Mystic Street Musings: Dolls, rug hooking and needlepoint

Dreaming of warm days............Enjoy the colors!

2012-02-09T19:36:00.000-08:00

Going thru my old pics of Thea, I came across these taken in the yard last summer---after months of grey and white and drab, the colors just filled my eyes and heart!

Thea is a Yogi Secretdoll Baby Fairy. The "company" that makes her is really just a one woman business--she sculpts the dolls, pours them in resin, and then assembles each one herself. They are beautiful tiny pieces of art. Ball jointed, completely posable, Thea is 4 inches of pure atrocious, incorrigible attitude. With her dumpling cheeks and pouty face, I refer to her often as my little Grumpling. She is completely spoiled, to the tune of countless pairs of shoes, boots, dresses, bonnets--and she even has toys of her own. She also just aquired the tiniest teapot, cup and saucer ever, complete with the teeny tray of treats--from her Angel Godmom, Deborah, whom she went to visit in Virginia. ( I highly suspect she charmed this set away from poor, unsuspecting Deborah, all the while letting Deborah think it was HER idea to give such a wonderful gift. ) Now home from her trip, she has set her heart on new spring dresses, which she doesn't NEED, but of course she will get them, just as soon as her doting mama gets out her sewing and crochet stuff.

And don't be fooled by the picture below where she is hugging my thumb--it is actually ME who is wrapped around HER little finger!

Still Here!

2012-02-09T16:25:00.001-08:00

Taking a break from hooking, my shoulder was bothering me....

Thea came home from her journey, and I gave her a new faceup and wig. I am SO happy to have her home! Waiting for a sewing pattern I ordered for her.

Nothing else new--Feb is going fast, but March is my most dreaded month because the weather is so volitale. We can have tulips one day and three feet of snow the next.

Music

2012-01-31T10:19:00.000-08:00

I LOVE music, I almost always have a CD playing. I found this new CD, and want to share it. You can hear samples here;

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0053V0JYI/ref=docs-os-doi_0

The singer is Jackie Evancho. Be sure to look at the video farther down the page. This voice is coming from an 11 year old girl! She has been blessed with an incomparable gift. Enjoy!

Good Start

2012-01-20T10:52:00.001-08:00

Not a LOT done--and now I see I need to fix my letters. I want them more prim looking, not so formal, so I will make some of them smaller and not so straight. Something to fix over the weekend!

Starting a new project

2012-01-17T11:07:00.001-08:00

A super simple design I drew up a couple years ago so I could showcase the twilight sky colors and the warmth of home. 16" by a bit over 5 feet long--(I couldn't get the whole thing in one picture!)--but not so daunting as it seems, I am using an 8 cut because I want this to be very primitive. Starting this today!

Inspiration--new project

2012-01-16T07:44:00.001-08:00

The twilight sky over the river bluff---my favorite time of evening, the bare branches in silhouette against the sky, which is all soft purples and peaches. Day is over, Wade is home, and the house always feels so much warmer at this time of day. Even driving up the road, the lights from the house cast a warm yellow glow on the snow, and the house is so inviting. This is my inspiration for my next hooked piece.

Gloria's portrait is finished

2012-01-15T12:17:00.001-08:00

I really enjoyed working on this, and the rose was fun to do! Now I need to get her dressed and take her pic with the portrait--maybe tomorrow. Break time!!

Happy Birthday--to me!

2012-01-12T15:42:00.000-08:00

Turning 60 didn't feel any different than turning 50 or 40-----I really have never felt that I was any particular age, although there are days when my Fibro or Lupus kicks up, and then I feel like I must be over 100.

But 60--a good, solid number for a good, solid Irish woman. I can't complain!

Slowly slowly

2012-01-08T11:04:00.001-08:00

My ear infection is SLOWLY getting better---I am anxious to go back to working on Gloria's portrait. But I found the Hitty rug, nearly finished--just needed a bit of hooking, and now I have to finish the edges. Sadly, I am not into Hitty now, but this is really so pretty--and BIG (24" by 46") I put it on Ebay--if it doesn't sell, that's ok--I will probably hang it up.

Still here!

2012-01-06T10:45:00.001-08:00

A raging ear infection has really thrown me off kilter--my ear drops have not started to work yet, so I am off balance and not able to get much done. Plus my camera battery died--have to get a new one, and I am not about to go driving! All in all, things could be worse!!!

Gloria, Wednesday

2011-12-28T07:55:00.001-08:00

I searched everywhere to find the right green shades for her suit and bonnet--an almost emerald green, with a TINY touch of blue. I couldn't find anything even close! So finally I settled on some teal shades which are working ok.

Gloria!

2011-12-26T11:35:00.000-08:00

Still need to work on the mouth--why am I having trouble with mouths???? But the hardest part is done.

Violet is most proud today......

2011-12-21T15:07:00.001-08:00

Violet dons her silk travel suit to pose with her newly finished portrait! ( I think she was blushing just a bit more than usual. )

On the Home Stretch

2011-12-20T11:41:00.001-08:00

The hooking is nearly done! Then I need a couple days to finish the edges, and do the dimensional violets in the corner. I was going to make them proddy, but changed my mind--I cut them out of various shades of violet wools, and will hold them on with french knots for the centers. Maybe a couple dimensional leaves, too--not sure yet!

Violet--Wednesday

2011-12-14T11:14:00.001-08:00

I could't have gotten this far without my wonderful new lamp!!

Violet--Monday

2011-12-12T16:41:00.000-08:00

Tore out the purple ruffle, NOW I am happy. But still need to work on her mouth.

New Day........

2011-12-12T07:56:00.000-08:00

Sometimes, looking at something with fresh eyes shows you where things are not right. I realized I cannot leave that purple ruffle around Violets face--it detracts from the rest. It somehow interrupts the flow of all the other colors. I originally decided to make it purple instead of brown, to bring some of the violets colors in that I am going to use in the nosegay. After much thought, I realized that when I do Gloria's portrait, the rose I am planning to put on HER frame will not have any similar colors in the main piece. So this is OK. Looks like today will be a "tear out and re-hook" day--AFTER all the household chores. I'd better get busy!

Violet--Sunday

2011-12-11T13:39:00.000-08:00

Time to stop for the day, I am going crosseyed from the stripes! I know I have to re-do her mouth, it's not right, but that is also for another day.

New Hooks!

2011-12-11T08:21:00.001-08:00

Got these beautiful rug hooks this past week!! They are hand made by a 74 year old man, and he does great work! If any rug hookers are interested in purchasing one, leave a message for me and I will send you the info.

Also--Thought for the day. Deanne Fitzpatrick is a famous rug hooker, and she has such a wonderful outlook on life. I saw this--and I could not have said it better!

"As a grown woman, no longer a girl, no where near it in fact, I think that I see more clearly the beauty that comes with age.

I don’t find it easy on tiring days to see the grey dull my hair, but on a good day I think,” that grey kinda shimmers”. It is so much about perspective and your own personal vision. I think of who I was as a young woman, and can’t hardly recognize what I thought and felt. Though essentially the same person as I am now, I feel quite differently about alot of things. I know alot now that I did not know then.

No doubt there a lightness of being and a youthfulness that I miss, and wonder where it went. But I know that it has been a trade, for the sense of self that I have now has chipped away at that girl.

When I look at myself it seems that every decade there have been remarkable changes. I haven’t made an effort. It is just that the self naturally reinvents itself as we leave old roles and embark on new ones.

What we know, our inner wisdom, comes at a price, and that price is the lines on our face.

Beauty is clearer to me now then it ever was. I see it all around me, in people of all ages. I look more closely at people. I see more lines but I know the value of them in a way that I did not at twenty."

~~~~~~Deanne Fitzpatrick

Violet--Saturday

2011-12-10T11:29:00.001-08:00

Amazing how much you can get done once you have the right colors! I did take artistic license with the ruffle around her face, which is actually cocoa brown--because I want to use violets on the frame, I needed to bring those colors into the main piece so the nosegay doesn't just sit there and look unrelated to the rest. So I used my "violets" colors for the ruffle. It' s fun to hook with real colors--most of my pieces are more primitive colors, somewhat faded looking. Nothing faded about Violet!

Thought for the day

2011-12-09T07:28:00.000-08:00

I will not die an unlived life.
I will not live in fear of falling or catching fire.
I choose to inhabit my days,
to allow my living to open me,
to make me less afraid, more accessible;
to loosen my heart until it becomes a wing,
a torch,
a promise.
I choose to risk my significance,
to live so that which came to me as seed
goes to the next as blossom,
and that which came to me as blossom,
goes on as fruit.

--Dawna Markova

Friends Over the Years

2011-12-05T18:31:00.001-08:00

We started out as a Hitty group--I met Betty online, and Betty introduced me to Maureen and Sue; Sue introduced us to Karen and Zoe. Many many years have gone by! That's me in the middle in the cream shirt--on my right is Maureen, behind her is Karen, then Betty--my rug hooking mentor!!--and Sue, and last but not least sweet Zoe. We used to have Hitty parties almost every month--now we just get together when we can. This was today at our Christmas party. Here's to many more fun times together, ladies!!

Change of View--a word about lamps

2011-12-04T12:43:00.001-08:00

So the past weeks I have been struggling with the dark, cloudy days of early winter. The overcast skies make it very hard for me to work on anything, as the colors all just look wrong. Everything takes on the shade of mud. In the past, I have looked at the Ott lamps that are in the craft stores--very expensive, and I never felt they were bright enough to work by--but lately, I have become so desperate that I started considering them again. They are like natural daylight, and that is what I need to be able to see all the subtle graduations of colors that are so necessary to my work.

Now Ott lamps run between 50 and 200 dollars, depending on if you want a desk lamp or a floor lamp. Their bulbs are 18W.

Today, my wonderful hubby went off to Menards for our usual bird food run (they eat more than we do). He came home with a big box, which he left on the kitchen table. My gentle, quiet man is not much one for fanfare. When I wandered out to get a cup of coffee, I saw "Full Spectrum Floor Lamp" on the box--well, forGET the coffee, I couldn't get the box open fast enough! Then, of course, hubby had to come back and assemble it for me--and let me tell you, I now have sunshine on a cloudy day. High noon at midnight. This amazing floor lamp is 27W of pure light--way stronger than an Ott lamp. And folks--TWENTY DOLLARS. I would not believe this if I wasn't seeing it for myself. A 20 dollar lamp that works better than a 200 dollar one--

I sat down and tore out everything I had put in on Violets hooked portrait except her eyes. The colors were bad. I then re-hooked the torn out areas, and did even more than I had done previously. The picture above was taken with only the new lamp for light--no flash on the camera. I am SO happy!!

Thanks Wade--you are the bestest hubby in the world!!!!

Tired of Waiting...(and more needlepoint)

2011-12-03T08:46:00.000-08:00

More pics of past pieces I have stitched--

and I got some other wools in the mail yesterday, so I am going to change my mind and use these for Violet's portrait--since I have no idea when the replacement colors will arrive. It is supposed to snow today--a perfect day to be home and do some hooking! Hopefully tomorrow I can post some progress pics.

YAY, My Wools came--and.....and......

2011-12-02T08:27:00.000-08:00

She sent the wrong colors. ( Guess which impatient lady is not a happy camper.................)

So I will post a pic of past needlepoint--"King of Hearts", 36" by 36".

Violet times 2!

2011-11-30T09:53:00.001-08:00

Violet in needlepoint--and ready to hook. WHEN my wools get here--- (stamps foot impatiently...........)

Patience may be a virtue--but I don't have it!

2011-11-29T20:11:00.000-08:00

LONG before Betty introduced me to rug hooking, I was a needlepointer. Probably 25 years or more, this was the only craft I did. No one taught me to do it--I learned by making many mistakes. Finally came the day when I realized that I really was doing incredible things with this craft--not to sound immodest, but I really did excel in this. The wizard is a tapestry adapted from a poster. It is 24" by 36". I made this as a gift to a very dear, special man in my life--who tragically died in a car crash several years ago. Per his request, his wife returned this piece to me. I have not been able to hang it up yet, because it makes me sad to see it. Maybe I will hang it up someday, but--not yet.

So where is this going? I have been waiting most impatiently for the wools to arrive so I can start hooking Violet's portrait. Now it looks like they will not be here until Friday, even though I bought them almost two weeks ago. I was getting cranky, waiting for them--when I want to do something, I want to do it NOW. Once an idea is in my head, there is no stopping it. So as I was drifting off to sleep last Tuesday evening, I thought to myself, "For heavens sake, I could have done her portrait in needlepoint, I already HAVE all the materials here!" The next morning, I woke up, made coffee, and halfway thru my first cup I realized that I really, REALLY wanted to see my girls portraits done in needlepoint. Even though I have not needlepointed in maybe 15 years--the idea was in my head. Once it's there, it's going to happen.

So I went up to my craft room--yes, the one I cleaned so many times lately--and tore it apart. I dug out blank canvas of all sizes, my Persian wools--huge bags of them, I must have 300 pounds of wool needlepoint yarns. It took a whole day to choose colors. Instead of painting a canvas of Violet, I just sketched the outlines from the same pattern I am using for the hooked piece. I started work on it the evening before Thanksgiving, and took it to my daughters on Thursday and worked on it after dinner, as we all sat around and chatted.

I had forgotten how much slower needlepoint is, compared to rug hooking. But I am really enjoying working on this, mostly in the evenings. It will probably take all winter to finish, but that's ok. I will do Gloria's pic in needlepoint next. Yes, I will still hook their pictures too--why not? Too dark now to take any pics, but I will post my needlepoint progress here tomorrow.

So impatience can be a bad thing--or a good thing--depending on what you do with it!

Thanksgiving Week

2011-11-21T07:45:00.000-08:00

A busy week for many of us! I know that this holiday has changed a lot since I was a child--I remember being "shooed" out of mom's way a million times as she baked and set the table for our huge family. Thanksgiving USED to mean something--it was truly a time to be thankful for our families, and all we had. Thankful that we could all be together and share the day.

Sadly, Thanksgiving has become merely a door into Christmas--and not even the RIGHT door! Thanksgiving is merely "something to get through" so you can race to the stores and spend spend spend. Gifts for All! Gifts no one really needs. I hate what the retailers have done to Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Our family is different than most. Several years ago, we sat down and decided what these holidays REALLY mean. We chose to go back to simple values, and celebrate these days the way we feel they should be celebrated. These days are now centered around FAMILY, not gifts and wrappings and making the retailers richer. Thanksgiving is family, food, football on TV, laughter, teasing, sharing. Not a meal to gulp down so you can race out the door to the sales.

Our Christmas celebration is also family based. Gifts must be minimal, 20 dollar limit--after all, what do any of us really NEED?? Wade and I stay out of the stores completely. All the hype, the flashing lights, the music and HO HO HO(ping you come here to spend lots of your money) is too much for us. We gave that up years ago, and our Christmas is much better!

So--Happy Thanksgiving to all my friends out there--enjoy your day, your family, and treasure the time with them. You are blessed--we ALL are, if we only take the time to realize it!

Violet ready to hook

2011-11-20T09:32:00.001-08:00

Violet transferred to linen backing, ready to hook--as soon as some wools arrive! Not all the lines are going to be hooked, they are just my guidelines for where to do shading on her face. The circle in the upper corner is left open, I am going to do a proddy (3 dimensional) nosegay of violets, tied with a bow. Now I am working on Gloria's picture.

Absolutely TRUE!

2011-11-17T10:13:00.000-08:00

Had to laugh at this one, because it is pretty right on!!

At 65 degrees, Arizonans turn on the heat. People in Minnesota plant gardens.

At 60, Californians shiver uncontrollably. People in Minnesota sunbathe.

At 50, Italian & English cars won't start. People in Minnesota drive with the windows down..

At 40, Georgians don coats, thermal underwear, gloves, wool hats. People in Minnesota throw on a flannel shirt.

At 35, New York landlords finally turn up the heat. People in Minnesota have the last cookout before it gets cold.

At 20, People in Miami all die. Minnesotans close their windows.

At 0, Californians fly away to Mexico . People in Minnesota get out their winter coats.

At 10 below zero, Hollywood disintegrates. The Girl Scouts in Minnesota are selling cookies door to door.

At 20 below, Washington DC runs out of hot air. (Ya think? Nah.). People in Minnesota let their dogs sleep indoors.

At 30 below, Santa Claus abandons the North Pole. Minnesotans get upset because they can't start the snowmobile.

At 40 below, ALL atomic motion stops. People in Minnesota start saying..."Cold enough for ya, eh?"

At 50 below, hell freezes over. Minnesota public schools will open 2 hours late

Done!

2011-11-17T09:25:00.001-08:00

Just have to steam press and do the edging. I will do this "in between" getting the portraits onto the linen and choosing wool colors.

Oldy but a goody

2011-11-16T14:02:00.001-08:00

One of my very first hooked rugs. I had it up in my craft room but decided to bring it down to the living room. 24" by 36".

Weekly Progress and portraits in the Preparation stages

2011-11-14T10:00:00.000-08:00

The anniversary rug is coming along, I should have it all hooked this week--then have to do the finishing.

Also in the beginning stages of the hooked portraits of Violet and Gloria. I took pictures I liked, converted them to sketches with a photo program, and had them enlarged to about 16" by 20". This will not be the final size, as I want to do an oval and then a square "frame" around each one. Once I get those done, I will transfer them to the linen backing. I have an order of wools coming so I can do my color planning. I am so excited to do these!! They will be done in finer cuts of wool than I usually do.

GREAT Day!

2011-11-12T15:42:00.001-08:00

So I was trying to find a certain rug hooking frame--a Pittsburgh frame. I wanted a portable frame that I could take places. New ones are $189.00, so I was checking around on the internet and found a listing on Craigslist for one for $75.00. In Minneapolis! (My old neighborhood, I live in St. Paul now.) I emailed the seller, she emailed me back, and then I called her. Wade and I went over to pick up my new frame--and I was THRILLED to find it in such almost new condition. AND she included a travel bag that it just fits into. AND-----I almost fell over, she offered me two huge bags of wool for free! Not very often you run into someone so nice and so very generous!! So I came home very happy--love my new frame, and the wools are awesome!

Monday Monday

2011-11-07T10:48:00.001-08:00

New rug is coming along, I am having so much fun working on this! Also took pics of Violet and Gloria for their portrait rugs--now I just have to choose if I want them facing forward, or facing to the side.

New rug started!

2011-11-02T14:23:00.001-07:00

I started my new rug last Friday, it is 28" by 28" or so--not huge--I am adding our names and wedding date at the bottom. I haven't had a LOT of time to work on it, but it is coming along! Until I started hooking again, I didn't realize how much I had missed it! So here I am, a new rug barely started, and already my head is filled with new ideas. I want to hook portraits of Violet and Gloria! So I am thinking about those while I work on this.

Up to My Butt in Alligators

2011-10-24T07:39:00.000-07:00

What a great title, huh? This is actually a quote from a very dear friend of mine, Betty. Betty taught me to rug hook; she is a wonderful, kind, sweet lady. Silly as can be sometimes, which I love, so therein came the quote. This is what Betty says whenever she just has too much going on in her life. It always makes me laugh, but this past week I realized EXACTLY what it means!!

Back up--over the summer, I spent several days hauling all my sewing stuff downstairs to my three season room, lovingly called the Treehouse. This was the first summer I did this, and I got SO much done. When it started getting colder, I knew I had to move out of my cozy little sewing nest, and back upstairs. I spent several days organizing and hauling things upstairs. "Well, THIS is not so bad" I says to myself---but then things got complicated. Actually, it was ME who made things complicated-----

Ahem. In the midst of this, I blithely decides I want to get back into my rug hooking. BUT--oh dear, it has been over a year, and all my hooking stuff is--buried, to put it plainly. Stuffed into a storage kneewall and a closet. No big deal, I tells myself, I will just get it out. SO--that is exactly what I did.

NOW, however, my sewing room is piled high with rug hooking stuff, wools, sewing, fabrics, books, patterns, and all manner of neccessaries. The mess gets bigger as I find more and more things to take out. And suddenly--there I was, up to my butt in alligators--which in MY case happens to be all my craft stuff.

Days go by, I spend HOURS up there, trying to organize things. The more I organize, the more things I find that must be kept out--put--where???? Hours and days and the room still looks like an explosion in a craft factory. By the 7th day (God got to rest on the 7th day--not in the cards for me! ) I start so see the proverbial light at the end of the tunnel. Things are slowly getting organized, YAY!! And then--

And THEN.....

I realize I have lost my bestest, most favorite rug hook--and the only place it can possibly be is in the storage kneewall--which I have just packed to the rafters full of other stuff.

SO's--------------------

I do what any self respecting rug hooker would do.

I digs it all back out.

And this is where I am when I realize the alligators have returned--and now there are even more of them.

One whole day searching does not turn up my favorite rug hook. Of course I have others, silly--what hooker doesn't have a bunch of hooks? But this is my FAVORITE hook, the one that just fits my hand SOOO nice and is so smooth and easy to hold and.....

never mind, I can't find it. Time to get back to work. Again.

I fugure if I am very diligent this week, I should be done in a few more days. Then I can settle in and start a new rug--or go back to some sewing--or---or---

forget it.

I am too tired to do ANYTHING! As soon as the last alligator hits the road, I am taking a nap!

I HATE THE USPS--Rant for the Week

2011-10-21T10:59:00.001-07:00

By now, everyone knows that the USPS is having financial troubles. I think that must be why they are hiring people who CAN'T READ.

Yes, they did it again--sent my clearly addressed package to the wrong city, wrong zip code. But let me tell you what happened when I called the post office where I mailed the package, and gave them all the info and the delivery confirmation number. The guy looks it up, and of course sees what I see--it is "out for delivery", but in the wrong city and zip code. I say, that is the PROBLEM--it is SUPPOSED to be in Montello. And he said to me--I am not kidding--

"Then why did you mail it to Portage?"

???!!ZZZ???Z!!!!~!ZZZZZZZZZ????????!!!!!

I did NOT mail it to Portage, you idiots--YOU DID!

And today the light dawns, and I am now ready to say this--
I will never, never, EVER, mail a package with the USPS again. Fedex or UPS only.

And they wonder why they are losing business...........

New project!

2011-10-21T08:37:00.001-07:00

I found a project to get me back into rug hooking--this pattern by The Old Tattered Flag. I do have a soft spot for pumpkin headed people--I wonder what that says about me??!

While I do enjoy drawing my own rug designs, right now I am just not ready to do that--I needed a project I could start hooking right away. Well, as soon as it arrives, that is! Should be here next week. Plenty of time to get my rug frame and cutter out, and browse thru my wools.

I love this time of year--autumn is winding down, winter will soon blow white and cold against the windows. A pot of chili simmering on the stove, an apple pie in the oven--warmth and cinnamon wafts thru the house. These scents are comforting, enfolding. These scents are HOME.

Rug Hooking--I really DO!

2011-10-18T20:06:00.000-07:00

I know it has been a LOOOONG time since I wrote about my rug hooking. I was unable to hook for over a year while I was having physical therapy for my left shoulder. I was unable to extend my left arm out enough to use my hand for rug hooking. When I was finally able to manage the extension, I could not keep my arm in that position for very long, which made it impossible to hook.

With winter coming, and all the autumn scents, I find myself looking yearningly at my wools--neatly stacked in lavender filled cabinets, all organized by colors. I have several rugs "in progress" that were put on hold. I feel like hooking again!! I know I will have to start slow so I don't aggravate my shoulder, so I will have to balance hooking with my sewing. I think this coming weekend would be a great time to go thru my stash of wools and patterns and pick something to start working on. The pics above are two of the last things I finished--my Wizard of Oz tote bag, and my rug depicting my wonderful hubby Wade as the Celtic Green man.

Yes, I have missed it! But how exciting is will be to go back to it!

New Beginnings

2011-10-15T19:41:00.000-07:00

Lillian Rose--now re-christened Persephone Rose--has arrived in Arizona, and been greeted with tears of joy by her new mom. If I sell just ANY doll, it really does not matter to me where she goes--but the Ellis dolls are special, and as I have been their caregiver, I feel it is my job to make sure they only go to the BEST of new homes! It is no accident that my 3 other Ellis dolls have all gone to live with my good friends here in Minnesota--I know they will love and care for these girls as much as I did. They wanted these dolls for the right reasons--because they see their value, far beyond monetary--they treasure their American past. To me, the WRONG reason to want one of these dolls is to use her as a trophy piece--a "look what I have" attitude. I know there are people like this, they want something just because someone else has it, not out of any particular love for the doll or it's rich history. I was SO lucky to find a true home for my beloved dolls. I could not keep them all and do them any justice--I have Violet, Gloria and Saffron, my hearts treasures--there was no need for more.

So now Persephone Rose begins a new life with a new family--and a young girl who will someday inherit her. Together, her and her mom will make new memories with this doll, as they sew and crochet for her. This is a good thing!

I am peaceful and happy tonight--contented beyond words. I have been so blessed to find the friends I have, blessed to have the life I have. I thank God every night for just another "normal" day. Normal days make up most of our lives, so many times we take them for granted---I never will. I will always see "normal" days for the treasures that they are.

Sunrise, Sunset

2011-10-14T09:34:00.001-07:00

I was finally able to finish Violets "Sunset" gown--I didn't have the right color gold ribbon, so had to order it. So here are my girls in their silk dupioni outfits, dress and bonnets are my own design. I think they will wear these for Thanksgiving.

My other passion......

2011-10-13T12:05:00.001-07:00

Tiny Dolls. I ADORE tiny dolls!! When I was very young, I had a charm off my sisters bracelet that was shaped like a doll--her little arms even moved. She lived in a thimble, wrapped in a tiny scrap of cloth in my pocket--I took her everywhere, and of course I lost her on the playground at school--

I remember walking around in the rain searching for her, and crying. I never did find her.

Well now that I am grown up (WHAT??!! Who said that??!!) I can have tiny dolls again--maybe not so tiny as a charm from a bracelet, but still--
The tiny darling in the top picture was made by Marina--check out her dolls here;

http://www.etsy.com/shop/Marinart

She has wee porcelain kitty dolls too--now, who didn't like to dress their real kittys in doll dresses? (My poor cats, they endured dresses and bonnets and being toted around in a doll buggy. I still remember chasing one around after she leaped from my buggy wearing my favorite dress, thank goodness it was long and tripped her up so I could get it off her!)

The next pic is Amelia Thimble (see why I had to get her?) made by Wilde Imagination. Her story is that she lives in a sewing basket--so of course I will find a neat old sewing basket and make her a wee apartment, complete with thread spools for chairs. This will be a great winter project--

And even tho it has nothing to do with dolls, I discovered the funniest blog today---check this out!!

http://granniegrumpie.blogspot.com/

Let's Get Real!

2011-10-12T13:26:00.000-07:00

I seldom get on my soapbox here, which doesn't mean I am not full of opinions and outrage over many things--I just choose to (mostly) keep that part of me off my blog.

That said--here I go. I have been seeing the news about Michael Jacksons doctor on trial. While I do agree that he should not have been using propofol, what no one seems to understand is that he (the doctor) was bought and paid for by a rich man, and as such he was OWNED by that rich man, and in order to keep his job he had to do what the rich man demanded.

AHA! And HERE is my point!! Michael Jackson was NOT a child. He was 50 years old. NO ONE was holding him down and forcing drugs into him. He KNEW what drugs he was putting--or having others put--into his body. He had free will to do this. So WHY IS HE ABSOLVED OF ALL RESPONSIBILITY IN HIS OWN DEATH??

I can tell you why. Because we have become a nation of "blamers". We ALWAYS have to find someone else to blame for everything, because Heaven knows, "it wasn't MY fault!" No one in this country wants to take responsibility for what they do, not when you can find someone else to blame it on.

WAKE UP, AMERICA!!

I feel particularly qualified to point these things out, since my past situation involved a Dr. and drugs. Many years ago, I was a walking pharmacy, taking drugs because the Dr. I trusted told me to take them. Told me I needed them. Until the day I realized what those drugs were DOING to me, and dropped not only the Dr., but ALL of my prescriptions. Cold Turkey. I do not recommend this, but this is me, and I do things my own way. Two months of terrible withdrawal symptoms, a lovely thing called "brain zaps"--noise in your head like wiring shorting out---non stop nausea. Two months of hell to get my life back. And did I really need all those medications? Obviously NOT, since I am functioning quite well without them! Do I blame the Dr? No, he was doing what most every other Dr in America does. The Dr's are basically owned by the drug companies, they get little "rewards" for getting people to take their meds. They are like any neighborhood drug dealer, they just have nicer clothes and a degree or two on the wall. No one forced those pills down my throat. And just because a drug comes in a nice little container with a neat printed label doesn't make it good. Doesn't make it SAFE. A DRUG is a DRUG, and is altering your body and brain chemistry.

Michael Jacksons death was caused by drug over dose. Drugs he took willingly. He took too many and the wrong combination of drugs and he died. HIS CHOICE. END OF STORY.

When Art Moves Me

2011-10-10T10:54:00.000-07:00

A friend of mine, who lives in the UK, recently lost her beloved husband to brain cancer. This morning she posted these pictures--

I was moved, deeply and spiritually. I was both drawn to and disquieted by them.

Please click on the pictures to enlarge them.

Antony Gormley's "Another Place"

Another Place consists of 100 cast-iron, life-size figures spread out along three kilometers of the foreshore, stretching almost one kilometre out to sea. The Another Place figures - each one weighing 650 kilos - are made from casts of the artist's own body and are shown at different stages of rising out of the sand, all of them looking out to sea, staring at the horizon in silent expectation.

Seldom has art moved me like this. I studied the pictures at length--they all spoke to me. Many miles and a world away, yet they affected me in such a way that I felt I had to share them with others. I don't know what they make me feel, I cannot put it into words. I wonder how they affect other people?

Let There be Music

2011-10-06T12:26:00.000-07:00

Music is a very important part of my life. One of my favorite groups is Secret Garden. Their music appeals to my Irish roots, since my grandpa was born in County Kerry, Ireland.

As I was listening to one of their CD's while I was sewing, this song came on--so simple, yet so profound, I felt like sharing;

The wheels of life keep turning,
Spinning without control;
The wheels of the heart keep yearning
For the sound of the singing soul.
And nights are full with weeping
For sins of the past we've sown;
But, tomorrow is ours for the keeping,
Tomorrow the future's shown.

Lift your eyes and see the Glory,
Where the circle of life is drawn--
See the Never-Ending story,
Come with me to the Gates of Dawn.

And whose is the hand who raises
The sun from the heaving sea?
The power that ever amazes
We look, but never will see?
Who scattered the seeds so life could be,
Who coloured the fields of corn?
Who formed the mold that made me--ME,
Before the world was born?

Lift your eyes and see the Glory,
Where the circle of life is drawn--
See the Never-Ending story,
Come with me to the Gates of Dawn.

Autumn in Minnesota

2011-10-06T07:54:00.001-07:00

My favorite time of year!! We are having an incredible October--highs in the 80's. The fall colors in our area are just hitting their peaks. Walking down leaf gilded roads, the crunch and scent of the leaves brings back so many memories! Jumping in leaves as a child. Hot dog roasts by the Mississippi River. Grape picking--my Nana used to take me with her as she gathered wild concord grapes, and then we would return home with bags filled with our sweet treasure. Then the kitchen would fill with warmth and the scent would soon fill the house, as she made jar after jar of grape jam. All the pretty jars filled with purple delight, topped with cooling wax seals, lined up on the kitchen table.

Autumn is also playing soccer and football games in the field with my family. The steam rising from mugs of hot cocoa, warming the chilled tips of our noses. The earth smells different in autumn than it does at other times of the year. Autumn also makes me so keenly aware of the passing of time, especially at this point in my life. The world and I grow older together, heading in to the winter of our lives. This brings a contentment, a quiet certainty of the cycles of life.

For some reason, autumn brings to mind this poem ;

Splendor in the Grass

What though the radiance
which was once so bright
Be now for ever taken from my sight,
Though nothing can bring back the hour
Of splendor in the grass,
of glory in the flower,
We will grieve not, rather find
Strength in what remains behind;
In the primal sympathy
Which having been must ever be;
In the soothing thoughts that spring
Out of human suffering;
In the faith that looks through death,
In years that bring the philosophic mind.
-- William Wordsworth

For now, I am here. For now, I am completely happy. "Now" is all we really have, all we truly own. Golden days, in our golden years.

Enjoy. Breathe. Live.

Happy Anniversary Wade!

2011-10-02T11:44:00.000-07:00

41 years ago today, my high school sweetheart and I got married.

And they said it wouldn't last......................

Well here we are, 41 years of laughter, tears, joys, sorrows, trials,
2 AWESOME children (who are adults now)
one REALLY awesome grandson, Dalton Wade, who will be 9 years old in a few weeks.

We just have one problem--we cannot figure out how everyone else got so old but we stayed the same!!

HAPPY, HAPPY ANNIVERSARY, my love--my best friend--my true other half.

A Tale of Two dresses..................

2011-09-28T12:17:00.001-07:00

It all started when Violet chose this striped silk for her French Walking suit. A gorgeous fabric with iced violet, mauvey pink, and plum chocolate. I made her suit and trimmed it with vintage silk rosettes, and her bonnet with paper roses and feathers--of course, she had to have feathers!

Now, I only had a small piece of the striped silk--but Gloria loved it too, and was determined to have a dress! So I put her on a stand, and we played "pin the dress on Gloria" until I had something workable. Still, with not much fabric, the dress was quite plain--until Gloria got into my box of hand made, silk roses. These were made by a wonderful seller on Etsy. At first I just wanted to put them on one side--but the dress looked unbalanced. So Gloria talked me into adding more roses on the other side--and then the back, because THAT was too plain. NOW she wants a hat, but I am tired of sewing roses today--it will have to wait until tomorrow. See how I get into these things??

Preparing for her new life!

2011-09-28T07:41:00.001-07:00

Lillian got word today that her adoption fee will be on the way, and she will be traveling to Arizona to live with her new new family! She is very excited about her new adventure! Of course, she will be taking her poodle, Louie, with her--even though he is a bit worse for wear after a tangle with one of my cats. ( Poor Louie; Purrley-the-brat chewed off the hair on the top of his head!) The next few days we will be taking farewell pictures, and helping Lillian get packed. Although it will be a bit sad to see her go, I know she is going to a wonderful home where she will be pampered and loved much the way I pamper and love Violet and Gloria.

It has been an honor to have been the one to restore Lillian to her former glory! I know that Mary and her family will be waiting with open arms, ready to give her the best life possible!

Couldn't resist............

2011-09-24T16:11:00.001-07:00

Gloria and Violet are sitting on the back of the sofa--I came into the living room and glanced over, and Gloria just looked so darned adorable sitting there--almost like she was watching tv or something!

Know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em

2011-09-24T10:29:00.001-07:00

Not happy at all with the drape, the silk chiffon is too soft for the dupioni--it will not hang right. SO--this one is off to the shelf for messing with another time.

Or not.

My Process--from idea to completion

2011-09-23T17:11:00.001-07:00

I start with an idea, and make a sketch. Next, the obvious difficult piece will be the sleeves, never having made anything like them! So a trial pattern is drawn, cut, and sewn in some scrap fabric. (REAL dressmakers call this a "muslin", and that is what they use--but I didn't have any.)

Check the fit--the sleeve is workable, but too big. So I cut the pattern down. Next, I choose fabrics. Now, I WANTED this to be all silk dupioni, which would have made for nice, crisp sleeves--but I didn't have any dupioni that went with this rich, purple silk. (The color is like Welches grape juice, but is not coming up in pics too well, as the silk bounces back the light.) All I had that went with this was some lilac silk chiffon--eeks, really hard to work with, lighter than air! This will alter the final appearance of my original sketched idea. Well, I can always make another, so I keep working.

Bodice and sleeves sewn--not how I imagined it, but still, I like it. Tomorrow--on to the skirt. I THINK I can alter the sleeve pattern to make the skirt and bodice trim. Then again, I never know until it's done if this will end up in the scrap bag!

Forgot to add this!

2011-09-22T16:47:00.000-07:00

Link to my Flickr, many more pics there!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mylittledollfies/

Why I love my small Ellis girls so much

2011-09-22T10:13:00.001-07:00

My first Ellis doll was Lillian; at 15", she is a sturdy girl about 4 pounds--hefty! When I got Violet--and then Gloria--I was enthralled at their petite sizes--their little wooden bottoms just fit in the palm of my hand. They are perfect "travel" dolls, they both fit into my hobo style purse, and are usually with me when I go out, even if it is just a run to the post office. I have always loved tiny dolls--not that they would be considered tiny, but after lugging Lillian around, I sure think of them that way!

Just a side note; Lillian will soon be traveling to live in Arizona with a lovely lady named Mary. She is very happy to be able to go someplace warmer then Minnesota--she doesn't like our winters! Then my Ellis family will be just three--Violet and Gloria, my "soul dolls", and Saffron Lucy, who my daughter adores. Saffrons photo was in an ad in Antique Doll Collector magazine a couple months ago!

I have been asked if I am planning to get more of these dolls--at this point I would say no. I am over-the-top happy with the ones I have!!! It's funny, but since they came, I have no desire to get more dolls of ANY kind. They have become more like companions or family members than dolls. And we all know, true happiness is not getting what you want--it's wanting what you've GOT!

Pics for Bama

2011-09-22T10:06:00.001-07:00

One of my Blog readers asked for pics of the back of the Ellis girls hair--top to bottom they are;

Saffron Lucy--original paint (she spent most of her life in a climate controlled doll museum)

Lillian--repainted hair

Violet--also what I believe to be original paint--well, what's left of it!

Gloria--her hair has a "sheer wash" of paint.

I hope these pics answer your question!

THE HIKERS ARE FREE!!!!

2011-09-21T12:52:00.000-07:00

I am overjoyed for Josh Fattal and Shane Bauer and their friends and families!! They are safe in each others arms, I burst into tears as I watched the live video of these young men as the door of the plane opened, and they RAN down the steps into waiting arms! Two years have gone by, they have missed so much. As a parent myself, I cannot imagine the pain of knowing your child is being wrongly held in a foreign prison. But today is a happy, HAPPY day for them--finally!! I hope they get the best meal of their lives and get to sleep in warm, comfortable beds tonight.

Time for Gloria!

2011-09-20T12:47:00.000-07:00

Gloria shows off her new French Fashion walking suit, made of silk shantung in tiny teal and black stripes. Trimmed in black velvet and net embroidered bows. The "buttons" on the front and bonnet are Austrian crystals. This is the same pattern I used for Violets suit, but I altered it for a much better fit. Of course, now Violet wants one in silk, too....

Have I mentioned how I dote on these little girls??

French Fashion outfit

2011-09-17T12:39:00.001-07:00

Violet doesn't seem to mind that her Mama has torn all her hair out over this ensemble ("You look cute bald, Mama!") I really hope she likes this, because she is going to wear it--a LOT!

What Violet endures for the sake of fashion.......

2011-09-16T17:41:00.000-07:00

Poor Violet spent the day sitting in her underclothes and a French fashion style jacket full of straight pins, while her Mama cursed the pattern maker and fought to make a pattern that was made for a different doll fit HER. I wonder if we will finish this tomorrow??

Not to be outdone..................

2011-09-15T14:39:00.001-07:00

Gloria wanted a fancy gown too--and she got it. Lots of antique lace on this one!

Violet's Philosophy.......

2011-09-12T14:28:00.001-07:00

Violet says, "in MY world, when it comes to dresses and bonnets--the words "too fancy" are not applicable.

Some things bear repeating!

2011-09-09T11:55:00.001-07:00

From one of my older posts;
Thought for the day
A group of alumni, highly established in their careers, got together to visit their old university professor. Conversation soon turned into complaints about stress in work and life.Offering his guests coffee, the professor went to the kitchen and returned with a large pot of coffee and an assortment of cups - porcelain, plastic, glass, crystal, some plain looking, some expensive, some exquisite - telling them to help themselves to the coffee.When all the students had a cup of coffee in hand, the professor said: "If you noticed, all the nice looking expensive cups have been taken up, leaving behind the plain and cheap ones. While it is normal for you to want only the best for yourselves, that is the source of your problems and stress.Be assured that the cup itself adds no quality to the coffee. In most cases it is just more expensive and in some cases even hides what we drink. What all of you really wanted was coffee, not the cup, but you consciously went for the best cups... And then you began eyeing each other's cups.Now consider this: Life is the coffee; the jobs, money and position in society are the cups. They are just tools to hold and contain Life, and the type of cup we have does not define, nor change the quality of life we live.Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the coffee. Savor the coffee, not the cups! The happiest people don't have the best of everything. They just make the best of everything. Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly.

Violet--Again!

2011-09-04T13:27:00.001-07:00

Violet calls this dress "Candlelight and Champagne Roses". I keep trying to make her some every day, more "sensible" clothes, but she loves her frills and frippery! I love spoiling her, after all the years she stood in her glass-front case, wearing the same old faded dress.

Violet

2011-08-29T18:46:00.001-07:00

Violet has inspired me to sew as I have never done before---I used to hurry up to get things done, but now I sometimes spend two days on a single outfit. Well, not ALL day of course, I do have other things to do! But I spend many hours hand sewing to get things just right. After all, is IS for Violet!

The top dress is a cotton print with a lace yoke. The yoke had to be attached entirely by hand to get the fit right! I love this look, with her "skin" peeking thru the lace. And just because, I also
made her some lace, fingerless gloves--they look so darned sweet on her!

The other dress was a TOTAL labor of love. I played with my antique and vintage laces until I found just what I liked together. Then I had to find a fabric for underneath that would enhance, but not overwhelm the lace. White make the white lace pattern disappear, light beige and brown looked bad with the dark lace. Finally I tried a peachy/flesh color, and it was perfect! Now I had to adapt the pattern pieces to showcase the lace, but still fit together. Lots of pinning and re-pinning. Once I had that figured out, the bonnet was next--I did not want her to look like a bride, so after making a lace cap that just fit her head, I started playing with the scraps of lace I had cut off. The leftover dark lace became rolled roses, Yes, it is a big, over-the-top bonnet--and she loves it! The removable capelet is part of an antique lace collar, just right for the cooler days, or when we go visiting. She also has a reticule to carry her important things.

I want to make more dresses of antique laces, but not for a while. Maybe some simpler things for a bit!

Sidetracked...............

2011-08-21T12:26:00.000-07:00

As I often tell my friends, I have the attention span of a two year old! While working on the white overdress for Violets Presentation outfit, I suddenly realized how PERFECT this white fabric would be for a summer "tea gown"--using some violets trim I had been hoarding for just the right outfit. So I dropped the overdress and instead made this. I call it "Raining Violets", as Violet is wearing a fascinator style hat with violets dripping from it.

NOW I will go finish the overdress!!

Dolls and Clothes

2011-08-20T12:57:00.001-07:00

When I was a child, I had two dolls--a Tiny Tears doll (that for some reason I did not really like), and a rag doll given to me by a cousin when I was about 5. For reasons only known to a five year old child, and long forgotten by the old woman she became, this rag doll was named Molly Pedal. Molly is still with me, all these many years later.

Molly Pedal was my constant companion, and endured many adventures with me. She went thru the washing machine countless times, as I took her everywhere. She still bears the grease marks that she got when she fell off my handlebars and into my bicycle chain. She also has another scar--one day I found her laying on the basement floor, her leg torn off by one of my brothers who was peeved at me for some reason--I never did find out which brother was responsible. I so clearly remember, even 50 years later, running to my mom in tears, clutching Molly and her torn leg. Mom dropped whatever she was doing and sewed her leg back on--backwards, as it turned out! Molly has little yarn tufts on the front of each leg, and on the "fixed" leg, the tuft is in the back. She has replaced button eyes, I remember she had tiny button eyes, and one fell off--Mom did not have any tiny buttons like that, so she sewed on white shirt buttons.

Anyway, Molly is a wool, hand woven doll. I have no idea who made her. She never had clothes of her own. I remember taking the white cotton "christening" dress off my Tiny Tears, my aunt had made the dress for my doll--and putting it on Molly. Mom couldn't understand why I would put such a pretty dress on a rag doll, but Molly looked like a queen! But it was her only dress. With 7 kids to take care of, mom had no time to make doll clothes.

Sometimes I would tie hankies around Molly, or hold them on with rubber bands, to make her a new dress. One day, on a visit to our neighborhood "Dry Goods" store, I saw a lilac voile doll dress on a card--it was for a baby type doll, but I wanted it for Molly. It was 25 cents, and Mom said no, we could not spend that money for a doll dress. SO--I started saving every penny I could get! Sometimes my brothers would give me their glass pop bottles--2 cents each if you returned them to the drug store! I don't know how long it took to make the money, but I do remember the day when I proudly went into the store with my little red plastic purse, and bought that dress for my Molly.

The dress has long ago fallen apart, washed too many times. But I can still see it on Molly and remember how I longed for her to have lots of pretty dresses.

Now I have dolls, and I make them TONS of pretty clothes. My dolls will never have enough clothes to suit me. And while it is not the same, being a grown up and having dolls--at least I do not need to worry about them being caught in a bicycle chain, or having a leg torn off by an angry brother. Some day I may make Molly a new dress, if I can find some lilac voile that looks like the fabric I remember.

Sewing sewing...............

2011-08-17T15:00:00.001-07:00

Gloria in her new silk presentation dress and overdress. Now she needs a hat! Outfit from the new Susan Sirkis CD "Little Lilas and Me". LOTS of alterations on my part, to make this to fit my specific dolls. I also hate pleats--(because I remember having to wear a lot of pleated skirts in high school, and I hated them!) So I changed the trim. The silk is a peachy/copper dupioni, so very lovely with Glorias skintone! The over dress is vintage cotton dotted swiss.

Now the hat, then on to Violets set!

And now for the bestest doll of ALL!!!

2011-08-02T13:27:00.000-07:00

Dalton Wade, my Grandson--also known as "Grammy's Guy"--age 7 on the left, age 8 on the right.

Gloria, home

2011-07-27T10:09:00.000-07:00

Only the lightest of cosmetic touchups, using oil pencils. Her wood is so beautiful, I cannot imagine painting it. But a doll with no eyes or mouth seems kind of strange to me. Now she is ready to be dressed!

Strange--or not?

2011-07-22T09:59:00.000-07:00

I asked the man who sold me the Ellis doll what he knew about her. This was his reply;

She was my Aunt's Gloria's doll. Gloria passed away in the 1960s. My mother had her in a closet until she passed away last year. We found her again when we were cleaning up her house. Both my mom and Gloria lived in West Palm Beach, FL. Gloria's family was from New England so I speculate the doll must have come from there. Sorry I don't know any more specifics. I don't know what the doll's name was. It might be fitting to call her "Gloria" :-)

OK--well, MY MOM'S name was Gloria!

Strange--or not so strange--I am no longer questioning why these dolls keep coming to me.

Ellis dolls for sale

2011-07-22T09:34:00.001-07:00

For anyone looking for an Ellis doll--there is one for sale right now on Ruby Lane;

http://search.rubylane.com/search?db=&ss=joel+ellis&sb=Go

The seller will do a layaway, and I think you could offer less since the doll has been for sale for a while.

New Family Member!

2011-07-21T16:11:00.001-07:00

A longshot pays off!! Many weeks ago, while searching for Joel Ellis stuff, I found an ended Ebay auction from April. The doll had not sold, the listing was ended by the seller. So I figured I had nothing to lose, I contacted the person and asked if they still had her and if they would be relisting her. The man was so nice, he inherited her but said his family was upset he was going to sell her, so he took her down. I told him I was interested in buying her. But he was just leaving for a trip to Europe, and said he would contact me when he returned. So I have been holding my breath and waiting--and waiting------and suddenly late this afternoon, he emailed me and asked if I was still interested, and he listed her for me with a buy it now. I am SO unbelievably excited!!!!! I have thought of her for weeks, and now she will be on her way home to me tomorrow. She will be left as is with just a slight touchup on her pupils and mouth. She is the smaller one, 12" tall, like Violet and Iris.

HOT Days (and nights)

2011-07-17T20:14:00.000-07:00

Well it looks like we are in for a LOOOONG week of heat and humidity--so I will be (mostly) home hiding in the air conditioning. Not much to do but sew--I guess my girls will enjoy this hot streak! Violet shows off her newest gown. Many more pics here;

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mylittledollfies/

Daisy Summer

2011-06-29T15:01:00.001-07:00

Miss Daisy Summer, also known by her sisters as "Fancy", is reborn and ready to be dressed.

SO happy!!

2011-06-28T16:40:00.000-07:00

I did it--I did it!! I found a 12" Joel Ellis doll for my friend Gita!!! Now Elladora, her 15" Ellis, will have a little sister. My girls and I could not be any more excited! Time to make a homecoming outfit for the newest member of the Ladd family!

Who will she become?

2011-06-27T18:27:00.000-07:00

A new girl came home today--pop on over to read her story!

http://joelellisdolls.blogspot.com/

The Secret Revealed

2011-06-20T08:19:00.000-07:00

Oh, THAT is what the girls were up to last week--I better start keeping an eye on them, now that they are learning to use the computer!

This week we welcome home Saffron Lucy to the family!

The girls have decided to have their very own blog--we are just starting it here;

http://joelellisdolls.blogspot.com/

What's Going On??

2011-06-17T10:53:00.001-07:00

It seems Violet came running to her sisters to tell them something----looks like it must be a very big secret! I wonder what my girls are up to?

They haven't told me, they just sit there with those enigmatic half smiles................

Iris again..............

2011-06-14T19:15:00.001-07:00

After looking at the earlier pictures I had taken of Iris, I decided her eyes looked very indistinct, and almost cross-eyed. That will not do! So today I fixed them, really not much more than a couple of tiny drops of paint, but what a difference it made! Violet declared that her name should be Iris Blue, since that is certainly her color--and then Violet gave her sister the blue dress and bonnet I had made for Violet before Iris came home.

Sunshine on a Cloudy Day!

2011-06-11T12:09:00.000-07:00

My whole Joel Ellis family, all dressed in sunny, summer yellows and golds. I am so blessed to be Mom to these incredible dolls!

Back row--left, Garland Selma Elizabeth

Right--Lillian Rose

Front row left--Iris

Right--Violet

Iris--and the iris!

2011-06-09T15:25:00.001-07:00

Violet took Iris on a tour of some of the yard today. Iris was too excited to wait for Mama to make her a bonnet to go with her new dress.

Iris is HOME!

2011-06-08T15:22:00.000-07:00

Oh my--she is home!! She decided not to make her debut until she was properly attired. We also had to do a bit of cosmetic work--I love her scuffed up face, but she had NO eyes--couldn't let her be blind when I could fix her! I have used deep blue, as close to what I believe to be her original color. She was then sealed with a matte finish, to protect her new eyes, and also to preserve the paint that is left on her face and hair. The only touch-up I am doing will be her eyes. Her boots were painted brown, which is wrong-but there they are.

So I called the post office this morning, and she was there--I asked them to hold the box so I could pick her up. When they brought out the box, the first thing I saw was the BIG RED LABEL with the BIG WHITE LETTERS--

F R A G I L E

And the next thing I saw made my heart sink....................

The box looked as though it had been stepped on!

I had a few words with the postal department--nothing I should print here. Suffice it to say I was NOT a happy camper. I know for a fact that a FRAGILE sign on a box makes the post office handle the package as roughly as possible. It's a red sign, and it's like waving a red flag in front of a mentally deficient bull.

Outside, I opened the box--and then I was more than upset, I was downright FURIOUS. Iris had been loosely wrapped--not even taped!--into a SMALL piece of bubble wrap, with the box maybe half filled with packing peanuts. She was loose in the box, and appeared to have been DUMPED very unceremoniously into it, headfirst. THIS is how an "antique dealer" packs up an $800.00 dollar DOLL??!! A doll of less fortitude would never have survived the journey. Iris, however, had survived the past 137 years heaven knows where, so she was not about to let little things like an idiot dealer and the equally idiotic postal department stop her from arriving at her new home in one piece. She was shaken (not stirred) and all akimbo, but all in one beautiful piece.

Violet is overjoyed to have a sister! The girls are getting to know each other and playing with Smudge, while Mama starts working in Iris' clothes. Hopefully tomorrow I will be able to introduce her!

Iris is Traveling! And congrats to GITA!!!!!

2011-06-06T10:51:00.000-07:00

Iris has left New Jersey, and is scheduled to arrive home on Wednesday the 8th!

And a big congratulations to my dear friend Gita, who now has her very own Grail doll--a 15" Joel Ellis named EllaDora! Discovered this past weekend at a doll show, Sweet EllaDora has a tiny scuff mark on her cheek, in the shape of a heart!

Now we wait!

2011-06-01T20:15:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, Violet and I went and mailed the rest of the money for her sisters adoption fee. We have decided her name will be Iris. Hopefully she will be home next week!

My Wooden Family (so far)

2011-05-26T09:31:00.000-07:00

Ellis-Anderson family portrait, May 2011

And still sewing..............

2011-05-25T15:40:00.000-07:00

Violet's wardrobe is growing so fast, we may need a bigger chest to hold it all! Right now I am using a blanket chest--when the weather is too hot to be up in my sewing room, I plan on making a hooked cover for the top of it.

Well---oh my, what can I say?

2011-05-25T08:03:00.000-07:00

Who should land in my lap but another Joel Ellis doll? And not just any doll, but Violet's sister, as this one is also 12" tall. She will not be home for several weeks, as I have to sell more stuff for her adoption fee. (And of course, NO doll will ever be so special as Violet.)

Never, in my wildest dreams, did I ever think I would have a complete family of FOUR Joel Ellis dolls! I have gone in circles with my doll collecting, coming back to my main love of wooden dolls.

Stormy Sunday

2011-05-22T17:14:00.001-07:00

Our Lily of the Valley are finally in bloom, and they smell so sweet! Violet wanted a dress and bonnet to celebrate these lovely spring flowers.

Our state has terrible storms off and on all day, numerous severe thunderstorms and several tornados, which caused horrible damage. The strange things is, it never FELT like a severe weather day--it is not very humid, and relatively cool (upper 60's). I wonder if our whole summer will be cooler than normal? This would be fine with me, as I detest heat and humidity!

Violet's Very Best Dress (so far...........)

2011-05-20T14:26:00.001-07:00

Violet's dress made of vintage peach dimity with pale purple violets, trimmed in embroidered net lace. Her bonnet is an antique style, her dress design is my own. Violet will wear this gown to Garden parties, or afternoon teas on the veranda. Now I think she needs some "every day" dresses, and then I plan to make her a silk travel suit.

Spring sewing

2011-05-15T19:44:00.000-07:00

Violet got a new dress and bonnet--with a separate shawl made from an antique hankie. I used one of her violet pins for a shawl clasp. Now I think I will make her some clothes in other colors--after all, violets come in blues and pinks and even white. But of course, she will always have more clothes with lavender/purples/violets, because those are her favorite colors!

What Does a Best Friend Do?

2011-05-09T13:35:00.000-07:00

A best friend listens with her heart. A best friend takes those unspoken thoughts you cannot express, and helps you express them. A best friend lets you speak, and then helps you come to terms with the words you have spoken--and even the words you have left unspoken. A best friend guides you to where you can see the light, and points the direction, but never pushes.

Today, my best friend did this for me. She said to stop and think about what I had written the other day--about my mom's brown eyes, and the brown eyes on my doll, and the connection I feel for this doll. How it all came about, that she came to be with me. Right in time for MOTHER'S DAY. And she said this could be a sign from my mom--that she was ok now, and to let go and stop blaming myself for her death. If there was any way my mom would reach out to me, it would be through a doll--we both loved dolls--and violet was also mom's favorite color--what better way to get my attention? And suddenly, I feel a peacefulness inside that I have not felt in 11 years. I feel like I can take a deep breath--and say, "It's OK, Mom--you can go now."

Mom, thank you for sending Violet to me--Violet, with the memory of your brown eyes. I know now you sent her, to heal my heart.

Karen, thank you for making me understand a sign that was right in front of me, and I was too blinded by misplaced guilt to see.

It's OK, Mom--you can go now!"

And Karen--please don't go. Thank you for being what a best friend is supposed to be, and more.

Violet Gets clothes--and presents!

2011-05-08T19:39:00.002-07:00

I made Violet two new dresses and bonnets--and she also got some "homecoming" gifts--an antique, mother-of-pearl pin with her name in gold wire, a violet pin with enameled violets and a leaf, a necklace made of the tiniest, antique metal beads, and her very own teacup and saucer with violets, trimmed in gold. Just the beginning of her wardrobe and her possessions!

The Best Loved Doll

2011-05-04T07:14:00.000-07:00

On April 28, 2011, I went to the post office and picked up my new Joel Ellis doll.

The top picture is one I had seen of her online over a month ago. She was to be auctioned at a live auction in Pennsylvania in early April. I saved the picture of her; the more I looked at her, the more I felt that intangible "something" that all doll lovers understand--a feeling of a connection, of knowing or understanding. A feeling that THIS doll was more than special. I studied the picture and I believe that, not only was she very special to someone, she may have actually been a "memorial" to a loved one who died. A child, or even a grownup. The ornate case she stood in, the tiny, antique millinary sprig at her feet--these say "I want to remember you always".

Alas, out of my reach, the picture was put away. Then a month later, my friend Deborah sent me an auction page--I could not believe my eyes, it was HER. No longer imprisoned in her glass front "coffin". A sweet, wistful, worn face looked back at me--a hint of a smile on the partially painted mouth, a look in the eyes that spoke of so much time passed--innocent, yet also knowing. The violet silk dress, faded now, was unmistakable--she was the doll in the wooden case.

And again--out of my reach. I did not have the amount of money the seller was asking for her. Another set of pictures were tucked away in my computer and my dreams.

The funny thing is, I kept thinking about her....actually, I couldn't STOP thinking about her. As I sat at the computer one evening, I decided to do a search on these dolls and see what I could find. Suddenly, there she was again! Not the original auction site, not the auction my friend had sent me, but a whole different site--and for sale--AND---I stopped breathing. My eyes were seeing it, my mind was not comprehending it--15% LESS than the asking price in the previous auction! THIS I could do. Yes, I would have to sell some other dolls to make up the money, but there was no question at that point--she would be mine! I quickly "added her to cart", and waited impatiently for an invoice that would seal the deal.

Then things got complicated, as they always do. I paid with Paypal--instant transfer, payment completed. It was a Saturday, so I hoped she would be mailed Monday. I did not take into account that the woman I was buying her from was--shall we say--strange? It took two more days before I heard from her--and she claimed she did not have the money in her account! I phoned Paypal--yes indeed, the money WAS in her account, had been there since Saturday. After a multitude of emails and phone calls (with NONE of the phone calls answered or returned), she FINALLY said she did not trust Paypal, and it turned out she was waiting for the money to be transferred to her BANK account. Not the brightest bulb in the lamp. I begged two more days before I finally got a tracking number. Even so, this woman was so goofy--could I trust that she even mailed the right doll?

So when the tracking showed the package has reached my post office, I called them--asked them to hold it there--and almost ran out the door. Once back in the car, I knew I could not wait until I drove home to see if it really was her in the box. I sat there on that rainy morning and opened the package--unrolled tons of bubble wrap and not one, but TWO diapers (used to protect dolls these days--), and she tumbled into my hands. The first thing I saw was the violet of her dress, and I turned her over--and there she was. Looking at me. At that point, it could have started snowing or a tornado could have come by, and I would not have noticed. Tears filled my eyes, and I was flooded with relief and emotion--she was safe, she was home, she was MINE. And I knew without a doubt her name was Violet.

I did not get the wooden case, which is fine, because I would NEVER put her back into it. Heaven knows how many years she stood in it, watching the world go by. Her dress is all hand stitched, obviously done by very loving hands. It will stay with her always, but it is fragile and faded. I will make her another one in as close a style and color as I can.

When I hold her--when I look at her--I feel many emotions. She has touched my heart in a way that is so special. Only once before in my life did I feel this way about a doll--my old Mehitabel--and of course, that got ruined for me by the people I call the "Hittyiots" (rhymes with IDIOTS) Violet is my forever doll, my "soul-doll". I am working on new clothes for her, and I have purchased several homecoming gifts for her (that have not arrived yet). More to come!

**************************************************

Editing my post, because I realized something--all my other dolls have blue eyes, but Violet's eyes are brown. My mom had the most beautiful, rootbeer brown eyes--is this one of the reasons I feel a connection with Violet? It has been a long time since I looked into brown eyes and smiled......................

Getting Dressed

2011-04-23T13:30:00.001-07:00

The girls show off their petticoats, made of an antique Victorian ladys slip. Garland wants everyone to see they have two layers! Chemise's would be proper, but would add too much bulk under their clothes, as would corsets. So I think we will forgo them. (Did I hear a big sigh of relief when I wrote "no corsets"? ) They have pantalets too, but are much too proper to show them.

How Strange Life Can Be.......

2011-04-22T20:41:00.000-07:00

Late last summer, I cut my hand very badly while I was carving, and ended up having stitches. The pain of that was NOTHING compared to the pain that came next--not using my hand and arm caused me to get Adhesive Capsulitis, or "Frozen Shoulder". My rotator cuff locked up, and I literally could not use my left arm. Months and months of intense, painful physical therapy followed. I don't know that I will ever carve again--and somehow, this put me off my wooden doll--my first Joel Ellis, Lillian. I really had nothing to do with her, just touching a wooden doll upset me. Lillian was wrapped in a soft cloth and put away.

So time passed, as it always does, and I found my second Joel Ellis doll--Garland. I bought her, and went and took Lillian back out, and realized how very much I had "missed" her. The feel and weight of her wood was no longer upsetting, it was comforting. Wooden dolls are so very special to me. Garlands arrival was a joyous occasion, and seeing my two girls together gives me great joy!

So somehow, it almost seems like my wooden dolls have healed me. Garland was on Ebay over 24 hours, at a crazy low price, and yet no one bought her. I believe she was meant to be mine. Well, as much as a doll can belong to a person. Maybe it is better to say that she was meant to be trusted to my care. So even though these dolls are rare, especially in good condition, it really did not come as a great surprise to me that another one sort of fell into my lap. That is to say, I did not go looking for another doll--she came looking for ME. Yes, a THIRD Joel Ellis doll will be coming to live with me! She will be the little sister, since she is the very rare 12" size, and Lillian and Garland are 15". This doll has not been restored, and she certainly shows her age. She is worn and scuffed, much like me. I saw her face, and she spoke to me so clearly. It was like I KNEW her. I know that sounds crazy.

Now I must get Lillian and Garland all dressed up in time to meet their new sister!

All Together Again

2011-04-19T19:27:00.001-07:00

I wonder if anyone else has ever had the rare chance to take a picture of THREE Joel Ellis dolls sitting together! What an incredible sight! Left to right--Garland, Lillian and Ruth. I find it very interesting that Garland and Ruth both came home to Minnesota from California, (different cities), and both of them arrived home the same day, April 13. The cousins will celebrate this date as their birthdays-(-Lillian was reborn in August.)

OK, now let's get these girls all dressed up! Next picture of them will be VERY different!

Lillian and Garland, long lost sisters reunited

2011-04-15T10:44:00.001-07:00

Happy to have found each other after being separated for 137 years! Lillian (standing) and her sister Garland, Joel Ellis dolls from 1873-74. Spring has not come to Minnesota yet, so they are wearing simple, warm, winter dresses for now. They are dreaming of warm days, and bonnets with flowers! (click picture to enlarge, and click again to enlarge even more)

New doll!

2011-04-14T14:50:00.001-07:00

In a very yellowed envelope, on the outside it is written; History of the Wooden Doll which Garland restored for Selma from Elizabeth Schilling and inside, a very yellow, handwritten piece of paper; Dec 28, 1962 My Dear Selma, This doll is over a hundred years old. It has been around the world 3 or 4 times in the olden days, when it was often loaned to friends with small children, as it was supposed to be unbreakable. It was given to me in 1875 when I was 4 years old. It was then in perfect condition and saved for me by my aunt, who was a friend of the owner. (unknown to me now,) but always, when we as children played with our dolls, my "wooden doll" was wanted by all & there were many childhood fights over it. The pretty dressed wax dolls were second choice & only appeared on special occasions. Dolls, like people, deteriorate like people when age takes over. It pleases me to know you would like to have this for your collection. I can not take it with me, neither have I the heart to let it be destroyed when I am gone. Much love to you, Elizabeth I was crying when I read this! To think that she is now entrusted to my possession! And another letter, in part, also written by hand by Elizabeth; Your doll was given to me when I was 3 or 4 years of age having been born in 1871 Oct. The previous owner, unknown to me but a friend of my foster mother, gave it to HER for ME to play with as I was going from St. Louis to make my home in Illinois with her. I had no toys to take on the train. SO--from all this, and the photographs of Elizabeth and Selma, I have concluded a few things. I do not believe this doll was ever clothed! As much as she was obviously cherished, I am certain that, if she had clothes, at least SOME of them would have been kept with her. Many of these dolls were never dressed, as the joints were so special that people were fascinated by them. So--from Elizabth, she was given to Selma S Smith. Later, Selmas son, Garland F Smith, a "noted St. Louis surgeon and world renouned ship model maker," restored it. That was in 1965. When Garland Smith passed away, the doll was part of his estate, and went to his son Steven Smith, who resides in California. From there, she came to be mine! So, I have named her after her deceased owners, in reverse order--she is Garland Selma Elizabeth. When I am gone, and she passes on to my daughter, she will add MY name to her, and she will be Jennifer Garland Selma Elizabeth.

Not mine, BUT.................

2011-04-10T09:34:00.001-07:00

Oh the JOY....my best friend Karen just bought herself a Joel Ellis doll, too! She has been repainted, so she will get another makeover when she gets home. Now we are planning so many things to make for our girls! Looks like a summer filled with sewing fabulous French fashions!