Pattern Your Life into Greatness

Recently, my pal, Juliane, of Froken Skicklig, posted a giveaway for a free pattern to celebrate the much anticipated line of Doll Patterns she is creating.

My that gal is very, very busy and I am so very proud of her!

These are just a few items that my pal creates ~ just amazing to me!

Well, this got me thinking.

When I was young~ oh, so many years ago~ my Aunt, who was the family seamstress taught me how to sew; or should I say, tried to teach me?!

I remember those summer days, spending time over her house, sitting by the sewing machine making so many things: a dolman sleeved top - in a sage green; a calico skirt~ yes, ladies, they started with our generation; and the ultimate summer project ~ a WHITE LINED BLAZER. Oh baby, that thing took the whole summer, shoulder pads and ALL.

(Check out the price on that pattern, too!! :D)

I think I still have these projects somewhere; and I know that linen blazer is yellowing now in a box at my mother's house; but it's the times together that I'll remember. I learned how to sew straight seams; because, she made me sit with lined paper at an unthreaded machine for a day and sew on the blue lines, as she told me stories of her days in school. I learned that my Aunt was a fun girl and how I would have loved to travel in a time machine and become friends with her.

My point... help a child create. You'll not only be sharing your talent but also that precious time that they will always remember; even if it's just gluing curly macaroni on a papier mache box!

What a Marvelous Monday!

Many months ago, when I started my Flickr account, I started browsing around in my favorite groups - the doll groups.   After seeing so many wonderful dolls, I came across a young lady from Germany/Sweden.  Her shoppe, Froken Skicklig, her name, Juliane.  

Her dolls, magical; her spirit, enchanting.  After many emails, a lovely friendship has evolved and I just think that gal is so sweet and talented.   Not only a master doll maker, but a wonderful story teller - an artist all around.  

She has a DaWanda shoppe and I was so happy for her when she opened up her Etsy shoppe; giving everyone a way to be in touch with such an amazing spirit.

Well, I'm a crazy doll lover and if you saw my home, you would know, I love my dolls.  But it's not only the dolls that I love, it's an extension of the doll creator that I admire so much.  I've talked about my Little Soul dolls and their creator, Gretchen Wilson.  She is an amazing woman that I've had the tremendous pleasure of meeting and speaking with on many occasions.  With Juliane, I feel the same connection.  Both women inspire me to look within and find the joy in creating.  To find the connection between my own soul and that which I craft.  They are both wonderful and it's my extreme pleasure to have reminders (their wonderful work, ie, dolls) around my home to keep me on the right path!!  

Below is my Alva, created for me by Froken Skicklig.  You can read her wonderful story at Juliane's blog site.

She's a magical little girl that I will adore, always. 

Here are also a few items that my wonderful Juliane included in my birthday box!

A wonderful sache, a birthday candle, a lovely little cake, and some body lotion.

Here are my two gals together, Jilly, from Little Souls creator, Gretchen Wilson and my little Alva.  Jilly was willing to share her tiara for this photo.  

Along with this wonderful package that I received today that brought me my lovely Alva, I also found that I was featured in a team blog.  I am a part of the EtsyNJ Street Team and my shoppe was spotlighted.  It was a wonderful surprise.  To visit my team's blog, just click the link and you'll see that there are so many exciting, talents here in NJ.  :D