Barbara's Creative Projects
A friend’s family adopted a senior dog, a very cute chihuahua named Jax
My friend asked if I could crochet a mini-Jax. So I did.
Then, because she has two young sons, she asked it I could make a second one so they would each have one. Jax Too is now ready to go with his twin to his new home
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
Made for my grandkids.
Made with scrap yarn using Day 1 pattern from Garn Studio Christmas Calendar
https://www.garnstudio.com/pattern.php?id=12500&cid=19
As well, using scrap or thrifted yarn I recently created some critters for my church’s silent auction
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.
My granddaughter loves dolls, and probably has more than she can accurately count. She decided she wanted an “American Girl,” but she is, of course, Canadian though she lives in California. So her Mom made a deal with her: if she sold some of her current toys she could use the money to buy a Maplelea doll. (A good deal, what with the low loonie!)
Consequently, Mina ordered (and Grandma received – it was shipped to my house) a Maplelea friend. Mina decided her name should be Chrissy Burkard Gehiere Bacon, because of Aunt Chrissy and “I likes bacon.” But when Uncle Simon complained that she didn’t name her doll after him, she added “Uncle Simmie” to the end!
After I picked the doll up from the post office Mina allowed me to unbox her. Definitely a pretty doll, but not dressed for winter. So I found some suitable yarn and made her an outfit. I think she is pretty well off now. (Mitt pattern follows)
