Dollmaker’s Journey
CUSTOMER CONNECTION
December 2007 Issue 73
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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.

December 2007 Issue 73

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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,

December is Bonnie's favorite time of the year. Not only is her birthday in December, but so is her husband's and daughter's. Bonnie's 10-year-old grandson Timothy made a tiny nativity (1/2" high) out of Sculpey clay for her birthday. It was carefully wrapped in toilet paper so it wouldn't get crushed. He made 3 straw-colored bases. On one were three wise men. Another had a manger, with Mary and Joseph. The third had a shepherd complete with staff and sheep. He made a cardboard stable to house the whole thing. There were even thin ropes of Sculpey straw in the manger, and the baby had a blanket over him. The whole nativity is about 3" wide. She put it on the TV. This now brings her nativity collection to 24, all residing in her living room. Timothy got his inspiration from a nativity her daughter Bonnie made her several years ago. She put Mary holding baby Jesus and Joseph on the head of a pin. The eyes are made from tiny pin pricks. Unfortunately she used a plastic headed pin, which slightly melted in the oven. The pin is stuck in half a Styrofoam ball covered with red velvet, which sits in a glass dome for protection. Her tree is filled with lots of homemade angels. Two more were added to the collection this year, one made by another daughter. It is really fun to encourage children to create heirlooms that can be displayed every year.

We want to extend our heartfelt thanks for giving us the opportunity to serve you this past year. It means the world to us to be a part of your individual dollmaking journeys.

Wishing each and every one of you a blessed holiday season ~

Mary Ann and Bonnie

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DECEMBER SALE

Our December Sale is a BIG ONE! We’re taking 20% off our vast selection of molds and premade faces. Take advantage of this opportunity to stock up or try this style of dollmaking if you haven’t before. http://dollmakersjourney.com/

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New 2008 DOLL CALENDER!

Renowned Canadian doll artist ADELE SCIORTINO has produced the magnificent Figurative Art Calendar 2008 featuring the work of some of the worlds most talented dollmakers.  Now you can be delighted and inspired all year long! http://dollmakersjourney.com/books.html

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NOVEMBER QUIZ WINNER

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.

Answer: Potatoes, cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie, creamed onions, peas, apples, Indian pudding, and sweet potatoes were not eaten that first Thanksgiving.

What did the Pilgrims and Wampanoag eat during those historic days in the autumn of 1621? They didn’t have cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie. Instead, the Pilgrims shot some wild fowl (which might have included wild turkey) and the Wampanoag men brought 5 deer. In addition they probably ate Nasaump (a traditional Wampanoag dish consisting of ground dried corn made in a thick porridge), stewed Pompion (stewed pumpkin and squash), shellfish, cod, sea bass, cornmeal, beans, nuts and dried berries. Turkey and pumpkin may have been eaten in the autumn of 1621, but much of what we now call “traditional” Thanksgiving foods were not on the menu. There were no potatoes or apples in New England, and sugar was in short supply, so cranberries could not be turned into sweet sauces. Pumpkin pie and “Indian pudding” came later when English cream, flour, and sugar was added to native foods. They planted peas that first spring, but the crop failed, and it is doubtful that any survived to be eaten that fall. Turkey, deer, swan, goose, duck, corn bread, beer, Nasaump, stewed Pompion, shellfish, cod, sea bass, cornmeal, beans, nuts, and dried berries were staples of the Pilgrim's diet. You can find recipes for Nasaump and stewed Pompion in our November 2005 Customer Connection Newsletter. http://dollmakersjourney.com/newsletter/cc50.html

Source: “1621 – A New Look at Thanksgiving” by National Geographic written by Catherine O’Neill Grace and Margaret M. Bruchac.

Congratulations to Lorna Shakerin from Portland, Oregon. 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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DECEMBER QUESTION

One of Bonnie's favorite Christmas stories is "The Littlest Angel" by Charles Tazewell. First published in 1946, it has become a holiday classic. In 1969 it became a movie starring Johnny Whitaker.

Question: What gift did the littlest angel give the Christ child? What was inside? What happened to that gift?

Everyone who emails in the correct answer by January 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 December Quiz in subject box. Please include your full name and where you live (state/country) in your email.

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THE "EMPTY" GOLD BOX

Once upon a time there was a man who punished his five year old daughter for using the gold wrapping paper they had to wrap a box. Money was tight. He yelled and said, "Go to your room and stop being so wasteful."

In the morning the little girl brought the gift to her father. "This is for you, Daddy," she said. The father was embarrassed by his earlier outburst. But his anger flared up again when he saw the box was empty. "Don't you know when you give someone a present there is supposed to be a gift inside?"

The little girl looked up at her daddy with tears in her eyes and said, "Oh, Daddy, it's not empty. I blew kisses into the box until it was full. All for you, Daddy."

The father was crushed. He put his arms around the little girl, and begged her for forgiveness. He kept that gold box by his bed for years. Whenever he faced difficult problems and felt discouraged he'd take out an imaginary kiss and remember the love of the child who had put it there. Sometimes the most unexpected gift is the best gift. Our warmest wishes for a holiday season filled with the best of gifts.

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CHALLENGES/COMPETITIONS

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 18-20, 2008 - Magic, Mischief, and Mayhem: Art Gone Wild, American Style
Richmond, Kentucky (near Lexington)
Visit http://www.AnnieDolls.com for all the specific information.

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

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

May 16-18, 2008 – Think Pink! Conference from the Doll Gatherers
Aurora, Ohio
For more information email Joan Stephens at DGdolling@aol.com

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

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

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

AND THE WINNER IS…….

Judy Skeel’s Blank Canvas Doll Challenge has concluded and we just received the following announcement:

The Winners are listed below and you can see the winning doll photos at my web site as well as almost all the 150+ entries from about a dozen clubs as well as entries from dollmakers with no club referenced. The original challenge info is still posted, in case you would like your own copy of the pattern. I was thrilled with the number of entries and even added extra prizes with the help and support of my friends Mary Ann Kaahanui and Bonnie Lewis at Dollmakers Journey.

I’m afraid I could not post every photo. There were a few with photography issues that simply would not cooperate. If your entry is omitted please send me a new photo and I will add it to the site as soon as I can. All entries received prior to December 1st were considered for the challenge prizes. It was a tough choice! At one point I had about 40 favorites! I appreciate your patience in waiting for the results, and even more for your participation!!! I had no idea this event would be so successful! Thanks for playing dolls with me. We’ll have to do something like this again some time!

I wish you health, happiness and all the dollmaking you desire in 2008! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to those that celebrate!

And now… announcing the winners:

Judges Choice and a Dollmakers Journey $50 Gift Certificate goes to: Beverly Frickie, Glad Rags Doll Club Zoar, Ohio

2nd Judges Choice and a $25 Gift Certificate to Dollmakers Journey goes to both:
Camille Pratt, Material Girls Doll Club, Houston TX for "Amongst the Wild Flowers"
And
Jackie Westfall, Sisters of the Cloth, Order of the Flying Needle Club, Manhattan Beach, CA for "Sally at the End of the Christmas Parade"

The Doll Club with the most members that created a challenge doll wins 2 days of class with Judy Skeel—a $600 value!
And the winner is...
The All Dolled Up Doll Club of Ottawa, Canada with an incredible 39 entries!
Congratulations!

Use this link to take you to the web site to view the challenge and the challenge dolls: http://www.skeelhaven.com/Challenge.html

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SPECIAL GIFTS FOR YOU

Sherry Goshon has a free tutorial for Shaya the button butterfly doll...it's an altered paper idea that she put her own twist on to make her using cloth wings and clay face...although the tutorial could use a cloth head if you like. We will have the new “Shaya” pressmold and the FREE tutorial on the site in the next few days. You can see more of Sherry's molds and patterns at http://dollmakersjourney.com/goshon.html

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

STEPHANIE NOVATSKI has done it again! Her exquisite new “Madame Le Chat” will teach you how to create a full armature, paint an amazing feline face and fashion a beautiful Victorian costume. Stop by and take a look at this wonderful character. http://dollmakersjourney.com/novatski.html

From The Dragon Charmer JENNIFER CARSON we have two delightful rodent patterns “Rat Fink” and “Mouse Tails.” You’re going to love these two expressive little guys. http://dollmakersjourney.com/carson.html

VICKI RILEYS “Emmet The Elf” is one of the most darling Christmas elves we’ve ever seen and he’s sure to be a big hit under the tree. http://dollmakersjourney.com/riley.html

If you are looking to make some quick and easy holiday gifts we have three new Sneezes Tissue Box Covers from JEN MARIE SCHELL that are just the ticket. “Santa,” “Snowman” and the “Poinsettia” would be wonderful additions to any holiday décor. http://dollmakersjourney.com/marie.html

SHELLEY HAWKEY has a fun new project called “Abigail” a beautifully expressive face in a flower pot. You’ll want to make a garden full! http://dollmakersjourney.com/hawkey.html

“Art Deco Christmas” by MARY TRESSLER will add a touch of grace and elegance to any Christmas décor. http://dollmakersjourney.com/tressler.html

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JUST FOR FUN - YOUR AGE BY EATING OUT

A friend sent me this on the internet, and I was surprised it worked. It will only work this year, however, so have a fun time sharing it with your friends and family this holiday season.

YOUR AGE BY DINER & RESTAURANT MATH

This is pretty neat.
DON'T CHEAT BY SCROLLING DOWN FIRST!
It takes less than a minute. Work this out as you read ...
Be sure you don't read the bottom until you've worked it out!
This is not one of those waste of time things, it's fun.

1. First of all, pick the number of times a week that you would LIKE to go out to eat.
(more than once but less than 10)
2. Multiply this number by 2 (just to be bold)
3. Add 5
4. Multiply it by 50
5. If you have already had your birthday this year add 1757... If you haven't, add 1756.
6. Now subtract the four digit year that you were born.
You should have a three digit number.

The first digit of this was your original number. (I.e., How many times you want to go out to restaurants in a week.)

The next two numbers are

YOUR AGE ! ------ (Oh YES, it is!!!)

THIS IS THE ONLY YEAR (2007) IT WILL EVER WORK, SO SPREAD IT AROUND WHILE IT LASTS

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SUPPLIES

We’re happy to report that you will now find a box for GIFT CERTIFICATES on the front page of the site. We would love to help your family and friends with their holiday shopping! http://dollmakersjourney.com/

Creative Paperclay® - the wonderful air dried clay used in many of the projects of designer JACQUE UETZ and others – has finally come to Dollmakers Journey. Take your dollmaking to new levels with the addition of clay features. Available in both 8 oz. and 16 oz. packages. http://dollmakersjourney.com/supplies.html

Metallic Gelly Roll Pens are now available in the 5 pack size. http://dollmakersjourney.com/supplies.html

We have finally found several shades of blonde Tibetan Lamb that are quite natural looking, a very pale shade and a medium color that is more intense. http://dollmakersjourney.com/hair.html#tibetan

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NECESSITY IS THE MOTHER OF INVENTION – WEIRD STUFFING TIP

Customer Debbie Yousif recently sculpted a little old lady called Ardis with no shoes. She writes: "She's kinda funny because I was stuffing her body and I ran short of Fiberfil. I thought about it and came up with an unusual solution. I needed to stuff her chest area when I ran out of stuffing so I took a tampon out of my purse, fluffed it all out, and stuffed her bosom with it. I told my friend 'Lord help her if she gets wet. She'll be a z cup'. LOL."
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NEWS FROM THE HOME FRONT

Bonnie finished beading all 25 Lady Chatelaines, and got inspired to do more. She just finished making a 3-D Christmas Cardinal necklace. The cardinal is the state bird of both Virginia and West Virginia, and she wanted a necklace to wear to all her upcoming Christmas parties. You can find the pattern and beads on one of her favorite websites: http://uniquebeadedjewelry.com Just click on 3-D Jewelry. She has also made several owls (including a Snowy Owl in honor of Harry Potter), hummingbirds, and plans to make an eagle necklace also for July, since the eagle is the symbol of the United States. These patterns are even suitable for beginners who have never done beading. Now she's getting ready to host a myriad of people over the holidays (at last count 4 different groups would be spending the night New Year's Eve.)

Mary Ann is in the midst of her annual Christmas Crazies working like a madwoman to complete all of the presents she is making. Jim’s been patiently supportive and even assisted with a major project. His children enjoyed the Santas she made each of them from the remnants of his plaid wool pants. Things are a little more hectic than usual with her Grand Dog Zoe visiting while daughter Ana and husband Nik are enjoying a week in Hawaii. She’s very much looking forward to going to see the Nutcracker at the Kennedy Center with Jim next week and thrilled that he will be able to spend Christmas with her and her family in NJ this year.

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WEBSITES:

Miniature tools for jewelry making
http://www.wigjig.com/wj.htm

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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