If You're Going to Dream.......................

The people who know me best, my family and friends, know that I never do anything in a small way.  My first piece of needlepoint was a rug.  My first hooked rug was 7 feet long.  This is why I don't ski, because no way would I go to the bunny hill--I would head to the highest hill and probably break my neck. 
Anyway, for a while now I have had a project brewing in my brain.  I think it would be awesome to hook a tree--a BIG tree--and put it on the living room wall.  WAIT--I'm not done.  Then I would make hooked branches that went all over the walls and up onto the ceiling.  WAIT--I'm not done.  THEN I would hook birds--lots of them--all the different birds that are in our woods, and put them all over in the branches.
OK now I am done.  Well no, I haven't started, I mean I am done explaining this crazy project that keeps going through my brain. Will I ever do it?  Maybe.  Probably.  Yes.  When, I don't know.  I just know that some day I will wake up and this will demand to be started, and I will go merrily down the road with it.  
And of course I will take pictures, and post them here.

After all, the winters in Minnesota are SO long.................................

Find of a Lifetime

Early last week, I found a wooden doll for sale online.  I had to look several times at her price, certain I was seeing things--because it was WAY too low for what she supposedly was.  So even though I hadn't planned on buying another doll, I bought her--and then told myself she HAD to be a modern reproduction, there was no way she was a real antique doll.  Not for that low price.  But what the heck, I loved her face.

Today, she arrived.

And I was wrong.

She is NOT a reproduction.  She is a genuine, hand carved, Italian creche' doll.  23" tall, and HEAVY--I think she is solid oak.  I have seen photos of these dolls in museums, but never dreamed I would be holding one of my own.  Rare that I am near speechless, but I am very emotionally overwhelmed tonight. So I will let the photos speak for themselves.

Playing Favorites

Here are my two favorite Schoenhut dolls I have re-born.  This is such fulfilling work, to take a doll that is a mess and make her into a doll that will be treasured.
I am always happy to consider a commission, so if you or some one you know would like a wooden doll re-made, ANY wooden doll, you can contact me at
jennykaye@comcast.net