In brief

Where have I been? At home (sewing, cooking, cleaning, homework help), out in the world (running, running errands) and back home again (hosting, more of the above). I'm awash in gerunds.

I posted seven Etsy listings today, including this King Winter, Snow Queen, and Snow Child set, and a Green Yuletide Angel. I've been working at this cottage industry for over two years, and I still am surprised that the activities taking photographs, tweaking of the photographs, and listing the dolls take about as long as the creation of the dolls themselves.

Incidentally (Natural Kids Team related), I read a new-to-me version of Tolstoy's "The Turnip" called Hugin and his Carrot, posted by fellow Natural Kids Team member SuperSkivvies. It has a song! I don't know the tune to the song, but I will find out. I have ways.

Martinmas Songs 2011

Tomorrow (November 11) is Martinmas, the feast of St. Martin, the Roman soldier who gave half of his cloak to a beggar. St. Martin was a Roman soldier, so it's a fitting coincidence that his feast day falls on Veteran's Day. I gathered together my resources from previous years in a Natural Kids Team post, which I am linking here only so that if you've spontaneously decided to have a lantern walk, you don't have to hunt long for songs. The hot cider, pumpkin bread, and bonfire is up to you!

The House of Glee is not attending a lantern walk this year (though I am grateful to the person who invited my family to attend her school's gathering tonight). If Lucia was still in attendance at her old Waldorf school, we would rally, but both Bede and Lucia are struggling to recover from coughs and colds. 

I plan at least to light the candelabra in our fireplace. In lieu of roasted goose (legend had it that St. Martin hid in a barn to avoid being appointed a bishop, but the hollering of the geese revealed his makeshift refuge), we'll have curry. There are three chocolate pumpkin bread muffins left, too.

And they are good.

E.L. Sapo 13th Annual Holiday Artist Market

Are you going to be in the Chastain area of Atlanta, Georgia, USA, between Thursday, November 17 and Sunday, November 20?  Artist English Norman of E*L Sapo is hosting her 13th Annual Holiday Artist Market, and some of my dolls will be in attendance! Follow the url, and then click on "M" for market for more information.

English Norman has been an enthusiastic supporter of my work, and I am grateful that she has encouraged me to take part in this artist market. I wish I could be at the market in order to admire other artisans' works.

Nativity Set collaboration with Bossy's Feltworks

Two summers ago, Mandy of Bossy's Feltworks collective commissioned two butterfly fairy dolls from me as Christmas presents for her daughters. She asked if I would be interested in a trade, and I replied that yes indeed, I appreciate flying chickens. Last summer, I wrote Mandy a note in which I said, "I've often thought about how much fun it would be to do a combined Nativity set with different artisans." Kari, another member of Bossy's Feltworks, replied to that note and said, "I love the idea!" And so, a collaboration was born. I finally got to meet all three of the artisans (Mandy Troxel, Kari Van Gelder, Amy Lum) on Labor Day weekend when my family went to visit Orcas Island for a little vacation prior to school's starting. The day was sunny and warm, as were the artisans. You may read more about them here.

Our four 13 piece Nativity sets are complete, and each shop will list two sets. Mine are here and here. I made a little stop-action animation video to showcase our work (and thanks to The Enchanted Cupboard, there are wintery trees in the background):