Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Meet My Hittys: Saggy Bottom
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Meet My Hittys: Hitty Pica and Bitty Hitty Chubs
Pica (left) and Chubs are good (meaning bad) examples of "Haste makes waste." I was hurrying both of them along, trying to get them ready for the woodcarving competitions at the Dixie Classic Fair last year. They didn't make it. Neither is very well carved or painted, and I also drilled crooked peg holes. I probably will work on recarving Pica's head and re-pegging Chubs at a later date. But, as you know from my other posts, I tend to let my dolls be whatever they are -- beauty isn't necessarily a requirement at Saggy Bottom, the home of the Garden Spot Hittys.
Saturday, April 30, 2011
The kindness of strangers
Well, that's a bit misleading. They are not strangers, since I have spent many Tuesday afternoons with them over the past few years. Before yesterday, I would have called us good acquaintances, since we have shared bits of our lives as we worked on our projects. We exchanged phone numbers, but I only expected to hear, occasionally, that the group would not be meeting. Five women, united only by an interest in carving wood and the pleasure of each other's company; four who revealed themselves to be the truest of friends.
Recently, by chance, I decided to stop by our meeting place to say hello. I hadn't attended in a few weeks. Hadn't really felt like it, because life dealt me a hand that I hadn't quite expected. A problem with unemployment payments reduced the family bank account to single digits and I've had to figure out how to deal with it and meet my obligations.
Catching them up on my prospects for employment (improving) and the changes I'm making in careers, I mentioned the problem in hopes they might know someone who could help speed up the resolution process. And it felt good to open up my burden to them; they are older and I value their life experiences.
I received support, advice, sympathy and much, much more. We left the building and walked in a group to our cars. I said goodbye and prepared to leave when one pecked on my window. As I lowered it, she pressed a hundred-dollar bill in my hand, saying, "I always carry some mad money with me." I gaped, then protested; she insisted. Before I could say much of anything, she left and two others took her place, also offering money. A fourth invited me to her home, ostensibly to give me a special Easter egg she had made.
All I could do is cry, and promise that I would repay them, when I'm back to work, by passing their kindness and compassion on to others who desperately need it. That's what will stay with me long after the money is gone: how the kindess of strangers creates a family of friends.
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Meet My Hittys: Hitty Lowla
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Review: HOW TO MAKE DOLL CLOTHES
How to Make Doll Clothes: A Book for Daughters, Mothers and Grandmothers, by Emily R. Dow. Coward, McCann & Geoghegan Inc., New York, 1953. 96 pages.
My husband went to the library yesterday, and I tagged along. Didn't intend to get any books, but I decided to see what they had on doll houses. I ended up getting four books -- two on doll houses, one paperback mystery ("Murder in Miniature") and this book on making doll clothes.
What a great find! In simple language and with illustrations, the author shows how to create pretty doll clothing using a doll as the pattern guide. She also included basic sewing terms and gives instructions for basic and decorative stitches. She even shows how to sew on buttons, snaps and hooks-and-eyes.
Dow's illustrations are good enough to serve as patterns, and the introduction on the flap of the cover says that they could even be enlarged enough to make "mother-daughter" outfits for a child and her doll.
I plan to take the book to a copy center to make enlargements of the patterns to try for Hitty. They are simple enough to work for me, since I hand-sew the clothing. I also searched for a copy of the book to buy. The least expensive was on Alibris.com at about $11+postage. I did find one person on Etsy who sells PDF versions for $9, which I'm considering getting.
My recommendation? If you have wanted to sew for Hitty but were afraid to start, this book will provide a good jumping-off point. Accomplished seamstresses will enjoy it, too, for its nostalgia and its promotion of sewing skills. All in all, this one will be worth adding to my personal library!