Monthly Archives: October 2015

October 21, 2015 · 8:28 am

Woven Women: Stardust Woman

For many months, I have been working on a new Woven Woman that is based on Rumi’s poem:

‘We came whirling out of nothingness

Scattering stars like dust…..

The stars made a circle

and in the middle

we danced’

I wove the words on the magical narrow band loom that my son and I created- LINK

using a double slotted rigid heddle.

To weave the letters, I graphed out my hand writing and experimented until the letters wove up in a pleasing manner, both technically, and aesthetically.

I also used the dragonfly and star looms that I designed for Dewberry Ridge looms – LINK

And, I included some tatting, too.

I made the face and hands from 1/2 inch plywood and the backdrop from 1/4 inch plywood.

She’s a departure from the direction I have been going with my Woven Women, so I really questioned myself about her.

She spent quite a long time on the dining room table as I moved her component parts from here to there.

And now, completed, she measures 11 inches wide and from the top of the arch to the tassel at her hem is more than 60 inches.

But, I feel really drawn to weave words right now, so I will continue to do more….

The next Woven Woman is on the loom already. 🙂

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Tagged as 'Woven Women' by Noreen Crone-Findlay, double slotted rigid heddle weaving, dragonfly loom Dewberry Ridge, hand weaving, hand woven, handwoven, mixed media woven works, narrow band loom weaving, Noreen Crone-Findlay, poetry, rigid heddle weaving, Rumi, small loom weaving, Star loom Dewberry Ridge, tatting, textiles, weaving words, Woven Women tapestries by Noreen Crone-Findlay

October 9, 2015 · 1:46 pm

My grandson designs a truck

Last June, our grandson and I made a wooden doll together.

copyright Noreen Crone-Findlay www.tottietalkscrafts.com

We had fun doing it, but he didn’t express an interest in doing any more woodworking, so I haven’t brought it up.

BUT…. on Thursday, when we picked him up at Kindergarden, he was dancing with delight because it had ~finally~ been his turn for show and tell and he could hardly wait to show me what he had shared.

He proudly pulled his wooden doll out of his backpack and beamed at me. He was so happy!

Well, I did the ‘granny-swoon’- being washed over with gratitude at my darling boy’s choice of what was ~really~ precious to him. Melt, melt, melt.

I asked him if he was interested in making more dolls and he said: ‘Of course!’.

I got a piece of wood and asked him if he was more interested in making a doll or a truck and he voted for truck.

He drew the truck and I cut it out on the band saw and sanded it for him.

We didn’t have time for paint, so he worked with markers and will use paint at home with his Mamma.

Sigh. I LOVE these precious times. ❤

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Tagged as grandson makes a wooden truck, Noreen Crone-Findlay, woodworking with children

October 7, 2015 · 12:26 pm

Two hand carved crochet hooks

On the weekend, a friend of mine in North Carolina posted photos of a collection of crochet hooks that I carved several years ago.

She has been nudging me to start carving crochet hooks again, and seeing the photo of all those hooks inspired me.

So, I picked up my carving tools and have been carving non-stop.

Tadah! Here are the first 2 hooks that I have carved in absolutely yonks!

The little girl, carved from birch, is just a touch under 6 inches tall (which is appropriate, as she’s inspired by Hitty dolls). The hook is about a size “N’ 10mm

The Rabbit is carved from a mystery hardwood that was in our woodworking shop (and was hard as nails to carve)

and is not quite 8 1/2 inches tall. The hook is about a size “N’ 10mm.

They are both for sale. Each is $95.00 + shipping – if you are interested, please drop me a note! 🙂

Thanks for the inspiration, Maitri! 🙂

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Filed under crochet, wooden dolls, woodwork

Tagged as crochet hook, hand carved wooden crochet hooks by Noreen Crone-Findlay, wooden fantasy crochet hook, Woven Women tapestries by Noreen Crone-Findlay

October 7, 2015 · 11:29 am

An adorable gift

A dear friend of mine sent me the sweetest gift- a delightful little vintage dog who is very at home with the Story Door Dolls!

Her name is, ‘Lupin’, and she arrived with magical little vintage postcards that the Story Door Dolls loved!

Itty loved the postcard of the sailing ships as it reminded her of her great adventure!

Coco loved the postcard of the castle- she thought that it looked like it was right out of a fairy tale.

Lupin offered to give Itty and Coco as many rides as they would like.

Lupin has settled into the Story Door wall doll house happily and gets along very well with the other resident dogs. Itty was concerned about how the cat and turtle would handle having another dog in the house so, she ambled off to have a chat with them.

Thank you so much, darlin’ Caroline for this wonderful addition to the Story Door dolls! ❤

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Filed under doll & dolls & dollmaking & doll making, wooden dolls

Tagged as doll, doll making, dollmaking, dolls, Noreen Crone-Findlay, Story Door Dolls by Noreen Crone-Findlay, wooden dolls

October 6, 2015 · 6:56 pm