windows and beads

What great finds at a garage sale today----a window and unusual frame.  The Boy With Bubbles above my couch has been getting on my nerves....I don't own him and have to renew  him from the library.
    Granted, this is only every 3 months----but I have to take him in and see if the library will renew him for me. He is heavy and I decided when I saw the window that I'd give him a rest at his rightful place in the library....
   So this 9-pane soldered window jumped out at me and now resides in Bubble Boy's place.  Bravo!  901 is our street address...

   

 

 

The beads are a different story...

I have been given rosaries in the past by different friends.  Not of my theologial background, I decided that I would yet like beads to use while praying.  I am often dreadfully distracted when I pray.  When I hold the beads when I pray, I hold them in one hand and move my thumb and two fingers up to each large bead. I then pray for a specific or broad need.  I go around the beads this way. I start past the Cross then end at the Cross--where I thank God for the work of Calvary and the grace and mercy bestowed on me.



 

Fun to get out my beads and have at it!  The one on the right has a locket at one end, the Cross at the other...

 



New Hitty

Here is a new Hitty done by Nat Cooper.  Doesn't she have a pleasant-looking demeanor?

I added some cheek color. All my Hittys need cheek color-----must be the Scandinavian in me. ha ha

 

Granny on left, and new Hitty in front. 

 

I think new Hitty is adult granddaughter of Gran. 

Post Script, June 10, 2015:

I've named her Abrawn (ah' brun) which is Irish for April.

I think she was painted in April.  No matter.

My first Flatty

This Flatty had no pattern, so he might be a bit out of proportion.  Then again, who is to say? 

I started out with sport wt. yarn (100% acrylic) and a pair of size US1 needles. Working from the crown of the head down, I increased for two rows while doing st. st.  I then decreased where I wanted the head to become a neck.

 

I then changed to size US3 needles.  I  worked a "raglan sleeve sweater" sort of pattern with the place where buttons would be in the BACK of the doll.  This would be sewn up with the invisible seam when the doll was done.

I was ready to separate for the legs when the body (torso) seemed long enough.

I then decreased at each "inseam" side of each leg.

When completed, I sewed up all seams then made a tailors' knot at each hand and foot.

I made a stocking cap for the head (which I'd stuffed and gathered) and sewed the hat into place with yarn.

 

Hands and feet are knotted.

 

Back of doll-----I'm pretty happy with it.

Tiny Baby

  
  The doll is handsculpted by MyTangiblePeace (Etsy) from polymer clay. The skin tones are extremely natural.  The lt. auburn mohair "peach fuzz" hair is baked into the polymer.  The knitting is done by me but is not my pattern. 
   

A Message for My Yahoo Groups Friends

Just wanted to say here that I am open to private swaps of my work for Hitty carving.  I have had a few already and they have been very successful.  I have received painted Hittys (and unpainted, at my request) and the swaps have worked out for both parties.
Just email me privately at myheadsundercover@yahoo.com.  Thanks!

Tons to catch up on---and look at whittling post below this one...

 

I got a dollhouse off Craigslist.  I think it was supposed to be a Barbie house, so the ceilings are a bit high for Hitty.  Yet Hitty is 6.5" tall, which makes her a giant in the 1/12 scale houses.  (Do I have that right??)

Here are a few pics of the doll rooms.  Also, I have returned to needlepoint for rugs for the Chateau.  Mind you, it is PLASTIC CANVAS (gasp) but is 10 mesh.  I can design patterns (similar to cross stitch, a passion of mine in the 80s) and use up all sorts of types of yarns.  Can anyone say HAPPY????

 

Great to pull out Julia's dollhouse stuff. 

 

 

Hitty Gran enjoys some solitude in the writing room.

 

 

Several Hitty friends gather in the parlor to catch up on the local news.

 

 

Ten mesh (per inch) plastic canvas rug.

 

 

No, I didn't cross stitch this----it's paper!

 

 

My rendition of Hitty's whale.  Send to a doll-friend as a pif (pay it forward).

 

 

This is my Rakes and Leaves rug, with my hand showing a size reference.  Pretty daunting----approx. 6,500 stitches.

 

 

Rakes and Fences rug finished and in place...

 

 

Fence and Fowl was done for a doll-friend...

 

 

I decided to do some pieces as "greeting cards" and call them "needlepoint greetings."  This piece was sent to a dear friend.

(NOT my pattern.)

 

 

Another needlepoint greeting.

(NOT my pattern.)

 

 

My daughter made this for her English teacher who loves unicorns.  It is 4" tall.  She has become quite the easy hand at amigurumi.  

 



Early April---lots to catch up

WoooWhooooo!  Finally I can write words under my pics!

I began whittling the last week of January.  Here are some blanks one of the carvers in the local club kindly cut out for me.

 

First, I carved several Christmas Pickles to get a feel for the knife.

Pickle, anyone?  They are 3 inches long.  I have a mason jar filled with them and must say it looks hysterical...

 

 

This is somehow turned sideways-----notice I whacked off the cardinal's crest....the bird didn't feel a thing.  It is now a Comfort Bird.  (Look it up.)

 

 

Again, my pickles....

 

 

These 4" birds were all done in basswood.  Basswood is one of the easiest woods to handcarve.

Try telling that to my left index finger, which remains numb at the joint at the tip!

 

 

Bowl of my birds.  I am making several for different needs---grief, illness, birthday, and general "you-are-not-forgotten" gifts.

 

 

The darker birds are made of catalpa.  Frankly, I don't like carving them as I feel they are too grainy.  I'm game to try any soft wood!  The one on the left is white pine and was VERY nice to carve, but is a bit too soft....you can leave nail marks in it.  I love its grain, though.

MidJanuary, 2015

I can't seem to write under each picture.....here are some things I've been up to. The 2" doll belongs to a friend and needed some clothes!
The scarves are done in Lion Brand Homespun weft, or horizontal threads; Hobby Lobby Baby Bee Sweet Delight (sort of a sport weight) is the warp, or vertical threads.
The ivory "tight weave" scarf is done in merino sock wool....very very soft but a stinker to work with, due to the closeness of the weave. Each warp thread needs the same tension on it, which is nigh unto impossible for me to do. Hence, it wasn't very fun to do, though it turned out wonderfully. (FUN is the operative word here.)
The ivory fingerless gloves are for the wonderful friend who bought the ASIL for me to weave on for my birthday...the pink ones are for me.
The hat on the head is a knitted/felted hat, perfect for this c-c-c-cold climate.

Christmas props and Hickory cap

The computer I'm on is not cooperating; these are props for Tinies' dresses....and the crocheted cap Yetti wanted for her Thanksgiving attire. Notice how proudly she wears it!