Happy New Year!

Welcome 2007........... Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas!

Secret Pal Doll

Last Tuesday was our Secret Pal Doll Exchange at the doll club. This is the doll my secret pal made for me. Isn't she lovely? Thank you secret pal! Thank you for making such a beautiful doll for me. I made a doll for the exchange but can't post her picture before April. In April I will know who my secret pal is and I reveal myself too. This is the first time I am participating in secret pal exchange and it is so much fun.

Nita's Henna

When mommy gets henna, Nita wants it too. Except she will do what I did my entire childhood, take the henna off after just 10 minutes. My husband took this picture right before she made a mad dash for bathroom.

Indian Doll

Even as a child I remember wanting an Indian doll dressed in a saree (saree is a traditional garment for women in India and is usually 5 yards long and is draped beautifully around the body). I did have some dolls back then but they were "baby" dolls. When I was 6 my friend Sita's grandma taught me to make dolls with palm tree leaves. (one long section of a leaf can be used to make one doll). I guess that I must have made at least 2 of them each week. To dress them in "saree" and the blouse I used pieces of my mother's old sarees. I used black thread for hair and my mom's eyebrow pencil for her eyes. Those dolls were so beautiful- I do remember.

On a subconscious level I think my venture into making dolls the second time around is to actually duplicate that level of happiness and satisfaction with my creations. I am not so sure if I can ever get there- aah such sweet sweet childhood.

My friend Purna's mom visited me a couple of weekends ago and brought me this beautiful doll from India. This doll has a wire armature wrapped up in cotton batting and a layer of pink yarn. The face is cloth over some kind of mask. I love the face painting and the hair is beautiful. Don't you love the ornaments? They are all custom made for her! Nice.......