique show.

I did get a few dresses made for my regular doll clothing customers for Valentines day and I am working on the Easter dresses now.  I wanted to get them done earlier but all the health problems and the running from doctor to doctor just didn't give me time to do it.

Here is the one outfit I made for a 22 inch doll.  The doll is mine and I bought this doll new only because it is the exact same size as the doll I have to make the outfit for.

She hasn't seen the outfit yet as I just mailed it today.  It has a purple under dress  in cotton with a lavender over dress in a organza fabric all trimmed with lavender lace and silver ribbon.

I do have a few dolls that I have picked up over the last couple of weeks that need cleaning and clothing made but they will probably have to wait until the next show is over.  We still have one doctor appointment this week plus lab tests and 3 next week.  It is bad when you have to have multiple doctors because each has a different specialty.  What ever happened to the old fashion doctor who could treat everything?

I have more dolls to show everyone so I hope that I can get on here more often and show you some of the dolls that I have been working on.

Take care and have a good week.

Sunday, January 1, 2012

Happy New Year to all my wonderful friends.

Another year has passed with some good parts and some bad parts.  I think all years are like that.  It would be nice if a year went along and nothing bad happened but that is not life.  There will always be bad parts but there is no need and we should not want to dwell on the bad.  It is best for our health both physically and mentally to think of only the good.

What this year will bring, I don't know but I personally look forward to some great craft shows and one antique show.  Plus I look for more sales both on my website and on eBay.  I know a lot of people don't like eBay but it has been very good to me over the holiday shopping season.  Yes, I am not fond of paying them but then I stop and think.....if I was doing a show, I would have to pack everything, drive to a venue, unpack and sit there and hope people liked what I had and after the show, reverse the process.  Then there is usually hotel fees, food, gas and the show fees.  What is the better deal?  I say, for me anyway, eBay.  I can sit at my computer, upload the info and picture, and then watch as the people bid on it.  So the fees that eBay gets, to me, are justified.  Yes I still like to do a couple of shows a year and these are local shows so I am home every night, because I still like to get the feedback of people.  Plus I love to talk to people about dolls and anything else that happens to come up.

 So this year, if my health holds out, I will do a few shows and keep every thing going on the computer.  The computer keeps me in touch with the world and I learn something new about every day.  I think it keeps me feeling young.  Between FaceBook and several craft forums I am on, I have gained so many wonderful friends.  We may never meet but if we ever did, it would be like meeting an old friend we haven't seen in a while.  I cherish everyone who I have met on the internet.  What would we do without the internet?  LOL

 So here is hoping everyone has a tremendous 2012.