Crochet – Organizing Threads

April 5, 2015April 5, 2015

Easter bunny

When I saw this bookmark from DROPS Design I thought about the bedtime ritual in Scotts Valley, CA. Gary reads Mina to sleep almost every night. His favourite book lately is The Rootabaga Stories by Carl Sandburg.

The first time I heard Mina’s bedtime story I wondered to myself, “What was that author smoking when he wrote that?!” But the wonderful effect of the author’s nonsense repetition and Gary soft reading voice put both me and the little girl to sleep in short order!

I have had a lot of trouble sleeping over the years. I’ve tried various remedies, but none have been so effective as listening to “Winnie the Pooh.” Again, the narrator’s voice and the fact that I don’t need to listen to the story to find out what happens next (because I know the story well) allows my mind to calm and drift off with the words. Other stories in my playlist include Peter Dennis reading “The House at Pooh Corner,” Christopher Milne’s auto-biographies, “The Enchanted Places: Beyond the World of Pooh, Part 1″ & “The Path through the Trees: Beyond the World of Pooh, Part 2″; “The Little Prince” by Antoine de Saint-Exupery, & “Dragon Tales” by Kenneth Grahame and Edith Nesbet. I’m all in favour of Gary recording his readings — it would be as effective as any of the books this playlist!

bookmark — Bunny marking a place in another Classic before heading to California.

July 27, 2013July 27, 2013

Introducing: Pickles B.T.L.

Mina has discovered the joy of dressing and undressing her dolls and no longer needs a lot of help from her Mom. Trina asked if I could make some clothes for her buddies. I do enjoy making doll clothes, but I really want to have a model when I do it. I want to know the finished item will fit properly.

As well, today there was a birthday party for my great-nieces, and I needed to get a gift. Because Mina loves her Lalaloopsie buddies so much I thought maybe the twins would also like them.

The Target store just opened across the expressway from my house so I went over at opening, 8:00 o’clock this morning. They had a few Lalaloopsies, but nothing I really liked. I decided to bite the bullet and go to Fairway Road to ToysRUs. They weren’t open that early. But Walmart was. As a practice I avoid Walmart (dislike of some of their business practices) but today I went. I found what I was looking for:

Why Pickles B.T.L.? Because she has rollerskates, just like my favourite little girl:

Mina's rollerskates — Mina’s rollerskates

And for Maya and Makayla I found soft dolls (I can’t quite understand the love of these hard plastic, heavy-headed dolls myself) Ember Flicker Flame and Mittens Fluff’nStuff.

So now I can begin making doll clothes. I have crocheted a shrug and shoes which will be mailed to California on Monday. I am working on a dress. So more posts will be coming.

October 24, 2010November 13, 2010

Billie’s Sweater

My poor little doggie shivers in the cold air. So I decided to make her a sweater. I used the yarn left over from the monkey slippers and toy I made for Mina. the pattern is a free one from Bernat’s website.

You can see from the photo how enthused my little friend is with my gift!

August 10, 2010

Another project finished!

It feels very good to at last have Mina’s watermelon sweater finished. I also made a matching sweater for her new baby (who does not yet have any other clothes).

August 4, 2010August 4, 2010

Another baby outfit

I did another Itsy Bitsy Baby outfit (pink) and put the finishing touches on the Ladybug outfit (note the “homemade” ladybug on the headband :-)). One naked baby to go – in the back row of the picture. This one I want to make a little reindeer outfit – cause that is what my Mina wore at Christmas time. I was able to pick up a tan coloured bamboo #10 crochet cotton at Herrschners today. I am using this particular doll because, Mina, when she is uncertain about something puts her two little hands behind her ears,and this particular doll reminded me so much of her.