Girdwood Forest Fair...

..here we come!!!!

July 2nd-July 4th

The Pine Cone Gnome will have it's first ever booth at the Forest Fair this year. Looking forward to enjoying the yummy food, live music and friendly people. Oh, and not to forget the AMAZING handcrafted wares as well!

An Unexpected Journey

I think it was a little over a year ago when I stumbled upon an eye catching blog called Little Acorn. 

Originally, I was drawn to the beautiful crafts and wonderful color combinations displayed throughout, but after a few months of visiting this blog I was unexpectedly taken along on the amazing journey of a couple who were trying to adopt a baby of their own.

I suggest you start reading this blog from the very beginning, September 2007, and don't stop. It's amazing what people can endure when they have so much love in their heart.

 Reading while the events actually took place was very emotional and I was a bit surprised how emotionally involved I became considering that I really don't know these people. Happiness, anger, sadness and joy are only a few of the emotions I felt while reading the events. I found myself checking for updates multiple times a day, being on pins and needles wondering what was going to happen next. I was a big lurker, to chicken to comment on the posts.

 What a gift they gave us all by being so open with their personal experience, including all the ups and the downs and I am certain it will be helpful and comforting other people who are experiencing an adoption journey of their own.

In appreciation for their sharing;

 this was mailed out to one of the most beautiful little girls on our planet!

A Special Gift

I received the sweetest gift from the little girl who's baby I spruced up. It included  a handmade "thank you" card (so much better than the kind you buy), not one but TWO beaded wire necklaces and a bag of coffee from the Waldorf School.

Made my day week!

It's A Doll Makeover

When I know that one of my handmade dolls is being truly enjoyed and fully included throughout the events of a child's daily life, it really makes my heart all warm.

Sometimes though, a makeover is in order to freshen up after having all those grand adventures together. I'm talking about the doll in this case, not the child.

This baby doll has been well loved by her little mommy and nothing makes me happier than seeing real proof of that. Really, I don't mind the wear and tare, as long as it is done with love.

And this doll in particular has also been lovingly given a beauty makeover that included a liquid lip gloss with glitter! Uh-oh.

Don't worry, most stains can be removed from your dolls or at least made a lot less noticeable. I heard from the little mommy's mommy, that this doll has even been washed in a front loading washing machine and I think she turned out wonderfully. Except of course for those pesky lip gloss stains and that is where I came in.

I started with lightly dampening the mouth and cheek areas with wet sponge, making sure to use a dabbing motion not a rubbing one to prevent the fabric from pilling. Then using a grease cutting liquid dish soap, I smeared a bit onto the stained areas. I let the soap soak in for about 10-15 minutes making sure it didn't dry on the fabric because that would leave a mark of it's own and would take us in the wrong direction.

  After the time was up I then gently started to soak up the soap using a clean, wet sponge. Dab, rinse, dab, rinse, dab, rinse.. etc. until I felt like the soap had been removed from the doll. At this time the doll looked worse than it did before I started since the water makes the fabric turn a few shades darker when wet

.

 I then patted it a little with some folded paper towels just to try and get as much water out that way. After that, I set the doll in a sunny area by the window and waited until it was dry. It only took about an hour and I could tell then that most of the stains were gone.

 The mouth had the worst of all the stains and the lip gloss didn't want to budge for me so easily. I repeated the soap/rinse process again on the mouth area, and after waiting for it to dry a little, I poured a some corn starch directly onto the spot to absorb what the soap wouldn't 't get. The corn starch stayed on for a few hours and then was gently dusted off.

I was able to remove about 99% of the gloss and the mouth area stain was barley visible.

The baby doll also need a bit of repair to it's arm, and I applied some more stitching around the hair cap for some extra support as well.

   

 I used the best stitch in the world (in my opinion), the ladder stitch or invisible stitch. 

A new dress, a bit of hair brushing and a little blush brought this baby back to life so she can enjoy another year of adventures!

All ready to go home!

The Meeting

It was time the two met each other....

Floppy was so excited to see another bunny in the house he started doing little hoppy circles, the baby bun on the other hand acted as if it were just another day at the park.

There cages are side by side now so they can safely get to know each other. After awhile (a long while) we will see how they are together in a neutral space.

This is how they have been for the last twenty minutes...

Winterberry Donation

This mermaid girl is off to the Winterberry Waldorf School's annual Parent Guild "Head, Heart and Hands" Auction-April 24th.

I hope she does well for them!

Score!

 

 

I have always loved the look of these old post office mail boxes but wasn't willing abel to part with the cash it would take to bring one home. 

This one was purchased from an antique store that was going out of business. "Bare wall to bare wall sale" was posted on their advertisement and I knew this might finally be my chance. I just happened to be at the right place at the right time and snatched this baby up for a great price!

It came out of the old Sutton-Chickaloon post office about 55 miles away from here. 

It was very, very heavy! There was the nicest man at the store who helped me get it into my car. I thought he worked there but then later found out he was waiting for the women he was with to shop. He made sure it was secured and then went on his way.

This is how I got it home, an entertaining scene to watch I'm sure, but we both made it home safely.

I'm not sure if I want to refinish the chipped paint or not, I kind of like the roughness of the whole thing. I will however peel off the ugly punched plastic numbers and add older, prettier looking ones. Also, since it has 30 boxes I though it would make a great advent calendar for the kids!

nom nom nom..

Apple treat for Mr. Floppy.

 

 

Does anyone have a napkin? 

  

Snow.

More snow....snow that is currently blanketing my freshly cleared garden bed once again, clogging up the streets and most of all just making me sad. Don't get me wrong, I do love the snow but only during the appropriate snowy months. April not being one of them in my mind.

 I was so ready for the spring time activities to begin, but alas, I will have to wait awhile longer it seems.

So, in lieu of the weather conditions outside, I spent the day huddled inside with a blanket and watched "The Notebook" on TV while sewing a small army of flower fairies. Flower fairies means spring darn-it!

A New Friend!

Since we had our French Lop rabbit neutered a while ago we have been looking for a friend for Floppy. I didn't know this before we brought Floppy home, but rabbits like to have a friend who they may eventually make a strong bond with. They will groom and cuddle with each other making a pair of happy bunnies. Not just any two rabbits will bond with each other, they like to choose who they share their space with themselves.  Since floppy is neutered, hopefully this will make the whole process easier since he is now capable of bonding with another neutered male.

After searching for months and months for just "the one right bun", I was getting nervous. I had originally wanted to find another lop eared rabbit since we do love those "down ears" as my youngest calls them. It seems lop eared bunnies are very difficult to find here! It is amazing we were able to find Floppy at the pound to begin with. After numerous emails and phone calls and even hoping that the Easter holiday might flush a few lops out to the public*, we had no such luck.

*Please let me add that I am completely against selling  animals based only on upcoming  holidays, trendy movies or events. Adding an animal into your home should be a long  thought out process and should only be seen at as a long term addition to the family.

A few days ago I was contacted by one of the people who I originally emailed. She had been having  some Internet problems and wasn't able to write back to me until then.

 She said that she had some Angora/Holland Lop mixes available and wanted to know if I would like to see them.

When the boys and I got there we were greeted with the most adorable little poof balls I've ever seen! But how do we choose just one?? I jokingly told the woman that she should just hand me one because it was just too hard to choose.

We finally did though and he/she is so adorable!!

 Because we are not sure if this is a little boy or a little girl yet (only 7 weeks old), we haven't named our new bun yet, so we are just calling it "Bun". 

When you squint your eyes the color pattern on Bun's face looks like this;  !!

The great thing about Bun is that since he/she is part Angora, I will be able to use the brushed fibers for my dolls and toys!

It will be a little while before we will be able to introduce Floppy to his (hopefully) new roommate since Bun is so young, but they will be neighbours for a few weeks.

 

Dexter has to supervise everything... 

 

Bath Time!

Kuspuks are so Kool!

Sorry, couldn't help it!

Anyway, kuspuks have been the most requested article of clothing for the 2009/2010 winter season. I can't tell you how many I've made for all the dollies and I know they will keep warm throughout the year.

This little girl just went to her new home.

 

I just love the hair poofs!

Mother Nature is Cruel Sometimes

 Here we were enjoying what was supposed to be the beginning of wonderful spring season. The birds were busy making their nests while singing flirty little songs to each other, the neighbour down the street was smiling from ear to ear because her crocus's are finally coming up (she has the best flowers in the neighborhood). And the dreams of summer fun had already begun to flood into every one's head.

 Then we get blasted by this! It doesn't seem like it will be stopping anytime soon either.

Oh well...off to dig out my cozy socks and then make a cup of hot cocoa. Yep, I am turning snow into chocolate!

At least the dogs are having fun in the new stuff....

.

Kona & Capone 

HAPPY EASTER!!

Dexter thinks all this egg dying business is so tiring! I've seen egg carton foam pillows before, but I think he's taking this too literally!

Cats naps happen......where ever you need them to!