Recently, I had a lovely conversation with my darlin’ grandson.
He said to me: ‘Nanma, I LOVE your dolls. Will you make me one for Christmas?’
I was thrilled that he is pleased with my work and that he wanted me to make him a doll for Christmas.
What an awesome 7 year old he is!
I asked him if he wanted a wooden one or a woven one, and I was convinced that he said, ‘Wooden’….
So, I stayed up very, very late one night, and got up early, to carve him a wooden doll:
I used a birch branch from our son’s neighbour’s tree. It’s been drying for a year and a half and is lovely to carve.
Tottie Tomato cheered me on as I carved.
She comforted the new doll, because she knows that the knives, chisels and sandpaper are very uncomfortable, and that paint brushes tickle….
After he was done, and I had knitted his sweater and jeans, Tottie Tomato and New Boy went to hang a few ornaments on the tree in the village.
Something was feeling not quite right….
I thought: I have to check and see if Grandson actually said that he wanted a wooden doll…..
So, I asked him which dolls he loved?
Wooden or the woven art dolls?
We were out at a concert of his Grampa’s music, so I sketched the shape of the 6th Sense art dolls in the air.
YES! he said, firmly!
THOSE are the ones I love!
Oh oh….
I asked him to draw in the air and show me what shape he had in mind.
Yup….. Woven Women 6th Sense art dolls, and NOT 6 inch tall wooden dolls….
oops.
He specified that he wanted it soft to cuddle and that it had to wear black shoes.
I asked him to draw exactly what he wanted…..
He held his hands up in the air and showed me the size.
So…………………………
I have been weaving up a storm……………. well, a doll, along with a few other things……
I used the tapestry weaving technique to weave the body front, and plain weave for the back.
I did a clasped warp technique for the arms and legs to make the color changes work for the arms and legs.
I hope that he approves of how I interpreted his design!
I hadn’t thought of making him a doll for Christmas, so I am incredibly grateful that he asked.
And, because I didn’t get the brief right first time around, our little sweetheart gets TWO dolls, not one!
For now, they are chilling out by the Village Christmas tree, enjoying themselves in knitted armchairs that I designed for Findlay and Flora Bear.
The pattern for the chairs is in my etsy shop:
I can’t bear to wrap them until the last moment, so I will have a chance to enjoy them, too!
Merry Christmas, Happy Channukah, Happy Solstice, Happy Yule, Happy EVERYTHING to you and yours!
Love and blessings all round.
May 2017 bring Peace, Wisdom and Compassion!
Tottie Talks Crafts Blog 
Like Like Love…the dolls, and your grandson, and you!
Happy everything to you too!
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LOL! Thank you, thank you! I am so grateful that he likes my dolls and that he asked for one…. and that I got it wrong so that I could make him TWO!!!!! I wish I had another month before Christmas, because now I want to make everyone ALL the dolls! LOL Merry Christmas and HAPPY HAPPY EVERYTHING to you, too, Quimper HItty ❤
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How absolutely precious!!! The whole scenario from start to finish is just perfect! Could just be considered a Christmas miracle!
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LOL, thank you thank you, Darlene! I have to admit that I am a little short on sleep! And, eep…. I am sooooooooo not done with my Christmas carving, weaving, sewing and knitting! Oh my! But! Merry, Happy Everything to you and yours! 🙂
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Oh lucky boy! I’ll bet the doll he was sketching in the air (and in your heart) was a doll that looked a lot like him. Beauty!
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Thank you, thank you! This has been utterly delightful- yes, I agree…. he’s thinking that this doll is very much like him. I am such a lucky granny to have such a dear boy!
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Oh Noreen, You have done it again! Love you and your designs. Belinda
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Thank you so much, Belinda! Wishing you the greatest of joy in all that you and yours celebrate! 🙂
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you can always send the wooden one to me here in Flintstone, he is a cutie hugs, linda
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You can always commission me to carve one for you, Linda 🙂
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I love both the dolls. You are amazing. And you inspire me always to push myself.
All good things!
Lyna
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Thank you so kindly, Luna! Wishing you all the best, as well 🙂
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Happy all of it to you, too, Noreen. Aren’t grands just the best?
I hope your wishes for 2017 turn out to be more accurate than what we’re fearing here in the States — but maybe the left coast will actually join Canada. Hope our paths will cross again sometime this year. Leslie
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Happy happy everything to you, too, Leslie! And, yes, being a granny is just the BEST!!!!! I won’t be traveling to the States, so if you happen to be in Canada, and close to us, then yes- we must sip tea together! I am hoping and wishing that all shall be well in the midst of all the upheavals. I really hope that 2017 will amaze us all with how well it turns out!
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