My surgery is over...and am healing fine!

Hello everyone,
I had my gall bladder surgery this last Wednesday. It was over and done and within 3 hours of the surgery I was on my way home to sleep and recover!
It is three days now and I am able to eat foods with flavor (and fat) again! Yay!! I am also healing well and not as sore as I have been the past two days...I have been ordering supplies to finish my new line of large ball joint dolls and I am looking forward to returning to my studio soon to work on them...I think I may even venture up there today and clean some!!
Thank you to all my sweet friends for your well wishes and prayers...I am truely touched!!
I can't wait now to get back to work...I have all kinds of ideas rolling around in my head! Stay tuned...new WIP pics soon to come!!--Kori

Back from Chicago!!

Well, I am back from Chicago and what a wonderful trip I had! I have been so looking forward to it...and it was better than I had imagined it would be! I am now officially an ODACA artist and my show went so well...I SOLD OUT! ...all but 3 miniature pieces sold...Marie Therese sold within the first 10 minutes of the show being open and I also took custom orders for other dolls "like" her (same coloring and similar historical time period)...I also sold "Alice"...but I will be replacing her head for the collector, as I had planned to do when I returned. (it was a quick head done when I was in alot of pain--so she had a "pained" expression) My first two large ball joint gofun dolls are also already spoken for! I have a waiting list for the dolls after the first two!! So, it was far and above what I had expected! I enjoyed my time I spent with my new friend Flo Hanover (my roomate at ODACA)...we became close friends in our two days!
I have to say the ODACA members are the most generous and giving group of talented artists...I had so much fun with them and I am honored to be a member! I din't get alot of pictures like I had intended, I really was so busy I barely had time to visit the other artist's tables. Our show ended at 5 and I was able to make it to the NIADA show...it was a thrill for me to finally meet Ankie Daanen, Marlene Verhelst, Annie Wahl and Donna May Robinson (picture 4 here). Beautiful work at this show as well, although I was disappointed there were not more artists present.
An added entertainment bonus was that they were filming Transformers 3 right beneath our hotel and we had a bird's eye view of the filming! I was sitting in my hotel room window everyday watching the process as they continued to use the street set, they had set up over and over in different configurations at what looks like will be several scenes in the film! I managed to take more pictures of this than the actula shows!! (first snapshots)
My gall bladder which has been giving me trouble for three years and steady trouble for the last few weeks managed to hang through with me for the duration of the show (although I had to remain on my no-fat diet the whole time in Chicago!) Upon arriving home I have either been in the clinic, ER or in tests at the clinic...my surgery is now scheduled for this next Wednesday morning...I am looking forward to being pain free and back in my studio working!! A special tahnk you to Loretta Polaski of IADR for the picture of me at the show...I wouldn't of had one myself!!--Thanks Loretta!!

I will be out of commission for about a week here as I recover from my surgery...I am looking forward to getting back to work!!--Kori

On my way to ODACA convention!!

Good day everyone!! Well, I am finished making my dolls and packing to go to the ODACA convention! This is the third and final leg of the membership process. I will find out at the convention if I make it into ODACA as a member. This final phase is the interview and critique. The ODACA convention is being held in Chicago at the Hyatt Regency Hotel across the street from the Swisse Hotel where the NIADA convention is being held. If you have a chance please come to visit the ODACA show on Sunday!
About Alice, I have decided to take her to the show, but I won't be using her in my critique...I didn't like at all the way her face turned out...I think all the stress and working that day when I was ill...came out in the pained expression on her face. I have decided when I return from the ODACA show, I am going to pop off her head and make a whole brand new one...this time I will not be rushed and will have the time to sculpt a beautiful head. Then I will be pleased with her...So....OFF WITH HER HEAD! lol!! I still have several accessories to make for her as well. She was my first BJD and I want to be proud of her and right now I am NOT.
Well, I am taking my camera and plan on having lots of pictures of the show when I return. --Kori

Alice...has got her "muchness"...

Good morning everyone!! Well, Alice is almost finished now...all she needs are her shoes! I managed to take one quick snapshot before my camera battery died. It was late and the lighting in my bedroom was terrible...but anyway I thought you all might like to see how she is coming along. She is still missing a small friend that she will have with her at the ODACA show...which is not finished yet. But, I really need to move along... better pictures of "Alice" will come along later in the week!
I am feeling a little better lately although I still am very uncomfortable in the evenings from my gall bladder...I have a follow-up appointment with my doctor this Wednesday and he will let me know if I am still able to attend the ODACA show or not...cross your fingers (a prayer would help too! ;-) ) Thank you to all my friends and well-wishers...your sweet comments and encouragement have helped me stay focused and driven to finish this last week.
Well...I still have two pairs of shoes to finish (one are Alice's)...and a whole new sculpt to finish, as well as some costume touch ups....before I leave on friday. So I best be getting back to it!! ...till later--Kori

Ball Joint Doll is almost done now...

I have been working tirelessly on my new ball-joint doll. It has turned out to be alot more work than I bargained for. I re-made the torso twice...I now plan on re-sculpting one of the hands...I don't like the finger positions on it. But, other than that...all I have left is to sculpt the feet. After that the "proof" of all my efforts...stringing the doll. I will only show her when she is finally 100% complete.
I am gearing up for the ODACA show...and with the amount of time this doll has taken me, it has put me behind of where I need to be. I will next make the civil war era child and hopefully I will still have some time to sculpt some minatures to take to the show. Well, I am off now up to my studio...until later!

New project...just a hint at what it might be!

Spring is finally here and I am "spring" cleaning the studio!!

Hello and Happy spring everyone!!

I have been very busy since I returned from my vacation down south... I got some fun new supplies while vacationing...nice old pieces of facric and laces! I have been going through my studio and cleaning and organizing. I must confess I am somewhat of a pack-rat! As I am sure most artists will admit to! ;-) I have quite a few things that I have decided to purge and pass on to others who might need or want...I will put the supplies on Etsy or Ebay (not sure which items will be sold where)...but I have some great instructional videos and DVD's... books, and of course many destash items to pass on to some one else who might find them inspirational! I will post the links here as well as on my FB pages.

I am happy to report that my new ball-joint doll is coming along nicely...and I will soon have new wip pics to show!! I am still working out the bugs in the joints...but hope to have my doll done soon. The countdown to Chicago is ticking loudly in my ear and I have to finish two new dolls before July as well as more ne ones to fill up my booth!! ...Nothing like a deadline to kick my butt into gear!!! lol! Happy Spring and Happy Sculpting everyone!!--Kori