A Rainbow in My Studio

I walked into my studio this morning and was stopped in my tracks by a rainbow , gobsmackingly intense, parked under my wee Structo Loom.

I raced for my camera to catch it before it flickered off to play in another corner of the room.

Such small and fleeting things bring so much joy!

I turned my back and a moment later, the rainbow was gone…..

I hope that unexpected delights will suddenly appear for you too! 🙂

An odd thing has happened with this post…. not only did the rainbow in the studio disappear, but so has the post itself. I’ve been wrestling with getting it to show up again and wondering how and why a post would simply disappear. Sigh…..

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Filed under 4 harness weaving, four harness weaving, personal stuff, Simple Little Things That Make Me Happy, weaving & handwoven

A Skirt and Sweater for Lily Doll and a How To Video for Making Super Simple Twisted Cord

Around the middle of every month of 2024, Mirrix Looms will be releasing a new pdf pattern and kit for projects that I have designed for the Lily Doll Project.

And, since today is the 15th, there’s a new pattern and kit for Lily Doll at https://mirrixlooms.com/pages/lily

Lily Doll now has a comfy sweater and a skirt that has twisted cord suspenders and waist band and a sweet sweater.

There are lots of ways to make twisted cords, but here’s one that I have come up with that is so easy: Here’s the video:

I made the skirt and sweater using the same color yarn, but if that’s too matchy matchy for you, feel free to use other colors. 🙂

Happy Weaving! and Happy Twisted Cordmaking, too! ❤

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Filed under doll & dolls & dollmaking & doll making, doll clothes, frame loom weaving, Lily Doll Project, Loom & looms & small loom weaving, Mirrix Chloe loom, Mirrix loom, weaving & handwoven, Woven Dolls and Toys

One of a Kind Hand Carved Crochet Hooks for Sale

I’m no longer carving wood, which of course means that I am not carving crochet hooks anymore.

I’m doing a big downsize, so am offering the last of my One of a Kind crochet hooks for sale.

I’ve made a video so you can see them in my hands. The video is posted below the list of the hooks. If you would like to buy any of the hooks, please send me a message or post a note in the comments, which I will pick up and respond to.

NOTE: Because the crochet hooks are hand carved from wood, you need to be gentle with them. Wood has grain, which can cause breakage if you are rough with the hook.

The hooks are varnished to preserve the finish.

From Left to Right in the Photo above:

1- Walnut Rabbit (white rabbit with dark wood handle and hook) approximately 6 3/4 inches (17 cm) tall. Approximately hook size 6 mm (size J) SOLD

2- Star Babies approximately 8 inches (20 cm) tall. Approximately hook size 6 mm (size J) Price: $85 +shipping

3- Teddy Bear approximately 6 3/4 inches (17 cm) tall. Approximately hook size 6.5 mm (size K) Price: SOLD

4- Large Bumble Bee approximately 9 inches (23 cm) tall. Approximately hook size 15 mm (size P) Price: SOLD

5- Blond wood Rabbit (tan rabbit with flower on handle) approximately 6 3/4 inches (17 cm) tall. Approximately hook size 6 mm (size J) SOLD

6- Large Dame Julian of Norwich approximately 11 1/2 inches (29 cm) tall. Approximately hook size 15 mm (size P) SOLD

7- Large Dragonfly approximately 12 inches (30 cm) tall. Approximately hook size 15 mm (size P) Price: SOLD

8- Sweet Girl with book or box in her hands approximately 8 3/4 inches (22 cm) tall. Approximately hook size 8 mm (size L) Price: $125 +shipping

9- White Bunny (white bunny with blue bead necklace) approximately 6 inches (15 cm) tall. Approximately hook size 7 mm (7 mm doesn’t have a letter sizing) SOLD

10- Bluebell Fairy approximately 6 inches (15 cm) tall. Approximately hook size 6 mm (size J) Price: $65 +shipping

11- Rose Fairy approximately 6 inches (15 cm) tall. Approximately hook size 6 mm (size J) Price: $65 +shipping

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Filed under crochet, teddy bear, woodwork

One of a Kind Hand Carved Wooden Sculptural Spoons that I am selling

Here is a collection of one of a kind sculptural hand carved wooden spoons that I created a few years ago and am now selling…. I’ve held onto them long enough and now it’s time to let them go out into the hearts and hands of other people. I hope that they will spark delight in people! They CANNOT be used with food, but can stir up creativity and delight and good wishes and fun and blessings and all good things.

Please send me a message if you would like to buy any of these magical spoon sculptures.

I made a little video showing how they look when they are held in my hands.

There are too many photos to put them all in one blog post, in full size, so please go to the video to see the spoons in more detail.

The list of the available spoons with their height and price is below the video.

1- Granny Rules: approximately 7 inches (17 cm) tall: $150 + insurance and shipping

2- Mermaid: approximately 8 inches (20 cm) tall: $150 + insurance and shipping

3- Kitty with a Bird on Her Head :approximately 9 inches (23 cm) tall: $150 + insurance and shipping

4- Large Dancer with the Wind in Her Hair (Rose on her skirt, Compass Rose and Sun and Moon in the spoon) :approximately 9 1/2 inches (24 cm) tall: $250 + insurance and shipping

5- Small Dancer with the Wind in Her Hair (Rose on her skirt, Blue Butterfly in the spoon) :approximately 6 inches (15 cm) tall: $100 + insurance and shipping

6- She Dances with the Moon in her Hair: approximately 8 1/2 inches (22 cm) tall: $175 + insurance and shipping

7- She Dances with the Stars in her Hair: approximately 9 3/4 inches (24 cm) tall: $125 + insurance and shipping

8- The Little Book of Kindness: approximately 6 1/2 inches (16.5 cm) tall: $125 + insurance and shipping

9: Wisdom Owl: approximately 8 inches (20 cm) tall: $100 + insurance and shipping

10: Fairy Door: approximately 7 1/2 inches (19 cm) tall: $100 + insurance and shipping

11- The Heart and Hand: approximately 6 1/2 inches (16.5 cm) tall: $175 + insurance and shipping

12: Star Baby: approximately 5 inches (12.5 cm) tall: $100 + insurance and shipping

13 and 14: Two Girls with Sweaters: approximately 5 inches (12.5 cm) tall: $100 each + insurance and shipping

15, 16 and 17: Three Little Girls who have hugging arms and who inspired me to create the Vasilisa dolls. # 15 is approximately 5 inches (12.5 cm) tall: $150 + insurance and shipping

# 16 is approximately 4 inches (10 cm) tall: $150 + insurance and shipping

# 17 is approximately 3 1/2 inches (9 cm) tall: $150 + insurance and shipping

18: Another of the ‘Vasilisa Doll’ style but she doesn’t have the hugging style arms- she is approximately 3 1/2 inches (9 cm) tall: $100 + insurance and shipping

19- Thank you to the Trees and the Forests!- approximately 4 inches (10 cm) tall: $100 + insurance and shipping

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Filed under carved wooden dolls, carving wood, Simple Little Things That Make Me Happy, spoon carving, Vasilisa dolls, wooden dolls, woodwork

These are the last of my one of a kind hand carved wooden Teddy Bears and Panda Bears

A couple of years ago, I had a wonderful time designing, carving and painting one of a kind wooden Teddy Bears and Pandas. Each one is unique.

They all have jointed arms and legs, so they can sit and move about.

I am not carving wood anymore, and won’t be making any more of the Wooden Teddy Bears or Pandas. These are the last of my series and are for sale.

Hand Carved WOODEN PANDAS

1- This Panda is approximately 6 1/2 inches (16.5 cm) tall $95 + shipping

Note: It has a beaded necklace that can be removed if you prefer them to not wear a necklace.

2– This little Panda has a gold heart, red bead necklace and red shoes and is approximately 5 1/2 inches (14 cm) tall $95 + shipping

3- This Panda has a gold heart, a gold bead necklace, red shoes that have flowers on the soles, green and purple leggings and a flowered body suit and is approximately 7 1/2 inches (19 cm) tall

$95 + shipping

Hand Carved Wooden TEDDY BEARS THAT ARE ABOUT 7 1/2 Inches TALL:

4-This Teddy Bear has red bead necklace, red boots with flowers on the soles, blue and white striped leggings and a flowered body suit and is approximately 7 1/2 inches (19 cm) tall $95 + shipping

4- This Teddy Bear is approximately 7 1/4 inches tall (18 cm) and has a pinkish gold necklace, pink and purple high top boots that have flowers on the soles, a floral body suit and leggings. $95 + shipping

I have made a couple of dresses that fit these Pandas and Larger Teddy Bears and are available, too….

A hand knitted old fashioned looking dress: $35 + shipping

It fits the 7 1/2 inch bears but is too big for the 4 inch bears

This is what it looks like on the bears (the bear is not included in the purchase of the dress…. they are all sold separately)

And here is a little sewn dress that is reversible. It fits all the bears. $20 +shipping

Here’s what the dress looks like on the bears (dress and bears sold separately)

4 inch tall Carved Wooden Teddy Bears

1a- 4 inch tall Hand Carved Wooden Teddy Bear in a Pinafore (the pinafore is included in the price) $95

2a- 4 inch tall Hand Carved Wooden Teddy Bear in a Tutu (the tutu is included in the price) $95

3a- 4 inch tall Hand Carved Wooden Teddy Bear with an Acorn Hat in a Vest with removable wings (the hat is glued to the Teddy Bear’s head. The vest and wings are included in the price) $95

If you are interested in purchasing any of the bears, please drop me a note in the comments

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Small Square Comfort Bears woven on the Mirrix Chloe Loom

I love weaving these Small Square ‘Comfort’ Teddy Bears!

They have ‘huggy arms’ that hold onto a thumb or finger so hugs are always near.

To make a Small Square ‘Comfort’ Teddy Bear that is a Panda, weave the body in white and
work the ears, arms and legs in black or any color that you prefer.

Weave them in just one color or with 2 shades to make them ‘tweedie’.

They have lucky pennies and good wishes hearts inside, so they have very good energy.

Because they are so small, they easily fit in your pocket. It’s so good to always have a couple of them with you, because you never know who you will meet that needs a little bit of comfort!

These charming and whimsical Small Square Comfort Teddy Bears fit in an envelope so you can send them to friends who need a little hug.

They are quick and easy to make and are a lovely way to share love, kindness and all good things!

You can buy the kits and pdf’s at https://mirrixlooms.com/pages/lily

Happy Weaving! and especially to ‘Comfort Weaving!’ ❤

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Filed under comfort bear, doll & dolls & dollmaking & doll making, frame loom weaving, gifts & easy to make gifts & presents, Lily Doll Project, Loom & looms & small loom weaving, Mirrix Chloe loom, teddy bear, Woven Dolls and Toys

How to Weave a Small Comfort Butterfly on the Chloe Loom

A couple of years ago, I made a youtube video on how to weave butterflies on the Mirrix Saffron loom. LINK

When I was chatting with Claudia and Elena on a webinar a few weeks ago, wonderful Sandy from Mirrix, mentioned about the tabby butterfly. This inspired the living daylights out of me, as I ‘aha-ed’ that I could weave smaller butterflies on the Chloe loom. (BTW, the butterfly woven on the Saffron loom can easily be woven on the Chloe loom, if you use the 8 epi combs.)

Why are small woven butterflies so exciting? For me, the most meaningful reason for weaving the Small Comfort Butterfly is to be able to offer kindness and comfort to people, whether I see them in person, or I mail one to them. People are worn to exhaustion nowadays with all the dreadfulness in the world, so even a tiny glimmer of hope in the form of a woven Comfort Butterflies is a lovely reminder to hold on and carry on, knowing that we are all in this together.

Also, the Comfort Butterflies can be appliqued onto to larger woven pieces or used for creative mending projects or worn as brooches, pins, zipper pulls or earrings. 

They also hang happily in house plants to brighten a cloudy day.

And, for those who still enjoy books that are made of paper rather electrons, the small butterflies make lovely bookmarks.

Oh my goodness! I ended up weaving more than 30 prototype butterflies in order to get to this simple little butterfly! It was worth all the work to get there, as it’s now a delightful little butterfly!

I’ve made a video tutorial on youtube to show you, step by step, how to weave and assemble the Comfort Butterfly. I hope that you will enjoy weaving lots of them, and giving them away as a symbol of hope and transformation in these challenging times!

Happy Weaving! May weaving and giving the Small Comfort Butterflies bring you joy! ❤

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Filed under butterflies, free pattern, Loom & looms & small loom weaving, Mirrix Chloe loom, Mirrix loom, tutorial & how to, video tutorial, weaving & handwoven

Vasilisa Comfort Dolls that are still available March 2024

Several people have messaged me recently, asking if I still have any Vasilisa Comfort Dolls available for sale. I don’t have the stamina to carve wood anymore, as I am living with Long Covid/post viral syndrome (blech). So, there won’t be any new ones and these are the only Vasilisa Dolls that are still available.

If you are interested in buying any of them, please leave a comment and I will get back to you asap.

These are the Vasilisa Comfort Doll ‘Mamma/Great Mother of All’ series- they are $75 each + shipping. They are between 4- 5 inches tall

Small Vasilisa Comfort Dolls: These two are $45 + shipping

And, the Kitten is sold but the Vasilisa Comfort Doll #14 is still available $50 + shipping

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Filed under carved wooden dolls, carving wood, doll & dolls & dollmaking & doll making, Lucet, Vasilisa dolls, wooden dolls, woodwork

A Cozy Cape to weave for the Lily Doll

The days are getting longer, and certainly are warmer than a month ago!

But it’s still winter here. Which inspired me to design and weave a cape for Lily Doll:

The kit and pdf are available at https://mirrixlooms.com/lily

I just noticed that the background screen has a white loop that looks like it’s part of the cape sticking out of Lily Doll’s ear. Sigh…. not at all. I could go and re-shoot the photo or I could tell you that I didn’t notice it until now, which is what I have opted to do instead of the sensible solution of re-shooting the photo. Ah well…. and, perhaps you didn’t notice, but now you have.

And, if you did notice and thought that I did something odd, well you were right… I placed Lily Doll in just the wrong spot. Haven’t you ever placed yourself or something in an odd place? It happens.

Mercy on us all!

I weave all the dolls and bears and toys and clothes for the Lily Doll Project on the 5 inch wide Mirrix Chloe loom, which I am madly in love with. It’s a wonderful little sturdy, delightfully adjustable little miracle of excellent design.

Yup. Love it and highly recommend it. I keep having ‘Aha’ and ‘Oh Wow’ moments with it.

My apologies to the 8 inch Chloe loom, which is also a lovely loom, but I am totally smitten by the 5 inch Chloe.

Yes, I am lucky enough to have both, but it is the 5 inch Chloe that is my ‘go to’ loom).

Happy weaving! ❤

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Filed under doll & dolls & dollmaking & doll making, doll clothes, frame loom weaving, Loom & looms & small loom weaving, Mirrix Chloe loom, Mirrix loom, weaving & handwoven, Woven Dolls and Toys

A few little things I’ll be chatting about on the ‘Tea with Noreen’ webinar with Mirrix looms

On this Sunday the 18th of Feb, I’ll be chatting with Claudia and Elena of Mirrix looms about the Lily Doll project.

There will be giveaways :) and lots of fun! Claudia, Elena and I always have sooooo much fun when we have tea time from each of our studios- we hope that you will pour yourself a cuppa tea and join us!

To register for it, go to: https://mirrixlooms.com/pages/tea-with-noreen-all-about-the-lily-doll-project and scroll down the page to the signup boxes.

You are welcome to send any questions that you have about the Lily Doll Project to Elena and she’ll let me know so I can answer them.

Here’s a few things that will be popping up…. I am looking so forward to it! ❤

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Filed under doll & dolls & dollmaking & doll making, doll clothes, frame loom weaving, gifts & easy to make gifts & presents, Lily Doll Project, Loom & looms & small loom weaving, Mirrix Chloe loom, Mirrix loom, weaving & handwoven