tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19446590475687387342024-03-18T00:32:38.558-07:00germandollsNotes by the Immigrant German Dollmaker
Copyright © 2001-2022germandollshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09229067228251394252noreply@blogger.comBlogger742125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1944659047568738734.post-70679941674894252382022-03-28T10:07:00.001-07:002022-03-28T10:07:31.513-07:00I am Back! And a Waldorf Doll Sale...<p><b>Well I am finally back to sewing again. It feels so good after 7 very stressful years as a German teacher.</b></p><p><b>I will miss my students. I will miss my fellow teachers. But I will not miss administrators...</b></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl3uK_7JyCuXcmliHEskcx5I9rMV833kcdM13f7pSaHsT00Iuma6qhfG4xgs0H1F0XmQPvt8vM2DresjpBJJysU7TyqnRW7JtgNAz775M-5AAP3SWWD1T1T-FyrcJeua1lHJRkpMqwhCoFRUkTNqjV2up4EHBgq9hlbFtK4Na8bA7GZvbosOahPbs9Uw/s576/me%20&%20my%20machine%201.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="576" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl3uK_7JyCuXcmliHEskcx5I9rMV833kcdM13f7pSaHsT00Iuma6qhfG4xgs0H1F0XmQPvt8vM2DresjpBJJysU7TyqnRW7JtgNAz775M-5AAP3SWWD1T1T-FyrcJeua1lHJRkpMqwhCoFRUkTNqjV2up4EHBgq9hlbFtK4Na8bA7GZvbosOahPbs9Uw/w400-h300/me%20&%20my%20machine%201.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>This is an old photo of me. I hope to take some new ones and show my current self soon. So stay tuned.</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>What else is new? I am trying to build up my Etsyshop again. I mean I never stopped making dolls. But didn't have much time as teacher. Some days I barely had time for my family or to eat or breathe. Make sure you are nice to teachers. They work so hard. And get paid so little.</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Still I kept my doll shop open. It's been great to finally reach that milestone of 3000 Sales. I am so proud of it. </b><b>Took me only 15 years. LOL. But Etsy has changed. </b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>The other day I found some advertisement on Instagram for an etsy sales training. It was run by this dude who claimed to have the perfect sales formula. I was intrigued, at first. But then the dude suggested that to be successfull one should copy other folks' stuff. Find Bestsellers and copy them - he says. That's what he did with his decals. Really? </b><b>I was not impressed. </b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><b>Maybe I will never get to 14K sales. But I refuse to buy into that concept. I will keep plugging away at my little shop. </b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><b>I hope you come back and follow my blog. And if you are into Waldorf dolls and handmade toys visit my shop. Come on, you NEED one of my sweet little pocket dolls. Or at a minimum you know somebody who needs one. </b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><b>And here comes my sales pitch. LOL. This week I am having my 3K sales celebration. </b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCSuBCANPwP_CW14Zq_KyOD54yU-SVE9F6cuIlJVB1Y59E4h-xrQHQF415t3x24z8Wi69N_g_EyMqLC2L1fVaB5qGecbff71bKn1uJm-BZXJMxcGxwZMJqSvrfMnT56UyVL620r9L15YeIPryq2tVze69JUn47UWCjKs4ma6EiCR8wkE6SrSI4mGGmRA/s2978/3K%20Doll%20Sale.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2978" data-original-width="2233" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCSuBCANPwP_CW14Zq_KyOD54yU-SVE9F6cuIlJVB1Y59E4h-xrQHQF415t3x24z8Wi69N_g_EyMqLC2L1fVaB5qGecbff71bKn1uJm-BZXJMxcGxwZMJqSvrfMnT56UyVL620r9L15YeIPryq2tVze69JUn47UWCjKs4ma6EiCR8wkE6SrSI4mGGmRA/w480-h640/3K%20Doll%20Sale.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p>germandollshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09229067228251394252noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1944659047568738734.post-45009650896695212372021-08-14T14:42:00.000-07:002021-08-14T14:42:08.116-07:00<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizXLqzBw3NkJmrUOjpoJXUHWOtDR2wyo6Jud09E-2ApCJ_UCZojdFdlfvYPH4vFhnSbIKXm0ybk4Ct8mlmqyzq9aqxbijfyfIgrC2rc7ct1wgA9xazHkkeaVuAABvg8EdepaJfbBMKkcMx/s3264/IMG_6829.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizXLqzBw3NkJmrUOjpoJXUHWOtDR2wyo6Jud09E-2ApCJ_UCZojdFdlfvYPH4vFhnSbIKXm0ybk4Ct8mlmqyzq9aqxbijfyfIgrC2rc7ct1wgA9xazHkkeaVuAABvg8EdepaJfbBMKkcMx/w400-h300/IMG_6829.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />Und dann kam Corona. Und meine Lehrerkarriere ging nach 7 Jahren zu Ende.<div><br /></div><div>Ueber 7 Bruecken musst du gehen. Sieben dunkle Jahre ueberstehen... </div><div>Das letzte Jahr war ziemlich dunkel... <p></p><p>Ich bin sehr traurig doch gleichzeitig auch erleichtert. Der Mega-Stress vom letzten Jahr war einfach unertraeglich. Kein Ahnung wie es jetzt weitergeht. </p><p>Auf jeden Fall freue ich wieder auf meine Puppen und mehr Kunst. Und mal wieder Zeit zum Bloggen zu haben. </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p></div>germandollshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09229067228251394252noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1944659047568738734.post-58054984608279678692018-07-24T04:00:00.003-07:002018-07-24T04:04:55.137-07:00Time Flies<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Well hello there. Who is the person in that photo? That's me. I am afraid it's an old one. Can't even remember when it was taken. Time flies by when you are having fun...</div>
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Where did 2018 go? I have not made a single post this year. Why? Well, there was that teaching job that kept me very busy. And then personal stuff. And more personal stuff. But I am hoping to be back now. </div>
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What shall I write about? Well, I still make Waldorf dolls. And I am hoping to keep making them. But I may also start talking about teaching German. Since that new job has been taking over my life slowly but surely. I love teaching. It's just a lot of work...</div>
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Sorry about the mess. I guess I should take a new photo. Maybe when I get brave enough to show "die alte Schachtel". Ha. Ich bin dieses Jahr 50 geworden. </div>
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Okay, so stop by often. And be prepared to read a little German - since that is my Muttersprache.</div>
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Auf Wiedersehen! Bis bald!</div>
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<br />germandollshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09229067228251394252noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1944659047568738734.post-15698996840890467172017-12-23T06:26:00.001-08:002017-12-23T06:30:33.096-08:00Hug a FriendYou leave the blog for just a couple of months and come back to find SPAM gallore. Ugh! Don't you hate it when people do that. Well, it's all cleaned up.<br />
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I suppose I should not have left my blog dormant for so long. What can I say? I just don't have to say much these days. Still teaching. Still trying to make some Waldorf dolls and sell them on Etsy. It's getting harder and harder though. My heart is sad because Etsy sales have been terrible this year. In fact, it's been my worst year ever. I am feeling quite discouraged at the moment.<br />
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2017 has not been good to me. Not only in terms of my little business. I am feeling quite depressed at the moment.<br />
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Why? A long time friend - 15+ years, godfather of my children, committed suicide on Wednesday December 13th. Despite the fact that he had been struggling with depression for many year, it still came as quite a shock to us. I can't help but feel that I am somehow guilty. We had not seen each other in quite a while - since our oldest boys both went off to college this summer. How did that happen? How is it that in this age of instant messaging, FB, Twitter, Facetime, we get so out of touch with people?<br />
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Call a friend today and tell them that you love them. Stay in touch - I mean really physically, go see your friend to make sure they are okay. And if your are reading this send some kind thoughts and healing prayers to my friend Kenny and his family.germandollshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09229067228251394252noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1944659047568738734.post-75657050431047661522017-02-02T07:22:00.002-08:002017-02-02T07:34:25.124-08:00Everything is AwesomeJanuary has been an awesome month for my Waldorf doll shop. My doll sales on Etsy have finally picked up again. I am so happy that I found homes for two of my big dolls. It is hard to let go of my babies but I am happy they have been adopted by a new family.<br />
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I also had a super month teaching. I love teaching German to 6th graders. It is hard to believe how one year can make such a difference. It appears that by 7th grade almost half the students suffer from severe "hormone poisoning" and cannot focus. One does not want to generalize - but it does seem that sixth grade students have much more respect for their teachers and have a residual sweetness about them lacking in the average 7th grade student.<br />
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Just a few days ago, I had a great teaching moment, when I happened to have my back turned away from the class. I hardly ever wanted to turn my back last year. As I was writing on the board, I heard a child say:" I love German class. I wish I could take it all year." That comment sure made my day.<br />
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Teaching foreign languages in the US is definitely a tall order. Many people don't seem to believe in the need of learning another language to begin with. A few people might actually see a need for Spanish because there are so many Spanish-speaking immigrants. But German? Why would you need that?<br />
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So we make lists of the whys and what-fors. The kids really like the idea of having a secret language to mystify their siblings. They also love the discovery of cognates. Why they had never thought that they already knew German and that is was so closely related to English. And as they are having lots of fun playing games they don't even know that they are learning stuff...<br />
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The weird thing about being a teacher in the US is having the watchful eyes of administrators on you. Just picture the Eye of Sauron. While I was growing up in Germany I never saw the principal come into the classroom to check if our teacher was doing a good job. Once you have been trained and have your teaching degree there are no tests or watchful eyes. Please, correct me if I am wrong.<br />
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Anyway, I find those "tests" very stressful and kind of scary. But I am sure that in the end it is beneficial, and this process may be helpful in weeding out teachers that are not very good at their job. But who knows. Well, I passed my "teaching test" this month with flying colors. So a little round of applause for this old lady rookie seems to be in order here!<br />
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<br />germandollshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09229067228251394252noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1944659047568738734.post-1414321390739530852017-01-08T05:35:00.002-08:002017-01-08T05:48:46.491-08:00Feeling InspiredI have been wanting to the see the movie <i>Life of Pi</i> forever. It's probably old hat to you if you are into movies. If not, you must see this movie. January is always such a hard month for me. It is dark and cold. In fact super cold right now. We had temperatures around negative 24 Celsius over here. You open the door and feel like your face is going to fall off. Then you realize you have to go out there and shovel snow. Brrr.<br />
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Anyway. I finally got to see the <i>Pi</i> movie. I suppose if I had to sum up in one word what it is about I would say: Hope. Yes, a perfect movie about that topic. So if you are feeling down and sad, see that movie!<br />
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imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Image result for life of pi" border="0" 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" 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Another good thing happened yesterday. I found a home for one of my little Waldorf doll babies. It is always such a joy and blessing when somebody adopts one of my babies. I was getting a little worried about this little freckled redhead. He is such a fine fellow. Well-behaved and quiet. Not sure why it took so long to find him a good home. I know redheads are a minority. Some folks are downright prejudiced against them. It is sad to me when I see kids in the classroom being discriminated against because of the color of their hair. Why? I don't get it. When I see red hair I get envious. Who wants to grow up with boring brown or dishwater blond hair?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBFrYROaWaq9p5oD5YkTUQQDoZ3jfcO-F_-9S5Nqaofjo2Dyua0Es9SrAQkLwvy1QmFIvbpcvTXLF0QRdIT138Q5nLUr53aF48Ulm-VOeE0syn_ip902MO9dcPX4GDO1VvGluQpRwNaAcM/s1600/012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBFrYROaWaq9p5oD5YkTUQQDoZ3jfcO-F_-9S5Nqaofjo2Dyua0Es9SrAQkLwvy1QmFIvbpcvTXLF0QRdIT138Q5nLUr53aF48Ulm-VOeE0syn_ip902MO9dcPX4GDO1VvGluQpRwNaAcM/s400/012.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
So please, be kind to people. And love them for who they are. Red hair, brown hair, dishwater blonde, or gray. I am turning gray. Please, don't discriminate against me because I am getting old!<br />
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And here are some great quotes from that movie:<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "roboto" , sans-serif; font-size: 17.5px;">"I had to stop hoping so much that a ship would rescue me. I should not count on outside help. Survival had to start with me. In my experience, a castaway's worst mistake is to hope too much and do too little. Survival starts by paying attention to what is close at hand and immediate. To look out with idle hope is tantamount to dreaming one's life away."</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "roboto" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 17.5px;">http://www.shmoop.com/life-of-pi/spirituality-quotes-2.html</span></span><br />
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“I suppose in the end, the whole of life becomes an act of letting go, but what always hurts the most is not taking a moment to say goodbye.” Yann Martel</h1>
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I think I will have to read some of Yann Martel's books now.</div>
germandollshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09229067228251394252noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1944659047568738734.post-12282154669785534512017-01-07T09:51:00.000-08:002017-01-07T09:52:29.014-08:00Happy New Year, Waldorf doll friends!Yup. I am still here making dolls. Still teaching German and I love both of my jobs.<br />
I totally abandoned blogging last year. I guess it is hard to find time and words these days. Like I have no words for what happened in politics and with the elections in the US. Just choking when I think of it.<br />
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I guess the best part about 2016 was that I got to go home and visit my family in Germany. There were lots of hugs and tears during the most fabulous of family reunions. And I got to visit my friends and "family" in Berlin. Lucky me!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyJbLDlOIMsaN11Vi9GGpxX_aORjsX5L_IER7Jq9Rw6VcBUBR6UxoyhslfHbT7hRHbviMx7ZBiQ-mu1uTXz2obXez9PYg5qBJNY4JI3lpd6nVz1WCIoNbFpYwIzKbNKxdHweRV7xVefJ40/s1600/IMG_4459.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyJbLDlOIMsaN11Vi9GGpxX_aORjsX5L_IER7Jq9Rw6VcBUBR6UxoyhslfHbT7hRHbviMx7ZBiQ-mu1uTXz2obXez9PYg5qBJNY4JI3lpd6nVz1WCIoNbFpYwIzKbNKxdHweRV7xVefJ40/s320/IMG_4459.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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Wishing all of you, my doll friends a Happy 2017. May you have health and happiness! I will try and find more words this year. Maybe even write something in German once in a while...<br />
<br />germandollshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09229067228251394252noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1944659047568738734.post-59201611582975354032016-09-20T12:49:00.001-07:002016-09-20T12:49:25.859-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Hello dear Waldorf dollfriends! Looks like another six months have gone by without me posting on my beloved blog. Who has time for blogging? Apparently not me. I just stopped by for old time's sake. If you see this post please leave me a note. Kind of like going to the beach and finding a bottle with a message in it.</div>
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Who are the people in the photo? They are my kids. They are almost grown up. Seems like yesterday when I made that first doll for my little girl. Now she is learning to drive. A - M - A - Z - I - N - G . How did that happen? </div>
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WoW!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoK9o7BVAXSLXhaDU-swklu1qnU-d8CaBZ8D4tkSkb70jTDRFm1Njlp3khD90__R2_9xVD3QfID4LDbpi-kehD4eWduPZ5hGvH0nQLJ5zsTl5imQzHcZFny0cM8vCyM4d49RjE0o3H9tHi/s1600/IMG_4035.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoK9o7BVAXSLXhaDU-swklu1qnU-d8CaBZ8D4tkSkb70jTDRFm1Njlp3khD90__R2_9xVD3QfID4LDbpi-kehD4eWduPZ5hGvH0nQLJ5zsTl5imQzHcZFny0cM8vCyM4d49RjE0o3H9tHi/s320/IMG_4035.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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I still enjoy teaching German. Being a teacher is so rewarding. I feel so honored to get the opportunity to introduce middle school kids to the German language. It's not an easy job. I come home and I am just exhausted. I found that standing in front of a classroom takes a whole lot of energy. More than I ever imagined. But it is all good. I love it. </div>
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On the days I am off I make some little dolls now and then. Over the summer I worked hard to fill up the shop with doll clothes and other little treasures so folks don't have to go without germandolls for Christmas. If you have time, please visit my shop and hopefully you will find something for a friend or kid who needs a hug or special price. </div>
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<br />germandollshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09229067228251394252noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1944659047568738734.post-67331009458669156362016-03-17T04:00:00.001-07:002016-03-17T04:06:25.515-07:00CloudsWe drove up to the mountains the other day. I was totally prepared to get all those wonderful photos of the snow covered Colorado peaks. Then we got out of the car in Estes Park. It was bitter cold. Next thing it started snowing on us. The only photos I took were pictures from the car. Here is the one I liked best. Who does not love a good picture of clouds?<br />
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One minute it snows here. The next you see the sun come out and the sky is bright blue. That pretty much describes my mood these days. In German we call that sort of mood: "Himmelhoch jauchzend - zu Tode betrübt". In translation that means something like: Shouting gleefully happy up to the sky and then deathly sad. Yup, that's me. Very moody these days.<br />
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My little Waldorf dolls and the bright smiles of children make me happy.<br />
Watching the news makes me sad.<br />
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So not digging the politics here. Who would seriously vote for that guy with the ugly comb-over? I mean really, folks, just from an aesthetic perspective? Never mind the politics that match his looks.<br />
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germandollshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09229067228251394252noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1944659047568738734.post-16640233836298950562016-03-16T08:03:00.003-07:002016-03-16T08:06:15.789-07:00Waldorf dolls for EasterThe picture below was taken by my friend Nicolette Bardos a couple years ago. All the Waldorf dolls in the photo have found loving good homes since then.<br />
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Looking at this sweet group makes me feel a bit melancholic. It's been a while since I made a big doll. I mostly make little pocket sized babies these days. Maybe this summer - I will find the time. Of course, there is always time for a little custom work if someone was to ask nicely.<br />
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Other than that I am trying to keep the doll studio organized and focus on little projects. Blanket dolls are always in demand since new babies are born all the time and need a soft doll to cuddle with. What is your favorite color? I am kind of partial towards this little green guy.<br />
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If you still need some Waldorf Easter basket fillers or small treats to tuck away for your Easter hunting, make sure to visit my Etsyshop. I recently lowered the price of my little pocket dolls. I need to make some space here - so please order some littles here:</div>
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germandollshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09229067228251394252noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1944659047568738734.post-65843792610647352732016-03-09T07:10:00.001-08:002016-03-09T07:10:22.690-08:00Yes, I am still here making Waldorf dolls!Just in case you wondered. I know it's been another long spell of not posting on my blog. What can I say in my defense? I love my new job. It does take a lot of energy to create a curriculum for teaching German. I have been writing and re-writing lesson plans, searching for materials, running to conferences and and and...<br />
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I am loving it all, and I am happy as a clam. I wish I had more time to think, process, and write about it. Some day. Maybe when the kids are off to college. But hey, it is almost spring break here.<br />
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The dolls have not been neglected either. When I am taking a break from teaching and grading I do sit down and make a tiny sweet Waldorf baby doll now and then. This will always be my other happy place. Just look at them at their little school desks! They are so excited about their German lessons. LOLgermandollshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09229067228251394252noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1944659047568738734.post-12878991457371311762015-12-31T12:01:00.002-08:002015-12-31T12:01:57.075-08:00Greetings from GermandollsSorry for not being around much this year. All I can say in my defense is that I have been consumed by my two jobs. My new one as German teacher and the old one as a Waldorf doll maker. I am not complaining. I have loved going on this new adventure while holding on to the joy of creating dolls with my hands. In fact, I think I have found the perfect recipe for finding happiness.<br />
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It's been a very exciting year and I very much look forward to what the new year will bring.<br />
I am ready for more teaching. And I am also anticipating the immense joy of bringing new doll babies into this world in the New Year. Hopefully I will be able to write some more posts on both topics (teaching and doll making) in 2016. If you don't see me here stop by my facebook, Instagram, or see my doll shop on Etsy.<br />
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2015 has been a wild ride up to the very end. Literally - since I managed to get into a car accident yesterday. Luckily I am fine and so is the other party involved. Please, remember to always pay attention to stop signs and be aware that others driving may not be doing so. Another thing I learned is that Iphones do not work when it's bitter cold outside.<br />
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So I remain wishing you a Happy & Safe New Year, my friends! Don't ever leave the house hugging your loved ones and telling them how much you care about them!<br />
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See you soon!<br />
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PS: My shop is packed with lovely Waldorf Valentines and Easter is just around the corner ...germandollshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09229067228251394252noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1944659047568738734.post-15972887706489697342015-07-24T14:21:00.003-07:002015-07-24T14:29:33.870-07:00Fleeting Summer DaysHave you missed me? If so I do apologize. I hope your summer has been as busy and fun filled as mine. If you are following me on Instagram maybe you saw the pictures of the vacation our family took. We flew to Boston and visited the Maine coastline for a week. It was beautiful and just the kind of vacation we all needed. So much to see there. Loved the Lobster roll and all the delicious seafood. We saw lots of lighthouses, stuck our feet in the Atlantic Ocean, feasted on all kinds of seafood, visited witchy museums, walked in the Pilgrim's footsteps and so much more. Maybe I did get a bit a carried away by the whole experience... upon commenting about wanting to retire in Maine various Facebook friends rained on my party, pointing out >how awful< the weather in North East was come winter time. Not suitable at all. Is that so? Any locals who would like to comment?<br />
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Anyways. It was a great vacation. I hope you got a chance get out this summer and see something new too. Maybe you want to share your list in the comments?<br />
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Though our vacation lasted only a little over a week I have not found the time to write a post about it. The dolls in my doll studio are glaring at me accusingly. Why are you ignoring us? Well, life is taking a new turn for me right now. I recently received my contract for my new job. I will be teaching German at a Middle School this fall. So since my return from vacation I have been consumed by planning German lessons for the students.<br />
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But dear fans of germandolls, don't worry! I will still be making and selling dolls. Just yesterday I finished this darling set of Waldorf angel baby dolls. It was fun to touch a needle and thread after all this time.<br />
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But here I am on my new journey as German teacher... So wish me luck I accomplish great things in that area too!germandollshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09229067228251394252noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1944659047568738734.post-50854235712820850802015-06-09T09:39:00.003-07:002015-06-09T09:54:12.973-07:00Do you Dance?I wish I had learned how to dance when I was a little girl. It was never part of my world. There were no dance studios for learning classical dance in the area where I lived, and even if there had been any, my parents would never have been able to afford it. When I was growing up, dancing was limited to a ballroom dance class you took when you were 14. The class was intended to give you an intro to couple dancing, so you would know how to waltz at your wedding. Other than that, you went to the Disko (dance club) on weekends and moved to the beats as best as you could. Hmm, I am glad there are no videos of me doing that. Since I lived in the German countryside, the nearest Disko was about an hour's drive away. It was called <i>Revolution Number 9</i>. Oh boy, did I get in trouble with my dad for sneaking out for an evening of dancing when I was 16...<br />
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I am definitely having a blast sending my girl to classical dance classes and watching her grow as a dancer. It is hard to believe that she has been dancing for 10 years. I am so very proud of her for being promoted to start Pointe this summer. She has worked so very hard all these years. It's tough going when one is not naturally gifted with a flexible body. I am sorry, baby! I wish I could have passed down that gene to you. I think, generally, Germans are stiff people and more suited to marching.<br />
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Three years ago I did take a dance class with some friends. It was a lot of fun but unfortunately I didn't last past my first recital. I mean, I am really glad I tried it. It took a lot of guts to get up on that stage and dance with the youngsters. I am definitely not blessed with that talent, and when you are older it's an even greater challenge...<br />
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Maybe down the road I'll try again. I saw this pair of red tap shoes in this year's recital. They really seemed to be calling to me: You need to dance again...We shall see. Have you ever tried dancing?<br />
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Other than that, it's been a rather slow start to the summer. We had to wait to plant our garden since it kept raining over here. We have enjoyed having fresh lettuce from the garden that we planted earlier in the spring. I hope you are enjoying the sun and time with your family - maybe even a trip somewhere nice?<br />
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<br />germandollshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09229067228251394252noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1944659047568738734.post-13099630038757069142015-05-29T03:54:00.001-07:002015-05-29T04:17:18.550-07:00Hello, Summer!May has been a crazy month for me. What is <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/203774035/waldorf-doll-waldorf-inspired-doll?ref=shop_home_active_1">a Waldorf doll</a>? Hmm, I forgot. The doll shop with sweet handmade dolls has been pretty much abandoned this month... Poor babies!<br />
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I could have spent every single day at school helping out as a substitute teacher. I ended up working around 15 days total. It has been a total eye-opener and makes you appreciate teachers so much more. Frankly, I don't know how folks do it when both spouses have a job? Who cooks dinner, does the laundry, picks up the house? In our household it appears that DH didn't mind the cooking part. He cooked us many a delicous dinner when I came home.<br />
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But laundry? Not much help there. Is it true that I am making a huge mistake by still doing my teenagers' laundry? At least that's what I am being told by the office staff at school. I suppose my thinking is: Soon enough they will move out and leave for college, and I will miss them so much. I may even miss those mountains of laundry... Sniff!<br />
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But for now summer is on, and we will enjoy every moment of it. Yesterday we went out and bought a board game to enjoy as a family. Who still plays board games? There must be folks since there is a thriving business in our otherwise dead downtown neighborhood, selling mostly boardgames and other nerdy items. Have you ever played <i>Settlers of Catan</i>? I have always wanted to since I heard a lot of good things about that game - AND how could one go wrong with a game MADE IN GERMANY?<br />
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We were finally able to turn our garden plots after the torrential rains stopped here. All of May was pretty much a muddy mess in these parts. But how can one complain? I, for one, love the rain. One rarely meets like minded people in this town. They are all miserable and grumpy while I happily skip over puddles. I think to myself, you just wait. Once the thermometer hits 100 you will think back and wish for a cloudy grey sky.<br />
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<a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/203774035/waldorf-doll-waldorf-inspired-doll?ref=shop_home_active_1"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7AOAZquN564MxcxOBh1lcCpIQQWv7tLEm9aO8SCafv19-8mJ5sFKQ2mDU1S5IT3tOR3AzTHy0DNCfcNqYGj0iA4fpfqf3DVxB6d0BOyWlJtFlz1mc-ZC7Bqn5ZgX6mzVvF27b_19095jQ/s640/wilhemina+stars+and+stripes.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Dolls? What are dolls? I have not had time to make any. I did take some photos of little<a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/203774035/waldorf-doll-waldorf-inspired-doll?ref=shop_home_active_1"> Wilhelmina</a> over here though. We agreed that she looks super cute in her patriotic outfit. I had to take the photos indoors. Once the ground dries up we will have to have a photo shoot outside...<br />
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Have a good summer or HAGS - as the kids write into yearbooks. Definitely an acronym I had never come across until I had kids in school in the US. Here I was thinking they were talking about old ladies. What about old ladies? Do you know how to say old lady in German? Alte Schachtel would be the equivalent. Well, take care and HAGS to you!germandollshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09229067228251394252noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1944659047568738734.post-44035587145255723132015-05-05T11:24:00.003-07:002015-05-05T11:29:43.205-07:00Gutes BuchFor Christmas this sweet friend of mine in Berlin sent me a box filled with German books. Danke, Nanette! Du bist ein Schatz! It's tough to get in some time for reading these days. As I get older, I find that I am much pickier and that it takes a sehr gutes Buch (very good book) to make me want to read. Especially since I am having a hard time staying up past nine pm in the evenings. At first I struggled with the novel <a href="http://www.new-books-in-german.com/english/835/298/96/129002/design1.html"><i>Die hellen Tage</i> </a>( Bright Days) by Zsuzsa Bank. I am glad I didn't give up on it. Now that I am half-way into the story, I have barely been able to put it down. I am not sure if it is available in English translation yet. But if you speak and read German you should definitely give this beautiful novel a try.<br />
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<a href="http://www.germandolls.etsy.com/"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsmbcl-cPgD7OaSstdyjJUC2Hqg1ND6_fw9z_KGFM09XA4fIw88TQyVGzYGl7oOFgjxkxeCWGNjSUczvh7IRpoe2g1nDEO3pPSE7XTD0Rr5Gs-ve8rAsF7PXHVc85Hoz_wEnlZOATWyWMX/s1600/die+hellen+tage.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
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Now the doll children are quite mad at me for not spending enough time with them. Little Miranda and her baby bunny commented that the book cover is all right. But personally, they would prefer it if I spent more time on finding them a good home... Dolls.<br />
Today it is overcast and the weather looks very much like German weather. In other words it is <i>the </i>perfect day for curling up in a chair with a good book and getting lost in the German language...germandollshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09229067228251394252noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1944659047568738734.post-86249244516505937422015-05-04T07:00:00.003-07:002015-05-05T11:25:25.701-07:00$1 Dress for your Waldorf DollMore fun coming your way this week. I made this cute artsy collage of one of my Waldorf doll dresses. I made it to fit my 10 - 12 inch Waldorf baby dolls. I love this romantic roses fabric. It's perfect for the dolls as it is getting warmer now. What do you think? If you would like to buy this cute doll jumper for only ONE Dollar please visit my <a href="https://www.facebook.com/GermanDolls?pnref=lhc">Facebook Fanpage</a> today and enter in the drawing! Don't forget to read the rules. You must follow all of them to be entered in the drawing.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1xfTyjeFrne8n6exnMEkimgKUC87sZxRY5NYQ5SyZECM6FyTG4XdxzOfbVKlxt0xfs62eHoY-lglVIZYReR-yp24MTNH-SAkFfiRzJQg1SsCeB6dnGALoiGmUh2nVE3xUum9_wgCaVl7C/s1600/$1+roses+jumper+giveaway.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1xfTyjeFrne8n6exnMEkimgKUC87sZxRY5NYQ5SyZECM6FyTG4XdxzOfbVKlxt0xfs62eHoY-lglVIZYReR-yp24MTNH-SAkFfiRzJQg1SsCeB6dnGALoiGmUh2nVE3xUum9_wgCaVl7C/s640/$1+roses+jumper+giveaway.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
I hope you have a great week! I am still a wee bit tired from last week. Why do the weekend seem so much shorter now that I am teaching?germandollshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09229067228251394252noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1944659047568738734.post-78283203184112611972015-05-03T15:27:00.000-07:002015-05-03T15:37:48.006-07:00German Almond BreadIf you are following me on<a href="https://instagram.com/germandolls/"> Instagram</a> you may have seen photos of this delicious German bread I have been baking.<br />
When I was growing up in Germany we always had a sweet treat for our Sunday morning breakfast. My mother or one of us girls would bake it on a Saturday afternoon. I believe it was a great tradition, and I have been trying to continue this tradition in my own family. It's a little piece of home that I was able to carry with my to America. The good thing about traditions is, that you can carry them in your head and heart, and they don't take up too much space in a suitcase...<br />
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So here is the recipe for the amazing almond bread.<br />
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Preheat oven to about 400 degree Fahrenheit<br />
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<b><u>ingredients:</u></b><br />
500 grams wheat flour<br />
2 tsp dry yeast<br />
50 grams sugar<br />
1/2 tsp salt<br />
2 eggs<br />
250 ml milk<br />
1 stick of butter (unsalted if you have it)<br />
200 grams almond flour<br />
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The original recipe asks for 100 of almond flour and 100 grams of skinned chopped almonds. But since I found these giant bags of almond flour and blanching, peeling, and chopping almonds is not my favorite thing to do, I just use almond flour.<br />
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<b><u>How to make it:</u></b><br />
Put milk in a small saucepan, add the stick of butter to milk, melt the butter on low temperature on stove top.<br />
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Mix all the ingredients together. You can knead it by hand but a Kitchen aid mixer with hooks will greatly simplify this task.<br />
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You may want to add a bit more flour if the dough is very sticky.<br />
Cover with a towel and let the dough rise for about an hour or until it has visibly increased in size.<br />
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Knead the dough and braid it or twist it into a pretty knot. Brush with milk. Bake at about 400 degree Fahrenheit in preheated oven.<br />
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Do you know how to say breakfast in German? It is called Frϋhstϋck. I hope you have time next weekend to bake this treat for your family! It is wonderful sliced and slathered with some homemade jam, Nutella, or just some butter.<br />
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germandollshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09229067228251394252noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1944659047568738734.post-85125408039866617002015-05-01T04:32:00.000-07:002015-05-01T04:34:39.309-07:00Win this Doll!Remember<a href="http://love%20for%20alex/"> Agnes</a>? She is the sweet little doll in the surgeon outfit I made for the fundraiser to help out dollmaker Alexandra Boyle.<br />
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Today you will get another chance to win her in an auction on Hyena cart! It's a wonderful website. If you have never visited please do sign up today! Bidding on my doll starts at ZERO. So if you have been ogling my dolls for a while but not able to afford one<a href="http://hyenacart.com/stores/dollectable/"> THIS IS YOUR CHANCE</a> to own this wonderful doll! Agnes was made with tons of love and will bring many hours of fun play time to a child.<br />
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<a href="http://hyenacart.com/stores/dollectable/"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWb3VS_kzw_QbEq6c_k8AAlZoDhaDVI1klIefabW-ZbzKCUoYis7qYHJV3Ry0g1era4yXGIvC0WyjPh67nbvy4_qenwKHCREU9PcRSycZ9QSRX7UOtCF25p-uumHZRB9vm9REZgyJyT3ey/s1600/ad+for+love+for+alex.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />germandollshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09229067228251394252noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1944659047568738734.post-63296658276587757922015-04-30T12:00:00.003-07:002015-04-30T12:04:40.467-07:00German Teacher - DeutschlehrerWho is the German teacher? That would be me this week. I had the privilege of substitute teaching German at high school this week. I had a blast! I snapped a few photos of the classroom as proof for you. Oh boy, was I nervous about the whole affair. I mean really. It's my mother tongue. And after utterly failing at substitute teaching some math classes I should have felt great about this. But I was afraid of the high expectations that came with the subject. Turned out the kids really liked me. I talked about the German education system with the first year German students. The older students were excited to hear about what it was like to grow up in Germany - including my story about the fall of the Berlin Wall...<br />
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I had so much fun. But I am pretty tired. How do these teachers do it every day? When I get home I am just plain exhausted and want to fall asleep on the couch. But then the house does not pick up itself, nor do the dishes do themselves, and let's not even mention the pile of laundry in the basement. I suppose that is what weekends are for.<br />
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Well, wish me luck! The way it looks there is more teaching German in my future... I am happy! Really happy! I mean I miss my sewing machine and the dolls. But I feel that this is a wonderful opportunity for me.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWNq35L2RLcROzdFjIg-KOoOGF9JqSAN2-zGrX-bl4sEDqmq2j105mj8mcoXJMLvCDN_Mw3lnKkJhZVCblxv-cSBvmCfpjF7IyrBy8JeIsS2eSb5ggSn2_F7wRwZoXQPuc1Ptowt8H3Dlx/s1600/miranda+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWNq35L2RLcROzdFjIg-KOoOGF9JqSAN2-zGrX-bl4sEDqmq2j105mj8mcoXJMLvCDN_Mw3lnKkJhZVCblxv-cSBvmCfpjF7IyrBy8JeIsS2eSb5ggSn2_F7wRwZoXQPuc1Ptowt8H3Dlx/s1600/miranda+3.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
Some of the kids I teach are a bit loud and rascally like little Miranda here. But I am sure that in no time I will figure out the ins and outs of class room management. If you are a teacher and reading this post of mine, maybe you can give me some pointers.germandollshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09229067228251394252noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1944659047568738734.post-4495585177727262572015-04-20T07:15:00.000-07:002015-04-20T07:21:16.537-07:00Earth Day GiveawayLet's get the week off to a good start with a Monday Morning Give-away for one of my Pocket Dolls! If you would like to enter, please visit my<a href="https://www.facebook.com/GermanDolls?ref=bookmarks"> Facebook fan page </a>and follow the rules stated below.<br />
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Z8OXeHnWmYrfUR_jizz3f9wfptTCJMPNqlXTaonrp2x-TCf9Ub81ujoAT7k25Fi9gRVVknUOJfU-ckTs12raa-K9FK2RW1wDDTSM4olmxMn-PhCKRJyt7oiYOZ5fZjYxvNm2jCVE6w7s/s1600/Monday+Giveaway.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></div>
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What to do to enter?<br />
1) Be a fan of my page<br />
2)like the picture and comment<br />
3) Do something nice for the planet & tell us what you did! For Example: Save Energy by Hanging your laundry instead using a dryer<br />
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Winner will pay $1 & shipping to receive the little doll & blanket in photo. I will pick the winner from comments & announce Winner Wednesday Evening 9pm. Winner must claim price within 24 hours of announcement or I will pick another person.<br />
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*This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook.*<br />
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germandollshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09229067228251394252noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1944659047568738734.post-63806314312061228332015-04-16T11:08:00.003-07:002015-04-16T11:13:51.033-07:00Social MediaWhat is your favorite Social Media? Do you have a Facebook page, Pinterest, twitter, and tumblr accounts? I have to say, I really love Instagram. I know I said it a couple of posts ago but I have to say it again: It is so much fun to connect with people through photos. I love how you put out one photo of a little Waldorf doll with a short comment and immediately you get tons of likes and sweet comments from folks all over the world. So if you don't see me over here on my blog, you may have more luck finding me on Instagram.<br />
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If you want to join in the Instagram fun though, I highly recommend getting an iPhone! My old dinosaur of a phone broke down a couple of weeks ago. It was time for a change. At first, it was tough having to ask the kids constantly to help me with my new phone. Funny how in the modern age the tables have been turned, and the kids become our teachers. I was very grateful when my daughter helped me set up my first Instagram Giveaway. And I am really of proud that I will be able to handle the next one all by myself. Hint, hint... My 600 followers Giveaway is coming up soon!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM1cNSN8NAir2uj5Kc3R1gcL5nmK_iNgDzzs8-CzL6exdBDgXsNCauWRZtvRCOm9RoNFnMp4wEFmmXsjdlgh2YiXjfA_wwDhtR-R_4ZFPHWLMsdV-33FuU-UnTTbehXCJ0Luo8ffsEoFVn/s1600/bathrobe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM1cNSN8NAir2uj5Kc3R1gcL5nmK_iNgDzzs8-CzL6exdBDgXsNCauWRZtvRCOm9RoNFnMp4wEFmmXsjdlgh2YiXjfA_wwDhtR-R_4ZFPHWLMsdV-33FuU-UnTTbehXCJ0Luo8ffsEoFVn/s1600/bathrobe.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
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I am so behind when it comes to technology, not just because of my age, but also because of having grown up in Germany. When I came to the US as an exchange student in the 1990s, I could not believe that one could actually look up books in a computer data base. At the library of the John F. Kennedy institute in Berlin looking up books for a research paper consumed hours. Libraries in Berlin had these chests with wooden drawers filled with index cards. You had to go through index cards manually to see if a book was available. Back then, I typed all my papers on an electric typewriter (which I thought was advanced) my sister had brought back from a trip to China.<br />
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Oh well, the good old days are over. Life is fast and furious. I hope you are enjoying some lovely spring weather. I did, until this morning, when it started sleeting outside, and I had to go save our lettuce beds from the icy assault. See you on Instagram!<br />
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<br />germandollshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09229067228251394252noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1944659047568738734.post-50082138313637345072015-04-12T08:02:00.003-07:002015-04-12T08:04:22.976-07:00Auction for Alex Today is the day you can bid on the surgeon doll I made for the <a href="http://hyenacart.com/LoveforAlex/st/7934/39642/12-Surgeon-Doll-by-germandolls-">Love For Alex auction</a>. Please help raise funds for Alex' family.<br />
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The doll I am selling on behalf of Alex is called Agnes. She is 12 inches tall and has dark skin color. She will come to the winner of the auction in her sweet surgeon outfit plus another set of clothes for when she is off duty...<br />
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<a href="http://hyenacart.com/LoveforAlex/st/7934/39642/12-Surgeon-Doll-by-germandolls-"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ5kGe5V-XoI1YXK_l8t9QREj0wpcK1bkhADGJhnPIWLpbfSQbJ6W1gugJmNptZCXK0_UiR8s5eqbd4PmY4cB6_FO47I2gxwhcc9hJCP1cZMUYEkbYaJoyYYxblphL20Qoqd2_M8ZWEIC8/s1600/surgeon+doll+sitting.jpg" height="640" width="616" /></a></div>
Happy Bidding!germandollshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09229067228251394252noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1944659047568738734.post-50355676751919805552015-04-10T03:35:00.000-07:002015-04-10T03:39:41.526-07:00Pink Bathrobe for Waldorf DollsI had a very productive day yesterday indeed. I had bought a small piece of pink terrycloth fabric for another project a while ago. I think it was meant to be turned into a pink bunny toy or something along those lines. Now I felt guilty because you should not buy materials and not use them. Especially if your house is small and you don't have unlimited resources of funds either. So I brought said material up from a tote in the basement. Now it sat on a chair and was looking at me accusingly for a number of days. Why did you buy me?<br />
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Then I had a really good idea. Why not make a doll bathrobe for my Waldorf dolls. I have been wanting to make a bathrobe for dolls for a long time. My daughter's doll Arissa said it too. Being a very messy child she needs a lot of baths...<br />
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So I drew a sketch. Yay! Probably not my greatest work. But it took only about a minute to appear on this scratch piece of paper.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTl5CZFah6Otb5VWia_3Nm5d-AjIZFrJ-nLckvbim5j44UriU0hgjh98uyxCzi1LeZu5w-fPifepgJusAOGw2XsWpRJ7IpfdBUSrh37xgXBS70vUASW5Xa9AoAJYL6kd_Eu0pRDX9QH6fy/s1600/sketch+for+doll+bathrobe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTl5CZFah6Otb5VWia_3Nm5d-AjIZFrJ-nLckvbim5j44UriU0hgjh98uyxCzi1LeZu5w-fPifepgJusAOGw2XsWpRJ7IpfdBUSrh37xgXBS70vUASW5Xa9AoAJYL6kd_Eu0pRDX9QH6fy/s1600/sketch+for+doll+bathrobe.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
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Next I cut out the pieces of the robe and stitched them loosely together. I have to say, the neckline took a while to figure out. I ended up having to drag my daughter's bathroom downstairs and check how it was constructed. I am glad I was able to figure it out.<br />
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I get so excited when I design a new piece of clothing. It's so much fun to figure out the little details. Ever noticed those little loops on a bathrobe where the belt goes? Why just put one pocket? Well, since the bathrobe usually overlaps in the front you could never use the second pocket anyways.<br />
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Creating the belt and loops was a challenge. But no robe can be without them. You surely don't want your doll to end up in a compromising sort of situation...<br />
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<a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/229346485/waldorf-doll-bathrobe-germandolls-pink?ref=shop_home_active_1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyL9iH98aFJultBXaIrHyl6jABDEjlKbUSV_otVWipODHj7v9I8rM4FokeS-mqaHrFpE8_uFNAKge5_EWP8Ix5HX_08MiH3EmEGL1USLrhMbS_lBbeBL24hy42SDTnINQgusmH1RztoCd4/s1600/doll+bathrobe+1.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
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Since my frugal ways have led me to buy fabric in very small quantities, (I hope my husband is reading this) there was just enough fabric to make a second robe. I thought about putting the robe on one of my finished dolls but then decided to list the robe solo in my shop. So if your doll needs a bathrobe please buy it quick - before I change my mind and put it back on another doll that demands a bathrobe.<br />
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May your day today be as productive and fun as mine was yesterday!<br />
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By the way, do you know that the German word for bathrobe is actually very similar to the English word? It is Bademantel. Or in direct translation that would be: bathing coat. Makes perfect sense, right?<br />
<br />germandollshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09229067228251394252noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1944659047568738734.post-90230066013618389772015-04-09T05:02:00.001-07:002015-04-09T08:36:32.174-07:00Love For AlexToday I want to share with you about my friend Alexandra Boyle. She is a dollmaker who lives in South Africa. Her business is called <a href="https://www.facebook.com/angeliqueangels?fref=ts&ref=br_tf">Angelique's Angels</a>. In March of this year Alexandra was diagnosed with a brain tumor. You know, I have never met Alex. It's kind of a weird thing - this age of the Internet. You make friends you will most likely never meet or see in real life. Many of my Internet friends are friends I have made through my art - customers and other dollmakers. This business of being friends with someone you don't<b><i> really</i></b> know is often a bit strange.<br />
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Some of my customers I have known a great number years. I have seen their children grow up on Facebook. I feel like they are family to me... But then there is the weird money thing. We got to know each other because they bought a doll or two from me. My customers support me and are devoted to the success of my business. I love them so much I just want to give them everything for free. Those friendships are beautiful but still complicated.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii_yHIaDO2NSapVnMZv4pgPox8HMv_VDDdl1PmoUNOObOcF0CZCiVxgY8Nn64OAuHFZv3FkAzFCJOpJtoG1R6NYGVd34gfB1S0jtVG7-VyPvgw9r2k5LOkFYG571SopY3ti4DIqmmJYqFL/s1600/bed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii_yHIaDO2NSapVnMZv4pgPox8HMv_VDDdl1PmoUNOObOcF0CZCiVxgY8Nn64OAuHFZv3FkAzFCJOpJtoG1R6NYGVd34gfB1S0jtVG7-VyPvgw9r2k5LOkFYG571SopY3ti4DIqmmJYqFL/s1600/bed.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
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Then there are the friendships with other dollmakers around the globe. Many of these dollmakers I have known for years. We have met in various sellers' groups or touched base in different selling venues. We have followed and admired each others work. I often wonder what it would be like if we actually got together in a room and had a day of sewing together? How much fun it would be to visit each other's studio and share the excitement about our work! BUT then there is another side. How can you be friends with someone you are in direct competition with? You admire and adore their body of work yet at the same time you may suffer from pangs of jealousy at times. Also there is the problem of copying. Is it imagined or real? Where does the fine line between copying and being inspired start or end? It's complicated...How do you deal with negative emotions you have?<br />
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0W6K-jskfMrS28NeqoxiS7oo_cacl1UsGpsb0ZgavnNVyjtoE1KP6gRVI7bLcP_NsDrwvxFP7_oZVKhHH2Hknk0SvXdBHo8NjxfBMy2Ri_9Xpv2acqbRawLJ-ycoUanLIr18TYs7aJrMi/s1600/doctor+agnes.jpg" height="640" width="640" /><a href="http://hyenacart.com/LoveforAlex/st/7934/39642/12-Surgeon-Doll-by-germandolls-">http://hyenacart.com/LoveforAlex/st/7934/39642/12-Surgeon-Doll-by-germandolls-</a></div>
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This year I had an epiphany of sorts. I decided to stop worrying about these things any more. It's been much easier since I got another job as a teacher. Don't get me wrong, the dolls are still really important and I try to get in a few stitches every day. But it's been very liberating to have another source of income and not worrying about selling or not selling my work. Now I am able to just go into my studio with a happy heart and sew for the fun of it.<br />
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This whole situation with Alexandra has brought life even more into perspective for me. It's been absolutely amazing to me to see the community of dollmakers around the world come together to help out a friend on the other side of the world. To see the outpouring of love by so many people for someone they have never met in real life. A Facebook page was created where a multitude of dollmakers meet and share contributions and donations to help Alex. It has made me so happy and glad to be part of this community of totally amazing women and doll artists.<br />
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Each day I look with great joy at the wonderful collection of natural dolls and handmade doll clothes that people have brought as offerings to the<a href="http://hyenacart.com/stores/LoveforAlex/"> Love For Alex </a>site. I am praying for Alex's healing, and I want to thank her for healing me by bringing us closer as a group of doll making friends - connected through our love for handmade dolls.<br />
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Please visit our<a href="http://hyenacart.com/stores/LoveforAlex/"> fundraiser site </a>and consider bidding on any of the miraculous dolls and sweet doll creations.<br />
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<br />germandollshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09229067228251394252noreply@blogger.com0