As part of my amigurumi journey this fall/winter I took up my son’s suggestion that a make their dog; well then I also had to make their cat (one more to go).
Here are the originals and the models
Grandpets
Butterfly
Many years ago, I made this butterfly for my former pastor and dear friend, Bertha Landers. This afternoon I was privileged to visit with her briefly in her new home in a retirement complex, and the butterfly graced her coffee table.
The butterfly is often used as a symbol for new life. And Bertha was, for me, a midwife for a new life. After Volker died, when I struggled to come to terms with the changed world I lived in, Bertha listened and advised, walking with me through the darkness.
I chose to make the butterfly of stain-glass. It was a craft that Volker indulged in for several years before his death. He taught me, though I could never make the neat welds that he did. And so, this butterfly spoke of both the old and the new.
Thank you, Bertha. I am forever grateful for your faith, for your love, for your influence in my life!
An Anabaptist Learning Workshop
Following Jesus Together While Having Very Different Beliefs
How does kimchi relate to following Jesus? Pablo (Hyung Jin) Kim-Sun and Jinah Im were quite happy to explain last Saturday (April 7).
| Kimchi Ingredients (Simple version) | Congregational Ingredients |
|---|---|
| green onions | varying genders |
| chives | singing styles |
| sea salt | praying styles |
| red chili powder | ‘heart’ language (first language spoken) |
| fermented shrimp | who is Jesus? |
| anchovy sauce | what is the meaning of Jesus’ death |
| onion | what is the meaning of Jesus’ resurrection? |
| Fuji apple | how do we live faithfully? |
| Asian pear | what does it mean to live justly? |
| garlic | (and many more) |
| ginger | |
| sticky rice |
Process
- There are hundreds of varieties of kimchi, just as there are hundreds of varieties of congregations.
- Most of us recognize cabbage kimchi, but other vegetables can also be used. Those of us in the workshop are ‘European’ Anabaptists, but often now our congregations include people from other parts of the world.
- Kimchi has evolved over the centuries; Napa cabbage and chili powder are more recent additions to traditional recipes. Our Anabaptist beliefs and understandings have also evolved over the last 500 years and hopefully will continue to do so.
- Some ingredients in kimchi get blended together, some are left distinct. So too the ingredients of our congregations, some things get mashed together, some things stay distinct.
- Kimchi needs time to ferment, to create that unique flavour, each day tasting a little sharper. Can we recognize how the church also needs time to ferment, how over time we can become more flavourful?
- In Korea making kimchi is a community event. So together we learned how to make kimchi and how we might use diversity to demonstrate the vastness of God’s love to the world.
Soft Sculpture Dolls
I’ve long liked making toys.
About 35 years ago I started making soft sculpture dolls. It was the beginning of the Cabbage Patch Kids craze, and I thought I could do a better job — so I bought a pattern for Miss Martha’s (?) “Little Sonshine Baby.” It was a 14″ doll.
Not being satisfied with that size only I graphed the pattern and enlarged it, first to 18″ and finally to a 24″ doll.
I took orders to make and sell these dolls. Friends, family, and strangers ordered dolls with varying skin, eye and hair colours, hair styles (or bald), freckles or not, some dressed, some not. These order sheets represent over 60 dolls that I made.
I made only two 24″ dolls, for my own kids.
I take great joy and satisfaction knowing that at least some of these dolls are still being played with by another generation.
Fortune’s Shawlette ~ updated
The Crochet-a-long Google+ community is working on shawls for January. I liked the looks of the Fortune’s shawlette and decided to make it.
Several years ago I bought Drops Lace (70% Baby Alpaca, 30% Mulberry silk) in a grey-green. It has sat and waited for the right project; this is it. I’m using a 6mm hook with a double strand of yarn. It is so soft. I’m looking forward to having it finished. 
And here it is, one week later, unblocked, blocking, and detail.
