There is "BETTER THAN FOOD FOR COMFORT" indeed....

Whether I am feeling happy or whether my spirit is troubled "there is better than food for comfort"... indeed..

As I am trying so very hard and failing miserably to honor my dearest recently departed sister's last wishes for us not to cry and not to be sad but to celebrate her life instead, something that she said to me as my angel, cheerleader and major supporter and contributor all the way from my native country miles away resonated with me today.  

I am trying so very hard to honor her last wishes to not be sad and to not cry yet I am finding that particularly hard.  Yesterday I freaked out as it dawned on me that I could not pick up the phone to call her or ever hear her voice again... then I realized that her voice and memories are a part of me and I found strength in remembrance of her, and us and my family.

As I was feeling distraught and sad despite her wishes, I heard her words once spoken to me so clearly as though she was right beside me whispering in my ear "there is better than food for comfort" .... and there is indeed... bringing those words into remembrance inspired me ... I was determined to seek normal as I go through this mourning process and was determined to fill my day with all those things that bring me happiness and comfort that are "better than food for comfort",,.

I love making dolls with doll parts old or new/with real hair extensions wefted by me  and clothes either bought or made by me.  I love giving my dolls away as I NEVER sell my art or any of my crafts that are purely my hobby.  Today I filled part of my day with my favorite hobby that I will donate to the children's hospital because "there is better than food for comfort"....

I made a beautiful doll in red and white symbolizing LOVE...

then I made a doll with long dark hair ... which is my favorite style when I extend or weave my hair...

then I made a beautiful doll dressed in white and gold symbolizing peace and prosperity

then I made the most beautiful doll and plan to make several others like her that I will be donating 'in lieu of flowers' along with a love offering to the foundation for children with cancer and leukemia in Panamá..

I named this beautiful doll Mela ... my sister's nickname .. short for Carmela...

I had so much fun making my dolls for which I got 100% approval from my 3 beautiful little poodles that my spirit was lifted ... I found so much peace and happiness making these dolls to donate in her memory that when I was done I realized that there is "better than food for comfort" indeed....

My spirit lifted I snapped a picture with my poodles even...

because there is "better than food for comfort" .. this was fun and relaxing...

I have made dolls before .. during .. and after my WLS and will continue to do so ... 

My life changing experience with WLS has taught me that there is "better than food for comfort" ... when I am feeling sad or a bit down or whether I am feeling happy or whether I want to relax or whether I just want to have fun I will always remember my sister's Mela words "there is better than food for comfort" ... yes there is indeed...

I can paint my murals as I LOVE LOVE LOVE to paint with acrylics on canvas or walls or just 'gimme" a surface... any surface... some gesso and my brushes and my artist acrylic paints...

I would paint a mural in the harvest...

and take a progress picture in front of it...

I can gesso over my wall and paint a mural in the winter..

and track my before and after progress picture in front of it...

and now that I have moved into a rambling awesome big old house with a sprawling basement with concrete and rough walls I can occupy with my palette, artist acrylics paint, gesso and my brushes and paint my heart away of the roughest of surfaces on these raw wooden walls...

there is "better than food for comfort indeed" ... whether I sew or paint or even paint a canvas looking at the avie of my OH Friends like my painted canvas of Kirmy here...

and if all else fails .... I WILL HUG MY AWESOME TOY POODLES .. FOR NOW I HAVE THREE .. OR MY BEAUTIFUL FERRETS...

There IS "BETTER THAN FOOD FOR COMFORT" INDEED... the journey never ends and it is so worth it ... I am not going back to before ... I will use it to empower me today and tomorrow ... thank you María Carmela ... for your awesome words of wisdom ... I found comfort in my hobby and it was BETTER THAN FOOD FOR COMFORT! indeed... indeed... indeed...

Before was yesterday... 203 post lost for-always ... 6 years post RNY WLS on 2-5-07

I am not going back!

there is "better than food for comfort" ... whether I do my hair or paint a mural...

Thank you all for allowing me to share ... and to take up so much space but guess what... I wrote and purged my feelings and that too is better than food for comfort ...indeed!

wow....great inspiration...thanks and thumbs up

Thank you!

How do you do the dolls?  Do you have a mould, or do they come as a pack and you add hair, clothes, paint the eyes, etc.

The dolls are fun and easy ... I have no molds at all... just like when I sew my clothes I use no patterns ... I measure and cut or cut and measure...

The dolls are super easy and fun .. .the do not come in a pack at all ... I usually get a bunch of inexpensive commercial dolls ... all vinyl bodies ... I pull of the head ... I pull off the arms and legs and I throw the trunk piece away ... If I am going to make a dolls that would wear a short sleeved outfit I cut the arms a good 1/2 inch off from the shoulder ... if I am using long sleeves I cut the arms (special scissors to cut through the doll vinyl fabric) off below the elbow ... it cast out the extra pieces ... I do the same with the legs ... I cut them off at the knees or an inch above the knees .... it seems like you end up with a totally destroyed doll ... I rather buy dolls that are totally bald ... if not and I am bought a doll for restoration I just shave off all the hair ... 

I then take fabric ... usually calico that I buy in bulk either off white or brown or heavy cotton fabric.... I cut the fabric into the shape of a baby onesie ... I sew it leaving an opening in the rear ... I attach legs, arms and last head using nylon cable ties that I get at the hardware store ... there are a whole bunch of them in a bag ...and I use those to attach the doll parts...

Then I stuff... then I weave the usually human hair although I have used synthetic microfiber onto the head.... I save all the left over hair weft of hair (new) from my shop ... I don't throw them out .. it is like saving the end piece of a fabric that is left on a bolt ... and I have FUN FUN FUN... making dolls... there are no two that are alike because there is not a pattern... they are similar ... I have made them for years...

I share with you a collage I did a couple years ago... oh... and I love love love dressing bassinets too and a host of other things ... totally goofy and artsy fartsy... 

stuff with polyfill and get totally creative....

I also had the pleasure to paint a canvas and make a doll for an awesome departed OH Sista who was dear to many of our hearts our Red in Texas, Brenda R.I.P.

Wow, you're creative in ways that don't even cross my mind like with the doll recycling.  BTW cute hair in the pic with the red dress (long straight with bangs and few lighter strands).

You are an amazing lady Miss Marta, I'm sure Mela is smiling away right next to you! You are so very talented and the little ones receiving your dolls will be so excited!! You are such a blessing to all of us. What a treat to see our dear "Red" again! She was one of a kind!

 Thank YOU my beautiful sista!!!! The thought of Mela meeting up with Red made me laugh... Red was one of a kind indeed ... she spilled laugheter and merriment anytime she posted...

You are so talented and sending you hugs on your loss....

I am so sorry to hear the sad news of your sisters passing.  My thoughts are with you, I remember so well picking up the phone to call my mom only to realize she was gone.