*Fast away the old year passes....*

We had an absolutely lovely Christmas...and I do hope you had the same! And, as some of you may expect, Maggie inspired thee Christmas Picture of 2008:

On Christmas Eve, every year, we go to Joe's Mother's house...wonderful, yummy, food...lots of presents...and legendary stockings. And Maggie received some play money, which came darn handy that night when we returned home to leave Santa his cookie and eggnog!

Me: Maggie....why are you leaving money for Santa??

Maggie:....oh....I just want him to have a Merry Christmas.

Yeah, right. Magdalen was completely horrid on Christmas Eve and had a freakitin' melt-down when she had to wait to did into her stocking. She was seriously naughty. Naughty. And was most likely a bit nervous, waiting for the big guy...and rightly so. Maggie is naughty AND smart.

But our reindeer food worked:

(and the 20 bucks)

...that's the naughty elf herself, to the right....she had a rather jaded Christmas season, altogether, I suppose....she realized if you should happen to get a "barbie jammin' jeep" (which she did not) you still can't drive yourself around wherever you want to go. And too, Jesus didn't show up for his Birthday party at Sunday School. Baffling.

Her big sister, on the other hand, is a sweet-pea. Mostly. I can't believe how much she's grown!

Here she is twirling in her Christmas skirt I made for her.... I've actually sewn some useful items as of late! (oh yes, it's true!!) Mostly skirts and aprons...the Christmas skirts are made from Alexander Henry's "Sprites of Tillbrook"...you can find the fabric on etsy from Lucky Kaeru Fabric & Supplies.


Maggie really enjoyed the accidental wonderful gift from Fran of Cloth Doll Supply....some fake hair.



She's had no end of fun with the swatch of hair (actually, the hair might be real...i'm not sure...)

And then, if you have a cutie gnome hat from Arfeinel. Well.

More news soon...I have "thank you owls" in the etsy shoppes & a Hansel & Gretel paper doll to upload this aft'! (she's sooooooo....something. I dunno. You'll just have to see!)

Happy New Year Blessings,

meg

a wee goblin....

...has been lurking in my tiny atelier....can you see her?? Known to pilfer and pillage through my supplies...to sneakily spirit rare spun-cotton mushrooms away to the dollies' house and hide them in the attic! Sequins, beads, charms~~beware! Fabric, paper, pencils....and MARKERS!~~hide yourselves and hope to spare the tiny goblin!!!


Some days I lonnnng for a space to work (the above photo is our small kitchen table...)~~but other days, I enjoy small hands to "help"...I know the girls are learning, all the time, and best of all watching Mama make stuff. We've all lost that simple privilege, somewhere along the way. I want my girls to know, too, that you can have a "job" that makes you happy! Really. I mean seriously...is this a job!?

Sitting at the kitchen table, cozy with the snow and cold outside our nest...Christmas music, a pine scented candle burning, and coloring...painting, cutting, glittering...making.

Once more, Chloe (7), has inspired a whole new collection of work...(she is entirely responsible for the Christmas Gnomes, and all of the gnomes to follow...)


She's just enchanted with The Nutcracker, and did a wonderful job of painting her very own!!

By the by...the first song on my blog is "Red Clay Halo" by Gillian Welch!

Her CD, Time (The Revelator), is tippity-top on my Christmas Wish List....okay...to be dead honest, it's "tied" with Alicia Paulson's book~~Stitched in Time. I didn't know about this sweet posy!! Can't wait to open it on Christmas morn'...(Joe's excellent about sticking to the wish list...!)



I heard Gillian Welch on the Audrey Eclectic blog....is that some fancy folk art or what?! :)



Just one last thing to share with you....a lovely "gift" was waiting outside the door of our nest this morning, just waiting for me to capture it in a picture...just look at these beautiful winter roses!






Now, I really must fly from the nest~~to the post office! EVERYTHING is going out today...I can breathe and stitch on dollies to play with~~how fun! And I must say, the final trip to the post before Christmas is becoming one of my favorite traditions....good-bye little boxes!!

We'll chat again soon~~we had a rather hilarious Saint Lucia celebration...more on that tomorrow?

Blessings,
Meg

Rabid Hedgehogs & Christmas Whimsies...

*Mr. Pipps Goes Courting...*

Mr. Thelonius Pipps has been courting Miss Selma Hoganswarter for 42 years this Christmas Day~~and, he may just finally get lucky (when he asks her to marry him--dirty!!) And why may his luck improve? Because 42 is a multiple of 7...everyone knows that.

(Sevens are especially important to gnomes...)

Mr. Pipps is on his way to Selma's mushroom cottage~~he's wending his way through the winding, frosty, paths of Christmas Forest. Granted, he does this every Christmas day~~at least for the last 41 Christmases~~but this year...THIS year...he's bringing Miss Selma a nutmeg latte (along with the berry bouquet, candy canes, mushroom, and pine cones...). I have high hopes for Mr. Pipps! ~~and for the coffee shops as well.

But what will Miss Selma say??? What will she do?!

The first Christmas Mr. Pipps approached the topic of gnomish nuptials, Miss Selma dumped a pot of oatmeal upon his noggin (but we can all agree he deserved it--courting for only one year before a proposal?! That would be an engagement entered into with haste and ill breeding. Miss Selma made an extremely wise choice in her declining...) The fourth Christmas involved a snowbank--the 13th a rabid hedgehog (13 is unlucky, after all...thus, the extreme response on our young lady's part.) There are 36 other unfortunate tales of Christmas Proposals and their ensuing heartbreak~~but I'll spare you Mr. Pipps' annual misery. His leg has healed just fine~~barely a limp~~and the scar on his...well. It simply adds to his roguish charm.

And so, Mr. Pipps wends his way along...softly singing a tune from "Cabaret"...

"Maybe this time,
I'll be lucky....
...Not a loser anymore

Like the last time

And the time before..."

Ah, the winsome hope of Sally & Mr. Pipps!

***************************************************

PS~~I really must cite the "Cabaret" reference...
Musical Play by Joe Masteroff.Lyrics by Fred Ebb. Music by John Kander.Based on I Am A Camera by John van Druten and Berlin Stories by Christopher Isherwood.Original Production directed by Harold Prince and Choreographed by Ron Fields
**************************************************

Mr. Pipps is available on eBay...as well as the rest of this week's offerings!

*Lucinda Stars*

A tiny star pixie to flit about your tree~~but beware!...*Lucinda* has been known to turn harmless candy canes into deadly sharp holiday weapons...
...no frisky Santa for this pixie!
(and is it just me or is she somehow reminiscent of Lori Petty in "Tank Girl"???)**************************************************************Happy Christmas Forest*...a wonderful 10" Doll Wreath...my favorite figure in the wreath is the wee owl at the top~~***************************************************************And let's see...what else?? *Winter's Queen*, *The Frost Moon*, and a tiny winter owl... ....allllllllll on eBay*****************************************************************

Thank you all so much for your consideration of my work~~

blessings,

meg

In Christmas Forest...

.....you might find a wee gnome~~or, perhaps, a tiny mushroom pixie! A woodland frosted with whimsy can hold many a wonder indeed! Aloysius Gnome and sweet Winifred Owl are just two of the many small stewards of Christmas Forest~~

Together, they live amongst the sparkling pine cones and spotted mushrooms...and the spotted mushroom pixies (which are not very well behaved, to be dead honest).

...softly floating above the snowy Christmas Forest trees~~a tiny star pixie...bright and aloft, just below the winter moon (he's for next week!!!).....

Well, it was just time to make some dollies...and the EHAG Artist's Challenge for November was absolutely inspirational!! Please click the banner (below) to visit all of the Eclectic Halloween Artist's Groups' auctions...you may visit our blog as well!

I'd already been dreaming of little gnomes...and with an owl! Oh my! (and did you know, there actually is such a thing as an "elf owl"~~it's true!)

*Aloysius & Winifred* are my offering for the EHAG challenge...*Wintry and Spooky Owls*.

All are on eBay this week~~and many more to follow!

Thank you for your consideration,

and,

blessings~~

meg

*Jolly Holly Snowman*

...and Christmas Muzak!! Yippeee!!!!

I'm so excited to show you my latest primitive style hooked rug...a folky snowfella:

*Jolly Holly Snowman*... he's on eBay this week.I've also been dabbling a bit in wool applique~~ these little *Sewing Trees* are a brand new design for Christmas 2008~~whimsical, functional, art...my very favorite!

All on eBay this week...click here to visit the auctions.

And, be sure to visit Blestb's Christmas launch,

Old Tyme Christmas

(just click our banner to visit Blestb's listings...)

And now, to address an urgent "current event" here in the nest~~no, really, I simply cannot make another snow pixie!! By the time all of the orders were shipped last Christmas I was having p.t.s.d. nightmares about mean little pixies whacking things with candy canes...as well as an astounding amount of glitter on and around my personage. I just can't, I'm so sorry! but...here's what I'm thinking...maybe a "woodland collection", all from wool felt with wee embroidery details? Mushrooms and acorns, pine cones and birds...tiny nests all frosted with---DARN! there we go with the glitter again...(sigh) I'll start this eve' and post the collection within the next few days...

I'm off to the winter forest--

until next time,

blessings,

meg

PS--if my pictures are "twacked", i do apologize--they weren't when i hit "publish post"...does this happen to you????

Crafty Christmas Challenge...

What, pray-tell, is that nutty little song playing on your blog Nutmeg??? Wellllll....it's off the Juno soundtrack. Juno is one of thee best movies I have seen in a very, very, long time. A few months ago Joe and I watched some of the Oscar Winning/Nominated movies. Whatever. I was heartily un-impressed. Then my mother-in-law told me to check out Juno--mostly for the weird music factor. Anywho. You should watch it. Now.

You're back?? Super!! :)

The main point of this post is the Crafty Christmas Challenge--but I've been meaning to tell you all about that little indie flick. So what's the challenge? Well, I'd blogged on the 12th about making my gifts this year, and asking other artists and crafters to play along...it's not super-structured or anything, not especially organized...I just thought it would be fun, for all of us who would like, to maybe share our pics. and progress with the blog community. Most importantly, I wanted to share with everyone why it's so darn important to buy handmade and to make things your very own self! You can read more here ...but one of the "finer points", imho:

Buying handmade is better for people.
"The ascendancy of chain store culture and global manufacturing has left us dressing, furnishing, and decorating alike. We are encouraged to be consumers, not producers, of our own culture. Our ties to the local and human sources of our goods have been lost. Buying handmade helps us reconnect...."

Hear, hear!! Just over the past few months, I have acquired some new convictions--this "stuff" is so important...to grow your own, make your own, and teach others (especially kiddos!) along the way. I have three quilt-tops from the 1930s--they belonged to my great grandmother, Ida Rice.

I have no idea how to quilt them! And oh, if I could only grow tomatoes the way Mom Chapman did!--I know full well she didn't pop down to the local big-box store and pick up a box of strange, neon, grainy, "fertilizer". These traditions, crafts, homesteading skills...they've simply disappeared for so many of us. The recovery of our loss is GREEN and it's a revolution! And of course, with those two words, I've lost a few of you...crazy Nutmeg rides again. :) Ah well...we'll be back to simple look-at-my-auction entries soon...

Anywho. Now that both girls are in some sort of school, I'll have a few hours each week to work on their gifts--in secret, un-interrupted. This vintage dollie is definitely on the list:

(You can get this pattern at Cloth Doll Supply.)

I also found a TON of freebie patterns at Lion Brand's website, for those of you who knit or crochet...

So. Spread the word!! And then, as you wish to, you can email me pics. of your Christmas goodies, and at some point in December I'll upload them to this blog, or, of course, you can load your own and link to everyone's lovely creations!! :) And do let me know if you'd like to play...and I'll add links and names to this blog entry...

I found this pic. this am and wanted to share it with you...that's my husband's Grandma and Grandpa--her name was Dollie, and I do all of my sewing on her sewing table...cool huh? I also have a treadle machine from Grandma Francie--not brave enough to try that out yet, but it's definitely on my "someday..." list!

Have a wonderful Sunday,

Blessings,

Meg

Homemade, Handmade, Christmas...

It's been years since I've made all of our gifts to give--about 5 years, to be exact!! But one lovely Christmas I crocheted mittens, hats, scarves...some were a bit ill-fitting, occasionally a mitten thumb grew wonky round by round, gauge tightened and released without my effort or realization...2001? was indeed "better to give than to receive"! :) However, I feel I have grown a bit in the area of craftsmanship, and I shall give it another whirl! Is my post a bit "early"--well yes, but there are only...

Christmas countdown at FlashBannerNow.com

How's that for the ol' blood pressure??? Truth be told, I love the flashy, ticking, seconds...it seems most everyone celebrates something during the winter season...Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwaanza...or just plain and simple commercialism, falling prey to every ad. and sale that flashes before our collective eyes as we vegetate in front of our screen of choice...and that, my friends, is a tradition I would like to avoid. I want to teach my kiddos the value of creating, and receiving, homemade goodness. So--what are my plans, my ideas? What's on my wonderful list? (And aren't Christmas Lists just FUN!! To carefully scribe a name on pretty paper and thoughtfully pen the perfect gift???) Well. So far I've thought of the following...all to make my very own self:

1. 
   
   Waldorf dollies--I've made a few of these, and the ones that float around our nest seem to remain...they rise above their plastic cousins and remain timeless and more dear as the years go by. Tattered and loved, they are some of the most confident and secure toys in the girls' room....they know they will live with us forever!


2. Hooked Rugs...and purses! Those little 5"X7" bags with a longer strap are soooo popular now! I am quite certain there are gals on my list that would enjoy carrying them! And then, of course, larger rugs for all of the parents??? There are MANY of Lori Brechlin's designs that I would like to try...and Karen Kahle...and, and...!!!
3. Boiled Wool...stuff. Slippers, hats, potholders & mitts...all embellished with needle felting...
4. And, of course, CROCHET!! :) I got this very cool pattern from etsy seller thnkdfrent. Fashionable for kiddos and grown-ups...anywho.

From week to week I'll try to apprise you of my progress (or lack thereof)...both girls will be in school this year, as Mags is starting pre-school--whatever shall I do with myself??? Make Christmas gifts! And yes, the early start is necessary because of allll the orders, shows, auctions, and everything else that keeps me so very, very, busy! But hopefully, my early start will "plant a seed" and inspire you to begin your own homemade handmade list...and we can burn the midnight oil together, come December!

blessings,

meg

*Snow Party!*

It's a blizzard of dollies 'round here...the last of the ornaments are packing up to go to Minnesota, but I have made extras to offer to you! (Yes, you!) I have 3 snowfolk ornaments to offer you...each is made from antiqued, painted, muslin that has sweet snow eyes drawn and painted on and tiny bead mouths...each snow person has a wee wool felt hat, a ribbon collar or scarf, all trimmed in sparklie silver ribbon with little accents and frosty hangers...each are about 7" high, and the 2 with silver collars can sit...Frosty can sit if his scarf hangs over a ledge...

*Top Hat Frosty*

Sold Out~ Thank you...

*Sugar Plum*

Sold Out~~!!

*Winter Sky Snowman*

Sold Out~~!!

*Snow flakes*

I counted till they danced so
Their slippers leaped the town,
And then I took a pencil
To note the rebels down.
And then they grew so jolly
I did resign the prig,
And ten of my once stately toes
Are marshalled for a jig!

Stay Warm & Cozy,

Blessings,

Meg

*Candy Children*

Here they are! And thank you so much for all of the interest & emails...bless you! These 3 are available today, and a very limited number of orders will be taken...

As I said Monday, this is a 2005 design...but just a bit sweeter! These wee tree dollies are 8" high, and made of antiqued, painted, muslin, with my signature hand-drawn face. Each is a little different, and they are trimmed in fancy novelty yarn and sparklie miniature ornaments... Their little noses and bead joints look like tiny gumdrops! And yes, the arms move a bit, so they can nibble their goodies or show you their treasures...

*Snowflake*

$28.00, includes travel fare

Sold~~available to order! (thank you...)

*Peppermint*

$28.00, includes travel fare

Sold!~~available to order...

*Chocolate Mint*

$28.00, includes travel fare

Sold!~~available to order

email me with your preference or order!

And I can certainly take specific requests...pale green mint and chocolate, pink cupcake sprinkles, fruit cake...hmmmmmmmmm.....what else do I like to eat?

Blessings,

Meg

*Santa Ornament*

I am so excited to offer a dollie noggin to you~!! I seem to be "back in the saddle", at least for the moment, and will be offering ornament goodies all week long...

*Santa Ornament*

This fella is a whopping 8" high...from the bottom of his sheep's wool beard to the top of his folded hat...he is really like an entire dollie head. Which is a bit morbid, so let's not dwell...

His hat is hand-dyed wool with a rusty jingle bell and sparklie berries at the tip...His face is hand-drawn on painted muslin~~really a wonderful blend of both mediums. I have needle felted his beard out of Cloth Doll Supply sheep's wool, and his hat is trimmed in real sheepskin.

Truly a grand ol' fella to grace your tree!

Sold Out~~Thank you!

And now for a special sneak preview:

*Candy Children*

These are adapted from a 2005 design, strange little peppermint folks that whacked reindeer with their scepters....in the interest of peace and goodwill, which should be foremost during the holidays, this design has grown sweeter...sweet as candy, in fact! This gang is off to Krista Artista Gallery in Minnesota:

They are made of painted muslin, with hand-drawn faces...then trimmed out in all manner of dime-store Christmas nonsense! (My favorite...) They have a very vintage appeal, and I will have 3 of them to offer you tomorrow...

Until then,

Blessings,

Meg

What a Sunday!

ummmm....I mean "Sundae"!

Hopefully, you see a really nifty, snowy, slide show up above...hopefully. Or, you may just see a camera-swirly icon that does not load...only time will tell. :)

As you can see (or not), we had a grand little soiree this aft' when I finished up *Sundae Bunny*. Everyone turned out! From the old metal elephant to the baby in pink, yellow bear, brown bear, and Andy....and of course Mecki was there!! We had such grand time, sipping pink flowered tea from the little vintage charm on the Sundae pin keep...ah, so nice to visit and catch up with friends~~both old & new! Our little cottage was rattling with the chatter of an early winter tea, as the winds turn and (hopefully!) the snow blows in...

But. In other areas of our wee domicile it was rather quiet. Too quiet....know what I mean? In other rooms things were going awry...running amuck (sp), if you will.

Did you ever read Little Mouse Biddle Mouse by David Kirk? Of course you have, being the genteel and literary acquaintance that you are! Welll...you know the part where Little Mouse gets a bit piggy and eats all his family's food? And it goes something like:

"Little Mouse Biddle Mouse, what have you done? You've eaten the food now your family has none!" That was Chloe's favorite book when she was four, and we continually heard: "What did you done?!", as she scrambled after her toddling sister's general chaos and destruction...well. We had a "what did you done?!" moment this evening. You know all of those polynesian fellers with the tattoos??? Go ahead. Scroll down. I'll spare you the gory details, but I have a 3 year old who looks something like. Nekkid and all. She's now scrubbed semi-clean (it was a brown archival marker, so she looks a bit tan), but I do have a lasting memento from the incident. My pillow. That I sleep on.:

Ask any mama of little (or big!) ones and she'll tell you that pillow is a precious, precious, thing...I guess I have a Polynesian pillow?

*Sundae Bunny*

Made in my usual fashion :) and I love her wobbly old joints! She's wearing a hand embroidered little wool vest, trimmed in vintage charms and flower beads...there's a little copper bird! A green wool scarf and vintage hankie skirt...antique shoe button eyes...Her feet are stitched and One thread is coming un-done (but not "for reals")...she is SWEET and I am so excited to make some more...a snow bunny...a bunny in a bonnet...a bunny with a chicken...a bunny with archival brown ink body tattoos....but, I digress.

She has a sweet sundae pin keeper, embroidered wool and all manner of vintage whimsies are pinned to the sundae...candy-looking beads, a tea-cup pin with a doily, and of course a big vintage "cherry" bead...yum!! *Sundae* is a wobbly 12" high (including ears), and about 9" seated...she is sitting on a high shelf, as she is quite enchanting to some little girl! (And some tiny Polynesian kid who lives here...)

Sold! Thank you kindly...

(includes travel fare...)

email me to purchase

Blessings,

Meg

PS~~put your markers on the high shelf, along with your bunnies....

*Christmas Chocolate*

First of all....I am so sorry that i haven't had a freebie pattern up for November...my scanner completely, absolutely, died. It was a sudden death--quite unexpected for a scanner so young, and 2 hours with various consultants has led to no resurrection of said scanner. (sigh) So, when I have the foresight to drop off a freebie with a scannered friend, have her email it to me, etc. etc. I will have a new, fun, pattern for you...I'm thinking stockings! :) Or at least a tutorial on this week's pinkeepers accompanying the bears...

Now, for the bears...both have mugs or cups of "chocolate"--a rich, beautiful, brown, wool from Skip to my Ewe. I do believe it is my personal goal to make anything BUT a hooked rug with Tammy's wool...(and I'm saving hooked rugs for retirement). And here we go:

*Mr. Bennett's Christmas Chocolate*

This fella's name is directly inspired by "Pride and Prejudice", but not the new one! Indeed, I find the A&E version far better than the newer release! You must check it out...

Mr. B. is made in the usual Magpie fashion...distressed, over-dyed, and gently aged mohair...loosely jointed...stuffed with sand and excelsior to feel much like very old toys. I work very hard to age bears appropriately and realistically! ...his fur is this wonderful rusty pumpkin color...as "rich" as his cocoa!

I have sewn a sage green colored vest for him, embroidered 'round with blanket stitching and french knots and daisy stitches compose a pine cone on the right front vest panel. It is pinned on with crochet lace, a gingerbread man charm, and new and vintage sparklie beads...the teacup is printed with a pastoral scene is a shade that "just suits" Mr. B.

An extra special "touch" to both mugs of chocolate is a dollop of white wool "whipped cream", carefully filled with sand, to sharpen your pins and needles--such a yummy emery! And then each is topped off with a vintage bead that looks precisely like a peppermint...

Mr. B has a satin neck ribbon, is 10" high, and would be most delighted if you will join him for a cup of Christmas Chocolate!

SOLD!

(thank you kindly...)

email me to purchase...

*Cocoa for Santa*

Baby bear is trying so very hard to wait up for Santa! And she has been so sweet...not one sip of chocolate, you know! Baby is wearing a nightgown and nightcap made from a very fragile, very old, linen hankie...I have used the crocheted hem to accent the dress and cap appropriately, and added-to are tiny little "yo-yo's" sewn from red and white ruffled ribbon~! Baby's little mug is a Santa mug, and it's a wee 3" high, even with the whipped cream emery! Baby has an itty bitty 3" wool felt bear to keep her company as she waits, and she is 9" high herself (but quite plump!).

SOLD

(thank you kindly)

email me to purchase...

Thank you all so much for your interest in my work,

and for your consideration~~

Blessings,

Meg