The Hazards of Working at Home

Laurie Leigh wrote a genius blog article on the Hazards of Working at Home which I recommend any stay at home artist to read up on. 

I'd also like to add a couple of my own:
1. Talk to family members and gently make them understand that just because it looks like fun, doesn't mean it doesn't need to get done. Painting is still work and as much as you want to chat about their day/make them food because their own hands were clearly not working/come watch this thing on tv, it can wait until you're done or at a stopping point.

2. Routinely treat yourself to galleries, museums, botanical gardens, beach and even the mall outside of your local one for inspiration.  You'll feel better for the new air and the beautiful surroundings.

Now, back to work!

IFDC

This summer has flown by! I've spent most of it working on projects but was able to jet to Vegas this weekend to catch the last day of the International Fashion Doll Convention. On a whim I persuaded my mom to come with me and we spent the next 24 hours bonding like never before lol. I hadn't been to IFDC since the Ontario, CA one way back when but when Superdoll comes to town, you make the trip. 

I was hoping to get there Saturday in time to visit the salesroom as I was curious to see everyone's wares but we missed it by thatmuch. Instead we had lunch and people watched! The United States Pageant with Miss Teen and Jr Miss Teen was going on at the same time and the similarities between collectors/dolls and wranglers/contestants wasn't lost. Our dolls might be impossibly shaped but at least they're happy about it. Some of those poor girls...

Almost as fun as people watching was introducing my mom to our world of doll collecting. She'd never seen us en masse before and seeing a "straight" take it all in was as fascinating to me as it was for her to learn about it. I imagine coming in and seeing people dressed up in Wizard of Oz costumes with their matching dolls could take a little getting used to. To us it's just normal lol.

We spent the rest of the afternoon laughing with friends over drinks until it was time for the final dinner. Once everyone was fed and most of the presentations were over, mom and I snuck in to say hello to some collectors I knew were attending. It was great to put faces to names! We shared a chair at the "Superdoll table" (thanks, guys and gals!) and applauded winners of costume contests, treasure hunts and more. After dinner was a room party which went til the early hours with even more laughter. I don't know that we even discussed dolls much and I would have loved to have picked everyone's brains to get their thoughts but it was just as fun to hear about what they liked outside of our shared interest.

I don't collect 12" dolls any more but I thought the convention dolls were perfect for the event. The two witches were my favorites with Dorothy trailing but I think it's safe to say there was something for everyone. The paper dolls might have been my favorite of all. I love the way Integrity supports this convention.

There were so many people I didn't get to meet who I really would have liked to but hopefully there's next year. With the Tonner convention being held in Chicago or the east coast and the Integrity one so hard to get into, IFDC is a good substitute for those on the west coast who use opportunities like these to not only see product in person but also to meet up with long time friends. With vendors like Angelic Dreamz and Superdoll attending, I'd like to see more 16" collectors there next year and maybe even a Tonner sponsored event.

In any case it was just what the doctor ordered! I returned happy and recharged, ready to hit the next round of painting and grateful for the time I got to spend with my mom and my friends :)

Yummy Treat

My new favorite meal is a piece of salmon with steamed veggies. Pacific Shores sells individually packaged perfectly portioned pieces and this week they're on sale at Albertson's 10 for $10! At 120 calories approx. per piece, you're looking at a 150 calorie lunch/dinner. I like to broil mine with olive oil, lemon juice, salt and pepper and make 3 or 4 at a time so I'm not tempted to reach for junk when I get hungry. 

Brilliant

This gem was found on Facebook. I'm reposting it here for those of you who don't have an account. 

I did not write this.

-------------------------

Important enough to repost

A lot has been said about how to prevent rape.

Women should learn self-defense. Women should lock themselves in their houses after dark. Women shouldn't have long hair and women shouldn't wear short skirts. Women shouldn't leave drinks unattended. Fuck, they shouldn't dare to get drunk at all.

Instead of that bullshit, how about:

If a woman is drunk, don't rape her.

If a woman is walking alone at night, don't rape her.

If a women is drugged and unconscious, don't rape her.

If a woman is wearing a short skirt, don't rape her.

If a woman is jogging in a park at 5 am, don't rape her.

If a woman looks like your ex-girlfriend you're still hung up on, don't rape her.

If a woman is asleep in her bed, don't rape her.

If a woman is asleep in your bed, don't rape her.

If a woman is doing her laundry, don't rape her.

If a woman is in a coma, don't rape her.

If a woman changes her mind in the middle of or about a particular activity, don't rape her.

If a woman has repeatedly refused a certain activity, don't rape her.

If a woman is not yet a woman, but a child, don't rape her.

If your girlfriend or wife is not in the mood, don't rape her.

If your step-daughter is watching tv, don't rape her.

If you break into a house and find a woman there, don't rape her.

If your friend thinks it's okay to rape someone, tell him it's not, and that he's not your friend.

If your "friend" tells you he raped someone, report him to the police.

If your frat-brother or another guy at the party tells you there's an unconscious woman upstairs and It's your turn, don't rape her, call the police and tell the guy he's a rapist.

Tell your sons, god-sons, nephews, grandsons, sons of friends it's not okay to rape someone.

Don't tell your women friends how to be safe and avoid rape.

Don't imply that she could have avoided it if she'd only done/not done x.

Don't imply that it's in any way her fault.

Don't let silence imply agreement when someone tells you he "got some" with the drunk girl.

Don't perpetuate a culture that tells you that you have no control over or responsibility for your actions. You can, too, help yourself.

If you agree, repost it. It's that important.