Recently in workshops Category

We rebounded from a splendid Christmas Day with our grandchildren and their
parents. Musical instruments, school supplies and a doll house kept the house buzzing, all capped with a perfect turkey banquet mastered by Kara in her new, old Glenwood stove. All this while Lew and I were fighting off a bug, and two of us tolerated one another with grace! We couldn't exchange the Peace at church, and we probably should not have gone, but we got to hear our stitcher Linda sing a solo and got a diagnosis from Nurse Anita.  Sinusitis. After a doctor's visit, the two of us are mending and accomplishing those lists, including the send out of our Epiphany greeting.

Many signs lead me to the idea of the Fall Fashion Show and Boutique.  On a Wednesday this summer Zinny and Eva measured all the dolls and made careful pencil lists of their sizes.  More and more customers are asking for outfit switches on their look alike doll. A couple of moms suggested their little Bundle moms wanted to change outfits and dress their girl at bedtime. Then there is that absolute love I have working with children and dolls.

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I have always loved that my work is all around me; not only the messes I make, but my inspirations, my work in progress, and my finished products. There are dolls everywhere since our Gallery is in our home, but display is kept to three rooms. That's usually about 100 "people."  Some are here longer than I'd like. Maybe they just don't want to go away. Sooner or later each Bundle finds a home; some just take longer to be chosen. Why is that?

Joyfully, the week began with a Valentine's Day party with our special SCA families - calzones, pizzas, two salads and a heart shaped white chocolate cake with strawberry icing. Yumm. Both the food and the company. Don't forget the pretty handmade valentines.

Now is the time to tell the tale of how Eva got her birthday doll.

I just returned from a kindergarten room at Chester-Andover Elementary School in Chester where nineteen children completed an embroidery project.  So just what do children learn from such an experience? Let's back up.
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Last year Mrs. Fonseca was the kindergarten teacher. The plan was she would lead those children in her class through to third grade.  To help the children become aware of their community, the busload of kids visited Chester businesses, including Bonnie's Bundles Dolls. First it was a show and tell here at the gallery; a week later Lew and I visited their classroom to make calico paper dolls.  This clever teacher wrote a grant for my working with her class over five months. The Green Mountain Festival accepted her proposal to fund my time and the materials. We made flower dolls, puppets, sachets, and ended the fun here in May designing and stitching calico animals, topped off with a cookout.

This morning's event was to finish what started last Friday when the sixth kindergarten class to visit came by bus. After my little speech in the living room where Silvio plunked himself down among the children, we moved to the dining room table where the "how a doll is made" story was told and observed. Split into groups, they participated in four stations:  drawing a face of their own design, embroidering a traced image, stuffing limbs with Lew and completing the Where's Silvio? puzzle.  Today, those who hadn't had a chance to embroider did.  What fabulous work they did. Wait until the third grade teacher, my master embroiderer, sees the work of Field. We already learned that fine embroidery stitches correlate to great math skills.  Even boys stay focused. The hour was very well spent.  Alex gifted me with a handmade potholder, and I shared with her how I made them when I was her age. There was joy about our returning Friday morning to make Calico Paper Dolls.  

Can you tell how charged I am?  There is some sun, so I am heading out to put my annuals into the gardens.  Later this afternoon Zoe is coming to finish her Decorator Dolly.  That's another great story for another time.