...wonderful Sunday

What a wonderful Sunday.
My step-daughter and her two girls came over to visit their great grandmother and to help us with the Comfort Dolls. There we were, 4 generations, working together to package these precious dolls to send out. The line started with Makaila, 4th grade. Her assignment was to take the dolls out and see if they had a mouth. The dolls made from the sewnews pattern, that are obviously charactered after a human, unfortunately did not include a mouth, a complete oversight on my part when reviewing the wonderful pattern designed by Lucy Blaire. The dolls without mouths, Makaila carefully followed the two dot/ 1 dot tutorial and then passed it over to her Grandpa, my DH. My DH then proceeded with the rest of the drawing process and put the squiggle line and outline. Into the "ready for tags" pile they went.
Next, Miss Lilly, 3, handed her Mom a tag and a doll for her to pin to complete the assembly.
Throughout all of this,  I was printing out the letters to recipients and cutting the brown paper bags for packaging, all the while listening to the ooows and ahhhs and "OMG she is SOOO Cute!" exclaimed from the girls. Smiles, laughter, and sharing.
Miss Lilly and My Makaila have been through more than children should. Their mother, more than a woman should.
What a wonderfully cleansing inhale and exhale this day was.
Warm Smiles to All,
Brenda

...the freedom of yes

I love listening to podcasts, and audiobooks. You will often find me working around the house with my earbuds in or sitting at my desk working on a doll with a voice coming from the computer keeping me company.

Tara Brach is one of my faves to listen to. I love the calming tone of her voice, the humor in her meditation talks, the cadence of her speech. She's become a really good friend, even though she is not aware of our bond.

Today I was listening to the "freedom of yes" podcast, and one part really struck me. Allowing ourselves to say "yes" to the "no". I don't know about you, but within myself, I'm finding some places where I just don't want to go. These are not physical places now, but feelings and places from my past that when I start to feel them, I get all bunched up and freaky and just, if I'm being true to myself, afraid. What I heard Tara say in this listen was, instead of shutting down or denying that feeling, honor your fear by saying yes. Yes, to the no, and don't lean into that experience right now. Honor what your gut is telling you. What I think is really cool, is that it isn't using denial, it is stepping, even if it is just the fleshy part at the tip of your big toe into what is, and saying Yes, I know this feeling leads somewhere, but No, I can wait to address it, I can address it when I am ready. What a huge accomplishment. Once again, it isn't using denial, it is taking responsibility and control over ones own life. Huge!

I just wanted to share that with you. If you are interested in learning more about Tara Brach just click on her name, I linked it to her site, or you can find her free podcasts in the itunes store.

Wishing everyone a wonderful weekend,
Smiles to All,
Brenda

...revisting an old idea

I'd love to say that I am this wonderful humanitarian who is reaching out to the masses, but actually, I'm just a gal who wants to share and make dolls and express myself. And really, that's more than enough, it's plenty. There are so many great free doll patterns on the web as well as wonderful sample patterns in books and our imaginations are the only limits to how we can change and adapt these dolls to our own personal styles.

So this year...I'm starting 2013 a little early ( I know very optimistic of me with the Mayan Calendar and all)...I am going to post different-how to's (with a downloadable pdf, which I need to learn how to do) throughout the year. The sewnews pattern was such a success that I thought that this would be a great way to continue. Not only will this generate more wonderful dolls to donate, but may also provide us with an opportunity to try something new, and grow in our own skills.

Our first tutorial will be a yarn throw doll...with free-motion quilting. NOO don't go, you don't have to know how to free motion quilt, how about some glue and a few securing stitches...Phew!! got you back.

I am really looking forward to the coming year and continuing sharing this journey with all of you.

Smiles to All,
Brenda