Category: update

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Soft Sculpture Dolls

I’ve long liked making toys.

Original pattern pieces

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.

Pattern pieces transfer to graph paper

Not being satisfied with that size only I graphed the pattern and enlarged it, first to 18″ and finally to a 24″ doll.

Pattern enlarged

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.

Order sheets

I made only two 24″ dolls, for my own kids.

My daughter on her 5th birthday with her new 24″ doll, Randi.

I take great joy and satisfaction knowing that at least some of these dolls are still being played with by another generation.

Randi, sitting on my granddaughter’s bed, 2018
My niece’s and nephew’s dolls, now played with by their children
Sammy, 24″ doll made for my son; Baby, 14″ doll made for my granddaughter in 2011 (brought home for repairs); my first ever 18″ doll.
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Waiting for Spring

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.

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California ~ March 2018

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Red Shoes

Yesterday I went shopping for new shoes. [I sincerely dislike shopping, but sometimes it is necessary.] After visiting several stores I found a pair of black shoes that looked good and fit well. But then, because it was a “BOGO 50%off” sale I decided to look for a second pair. I found a pair of red heels. I’ve never bought anything quite so flashy before, but, at least somewhat influenced by Jenny Joseph’s poem “Warning” (When I am an old woman I shall wear purple / With a red hat…) — after all I am a mere two years away from retirement and my hair is purple — I decided to buy them.

This morning I wore the red shoes to church. I have never before had so many people comment on my shoes! In fact, I’m not sure I’ve ever had anyone admire my shoes before. Who knew that splash of colour would have such an impact?

I also considered them to be my ‘courage’ shoes. Yesterday, for the first time ever,  I “preached” the sermon at BMC. Sometime this week it will be uploaded to the Worship Response Blog if you’d like to listen. 

Read more interesting information about the poem: http://www.laterbloomer.com/jenny-joseph/

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