Ravenhill

Eye candy only

These are the socks I am working on now, this time for me. Mom gave me the pretty yarn.

I don't have a lot to say today. I am speechless after getting the test results back from our dr. We all still have major intestinal problems despite taking strong meds to remedy it. I won't get into the details beyond that it means we are stuck on a very strict diet of incredibly dull food for who knows how long. I can't eat sweets or treats of any kind and neither can my children. So I will continue with my textile and fiber treats - ok and the occasional pretty button or two...

These came in the mail the other day from Stockintrade.

If you want some more eye-candy, visit these new blogs that I have added to my blogroll and am rather crazy about: Quilt Otaku , Oiyi's Crafts, and Mairuru. Maybe it is looking forward to my long anticipated swap package arrival from Japan that is fueling this Japanese influence?

My confession...

I have a little confession to make and I hope that you will forgive me.

My posts haven't been showing much activity lately, I haven't added any new photos to Flicr in weeks, my shop was empty for several days, and I have been slow to respond if at all... WHAT IS GOING ON????

Well, ahem, um, hum. I don't quite know how to tell you this. You see... we just returned to Norway from a two week visit to my native home! Yes, my husband, two children and I are now all suffering from jet lag from our journey overseas from Maine. Last night we had 3 fun-filled hours from 9:30 pm til 12:30am when the kids thinking it was time to get up from a little nap: giggled, jumped, teased each other and generally caused a great deal of noise and anguish to their incredibly tired parents.

I have been dying to tell you all about our visit, plus, show you the piles of fabrics and yarns I bought but first I knew I had to break it to you that I have been keeping our spring vacation a secret... I wrote several posts before our departure and scheduled them to publish on assigned days.

You can likely guess why the secrecy: husband's paranoia of home security. With the exception of house guests one weekend our little home was empty for our vacation and my husband didn't want me to announce to the world on Ravenhill: "Hey, everyone, we are going to be out of the country!" Personally I am entirely sure that there is not a single thief among my dear readers but I had to reluctantly agree that it is probably best not to publish info about a vacant home on the internet, just to be on the safe side. I do hope that you will understand.

I took a real break from doll making and blogging. The above photos weren't even taken by me. My husband took them, but I did the editing. Isn't the Maine coast gorgeous?

I had some excitement related to my blog while home in the US. While doing a bit of shopping in midcoast Maine with my mother and 87 year old great aunt who should we meet but Jes, in her new soon-to-be-opened shop! It was a thrill to meet her and to actually get to take a look at her lovely shop. When Jes told me that she would like to have my matryoshkas in her shop I was so surprised and pleased!

Eight dolls have made their way to  Michelle! Quite unexpectedly, she offered to feature my dolls in her also soon-to-open shop in her home and is doing it out of the kindness of her heart!  The dolls above are now in my Etsy shop.

I had been hoping to get to meet with Erin and Iris, but unfortunately ran out of time. I received the prettiest ATC's from Iris who is having an ATC give away! I would show you the ATC's from Iris, but they are momentarily misplaced due to this jetlag fuzzy brain thing.

While visiting with my brother and uncle in Portland my mom and I got a couple of hours to look around the old port. It was delightful to see Amanda's work in person when we happened across the wonderful shop carrying her handmade goodies. While home I sent off the vintage tablecloth above to one of the sweetest people I have had the chance to "meet" via my blog. Jean has been so thoughtful with me that when she jokingly suggested the she would like this tablecloth I decided to mail it off to her. Surprisingly, the stain came out in the wash so it is in mint condition! Jean told me though that she couldn't possibly take the risk of using it as a table cloth and will make beautiful clothing out of it.

This post is now way too long, can you tell I have missed you?!

Awards to give!

Lately everyone in blogland has been giving awards and tagging each other. I have now had a few awards and tags come my way too! I am consolidating things and listing them all here for the sake of simplicity and giving myself more time to make things to show you! Like this little bag I made on Friday.

Jes has tagged me! Jes worked with my mom last year at the Waldorf aftercare preschool in Maine. Mom gave her my blog address and we have been chatting ever since. Jes is an enormous inspiration to me because not only does she make some of the most beautiful quilts, hats, clutches, wristlets... and the list goes on!...she also sells LOADS of them in her shop.

Ana has also tagged me. I won her contest and after sending me the earrings and other gifts we have been in touch! She also has a shop, and I just adore the bright and cheery fabric combinations she comes up with!

Florence has nominated me for a meme. She writes beautiful, inspiring and thoughtful posts in addition to sharing her sewing, cooking, crafting and parenting adventures.

I have been tagged by Varenia too! I am just in love with the cutest little gnome pinafore that she has on sale here.

Penny has given me another Amazing Blogger award and she said I was one of the most friendly bloggers out there. Wow, thank you! (Maybe this means I am one of the people spending the most time surfing and commenting of anyone out there?) Could be! Penny has a wonderful completely foldable shopping bag in her shop. It snaps into a small size that you can bring along just in case you need a bag.

Di has given me a "You Make my Day Award". She is crafty and a great photographer to boot! Like me there seems to be no limits to the crafts she does: knitting, crocheting, sewing, felting, etc.

I have just gotten another nomination from Adèle, author of one of my favorite French blogs! Her shop is stocked with lovely handmade bags.

Having been given an award or tagged comes with a price: I am supposed to reveal things about me:

1. I can spend a ridiculous amount of time thinking of 7 things about me to write and that is why I can't do this too often!

2. I have a poor memory. I have a hard time placing names to faces. I wish I had a better memory!

3. I gave birth to Lilly at home. In our bathroom. It was so amazing. Quick, and the biggest kick ever.

4. Sometimes I can get so excited about making something new that I have a hard time getting to sleep at night.

5. I don't like driving. We don't need to - public transport takes you everywhere here - plus we don't own a car.

6. We have a composter in our back yard. I love the idea of it but am ashamed to say I got totally freaked out the couple of times I have actually used it seeing all the creepy crawlies in it. I screamed. My husband has to do it. There is another practical reason why I don't deposit our waste in the composter. It is built in such a way that shorter people like me (5'3") have to drape their bodies over and actually touch the gross sides of it in order to take off the lid. Shudder.

7. When I was small I just wanted to wear pretty dresses. Mom had to decorate my jeans with countless iron on decorations before I would wear them. Lilly seems to take after me...

I am tagging: Tanja because I love her photography, Erin for the wholesome goodness of her crafts and blog, Monica for all the glorious color and crafting fun, and Geninne because I adore her illustrations.

If you would like to take a look at where my DOLLS have been traveling and who has been talking about them, see here, here, here, and here. I have been featured on a blog! My dolls got a rave review! Please check it out! My first Etsy customer has blogged about her purchase too!

(The vintage buttons and magazine on this post are purchases from the open air fleamarket last weekend. I was so thrilled to find a couple of boxes of buttons!)

 

Blog delight

As I have insinuated, I am rather addicted to reading crafting blogs. Lately I have found some new ones and even asked for permission to share a few photos with you! The following 3 photos from Alabama Chanin:

The patchwork quilt above is vintage and appliqués were artfully applied to repair holes. Jude is also gracefully mending holes and definitely worth a visit.

I like the roughness of her work. It reminded me of the rough beauty of my winter flowers nestled among dried leaves and pine needles in our back yard.

There are a few other blogs I want to share.

Merruli's - from Finland! I hadn't ever seen a Finnish crafting blog before a few days ago and was enchanted by it.

Ashley Anna Brown makes the most delightful little creatures. I have also taken quite a liking to the various birds made by Ann Wood. I am too big to play with stuffed animals but I really want some of these!