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Mother of Grandmas

8/29/2017

I am a fan of the TV program Game of Thrones. Like a popular character in the show who feels her dragons are her children, I feel like some of my creations are my children too. Especially as I gear up for the upcoming show season.

This season I have been experimenting with some Halloween Grandma Dolls. There are Witch Grandmas, of course, with green hair, spiders and black hats. There are Zombie Grannies with strange faces and red eyes. Grand Mummies are wrapped in white cloth but still manage to be fashionably dressed. And even Dr Frankenstein had his Grandma Frankenstein! I have had hours of fun and creativity getting them ready to share. I am never quite sure what each face will look like and they certainly have some unique personalities.

So consider visiting one of my shows. Or look for some of my Halloween Grandmas online if there are any left after show sales. For I am The Wistful Grandma, the first of her name, Maker of Primitive Dolls and Rugs, The Mother of Grandmas.

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Expiration Dates

8/8/2017

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We all have them. Those items in the refrigerator that should have been thrown out long ago. You know the ones. They are in less than prime condition because they have gone past their expiration date. Sometimes they make their presence known because they start to smell or grow that interesting green stuff. Sometimes we find them in the back of the shelf and are amazed at how long they have been there. And sometimes the date says they’re bad but they still look and smell just fine. I have trouble throwing those out. Expiration dates. They help keep the refrigerator in order. But not everything has one.

I heard a saying long ago. “There is no expiration date on a dream”. And as I move into the later years of my life I’m realizing just how true that is. I may be in less than prime condition as compared to my 21 year old self. But my dreams are still valid. Some of them have been on the back shelf but to my surprise this may be exactly the time to move them to the front. They still look good to me and so far no one has told me that they smell! I’ve searched my mind to see if they should be discarded for more “mature” things, if I should just forget about that someday wish list or those things that I knew I always wanted to do but never had time for. I keep looking to see if they have an expiration date. But I can’t find it.

So I guess I’ll just keep going. And I advise everyone else to do the same. But you might want to check out your refrigerator anyway.

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Time to get Fleeced

8/1/2017

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I’ve been working on making more Grandma dolls for my fall craft shows. One component that is needed is wool for their hair. So this week it was time to get a new supply of wool picked, washed and ready to be styled. Time to bring out my bags of sheep fleece.

I first became acquainted with working with fleece many years ago. Honestly, looking at those long yellowish somewhat aromatic (in a sheepy kind of way) curls it is difficult to imagine it as hair on a doll. But the first step is to pick the fibers apart separating them to let any solid pieces of debris fall out. This separation of the fibers also lets the soap and hot water get between each fiber to clean and lift out the greasy lanolin. So today, picking it is. Taking a large curl in my hand I started to tease the fibers apart. Soon I was in my picking rhythm. Repetitive, soothing, mindless. With no effort at all a pile of curls turned into a pile of picked wool. Ready to be washed into Grandma hair whiteness on another day.

I suppose I could just buy some wool already washed and sew it onto my dolls. But it wouldn’ t look the same. It wouldn’t feel the same. And that is what makes each doll so special. The fact that they really are made 100% by me. From their woolen hand washed hair to their hand stuffed (and, yes, I make the stuffing too) toes they are truly one of a kind. And one of a kind is really what being hand made is all about.

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Mother of Grandmas

Expiration Dates

Time to get Fleeced

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Mother of Grandmas

Expiration Dates

Time to get Fleeced

ClassesSign Up Now!

Craft Shows

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Blog Archives

Classes
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