Here are a dozen great reasons why the Quechee Hot Air Balloon Fest is fantastic. The Best Was Bella!
Continue reading Quechee Balloon Festival Fantastic.
June 2009 Archives
I love fairs. I am especially crazy about this one.
Continue reading Quechee Balloon Festival.
Here's a special edition about some discerning visitors, all of whom own Bundles, some who were created and named especially for these people - our six grandchildren. Beatrice is the Beatrice doll and Shiloh is that doll and bears her name.
Continue reading Visitors.
I just returned from a kindergarten room at Chester-Andover Elementary School in Chester where nineteen children completed an embroidery project. So just what do children learn from such an experience? Let's back up.
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Last year Mrs. Fonseca was the kindergarten teacher. The plan was she would lead those children in her class through to third grade. To help the children become aware of their community, the busload of kids visited Chester businesses, including Bonnie's Bundles Dolls. First it was a show and tell here at the gallery; a week later Lew and I visited their classroom to make calico paper dolls. This clever teacher wrote a grant for my working with her class over five months. The Green Mountain Festival accepted her proposal to fund my time and the materials. We made flower dolls, puppets, sachets, and ended the fun here in May designing and stitching calico animals, topped off with a cookout.
This morning's event was to finish what started last Friday when the sixth kindergarten class to visit came by bus. After my little speech in the living room where Silvio plunked himself down among the children, we moved to the dining room table where the "how a doll is made" story was told and observed. Split into groups, they participated in four stations: drawing a face of their own design, embroidering a traced image, stuffing limbs with Lew and completing the Where's Silvio? puzzle. Today, those who hadn't had a chance to embroider did. What fabulous work they did. Wait until the third grade teacher, my master embroiderer, sees the work of Field. We already learned that fine embroidery stitches correlate to great math skills. Even boys stay focused. The hour was very well spent. Alex gifted me with a handmade potholder, and I shared with her how I made them when I was her age. There was joy about our returning Friday morning to make Calico Paper Dolls.
Can you tell how charged I am? There is some sun, so I am heading out to put my annuals into the gardens. Later this afternoon Zoe is coming to finish her Decorator Dolly. That's another great story for another time.
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Last year Mrs. Fonseca was the kindergarten teacher. The plan was she would lead those children in her class through to third grade. To help the children become aware of their community, the busload of kids visited Chester businesses, including Bonnie's Bundles Dolls. First it was a show and tell here at the gallery; a week later Lew and I visited their classroom to make calico paper dolls. This clever teacher wrote a grant for my working with her class over five months. The Green Mountain Festival accepted her proposal to fund my time and the materials. We made flower dolls, puppets, sachets, and ended the fun here in May designing and stitching calico animals, topped off with a cookout.
This morning's event was to finish what started last Friday when the sixth kindergarten class to visit came by bus. After my little speech in the living room where Silvio plunked himself down among the children, we moved to the dining room table where the "how a doll is made" story was told and observed. Split into groups, they participated in four stations: drawing a face of their own design, embroidering a traced image, stuffing limbs with Lew and completing the Where's Silvio? puzzle. Today, those who hadn't had a chance to embroider did. What fabulous work they did. Wait until the third grade teacher, my master embroiderer, sees the work of Field. We already learned that fine embroidery stitches correlate to great math skills. Even boys stay focused. The hour was very well spent. Alex gifted me with a handmade potholder, and I shared with her how I made them when I was her age. There was joy about our returning Friday morning to make Calico Paper Dolls.
Can you tell how charged I am? There is some sun, so I am heading out to put my annuals into the gardens. Later this afternoon Zoe is coming to finish her Decorator Dolly. That's another great story for another time.
Vermont Crafts Council Open Studio Was a Blast
This Vermont doll maker enjoyed a stellar weekend during the state's celebration of crafts - Open Studio Weekend. We prepared well. Comparing last year, we were equal in visitors but double in sales. Even potential orders were fabulous. Saturday was the local's day. Sunday belonged to out-of-state folks.
Just what were the highlights?
The weather.
Our welcoming Calico Memorial Garden.
A delightful lady from Rockingham who insisted her son bring her to meet the dolls won the Camilla Cat raffle.
The NYC family engaged in creating Calico Paper Dolls
Myra, with her a Bundle with calla lily eyes wearing teddy bear overalls,and Matt visited, her doll and teddy bears safely seat belted in their vehicle. "Do a blog," said Matt.
Doll collector and author Renee got hooked here. Sharing her books inspired me to want to self publish some stories I have written.
Two red sale dolls found happy homes. I can't believe Heidi is still here!
Later in the week, Matt 's mom and dad visited with her Daisy, seat belted in their car!
No surprise, Daisy was selected as the most popular doll during Open Studio, even though she was not assembled, wigged or finished. Like Diana and Julie, she was part of the "show and tell" on the dining room table.
The doll maker spent time sharing her art roots with Meg Ostrum who is heading the History of Craft project.
And it was all about Connections. There are so many stories to share.
The big news?
Save those invitations and customer appreciation cards. That 10% will make a difference. After costing out each doll, we reluctantly but realistically raised our prices on June 1, 2009. We know our designs are heirlooms; our stitchers' work is unmatched; and our dolls are sensational! We heard that all weekend!
This Vermont doll maker enjoyed a stellar weekend during the state's celebration of crafts - Open Studio Weekend. We prepared well. Comparing last year, we were equal in visitors but double in sales. Even potential orders were fabulous. Saturday was the local's day. Sunday belonged to out-of-state folks.
Just what were the highlights?
The weather.
Our welcoming Calico Memorial Garden.
A delightful lady from Rockingham who insisted her son bring her to meet the dolls won the Camilla Cat raffle.
The NYC family engaged in creating Calico Paper Dolls
Myra, with her a Bundle with calla lily eyes wearing teddy bear overalls,and Matt visited, her doll and teddy bears safely seat belted in their vehicle. "Do a blog," said Matt.
Doll collector and author Renee got hooked here. Sharing her books inspired me to want to self publish some stories I have written.
Two red sale dolls found happy homes. I can't believe Heidi is still here!
Later in the week, Matt 's mom and dad visited with her Daisy, seat belted in their car!
No surprise, Daisy was selected as the most popular doll during Open Studio, even though she was not assembled, wigged or finished. Like Diana and Julie, she was part of the "show and tell" on the dining room table.
The doll maker spent time sharing her art roots with Meg Ostrum who is heading the History of Craft project.
And it was all about Connections. There are so many stories to share.
The big news?
Save those invitations and customer appreciation cards. That 10% will make a difference. After costing out each doll, we reluctantly but realistically raised our prices on June 1, 2009. We know our designs are heirlooms; our stitchers' work is unmatched; and our dolls are sensational! We heard that all weekend!
