Made in Japan

It's been nearly 3 weeks since the disaster in Japan. In the papers you read less and less about it. In our daily paper, The Denver Post, it's moved to the very back of the A section. People forget too soon.

Yet Japan is still very prominent in my mind. I catch myself looking around. What things do I own that are actually made in Japan?

First of all: We drive a Japanese car. A hybrid of the Toyota brand.
What else? Of course, the adorable fabrics I refer to as Kawaii  fabric.
I wonder if the companies in Japan that make these amazing fabrics are affected by this. How will people react to it? Will customers shy away from anything made in Japan now because they think it's full of radiation?

I went out for lunch with my husband to our favorite Sushi restaurant last week. It was quite empty compared to the usual buzz that went on there in Pre-disaster times. Our waitress told us that people are worried about the fish being contaminated by radiation. She assured us that all the fish and products served came from the US, and there was no need to worry about it.  Ripple effects...One of the servers at Sushi One is from a small fishing town where the Tsunami hit. She still hasn't been able to find all her friends and family.

I talked to my sister in Germany on the phone yesterday. In Germany everybody is on the streets protesting against nuclear energy. The German government recently changed their mind on the subject. Three months ago they had told the public that all was well with a host of ancient nuclear power plants. They had just passed a law to enable the industry to keep them running for another 12 years. Now they were taken off the grid. Guess they were not that safe, after all. In elections in Baden-Wuerthenberg, one of the German States, the conservative party lost their majority. Ripple effects...

I don't see anyone protesting in the US. I wonder why that is. Maybe people have too many other problems - such as finding a job and keeping a roof over their heads - that the fear of getting nuked doesn't loom large in their minds these days.

One thing I noticed, is that the press reports are very different in the US. When I watch German TV a completely different picture is presented to me. I see maps of power plants from all over the world. I get a lot more information, statistics and numbers. I hear experts talk about how unsafe they really are. In the US news it's the other way around. The dangers seem played down. Oh, don't you worry about the radiation levels in the atmosphere. No problem there. It's minuscule. The power plant in California at Devil's Canyon - not a problem. It was built to withstand earthquakes.

Isn't that what they said in Japan?

I want to thank all the people who have bought doll clothing from my shop made of Japanese fabric. I sent a donation to Save the Children thanks to you! I  also want to assure you that doll clothes made from Japanese fabrics in my shop are made from pre-Tsunami fabric purchases. So there is no need to worry about fallout from your cute doll clothing.

Keep praying for Japan! Don't forget too soon! No matter what they tell us, what happened there could happen to us...Any idea what they are doing with those spent fuel rods? Do you know where they keep them around?

Photographs and Memories...

It's been 7 years today since you passed away, Mama. I keep thinking it should become easier as year after year goes by. Thinking that somehow grief would diminish as time goes on. But it's not! I miss you and think of you every day!

Like you did for your mom after she died - I light a candle each year on your birthday and on the day of your passing...

I think it's a good tradition. Reminding us of the light a person brought into our life. Do you have any traditions or rituals for loved ones you have lost? What to do when the hole in your heart feels so big and you feel like you can't breathe?

Announcement of Winner from last week

The winner of last week's Giveaway is Nadine. Check it out. She was the last person to enter. I am kind of intrigued by the fact that the random number generator picked the last comment on the list. Proves it's never too late to enter. =)

Paloma on quilt

Paloma on quilt, originally uploaded by germandolls.

Just went through some more old photos. I love this little baby. It's so much fun to play with dolls when your babies are all grown up. =)

Best Cake Recipe ever: Rotweinkuchen

Are you a fan of dark chocolate? Love the taste of red wine? I love both but have found that, as I am getting older, I am prone to bad headaches having red wine. The only way I can consume it these days, is in cooked or baked form. Luckily I have a recipe combining these two wonderful flavors into one amazing dessert.

When asked what birthday cake to make for friends or a family member,  they will always shout: Rotweinkuchen (transl. Red Wine Cake)!

This recipe was given to me by a friend in college many years ago. So thank you, Nanette! I will always fondly remember those afternoons hanging out together in your Berlin kitchen and baking this delicious cake.

Ingredients:

250 g butter
250 g sugar
4 eggs
1 packet Vanilla sugar, or if you can't find it in grocery store some vanilla flavoring
250 g flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp baking cocoa
125 g dark chocolate chips chopped into smaller pieces
1 scant cup of red wine

1.cut up butter in small pieces and cream it together with the sugar and vanilla in a mixing bowl

2. using a hand mixer incorporate the eggs one egg at a time, blending for about a minute per egg

3. mix together the remaining dry ingredients: flour, cocoa, baking powder, cinnamon

4. incorporate dry ingredients into the egg butter mix adding a little at a time
5. add chopped chocolate chips
6. mix in the cup of red wine

Bake in well greased Bundt pan or loaf pan in preheated oven  at 375 Fahrenheit or 180. Bake for 45-50 minutes, or until toothpick inserted comes out clean.

No reason to polish off the rest of the red wine after a dinner party! Tell the guests to come back the next day for cake! =)

Lost Photobucket

Many years ago I made some photoalbums on Photobucket Then somewhere along the way I forgot my password. Have you ever done that? Forgotten your password. I do it all the time. Normally that's not a big problem, right? You just hit the button where they send you an email and you make yourself a new password. Well, that didn't work in my case My email address had changed since. So all the emails were sent to who knows where...What is one to do?
I had to do quite a bit of detective work to get back to my old albums. But this morning success! I found my old picture albums. Yippee! See below for one of the cute doll pictures I found in my album.



Was it worth the search? I think so!

Giveaway: Dusty my favorite Pink Pocketdoll

I am running another giveaway for one of my sweet pocketdolls. So if you missed out on Facebook last time, here is your chance! I love this particular color so much. It is a soft pink with a touch of gray perhaps. I am glad I got it back in stock.

This is how you enter:

• Visit my shop on Artfire

• Add GermanDolls to your Etsy favorites.

• Become a Fan of GermanDolls on Facebook (and/or post this giveaway to your FB page)

• Become a follower of GermanDolls’ Blog right here! Don't' forget to leave a comment.=)

• Follow GermanDolls on Twitter and Tweet about this giveaway.Blog about this giveaway with a link back to the post.

• Post about this Giveaway on your own blog and link back here!

You have 7 days to visit and enter. Please, don't forget your email address so I can send you the good news if your name is drawn. The more comments the greater your chance to win!
Winner will be announced next week on Friday!http://www.etsy.com/listing/43870441/wee-dusty-pink-pocketbaby-pocketdoll
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And the Winner is comment number 89 - the very last comment that was sent in. Shows it is never too later to enter. Wow! I will be contacting your soon, Nadine!

Pray for Japan!

I have been incredibly saddened and depressed looking at images from the earthquake in Japan. Yesterday at church we prayed for the Nation of Japan. What else can one do? Are our governments helping and doing enough to help? No doubt one scary thought has entered the back of our minds from the get-go: What if this was us? California...

No matter how well prepared or rich a nation may be, there is no way to prepare for nature's wrath...Once a horrible force like this becomes unleashed we don't know how bad things can get.

Do you know anyone in Japan? Is the sight of these pictures less touching if there isn't a personal connection? I have a good friend from college who married a girl from Japan. Luckily they live in Germany. But I worry about her family. Will they be safe? How far away from this disaster do they live?



I remember too well when Chernobyl happened. I was out with some friends riding our bikes to a beautiful park. Later they told us that the wind was blowing from the East that day. All of Western Europe was getting a not so healthy dose of radiation that day...Are we safe?

Why do they keep building more nuclear power plants? It's not safe! Are there any of them near the coastline of California? Are they telling us the truth? I'm scared. Scared for the people in Japan - scared for my children and our future.

I look at all the pretty pieces of cloth I have collected in my stash that were made in Japan. Where are the people who created them? I pray they are safe! Pray with me, my friends!

I am not a rich person, and there is not much I can do to help. I did send some money via Save the Children today hoping every little bit will help. I will also donate 10% of my sales of items made from Japanese fabrics to the disaster victims in Japan. So check out the Kawaii section in my Etsyshop.

My First Sale on Artfire

I just had my first sale in my Artfire shop. I am doing a little happy dance over here.

Don't forget to visit my Artfire this week where I am offering Free Shipping to US and Canada destinations! Maybe there is a little something you had your heart set on for a while... Happy  almost Spring!

Receive free shipping on
All Items

Use Coupon Code:

SHIPS FREE

during checkout.

Craft Supplies

Keri's Doll

Today Keri's Doll went on her journey. This sweet dolls is a custom made doll I just finished. Got to love those readheads...

Sweet blue eyes, hope you have a good life in your new home!

I snapped a couple of quick photos before I had to put her in her box for shipping. She ended up traveling in a different outfit...

Emily

There is a little girl I know. She is oh so sweet. I tried to make a doll as sweet as her. Alas, I am only a dollmaker...

In her pocket she carries a baby or this little treasure she found on one of her Nature Walks:

Little Emily is the third child of three. So I made a nest for her dress with 3 eggs in it. It's quite smallish. So keep it safely tucked in the pocket or put it on your Nature Table.