Where Have I Been...

After posting so faithfully for about a month you might be wondering where have I been.  Well, to put it simply I got a job.  I am back in the workforce after an eight year hiatus so needless to say it's a bit of a change for me.  What compelled me to make this switch?  My son.  You see the job is at Sam's Waldorf School and it's making it possible for us to afford to keep Sam enrolled there.  Besides that it is an interesting and fun position.  I am called the "Community Development Coordinator".  This translates into that I run the school store, coordinate volunteers for the school's many events and organize groups for knitting and handwork.  It's rather a lot for the 15 hours I am allotted, but I'm chugging along and finding volunteers to help me out.  The only downside so far is it's cutting into my knitting time so I won't be posting as often as I was previously. 

 

Here is the entrance to Sam's school City of Lakes Waldorf School in Minneapolis, Minnesota

So, I'll be back this week in the blogger world and hope to be posting some fun projects soon.  This two weeks off from knitting has put me quite behind on my list.  Time to kick it in gear, get back on that horse, get on the wagon and whatever other phrases you can think of to get me knitting again.  

How are you doing on your knitting list?

Waldorf Dolls

Wonderment is a fabulous toy store in Minneapolis that caters to the Waldorf family. They often have classes on making toys too and by far their most popular is making Waldorf Dolls. After struggling with a kit, taking a class that was canceled half way through I decided to try this class. It was wonderful and as the store owner predicted very empowering. Eight women sat down at 10:00 am on a rainy Saturday morning knowing zilch to ending at 4:00 pm that same day with a finished 16" Waldorf Doll. It was so amazing the transformation of cloth, wool and thread to this little person with a personality all his own. I made mine in the image of my child with auburn hair and hazel eyes. I purchased an outfit from the instructor to get him ready to give to my son Sam who was, with Daddy, picking me up (life with one car can be tricky) at the end of the class.

The class doll is in clothes and the kit doll just has a hat so far.

I was tired and in a bit of a daze as 4:00 pm hit and I heard a little voice behind me say "Mama?" I turned to Sam and showed him his new doll which he immediately hugged and said "I love him." Wow! I was so pleased my hard work and effort elicited this response - what more could you ask for?

With my new knowledge under my belt, as well as those few extra pounds (where do they come from ? Certainly not chocolate!), I decided to tackle my half made doll kit. So, today I made my second doll. He too is a boy but with blue eyes, Sam's request, and red hair - no clothes yet. What a wonderful feeling to know I could make this doll on my own! An old half completed project now finished and useful - hurray!

Getting the eyes right was so much trickier than I thought, but I'm pleased with the end result.

Sam is loving them with that special boy love of hugs one moment and wacking him on furniture the next. I hope they hold up to such affection. He named them Sheepy and Lamby. Kind of fitting when you think of all the wool used to make them yes? I'm off to make them socks now - wish me luck!