The Woolen Rabbit

A little something new.....

A little whiile back a dear dog friend of mine were talking about different things and she asked me if I had ever thought of knitting doll sweaters.  Huh?  Doll sweaters?  She told me that there was this world of dolls that were collectible and handmade sweaters sold for a fair amount.  She sent me a link to the sweaters and I told her that I didn't think I would have the patience to knit such small items.

What caught my eye however were the amazing customized Blythe dolls.  When I was a child I loved dolls.  I mean I really loved them, so when I had 4 daughters I was thrilled to have a reason to buy beautiful dolls, but do you think any one of them liked dolls? Nope, not a one...well, that's not quite true, Stacey did enjoy them for a spell, but the others....yuck is what their opinion of dolls were.  I finally came to the conclusion that it was me who loved the dolls and if I liked one, I should just get it for me...LOL

I vaguely remember the Blythe dolls when I was in Junior high school...more the commercial than the doll itself.  Kenner produced them for a year and they never did that well and you can see why in this commercial.

They were pretty creepy looking weren't they? When I first saw some of these customized ones, I thought the same thing....creepy and scary, but as I looked a little closer at more images such as this amazing custom girl, I was a bit smitten.  There really are some creepy custom ones and then there are some that are so beautiful, such as this soulful girl.

She is for sale on ebay here.

I know that my days as a wool dyer are limited due to the condition of my back.  Ken and I have talked about different directions for me such as teaching classes and maybe scaling back a bit to just a yarn club and store updates if things don't improve over the next few years, so I am keeping an open mind to other things as well.

When I was a child, in addition to dolls, I loved art.  I used to draw those art school adverts that would be in the back of some magazines, you know what I mean...the turtle head or pirate head, etc (I am giving away my age).  I always dreamed that someday my mother would let me send one in and actually some of the ones I did were pretty good, but those were childhood dreams.

Seeing these dolls brought me full circle right back to those days, which were just about when these dolls first came out in 1972 (I was too old for dolls then).  Sooo....I have purchased some tools and maybe one or two pretty customized dolls and maybe one un-customized one to play with.  Custom hand dyed hair made from alpaca and mohair?  (lots of that floating around here) Hand painted and sculpted faces?  Custom sewn clothes?  Certainly not something you could make a living from, but still........intriquing.  A reason to still play with dolls even when you are grown up.  Sometimes you really can go back to your youth just in a different way.

This lovely Autumn girl lives with me now.  She comes to me from Spain and her creator is lachicadellunar . (these are her pictures used with her permission). She has done an amazing job creating such a sweet, fall fairy.  Autumn has lovely painted leaves on her sleepy eyes and along the back of her neck.  It was hard for me to resist her with Autumn being my favorite time of year and coming from a family of freckled faces, I just loved her.

I see all kinds of new things floating around in my mind like fairy dust....

Ten On Tuesday....

Mmm.....this week's Ten on Ten is a yummy one!  10 Favorite Christmas Cookies, a topic I like very much.

!. Peanutbutter Kiss Cookies ~ My all time favorite cookie and so very hard to resist!

2.  Chocolate Chip Cookies ~  The kids always want them.

3.  Chocolate Crackle Cookies ~ So much chocolate goodness!

4.  Lime Meltaways ~ Very hard to stop at just one.  Yum!

5.  Sugar Cookies ~ An honest little cookie that the kids love to decorate.

6.  Toffee Walnut Cookies ~ If you love Heath Bar candy, you will love these!

7.  Snickerdoodles ~ We love Snickerdoodles!  I've never had maple ones though...giving these a try for sure.

8.  Gingerbread People ~ So fun to make!

9.  Jam Thumbprints ~ I haven't made these in years, but maybe this year.

10.  Pizzelle ~ I have never made these but have always wanted to.  Maybe these too.

Whew.....I finished this just in time! 
What is your favorite cookie recipe?

It's Beginning To Look ......

..... a lot like Christmas!

We had enjoyable weekend here at The Woolen Rabbit.  For starters, the usual Friday nachos and lemon drops.  I know, it doesn't sound like a good combination, but trust me, it really is a nice way to start off the weekend.

The weather on Saturday was not the best for picking out a Christmas tree, but Hannah had to work on Sunday, and we wanted to include her.

A rare picture of Ken, with Hannah's boyfriend Shawn who almost took himself out on the very thick wire holding the trees up...ouch!  Careful there boy!

Hannah was sick today, with what we think is strep throat, so after a visit to the doctor, I opted to stay in with her while she rested and completed the Christmas decorating.  It's always a lot of work, but feels so nice when it is finished.

What did you do this weekend?

Hot Chocolate Race and a little treat.....

I don't usually post on Saturday, but I am this weekend as I am heading out on a road trip to Western Massachusetts for the Hot Chocolate Run and heaven only knows if I will be upright to post on Monday..LOL.  I signed up as a 2 mile walker, but if my back is feeling well I might change to the 5K run. Of course I would have to walk a big chunk of it, but I could put in my earbuds and do week 3 of C25K and I would enjoy that :-).  It will all depend on how this back feels on Sunday.  Fingers are crossed that I can not only drive the 4 hour drive, but do the 5K. :-)

On another note....so many of you have come to know my daughter, Ashley, both here on my blog and as a very welcomed helper at the NETA Spa.  I was so happy when she shared a new song with me, especially since I know how busy her life with teaching has become.  I think you will enjoy her tune as well. :-)

Have a wonderful weekend!

Eye Candy Friday......

Seven geese pierce straight line over rigid bay,
Intervals between them constantly equal,
Pointed wings slash as if joined to an axle:
Today is the ideal movement between yesterday and tomorrow.
Deng Ming~Dao

Have a wonderful and peaceful weekend!

A week of things to be thankful for....

This past Saturday, Hannah and I headed down to Portsmouth to purchase a pair of track spikes for her birthday.  If I have learned nothing else on my back journey, I have learned just how important it is to have the right shoes for your feet.  The Runner's Alley is really good about watching the way you walk barefoot and your foot placement before they recommend a pair of shoes.  I know for sure they have saved me from my lifetime of shin splints.

It was a pretty cold day, so Hannah and I walked quickly from the parking deck to the store, but just as we crossed the street to the Runner's Alley we heard some lovely violin music.  Whaaat???  Violin music on Congress St in Portsmouth??  As we glanced back across the street, there was this little boy playing his violin on the sidewalk.....without a coat....and it was COLD.  OMGoodness, it just about broke my heart, but it also warmed my heart to hear such tender music coming from just a little boy who obviously did not come from the same type of home that my children have enjoyed.

Hannah and I quickly crossed the street to listen to the beautiful music and when I tossed in a bill that was perhaps a little larger than he was accustomed to he lit up like a Christmas tree and my heart lit up as well, even though I really wanted to just take him to a store and get him a coat.  (I am praying that he just chose not to bring one with him that day.)

Everyday, I find new things to be thankful for.....this day was a special one for both Hannah and I. :-)

Ten On Tuesday.....

This week's Ten On Tuesday is, 10 Mittens/Mitts I Want To Knit.

It's been pretty chilly up here, especially on my earlier morning walk/runs, so new mittens are definitely on my mind.  See those mittens above?  Those were my MOST favorite mittens ever.  Polwarth that I had carded, spun, dyed and then over dyed with a cheery red color.  Then I added some angora trim from one of my favorite bunnies, so when I lost them last year I was crushed.  Luckily I have 2 skeins of that same nasty blue (dye fail) polwarth that I can overdye again and recreate these mittens, so I will start off with that pattern.

1.  Claudia's Mittens ~ free directions and very comfy

2.  Eliza Mitts ~  My granddaughter loves the pair that lives in my studio, so she will be getting a pair for Christmas in her favorite vibrant shade of green.

3. Post War Mittens ~ Color work scares the bejesus out of me.  I bought this pattern when it came out and still have not attempted it, but I am going to this year!

4.  Pole Pattern ~ and staying with the color theme, I have the yarn all spun up to knit a pair just like Pat's.

5.  Shallow Mitts ~ to go with the Shallow cowl I am going to make.  I love Bonnie's patterns!  I may even have to buy the recommended yarn which is crazy for a Woolen Rabbit who has more yarn than she knows what to do with.

6. Let It Snow ~ and I have the perfect yarn to use!

7.  Merike's Gloves ~ I made a pair here a few years ago for my daughter, but I love them enough to suffer thru doing fingers again. :-)

8. Susie's Reading Mitts ~ I have loved these forever, I just need to knit some!

9.  Clepsydra Mittens ~ I LOVE Kirsten's patterns!

10.  Fiddlehead Mittens ~ I think that these should move up to 2nd because I love then so.

I love all of these mittens, but I will be lucky if I get more than McKayla's finished as I am busy making the yarn....kind of like the cobbler's kid's shoes. :-)

What is your favorite mitten pattern?

Weekending....kind of.....

I guess that weekending this week actually included Thursday since that was the start of the weekend here.  A weekend that included my entire family visiting for Thanksgiving....and what fun we had.  So much to be thankful for!

My oldest daughter, Stacey was here with her husband and my two grandchildren....and a new little grandbaby is on the way!!  So exciting to be able to knit and quilt for the wee one once we know if it should be pink or blue. :-)

It's also been a year of milestone birthdays.  Ashley's husband turned 30 earlier this month (how is that possible!).  I had the most fun of my life during my thirties, so 30 is good Brian!

Miss Courtney turned 21 in August......we must teach her how to drink like a lady.

.....and this was how she felt about that suggestion....Hmmm.  Charm school?

...and it was a nice treat to have my son, Miles and his fiance, Jen here for the day with her son Jaxon.  I don't get to see them as much as the girls, so I always enjoy their visits.  (notice the hat.....Windschief)

Miss Hannah turned 18 on Thanksgiving day, but I was on the wrong side of the table to get her picture..bummer, so I included a picture that we took a few weeks ago...couldn't not have her pretty face here.  The thing Hannah was most looking forward to was purchasing her very first lottery ticked..LOL

Even the dogs enjoyed the day.  With a new floor and new soft beds, they were happy girls.  A bit noisy with all of the commotion, but still happy.
~

I will share a very touching part of my weekend with you on Wednesday.  It made me thankful all over again.
I hope you had a nice Holiday weekend as well!

Weekending on Tuesday?

For some reason I just can't seem to get my act together on Mondays....have you noticed?  Today's Ten On Tuesday is 10 Things For Which I Am Thankful. Because I covered that in this post not too long ago, I am going to go with what I did this weekend instead. (even though I still have so many more things to be thankful for!)

It's been a while since you have seen one of my cuties here.  Sunday was bath day here, so all 5 of the Cavaliers were bathed and prettied for the holiday....my English Setter will have to wait until this weekend however.  She is a bit more work, so I like to give myself and her one full afternoon for her trim.  Even though she really is just my wonderful pet, I do like to keep her in a show coat, which is a lot of work.  I will post a picture of her next week....she is so pretty after a clip. :-)

This little one is the youngest one whose name is Goose, but she actually prefers Puppy and because she is pretty small, she looks like a perpetual puppy, so we go with that. She is totally convinced that my Setter, Maggie, is really her mother..LOL

The other thing I did was to attend the Saco Valley Fiber Artist's fair which was held on Saturday in Scarborough Maine.  I work with a lot of these ladies at Fryeburg Fair, so it was fun to visit them and support some fellow fiber artists with a little spending. 

The beautiful woven towel and goat's milk soap was created by Kelly Labbe of Dreamweaver Alpacas and the bracelets....ah.....the bracelets, were created by my good friend Val Sullivan.  The pretty blue one and the mahogany colored ones were purchased at Freyburg Fair.  I loved them so much I asked her if she could make me a silver one with lovely swarovski crystal buttons she usually puts on this type of bracelet.  It gave me an excuse to go to this fair to pick it up. :-)  Normally I am not a glitzy kind of girl, but some how that sparkly bling just made my heart sing.  The red and silver ones aren't too fancy, so I can were them almost every day and smile....thanks Val!

I had a lovely weekend and I hope that you did as well!

Well hello......

Those who consider their path superior are condescending.
A parrot who speaks of the totality of the self is absurd.
Many paths lead to the summit,
But it takes a whole body to get there.
Deng Ming~Dao

It's been a little while since I have visited here hasn't it?  It's been a challenging week here for me.  As you know, I have been dealing with the never ending back issues and they have been particularly bad these last 2 weeks.  It was suggested to me last week after my second PT session that I might want to use a cane.  Me....I say "WTF?"  No, that is not going to happen, but after 2 days of almost being unable to walk, I started to wonder if the PT lady was right. Just as I was about ready to give up hope and get that cane, the work the PT woman, Karen, along with the neuro massage I had with an amazing Massage Therapist, Tamara, on Monday started to kick in and I started feeling much better and hopeful.

I don't like to talk about this stuff here on the blog, because...well....I don't like to be that person who complains and this is not what this post is about if you continue reading. :-)

As I was flipping thru my little Tao book to find a passage for today, the above one just jumped out at me.  I belong to a very supportive group of knitters who are trying to stay fit.  A lot of them have become runners by using the C25K program (which is a great app btw)

As much as I want to run, it's just not a reality for me right now.  I had started the program and had to stop when my back flared up, but I stayed with the group to cheer on those who were making milestones in their progress and to stay motivated to get back to it again someday.

The above pictures were taken today on my 3.2 mile power walk.  I will admit that I had to limp the last 10th of a mile home, but it was huge for me to be able to do this just a week after being told I might consider getting a cane to hobble around with. 

Soo....last night I signed up to walk a 5k race in December.  It's called The Hot Chocolate Run.  It's a fund raiser for Safe Passage,the organization addressing domestic violence in Hampshire County. I actually signed up for the 2 mile walk, but I plan to walk the entire 5K.

One person who has been a real inspiration for me is Cate.  Running didn't come easy for her either, but she has hung in there and is doing great now.  She inspired me to sign up for this race and she is actually trying to raise money by running the 5K sponsored, so if you would like to help her along, you can sponsor her here.

There definitely are different ways to get to the same summit and I am climbing along in my own limited way, but I am so fortunate to have a whole body of people who have supported me along my journey....emotionally and physically.  They have lifted my morale when I needed it, given me a push when I needed that too.  I am one lucky lady and I hope I can always pay it forward.

Have a wonderful weekend!!