Dollmaker’s Journey CUSTOMER CONNECTION
Dream ~ Imagine ~ Create ~ Grow ~ Believe ~ Magic
At http://dollmakersjourney.com we help your creative dreams come true.
January 2010 Issue 98
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Copyright 2010 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 Dollmaking Friends,
As we write this a major earthquake (7.0) on Tuesday, January 12, 2010, has devastated Haiti, a tiny island in the Caribbean Sea. Thousands are believed dead, and many more are buried alive. At one time we contributed dolls to an orphanage in Haiti. Right now we can't even find out if the orphanage still exists. If you wish to help, as we do, make sure you contribute to the right organizations (Red Cross, Catholic Charities, LDS Humanitarian Aid, etc.) that will make sure donated items reach the people in need. The government is very corrupt and funds and contributions are often confiscated and resold to people who have little or nothing to give. When Bonnie went to Haiti several years ago, she found people desperate to sell anything they could to get enough money to feed their children. One of the staple foods was mud mixed with sugar which they fed to their children to fill their stomachs. Our hearts and prayers go out to the people of this impoverished country.
If you wish to make dolls for the children, check out http://dollmakersjourney.com/charitycorner.html
There you will find a free pattern by Ellyn Voss to create Haitian boys and girls. Be sure to use dark ethnic fabric (we sell three shades #13, #14, and #15 at http://dollmakersjourney.com/fabrics.html). However, the most pressing need is for water, shelter, and food. Dolls and toys will come later once the situation is stabilized. If any of you know of an organization that will help distribute dolls to the children of Haiti, let us know and we will mention it in our next newsletter. We are grateful to be part of a caring dollmaking community, and ask for your prayers on behalf of this poor struggling country.
Bonnie and Mary Ann
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JANUARY SALE
Don't miss our annual January Sale on General Supplies. We will take 20% off the price of all GENERAL SUPPLIES from now through 31 January. This includes pens, pencils, paints, buttons, needles, tools, etc. – everything on the supply page. Be sure to take advantage of the extra savings.
http://dollmakersjourney.com/supplies.html
Remember, visit our website at http://dollmakersjourney.com at the beginning of each month to see what our new sale will be. That way you won't have to wait for a newsletter.
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DECEMBER QUIZ WINNER
Q: The romantic (and sometimes frightening) tradition of kissing under the mistletoe comes from
A. England
B. Italy
C. Brazil
D. Greece
A: The answer is A – England. The Anglo-Saxons associated the powers of the mistletoe with the legend of Freya, the goddess of love, beauty and fertility. According to the legend, a man had to kiss any young girl who accidentally wandered under a sprig of mistletoe. Before he could plant his kiss, the man picked a berry from the sprig. When the last berry was gone, the kissing was over.
You could also have answered D – Greece. Kissing under the mistletoe is first found associated with the Greek festival of Saturnalia and later with primitive marriage rites. Mistletoe was believed to have the power of bestowing fertility, and the dung from which the mistletoe was thought to arise was also said to have "life-giving" power. So even though Greece was the first to use kissing under the mistletoe but not for holiday reasons, England was the first to make it a holiday tradition.
A few of you also sent information indicating that kissing under mistletoe might be a Norse tradition. However, since that wasn't one of the choices, I am accepting A and D. Here is the story:
Of the answers that you provide the most logical is English. The custom became associated with the English thanks to Charles Dickens who tells of the custom in The Pick Wick papers, however the custom is actually of Norse origin.
The Norse god Balder was the best loved of all the gods. His mother was Frigga, goddess of love and beauty. She loved her son so much that she wanted to make sure no harm would come to him. So she went through the world, securing promises from everything that sprang from the four elements--fire, water, air, and earth--that they would not harm her beloved Balder.
Leave it to Loki, a sly, evil spirit, to find the loophole. The loophole was mistletoe. He made an arrow from its wood. To make the prank even nastier, he took the arrow to Hoder, Balder's brother, who was blind. Guiding Holder's hand, Loki directed the arrow at Balder's heart, and he fell dead.
Frigga's tears became the mistletoe's white berries. In the version of the story with a happy ending, Balder is restored to life, and Frigga is so grateful that she reverses the reputation of the offending plant--making it a symbol of love and promising to bestow a kiss upon anyone who passes under it.
Congratulations to Donna Rae from Greenville, South Carolina. 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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JANUARY QUESTION
Q: Who was the "Father of Canning" and why did he invent it?
Everyone who emails in the correct answers by February 15th 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 January Quiz in subject box. Please include your full name and where you live (state/country) in your email. NOTE: Several times in the past a winner was
drawn with no name or state/country included. When that happens we have to draw again. So please, make sure you include this information with your answer.
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HOT FLASH PICTURES NEEDED
Pamela Hastings is looking for contributors and pictures for her new Hot Flash book.
The free pattern is here: http://dollmakersjourney.com/hotflash.html
Her blog talking about the project is: http://pamelasjournal.blogspot.com/2009/12/hot-flash.html
Email pictures to: pamela@pamelahastings.com
Visit her website at: http://www.pamelahastings.com
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FREE COLLEGE EDUCATION
By Bonnie B. Lewis
After sending eight children to college, I know how expensive that education was. Yet the thing I enjoy most about dollmakers is that they are always learning new techniques, and sharing them with others. It seems my whole life I have had classes, including soap making, English smocking, tatting, bobbin lace, calligraphy, millinery, sewing, beading, etc. I love learning new things, but hate tests and final exams. Imagine my delight to discover that you can get a first class college education for free – on the internet. E-learning may not earn credits, but you can learn anything on your own schedule without spending anything on class fees, and even go to class in your pajamas. (Note: for some classes you will need textbooks, which you can get used from AbeBooks.com and Alibris.com)
Here are some websites I found through the AARP Newsletter that offer classes in just about any subject you could imagine.
*Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) offers over 1900 free classes online
http://ocw.mit.edu/OcwWeb/web/home/home/index.htm
*Take classes from Harvard with more than 60 programs on topics from stem cells to Beethoven
http://athome.harvard.edu/archive.html
*Learn Genealogy, how to play the organ, and much more at Brigham Young University
http://ce.byu.edu/is/site/courses/free.cfm
*Lots of free classes at Hewlett Packard from organization to website design
http://h30187.www3.hp.com/
*WonderHowTo accesses more than 1,700 websites with courses on how to live longer from Cambridge to how to teach a dog to roll over and play dead
http://www.wonderhowto.com/categories/
*Howcast has videos on everything from photography to jump starting a car. Check out the hobby section and click on dolls and toys for great videos
http://www.howcast.com/categories/240-Crafts-and-Hobbies
I could give you many more websites, but for a great article (including lots of websites) go to http://bulletin.aarp.org/freelearning
Enjoy the journey, and learn something new this year.
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CHALLENGES/COMPETITIONS
Wide Eyed Wendy's Valentine challenge from Judi Ward
Deadline: February 28, 2010
Information and free download cloth doll pattern with information on printing her face directly onto fabric
http://judisdolls.com/wendy/
See the new Hoffman Challenge fabric for 2010 here:
http://www.equilter.com/cgi-bin/webc.cgi/st_main.html?catid=277
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UPCOMING EVENTS YOU WON’T WANT TO MISS
April 29 – May 2, 2010 – Canadian Doll Artists Association Conference
Four Points by Sheraton, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
Theme: Renaissance Dreams
http://www.dollartists.ca
July 17 – 21, 2010 – 23rd Annual National Doll Festival
Sheraton Chicago Hotel and Towers, Chicago, Illinois
June 9 – 12, 2011 – Figurative Artists Consortium
Algonquin College, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
http://www.figurativeartistsconsortium.com
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
Shashi Nayagam from the U.K. has four free patterns/tutorials on her blog, including a simple wing tutorial. Check them out at: http://sewingwithmoonbeams.blogspot.com
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NEW PATTERNS/BOOKS/CD-ROMs/DVDs/MOLDS
Dragon lovers won’t be able to resist JUDITH PRIOR’S amazing “Darius CD” – her six knockout lessons class for creating a magnificent 24” wall dragon. Get ready to learn some fabulous construction
techniques! http://dollmakersjourney.com/prior.html
Get ready to have some major fun creating SHERRY GOSHON’S latest confection – “A Key to my Heart.” This sophisticated beauty looks complicated but you’ll find it quite easy to make. http://dollmakersjourney.com/goshon.html
Australia’s newest designer SHIRLEY GIDDY has just released her second pattern and she has another winner on her hands! Stop by and meet “Alvin & Gustoff” her delightful pixie atop his special tree stump.
This pattern is packed with wonderful sculpting techniques and superb directions. http://dollmakersjourney.com/giddy.html
Did you ever wonder what you could do with the Tyvek we sell? Well, SUSAN BARMORE is about to show you how to make the boots and wings of her funky new fairy “Tish” and we think you are going to love her techniques. http://dollmakersjourney.com/barmore.html
If it is freezing cold where you are, why not turn your thoughts to a tropical project with KAT LEE’S “Salina – the Little Mermaid” CD. KAT is the Queen of turning found objects into artistic treasures and she
always has the best painting techniques to teach you. Definitely an easy and fun project for the New Year. http://dollmakersjourney.com/lees.html
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CUSTOMER QUERIES
Q: If you want to add color to a dolls face giving it rosy cheeks what do I need? I suppose I could use rouge but it would wash out. Also what special brush or tool do I need to apply the coloring?
A: Mary Ann writes: You can use your own powdered blush on your dolls. It can be applied with a Q-tip or a somewhat stiff paintbrush. I’ve used it for years and it stays quite well. You can also used colored pencils. If needed, the pencil can be blended with a scrap of fabric.
Bonnie adds: I also like to use Crayola crayons. I peel off the paper and use the side of the crayon to add color to cheeks and shading. My favorite colors for blush are carnation pink and bittersweet (for dolls of darker colors). For shading I use a Prismacolor terra cotta colored pencil. Just know that when you use crayons, the wax prevents drawing over it with pens or colored pencils. So I usually apply crayons last.
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RESOLUTION HANDBOOK 2010 submitted by Mary Ann Kaahanui
(Editor's note: Mary Ann's ex-husband sent these to her, and we read them at Doll Bee. They sound like great advice to us.)
Health:
1. Drink plenty of water.
2. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince, and dinner like a beggar.
3. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants.
4. Live with the 3 E's – Energy, Enthusiasm and Empathy.
5. Make time to pray.
6. Play more games.
7. Read more books than you did in 2009.
8. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day.
9. Sleep for 7 hours.
10. Take a 10-30 minute walk daily, and while you walk, smile.
Personality:
11. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
12. Don't have negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive
present moment.
13. Don’t overdo. Keep your limits.
14. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
15. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip.
16. Dream more while you are awake.
17. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
18. Forget issues of the past. Don't remind your partner of his/her mistakes of the past. That will ruin your
present life.
19. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Don't hate others.
20. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.
21. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
22. Remember that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum
that appear and overcoming them and lessons you learn will last a lifetime.
23. Smile and laugh more.
24. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree…..
Society:
25. Call your family often.
26. Each day give something good to others.
27. Forgive everyone for everything.
28. Spend time with people over the age of 70 and under the age of 6.
29. Try to make at least three people smile each day.
30. What other people think of you is none of your business.
31. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.
Life:
32. Do the right thing!
33. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
34. GOD heals everything.
35. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
36. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
37. The best is yet to come.
38. When you awake alive in the morning, thank GOD for it.
39. Your inner most is always happy. So, be happy.
Last but not least:
Bonnie's father loved this saying:
People don't care how much you know, if they don't know how much you care.
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NEWS FROM THE HOME FRONT
After the Christmas holidays, Bonnie decided to take it easy. She still has to hem 5 pants, alter a wedding dress, finish a doll for a granddaughter that didn't get done in time for Christmas, take care of a husband with a broken leg, help a son get ready for a job interview in New York City, and speak at 10 different churches in the next two months. At least the newsletter is finished!
Mary Ann
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WEBSITES:
Set long-term goals for the New Year (includes video you can watch)
http://affluentartist.com/setting-long-term-goals/
Listen to a rainstorm created by an orchestra using only their hands and feet.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rvngZLF7dUs
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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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