Unique Designs by Trudi

2011-09-22T20:07:00.000-07:00

Okay - I guess this is my night for posting.

During the spring of this year I entered the Hoffman Challenge with my doll "Underwater Friends" at the urging of my friend Stephanie Van Diest. She actually challenged me to do a doll while she made a quilt.

My doll won "Best First Time Entry" and will be traveling all year to different quilt festivals in the Hoffman Doll exhibit.

I will be entering again this year and trying to get some of the other members of Material Girls to enter with me.

Hangers for MG Christmas Swap

2011-09-22T19:59:00.000-07:00

I haven't been on my blog for quite a while now. Been working and doing some dolls, but not nearly enough!

I have been asked to make a sample of some doll dress hangers for our Christmas party swap. I have posted them to here so that everyone could see them, as not all are on Face Book.

Very easy to do with just colored jewelry wire a pair or linesman pliers and some forceps.

We will make these during our October meeting next month.

Welcome to 2010

2010-01-24T07:22:00.000-08:00

I'm a little bit late in this posting for the new year, but for everyone that knows me that is not unusal.

I'm still working at Tramontina, but have lost my co worker to California. Nadia moved back home to to be with her family but I already miss her. They are interviewing for two more people in our department to help, but have not found anyone yet. That means that I am by myself cept for my supervisor and the manager of the department. They can't hire too fast for me! Way too much work for one person...I am SWAMPED!

I will be going on two retreats this year. The first is for two days at the end of Feb - back to Rivendale Ranch. It is great there and we had a lot of fun last year. Should be the same this year. The second will be with NWPG for a weekend in April up to Laura's cabin in Somerville. I have not been there yet but have been on retreat with these girls before...relaxing and fun.
(both of which I can really use right now!)

Well, I am going to end this. Got Sticky Buns in the oven and have to finish making my son's jacket so will be busy today. Also have to decide what I am going to do for Valentines Day with the NWPG. That is our regular meeting day so will there will be a small Valentine exchange.
May have to run down to Joannes at some point. (Now that's a real burden - NOT! :0) )

Say HI! to Summer

2009-05-09T08:22:00.000-07:00

2009-05-09T07:15:00.000-07:00

Well, a couple of more changes for me this year!

I have changed jobs again and am now working at Tramontina USA, Inc. With the way the economy has been going I have gone back to my original carreer choice...customer service representative. This type of job will never go away and I can work at any company anywhere! Tramontina makes cookware here in the USA! Yep, right here in Houston and in Wisconsin. I don't think I ever paid much attention to instructions on how to use frying pans and such before when I bought them. Boy, have I learned a bunch....and you can actually cook DRY on a nonstick surface and it works! But on to bigger and better changes!

The best and I think the most exciting change is that I will as of May 16th, be the new "Nanny" of the Material Girls Doll Club. The Nanny is what would be referred to as the president of the club in most other circles. I really look forward to this position and hope I can do a great job.

The next change (I guess "event" would be a better word for it) will be my doll class being held the last weekend in August this summer. I am teaching my doll "Summer" that was just recently dedicated to Elaina, my friend from Romania. She gave me a Romanian painted duck egg that is painted the exact colors that Summer is dressed in - so, now Summer is holding the egg in her lap.

I am currently working on a secret sister doll for the Material Girls anniversary meeting next weekend. These are two tiny dolls about 6" in length that needed to go inside a cigar box measuring 5" x 9". I couldn't just stick them in there, so they have to have a theme too...Relaxing on an Autunm Day. I still have to finish the box and the tree so I'll post a picture after the meeting.

Thinking of starting back into my cat jackets at the local cat shows here in Houston but other than getting ready for the Houston Quilt Festival that just about wraps it up for me.

It's a new year! 2009

2009-01-10T16:15:00.000-08:00

It seems like forever since I've entered anything on here.

Lots of changes in my life this past year. I can now said that I've actually been thru a huricane (Ike), I've been laid off at my job and have changed my carreer after 24 years. Well, sort of changed my carreer. I am now working at a staffing agency for manufacturers (ResourceMFG). I really like it and have some new skills now, including payroll. But I am still working as a insurance agent. When my former job ended I contacted my old boss, Stephanie Branham. She suggested that we work together on the individual health products side of the business.

I have also attended my first show with TAODA (Texas Asso of Orginal Doll Artists) just before Christmas. It was a very good experience and one that I will follow up with in the future. This reminds me that I need to contact another chairperson that is in charge of Celebrations @ 2nd Baptist Church here in Katy. This is a juried show and very hard to get in to, so I'd better do that tomorrow!

I am now working 6 days a week and have no empty time to do anything. Hopefully that will change here within the next month or so and I can start making dolls again.

Well, I guess I had better start making dolls again, since I have one due in April for one of the Houston Quilt Festival sponsors for our doll club, The Material Girls. Just have to get the ol' brain working again in the imagination department. Forget those numbers for awhile and come up with a design for a new doll.

I also met a good friend of mine at Old Town Spring several weeks ago. Her mother from Romainia was out for Christmas and she wanted me to meet her. We had a really good time., but then I always have a good time when I met up with Cristiana. Her mother, Neita, is in her own right an Artist, though her skills are a bit different than mine. She is in the top 100 artists in Romania and has had a hand in lots of different types of art from theater to puppets to sculpture. She was so excited to actually see one of my dolls up close and absolutly speachless whe I gave her one of my mermaids for a Christmas present. It was a very emotional moment and I was glad I chose to present the gift before we went into lunch. Between the tears and the squeals we would have difinitely made a scene at the resturant. She has now left to go back home to Romania and will be missed but not forgotten.

Now I have a new doll to make using the two sand casted autumn leaves that Neita and Cristiana gave me while in Old Town Spring. I already have an idea in mind so I just have to get busy. One of them will be given back to Cristiana and the other I will keep as a rememberance of that special day. I will difenitely like to meet her mother again when she comes back out to Texas next year at Christmas time.

Well, that about wraps up my year and has me looking forward to spring and my friend, Robin's vacation out here in May. Don't know what we are going to do, but I'm sure it will be fun and full of running around Houston!

I got TAGGED by Angela!

2008-01-04T21:06:00.000-08:00

So, I need to post 4 things about me on my blog. Okay, I guess I will put down things that most people would NOT know about me.

I love to go camping. Can be in a trailer (my husband likes this way best LOL) or can be in a tent or roughing it all the way with just a backpack and sleeping bag! It's got to be in the woods though with water of some kind (creek, river or lake) near by.
I am a city girl by birth but would love to move to the country. Used to go on vacations to upper Idaho on my Grandma's Dairy Ranch. Loved it (not so much the Cow Pies, LOL) but everything else was great. Come to think about it, I really didn't go for the mountain lion screaming while I was hiking on their path either...have you EVER heard one of those??? Me? only once and that was enough! I don't think I would go so far as to have a farm, just a little cabin or A frame in the woods. But, it would definitely have to have DSL hook up. And cable or have a really good shopping area near by...nah - I can get everything that I need from the internet!!! Well, maybe when we retire or win the Lottery!
I hate to cook but love to make desserts! Anything with chocolate or that is really good and sweet. Can you tell I am a chocoholic? Oh yeah! Hey, have you tried the new Mint 3 Musketeer's they have out now? I have got to figure a way to put that in some type of dessert!
I guess the only other thing that I do all the time is my work. I am an insurance agent. I know, I know. If you would have told me 30 years ago that I would be in any type of insurance let alone Health, I would have said you were NUTS. But then again, if Ms. Marks knew I typed on a computer all day long she would have fainted away (I REALLY hated her Typing class in high school-frozen fingers during first class was a great excuse!). But back to the insurance thing...well, I have been in Life or Health insurance for over 20 years now and I really like it. I am mostly in the admin side of it, but it is really interesting. There is somthing new everyday - not the same old boring stuff!

Okay - this was a lot harder than I thought it would be! I almost ran out of things that most would not know about me from my blogg. Hummm. Now who can I tagg in return???

Well, bye till next time!

Nov to Jan - Happy New Year!

2008-01-04T20:28:00.000-08:00

Boy, have I had a busy two months. Of course, it's always like that for most people from Thanksgiving to Christmas.

I did my booth at the Cat Show mid Nov. which was in itself sort of a sucess. Only sold 3 jackets but got an order for 10 custom jackets for a cattery in Clebourn Tx. Sandi breeds sphinx kittens and needed an actual jacket so they would not get cold during the winter and summer (we just have to have air conditioning in Texas!). Hopefully these will fill her need for those little babies and provide me with a new outlet for cat jackets of a different type.

Had Thanksgiving and Christmas at our home this year. With work and gas prices, it is way to much to go to California for Thanksgiving or Christmas, but maybe next year. Very quiet but not much relaxing around our house.

I had 3 dolls to make before Christmas and one of those went into the TAODA "Flights of Fancy" show at the Houston Center for Contempory Crafts. I finally got "Sunday Afternoon Flight" done the day before she was due. Had a problem with her "friend's" body and could not find what I wanted to complete it. I will post a picture of her later...she is a Christmas present for Susan, so I don't want to blow the hold thing until I'm sure that she has seen it in the show. Susan was supposed to be there tonight (our opening reception) but I had to leave before she got there. All of the dolls in the show turned out great...the TAODA women who set up did a fantasic job over at the center. KUDO's to you all!

David took his kitties home on Christmas night. I sure miss those little girls but it was time. David said that I may get Ivy back though. Apparently she is afraid of Males. She was skittish to being with but I guess I cuddled her too much. They both have hit a growth spurt and are not so little anymore. Ivy is now 11 months old and Cleo 10 months. They are both in a small walking jacket and Ivy will be in a Medium before too long. Can't wait to get her back around here again. Cleo will be coming over on the weekends to visit along with her "new" friend - a little white chocolate point Siamese mix - he sure is cute. But then again I think ALL kitties are cute. Just call me crazy for cats!

Now that the holidays are over, maybe we can all get back to a normal pace around here again. I actually sat down and read some of my book that I started before Thanksgiving. Got more reading done in two nights that the whole two months before. :)

With that note, I will sign off for now. Everyone have a great and happy new year!

Houston Cat Show @ the Sheraton Hotel North

2007-11-13T17:37:00.001-08:00

Well, this weekend is it!

The Houston Cat Show and my booth with my Cat Walking Jackets. I put Ivy's jacket on her and took her picture but there was no way that I could get a picture of Cleo in her's. She wanted outside - doesn't matter if it's dark or not...out the door is where she wanted to go! Everytime I snapped the picture she was moving. Oh well, maybe later.

I've been working on the last minute details that you never think about till your first show is upon you. Mike mentioned a cash box with reciepts - oh yeah, I guess I need those, huh? I'm making a quilted banner (from the Cheetah Faux Fur that some of my jackets are made of) it's almost done and turning out really pretty cool. Have to finish the lettering and the sparkles on the kitty paw's and then I'm done.

I started getting butterfly's last night thinking about all that I have to do still and actually doing the show (my first). It should be fun though. Lots of sitting in the booth since there's only be me and my son or hubby there most of the time. Hum....I think I'd better put a pillow cushion in with my stuff for the fold up chairs! LOL

Hopefully this will kick off my business and make all this work thru the summer worthwhile. Everyone wish me luck! :)

Houston Quilt Festival is now done and gone till next year!

2007-11-07T17:19:00.000-08:00

I didn't really get to go as much as I wanted too, but I did go all day Sat from 9am to 5pm. Yeah, my feet and legs were really tired, but I really had fun. The first day is always about checking out the Material Girls Doll Exhibt and shopping!

I helped put up the doll exhibt but had to leave before it was totally done - so over to the display first. It was great this year. So many of the girls in our club did really great dolls. You know you've seen a really great doll when your jaw drops open and you say "how did she DO that???" I now have a couple of girls in our club that I will have to pick their brains for their technique.

Then on to shopping! I put a limit on the amount of money I could spend and immediately broke that limit before the first 4 hrs. I stayed mostly to ideas that I already had rolling around up there in my brain but didn't have the materials to complete. Got all of the stuff for my secret sister doll for Material Girls that is due on Dec 15th - oh, yeah...I am that far behind! :-) It's even worse - I have two more dolls that I have to finish before Christmas!!! Anyway, I found some other goodies that I would never have been able to find other than on the web, so I bought those too! Of course I had to go to Beyond Beadery - OMG, they have the most wonderfull selection of beads and Swarovski Crystals that I have ever seen anywhere. This is where I usually stock up on my bead and crystal "stash" for the year. I can buy from their web site but the sparkly eye candy when you walk down the asile toward their HUGE booth is to die for! There is no way that I can get by that booth without dumping a good portion of the money that I brought with me. But, I also plan on that too, so they are usually the first booth that I go to. Can you tell that I am a Swarovski nut? Then on to Treasure of the Gypsy - of course all of us Material Girls have to go there! She helps put on the doll exhibt and has the coolest, most beautifull silks and trims - she even has some that are made only for her from women in China (I think). To bad she doesn't have a web site that we can buy from....only at festival is she available to the buying public in Houston. If you've never been to her booth and you are "in to" fabric or trims, this is a MUST! You will drool over her stuff! :-) After Treasures I kind of just did the wander up and down each asile thing, got some yarn and fibers and just had a really good time. Good thing I took the Park and Ride down...I collapsed during the ride back on the bus.

Then back the next day (but only for 4 hrs) to see the quilts and take down the doll exhibt. All in all it was another great International Quilt Festival here in Houston. Can't wait for it to come back next year!

Spring Fling for the Houston Quilt Festival

2007-10-23T19:47:00.000-07:00

Well, I finished my doll for the Material Girls Doll Club entry in the Houston Quilt Festival a week ago. Spring is off shopping on her vacation in London. Spring Fling is my own pattern with everything handmade, even her jacket material is my own hand made fabric. I love to do the fabric this way...no one else will ever have anything made exactly the same way.

Houston Cat Show in November

2007-09-21T20:36:00.000-07:00

Oh, I almost forgot to mention this. I have recieved my confirmation that I will be in the Houston Cat Show on November 17th and 18th @ the Sheraton Hotel near Intercontinental Airport. I will be showing my cat jackets and can take custom orders for specialty fabrics. I will have some done up in Christmas fabric so that the kitties can be "dressed" for Christmas. This will be my first venture into the cat shows. Hopefully this will also be my springboard into the cat kingdom!

Cleo and Ivy

2007-09-21T20:19:00.000-07:00

I have just realized that I can put pictures of my own on my blog. These are my "grandkitties" that I have been taking care of for about 3 months now. We have jut had Cleo "fixed" Now we have to have Ivy done after she finishes her cycle! OMG I forgot how much of a pain cats in heat are. LOL! Appt is set and she will be done with this mess. Hopefully she will settle down once it is done. Poor baby - but GREAT for us! Okay, now when was David supposed to take these kitties home???? I will miss them when they are gone and I know my Me Meow will miss them.

Off and Running

2007-08-12T22:50:00.000-07:00

Okay, to begin with....I am brand new at this blogging stuff so really don't know what I am doing. I've been told that it's really just talking to people and I do that really well! LOL! I thought I'd start off just telling a little bit about who I am and what I like to do.

I've just recently started my own "retirement" business and changed from Associate member to an artist member of the Texas Association of Original Doll Artists (www.taoda.org)

I have worked with all kinds of crafts and have done all kinds of sewing, but the one thing that I like most is to make cloth dolls. Now, most of you would think of childrens dolls when the word "cloth doll" is used. These are not childrens dolls, but works of art and an outlet for my creative muse. I have been a member in the Material Girls Cloth Doll Club (www.materialgirlsdollclub.com) for about 4 years now and have learned alot of little tricks of the trade and am still learning stuff from the wonderfully talented women that make up this group. Alot of the Material Girls are also in TOADA so the artistic creativity between the two groups helps me branch out and try all kinds of interesting new concepts.

My second and newest creative outlet is making Cat Walking Jackets. I started this when my youngest son, David, bought two Bengal Kittlens. Now, if you have never seen them before they are the cutest kittens, but I am a cat person so any kitten is cute! They look like little leopards with their spots and stripes. One of the breeders that we met asked me if I would like to make the jackets and that started the ball rolling. I am signing up as a vendor for both the "Celebrations" @ 2nd Baptist Church here in Katy Tx and for the Houston Cat Show. Okay, can you say busy here? The month of November is already full as is December and I hope it only gets more busy. Good thing that my Christmas presents are already made cause I won't have any time to do anything else. The jackets are like a harness but made out of material with a ring of that a leash can attach to it. They are very fast to put on and take off...none of those buckles to do up while your cat is trying to get away. And the best thing about them is that they can be made out of most any material. Fleece, cotton print, Brocade, Leopard print and on and on. The possiblilities are unlimitied and that's what I like...endless prints and fabrics to play with.

Hopefully these two things will complete a turning point in my life. Well, that's what life is all about, right? Season to season and night to day and all of that...change!