I just put the finishing touch, a first place ribbon, on the latest big footed bunny. She’s what they call a horse girl. Coincidentally, a fellow equestrian is talking shop today so fittingly this bunny shall be named Alicia Bunny.
Daddy’s Day
Happy Father’s Day! Hope all you dads out there are as happy as this one here, playing with his new garage sale find, an old 1950s Pachinko game.
crazy doll lady
Yep that’s me. Or it is soon going to be. We went to this amazing crazy estate sale on Friday that was baby doll madness! I think this woman must have been the old Grandma in the neighborhood who has an open invitation for all the kids to come over to play with a stockpile of outdated toys. When we first walked into the backyard and saw the boxes and boxes and boxes of dolls I about had a heart attack. It quickly became apparent though that the majority of them were filled with very used, very played with baby dolls. Almost all of them with choppy haircuts. I was a little disappointed at first – as I’m definitely in the market to start my own stash of baby dolls for niece Maggie – but there was so so much stuff and ultimately lots great finds when we hunted through everything.
We found these sisters in the basement and though pretty beat up, I think they are just the most beautiful dolls. They’re sitting on the new huge blue basket.
And this, such a sweet sweet find, a pink basket babydoll bassinet! at first I was, oh, let’s get it for Maggie. yeah right. it’s most definitely for me. I’ve already got my Camilla doll playing in there.
I couldn’t pass up these great mod Japanese dolls. I’ve seen them all over my Japanese craft books. I’ll have to hunt down some photos. The tags say they’re Dream Dolls.
I had the most fun in the cheapy bin of souvenir dolls. I’ve been thinking of this type of doll a lot since I saw this display at the Childrens Museum. I could have gone crazy but I think I showed a lot of restraint. Although I did get a few more than I have pictured here.
and while we’re on the doll subject, I finally found myself some Polish Joli dolls. I’ve been wanting these for so long. Now that I’ve finally started my collection maybe Mia and I can form a club.
I’m a dorky, happy doll lady with all my finds. A little stressed about where they’re all going to live but still warm and fuzzy. Poor Oscar’s misery at the estate sale ("Where are the CARS!") has been alleviated by a most excellent garbage truck toy find at this morning’s garage sales. And wait til you see what Tim found! But that’s for Father’s Day…
hobbibot
These are hurried, hectic modern times we live in. Stressful, chaotic, overscheduled times. Running to and fro, errands, classes, work, activities, groups, outings. How is one supposed to find the time for relaxation, for recharging, for hobbies. Introducing the Hobbibot 2006. No time to knit? Don’t worry. Go ahead and work right up til bedtime. Wash all those dishes and do one more load of laundry because the Hobbibot will knit that baby sweater for you. This new deluxe model does it all, gift knitting, fashion knitting, even the very relaxing and therapeutic afghan knitting. With turbo buttons for intarsia, cables and socks you’ll never have to pick up a knitting manual again. The latest model even includes a research function which will hunt around for hours online for cute designer patterns and then automatically recalibrate the patterns for cheap yarn substitutes. The future is now.
yarn dispensing pack
working on a previously abandoned baby sweater
control panel (stitch markers by maize hutton, here.)
oh wait! missing a few things. ok, now the knitting can begin…
a pair of big footed bunnies for sale
(if you’re on the mailing list this is going to seem very copied and pasted, it is!)
need a bunny with big feet? what a coincidence as I am putting up 2
such gals for sale in the shop today at 3:30pm (central time). pics of elinor and elizabeth are up now on flickr if you want a peek.
and please be aware that I have to mark items as sold manually, so while I
will be on my toes there is a slight chance something may seem
available when it’s not. please refresh the page often and hopefully
all will go smoothly.
survived
Weekend recap: unbelievably beautiful weather, a so-so morning of garage sale hunting saturday (more on that later over at t.c.), teenage battle of the bands in the park (funk? still?), few stops at the playground, but the main event was trying to keep 80 stems of spray roses alive in my kitchen turned florist shop from friday morning until the sunday afternoon baby shower. I ordered the flowers online and it worked out so well. I put them in buckets, mixed them up a special nectar, turned off all the lights and cranked up the a/c and they complied by holding the line all weekend and then opening up just in time for the shower. Sadly we were so rushed to set up this is the only decent photo I shot.
For the tables I bought paper placemats (orange) and paper tablecloths (pink and cream) at the party store and set down the cream tablecloths with the pink ones folded up into runners and centered over the placemats which I laid out first to create a sort of scalloped edge. Here’s a pic I took this morning in the kitchen showing the vase/tin better and the ‘thank heaven for little girls’ garland. And thank heaven for Tim, my expert in house cutter who meticulously cut out all these circles! The garland is our homemade pink version of this.* Note on the tins, I bought these reproduction ones on ebay. I saw the idea for tins as vases in Domino magazine. Such a cute idea but test and make sure your tins will hold water. Mine did not I discovered Sunday morning and I had to use ziploc bags as liners.
And to answer some questions about the pattern booklet – we’re not doing a waiting list or pre-order. Trust me, there will be plenty! If you’re not signed up on the mailing list already, you can do so here to be notified when they come in. And yes, we ship internationally and they’ll be for sale up in the regular shop. Looks like it’s snail/butterfly/birdie/turtle next. I’d better go check my felt supply!
*oh and if anyone wants a “congratulations” and “thank heaven for little girls” garland. they’re up for grabs.
complete set
I don’t know what it says about me that I can never make just one of something and always feel compelled to make a complete set but for whatever reason I made three more toys on wheels…
sheep on wheels. after struggling with all sorts of unsatisfactory legs I decided to make a big flatish sleeping sheep.
pig on wheels.
bear on wheels. he might be my favorite. I love how his feet are all tucked in close so he doesn’t fall off his platform
phew! I feel much better now.
p.s. I forgot people always flip when I use this wrapping paper as a backdrop. I got it a few years ago and it’s made by remarks
