The Knitting Room

"This same Miss McAloon it was...who commenced her great work, dedicating her life to a vision,...who divested herself of all impediments to her vocation ( husband, son, household duties) and began the real work of knitting; knitting partitions for the barn, rooms of wool;she created knitted ceilings, coffered, domed and pitched ceilings to suspend from the rafters, whole walls she knitted, with ribbing round the doorways and windows. She breathed the air of wool...She repaired and embellished the rooms, even knitting pictures of the outside world to sew on here and there as reminders, a window, with the exact scene outside rendered in four ply and glorious full colour, and because of her loneliness in the service of this talent she knitted life size bodies of people and sat them on the chairs so that she always had company and somebody could watch her in progress while space in the building gradually dwindled to cubbyholes in the musty cells of plain and purl.  The wool wound once round the little finger of her right hand, her needles flicking and clittering..."

                                                        Just Relations by Rodney Hall 1982.

Almost thirty years ago I read these words and they fired my imagination.
The thought of knitting not only things to go in a room but coverings for the walls and floors, a completely knitted environment was something I always wanted to see.

 They have never left me.

I remember little else from this book but this lonely woman knitting her world is forever with me.

pictures from here

Today when I looked at the Knitting Room I couldn't help but think of  Miss McAloon. 

Not that the Knitting room was created by one woman and  it certainly wasn't musty but it surely was her vision in all it's beautiful woolly colour.

Such a wonderful undertaking, such a treasure.

Truly a celebration of colour and  the wonderful domestic creativity of women.

I must say though, the Blue Room which highlighted the prevalence of depression 

among the older generation coupled 

with my underlying channeling of Miss McAloon 

made a huge impression on me
and left me

feeling

a little sad.

Having worked in geriatric medicine for some years I know  that this problem of depression is a sad fact  for many and often not acknowledged or treated. 

So if you can, spend some time with the older people in your life, 

treat them with respect, 

listen to their stories, value the life they have lived and the life they are living.

Old  age is a time of loss for everyone, 

loss of independence, 

loss of loved ones,

loss of physical strength

and some can cope with it better then others but everyone can cope better if they know that the people they love really do care.

There was a rule of No Photos in the Knitting Room but the Town Hall was decked out in all her woolly finery .

Enjoy.

It's time

It's time to feed the chooks, get the washing up done, make the bed, hang out the washing, sweep the floor, put some wood on the fire, chat with Louis and then go and see the Knitting Room...at last.

Perfect colours

New Dollies

Some new dollies in the shop.

Jenny

SOLD  Thank you

Sarah

SOLD  Thank you

Mandy

Robyn

SOLD Thank you

Plus this is Kayla's doll.

Can you guess that Kayla loves pink!

Little dollies

So Niche has come and gone and the star of the day was this little white lamb.

I say the star of the day because I didn't make it to the first day of the market. 

I made a valiant effort but I just couldn't do it. 

I had too many things to finish off.

I guess as usual I got caught up in the details of each little doll,  and when that happens I just can't hurry.

It reinforced with me the  knowledge that I had been ignoring, that I love making these little dolls and I can't just produce a whole lot of other lower priced things to fill out a market stall unless I really want to and what I really wanted to do was just settle in to making  these 12" dolls that I love so much.

That being said I thoroughly enjoyed the market, being out in public with my hand made goodies.

It is always so interesting to see people's reactions to what I have made, to see the people who 'get it'.

What I had the most fun with though was watching the magic that this little rubber lamb cast over the little people whose heads were at just the same height as the top of my table. 

They would get a far away look in their eye, and soon start whispering secrets to this little half century old lamb, before long they would reach out to touch her , then take her for a little walk along the table over the granny square fields and back again, stopping every now and then for a little whispered chat. 

If they discovered the sweet little squeak they would do a wild gambol then  head back to the lamb's spot beside the kewpie doll.

Each encounter ended in the same way, with a sweet cuddle and lovely mooshy wet lipped pre schooler kiss.

Time and time again I watched this  and was absolutely enchanted.

This little lamb is as old as me, given to me 51 years as go when I was born.

It stayed safe at my childhood home until my own children were born and then it came to live with me and be their friend too.

Who would ever have thought that a little old baby toy could be such a magical thing.

So the small things I made for the market sold but all my girls came home with me which is just fine.

Tomorrow they will go into the shop and find new homes all around the world.

I will knit them some shoes and perhaps a cardigan or two.

Most of the pictures I took yesterday were not so good as I and my camera were suffering with a flat battery.

Now I have had the best night's sleep, I awoke to a sparkling house that Stephen slaved over yesterday and apart from the first signs of a late winter cold trying to get me I feel refreshed and ready for a restful Sunday.

The end of August signifies the start of much busyness to keep my shop full of hand made goodness for Christmas gift buyers.

I  will be updating the shop every second Monday, starting tomorrow 

and then from November I will update weekly.

But before I go for a cuppa and a sit in the sunshine I want to share with you Eli's latest, cutest creations.

Dear Eli has such a talent for designing the essence of vintage childhood.

Polly and Kate are the latest of her sweet little ones.

I bought a pattern as soon as I saw them . 

So so so sweet. 

You will find the pattern soon  in Eli's shop, Dollytime. 

( I bought mine and now Eli will have to update the listing, the pattern is emailed to you as soon as Eli can manage so it is almost instant gratification - very satisfying sometimes)

Can she do it.???

Little bare babies lying on some warm felt waiting for their clothes.

So so so much to do today.

 24 hours before Niche begins - can she do it???

I reckon she can.

I am about to sit down right here and  drink a well deserved hot chocolate.

Everyone has gone to bed, the house is quiet.

I have a little more knitting to do.

 

The fire is really warm with a good bed of coals.

And the couch looks super comfy, and might I say very colourful - I hadn't really noticed before.

Dotty, spotty gumboots

How cute is Kate in her gum boots and school uniform?

She headed off outside this morning to see if the lost PE shorts were perhaps still on the clothesline and so she popped her gorgeous dotty gumboots on.

What is it about red and white polka dots, always soooo happy.

We had banana choc bits muffins for breakfast, you know the banana story, too ripe for anyone to eat so it becomes an ingredient in yummy muffins. 

Kate is sitting on the end of the couch eating hers.

Why not at the table, why not just sit on the couch???

Well the table is covered in my sewing things, my machine , patterns , pins... and the couch is covered in baskets of fabric.

Yes I am in a flurry of  creativity as I make things for Niche which starts on Friday.

I am making some colourful nursery animals to join the dollies and goodies on my stall.

If you are in town this Friday or Saturday why don't you drop in at the market for a look see and a chat.

There are two venues this time round,

the School of Arts Gallery at Inveresk

and the Boathouse on Northbank ( I think in Lindsay St) 

from 10am till 4pm. 

There is a free bus running between the two.

I'll be at the Boathouse.

And remember 20% of all takings go to St Giles 

"St Giles looks after 5500 children and adults with disabilities across Tasmania. Created 73 years ago in response to the polio outbreak, today St Giles continues the tradition of doing what ever it takes to make a difference in the lives of people with disabilities. See our website www.stgiles.org.au for further information."

Oh and if you have five minutes spare today pop over to the Design Files and have a look at Shelley's lovely home.

Shelley is a dollmaker in Melbourne and though we have never met, after seeing her home I feel we may indeed be kindred spirits.

Have a wonderful day.

Custom Dolls

Just a little heads up to those of you who are considering buying a doll for Christmas. 

Due to some cancellations and many enquiries I am listing 6 custom doll order places in the blog shop, The Red Umbrella, tomorrow morning around 11am AEST.

These are  custom made dolls that will be ready for shipping in November 2010.

If you would like to reserve one of these custom listings you can email me before 10am AEST tomorrow and the place will be reserved for you but you will need to complete the transaction or make payment arrangements  tomorrow or the custom listing will no longer be reserved. 

You can pay in instalments if that suits your budget better.

The listings will be for 30cm ( 12") dolls but you can change that to a 35cm( 14") baby doll or 40cm(16" ) doll if you would prefer, I will adjust the price accordingly.

I will be updating the Etsy shop fortnightly beginning August 30th until November when I will update weekly so you will have plenty of  chances to  buy  a ready to go doll , however, there will not be anymore custom listings for the year once these 6 have sold.

If you would  like a small catalogue explaining doll types and prices please contact me by email at littlejennywrendolls@live.com.au and I will forward one to you.

Thank you for your interest

best wishes

Jenny

Today we walked to my sister's house for my nephew's 13th birthday celebration.

It was a perfect late winter's day.

Bright and sunny.

We stopped to vote  in the Federal Election along the way, 

Andy's first time.

We walked down the hill past this perfect little car shining, smiling I'm sure, in the sunshine

The prunus blossoms are out, Spring is knocking on the door.

Today's birthday was the last of the busy season that began in late May. 

No more birthdays now until late November.

Cute

This little one should have arrived with her new mummy, Jolie, by now.

She is for a little person who is only a tiny tot.

At the moment, under her hat she just has a soft fuzz of hair.

When Jolie gets a little older  and has longer hair we are going to give the dolly longer hair too.

They can grow up together. 

Cute.

Happy Birthday Mum

Yesterday was mum's 79th birthday.

( Don't tell her I told you, she thinks if no one knows her age they won't guess that she is actually old)

We all gathered at her house, the house where  my brother, sister and I grew up, the house where my parents have lived for more than fifty years.

Mum had taken us at our word and didn't do any cooking, my sister and I  provided the food,  and I think we did a good job.

  Does this mean we are finally grown up in Mum's eyes, that she trusts us with the catering?

Wonders will never cease.

We had a lovely evening though Dad was a bit under the weather, he had had a nasty fall earlier in the day which had shaken his confidence.

My little Mum is getting smaller and smaller, well they both are I suppose. 

Such a strange thing, aging.

You feel that once you're an adult you are a done deal, that's it.

You are this tall , you weigh about this much, you have this coloured hair and this much hair and you look and feel like you.

And then it all keeps on changing until, ta da! you are an old person.

Same sparkly eyes though.

This little guy headed off earlier in the week to become Marc's best buddy.

I have been sorting through and confirming my custom orders for the rest of the year and there is a chance that one or two places may become available.

I will let you know first if there are any free spots because I know some of you are interested in a doll or two for Christmas presents.

I will be updating the shop again on August 30th after the Niche Market.

Oh and anyone who is thinking of coming to Launceston for Niche will find there are lots of arty things happening because Launceston is hosting the Junction Art Festival which has a fantastic programme including many free events.

If you are living in Launceston there are programmes all over the place, shops, newsagents, galleries etc but I am pretty sure if you could get one at the Town hall if you can't find one anywhere else.

OK, now back to the dolly grindstone.

It's a tough life.

Yellow

Need I say more

shop update

Melissa

Carly

Carly has found a home, thank you

Two new little people in the shop today.

The next shop update will be in two weeks time on 30th August, just after the Niche market, so anything that doesn't sell at the market will be in the shop.

I will try to preview the market dolls here on the blog over the next two weeks so you will have an idea of what to expect in the next update.

Thanks for your interest and thank you for all your lovely birthday wishes.

I had the best birthday yesterday.

Presents and a yummy breakfast of homemade fruit salad and croissants and strawberry jam.

Into town with Stephen to look for some new walking shoes he wanted to give me for my birthday.

Lunch at Pierre's with Kate, Andy and Stephen - I had the very best fish and chips and some delicious champagne.

Home to  share dessert, a chocolate mudcake from Elphin Continental Cakes,
with Mum and Dad and my sister. 

Oh and a few more presents, and champagne of course.

Some super sweet presents this year;

a lovely silk spotty scarf and some white daphne in a crystal vase from mum and dad,

the book  I was hoping to get and a box of truffles from Stephen,

a delicate little silver bookmark and some perfume from Kate and Andy

and a bracelet and a delicious looking Tarte au Citron  from my sister Julie,
the recipe from this book. 

We will have the tart  for dessert today.

A phone call from Louis, and from my brother and my mother -in-law.

We had some  more fruit salad and one or two chocolates for supper last night.

I had the best time.