Rocky Roads

C'est Fini!

(I didn't actully do anything to the two from the left. Bought one and my seven yr.old adorned his old one for kicks.)

Sure, Why Not?

As we pulled out the Christmas deco this year, I decided I was a little sick of the cheesy red felt stockings that were purchased in a hurried moment of need. (You gotta have sumthin' to put the coal in , right?) So, I figured that while I'm already in knee deep in holiday denial and overwhelmed by the prospect of gift-giving this year that I should go ahead and whip up a few homemade stockings for my crew.


Well, the first two went rather swimmingly. My three year old helped pick out all of her own fabrics and to my utter amazement, she managed to beautifully match hot pink naugahyde to some lovely vintage plaid and ethnic cotton remnants. For the wee girl (11 mths), I put together an easy-peasy number; just took a little extra care with the stitching. (I'm not a terribly good seamstress, I must confess.) Well, as I began to consult my eldest child about what he wanted on his, I got a laundry list of wintry goodness. Snowmen, snowflakes, wreaths, trees.... What else is there to do but take up the embroidery needle for the first time in at least.... well, ever. Why not? Chances of getting overwhelmed....sure, I'll take em'.



Low and behold, just a few days into the new project, a dear friend hits the shores after a long stint in Japan with a book full of wintry style embroidery. *Thanks, Sweets. I love it.* Being the guerrilla homemaker that I am, I attack the project with even more gumption and go-get-um, but quickly stray into freehand embroidery territory that begins to take far more time than I could've anticipated. But, honestly, just about anything that takes more than an afternoon to do is a bit much for me. So almost two weeks after stocking #3 was started, it still lay in pieces, a mere 7 days before Santa arrives. And I've only two stockings yet to go! (I do believe I mentioned I've got a problem with focus, right?) But hell's bells, I've got a new passion for embroidery and my kids can pretty well bank on plenty o' guilt gifts from Mamma Claus this year. Ho Ho Ho!

I'll Get What I Can Make

My personal philosophy on spending money, "Being cheap is the mother of re-invention" and to be frank, I'm cheap. You have to be when have as many children as I do (more than 3, less than 10). I'm not totally a Wal-Mart kinda girl, instead I like to stroll the aisles of my local Target like I'm window shopping along the streets of Paris. Ohh...aahhh...lala. But there's only so much "Made in China", even if it's from the Tar-ge`t, that one should truly expect to pay full price for and still expect to pay the mortgage company. So, a few cut-up cracker boxes, some periwinkle craft paint and a little silver glitter later, I've managed to recreate my version of the lovely PEACE banner from Target; handmade for free. Ces't bon!

Not to worry...

It's not intended for anyone in particular. In fact, I can't decide if this is a witchdoctor doll or if it would qualify as a Voodoo doll. Although, it actually was intended as a Voodoo doll, just 'cause I like em'. The original idea was to build this guy in silver plate and copper riveting (adorned with various embellishments of metal, shell, feather, cloth, etc), but alas , children, money, moving, and sheer lack of time have prevented such an involved project as of yet. So, what's left to do but sew, right? [The colors aren't quite right in the photos, I apologize]

Keeping in mind this still a work in progress, he looks pretty good so far. I haven't been able to settle on how to paint his face as of yet. The body parts were sewn on a machine and added as hinged pieces with buttons, so the doll can sit and raise it's arms. The headdress is a combination of a pre-grouped feather thing that I added the brown-striped feathers to. The head is actually childrens' air-dry clay applied to a lg. popsiscle stick that I intend to stitch through to keep in place after the head is painted. The skirt is raffia knotted onto a piece of twine by hand. The beading, purse, and feathers in hand were all done by hand. There are a number of other adornments in my head that have yet to materialize, because, to be honest, I lack a certain amout of focus and nevermind my gaggle of children to be cared for. But it'll get done one of these days. I've already got dolls #2 and #3 on the brain already.