Welcome to Blogland!

One of the artist's I admire a lot (more than a lot, like mega-admire!) at Flickr named Cathy Gaubert has started a blog called Handmade and I want you to go check her out and give her a nice big welcome to Blogland. I added her link to my sidebar and a few other new ones as well.
I am like a ninja blogger sometimes- you know- sneaking in on tiptoe on my silent one toed socks to add things to the side bar in the small wee dead hours of the night. Or is that wee small?
I read a story about Margie's Mom at Resurrection Fern that brought tears to my eyes and joy to my heart. I love to read about loving moments in other peoples lives- I think that is one of the most amazing things- the love that is shared through Blogland.
 The humor.
The Art and Craft from the heart.
Seeking out like minded souls who share without concern of payment or theft of originality is rewarded when I find these Bloggers who honestly write from their inner place of self. It's not always easy knowing what to share or when to leave something unsaid.
I am like the kid in the front row at Art Camp who always has her hand raised, volunteering for brush washing duties because she is so in love with the colors of the paint and such a messy tomboy that watching as the colors merge and bleed down the drain is almost as fun as putting loaded brush to paper.
Not that I ever went to Art Camp...
I would love to have one though- just for my Blogging friends- (and a few real life friends- not to leave anyone out!) and have an Art Retreat and play and laugh and share stories and eat great food together and stay up late and have a pajama party. Do you know I have never been to a pajama party? Are they fun?
I know- I still could do it now but I'm not sure how to get rid of my husband long enough to set one up...naw, murder is too permanent...teehee...(I have been reading Daphne DuMaurier's Echoes From The Macabre late into the night, so forgive me jokes of muuuuddahhhh)
There is another new to me Blog I really like too called The Paris Apartment- she's young, hip and fun!
And this Blog is all shabby dabby delicious and I am in love with her pink velvet strawberries with pearl seeds.

Speaking of pearls I found the coolest thing yesterday at a Goodwill (I got the oil changed and rewarded myself with a stroll through GW before heading over to Picasso's Moon for some K&B) a Barbie dressed in a white crochet wedding dress studded with tiny white pearl beads- I fell in love with the workmanship of this dress but Barbie looks like a knockoff and as I bought it (for only .99) I decided to replace the doll with a new pretty and authentic Barbie and then after placing it on my bed and mentally gauging Fred's reaction I decided to just keep the part that I really love- which is the dress and hang it from one of the tiny hangers I get from Catherine Moore's Shop. (look under accessories- they are French Laundry Hangers)

The dress unsnapped and came off the Barbie no problemo! I will save the bottom just in case I decide to get another Barbie- maybe my Skully doll can finally marry the Mulder doll?!!( yes, I have  X-Files Ken & Barbie)
Now it's in my sewing room- I think the workmanship is top rate!
All the pearls are sewn in- it really is very nicely done- I think I admire crochet so much because my Grandmother did it and I wish I could too.
When you look around my room you'll see more crocheted clothing-
simpler times, right?
I was such a tomboy growing up I guess my Grandma didn't think I would want one of these dolls but I secretly always have admired them- the love that it takes to make something like this for the little girl in your life- maybe that's what I see when I look at it. I know that my Grandmother loved me, that's not what I am trying to say. I guess I feel sad when I see things at Goodwill that people no longer love. Like the island of misfit toys, they fell out of favor.
Maybe someone decided that little girl was "too grown up" for her Barbie crocheted wedding gown bed pillow thing".
Maybe she herself said I don't want this or had shoved it in the back of her closet and her Mom put it in with the donations because there needed to be more room for Bratz. Surely, I will never know, except that I was supposed to find it and give it a new home. It was the second time I had been in that Goodwill all year- having promised the Mr that I would make an effort to cut back on unnecessary spending- since it costs 92 bucks to fill up the Durango...it seems like it was meant to be or is that another justification on my part to try and mend the ripped and torn places in my own childhood dress of symbolism?
As I get older I seem to be drawn to collecting and making baby shoes, dolls, doll quilts and I buy handmade girls dresses when I find them just to look at the stitches so lovingly sewn. I never was much of a doll baby girl- not once I chopped their hair off and gave them pink marker cheeks- I then thought them ugly and ruined but didn't get new ones after that as a lesson.
 Tough lesson.
I still have them in the back of my closet.
The marker came right of with alcohol and the baby got a bonnet to hide her buzz cut.
All things come full circle I guess.
When I die my dolls and things will probably go to Goodwill too.
 I just hope someone like me is shopping there that day and falls in love.
Recycle.
Reuse.
Re-Love
Give.
Grow.
Stretch.
Share.
Tell Stories.
Celebrate Yourself.
Love One Another.
It's never too late to have a happy childhood- right girls?
and then Blog about it!
Love & Stitches,
Calamity Kim