Dollmaker’s Journey
CUSTOMER CONNECTION
November 2007 Issue 72
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Dollmaker’s Journey CUSTOMER CONNECTION
Dream ~ Imagine ~ Create ~ Grow ~ Believe ~ Magic
At http://dollmakersjourney.com we help your creative dreams come true.

November 2007 Issue 72

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Copyright 2007 by Dollmaker’s Journey

Dollmaker’s Journey Customer Connection newsletter is a free e-mail newsletter. Tell your friends, family and fellow dollmakers about us, and feel free to forward this newsletter to those who might be interested. You can visit our companion website at:
http://www.dollmakersjourney.com/

**Notice!**

You can read all the past issues online. Go to:
http://dollmakersjourney.com/newsletter/archives.html
The archives include an easy to follow index to all the past issues.

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Dear Dollmaker Friends,

'Tis the season to be thankful. Here in the United States we celebrate Thanksgiving on November 22 this year. It is a day to remember your blessings – a time for family and friends – a time to share and renew old acquaintances. It is our prayer that you take time this busy holiday season to count your blessings, say thank you to those who help along your way, and take time to pamper yourself.
We are especially thankful this year that Gloria "Mimi" Winer is out of the hospital after serious surgery. Bunny Goode wrote: "Just thought I'd get you all up to date on Mimi's health. I just spoke with her, and as you probably know, she has been in the hospital for the past couple of weeks. They had found a cancerous tumor in her lung and they removed her upper lobe. Days after that surgery, she had to have another surgical procedure to remove a blood clot that was in some scar tissue outside the lung from her 30+ year old breast cancer surgery. Then they found some additional stuff in her lower lobe yesterday and they proceeded to operate again to remove that. Gloria "Mimi" was released from the hospital this morning, Saturday, to continue her recuperation at home. But that recuperation has been made increasingly more difficult with the news that her son passed away suddenly yesterday in California. This is a deeply sad and painful time for Mimi and it would be good if we could all keep her in our thoughts and prayers as she works her way through this difficult period and gets back on the road to good health.
We’re happy to report that Mimi was feeling well enough to be on the computer yesterday and she sent us a message. “I am getting stronger day by day and will be back in full strength in a few more weeks.” It looks like all of our thoughts and prayers are working!

Mary Ann and Bonnie

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NOVEMBER SALE

All of our HAIR products and the ANGELINA FIBERS AND FILMS are 20% off for the entire month of November! Be sure to stock up. http://www.dollmakersjourney.com/hair.html and http://www.dollmakersjourney.com/fibers.html

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OCTOBER QUIZ WINNER

Question: Our planet is home to just two mammals that lay eggs. One is the platypus; what is the other?

Answer: The echidna (also known as the spiny anteater)
Source: www.australianmuseum.org

Patrise Dowling from Canberra, Australia, wrote: They quite often cause traffic chaos as they are quite confused when trying to cross the road. They stop halfway, forget why they wanted to cross the road and go back! They are sooooo cute, you wouldn't want to run over one.

Naomi Mason Dean from Victoria, Australia wrote: My favourite native animal in my garden – termite munchers!

It's a Bird! It's a Plane! It's an Echidna?

Most everyone knows about the platypus, that duck-billed, web-footed, fur-covered critter that's a warm-blooded mammal like us – only it lays eggs. But did you know there's another mammal on our planet – just one – that also lays eggs? Meet the echidna!

Like the platypus, echidnas are native to Australia. Commonly found in hollow logs, thick underbrush, caves or under piles of debris, the adaptable little echidna can live anywhere from hot, arid deserts to above the snow line in alpine regions.

An adult echidna – or spiny anteater as they're sometimes called – can weigh up to 15 pounds and reach 12-18 inches in length. It looks like a small porcupine with spines intermingled in its fur, and its snout is hairless, covered with sensory receptors that detect vibrations from the ground and lead it to prey. While echidnas dine mostly on ants and termites, they'll also eat earthworms, small beetles, and the larvae of moths and beetles. The echidna's long, sticky tongue flicks back and forth up to 100 times a minute to catch its meals.

The female echidna lays just one or two eggs a year. After about 10 days, the egg hatches and a "puggle" is born. The puggle stays close to mom in her pouch for two months or until it becomes too prickly. But don't worry about the young echidna; just like its parents, when threatened by predators, the echidna pulls its head in and curls up, presently adversaries with a ball of sharp spines.

Congratulations to Debi Gilbert from Alabama (USA). Your name was selected at random from all of the correct quiz entries, and you will receive a $10 gift certificate from Dollmaker’s Journey. Watch for your name in a coming month!

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NOVEMBER QUIZ QUESTION

Question: In 1621 in Plymouth, Massachusetts, 50 Pilgrims and 91 Indian braves met for a 3-day feast and harvest celebration. Eight things on this list were NOT eaten that first Thanksgiving. Name five.

Turkey, deer, swan, goose, duck, potatoes, sweet potatoes, corn bread, cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie, creamed onions, peas, apples, beer, Nasaump, stewed Pompion, shellfish, cod, sea bass, cornmeal, beans, nuts, Indian pudding and dried berries.

Everyone who emails in the correct answer by December 10th will be entered into a drawing for a $10 gift certificate to Dollmaker’s Journey. The winner will be announced in the next newsletter. Email your answers to Bonnie at EnchantedR@aol.com Put November Quiz in subject box. Please include your full name and where you live (state/country) in your email.

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THE BENEFITS OF CRANBERRIES
Part of a traditional Thanksgiving dinner here in the United States is cranberries, but cranberries aren't just for the holidays anymore. A recent U.S. Department of Agriculture study found that cranberries contain more antioxidants than almost any other fruit. They offer protection against a variety of diseases and can even help ward off some of the effects of aging. They also contain tannins that help stop bacteria from adhering to the digestive tract – so they really can help prevent urinary tract infections and ulcers. Here are a few ways to get more cranberries into your diet:

* Add dried cranberries to your chicken salad
* Add dried cranberries to grains such as couscous or rice
* Add cranberry juice to tea
* Spread cranberry sauce on a sandwich and skip the mayonnaise

-Adapted from Natural Health

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CHALLENGES/COMPETITIONS

I Challenge You – Blank Canvas Doll Challenge sponsored by APWPWD
Deadline: December 1, 2007
Adapt her and embellish her to your heart's content. Paint, beads, fabric - the works! Enlarge or reduce her. Male or female. Separate the limbs or give her an armature.
Send photos via email to skeelhaven1@yahoo.com or via snail mail to:
Judy Skeel
6881 Tussic St. Rd.
Westerville, OH 43082.
Encourage everyone in your doll club to enter a doll and send a photo of the group of dolls as well as individual photos. One doll entry per person, please. The club with the most entries will win a prize. There will also be a prize for the best individual doll, so dollmakers that don’t belong to a club are still able to play along!
Prizes - Judges Choice:
$50 gift certificate to Dollmakers Journey
Doll Club with the most entries:
2 days of class with Judy Skeel—a $600 value!
You can get the pattern and all the details here: http://dollmakersjourney.com/#blank

All Dolled Up: Beaded Art Doll Competition
6 semi-finalists have been chosen.
View, Vote and Evaluate These Beaded Art Dolls On-line Through 1/15/08
www.landofodds.com/store/alldolledup2007contest.htm

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UPCOMING EVENTS YOU WON’T WANT TO MISS

April 24-27, 2008 – CDAA (Canadian Doll Artist Association)
Ajax, Ontario, Canada
For more information go to http://www.dollartists.ca/

August 10-14, 2008 – Creations in Fiber
For more information go to www.uncommonfolk.org or
www.creationsinfiber.org

April 26 – May 10, 2008 – Doll and Teddy Bear Tour in Germany
The tour begins in Frankfurt and travels down the German Toy Road to visit the International Doll Festival in Coburg and the Doll and Teddy Festival. Visit doll and teddy bear designers, manufacturers, museums, shoppes, a doll & teddy bear doctor, etc. German sights and sounds are included as well as a day spent in Salzburg, Austria on a “Sound of Music” tour. Return to Frankfurt up the German Romantic Road.
For more information contact Sharon Ellis at travelific@msn.com or call 763-241-8733

May 13-20, 2008 (tentative date) – WOW New York
New York
More information will be forthcoming

July 26-30, 2008 – National Doll Festival (21st annual)
Tuscany Suites and Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada
Same time and town as UFDC, ODACA and NIADA National Conventions
Contact information: National Doll Festival, P.O. Box 66823, Scotts Valley, CA 95067
E-mail: NatlDoll@aol.com or DollFestival@aol.com
(831) 438-5349 phone (831) 439-9142 fax number

To save yourself time and energy, get all the details on upcoming doll related events at CLOTH DOLL CONNECTION: http://clothdollconnection.com/

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SPECIAL GIFTS FOR YOU

A few years ago we participated in Paul Phalen's Web of Angels, which has over 50 free Angel Crafts and Doll Projects. For those of you who haven't seen it lately, go to http://craftycollege.com/webofangels/ and make someone a special angel to guide and watch over them.

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ANOTHER FREEBIE

Our favorite Dragon Charmer JENNIFER CARSON is treating us to a terrific Dragon Pin. It’s quick and easy and best of all FREE! http://dollmakersjourney.com/dragon_pin.html

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NEW PATTERNS/BOOKS/CD-ROMs/DVDs/MOLDS

Renowned doll artist MIRIAM GOURLEY walks you through a sensational collection of cloth dolls in her superb book “Crafting Cloth Dolls.” With the help of several other well known designers she instructs on everything you need to know to experience the joy of giving life to a few simple pieces of fabric through the art of cloth doll making. The pages are just bursting with creative inspiration! http://dollmakersjourney..com/books.html

We’re always thrilled to have new BECKY HOLLOWAY patterns to share with you. Needle felters are going to love the wool sculptured figures in “Peep Peep Hooray.” You’ll be creating a wonderful winter scene with stuffed and painted figures with “Country Delivery” a terrific holiday project. http://dollmakersjourney.com/holloway.html

JACQUE UETZ is treating us to the lovely “Emma” with her paperclay ears and braids and a fabulous “Pinelope Pincushion” that uses daughter SHERRY GOSHON’S “Freedom Pressmold. http://www.dollmakersjourney.com/uetz.html

If you loved her “Owen” you won’t be able to resist SUSAN BARMORE’S newest painted muslin angel “Day Dreams.” http://www.dollmakersjourney.com/barmore.html

We’re always thrilled to have new patterns from JULIE McCULLOUGH and “Ballerina Fairy” and “The Beaded Lady” are sure to get your creative juices flowing. You won’t believe how easy it is to create your own extraordinary beads from vinyl, Fusible Film and other meltable materials. http://www.dollmakersjourney.com/mccullough.html

If you love the unique style of CINDEE MOYER as much as we do you’ll find “Belle” is quite the chimer and “Silvanna, Angel of the Woodlands” is simply exquisite. http://dollmakersjourney.com/moyer.html

One of our favorite designers from Down Under SUZETTE RUGOLO has another hit with her imaginative “The Aeronaut.” Stop by and take a look at this wonderful project! http://dollmakersjourney.com/rugolo.html

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CUSTOMER QUERIES

Hi Folks at Dollmakers Journey,
I've just started making cloth dolls (I have one finished!) and am ready to start on a jester pattern. I'm just wondering if there is a source for small, doll size musical instruments or other miscellaneous "things" that dolls would hold ( like for a gardener doll - a rake or shovel). I looked on ebay but couldn't find anything except dollhouse furnishings which were too small for an eighteen inch doll. Maybe I didn't search correctly.

Any suggestions would be appreciated!
Thanks,
Laraine Wells
Landrum, SC

Hi Laraine,

Here you go - great mini instruments - http://www.karibagifts.com/minmusin.html

NOTE TO READERS: We’d love to know any sources you may have that we can share here in the newsletter! Please send them to enchantedR@aol.com

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SUPPLIES

We now have the terrific water based super glue that SHERRY GOSHON uses on all of her pressmold projects and much more. Stop by and pick up a bottle of “Crafter’s Pick Ultimate Glue.” http://dollmakersjourney.com/supplies.html

We’ve just added a new color of Angelina Fiber called “Silver Iris Mix” along with a new color of braided wool RED. Both of these items and all of our fibers and films are 20% off all November long. Be sure to stock up! http://dollmakersjourney.com/hair.html

Kimberly Watercolor Pencils in sets of 12 or 24
http://dollmakersjourney.com/supplies.html

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NEWS FROM THE HOME FRONT

Bonnie is gearing up for the holidays. She is making 25 Lady Chatelaines for her family and friends. They will be a Christmas ornament and can later be hung in a sewing room or worn like a necklace. Each one holds an embroidery scissor (http://dollmakersjourney.com/supplies.html). She has been asked to cook rolls, sweet potato casseroles, turkey, green bean casserole, a turkey, and several pies for Thanksgiving dinner. 40 relatives and friends will be there. Fortunately, everybody is bringing something to the feast. She also knit and crocheted 20 hats which will be given to needy children in West Virginia.

Mary Ann is heading up to NJ to spend Thanksgiving with her family while trusty assistant Andrea holds down the fort and keeps the orders filled in her absence. All five of Jim’s cherubs will be home so he’ll remain in Virginia. Mary Ann has found a great way to make use of the remnants from Jim’s plaid wool pants and she’s been busy making holiday gifts for each of his children. After the recent reorganizing of her “Necessary Room” she’s determined to make as many of her gifts as possible this year and is thrilled to be able to find everything she needs!

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WEBSITES:

Polymer clay eyes instructions with photos.
http://tutorials.theclaystore.com/dolls/doll-eyes/

Free art lessons, including how to draw faces by Brenda Hoddinott.
http://www.drawspace.com/

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We’d love to hear your thoughts about our Customer Connection newsletter.

Contact the editor Bonnie B. Lewis at enchantedR@aol.com with any comments, suggestions, etc.
Please feel free to pass this newsletter on to any of your friends. Help us spread the word about Dollmaker’s Journey! All we ask is that you forward it intact, with all the subscription information included. Thanks!

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Copyright © 2007 Dollmaker’s Journey