Restoration is my Vocation

 I guess when spring arrives it is time for renewal. For me it means going over the many projects that have crossed my desk in between foster kittens, missing persons, farming and quilting. Restoration is a joy for me. It is like finding what is broken or missing in a puzzle. And then making it whole again after making new pieces.

vestments

 a precious gift from a lost friend

lost beads

making them strong again

restoring the beaten and neglected

restoring a happy memory again

face lifts for the forgotten heirloom

Yup this is what I do in between farming, quilting, raising animals and life in the Ozarks. It is so nice to put something beautiful back into someones life again. 

2019 Doll Projects

There are a ton of handmade dolls thanks to the internet. I am amazed and in love with all the ideas I have seen. So much talent out there.

Who does not love an angry Cephalopod?

How about these?

Gonna make one of these for my sofa. This is just too much fun.

I am restoring this handmade Japanese doll. I love her details, costume and hair.

Raggedy Repair

I was asked if I restore old dolls recently. I restore many things from machines, wood, cloth, bone  and leather. If it is broken I can fix most things, just not people. One thing about dolls is there is a lot of love in that object. Most want their doll back to the original but that does not happen in my price range and I refer them to a preservationist. But I can clean, sew and refurbish most things. I have sewn dolls and made clothes for many dolls. This Ann is the largest one I will work on. I had no idea there were so many kinds of Ann & Andy dolls in so many sizes. Most are well loved and it shows. The good news is that there are many out there for parts, parts still made and patterns available. I never owned an Ann, I had a large Snoopy doll I drug around and slept on. It is only a memory. But once in a while I get to work on someones woobie or toy companion. And I get to be Geppetto for a little while in my studio.