Little Sandy

I found a little body with a face,
while I was straightening up a little.
I don't remember just when I sewed
up this little body and embroidered
the little face.
I was just in the right mood,
so I sat down to put some hair on
the doll.
She turned out to be one of those
fortunate redheaded girls who
can actually tan.  (Well, maybe it's
spray on, I don't know.)

So, I embroidered a one
piece suit and crocheted
a little bucket.
The bucket is made from grey
thread with a tiny (size 14)
steel hook.
Now I'm knitting something
for her to roll out on the beach.
What ever shall I do with her?

Raggedy Works of Heart

Katharine Longo

was showing at the doll and bear show

that I got to go to, last weekend.

I think her work is charming!

See her work, HERE!

Somebody Wants Me!

"I'm sorry.  I don't mean to
be hurtful.  I know we've
been listed side by side
for a while.  I just can't help
being a little excited.
If you are happy for me,
you don't have to say
anything.  Just smile.

Thank you!"

Have I Done This, Before?

Have I already tried to
sell an original doll
on eBay?

I don't remember doing it.

So, here goes.

Yikes!

All Done

Five buttons (beads)
on each boot,
a necklace and a hat
(or is it a barrette?)
and the little one is
all done.

Although I can see
places for improvement,
I am pretty pleased
with both of them.

Size comparison,
for Bama.

What do you think?
Do I have a chance
 of selling them??

Awaiting the Details

She's coming together
faster.
(She's quite a bit smaller.)
Just a bit more to do.

Here I Go, Again...

I call them "needle doodles"
because I just start sewing
and cutting
(or, vice versa)
just like doodling on paper.

Just like any other
doodling,
Some are more
successful than others.

Finished - I Think!

Here she is. 
Please gently give me your honest opinion.
Thank you.

Getting Close!

Her boots have buttons.
Her throat is
adorned with
jewels.

Colorful gems
sparkle in her hair.

There are tiny yellow
earrings, too,
but they don't show.

A Little More Progress

...but still a way to go
before we get there.

Progress

A little yarn, for hair.

(Now, howcome I get to post
this picture?
I think I'll try another
new post.)

Well, It's not Great...

...but it is fun!

There was not enough contrast
in the photo, so I added
contrast & made it black & white.

I thought I could add 1 
picture per post.
That doesn't even work.
It's a puzzle.

Tried to get a Little Fancy

...but I didn't care too much for the results.
She was still fun to do.

This week's needle "doodling."

I Didn't Mean to Make a Baby (doll) !

I thought I was making another
little lady, but when I looked at
the photos she looked like a baby
to me.

Hmmm.

Prim & Pretty

Oops, I forgot to add something for
scale.  From her calico hem to the frill
of her bonnet she's just about 6 inches
tall.  Do you like her black button  eyes?
She is not only one of a kind,
she may be the last of her kind!
Pulling her head through, after
I turned her body, very nearly
did us both in! 

Tiny Brainstorm

Do you ever get an idea you just

can't wait to try?

The description in Laura Ingalls Wilder's

Little House in the Big Woods

has intrigued me.

Yesterday, that thought

and tiny primitive dolls

came together and I

happily stitched up this little lass.

Her hair is blanket stitched,
as is her collar.  The fabric and
lace are from my tiny scraps
that any sane person --
or not a doll person, would
throw away.
She is stuffed with cotton
from the top of a vitamin supplement
bottle.  Even the thread was left in
my needles from other projects.
It ran out and I had to get some
 fresh.

I put the quarter beside her
for scale. 
Noticing that it was larger
than her head,
I put it behind her,
then thought I'd give
her temporary wings,
as well.
I had such a ball that
I want to do more!
I wonder if they would sell.



Pancake Patty

Every once in a while,
I get the notion to make
another cloth doll.
Some have called this
age-old style "pancake"
because of the flat construction,
I believe.

So, here she is, made several
months ago, and just fell out of a
bag as if to say, "Hey, remember me?"
Patty is three and one eighth inches tall
and her clothes are sewn on her.
As I recall, the toughest part was
tying those tiny bows!

Do you ever make pancake dolls?

Once Upon a Time,

about forty years ago, there was a young girl who lived in her own little world.   She also lived on a farm.  One Summer a young lady came to the farm for a few weeks.  The girl and the young lady found they had many things in common.  They liked the same books.  They both read music and sang alto.  They both liked to make things.  They even, though they would have been considered by some to be too old for them, still liked dolls. 

The Summer ended, as Summers do, and the young lady went back to her home.  School took the girl's attention, so she did not miss the young lady too much.  She was greatly surprised and pleased to find, at Christmas time, that her older friend had left a gift for her.  She had made a cloth doll with dark hair and a dress overlaid with lace.  What a thoughtful thing to do!  

The year before the girl graduated high school, the family moved to a different state.  In the process, the truck containing most of the family's goods was destroyed by fire.  The cloth doll, along with many other treasures, did not survive.  One photograph of the girl and the doll had been taken.  It was still good enough to see.  Someday, perhaps I will find that picture, again, and post it on this blog.

Over the years, the girl and the lady found a few occasions to renew their friendship.  The lady was wise and talented and interesting.  The two never ran out of things to talk about. 

When both women were considered middle aged, the lady was found to have a tumor.  Weeks and months of prayerful hope passed.  The lady had many family members and her special brand of love had endeared her to many, many people.  The Lord, in His great wisdom, allowed her rest.  We, who were left behind, sorrowed greatly.  Perhaps the reader has experienced such a loss.  If so, there is no need to describe our pain.  If not, there is no way to make you feel what we felt.  Knowing that we will meet again comforted us.  The hole she left will never be filled, but we learned how to avoid falling into it quite as often.  

One day, the lady's sister came to me, for I was the girl of this story.  She said that the lady's house was being cleared out.  There were some things in the living room.  I was to go and choose a keepsake or two. 

In one of the boxes was a piece of lace.  In another was a little cloth doll.  She was not at all like the doll my friend had made for me.  Dressed in simple calico, with brown felt hair, french knot eyes and a straight little mouth, she was rather plain.  She lives at my house, now, as does the imperfect piece of lace.  I shall never forget my friend, but it is nice to have this tangible token of someone I have not been able to touch for over five years. 

I hope that reading this had not made you very sad.  I have a great many dolls.  I really need to pare down my collection.  An appraiser would never see why some of dolls are so valuable, to me.  Do you treasure a doll or two that don't "fit" into the collection that you have?

Cloth Dolly

Isn't she cute?
Why didn't I leave her there?
Found her in Goodwill for $.93
including tax. 

"Rag" doll