Category Archives: Tottie Tomato Loves

August 28, 2015 · 5:15 pm

Itty Bitty Hitty and the Tall Ship

Miranda Mermaid was cold, so was very pleased to receive a new shawl woven just for her.

Her friends were all so busy admiring it….

that they didn’t notice that Itty Bitty Hitty had climbed up

onto the tall ship that had lead Miranda to the Story Door.

Coco saw that it was starting to move away through the Story Door….

Even though she shouted at Itty to jump, JUMP! off the tall ship….

it slipped away and the Story Door quietly, but oh so quickly,

closed!

The Story Door dolls raced off to find Tottie Tomato to see if she could help.

Coco was so sad that she just laid down on the ground and cried and cried.

Tottie Tomato cuddled Coco and promised that she would go find Itty and bring her home again.

copyright Noreen Crone-Findlay www.tottietalkscrafts.com

Coco sniffed sadly and sat down to wait….

and wait…..

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Filed under doll & dolls & dollmaking & doll making, Tottie Tomato Loves, wooden dolls

Tagged as doll, doll making, dollmaking, dolls, hand weaving, hand woven, handwoven, Miranda Mermaid, Noreen Crone-Findlay, Tottie Tomato, wooden dolls

August 17, 2015 · 3:41 pm

Miranda Mermaid joins the Story Door Dolls

Itty Bitty Hitty was playing on the Story Door today.

She has discovered that the Lion’s Head door knocker is perfect for practicing acrobatics.

If she asks the Lion nicely, he is quite accommodating and will hold the ring ‘just so’.

She heard a strange sound behind the story door, so she scampered back to the Wall Doll House, and asked Coco and Bessie if they would come investigate with her.

Itty Bitty Hitty scrambled back up the door to the Lion’s head, to see if she could hear the odd sound again.

She was surprised when the Story Door creaked on it’s hinges and then, it opened, and a lovely lady appeared….

Not just ~any~ lady!

A MERMAID!!!!

Bessie and Coco were so excited that they raced back to the Wall Doll House to see if anyone else would like to meet the beautiful mermaid.

Coco and Itty Bitty Hitty introduced themselves, and so did Miranda.

Hitty Tennie and Bessie Gnome brought some comfie couches from the Wall Doll House, as they were sure that there would be stories told at the Story Door.

Sure enough, just as everyone settled in to hear Miranda’s story, a little ship floated through the Story Door.

Miranda told her new friends that she had been frolicking in the waves.

Suddenly a the tiny ship sailed past her and zoomed towards something that looked like the opening to a cave.

It wasn’t a cave…. it was the ‘other side’ of the Story Door!

Everyone ‘oooohed’ and ‘ahhhed’ at Miranda’s adventure…..

Tottie Tomato popped by to meet Miranda and see the magical little sailing ship.

Tottie, Coco and Bessie were so enchanted by Miranda’s stories that they didn’t notice that….

Itty Bitty Hitty had climbed up into the rigging of the tiny ship….

Only Kitty saw, but no one paid attention to her ‘miaows’.

Hopefully, Itty Bitty Hitty will get down off the mast before the tiny sailing ship sails away through the Story Door…..

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Filed under doll & dolls & dollmaking & doll making, Tottie Tomato Loves, wooden dolls

Tagged as doll, doll making, dollmaking, dolls, Noreen Crone-Findlay, Tottie Tomato, wooden dolls

July 23, 2015 · 1:04 am

Fleur has a celebration

Fleur, a wooden doll that I carved many decades ago, had an uncomfortable situation arise during our move- her foot went awol and had it’s own adventures.

Luckily, it re-appeared and is now firmly re-attached to Fleur.

Fleur was so happy to be re-united with her foot that she invited Tottie Tomato, Jane Austen, Albert Einstein and The Story Door Dolls all to come and sip a cup of tea with her.

There was one small problem….

Most of the teacups have mysteriously vanished from the Story Door Doll’s antique wicker suitcase.

Luckily, the guests were very gracious about being served tea in thimbles and assorted other vessels.

Professor Einstein was very accommodating about sipping his tea from a brass goblet, although he had to wait rather a long time for it to cool, as it was somewhat uncomfortably hot.

Jane Austen whispered to Tottie Tomato that she thought that the unusual nature of the teaparty was fun, but was rather glad that she didn’t bring along her silly sisters. She also thought that Mr. Darcy would probably have not approved….

Tennie did her best to help out by bringing along my favorite teacup earrings and a teacup crochet hook that I carved many years ago.

The Cat, puppy and turtle were happy to share a dish of tea.

Fleur gave everyone a few lessons on her tiny spool knitters, but then, she laid back to simply bask in the pleasure of the company of her friends.

The tea party was a success. Everyone agreed, even though the tea cups didn’t all make it to the party.

Perhaps they will be found in some unexpected place.

Moving. It is full of disruptions.

Thank heavens for dear friends!

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Filed under doll & dolls & dollmaking & doll making, Tottie Tomato Loves, wooden dolls

Tagged as doll, doll making, dolls, dolls and doll making, Story Door Wooden Dolls by Noreen Crone-Findlay, Tottie Tomato, wooden dolls

July 22, 2015 · 11:59 am

Fleur’s foot

Fleur did not make the move from our old house to the new one unscathed.

Fleur is a wooden lady of advanced years – I carved her more than 30 years ago, and she has some fragility about her nowadays.

Tottie Tomato and the Story Door Dolls heard that Fleur and her foot had had a parting of the ways during the move, and so they were rather concerned.

They came by to offer their wishes for a successful re-attachment….

Some glue, a little wrapping and a sincere apology on my part for packing her so badly, all seem to be helping.

Clover Bee, the Story Door Doll that is on the left hand side of the first picture also came to say farewell to Fleur, as she was about to head off to her new home just after Fleur’s fancy footwork.

Tottie Tomato and the Story Door Dolls didn’t stay long, as Fleur needed to rest and allow the glue to work it’s magic.

(We hope…..)

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Filed under doll & dolls & dollmaking & doll making, Tottie Tomato Loves, wooden dolls

Tagged as fixing a broken doll, Noreen Crone-Findlay, small dolls, Story Door Dolls, wooden doll making, wooden dolls, woodworking

April 15, 2015 · 9:43 am

Tottie Tomato settles into the new studio

Poor Tottie Tomato has been left sleeping in her antique wicker suitcase for the entire month since we moved to our new home. That’s her suitcase behind her.

I’ve been working so hard to set up our home and my studio, as well as working hard hard hard on the new book, that poor Tottie hasn’t seen the light of day.

But, it’s time to let little Ms Tomato settle into our new studio.

She likes it very much, even though it is waaaaaaaaay smaller than our old one.

She loves to help warp up the peg looms, which is good, as I am weaving and writing and photographing and and and … full steam ahead!

It really feels like home, now that Tottie Tomato is out and about in the studio with me!

8 Comments

Filed under Peg and Stick Loom weaving, personal stuff, Tottie Tomato Loves, weaving & handwoven

Tagged as Noreen Crone-Findlay, peg loom weaving book, studio, Tottie Tomato, writing a book

March 14, 2014 · 9:48 pm

Another new friend for Tottie Tomato

Tottie Tomato looked outside the studio window and saw someone tobogganing on the snowbanks….

She astonished Tottie by fluttering up into the tree….. and Tottie realized that the fluttery little person was a fairy!

The fairy looked awfully familiar…..

Tottie Tomato saw that she was shivering- it was so cold!

So, she invited the Winter Fairy in for a cup of tea….

Tottie Tomato had been watching the progress of the Winter Fairy coming to life, so she was surprised to see her outside!

Winter Fairy said that she felt that, once she had her wings, she really ought to see what Winter was all about.

Sledding was fun – but chilly.

The Winter Fairy told Tottie Tomato that she prefers to experience winter from the warm side of the window, so she has decided to take up permanent residence in the studio and perhaps wait until springtime before venturing outside again.

Tottie Tomato is looking forward to many pleasant cups of tea with the Winter Fairy.

She plans on showing her around the studio and introducing her to all manner of lovely folks.

Tottie Tomato is very happy that I took part in the Zoom Loom Doll Weave Along on Ravelry- otherwise, the Winter Fairy would never have joined us here in the studio!

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Filed under doll & dolls & dollmaking & doll making, Loom & looms & small loom weaving, Tottie Tomato Loves, weaving & handwoven

Tagged as doll making, hand weaving, hand woven, Noreen Crone-Findlay, Ravelry, Tottie Tomato, Weave along, woven doll, woven fairy doll, Zoom Loom

February 23, 2014 · 10:19 am

Tottie and the Mermaids

Tottie Tomato thinks she’s dreaming!

Two Mermaids have come to live in the studio, and she is thrilled….

They have been singing beautiful songs to her

and telling her stories of the seashore,

and of ships that sail….

Tottie Tomato went to the ocean once, very long ago, the summer that she was born,

and she has been longing to go back.

Perhaps her dream will come true?

And, maybe the Mermaids will help her dream come true!

(And, if Mermaids are in your dreams, you can order my pattern from my website: LINK

or etsy shop: LINK or Ravelry shop LINK)

May the Mermaids sing sweetly to you!

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Filed under doll & dolls & dollmaking & doll making, Tottie Tomato Loves

Tagged as crocheted doll, crocheted Mermaid doll, mermaid, mermaid doll pattern, mermaids, Noreen Crone-Findlay, Tottie Tomato

January 31, 2014 · 11:41 am

Tottie Tomato wishes you happy year of the horse

Hurrah! The Year of the Snake has curled up and slithered away, with few of us wishing it would last longer.

And, now, The Year of the Horse has galloped through the gate! YAY!

Poor Tottie Tomato got a sudden and surprising ride when she was posing for this photo- one of the Small Dogs grabbed her up and raced away with her.

I was shrieking, ‘No! No! No!’ in hot pursuit across the studio. Jim jumped up and leapt to the studio, gasping: ‘What? What!?!?!?!’

Small Dog dropped Tottie at Jim’s feet and pranced with delight.

I shot in and grabbed poor Tottie back. Luckily, she wasn’t hurt, and she forgives Small Dog for her unexpected ride.

This is NOT the way I would like the Year of the Horse to proceed, thank you very much!

I’m all up for delicious surprises and fast forward motion, but being challenged by unexpected canine capers is not a metaphor that I am going to embrace.

Nope.

I’m all for having a year of unbounded creativity, excellent good health, delight in community and happiness in family and tremendously delicious moments of serendipity and connection.

Yup.

And, that’s what I wish for you, too!

Happy, happy Year of the Horse!

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Filed under doll & dolls & dollmaking & doll making, Tottie Tomato Loves

Tagged as Chinese astrology, doll, dolls, Noreen Crone-Findlay, Tottie Tomato, Year of the Horse

January 20, 2014 · 3:14 pm

Occupied by Octopi and Einstein

People keep asking me to design and weave baby toys……….. so…….

Every day of the last week, I have been obsessively weaving one octopus after another. Why?

Well, because I’ve been contemplating how to weave toys that are appealing to and for babies.

My checklist for the baby toys:

Bright colors

No beads or buttons, only embroidered embellishments

Lots of opportunities to hold onto the toy, and to hang it up from strollers if wanted, and to connect other toys to it.

The answer: OCTOPUS!

Tah dah!

An occupation of octopuzzzzzzzzzz in my studio!

Tottie Tomato is somewhat confused by my sudden obsession with oceanic friends.

She sought out a little advice from her friend, Albert Einstein.

He reassured Tottie Tomato that all the mermaids in the studio will be sure to keep the octopuzzzzzzzzzzzz under control.

Besides, they are only in residence temporarily, until they are adopted, and, it’s a well known fact that octopuzzzzzzz don’t eat little Tomato people. 🙂

PS: if you are feeling inspired to weave an octopus or two, too, I used my pattern in WEAVAGARUMI

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Filed under doll & dolls & dollmaking & doll making, Loom & looms & small loom weaving, potholder loom, Tottie Tomato Loves, weaving & handwoven

Tagged as Albert Einstein, hand woven toys, handwoven baby toys, Noreen Crone-Findlay, octopus toys, Tottie Tomato, Weavagarumi, weaving for babies, woven baby toys, woven octopus

January 10, 2014 · 2:59 pm

Tottie Tomato celebrates International Day of the Unicorn

Yesterday, our enchanting little grandson announced, savouring the words as he said them:

‘What a sight that would be to see!’.

He enjoyed this so much that he repeated it several times, which set me to thinking about wonderful sights to see….

And, then, today, dear friend just sent me a note, telling me that today is International Day of the Unicorn!

What a sight that would be to see!!!!!

Well, I believe that that is cause for celebration, and so does Tottie Tomato!

Tottie Tomato and a few good friends gathered around the Green Man well to celebrate sweet, greening, lovely, tenderness in all it’s forms. If you call it ‘magic’, then that’s fine, too.

What ever you call it, take a moment to say thank you for all that is good, and sweet and growing in beauty today!