My Journey

Now that it's a new year, my focus has gotten back onto organizing our trip to Tennessee.

I need to make our motel reservations, get the house in order, decide what to pack, and yes get back into my weight loss plan.

I know, I know everyone starts talking about their New Year's resolutions and 9 times out of 10 weight loss is at the top of the list. I would just like to be able to get outside, that is, if the weather will cooperate a little, and walk. It gets very very cold here in Minnesota during the winter. I do not like it this cold, and I practically hibernate.

I started back walking. I didn't go crazy in November and December with the holiday foods, so I didn't really add any extra pounds, just basically maintained.

I am in the process of making a new doll. I found another face that I like. I am basically happy with the pattern that I use now, I've just made a few modifications to the original pattern.

I still need to put hair on the 20 dolls that I have done. Poor things, they are all dressed, with faces, but they have no hair. Each one has a different personality, and I have to think about what color the hair should be to fit with their outfits.

I'll be pretty busy getting the dolls done. I absolutely love making these dolls. I just don't know why I never did it sooner.

Once I finish my latest, I'll post a picture of her.

I realized after I had made dolls for the girls, that I had forgotten my little buddy. He wouldn't want a doll, but I knew that he wouldn't mind a stuffed toy of some kind, so, I decided to make him a bunny.

So, here is my first try at something other than an Annie doll.

I'm going to put away my sewing machine, pack up my supplies, and clean up the house for the holidays. Talk about cutting it close.

Tomorrow, I'll be driving 2 hours to pick up my Mother-in-law. She'll be spending a few days with us. Hubby can't go because he has work, so, I will pick her up, and he will take her home after christmas.

I'm hoping that the weather doesn't get bad. Yesterday, it was 10 below zero. Today it is 10 above. One of the many reasons that I want to move back to the south where it is much, much warmer.

I shifted from making dolls to sell to making christmas presents for everyone.

I decided that this year all of the presents will be made and not bought. Except, for the materials needed to make the presents. For the girls I have made dolls. Here is the one for my daughter. I'm not sure how well you can see the material, but the skirt has the good witch from Wizard of Oz, Dorothy and the bad witch. The top is the same material as the good witch's dress. I left this dolls hair long, because Dorothy's hair is long and down in two ponies. I painted the shoes red, and then sprayed them with gold glitter.

Then I decided to make smaller dolls for my grandbabies.  This is one of them so far.

I bought a bunch of half pint Kerr jars, and will be filling them up with friendship tea for the adults. For the kids I bought the freezer, plastic Ball jars and will fill them up with hot chocolate and marshmellow mix. I know the jars are freezer jars, but they are plastic and I thought that would be better for children than the glass jars like the parents were receiving. I plan on making cute little fabric tops for each jar. I'm also attaching a Teddy Graham pack to each kids jar.

Here is the recipe for the friendship tea if anyone is interested:

INGREDIENTS
1/2 cup instant tea with lemon 
1 cup Tang
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves

Wow, I didn't realize I've been as busy as I've been.

I sold my third doll yesterday. I've been working hard on new ones. I have about 15 to finish. Right now, they all have faces, but no hair or clothes. I have the dresses all made. I just need to figure out which doll gets what and the hairstyle. 

I cut out all of the dolls, and have been trying to get them all done, instead of one at a time.

Here is the 2nd doll that I sold.

and here is the one that I just sold.

The other day, I was waiting for my daughter, she's in a christmas play. I took some dolls to work on while I was waiting. One of the guys in the cast saw the dolls and said that I should keep one bald, and not even put a face on it. He said he just loved the dolls. He happens to shave his head, so I guess that's why he liked the bald dolls. I was thinking, maybe I will make him a boy doll with no hair.

So, right now, I have about 15 naked dolls that have faces, and are waiting on clothes and hair. I guess I'll be pretty busy again, deciding what hair color and style, and which dress to put on what doll. I really love making these dolls.