Mother's Day

I hope everyone had a beautiful Mother's Day full of hugs and snugs. Mine was nice, though I have been knee-deep in soggy tissues, and breathing isn't as easy as it used to be. I have bronchitis, and it seems to have unpacked its bags and made itself comfortable. Bronchitis didn't get in the way of my enjoyment of homemade blueberry crepes courtesy of my beau. And, my bright yellow roses from Walter make my heart go aflutter. Although, this past week Walter could have easily given the flowers to Cookie Monster since Sesame Street is doing the majority of my mothering while I am under the weather.

Clarence

Clarence has a loud voice. His mother says they can hear him all the way in China when he speaks in his excited voice, which is most of the time. Clarence is excited about most everything, but he is especially excited about cereal with marshmallows in it, super hero comic books, carnivorous flowers, dinosaurs and his number one super best friend, Ti. Together, Clarence and Ti roar at things together and scare away mischievous rodents that try to eat the vegetables growing in their backyard gardens.

Clarence was a special request for Stacie who, if I had a fan club, would be the president. But, I think she would be the president of lots of people's fan clubs. That is just the kind of girl she is.

Three's a Crowd

Since I mentioned my dog, Albert, yesterday, I thought I should report on the status of his and Walter's relationship after the introduction of the stuffed bunny I brought into our lives.

Relationship Status = Rapidly Deteriorating

The bunny was for Walter, of course, but Albert has been eying it enviously since Sunday. Catching a bunny is Albert's Everest. And here I am, stuffing one and handing it over to my dear son, who torments Albert with his "petting" (hitting). Yesterday, Albert, who hasn't touched one of Walter's toys ever, claimed the bunny as his own. Here is a documentation of yesterday's events:

Midge and Molly

Midge and Molly are twins. Mostly, they have similar interests. They differ in opinion when it comes to milk (Midge is a fan of chocolate, whereas chocolate milk makes Molly's stomach go wobbly), flowers (Molly thinks dandelions are no-good weeds while Midge puts them in elegant vases on her nightstand) and bugs (Midge likes lightning bugs and Molly prefers the comical antics of the stick bug). They are the kind of girls that are very good at many things, but for some things, when they do them together---they are exceptional. Apart, they can carry a tune just fine, but together they can magically harmonize so well that birds stop singing just to listen. They also are extraordinary at throwing and catching cheese balls in their mouths. They are pretty sure they have some sort of magic twin gene that gives them an advantage in the sport of cheese ball catching. They are currently in the process of petitioning Guiness to be included in the book of records for most cheese balls caught in a row. This is all much to their pet dog, Shmoopie's, dismay as he wishes some of those cheese balls would land in his mouth.

Midge and Molly are a special request from my good friend Downtown Kelly Brown (Schmidtke) who I worked with in a cafe long, long ago. I have many memories of working with her and doing a lot of giggling. She is now Aunt Downtown Kelly Brown to two twin girls. When I was pregnant I desperately wanted twins, or triplets. I want a big family, so that seemed like a pretty economical (time-wise) way of getting to that goal. Now I am grateful to just have Walter because he is so rowdy I can't imagine having another just like him. Also, if I had twins, my poor miniature pinscher, Albert's, hair would most certainly all fall out due to anxiety. It breaks my heart that he (I know it's a strong word, but fitting) hates Walter so much. He's a good boy, so he would never bite, and sometimes if Walter has graham crumbs on his hands, Albert will even give him a lick, but he definitely despises his existence. I cross my fingers that when Walter is older they can be good pals.

Bunny and Bird

I made Walter a bunny for Easter and his little pal at church a bird. In addition to getting a bunny, Walter participated in his very first Easter egg hunt on Sunday! He was very selective in that he passed on all the eggs and instead, chose a rock.

A Growing Family

These next three dolls are for my dear globe-trotting, world-saving friend, Genevieve! They are for her ever growing collection of nieces (it's always strange to spell that word), one in the world and two still cooking in the oven. I sort of took some liberty with these and I think I subjected my own feelings into the trio of the dolls. I made the one for the toddler much bigger and more detailed than the ones for the newbies that have yet to be born. Even though I am not pregnant, I think often about how Walter will react to a new sibling. It must be so hard to be the center of your parents world and then all of a sudden a new little person wiggles its way in on the love. That's the crazy thing about love though. It can multiply just like us.


Jacqueline Marie is ready to be a big sis. She has taken all the necessary precautions. She knows about diapers, because she's been there, done that. She has some cotton balls for her ears on her nightstand table if her little sis gets fussy when she is supposed to be asleep. She has learned all she can about babies. She knows they dislike loud noises and chilly rooms and that they do not eat honey or fruit loops yet. They do like warm, fuzzy, and cozy things as well as good snuggles. So, Jacqueline Marie is in her bear suit: the most snuggly thing in her closet and she is practicing lullaby singing and soft-voice speaking. When she imagines holding her baby sis in her arms she can feel her heart growing!


Sasha has a big job. She is in charge of warming up a special crib for Baby Girl Sullivan and making sure it has plenty of warm-fuzzies. When Baby Girl Sullivan arrives, her first night will be sweet, restful and full of good dreams.


Josie is responsible for being a good friend for a new tiny person that is still just a bun in the oven. She can't wait to meet the gentle, little one that will go by the name Caroline Jean Ratliff. Josie's a fan of sleep and looks forward to cozy snuggles with little Caroline. If Caroline doesn't sleep, however, Josie has prepared for this by dressing in her wide-awake-owl suit.


Sisters and cousins.

It's always strange writing stories for dolls that I know are going to specific people. I never know whether to make the dolls just like the people they are going to or whether they should have their own personalities. What a complicated life I lead!

Willow Rose White

Willow was a request for a friend of mine from summer camp who has a beautiful sing-songy voice and can sail like a pirate! Thanks JJ!

Willow wears a white rose on her shirt in honor of her owners who thought she was so special that they drove from California to the mountains of Wyoming just to have her in their life. She couldn't imagine a better pair to snuggle up with during thunderstorms. She loves the warm California sun and the smell of the ocean in the air. She was born with skittish nerves, but she is learning skills of bravery from her owners who play elaborate games of Everquest. She has high ambitions of being the bravest beast for her ever loyal Beastlords!

I am excited to share a new sumo design with you soon!