odd ramblings and a day-late photo

this past month has been a whirlwind. i started out the year with loads of resolutions about how i would run my shop, but so far, i've only actually accomplished one of them. my poor Etsy shop is badly neglected while i've been otherwise engaged.

lest you think i've been slacking, i thought i would tell you, i've sent loads of dresses and swingtops to Puerto Rico and hoards of dolls in all shapes, sizes, and kinds to Canada. several hats and dolls have found new homes stateside. currently, i have 4 Moppets in the works as custom orders, and 5 wooden dolly blanks begging to be painted for a sweet girl in California. i have sketched 11 doll patterns...9 of which i look forward to sharing with you. i have actually drafted 4 of those patterns and sent 1 of them to my *editor* for the final proof and copy. i'll be working on the copy for another later this week.

meanwhile, my daughter Helen has informed me that she's just about outgrown all of her dresses, and she needs something new to wear to her Valentine's party on Friday. i've committed to baking cupcakes for 2 classes...and completely forgotten until now, that i have yet to sit with my children and work on teacher gifts for the occasion. not to mention the hubbub surrounding the 100th day of school and the projects that go with that.

phew!

also, my brain has been spinning with the notion of craft vs. production. why do we (as crafters and artisans) do what we do? at what point does the idea of creating something beautiful for someone cross the line into a way to meet the *bottom line*? how much does commerce drive creativity?

looking to the future, i can clearly see that something currently in my life will have to fade away. i cannot maintain two small businesses, provide childcare for my neighbors, and mother my children the way i have been. deployment is looming on the horizon. with that will come larger household responsibilities (okay...make that ALL the household responsibilities) and a larger need to look out for the other women who will be sharing this deployment with me.

so, i'm working out the options in my head. not an easy task! i'm the kind of gal who will contort herself and give away the farm if someone is in need...

i can see that part of the solution will be to draw my personal line closer to the notion of craft...further from production. i imagine i'll be focusing more on making dolls for the sake of making them because i need to...less because i know they'll sell. if that makes sense. you'll probably see fewer dolls for a bit...but they'll be more lovely than ever.

maybe.

the notion that i am establishing myself as a dollmaker is a heady one. a driving one. it is wonderful to see a note in my inbox that someone wants a doll i've made with my own hands of my own design.

see, there is no one else helping me run the little show called Imogen's Garden. it's just me. no staff. no one else to do the post office runs. no one else to send out email blasts on my behalf. and i find this gratifying. i find the honor bestowed upon me with each purchase made in my little shop humbling. and all of it is exhilarating! and exhausting.

so, eventually...i'll find a solution. maybe.






my youngest son reminded me that today is Tuesday...not Monday. so i'm a day late. but i thought you'd enjoy this photo of my monkey girl taken last May in Williamsburg, VA. such a carefree day, and this photo embodies it just about perfectly. i think we need more days like this one...

Memory Monday

ah, yes...the very first Pinewood Derby!
Carter won *Sportiest Looking* and was so proud

DIY Clip Kit by Daisycreek Designs

there is a new simple pleasure out there for us DIY-ers. Liz from Daisycreek Designs has come out with an easy, precious clip kit.



everything you need to make a unique hair clip for your wee-one (or yourself...admit it, you like to be cute as much as the next girl) is included in this sweet little package. the only extra supplies you'll need are scissors, a sewing needle, and a glue gun or fabri-tac...you know, the things we moms can't live without! Liz has even pre-cut the embroidery floss...so you don't have to think through the measuring.



this morning, Clara and i sat down together and made one of these clips to match the dress she was wearing. it took us about 10 minutes...would have been even faster without the *help* of a three-year-old!



head on over to visit Liz. she has a wealth of precious things for the girly-girls in your life!

Hats...hats...hats...

our church is donating hats and mittens to our elementary school. i thought *i can help with that*. now, i have 4 children, so i know that how you look is almost as important as who you are when you're a 5th grader.

i bought these 10 hats...5 navy, 5 black. i plan to swanky 'em up and send them off.

here's the before...






you'll have to be patient to see the *after*.

project total (so far) $10.00

Memory Monday

going to try something new...let's see how long i can keep up with it! a photo memory from me each Monday morning.

this is a photo from 2 years ago...and Clara's first (and only) snowfall. funny, we saw more snow in Alabama than we've seen in Virginia!

what i'm working on today...

well, worked on today... she's off to Minnesota!

i had a blast with this doll. i spun the fat slubby yarn and handdyed the mohair. Dad wanted tan skin with brown eyes so *the doll can be whoever my daughter wants her to be*. i LOVE that!! he requested funky hair in his daughter's favorite colors, and we worked together to design a more traditional dress for the doll that celebrated his daughter's love of color while sticking to his more conservative tastes.

i didn't get to name this one...but i hope, hope, hope i get to find out her name once the little girl who loves her decides who she *wants her to be*.

O Christmas Tree

you've been neglected for too many years. each December we drag you home, prop you up, and allow everyone to inspect your unsightly stand for a month or so. this year, i promise it will be different.

see, i found this wonderful blog entry over at The Paper Pony. step by step instructions for how to make a fancy skirt for you at a fraction of the cost of a store bought one! simple and elegant, too.

tree, we've known each other for many years, and by now you've certainly come to realize i am unable to do anything exactly as suggested. so although the original skirt is beautiful, i have to add to it somehow.

so, i've enlisted the aid of 4 of Santa's elves, and together, we have made a skirt for you that is anything but simple and elegant. but it is terribly, terribly beautiful because we've made it with love for the Season and with love for each other. this year, you may well be the best dressed tree the world has ever seen...