Barbara's Creative Projects
On Wednesday, August 22, I spied a (Monarch) caterpillar hanging from the bottom of a leaf. I’m been checking on the chrysalis regularly, hoping maybe to see the butterfly when it emerges. (I will be adding photo frequently until the chrysalis is empty and the birds have flown away — or I have, as I will be heading to California for Mina’s ninth birthday.)
Right near the chrysalis was a bird’s nest — goldfinches are raising their brood. I try hard to not disturb the birds.
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.
I’m impatiently waiting for spring. So when my hibiscus bloomed last weekend I soaked it in, starting with a time-lapse video of the flower opening.
