Tottie Tomato began her life here on hankering for yarn.
And, she’s undergone all manner of transformations.
Such a busy life for a little tomato!
She now has her own blog in which she and I share our love for spool knitting, crochet, tatting, knitting, small loom weaving, sewing, doll making, puppets, wood working, recycling and eco crafts, to name just a few.
She’s just getting started, but do check her out: Tottie Tomato
Image source: Noreen Crone-Findlay copyright

Mermaid and Merwomen in Black Folklore
A juried exhibition for art quilters/ doll artists, February 20–March
31, 2009, Avery Research Institute Center for African American
History & Culture at the College of Charleston
Description
Some of the first tales of mermaids and merwomen were brought to
America by Africans enslaved along the coast of South Carolina. Many
of these folktales were stories of African ocean and river goddesses.
Because of the rich oral traditions of these peoples, few if any of
these stories were written down until they were recorded by
collectors of folk tales at the end of the 19th century.
You are invited to …read more

Argh!
My old binding machine has met the end of it’s days….

A few years ago, I broke off one of the handles when the machine got all hung up…. and now….
sob…. the blasted thing has totally, irrevocably siezed up, while eating one of ‘Our Lady of the Hours’.
How rude.
We both have had serious ‘go’s at it, and we have finally declaared it to be kaput. Defunct. Schmucked.
Ah, the perils of self publishing…..  sigh.
Image Source: Noreen Crone-Findlay (copyright)

I love ‘cross pollinations’ in which I can bring together my various yarnie passions.
Crochet, tatting and spool knitting are so dear to my heart and VERY harmonious to combine.
I really enjoy making flat multi-media dolls to embellish garments and accessories.
Here are a few of the flat dolls that I’ve made with tatting, crochet, spool knitting, using everything from handspun angora  to wire:

They’re stitched to a tote bag that I bought at a second hand store. (love it) *G*

Here are the links for my mixed media woven dolls:
Woven Earth Listener Angel  Doll
Dame Julian and Neni 
Three young spritely spirited mixed media dolls 
Mixed media dolls with found objects 

The previous entry had pics of my spritely mixed media dolls
Here are some more of my mixed media woven dolls:

A woven Menopause Fairy Doll
and a collection of my ‘Reclaiming Dolls’ (Dolls that have parts made from reclaimed, recycled or re-purposed components and found objects,  as well as weaving):

I’ve put together a Links posting so you can catch the group of postings on mixed media woven dolls.
Hmm, it just struck me that they are like three dimensional collages. Neat!
Image Source: Noreen Crone-Findlay copyright

In my last posting, I showed pictures of my woven mixed media dolls, Neni and Homage to Dame Julian of Norwich.
These dolls are more whimsical:
I spun the yarn and then wove them on potholder looms and combined them will all kinds of mixed media: Leather, wood, stones, metal, wire, buttons and more….

Next posting:
More whimsical mixed media woven dolls.
Some of my readers are on dial up so they’ve asked me to not put toooooooooo many pix in each entry.
Image Source: Noreen Crone-Findlay(c) 

Yesterday, I posted pics of my latest mixed media woven doll, the Earth Listener Angel Doll (click on the name to see her).
Several people asked if I had pics of any of my other woven mixed media dolls. Why yes! Here are some:

Homage to Dame Julian of Norwich. I wove her on my inkle loom and several small vintage looms. Her hands and face are crocheted. I used cotton and linen to make her. Her body is wood that I carved before stitching on the weaving and attaching her armature.

This is Neni. She’s another Earth Angel …read more

My friend, Gwen found a notice about  a gorgeous doll workshop by Denise Marie Doll art being offered in Sante Fe NM:           Doll Workshop
Lovely!

I am working on a new doll.
I’ve finished sculpting the head:

and have finished spinning the yarn for the doll:
My best friend gave me a bag of lovely merino/tencel:

That I spun on my wheel, then plyed with my navaho spindle:

I warped up the loom
and wove one panel that just didn’t do it for me,

So, I frogged it, and re-warped the loom.
I am one of those people who would rather take something apart and re-do it rather than leave it if I don’t like it.
Taking it apart is quite contemplative, as it allows me to give myself a second (or …read more