Lalaloopsie

Mina loves Lalaloopsie dolls. She already has two  “little sisters” and will be getting another “big sister” and a “big brother” for her birthday on Saturday.

On a trip to Daison I picked up some crochet thread and cotton. I made a dress for each of Mina’s “buddies”:

Mina's buddies
Mina’s buddies in their new crocheted dresses.

Trina is making her new dolls clothes – much more sophisticated that what I would make. Mina tried so hard to make the new pajamas fit on her buddy. I finally helped by putting some tiny hair elastics on her arms and legs so they would stay on. Mina particularly like the “party dress.” I think the fact that it is a long dress is what made it a party dress. When the new clothes disappeared overnight the poor girl was heartbroken. So I decided to make her ‘little sisters’ new party dresses. I used scraps from Trina’s makings to hand sew the first one. I decided that, for me, crocheting was much easier.

party dresses
Mina’s buddies get party dresses

I hope Mina has as much fun playing as I had making!

The bag lady

It started with a walk on the beach with my husband in 1985. A very sparkly stone caught my eye. I picked it up.

sparkling_stone

Less than a year later Volker was dead. I kept the stone close, a reminder of happier times. At some point in time, I don’t remember which summer, but I’m certain it was at Miller Lake, I decided to crochet a little bag for the stone so that I could wear as a pendant.

crocheted pendantsBut that wasn’t the only cool stone I had. So I keep on crocheting little bags. I gave many of them away.

Then I got my first iPod. I love listening to audiobooks, but not all my clothes have convenient pockets. So I decided to crochet a little bag for my iPod nano, that, as it is so light, I could wear it around my neck. Of course, one colour would never do. I have many. 🙂

crocheted bags for iPod, coins
crocheted bags for iPod, coins, other treasures

And that isn’t the only thing I might want to put into a pocket. What do you do when you walk the dog and want to take your cell phone, but don’t want to carry a bag? I, of course, crochet another bag. The wonder of it is that it is custom sized. When I get a new phone, I make new bag; the old one is bound to come in handy sometime. Some I make with a long strap to wear over a shoulder and some without the strap, just to protect it in my purse.

crocheted bags for iPod touch, cell phone, poop-bags,
crocheted bags for iPod touch, cell phone, poop-bags,

And speaking of walking the dog, I found those hard plastic poop-bag holder very annoying and rather heavy when clipped to the leash. A little crocheted bag — I like to use elasticized yarn — is so much better! It even hooks nicely onto a cellphone bag.

Ah, but the bags keep getting bigger. Can you have too many bags?

Crocheted purse
Crocheted purse

Tapestry bag
Crocheted bag using the tapestry technique

Crocheted backpack

Really, there is a crocheted bag for every purpose!

 

2-seater glider

My little dog is such a cuddle-bug, she really likes to be close. One of the difficulties on being in my balcony garden is that Billie couldn’t sit beside me, and I couldn’t do anything if she was in my lap — it was always easier just to move back inside.

Last night I bought a 2-seater glider. In a box. Assembly needed.

I spent almost 2 hours on it last evening. Had to do almost everything twice, because I didn’t do it right the first time. Then at 9:00 pm I quit, it was getting too dark. At least the base was together.

I tried again this morning, but I just wasn’t able to get the seat attached. I wasn’t strong enough to pull the fabric tight and get the bolts in place at the same time. Thankfully, my Beloved Man was coming over. Together we finished the task. I am so happy with the results.  So is Billie.

2-seater glider
my new 2-seater glider

Queen Anne’s Lace

My talented brother took this picture in our back yard last night:

Two white-tail deer bucks
Two bucks amid Queen Anne’s Lace

I know they are weeds, but I have always loved Queen Anne’s Lace. I like the picture of the Queen out in the field, carefully laying out her lace to dry and bleach white in the sun.

Queen-Anne's-Lace
Queen-Anne’s-Lace

Several years ago, after looking closely at the flower,

Queen-Anne's-Lace detail
Queen-Anne’s-Lace detail

I decided to create a doily based on the flower. Someday I may try to write down the instructions for it.

Barbara's "Queen Anne's Lace Doily"
Barbara’s “Queen Anne’s Lace Doily”

Itty Bitty outfits

Mina is really too little to dress and undress with the itty bitty babies, but I like to make outfits anyway. One day she will enjoy them more. The original outfits Marjorie and I made are here: here and here.

I made the sundress on a visit to California last summer, and the purple pj’s this past winter. Right now the girl virtually lives in a bathing suit, so I made one for the babies, in aqua, similar to the girl’s. itty bittie babies Mina with the babies at Christmas (2011):

Mina with the itty bitty babies
Mina with the itty bitty babies