New dolls and a bit of Silliness

So let's start with the silliness...of course! I took a photo of all my girls hanging out in the den the other day and it wasn't until later that I realized there was an impostor in their midst...it reminded me of the game from Sesame Street, one of these things is not like the others...


I've started the year with a couple of toys in the shop. I don't make many of these teethers anymore but I had a commission for one so I made 2. They're so cute...


And I recently was given a black angora (already accidentally felted) sweater so I wanted to try making a little Waldorf bunny from it...I think it turned out quite well.


Next up a commissioned art doll and 2 headed rat, and then on to some valentine pixies. I also have some new pins in the works that I'm really excited about...so stay tuned!

A Brand New Year

A new year dawns; the holidays are over, the cookies eaten, the decorations put away, and it's time for new beginnings and maybe a bit of reflection on the year past. It was a year of ups and downs, as they usually are...a bit more in the way of downs so let's hope that the new one has a more positive tilt.

I didn't follow my last years resolutions very well...I did make some art just because I wanted to, but not as often as I would have liked. And though I did keep a list of books that I read, I left off many simply through forgetfulness. I did keep track of 64, and the ones I left off were probably forgettable anyway. It is nice to be able to go back and see the ones I really enjoyed. My favorites were; The Children's Book by A.S. Byatt, The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien, The Hidden City by Michelle West, Just Kids by Patti Smith, Except the Queen by Jane Yolen & Midori Snyder, Bone and Jewel Creatures by Elizabeth Bear, and Under Heaven by Guy Gaveriel Kay...2 memoirs, one historical novel, 3 fantasies, and I'm not sure what to call Under Heaven ...historical fantasy? It was marvelous though, I highly recommend it!
I see I didn't read much in the way of non fiction last year, something I should try to do more of in this one. I'll probably keep a list again, it was fun to see what I've read. I'm always looking for new things to read, what amazing books have you read that I should look for in the coming year?

I'm back in the studio today working on dolls in what seems like forever, it is good to be back! I'm going to try again this year to see if I can make more art... just because I want to. Maybe I'll be a little more successful?

And finally, thank you so much to all my readers for following along on my blog journey. Your comments are always so appreciated, they make me feel so connected and even inspired...please keep them coming!

Happy New Year!!

Candy Canes, Holly, and Holiday Fae

These sweeties are in the shop and ready to ship....Enjoy!

Happy Holidays!!

Snowflakes and Kittens

Isn't that in a song..these are a few of my favorite things? I'm not sure, but it would certainly be a fit description of my weekend. On Saturday we had one of our rare Southern snows, even more rare in December. I'm sorry to say that I didn't take a single picture especially because it was so gorgeous...but you see I kind of had my hands full at the time. A friend called me a week ago, she had taken in a rescued Momma cat with 3 kittens and wondered if we might be willing to adopt a new baby. At first we said no, but then we thought about it and well...we took two. Yes, we are crazy, thank-you.
Our new babies arrived Saturday morning so I spent the afternoon watching the snow fall while curled up with two sleeping kittens and I can tell you life doesn't get much better then that. My only sadness was thinking about how much Mattie would have enjoyed these two little girls, she always had a big soft spot for kittens.

Here are my two little girls, Ella on the right and Edith on the left.


The snow melted away quickly...a very ephemeral pleasure...and while I may not have pictures of it I do have some little snow pixies to share with you...I promise these won't melt and all can be found in my shop.

Mattie

Once upon a time my husband and I thought we were not "dog people". We liked dogs just fine but when it came right down to it couldn't imagine owning one...cats certainly, we always had a house full, but dogs just weren't in the picture. But then we had three boys and when those boys were old enough they really wanted a dog! The pestering began...and if you have kids you know how that goes. We kept putting them off, but one day a neighbor came to us and asked if we would be interested in taking her 2yr old corgi because she was moving to a much smaller house and with 4 dogs already she just didn't have the room. We decided we would try it for a week on a sort of doggie day care basis...Mattie, that's the corgi, would come and spend the day with us and then we would take her home at night. All went well...in fact it went so well that after the second day Mattie simply refused to go back...she had found her home and we had found the perfect dog. Within a week even the husband was saying things like..."who's the prettiest dog?" something I never thought I'd live to see.


For 13 years she was a constant part of our lives. She went on every trip, kept me company when all the guys were off to school, and was adored by all our cats who considered her an honorary member of their tribe.


Her funny bouncing run and the way she loved to dig through snow, how she slept on the AC vents all summer, her wonderful smile...she took over our hearts in the way that only pets can do.


Last Monday, Nov. 22, we had to put our sweet Mattie to sleep. She had gotten progressively weaker and more ill over the previous month until at last she couldn't stand, and we decided it was time. It was so hard. Luckily we have a wonderful vet who comes to our house and she took care of everything so she passed at home surrounded by the people she loved.

I don't know if I'll ever have another dog but I'm sure that I had the honor of sharing my life with one of the best dogs ever.

Adventures in Beekeeping - Part One

Back in late Spring my husband and I began the first steps in becoming beekeepers. We took a class... my Dad went along for the class too because I guess he wants to be a vicarious beekeeper. It was fascinating stuff and we were ready to dive in and start but it was too late in the year to actually get our hive, so plans were laid and the idea began to grow. Last Friday we took the next step. It was a gorgeous Fall day and we all hopped in my Dad's truck and made our way to Brushy Mountain in western NC to pick up our hive. It wasn't that far, about a 90 minute drive...or it would have been if some people listened to directions...and soon we arrived here...


We had a wonderful time poking about and looking at all the cool bee stuff. Here's my DH looking bemusedly at our haul.


We got everything we needed (hopefully) to get started, piled it all in the back of the truck and began the journey home ...or at least that was the plan..but my Dad has never met a dirt road that he didn't want to explore so we spent an hour driving up and down some tiny back roads and seeking some adventure. The trees were gorgeous...


...but eventually I had to nicely tell him that if he didn't get me some sustenance very soon I was going to probably start gnawing on his leg...low blood sugar makes me extremely cranky, it's a family trait...so we made our way back to civilization and some lunch. Next up we paint our hive and then wait until Spring to get our bees. I'll keep you posted!

And I leave you with our inspiration for beekeeping. This is our friend Mark, the bee whisperer, in the act of capturing a swarm and convincing them to live in one of his empty hives. It was taken by his wife and is such a cool picture.

Autumn Snapshots

Autumn is without a doubt my favorite time of year. I love the cooler weather, the sharp scents of woodsmoke and decaying leaves, and the colors...oh my the colors! Brilliant blue skies and leaves in amazing shades of red and gold. Here's a tree that is directly across the street from my house. For a couple of weeks every year the setting sun shines through it in the afternoon and bathes my home in the most amazing golden glow...


This one I saw on my walk this morning. I love how the reflection looks like an Impressionist's painting.
A tree by the corner on my way home...gorgeous.


Finally, a collection of things I stuck in my pockets along the way...


There are places in the world where it is Winter all the time and others where it is Summer, but I think in the lands of Fae it must be constant magical Autumn.

...And I have no idea what this guy was talking about but he seemed very happy to discuss it at length....