Odd Dotty Dollymaker

Where I have been and am...mentally

The weekend before last, the family and I went to opening day of  the Bristol Renaissance Faire. It was so much stinkin' fun! The life! The life is back in Bristol. At least, in my opinion. For the past couple of years or so, the faire just seemed to be lacking something, and it got worse each year. There were less and less street performers, less and less of the cast interacted with you, and more and more of the same type of shops were popping up. It really didn't make it worth making the trek up more than once a season for us. But, still, the love for the faire runs deep in our blood and the opportunity to go on a beautiful weekend when tickets were on sale and the kids were free was just too tempting to pass up. And so, up we went. We were quick to discover one of our most favorite street performers was back! And then another group that was missing the year before! And the interaction from the cast of characters? Well, that one still needs a little work...but! We were happy to take what we could get!

The camera ran out of batteries mid morning, so we didn't ge as many pictures as we wanted, however we got a few good ones.

Like this one. This one is my favorite. It's of the girl checking off one of her goals for the year; doing the bungee jump at faire.

Look at the pure joy written all over her face! Love it!

And the fairies are back. We love the fairies. This one is so cool, she spins a web between the trees. It's really quite impressive.

And, here's a shot of the kids in one of the play areas.

Our main purpose for going to the faire that day was to find some interesting decor for the house. Unfortunately, the shops still seem to be lacking in individuality. Well, that's not really fair to say. There are the old stand bys that we like to visit. But, it really seems like every other shop is either a jewelry shop or an incense shop of some sort. Which I guess is fine if you are in the market for that kind of stuff. We are not.

However! We did find a couple of interesting and new shops.  Well, really one one that we are very excited about. It's called Hodgepot's Garden Oddities. You know I had to stop in a shop that claims to sell oddities. And, oh my goodness, are they ever cute!! Here is the website, Gobbledygook Decor, that you can buy from if you don't make it to Bristol.

We managed after much deliberation to finally decide on this lil' garlic guy;

Look at that punam! How could we NOT choose him!

I think he's happy here, he seems to be quite taken with our lemon.

I don't have the heart to tell him that Ms. Lemon won't be with us for quite as long as he will.

We are planning on heading back up to the Faire next weekend. This time, in garb. Which I have to make. Like right now. So. Why am I still at the computer? Augh! I will be back. Promise!

Sickly McSickums

As if it is not bad enough that this is one of the coldest, snowiest and sunless Februaries we have had in a long time...our entire family is sick and on antibiotics. This is a very common sight in the house right now.

 

One of the worst things about parenting is seeing your children sick and miserable. Especially when you know there isn't much you can do about it. Except pray. Which is what I found myself doing most of last night. For my children, and for the husband. Remember this post? More specifically the part where I talked briefly about the night I never ever want to repeat again? I was afraid last night that I would have to do just that. And because it was the middle of the night, my mind was all scatter brained and random and I was having an incredibly difficult time praying and not worrying. Songs would pop into my head that I didn't really want to hear, Scripture was getting all muddled and I couldn't remember a verse that had brought me so much comfort months before, and I just felt downright attacked and almost as if I was fighting for my life.

It sounds dramatic, I know. But you know how things are so much more heightened in the wee hours of the night? You wake up sick, and you are sure this is it. This is the end for you. Or there's that awful nightmare that pulls you from your sleep all sweaty and with a pounding heart only to sound laughable when retelling it in the broad light of day. And what was that noise? Surely there is a serial rapist or killer in your house...wait no, that's just the dryer flap flapping because it is so stinkin' windy round these parts. You know, that type of thing.

Anyway, around 4:30am the Lord finally gave me some peace and I was able to get back to sleep. It was actually pretty amazing. As I said, my brain was a mess. I couldn't hold a thought or prayer in my head, just some stupid songs...when finally a Scripture verse broke through. A complete one that wasn't all muddled up. And instantly I had peace. And the very strange thing is, I don't remember which one it was. But I am thankful for it, let me tell you!

So, last night is over and we all survived. Most of us are still pretty miserable. But we are all on the mend. However, the plans for Valentine's Day have been canceled, which makes me a little sad as this was the first one that I had planned to take the husband out on a date. But, it's okay. We are still alive, right? Right?

Actually, it hasn't been all bad around here. The good thing about being forced to slow down and rest is that I have had a chance to do some small craftings, and thinkings and discover some new to me blogs that I love! Like this one, and this one, and this one, oh and this one, and let's not forget this one, or this one!

I love finding new blogs to read! Especially when they teach to make fun little crafts like this knitted bunny, who is looking out at the snow covered ground and wishing for spring just like me.

I first found this project at greetingarts, who linked to the tutorial here. Can you believe that is made from just a knitted square? So easy and so fun! Next time I am going to use a lighter color yarn so I can add some eyes. Also, I didn't have a pom pom to use for the tail, but I kind of like it without too.

I also made some more coasters just because they are a quick project and fun to make.

I am not exactly sure how to segue into this so I will just do it. I totally have Ren Fever at the moment. I am not entirely sure why, but I do. I have it. Pretty bad. The only cure? More cowbell.

That or ask the husband to redesign my Odd Dotty costume. I wanted something with a skirt, because I was mistaken for a courtesan one too many times at Faire last year. Which, for those of you who may not be aware, is a hooker. To be quite blunt. And, frankly, a hooker is not something I want to be mistaken as. So. A new design was needed, and I love the vision that the husband has, and so it seemed only right that I ask him to redesign her. Here is what he came up with.

I LOVE it! The only thing I am not that keen on is the top hat. And I may make the skirt close in the front, because you know...the whole hooker thing. But we will see if I can even pull this garb off. I am excited for the challenge, but nervous as well. I have never made a doublet before, and  I have heard tell that they are a bit on the tricky side. So, I think it is good that I have the fever this early in the year. It gives me time to take this project slow and allows me to make mistakes that can be corrected before the Faire season starts.

In other news? I have decided after reading this post, that it's time for me to get serious about opening my etsy shop. This is something that I have been thinking about for a while now, but have gone back and forth on. I don't know if I am talented enough to supply a shop with items that others would actually buy. I seriously question my ability with this. But, I will never know if I don't try right? So...here goes. I plan on having a grand opening this coming April 1st. It seems a fitting day to open, as it can be an odd day and I am Odd Dotty. This also gives me about five weeks to pull some things together to sell, and it will  make me take it more seriously and treat it as a business not just a hobby.

Whew! I'm glad I got that off my chest! There is something else I need to get off my chest here. This video makes me laugh so hard that I cry. Every time. Does this make me a bad person?

And now back to your regularly scheduled program...

First of all, let me say thank you! Thank you to all of you who sent encouraging words, thoughts and prayers! I am feeling much better. The Lord has shown Himself, once again, to be full of grace and mercy when dealing with me and He has given me a strength I never knew I had. So. Now things should be closer to normal around here, whatever that may be.

Since my last post, several things have happened. I went to the Renaissance Faire, had a birthday, made a dolly and said good-bye to one of my best friends as she moved back to California. That last one? That sucked! It still does. But she will always be my best friend, no matter where she lives. I love you, Melissa! If you ever get around to reading my site. Well, I guess I still love you even if you don't get around to reading my site. I guess.

Just to warn you I am feeling very picture posting happy today, so get ready for some gratuitous photo sharing.

Okay. Now then. As part of my birthday celebration, the family and I went to the Faire with another one of my best friends. This one isn't moving though. Unless there is something she's not telling me.......Jessi?

So, here is the cast of characters in order of appearance:

The husband, as Rhaiven Loch.

The manservant as Flintlock Blunderbuss (I hope I spelled that right).

Jessi as Rosemary Cardamom.

The dad, called Popi, as himself.

The girl as a gypsy.

The other girl that belongs to Flintlock and Rosemary, sometimes called Bug, as Fair Maiden Brownie.

And yours truly as *gasp* Odd Dotty Dollymaker.

With special guest appearances by my friend Debbie, as herself.

And our friend, John as...John. The Pirate.

Much fun ensued, although the weather was very odd. I was actually chilly! At Faire! That has never happened to me before at Bristol. Usually, I am drinking copious amounts of fluids in order to stay hydrated so as not to faint and/or die from heat.

Now some of you may have noticed a severe lack of pictures of the boy. We had planned on taking him with us, but the friend that moved? She offered to watch him for the day so that he could spend one last day with his future wife. Here is a picture of all of us after the Faire. His fiance is the one with the pink shirt. Either that, or it's her little sister, but those are his choices we've decided. It's just easier this way.

Did you see her? That woman up there? That's the friend that moved away. Well, as a going away gift, I decided to give her the dolly that I was making in the previous post. So I finished her up, made a messenger bag for her and filled it with little mementos. She was named Piper. Here she is.

Here you can see her ponytail a little better. I have decided that this is what I would look like if I lived in California.

Here is the bag open with the lining showing.

And the goodies that are inside it.

And, finally, here is Piper on the porch ready to start her new life in Cali.

That's it for now. Thanks for watching and tune in next time as I explore what life is like as a 33 year old!

Odd beginnings

You may or may not have realized already that my name really isn't Dotty.  Odd Dotty is a character that I came up with for the Ren Faire.

I love the Faire, and have been going since I was eighteen...wow, THAT was a long time ago! So, when I first started learning how to sew it was mainly to be able to make some garb to wear there. The problem is that I am certainly my worst critic and have never been truly happy with anything that I have put together. When I first started trying my hand in historical costume, I was determined to make it look as historically accurate as possible. The result? I hated what came out and didn't enjoy my time either in the costume or at Faire. The other problem? I didn't enjoy that I didn't enjoy my time at the Faire. So, I had to let some deep seeded belief that I could only be allowed at Faire in a historically accurate costume go. It was hard, and I still struggle with it... and the thinking that what other people think of my costume should matter all that much.  I really do plan on making a truly historical costume some day, but for now I need to just let myself have fun.

SO! One fine spring afternoon, after I had just returned from the library with a book on how to make cloth dolls...my neighbor and one of my best friends ( hi Jessi!) and I were looking through it and discussing the upcoming Faire season. Since I had always wanted to learn how to make dolls, somehow the idea came about that a dollymaker who makes odd and wonky dollies would be a fun character to be. And then, I thought of the name Odd Dotty because it kind of sounds like oddity and that, my friends, is how Odd Dotty Dollymaker was born. She is fun, upbeat and, of course, a little odd.

The next thing to do was to design a costume and then make it.  The husband helped me design it. There really isn't anything accurately historical about it, but I have to tell you that this past season was the first time I was happy with my garb and it was very freeing to be able to let go of the imaginary restraints that I had put on myself regarding what I could and couldn't wear. AND! You know what? You know what? It was also the first time anyone has ever come up to me to compliment me on my costume! So there! You imaginary costume nazis living in mine head! Away with thee! I bid you good day!

Here am I as Odd Dotty and the husband as Raven this past summer.

And LOOK, do you see Othello in my pouch there? He was so excited to make it to Faire! And I was excited to have him there. I love that stinkin' dolly.