The Dolls of the Valley...

This is Part 1 of a series of posts about crochet dolls and their clothing. Maybe not the kind of topic some people would find interesting, but this is my hobby blog, and these are things I do when I'm not writing, which is my chosen career. I'm a stay-at-home grandma now, with an all adult household, so that officially makes me an empty-nester. I'm so very fortunate to have my adult children, three grandchildren, and my very dear daughter-in-law all living in our old family home, a mere 12 miles and a 20 minute drive away. So we see each other often. And we call and text a lot too. Since I'm a published writer by trade, I like to do something a little different when I do have some 'spare' time. Crochet is one of those things, and others benefit by what I make.

Oh and the valley thing in the post title? Obviously a pun based on the book (and subsequent movie) by author Jacqueline Susann. Actually, our homes are in The Last Green Valley so it's not all that far out a concept. I am privileged to live in this gorgeous rural part of Connecticut and I like to sit and make things when I can. So the following is the first installment of a winter's worth of making crocheted dolls, doll clothing, and accesories. Fun and relaxing for me, and very welcoming for the dear grandchildren who are always delighted to find something new at Grandpa and Grandma's house whenever they come to visit.

Now off we go to toyland...

When you have grandchildren, you always want to give them things. But I think it's important that they learn that not every gift comes from the store. Since I am a crocheter and I do that often in the evenings to relax after writing all afternoon, I'll often make something for the kids. So last year I got on a doll kick.

My granddaughter Terralyn loves dollies. I think she has a couple dozen at home, and we've got a few assorted ones here. She's always after me to get them new clothing, and I've been able to cobble some outfits together. But I got to thinking along the way, what if I made her some 100% homemade dolls? Would she at such a young age appreciate having something that is strictly one-of-a-kind, made by Grandma Nancy? I had plenty of yarn to use up after all...

 I've made crocheted fairy and witch dolls before, but that was long before the grandkids were around, and over the years I had kind of moved on to other projects. So it had been quite a while since I had done something 3D and stuffed that was meant to be played with. I had to relearn the techniques involved, and refreshed my memory by looking at patterns online. I figured male or female, I'd use the same body type and just change out yarn colors for skin and hair, and then style them as I saw fit. I have below some random photos of the first doll that I was able to create. There are a lot of in-progress shots and clothing and accessories. Techniques varied a bit too depending on whose ideas I was following or whether I was just cobbling things together. I will tell you, they all get played with by both Terralyn and her year older brother Zachary. These dolls have adventures that require them to change clothing often! Because the three biggest dolls in this series are about the same size, they can share clothing and accessories.

I thought for today's post, we'd look at the first doll I made. She's an off white skinned blonde with pigtails that I call Heidi, though Terra has her own names for her, and those randomly change. These doll bodies are made of multiple pieces that get securely sewn together with the same yarn they are crocheted from. Took me about a full week to ten days to make all the parts, stuff them, set in the safety eyes, and embroider the mouths (I'm not great at embroidery), and then figure out the hair. For this little gal I made a skull cap of the bright yellow yarn and added the pigtails to that. That doll got carried everywhere the first day she was spotted. The deal we had was, dolly stays here, but I would periodically make her new clothing or other doodads. I had fun digging into my stashes of buttons and beads to craft her little things I thought Terra would enjoy. 

This is how a crocheted doll evolves. I use my bamboo book stand to prop her up so I can get a decent picture. The clothing is challenging, and following patterns doesn't always work for me, since the doll is made to my specifications. I named her 'Heidi' because of the pink and purple dress, which reminded me of the cover of the Johanna Spyri book I loved as a girl.

Now my granddaughter wanted more outfits, so I fashioned Heidi first a romper type playsuit and a sunhat...

I'll admit I had fun posing Heidi in her photo shoot. Yes she now has sandals too. Half the fun of a doll is dressing and undressing it.

Terra told me Heidi needed pajamas to sleep in. I wasn't quite up making them, but I did make her a nightie. Even though the back did not turn out too well (I fudged it together) that nightie proved to be just as popular as PJs. All this stuff used up yarn I had on hand. Of course she had to have coordinated slippers as well!

Why Heidi has her sunhat and purse on with her nightie I have no idea, but She does get played with a lot. The biggest disappointment for Terra was not being able to restyle her hair. Well, we can't have everything! 

I have made her some accessories, some of which the other dolls can use as well. After all, even dollies can share their things, because that's what polite people do.

I still need to make Heidi a bathing suit and some other clothing, but we'll be getting back to the sort of weather soon when snuggling in a comfy chair in front of the TV watching DVR'd programs and crocheting is appealing. It's a good change from writing because while it's still creative, it's a different way to use my brain and hands. It gives me a chance to unwind before bed (where I read) and something positive to focus on when the world around us isn't exactly being kind. Besides the ongoing pandemic and disasters in the news, I suffer from chronic pain and it's easy to get caught up in a downward spiral of woe when every big movement hurts. I'm partially disabled with severe athritis now in my spine and legs, and so there is a lot of discomfort and major mobility issues that I'd rather not dwell on. Keeping busy making things is a big part of how I cope with not being able to do all the more active things I used to be involved in. And it keeps the mind young. Anything that I can do that is self-satisfying and brings smiles to others is going to brighten up my day as well. 

So this is just one sample of the kind of projects I get involved with. I have other dolls I can feature. Next time I post here, we'll take a look at the evolution of another one or two of them. Thanks for stopping in to see what I've been up to, in my 'spare' time.

~Nancy

BOOK REVIEW: STAR WARS: THE APPROACHING STORM by Alan Dean Foster

The way the world has been over the last several months between the global pandemic and all the other problems we have to deal with, there are times when we certainly want to get lost for a while within the pages of a good book for some escapist literature.

Set in the time between The Phantom Menace and Attack of the Clones, Jedi Master Obi Wan Kenobi and his apprentice Anakin Skywalker find themselves teaming up with another Jedi Master and her apprentice on a diplomatic mission in hopes of keeping the planet Ansion from leaving the Republic. At this moment, no one knows that the Republic is being torn apart from within by Supreme Chancellor Palpatine and his allies. The Jedi are only aware that if Ansion was to secede, it would also be taking several other worlds with it because of various treaties that unite those planets, which would initiate the beginning of the end for the Republic.

The Jedi quartet find their task difficult to carry out because of all the various factions on Ansion that must be united and agree on a decision. But other forces, aligned with Palpatine and hoping to increase their own fortunes in the process, are also aware of Ansion’s strategic value and will stop at nothing to prevent the Jedi and their apprentices from successfully carrying out their mission.

Since the Disney Corporation gained ownership of the Star Wars franchise in 2012, there has been some debate over what is considered part of the official canon nowadays beyond the movies and television shows. While this novel now falls into that gray area despite its time setting and plot, there is no denying the strong prose of long time science fiction writer Alan Dean Foster.

Overall, a good read for both Sci-Fi and Star Wars fans.

Look what my son made!

 As a parent, we all like to talk about how proud we are of our kids, no matter how old they are. One of the things that makes me feel good is knowing that some of my love of reading and crafting has been passed along to the next generation. My older son Jason is an avid reader who often asks for books as gifts, and both sons are strong supporters of my writing career. Jason has shown some talent for writing as well, and I wish he would do more, though his life is very busy and he hasn't had much time for writing lately. But for this post, we're going to showcase some of the crafting talents of #2 son Brian.

Brian got into woodworking a couple years ago, just looking for a hobby that he could pick away at in his 'spare' time. He's got some equipment now, including a woodturning lathe, and so we started seeing all sorts of small projects coming our way. With a full time job, a spouse on an alternate shift, a teenage stepson, and a son and daughter in the early elementary school years, spare time is hard won. He has a little workshop area in the cellar and has made a variety of turned and somewhat carved or drilled projects. With raids on the firewood pile as well as a couple of oak trees that had to come down in the yard, he's had a good supply of wood for those projects, and it getting quite savvy at being able to glance at a random piece and see potential in grain patterns.

The younger kids are always willing to be involved and they've gotten a few handmade wooden toys or helped paint and finish pieces for gifts. This is a great way to start passing the torch, and instilling the idea that not all gifts or toys have to come from some store. I crochet a lot (you'll see some projects in another post) and have made them various costume items and stuffed toys, and I've also been periodically bringing over simple craft projects the youngest kids and I can do together. Craft time is fun time, and it gets them away from the tablets and games that otherwise occupy their minds. Since this is a family that plays video games together as well, the kids get the best of all worlds. They're all doing well in school, so win-win all around.

But this post is about Brian and what he makes, and so I have some pictures...

Above (sorry about the dark picture) is what they tell me is a dragon egg on a pedestal. Everybody knows, Grandma has a thing for dragons! This one was a Mother's Day gift from the family to me, and the youngest grandkids did the painting. It shows what you can do with a lathe and some technique with the gouges and chisels and stuff. I can hand carve a little, but I just am not that skilled with the turning stuff, so I am impressed whenever I see something like this. This still remains proudly on my kitchen table where I see it every day, and I have another similar one on my bedroom windowsill that Brian also made for me that is unpainted but wax finished. You can buy all sorts of things in shops that are kewl looking but don't have anywhere as much meaning as something that someone took the time to create. I treasure them both.

This trio of little decorative pieces sits on my TV stand now so that everyone in the livingroom gets to see them. Made from wood he gathered here and there, they are additional examples of what can be done with some time and imagination. Love this stuff!

The woodworking somehow lead to an interest in forging. Brian and I both have a love of knives of all kinds, and that is what he wanted to learn to make. In selecting woods he kept coming across small pieces that would make great knife handles, and so first a small portable forge and then another, larger one appeared in the backyard. He started with a small anvil and now has a far larger one. He purchased or even made a few of his tools. From that humble beginning, many knives have been turned out as gifts and we've all been thrilled with them. Some of his handles now have bands of different woods together or acrylic inlays, and a few have mostly acrylic handles. Each one is a treasure and I now have useful bladed tools for the kitchen or package opening that are also one of a kind. Below are some examples, but there have been others I don't have pictures of.

Above is my chop knife. I have a small hand and arthritis, and I am often sitting when I'm working on food, so wielding a big chef's knife for mincing onions or herbs is awkward and uncomfortable. This one has the heft of the bigger blade to get things done but without all that extra length that I don't need. In the first picture you can see that the tang goes all the way through the handle and is riveted in place, making it secure and sturdy. And my hand doesn't go numb halfway through. It's seen a lot of use since these pictures were taken.

This is my paring knife. It has an acrylic handle in a green swirl that is very pretty. That wider blade will get through a big onion without too much trouble. Almost too pretty to use, but the ergo grip of the handle makes it comfortable and less likely to slip on me. I love that knife! Again full tang riveted in place.

Many of these knives start out as steel files. Sometimes, depending on the use, Brian leaves the file ridges in. The one above started out wanting to be a knife, but broke during part of the process, and so he fashioned it into a kiridashi, a Japanese style craft and untility knife with an an angled blade tip that can be used for carving or cutting clefts in tree branches to be grafted. This one stays on my desk in a holder where I have other small tools and I use it often for slitting that fibrous tape that packages come sealed with. That's something it does extremely well. So from an unfortunate mishap came something useful. I love the banded wood handle on this one, which also ate up some smaller scraps, and the rubbed finish. It's small, fits in the palm of my hand.

I think this one started out as an experiment. Since I needed another package opener for the kitchen, that's where it remains. Like the kiridashi, it does a great job on that infernal fiber packing tape, and if I'm careful, I can open letters with this too. It reminds me of Iron Age tools I've seen. Nothing much gets scrapped if it can be made decorative or useful.

The same Mother's Day that I got my turned dragon egg stand that was hand painted by the youngest grandkids, my dear daughter-in-law Stacey also got one, as well as a knife of her own. Mommy got the blue egg, because blue is Mommy's favorite color. Something to treasure because the kids will never be that young again, but this memory will linger. That is one nice little knife, and I love the design and shape of the handle. It shows you how much imagination goes into what Brian makes.

This is just some of the acrylic blanks above. That's likely the catalog they came from. Hobbies aren't cheap and I know this stuff is expensive, but what an impact it makes on each piece. Well worth it to see someone's eyes light up when they open a handmade gift and see something they never dreamed could be made in your backyard.

Lee got a letter opener with a leafy handle. Now that is a real conversation piece and looks pretty cool displayed on his desk. Reminds me of an old quill pen—so appropriate for a writer. You can't buy anything like that.

Whoever was gifted this knife I'm sure was thrilled. There's a lot of time in all of these. A lot of learning along the way as well. You'd never know it to look at them though.

 

I believe this little knife might have gone to Stacey's sister. Whoever it went to got a lovely piece of artwork that is also quite useful. That acrylic is just sooooo pretty! Brian has been trying to make sheaths for some of the knives, but he admits that leather working is not his strong suit. The sheath is functional, but it takes a lot of time to learn to handle leather. I did a little leather crafting when I was in a crafts class in high school (a bazillion years ago) so I can testify to how much of a learning curve there is. As a spare time hobby, it can take up most of your time. The knife is the real star anyway.

Another knife that shows its file origin.  This might be the same gifted knife above, but you can see the ridges far better in these pics. That white shop rag is often how they come wrapped, tied shut with curling ribbon. I'm thinking that handle might be tiger maple. He is good at finding interesting wood just laying in a pile.

Brian has branched out a bit from the knives with his forging, and so for Mother's Day this year, I got this lovely heart shaped wrought iron hook. This is a double picture of the same two-piece set, to show you the different ways it can be used. Right now I have it set up in the second position, hanging off one of the knobs of my wardrobe, where I can hang a tote bag of craft items or a sweater to 'grab and go'. You can hang something pretty heavy from this as long as the place you hang it can support the weight. I've seen stuff like this in gift shops for upwards of $20 and they were small. Hanging the way I have it, it's 11 inches long. I've been to Sturbridge Village and watched the blacksmiths make twisted and shaped wrought iron things with that hot dipped linseed oil finish and so I know how much work went into this. Nothing says love like a handmade heart!

Speaking of love, sometimes a little girl has to have a handmade knife of her own. So Daddy took some time and made her something kid safe so that she didn't feel left out. Could you say 'no' to that face? The best part is, she got to watch it get made. I can't stress enough how important it is that when it's safe and feasible, our kids get to be part of what we do in our 'spare' time. They see that not all gifts have to come from some store, that time and effort makes it possible to master something, and that there's no shame in a project that doesn't come out right because you learn a lot in the process. Handcrafts generally aren't competitive, and they require a different mindset, so you can let go of a lot of the stresses of the day. Even when they fail miserably, you know what not to do next time and can focus on what went wrong and why rather than feeling defeated. There is a great satisfaction in planning, executing, and finishing a project which will be one of a kind. These are skills we should not lose, no matter what they are. Working with your tools, your mind, and your hands can be very therapeutic. So do think about some sort of hobby if you find you need something else in your life besides the everyday stuff we all have to face. Especially at a time like this, when the world seems to have fallen apart at the seams and we're often hunkering down at home; doing a project together can give everyone involved something to look forward to. It always has worked for me.

Next time I should be posting some of my own craft projects. I still have a lot of catching up to do here.

Hands and mind busy creating make for a tranquil spirit,

~NANCY