Where are the Dolls?

April 18, 2023

Where are the dolls, Tamdoll?

I started this blog to share my dollmaking, but over the years I shared more and more of other crafts, and somehow the dolls took a back-burner on this forum. (Go ahead, check out this doozy from 2006.)

Looking back, when it came to dolls I was either working on my original pattern making, or sewing other folks' designs... but for reasons that I can't recall now - I didn't post much about them here. It's time to fix this.

Once upon a time, I did have another site featuring my dolls, but the internet swallowed up that host—snapshots can be seen on the Internet Archive. So, the next series of posts will focus on sharing some of my doll making adventures.

Why now? Well, it has been on my mind lately, but recently spurring me into real action is sadly, the failing health of a magical artist who I have admired since I was a teenager.

2 comments dolls

The Mystery of the Vintage Jewelry

February 13, 2022

Dozens of chains, 80+ earrings, oversized charms, quirky 70s & 80s motifs... I've uncovered all of these after storage in my family's closets for over 30 years. Definitely weird that there's so much of it, and I knew it was my grandmother's—but none had been worn!

I got my mother on the phone to tell me how I ended up with all this vintage costume jewelry, and she told me a story about my grandmother and pastries.

Knitting Projects - To Block or Not to Block

January 9, 2022

I only finished a handful of projects in 2021, blocked a few - but was asked by a fellow crafter whether it's really necessary. Take a look at this cowl & mittens -

Simply Bewitching

October 29, 2021

Sorted through my attic and found some dolls I'd almost forgotten about!

Leave a Comment dolls, holiday - halloween

Staying Crafty with Mini Knits

October 25, 2020

A lot has been going on since my last post in January! There hasn't been too much crafting happening here during the COVID-19 pandemic & shutdown -- I cast on a number of knitting projects, sewed some masks, and finished one crochet cardigan -- but it's been hard to focus so not too much to share. One project I took on & finished was an entry for Anna Hrachovec's 2020 Mochimochi Photo + Video Contest & I won a Bonus award for "BEST BIRDS IN FLIGHT"! This was really uplifting and a great thing to experience in September.

If you're not familiar with Anna's Mochimochi Land you're missing out - check her out at https://mochimochiland.com.

When I saw the contest this summer, I decided that a tiny project would be a great motivation for me to start & finish something within a reasonable amount of time. I chose her Bluebirds of Crappiness pattern as inspiration and started knitting....

Eight birds later (one isn't pictured), I had to come up with a video theme! Of course I left this for the last minute so looking up at a decorative birdhouse on my wall, I came up with a plan for "The Great Escape".

2 comments knitting

How Long Does it Take to Finish a Project?

January 31, 2020

Wanting to start fresh for the new year, I'm cleaning up some buckets I've got stacked in my craft room. The first one to tackle - unfinished projects.

One by one I'll address whether each of these will be donated, finished, or the materials recycled into something new. Even though they're just craft projects, the mental weight of thinking of them off and on for so long is something I've got to let go of. I don't want these taking up space in my head anymore (let alone my craft room) - once these are gone, I'll definitely feel freer.

2 comments living creatively

DIY Foam Stamps

September 12, 2019

This project was fun and quick to do.

Being creative doesn't mean you need to go out and buy lots of new craft supplies - you can use things you find around you! Projects don't need to be fancy or complicated to be creative and fun.

At first glance ... I wondered if this one was share-worthy. Is it snazzy enough to share online? Do I need to put up step-by-step directions in this era of "find everything on the internet, there's probably a YouTube video for it"? Does anyone send handmade cards anymore? Does anyone care?

Well, I care. This is what I do, I make stuff, and share it online, so here it is. Experimenting and having fun are part of being creative, and this project was a spur-of-the-moment idea that I tried out with some success. Read on for how I made a simple stamp and created a few base cards that lend themselves to embellishing. It's more personal than a text + bitmoji & I hope it inspires someone to create a card or two.