b.b. flockling

A long winter's nap...

2012-01-14T21:49:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year everyone!
A little belated, but I do hope January is off to a good start for you.
As for me, I am still waiting for my long winter's nap!
There has been precious little sleep in our house between Thanksgiving til...now.
High excitement, friends and family gatherings, shopping, and more shopping.
The hustle bustle of the holidays seemed to fill each day to overflowing.

Now that the ornaments are packed away until next fall,
the clean palette of 2012 has stirred me with new creative imaginings
borne from a very special Treasure Box.

It landed on our doorstep
just after Christmas.

Upon closer inspection, we saw the address was from Finland.
Finland?!
A hint perhaps of what...or who might be inside.
As we gently separated the tissue, you can imagine our surprise.
This is what we found!

Tucked within a wooden box that had been painted in Pippi colors
was a cheerful bouquet bursting with treasures!
As you can imagine, I was completely
Overwhelmed. Speechless.
My daughters had to provide the words.
And did they ever.
My own Pippichild was sure her friend had returned...
She squealed, "I see her face! I see her face! She's back!"

Yes, she was back...

but this time in a different form.

(Don't you think she looks like a Finlander now?)

As each treasure was uncovered, we marveled at the....

Endless details.
Meticulously crafted sentiments.
Brilliant colors on fanciful designs.

Just look at this gorgeous card made by Pippi's new mama...

I could not believe someone would do this...

A little orange haired doll brought a Living Angel into our life...    This extraordinary expression of gratitude arrived at just the right time...Right in the midst of my soulful end-of-year ponderings about the future of my dollmaking.You see, my children are growing older, and they are needing a different quality time from me.My concentration needs to be more focused on their art abilities.So that perhaps each one of them could experience the bliss, the absolute joy of creating something lovely that comes from the center of their own heart.I want them to feel, in their own unique way, what I feel when I make a doll. Would there, should there be enough time for me to devote to the Doll Room this year...    But such serious thought had been momentarily replaced by Sweets.Of course, Pippi did not forget to send along Sweets.       And there are even even more treasures deep down in this box... Would you like to see them?          Here is the seating arrangement in Pippi's new living quarters...carefully displayed in a handmade picture album.with plenty of extra pages to add more pictures of my own!

Something special to hold my favorite beverage.

  Coffee tastes really good in this cup!
(A tiny Mr. Nelson is in the works, and I hope to include pictures of him in my next post.)

Finally, encased in an artfully painted tin box, we found this...

As I watched my children's responses to the contents of this box,I knew that they were actually experiencing the full circle of giving and the true essence of art. Once they identify with my doll, they can't help but become absorbed in the creation process.Yet at the end, they have to let them go...to someone else.Pippi came back to them through the art of someone else...and they figured it out! WHY I send the dolls away...Priceless. My dollmaking just took on a whole new dimension to them, and me...within this Treasure Box.  . Thank you again, Sari for encouraging our artistic vision for 2012.God bless you!  One more exciting piece of news...
Please welcome a relatively new and upcoming doll artist!Penny's ( of Bebe fame at Angelsdoor) sisterConnie created Freckels.I just love the irrepressible expression on her face!It kind of reminds me of a Bebe attitude...an adventure must be on her mind. Come see more of her on ebay here!

  Still hoping for that long winter's nap...! Rose

The hopes, the fears of all the years are met in Thee tonight...

2011-12-24T22:49:00.000-08:00

Christmas Giveaway Winners and Snowgirl Auction!

2011-12-17T16:51:00.000-08:00

This is my last ebay offering for the year...and oh what a wonderful year it has been!As I look back and reflect, I am so thankful for the many gifts God has given,and for the ability to humbly create with my hands. And I am so very thankful for all of you! The kind words you leave at my door,and the totally unique expressions you share on your blogs continually amaze and inspire me. Although I cannot give each of you a physical gift...the gift I can give you is my admiration.Sprinkled with lots of encouragement to continue to create wondrous things! Merry Merry Christmas dear friends. much love, Rose

Christmas is just around the corner...Giveaway, Gnomes and Icicle Men

2011-12-09T15:16:00.000-08:00

Please meet my little Blue Gnome.   Well, only her hair is blue...not her mood!She is quite excited to find out where her new home will be. And if there might be a present for her under the tree there. I have named her P'nilli, a quirky little name for a quirky little Gnome.   She and I have spent a lot of "thinking time" together while working on her jointing.  Now that my efforts with her are done, I really wanted someone special to have her. I could think of no one better than one of my blog friends!  So, I offer her to you as my first Christmas giveaway. I wish I could give something to each and every one of you, but P'nilli and the jovial little Icicle Man belowis all I have this time.  What I can give each of you, however, is a *visual* piece of my heart during my favorite time of year. Please visit my ebay auction. There you will find a living Christmas Card I created with much care for you!   You have been a tremendous source of blessing to me this year and I dearly wanted to show you how much I value your friendship...       P'nilli's joints are made of durable, bendable cording which tends to hold it's bend.  But her knees are not strong enough for her to stand on her own. She is a bit self conscious about that...but she does sit so pretty on all sorts of fun things. Not real sure yet if she will arrive with the pink teacup or a lovely silver chair I have made for her.      The Icicle Man was a pure flight of the imagination.   Have you ever heard of Icicle People?! Surely icicles have personalities too...and sure enough along came Pickering the caroling Icicle. He can hold his own in the baritone section and is quite a commanding presence on our tree amongst the more timid Gingerbread People.  He measures 7 inches from top to toe and is generously covered in Mica flakes and German glass glitter...the more the merrier to make a big sparkle along with the twinkling tree lights.       If you would like either of these small friends of mine to come home to your house, please leave a comment below!   And if you feel so inclined, I would love to hear about a sentimental Christmas memory or tradition you celebrate.  My youngest daughter will draw two names on the evening of the 15th, seven days from now. The 1st name will receive P'nilli, and the 2nd name will receiv Pickering! I will have them both wrapped and ready to fly home, and hopefully they will arrive well before Christmas Eve. International flights might take a little longer. ..


Hildys has some Yuletide Cheer for you in her wooden wagon...click on her picture above, or the ebay picture at the top left of the page to travel to her home in the Northern Country. until we talk again...lots of Christmas love, Rose   p.s. This is going to be so much fun!!

Worth the Wait

2011-11-19T10:15:00.000-08:00

Please meet a little friend of mine.I have named her Karli Star. And this is why... Her life began late in the Spring with great excitement
Who might this tiny Gnome Child become?

To read her story and see more pictures, please visit Karli's auction by clicking here!

And...there's a little more to her story...

With each new lump of clay, I never know who I am going to meet...
until the face paint is applied.
Sometimes the personality shows up after the first coat,
but more than likely the doll will make me wait and labor
over several coats of paint.
Maybe even sometimes a couple repaints before we're done.

Karli, however, showed up right away.
She was very familiar to me.
Her expression was one I fondly remembered from my childhood.
It was the shy sweet face of my younger sister Karla.
I added wispy long hair and a basket of good things to eat.
So I named her Karli.
("Star" is explained in the rest of her story.)

To this day, my sister nurtures by her generous giving.
She loves to make yummy things for my children and has been an ongoing blessing to me and many more
every day of her life on this earth.

I dedicate this little gnome faerie to her loving spirit
and thank God He has allowed me to be her sister.

Oh, and I wanted to share Pippi's homecoming with you!

Thankfully, she arrived in Finland
to a Mighty Grand Welcome.

Her family prepared a birthday party in her new bedroom!
With not one but two cakes and many Finnish candies besides.

I could tell that Pippi immediately made herself at home,
There is no doubt in my mind that she will be sharing her own
decorating ideas for the rest of the house.
Bless you Sari (and your lovely husband)
for asking me to create
a Pippi just for you.
What an honor and a delight it was!

My heart is turned toward Christmas now.

So...

This year I would like to offer a Yuletide giveaway on this blog.

Once Karli was done, I concentrated on a prototype moveable doll whose joints could be carefully played with.
Joints that could withstand gentle playing.
She is almost done and I am satisfied with these first efforts.
I would like to give her to someone special!
Also , there will be a second giveaway...
a jaunty little icicle man with a top hat!~
On my next post, I will be adding pictures of them...
so please do drop by for a visit and leave a Christmas greeting!

until then, keep looking Upward! love, Rose

My Summer Companion

2011-10-16T20:56:00.000-07:00

Please meet a very little girl with a great Big Personality.

This is the same doll on my previous post, but with lighter hair.
Our friend in Finland preferred a more orange color, and I totally agree!
She stands barely 5 inches, is gently poseable,
and has been in the making all Summer.
We have had lots of time to become acquainted.

There is Nothing Symmetrical about her.

Rightfully so, being the Pippi that she is. Her hair is hand dyed silk. Multi-colored orange. So soft to the touch it is almost not there. Styling the wispy soft strands is like handling a spider's web. Her brightly painted, sculpted boots are tied with green thread.

I wanted to make Pippi one Very Special Dress
to wear for her Homecoming.And with Christmas coming up, I decided on a Holiday Gown.

But the Holiday Gown obviously would not do for Chores. So, we came up with this little number using the stray buttons she helpfully pulled out from way back under my desk.They mismatched perfectly.

  Then she thought... A Chore Dress would not do for visits to the Bakery. We agreed this cheerful Day Dress might just prompt an extra torte or two to be added to her bag by the Bakerbecause she was so darned cute in it.

After I made the Day Dress, I discovered thatPippi enjoys standing on one foot. And she is quite proud of balancing all on her own. I thought a stand might make it easier for her to remain suspended like thatif she feels so inclined. Which she often did. One night she fell asleep like that and the next day her leg was upstuck until lunch.           Here she is...Posing amongst the squash and zuchinni.Pippi however prefers posies.So...her hands were sculpted to hold Flowers.

    When Autumn rolled around,I Knew the Dressmaking Needed To Stop. But Then,  Pippi gave me that Flower and politely asked for a Party Frock to wear for impromptu ballet performancesat Birthday Parties.

After the Birthday Frock was finished, I finally sent her off to bed all wrapped up in an Antique Handkerchief Nightgown.

  This Summer,
I found that saying "no" to Pippi was a really hard thing to do.   But before I end her story here at the farm,
she reminded me to tell you about her friend Karli.
Karli has been waiting her turn in the Dollroom all the while
I was sewing Pippi's Fancies.
They have become devoted friends,
and you will see why Pippi loves her so when you meet her.

Karli thinks every antic Pippi does is Perfectly Wonderful.
So does Pippi.
They both seem to have the same Outlook in Life.

And speaking of Life,
artistically, it just doesn't get much better than this...

Don't you think?

much love, Rose

Blackberry Cobblers and Flying Pigtails

2011-10-09T23:44:00.000-07:00

It is so good to be talking to you again! How have you been? Needless to say, much has happened since my last post, and I bet you can say the same! A new computer with lots of fancy gizmos for one. This house was computer-less for about 6 weeks, maybe longer, after my old computer decided to finally throw in the towel. The evenings became surprisingly peaceful in a nontechnological sort of way. Although I sorely missed the news on the wire...now that I am back online, I intend to enjoy more old fashioned evenings spent in front of the fireplace this winter...unplugged. and...Since we spoke last, the garden was seeded, weeded, and harvested. Not to mention a massive amount of blackberries were picked. And I mean massive. A good natured contest was born between my boys, all six of them, based on who could fill his bucket first. However, the real bragging rights went to the one who found the biggest berry each day. This competition carried on throughout the blackberry season. We now have a freezer dedicated entirely to Blackberries. Naturally, they will make up a substantial portion of our diet this winter.Happily so.. Blackberry Mush in the Morning... Blackberry Cobbler in the Afternoon... And Blackberry Tarts made by enthusiastic little hands for Evening Dessert. While my sons were off conquering the wild thorns and tangled vines, I was spending quality time with a little girl wearing flying pigtails.. She hung around the kitchen with me. All the while offering very opinionated opinions about pie crusts and (more) sugar in the berries.This picture was taken before her hands and feet were finished ...but I wanted you to see her at this stage. Next week I hope to formally introduce her to you. I have spent a few of these recent late nights traveling to your own special places to see what wondrous paths your summer has led you down! Until we talk again, I leave you with great affection and appreciation of your kind interest in my little blackberried corner of the Forest. always love...Rose

French Gnome Garden Faery

2011-07-29T19:21:00.000-07:00

I have just returned from a cross-country Road Trip. It has been far too long since I have visited my childhood home in Illinois. It was thought that perhaps I might just accompany my sister on her annual journey back home.So, she and I loaded up our 11 passenger van with food, children and headed down the road one early Summer Morning.

Along the way, we enjoyed long, significant(and not so significant) conversations.While watching in awe as our diverse American landscape stretched out in front of us. And naturally, I indulged in a bit of doll making.

While working on a commission, I had a clump of Apoxie left over. Not one to waste anything, and just for the fun of it,I quickly fashioned a wisp of an armature and sculpted a body from it. . Miraculously the next day, ...amidst all the road jiggling... a sweet little French face the size of my thumb stared back at me. Then, I put the pieces away. When we returned two weeks later, some of my flowers had bloomed. Only their dried petals remainedto let me know they had come and gone. I took out the body and face...one thing led to another, and a tiny 5 inch French Gnome Garden Faery emerged. From the flowers I had missed and other things too... Her name is Gizelle.She is so small and delicate and she tends a Garden full of Summer Memories. If you would like to see more details, and read Gizelle's poem beautifully written by Suzanne Milson (Pixie Andrew's mom) please consider visiting her auctionby clicking on the ebay picture up in the right hand corner of this page! Oh, and before I show you a new project,please meet a young mermaid created especially for Cherrylinn.A very dear friend of hers has comissioned this doll for her 12th birthday.They both share a love of the sea and it's gentle inhabitants...

She was created for a bit more handling, and will have three tail fins that can be interchanged.

I hope Cherrylinn will find a place for this young mermaidenin her heart.
She is ready to swim away home any day now!

Thank you, Daisy, for allowing me to be a partof this very special birthday surprise...

Jewel of the Crown

2011-06-09T11:57:00.000-07:00

    Ancient Elven Lore foretells a Time

when Darkness would envelope

a Land once Fair and Beautiful...     Please meet Na'riel, a very special doll.She represents a Bride, a Spirit, a Legend...and JapanThus, she has a unique white powdered finish on her skin to give her a mystical and pure appearance. Since January, she has been in bits and pieces.Well, maybe even longer.Her head was sculpted and partially painted sometime late last year...waiting for a suitable body.And waiting for the Inspiration to come.       One afternoon this spring, I made a long, lithe armature with a wrapped torso that seemed to have a regal pose.   By happenstance, I draped a piece of ultra soft pink velour around the waist of the armature.Quite suddenly, I envisioned a Maiden standing in the Crown on my mantle. All the while, watching the distress of our neighbors in Japan... Now with a purpose, this piece began emerging.
   Exquisite bits of old laces that had disappeared in my Doll Room drawers resurfaced...remnants of silks and velvets and petals of fabric flowers came together in a calm and marvelous way.
   A bride slowly was appearing, but in a mystical form.  So, beading pearls seemed fitting.     Her name is Na'rielwhich is Elven for Glowing Pearl.

  Many layers make up her gown,chiffon, silk gauze, handmade velvet ribbon, pink lace. Like her gown, she holds many layers of meaning for me as well.

The many hours devoted to each minute component of her creation made for a lovely journey.

Creating a Maiden of Fortitude and Perseverance...
    Waiting for her King...

Na'riel is presently on ebay.   To visit her auction and Story, please click on the picture above.      And I could not resist showing you a cute as a bug (and not much larger than one) Faerie Childmade by Angi also on ebay. You can click on her picture too if you would like to view her auction. The faerie dust has been sparkling in the Doll Room!  much love to you, Rose

Faerie Gardens, Bedtime Stories and a Mouse

2011-05-24T16:49:00.000-07:00

Pixie Aster

   Home spun Bedtime Stories are a tradition in our family.

Often the fairytales that follow my sculptures
will serve as great night-time tales.
However, this time the faerie was created in response to a simple
verse about a Pixie who grows Mice instead of Flowers in her garden.


We are in the midst of garden digging here at the farm, and it totally intrigues my youngest children to imagine that just perhaps mice can be "grown" by forest Pixies. So, my daughter Angi and I decided to have a bit of fun and together bring this fairy tale to lifeduring planting season. Angi sculpted these two endearing characters and I worked out the detailing!
Clicking on the picture above will take you to her auction! I hope you take a moment to meet Pixie Aster and her garden grown mouse, and read the simple little limerick spun by my daughterto her own children.  ...This was so agreeable to our artistic constitutions, that we hope to offer a joint project now and again on ebay.    Angi has started her own art doll blog called Nocturne Fairies.Please do stop by and say hello!She would truly appreciate your words of encouragement as she explores the wondrous art of doll making. Now, I am off to visit some of your studios to see what has been sprouting there!Thank you for stopping by...much love, Rose

A Dream Ship

2011-05-07T00:29:00.000-07:00

Have I mentioned to you that my daughters are completely in love with a certain little red haired girland her pet monkey? Well, upon making and sending two Pippi's off to new adventures, I was promising the girls again that there would someday be another.Little did I know how soon that someday would be. An unusual face began smiling at me from within the clay. Once her features were sculpted and painted, the only hair color that fit her ...was red...which just so happened to (still) be sitting upon my desk. ...Suddenly I found a Sea Captain looking at me! To help me really see who this person was,Suzanne (Pixie Andrew's mom) penned a poem about Pippi dreaming of who she might be when she grew up.Her word painting was wonderful...so full of imagery! And it gave me a clear vision of who this grown up Longstocking might be. A Sea Captain needs a ship. Last December, I found a paper mach'e boat tutorial by Ann Woodand thought this would be a perfect reason to try it!It was great fun to make.If you would like to see flying seafaring beauties, please visitAnne's blog hereand be Inspired! Pippi, Nelson, Tweedle the bird, and the little Dream Ship are all on EBAY right now.To see them in more detail and read Suzanne's wonderful poem,please click on the ebay word or picture in the upper right hand cornerto take you there.
Thank you for stopping by, and...Happy Sailing to you!love, Rose

Pippi in Spring and Off to Oz

2011-03-29T20:12:00.000-07:00

Please meet Pippi and Mr. Nelson.They are pretty much the reason why my end of the wire has been rather silent...so sorry, dear friends! The long winter days have been spent in sewing, felting, beading, painting, and dyeing fabrics with lots of help from my girls for Miss Pippi!Now she is ready to welcome springwith great Anticipationof New Adventures awaiting!
  (almost 11 inches)  Here are some of her details... Her long thin legs were almost too cute to cover with Longstockings!But, because she is Pippi, she insisted on mismatched stripey stockings.      Pretty green underpinings to keep her warm in her new Swiss home....yarn ties were temporary...
  Often while I was busy with the children, Pippi helped out cleaning up after the endless piles of messes made in the Doll Roomand elsewhere in the house. So, I fashioned a tidy little Lace Apron for her to wear as a heartfelt *thank you*.     And she asked for a sturdy Pink Paintbrush Broom to clear out cobwebs.      My daughter and I nunofelted a lace Day Dress with fine, soft woolsdotted with a variety of tulle and lace fragments.

The underside of the dress was painted and glittered for Pippi's planned trip to Oz. Because she likes to travel light, we figured this was the best wayto send along a Party Dress for Emerald City.She wishes to meet Queen Ozma,and I have no doubt that she will do exactly that!   Her seafaring father sent a bag of jewels to help with the trip,and here they are encircling her (attached) Slippers.
This is an Essentials Bag sewn according to her precise specifications.  Nelson can comfortably fit inside, if necessary.
  I think he is scared of the flying monkeys in Oz.
  Since this Pippi is a faerie, she has wings...and they can surely outfly monkey wings any day of the week.        So, Nelson has decided to go along to Oz afterall.


(4 inches tall, not including his tail)

Mr. Nelson is fully poseable and wears the tiniest of handmade buttons, a bendable furry tail, and an embroidered beanie.
     He can stand on his own, but prefers sitting on Pippi's arm. He says the view is better from up there.
   After their Saturday photo session yesterday, I found both of them standing at the kitchen window this morning waiting for me to put the coffee waterkettle on to boil..With a sentimental yet excited glint in Miss Pippi's eye,she was waving goodbye to me.Packed and ready to go to Oz by way of Switzerland...

Farewell, my little friends.I wish we could come along too.You were a work of love and will be greatly missed......Rose

Pippi in Winter

2011-03-10T18:20:00.000-08:00

(yellow cast from evening, indoor lighting)

To help me not miss Pixie Andrew too much, a new Pixie has come to visit.A funny little girl...altogether asymmetrical.She is an impossible mixture of mischief and sophistication. This picture is of her face before carrot red braids are added, and before her little monkey companion climbs up into her arms.Her name is Pippi, and she prefers mismatched longstockings too! Hopefully this child will be finished in a week or so and as soon as she is, I will post portrait pictures for you to see!
  Life steadily moves along here inside the house, one day leading seamlessly into anotherin my familiar homey landscape.  But outside...well, that's a different story.This winter has been an everchanging diorama outside the windows.Grey blue skies and buckets of rain.Heavy fog, hail and sleet.Even a surprise visit from the sunthat stretched a rainbow across the empty corn fields in front of our house.
  Yet, in all the blustery, erratic winter weather, there were no snow flurries! But finally the wild birds wintering in our little community alerted us  that snow was on the way. And snow it did for a few short but brilliant days. Everything here at the farm looked whitewashed, pretty and new.
  The guineas were not near as anxious as the children were to go play in it.  Of course they made the chickens venture out 'first,to investigate this strange, cold stuff falling all over their yard.
  Then they sent out the ducks.(Although the ducks insisted it was their idea first.).
School was cancelled and soon anything with wheels was pulled out and filled with children...  and dogs...!    Finally, everyone headed for the barn to warm up after an afternoon of wagon racing, snow people buildingand snow ball throwing.
  The chickens never did report back to the guineas. Rather, they headed to the barn, too, and waited it out with the goats and the rabbits.
   A perfect end to a snow filled day was...snow ice cream, ofcourse!     Back out in the barn, our goat Joe was really curious about all the goings on...  I am adding this picture because his expression reminds me of myself, poking my head into your studio windows from my side of the computer!

Dear friends, please know that your visits are all so precious to me.
Like Joe, I poke my head into your blogrooms,
but unfortunately words do not flow from my fingers easily late at night.
Very often, I will leave quietly without a word.
But my heart lingers behind, wishing you well in your artistic endeavors.

Happily, my Doll Room schedule is full right now.
To find the time to devote hours needed for dollmaking,
my computer time has been sacrificed.
But I will be faithful to post pictures of my all Little Ones for you to meet
and hope they bless you
as your own creativity always uplifts my spirit!

The thoughts that you take the time to leave here are read with much affection
and are so appreciated.
Please forgive me for not being able
to do the same for you right now.

Thank you so much for visiting my little corner of the world!
until later...always love, Rose

If Andrew Were a Pixie

2011-02-05T15:35:00.000-08:00

This last Christmas, I opened a letter with a request that caused my heart to skip a beat as I was reading it. The letter was from a woman named Suzanne. She asked if I would consider creating a faerie in memory of her son Andrew who had recently passed away. A daunting request I was not sure I wanted to take on.  But sitting nearby on my desk, looking at me as I was reading her letter, was a sweet little sculpted head who appeared quite unannounced from my clay and hands just before Christmas.  Well, that face was to become her Pixie. Already there a'waiting. Because of that face, I said "yes".
I asked Suzanne to tell me some things about Andrew to help me personalize this doll.  What she sent profoundly touched my heart. And that is why I wanted to add three of her stories to my blog. With her permission and in his mother's own words, I would like to introduce you to (Pixie) Andrew...

I have a son whose name is Andrew. Andrew is 15. I mention him now because you may hear other things about him in the coming year. My job as President Elect is to bring inspiration to our in-service. And I have to say that Andrew is one of the most inspiring people in my life. So today I would like to share an inspiring 'Andrew Story'. By the way - Andrew has Down Syndrome.  I woke up the other morning as I usually do; slightly disoriented - blindly searching for coffee and the shower, in that order. After partaking of both I was mostly awake and getting ready for the day; feeling distracted and caught up with the mundane process of preparing myself for work, mentally girding my loins for the drive I really don't like and thinking of things I had to do once I got to work. I went in to my son's room and told him it was time to get up. As I left his room I heard his first words of the morning. He said, "I love to be alive." And I was stopped in my tracks. I could not remember the last time I felt truly grateful for the day.  This incident has given me a lot of food for thought. That I spend so much time getting through my life that I frequently forget to live it. That I let the day ahead grab me before I give thanks that there is a day ahead. That children like Andrew are blessed with a unique perspective available to everyone but vouchsafed to very few.  And that I am blessed to share this life with one of these children.

One of the things my son Andrew says all the time is "I love to be me". So when he told me the other day that he wanted to be me, I said, "Why? So you can be my mom?" He said, "No, of course not. So I can be mine own mom." Apparently being Andrew is so great that he wants to experience it from another perspective.  All this sounds quite cute and precocious until you realize: Andrew is 15 and has the mentality of a 7 year old. Academically he will probably not go beyond that. He is short and very fat (although he does believe that his stomach is one of his greates assets). He wears fairly thick glasses. It is immensely unlikely that he will ever earn more than minimum wage - if that. Most likely he will not marry and maybe not even have a girlfriend. (Although I pray he will at least have a girl friend.) He will never have children.  I don't think he will ever ride a bike, let alone drive a car.  Every person in this room has more ability, more money, more friends, a better job and a brighter future than Andrew will ever have. But how many of us can say, "I love to be me"? And why can Andrew say it?  I think it is because he takes the days, events, and people in his life and turns it all into a celebration. He laughs a lot. He sings all the time and even though it would not sound great or even probably good to anyone else, Andrew says to me, "I'm a good singer, huh, Mom?"  And I have to agree that he is.  Because what he lacks in voice, he more than makes up for with heart.         New Mexico - 1996 Since Andrew was about 3 years old, he has consistently told me that Jesus is his Dad. This makes for some very interesting conversations. One day when he was about 9 years old, as we were driving in the car, Andrew looked out the windshield up into the sky. Then he said, "That is where my Dad lives. He misses me. He wants me to come home." I was a bit startled and asked him, "Are you going to go home to your Dad?" He just said, "Yes." Of course my next question had to be, "When are you going home to see your Dad?" His answer was, "When God tells me to."  Since then I have thought about that answer quite a bit. Such a straight forward, peaceful answer. No questions. No fear. Death is not an unknown quantity to Andrew, as it is to me and so many others. Death is going home. And you just go when God tells you it is time. Where I question and wonder and sometimes fear, Andrew just knows. His Dad is missing him and waiting for him.  Coming back home from a long and sometimes arduous trip is such a relief. Back in familiar surroundings. And it is so much nicer when love waits at home for you, ready to hear about your trip; ready to wipe away your tears; ready to share your laughter; ready to wrap love around you and hold you close - so pleased that you have reunited.  How different would our time here be if we just "knew" with complete and infailing faith, that Jesus is at home waiting for us to come back from our journey.  And God made the travel arrangements so we go home when the trip is over. We go home where love is waiting to welcome us back.

Andrew left for his heavenly Home a year ago this February at the age of 21. As I was finishing up on the details of this little Pixie's costume,  a jewelry piece at our local variety store caught my eye. A small heart with some words on it. Upon reading it, I thought that adding a written sentiment to this doll was further than I should artistically venture.   But that heart kept coming to mind. So I wrote to Andrew's mother that night and asked her about the sea.  Did Andrew have a connection to the sea? She said no.   But before Andrew was born, Suzanne would visit the sea to allow the waves to wash away her anxieties and carry them away, leaving her soul refreshed and clean.      My husband drove back to the store first thing the next morning to buy that heart.God works in wondrous ways...


It is hard to see in the pictures, but in the left eye of this child, a small pool of gloss dried just at the bottom edge of the eyelid. Probably because of the way his head was inadvertantly tilted when the gloss was drying. But at first glance it appears to be a welled up tear there.  The scriptures say all our sorrows will be gone in heaven...so maybe this is a tear he is carrying for his mother.


Over the course of this remarkable dollmaking journey, I have come to know and love Suzanne and Andrew. I count her as a new friend and hope to work together with her this year collaborating on a faerie story or two to be illustrated with my dolls. And especially I wanted to share this experience with you all, and so hope you will have the time to read every insightful word Suzanne has written. It is a priviledge to know both of them. much love, Rose

...Not a Creature was Stirring...

2010-12-22T01:25:00.000-08:00

Summer's End

2010-10-23T10:39:00.000-07:00

Greetings, dear friends!

How is it that only yesterday I was helping my daughters press carrot seeds into the freshly dug dirt...

and just this morning I noticed that maple leaves
have covered the now empty rows.

And is there a distinct chill of frost in the air?

Could the Summer Season really have passed by so quickly,

or could it be that I have been so caught up in all the details

that I did not notice that Autumn has long been at our door?

Come walk with me and visit some of the doings and goings on

that have kept me away from visiting with you

for much too long!

There was an Elven Slipper that finally found
a Shoemaker faerie to add the finishing touches.

Her name was Givanni and she was born with no wings.

She chose to live amongst the field mice...

and they
gave her flight

upon their Thistledown.

A special little Summer faerie who was inspired by the real dream of a real child.
    FINALLY, an armature made that just might bend for the lifetime of a doll without breaking!Here is one with the face of a living angel...

A tiny mite sculpted for my sister's birthday.

A WIP Angel who will hopefully carry on her wings the glad tidings of the Christmas Spirit.
   Lots of fresh eggs, and brand new babies...
   Even a fresh coat of celery green house paintto compliment our bean patch.Sure to chase awayany winter blues.

Field fences reinforced to keep the goats...

and the cows out of the neighboring farmer's corn field.

Chubby handfuls of picked peapods
that never quite made it into the dinner pot.

   A rescued young chipmunk
who filled our mornings with exuberant antics.

And finally a chocolate raspberry cake baked with love
and thoroughly enjoyed on
a (badly needed) refurbished front porch.
Watching the Sun set upon our full days...

So that is where the Summer went!!

I neglected to notice it's passing
as I was enjoying every moment of it.

I hope your creative fields are bursting
with bright blossoms
of days well spent...

And your Autumn is rich with many thankful reflections!
much love to you, Rose

Christmas Future

2010-08-20T13:12:00.000-07:00

At long last.

The Ghost of Christmas Future,
a hopeful interpretation requested by a very special friend.

This is her vision of children as they should be presentedwhen humanity heeds thegrim exortation of Dickens' Ghost of Christmas Present.

Tattered Rags transformed into Bountiful Gowns

under the blessings of

The Candlebearer of the Eternal Light.

A Light of hope that burns steadfast for all children everywhere...

Never to be extinguished.

Hair carefully combed and delicately styled,

adorned with a crown fit for a princess. Tears dried,with a promise made to love and to cherish...

  The Ghost's arms embrace the children. She loved them in their Poverty,and her love became their Wealth.

Bless you, my friend, for granting me the priviledge of creating this most sentimental piece from my heart to yours.
A bouquet of summer wild flowers just for you!  Could two months really have passed since my last post?!  My absence, in part, was the desire to finish this piece so that my next post would pick up where I last left off.Not to mention there has been a substantial flurry of summer activities going on here at the old farm.I have a pile of pictures just waiting to share with you.Some of what has been happening outside the doll room. Thank you, dear ones, for not forgetting about me...please know that you have been ever present on my mind! I hope your own summer has been productive and ripe withthe fruit of contentment. until we talk again (soon!)...love, Rose

A Ghost and Six Inspirations

2010-06-11T12:25:00.000-07:00

The first of the five characters in the Christmas Future piece is now complete...

*The Ghost*

*
of Christmas Future

*
She is a larger figure at 12 inch scale
and is both a soft and polymer sculpture.

Dressed in fine silk gauze, delicate tulles, twisted ribbons and antique lace,

with glass pearls and beads as accents,

she is the embodiment of a spirit who carries much authority.

My intent was to create a gentle countenance,

but an underlying sterness also came through.

I am quite sure it is her determination that the children within the folds of her skirts

will be well tended and loved for all the future.

The Ghost will have two children sitting with her in a large jeweled crown.

They both are sculpted and are awaiting their gowns.

I have just been gifted with a very sentimental gesture,

the Inspiration Award.

From my Daughter.

My daughter Tomi feels that I inspire her...well, truth be known... SHE is the inspiration. Our journey together has led us up and down joyful, challenging, as well as perilous paths. We have found great comfort and validation in one another while discovering that the source of our strength lies in Someone greater than ourselves. As I watch Tomi mature beautifully into her womanly character, she has taught me so much...about living with a constant spirit of grace and softness while

remaining unflinchingly faithful to her standards and beliefs.

And oh, what her hands are able to turn into heavenly gold -

little girl dresses and aprons, elderberry jams, farm grown soups to chase away winter cold(s)... filling her home to the brim with loving handiwork. All accomplished with much skill while tending to her growing flockling.

If you have not already traveled down her lush country lane, be prepared to receive a welcome bear hug from the Bramblewood when you arrive. Tomi is busy creating 2 new custom bears and has been posting progress pictures along the way! Thank you, my daughter...I love you...

http://bramblewoodbears.blogspot.com/

Now, I have the pleasure of inviting you to visit five other Very Lovely Places

that will surely inspire you as they have me!

I will allow their pictures tell you why ...

Five Inspirations Judithttp://teddyvalley.blogspot.com/ * The parable of the Ice Cream Bar byAnne

http://recursively.blogspot.com/2010/01/parable-of-ice-cream-bar_25.html

http://recursively.blogspot.com/

* Amyhttp://suchawondrousplacethisfaeryspace.com/ * Mariehttp://softearthheart.blogspot.com/

Maria

http://ilcucchiainomagico.blogspot.com/

*

And where might you direct our flight from here, my Five Inspirations?
Please accept with admiration this award and pass it along to five others who inspire you as well!

until we meet again...always love, Rose

A Woodland Cocoon

2010-05-19T14:42:00.000-07:00

May brought a few glorious rays of sunshine.
Enough to allow for some garden ground shoveling that did not involve mud.
The dirt was flying in our garden beds!

Inquisitive little hands gathered a series of worms and cocoons for further inspection.
We discovered that new life is abounding in May.
And so it is in the Doll Room as well ...

aWoodland Faerie CocoonBaby Antje

The cocoon is made from hand spun wool by etsy seller Springtree Road.
Her yarn is ART. Totally scrumptious to work with and hold.
http://www.etsy.com/shop/SpringtreeRoad

This is her white Merino wool, spun into a most gorgeous strand that varies in densityto snugly wrap a tiny newborn faerie within.
Baby's wings are dotted guinea hen feathers gathered from under their cherry tree perch.

Antje wears a cap of 2 dried and varnished rose petals,
a sweet gift from Penny (Angelsdoor).

She is a 6 inch scale baby, measuring 4 inches in her pose...fully detailed and painted.
Her wool wrap is non-removeable however,
because of the knotting used to secure the cocoon bundle.

The Cradle is made from...small pieces of driftwood;a root I pulled from my sister's back yard on Whidbey Island;and a large knothole salvaged from the bay.
Scrubbed, heated and then sealed.
Feather is from one of our muscovey drakes.

Root Basket Cradle measures 10" high by 8" wide.

(To visit Antje's auction, please click her picture above!)

Sleeping on a pillow of dyed green wool and realistic peach paper rose petals,this faerie baby is hidden under a protective curtain of moss (also created from wool).

Please stop in again soon to see an update on the 5 piece commission
that is steadily moving right along.

Always, it is good to see your friendly face at my door ...

Thank You for coming by! love, Rose

Welcoming Rabbits

2010-04-15T01:03:00.000-07:00

About 9 years ago, our family became that place out in the country for a small group of town rabbits.

Their human had turned his backyard into a virtual rabbit haven, however the landlord was not impressed. Our barn become their new haven with long wooden bunny apartments crafted by my husband and sons. Soon thereafter, we were surprised that one of the females gave birth. Unfortnately, she had built no nest and carelessly deposited them in her half full water dish.

Sadly, after several died, I attempted a rescue.And that was when my love affair with rabbits began.

Three of the babies moved into our farm houseand continue to live with us as one.(Toot is now gone after 8 lovely years)

Naturally, there are rabbits hopping all through my thoughts. It was bound to happen that Bootsie, my constant rabbit companion,would inspire a companion set.

She is featured on my current auction, along with a child who fancies herself a rabbit, and a whimsical interpretation of a faerie bunny.

I had way way too much fun creating this set, as you can imagine...

So, I fondly bid you adieu for now ...
but if you click the picture above,
I will meet you at Lizette and Milicent's auction. It is always a joy to see you here and there! love, Rose

Spring is just around the corner!

2010-03-20T00:12:00.000-07:00

Late last year, right in the midst of winter's long season,this little character was born through the hands of my daughter, Angi.Although only partially complete, she was content to sit next to the window in my Doll Room. There, she watched the frosty rain fall, and idely dreamed of snow and icicle sparkles.

To me, she was the embodiment of a Winter's child.

For our part, we spend much of the dark winter evenings in books listening to our young readers sound-out their newly acquired words.Consequently, their favorite books are scattered from one end of the house to the other. One little volume that I am constantly picking up is an old and very worn Golden Book. It is the one my two older daughters also loved when they were young.This book beautifully illustrates the simple yet profound story of how children learn God's love through the tenderness given them from their family members...Over all the years, there was one child's face that always held my gazea little longer than the rest. So, I attempted to sculpt an older likeness of her as I listened to all the reading business going on.The face that arrived reminded me of "Spring",

and the Season's passing of Winter is their Story.

(To visit Apryl and Little Poe's auction, please click on her picture above.)

As is so often is the case in our house...sigh...one is not wanting to give up her chair for another.

But, with a little love and ingenuity, it all works out in the end.

Spring is just around the corner!

the rest of the story...

2010-03-03T22:03:00.000-08:00

In hindsight, I believe it was no coincidence that an interpretation of Dickens' Christmas Carol visited my sculpting table this last Christmas season .The Ghost and her two sorrowful children lived with me for several months.
We became very attached.

I can't remember how many times

I thoughtfully cradled the ragged and dirty children in my hands only to imagine how they might have appeared if well tended, with smiling, bright faces.

Not long after they had flown away, devastation struck Haitiand the Ghost's warnings resonated back to me.

Sadly I came across pictures of many of the island's suffering children and I yearned to cradle them, too, in my hands...It is interesting how art imitates life, sometimes even before it happens.Thus, these beautiful Haitian children have been constantly on my mind and prayers and are forever sculpted upon my heart.

The Ghost of Christmas Future

The owner of the Christmas Carol trio has granted me the priviledge to create a Ghost of Christmas Future. Instead of Dickens' impersonation of Death, this Spirit has found two street children who have been helped by Man....

...the rest of the story

(with a sprinkling of artistic license)

So, now on my table are five new characters well underway...

Two healthy and much loved children.

(All three head wraps are very temporary)

They will be 7 - 10 inch scale, and will be built with slightly flexible torsos

to help fit them closely togetheras they are seated within a large, magnificant, golden crown!

And at the entrance,
guarding the Crown will be
a Candle Lighter (in the style of James Christensen)
who keeps the Christmas flame ever burning.

...because his Extinguisher can not reach the fire to blow it out!

More exciting news...

Penny sent a very special flower my way...the first to bloom this year...

a gift of friendhip and a promise of Spring.

Penny is the artist who created the now famous Bebe Mouse

http://angelsdoor.blogspot.com/

who is a beloved character in Nowhere Land.

http://linktonowhereland.blogspot.com/

A place where talented friends co-create an ongoing storyline of adventures and antics of their imaginative characters.

Please visit Penny's blog and be prepared to greet Angels, Mice and a royal dog named Jasper!

In turn,

I leave this Sunshine flower at the doorstep of seven (I could not resist adding one more) diverse artists whose creative gleanings always leave me refreshed and blessed upon visiting their artful abodes.

The Rules...1. Thank the person who gave this to you.

2. Copy the logo and place it in your blog.

3. Link the person who nominated you.
4. Name 6 things about yourself that no one would really know.

5. Nominate 6 bloggers

6. Post links to the six blogs you nominate

7. Leave a comment on each of the blogs letting them know
Please accept these awards with my admiration.

Aputsiaq
of Copenhagen, Denmark and her fanciful wanderings...

http://polarbearstale.blogspot.com/

Dale Ann Widen

a painter of the gentle creatures who rightfully share the earth with us

http://delarenaissance.blogspot.com/

Irmina, who creates as Nesca,

her pure colors and simple lines deftly defines character...

http://candyandcinnamon.blogspot.com/

Tanya Bond, a brilliant young artist

http://www.tanyabond.blogspot.com/

I'm in love...

Anja Fohmann

http://needfulfriendsundkoboldkinder.blogspot.com/

(drawing by Daniella Barlow as featured on Anna's A Very Fairy Garden)

http://averyfairygarden.blogspot.com/

and her Muscovy, Remy, as Anna documents his first year of life in her loving care.

Fuzzy Sunshine!

http://remysfirstyear.blogspot.com/

May we ever keep our light burning brightly.

You just never know into what dark corner it might shine...

love, Rose

Maid Maleen and FIFI the Mouse

2010-02-12T10:36:00.000-08:00

I would like to introduce you to a remarkable character

from a Brothers Grimm fairytale.

But first, I must whisper a secret in your ear...

she actually began her life as a potential Tinkerbelle!

Last fall, I had sculpted a small doll

to stand in an Elven Slipper that was created for Peter Pan

by my Elven Cobbler, Ruin Gavier

and Princess Everllie.

From the get-go, her spunky personality was quite evident.

So much so that the other little creatures in the Doll Room were always keeping one eye on her. Watching what she might be up to.

Which...in the end...was a lot.

After I dressed her and took preliminary photos,

a younger, even smaller Tink came along.

So, with her hands on her hips she was placed up on the Waiting Shelf.

There she stood and waited...impatiently.

Every now and again I would pick her up and fiddle with her hair

or place her on the Slipper to remind her she was not forgotten.

But something was just not settled with her, nor with me.

So, I repainted her face...several times. That made matters worse.

After Christmas I added a festive skirt to her green tunic.

And in January, she received a newly sculpted head

with pretty eyes crafted by Loretta Polaski.

Finally, over Christmas, Grandma brought a slender dome on a base.

She was hoping I could use it for a doll.

Looking at it brought forth something from way back in my memory.

I recalled a Grimm's fairytale about a royal Maiden locked in a Tower.

And the ideas began flowing!

Her name is Maid Maleen,and she is a princess locked in a Tower against her will.But her will and her love prevailed...just as this little faerie prevailed right here in my Doll Room.

I have long been wanting to learn moreabout distressing cloth fibers and textures...And through the inspiration of incredible French artist Merveillesenpapier, I envisioned a wedding capethat had, over seven long years, turned to cobwebs in the Tower.

Laetitia Miéral fantastic geniusis brought to life through paper mache...!
http://merveillesenpapier.typepad.fr/merveillesenpapier/

I cannot describe her unique work as it richly deserves,

so please visit her blog if you are not already familiar with her art

and give yourself a real treat!

Maid Maleen's cape and cob web canopy is my fledgling attempt to distress old laces and silks to suggest a neglected wedding veil.

Layers of colors and shadowed textures lie beneath,to echo her former life

before the Tower.

If you would like to see her story and auction,

please click on the picture up at the right corner of this page.

I would love to hear your opinion.

Next, I would be delighted to introduce you

to another little creature who graced our long February days

with her princess spirit...

Please meet Fifi...

She is a frilly and an adventurous mouse

who came knocking at our door from California.

She was created by Penny of Angelsdoor. Naturally, she was greeted with great excitement...I could hardly keep all the eager hands away long enough to unwrap her belongings.

Her tutu is removeable so you can better see a round, pinkish tummy.

Fifi's ballerina slippers and bag can be slung over her shoulders when she is ready for another adventure.

As you can see, she is highly beloved.

Thank you, Penny, for making such a sweet Mousie

to warm the Valentine hearts in all of us here.

On a parting note, I will leave you with a glowing image from a day we spent at my daughter Tomi's farm last week.

Can you believe this is a winter picture?!

Not a snow flake on the horizon, and the rain stopped just long enough for the children to play outside on the tire swing.

As Kipper the Dog would say...

"What a lovely day...I don't think I have ever seen such a

lovely, lovely day!"

May your Valentine's Day

bring you a day full of love...ly-ness

and sweet imagination!

Tinkerbelle, Beffie Mia and Maurice

2009-12-27T20:56:00.000-08:00

Well wouldn't you know...

the clean slate of my New Year's good intentions has already been written and erased a couple times over. That's just how it is with children and animals filling my cup to overflowing each day. Each day is a new adventure indeed, leaving many of my "good intentions" by the wayside.

Here are a few characters who have been making their patient passage through my good intentions since I posted last.

Finally, FINALLY, young Tinkerbelle is finished and settled contentedly on her cuckoo clock home! There are three places on the clock for her to rest as she is positioned ready

to take flights of faerie fancy.

She is quite small at 1:12 scale and would measure just under 5 inches standing.

There are so many little happy details that were added to her clock abode.

Thank you, dear Karin, for allowing me the freedom of time and grace to enjoy every minute of creating my first interpretation of Tinkerbelle! She will be flying home to Germany very soon

and will be missed...

Here is little sleeping Beffie Mia awaiting completion of her nest.And her wings. She has been patiently napping for several months althoughI know she is anxious to be united with her new mama.

Just because I love him so much,
I wanted to add a picture of jovial Maurice the SnowMan who visited us last Christmas from the most Northern country. My children really wanted to make Snow People for Christmas, so together we made this fellow and a couple of his frosty brothers.Now, I am totally hooked on these icy characters and look forward to perhaps creating more this year.

Pure fun!

Also,

Three newly sculpted faces in process of being painted for an exciting custom piece for the owner of Christmas Present!!

She has asked me to create with her a Christmas Future with the two street Children happy and well tended.

What a grand way to begin the New Year.I do hope my schedule will come into focus. In any case...I must keep on going...

that's what I keep telling myself...and somehow things do get done...

My next post will introduce to you an older faerie who has been an ongoing perplexing mystery to me.I would also like to show you pictures in progress of Christmas Future as well as her three companions - Her two children and a whimsical character I have in mind (inspired by James Christensen's art) to serve as a candle lighter...

We shall see what we shall see...all in God's time.Thank you ever so much for your most welcome visits and all your lovely calling cards left upon my door!

I hope your new year is moving along well and you are content with your progress however small it might seem.Let's just keep on moving forward, my friends...love, Rose

Merry Christmas!

2009-12-23T10:42:00.000-08:00

A CHRISTMAS CAROL

by Charles Dickens

(an interpretation)

waking in the middle of a snore, and sitting up in bed to get his thoughts together, Scrooge had no occasion to be told that the bell was again upon the stroke of One.

He felt that he was restored to consciousness in the nick of time, for the especial purpose of holding a conference with the Second Messenger dispatched to him

through Jacob Marley's intervention.

There sat a Spirit, glorious to see:, who bore a glowing torch, in shape not unlike Plenty's horn, and held it up, high up, to shed its light on Scrooge, as he came peeping round the door.

"Come in!" exclaimed the Ghost. "Come in, and know me better, man."

Scrooge entered timidly, and hung his head before this Spirit. He was not the dogged Scrooge he had been; and though the Spirit's eyes were clear and kind, he did not like to meet them.

"I am the Ghost of Christmas Present," said the Spirit. "Look upon me."

The Ghost of Christmas Present rose.

"Spirit," said Scrooge submissively, "conduct me where you will. I went forth last night on compulsion, and I learnt a lesson which is working now.

To-night, if you have aught to teach me, let me profit by it."

"Touch my robe."

Scrooge did as he was told, and held it fast.

But soon the steeples called good people all, to church and chapel, and away they came, flocking through the streets in their best clothes, and with their gayest faces.

And at the same time there emerged from scores of bye-streets, lanes, and nameless turnings, innumerable people, carrying their dinners to the bakers' shops.

The sight of these poor revellers appeared to interest the Spirit very much, for she stood with Scrooge beside her in a baker's doorway, and taking off the covers as their bearers passed, sprinkled incense on their dinners from her torch.

And it was a very uncommon kind of torch, for once or twice when there were angry words between some dinner-carriers who had jostled each other, she shed a few drops of water on them from it, and their good humour was restored directly.

For they said, it was a shame to quarrel upon Christmas Day.

And so it was. God love it, so it was.

In time the bells ceased...

"Is there a peculiar flavour in what you sprinkle from your torch?" asked Scrooge.

"There is. My own."

"Would it apply to any kind of dinner on this day?" asked Scrooge.

"To any kindly given. To a poor one most."

Much they saw, and far they went, and many homes they visited, but always with a happy end. The Spirit stood beside sick beds, and they were cheerful; on foreign lands, and they were close at home; by struggling men, and they were patient in their greater hope; by poverty, and it was rich.

She left her blessing, and taught Scrooge her precepts.

The chimes were ringing the three quarters past eleven at that moment.

"Forgive me if I am not justified in what I ask," said Scrooge, looking intently at the Spirit's robe, "but I see something strange, and not belonging to yourself, protruding from your skirts.

The Spirit's sorrowful reply. "Look here."

From the foldings of her robe,she brought forth two children; wretched, abject, frightful, hideous, miserable. They knelt down at her feet, and clung upon the outside of her garment.

"Oh, Man, look here! Look, look, down here!" exclaimed the Ghost.

The two children were yellow, meagre, ragged in their humility. Where angels might have sat enthroned, devils lurked, and glared out menacing.

Scrooge started back, appalled. Having them shown to him in this way, he tried to say they were fine children, but the words choked themselves, rather than be parties to a lie of such enormous magnitude.

"Spirit, are they yours?" Scrooge could say no more.

"They are Man's," said the Spirit, looking down upon them. "And they cling to me, appealing from their fathers.

This child is Ignorance. This child is Want.

Beware them both, and all of their degree, but most of all beware this child, for on her brow I see that written which is Doom, unless the writing be erased. Deny it!" cried the Spirit, stretching out her hand towards the city.

"Have they no refuge or resource?" cried Scrooge.

"Are there no prisons?" said the Spirit, turning on him for the last time with his own words.

"Are there no workhouses?"

The bell struck twelve.

...And the Spirit departed, leaving Scrooge to ponder his Christmas thoughts...

Ghost of Christmas Present

2009-12-15T11:26:00.000-08:00

At long last the second Spirit who visited Scrooge is now complete. She was a labor of love and I am really struggling with the thought of sending her away... Not to mention my growing attachment to the two children who are tucked into the silk folds of her ghostly gown.The youngest child bears a striking resemblence to my youngest grand*daughter...

If you would like to see more pictures I would love for you

to stop by their auction...

please click on the picture above.

(I will be adding the entire story here in a few days.)

Warm Christmas greetings, Rose