...sew news.com...featuring our project with their doll template..

I am always amazed at how much we all can achieve. It seems like  I don't really do that much, I know this, because i know I could do more. But, I'm going to put that aside. What each and every one of does, helps! That is the bottom line.  In one of the recent posts, pchickki used the word "ashamed"...that kinda hit me. Why?!? Because I feel the same way. I feel that I should be doing more, I can be doing more, why am I not doing more?...those damn "shoulds" they are bothersome as they don't account for the actual "what's" that we ARE doing...my goal...put shame aside, it's completely unproductive and an undermining little (cover your ears) prick (there, yes,  I said it) That is how strongly I feel about shame, it's cunning and conniving...best just to steer clear.

So, here we are in a new year and SewNews.com has added us as their project. Lucy Blaire has created her own pattern to share with her readers in hopes to encourage more dolls to be donated. She has developed a wonderful, simple pattern to follow. Every month she will be highlighting our project this year in hopes to raise more awareness. GIANT THANK YOUS! to Lucy and SewNews.com
I wish everyone a wonderful new year.
With warm Smiles to All,
Brenda

... welcome to my new visitors!!

I hope everyone is finding their holidays pleasant. They can be a bit of a burden sometimes which...isn't that just the most ridiculous thing?? Ohhh the irony! I received a wonderful greeting earlier this month from some lovely new dolls. A giant thank you goes out to Nancy in Florida!!! She sent in the most beautifully done dolls. You are saying..."Brenda, that's FANTASTIC, let's see"...I know, I wish i could share, BUT, I can't find my cord again for the camera. (alas, a common foible of mine) As soon as I find it, or, break down and purchase a new one, I will upload the pics that I have taken to share.
In the meantime, Happy upcoming year. I wish everyone the best that life has to bring....don't forget that can sometimes be wrapped in struggle...it's worth the unwrapping!!
Smiles to All,
Brenda

...the Australian Connection...

I received a letter today from Elizabeth in Australia.  Stop..backup... On Sunday we, Elizabeth and  I were contacted via e-mail by Jeannie Ward who works for a women's shelter in Sydney, she really loved our project and what we are accomplishing. On Oct. 9th, they are having a  "Community Cares Day" to help raise awareness of domestic/family violence and related issues. She invited us to be involved in some way.

OK...fast forward to today...
Elizabeth, our Australian CDP sponsor received her first doll donation in the mail! She is hoping that Jeannie will be able to display these with flyers for the  "Community Cares Day".  The timing could not have been any better.
It never ceases to amaze me how the powers that be deliver.
Now here is the photo Elizabeth included

These wonderful dolls are from a  well known Australian doll designer,  Delys Brady, who has donated part of her collection.  A lovely lady and a lovely gesture!
 Once again, thank you one and all for your participation and support for our project. It is because of every individual that our group is  such a success.
Smiles to All,
Brenda

...mystery solved

the unknown Artist is Lynette Cahill fromTucson, AZ. This is a direct quote from Lynette: 

 

"   I primarily make quilts and use the surface design techniques I have learned in the dolls.  Besides going to a good cause, the dolls give me the opportunity to finish something on a lot less time than a quilt and they are a good avenue for my slightly skewed sense of humor."

 

Lynette's sense of humor comes through and they are just wonderful. !! Thanks for solving the mystery

Happy Days to All,

Smiles,

Brenda

good morning...donations given their due....

good morning to everyone! First off, this summer I received many wonderful donations that were not given note. So, here it is!!

a giant box full of comfort dolls from Colleen Cheshire...the box literally overfloweth, 126 comfort dolls to be exact!

Kudos our wonderful French Connection Jill McNeilly of bois-fleurie.blogspot.com. Thank you so much for such a wonderful donation. Your faces are just fantastic!
CA Haskell from Texas sent these wonderful gems! I so love that everyone is so different and so uniques with their dolls!

Next up...ugh...I don't know who these are from, I misplaced the card...BUT...I absolutely love these!!! all the wonderful different face beads and designs you incorporate are just a hoot!! Please, set me straight so that I may give you the artist a name.


If I have somehow missed someone, please let me know. The summer without internet was just enough of a snafu to throw-off this already off -kiltered blogger!

Smiles to All,
Brenda

...where does it go?

I find it incredibly hard to believe that we are already almost through the month of July! Where does it go? I hope everyone is enjoying their summer. I have found yet another new distraction. One of the vendors at the farmer's market in Culver Indiana has rescued some Alpacas. OK, right there, HOW COOL! (wait it gets better) If you have never felt unprocessed alpaca fleece, it is amazing. All I can compare is to is wonderful light cotton candy that doesn't get sticky and you can snuggle up with. I am completely serious, I have never been in contact with anything so delicious that ISN'T food.
Anyway, she shears her Alpaca's, washes, and then handcards the fibers (all of this is new verbage as I didn't know a thing 2 weeks ago), then, she hand spins on a spindle the fibers into yarn. Now, if you know anything about me, one thing you do know is that I am a "process" creator...just love a process. So, of course, I jumped in with both feet. She recommended the book "Respect the Spindle" which is wonderful. It is chucked full of photos, instructions, history, and just a variety of different ways to make yarn. I also highly recommend the book. I bought a spindle, which was made from a wooden toy truck wheel, dowel rod and hook, really, that simple...and off I went.
Believe it or not, that isn't the best part of the story...she is bringing me a pound, yes, a pound of unprocessed fleece. I will get to do all of the work. I can't wait to wash and card the fleece...I don't have any handcards yet though...can you say "Christmas Present"?
Smiles to All,
Brenda

...excuses...excuses

This lack of internet is quite the adjustment! Quickly, here are the pics I promised. Thanks to everyone!!! The author of the piece Nicole Macdonald sent me a list of questions and asked me to answer and also send her pics. I must have sent 30 different pictures of everyones wonderful work. These are the pics that she chose to include. Once again, what a wonderful village we are.  I have been working on ball jointed dolls lately, which is a wonderful consumption of time. I am extremely fortunate to have summers off to really delve into creating. I will work on being more accountable and organized on this site...progress, not perfection!
Smiles to All,
Brenda