Hello Again! (Facebook Page- Meghan's Attic post)

I t has been quite a while since I have posted here. I am learning that posted as a page and posting 'as myself' feel quite a lot different. Not sure how to do this :). Trial runs all the way! Try #2! I also discovered that while I am quite capable of making my weekly goal of 7 stuffed animals a week, even more, I apparently wear down after doing it so many wees in a row. Learning how I work, this is so good! I am about ready to share some more projects and products, my latest projects have been more personal, not really sell-able, I have been changing the size of clothes too big on me and modest-ifying to my liking other clothes. Such a great project. I have to take this time that I am so willing to get this done, because if left for later... A familiar story? Clothes are more intimidating to me, creating and fixing them does not click in the same way that stuffed animals do. I get confused about the sizes, patterns, measurements, endless styles!!! Stuffed animals, while they have the same words, size, pattern, measurement, style, I am able to see it in my head and just put it together and modify it as I go! I rarely use a drawn out pattern, because a simply personally done sketch will work just fine- though usually I only draw it so I can go back to it later! My ease is in being able to feel the shape of my art- stuffed animals, sculpted with clay, candle wax and soap- these all work. 'Flatter' art like clothes, drawing (especially drawing! agh!), wire sculpting/twisting, bead work- these are foggier arts.
-Meghan

Day One!

Not many words today, but I wanted to share what I am doing. Today is the day that I finally edited and shared pictures of my work, so I am up and working for myself officially now! Like my page on Facebook, email me if you are interested in purchasing, and continue top follow this blog! Thanks everyone for your support!

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Join Me- Five Penguins

This week I decided to do what I did last week, make mostly one kind of animal all week. Last week I did fish, this week I decided to make penguins. I have made several tiny penguins before, like Christmas ornament size. I decided to try something new. Huge. Squeezable, loveable and huggle. I double checked with that first one with the shoulder bag ;). All of my animals have titles of sorts. The first one is "Huge and chubby", and also "bed-worthy". Meaning he is perfect for cuddling with while you try to sleep. 

I wanted to share part of my process with you. I decided to make all of the shapes at once, I do not always do that. Last night I had a goal to stuff all of the penguins before I went to bed. Originally that meant, "stuffed, sewed closed and all sewn together, all done", but I was tired and decided to translate it differently. "All body pieces are full of the right amount of cotton and it is spread around in the right way, they just need to be sewn shut and so on". So I stuffed them, then safety pinned all of the correct pieces to the body. 

"Huge and Chubby" above looked like he needed something, so I added the bow, he still needed something, so I made the bag. I still think he 'needs something', but I won't add anymore, it probably could have been solved by giving him only a tophat. Oh well :). 

I really like how all of these are turning out. It was fun to experiment with doing like 10X(+) the original size. Now rather than decoration they can be friends and toys. -Meghan

Meghan's Cave...

I have had some trouble choosing a name for this fun business/goal of mine. For years I have been stuck on 'Meghan's Garage'. 1. It was the first name I discovered I was fine with including my own name in. Normally I do not (did not) like that idea. 2. When I think of 'garage' I do not think of the place using for storing your cars, I thought of all the houses I have walked by with their open garages, and people working in them, creating in them. So I loved that idea, because that is what I would be doing.

As I became more comfortable through time with my abilities and the idea of actually getting started, I came to a recent time in this history. I was talking to my parents about the name and my mom suggested 'Meghan's Attic' rather than garage. I guess most people think of cars when they think of garages... I thought her new name was an excellent idea. Then I started trying to use it... I started making a facebook page, and talking to my friends about working for myself. And I started to fall out of love with 'Attic'. I took votes, had brief discussions about it, and NO ONE chose 'Garage' (silly car thing!), everyone either chose 'Attic' or suggested a whole new name all together, which was sweet, but not what I wanted.

I do not make my creations in a garage or an attic. I make them locked away in my bedroom, nicknamed 'Meghan's Cave' by my family. I look at all of my fabrics and come to be in a mood for a specific animal or a specific pattern, then I grab everything and spread it all around my bed, shoving my blankets to one end. Then I create.

When I think of garage I think of people storing their cars and closing that door after they pull in, meaning, if I am walking by at that time, if they pull into the garage and not the driveway, I cannot say hi, because they immediately separated themselves. So I do not like garages for cars. but them I think of how people create in them, some people even live in them. When I think of attic I think of 'cozy'. A place to store old memories, and for new people to discover these and learn about wonderful people. What I am doing with these precious animals is creating new memories. Point scored for 'Attic'. But I also think of 'hiding away'. Well, in my 'cave' that is basically what I am doing. But I do not think of 'creating', I think of 'created', I think of 'experiences and places and activities and people'. 'Attic' covers all of that, but does all of that cover what I am doing? 'Cave' certainly does not :).

My 'cave' is where I do it all though, and 'Attic' is similar enough to cave, in 'hiding away from people', and I would much rather work in an attic than a cave. In fact, I could very happily make that my place for people to come to me and talk with me and buy from me. A very pleasing store- if I were to have my store attached to my house, which, by working by word of mouth and online, is where it is right now.

My goal is to get to know more people through this. To make this my 'responsibilities' and my 'job', and then be more balanced and help me progress in personal and family goals. I am finding ways to get out of the house more, though I have no transportation (the reason why I am locked in my room), and so balance is coming. I am loving this. I am working for myself, using my own creative mind, doing the things I want to do, and it is working out!