Shop Hoppin in Rockford, MI

Hello dollmakers!  We are taking a break from dollmaking (shhh, don't tell the  dolls!) for 4 weeks in honor of the annual fall shop hop around West Michgan fabric stores.  Today my eldest daughter and I made a trek into Rockford, MI to visit the Rockford shoe outlet. Wow, so many nice shoes and things there. I found a nice zip bag for shopping at an outlet price :)



Since we were there in Rockford, we decide to have a look around and WOW we found this really cool olive oil and balsamic vinegar spot.  I never knew they had dark chocolate balsamic vinegar (I got a bottle of that).  And so many interesting oilive oils.   They do have a website and I think I will go back and do some Christmas shopping there. They had some nice gift bags with four or six bottles that I figure would be very nice for gifts. http://www.oldworldolivepress.com  or click on the title of this post.

I got a couple of sampler sets (so I could try all those very delicious oils at home).  There are samplers in mid sized bottles or small bottles.


Some of the very tasty combos are:              
 (EVOO = Extra Virgin Olive Oil, BV=Balsamic Vinegar)
Blood Orange EVOO and dark chocolate BV
Basil EVOO and Sicilian Lemon BV
Wild mushroom and Sage EVOO and 18year aged traditional BV

YUM YUM! I'm making myself a salad for din din and then I am going to take a good look at a knitting pattern I bought at the yarn shop in town. A very nice lady helped me find a nice sweater pattern that you can use up scraps to make and it shows sizing for kids and adults.  And you knit it in once piece and sew one seam and it's done. Sounds like it's right up my alley.  http://www.therockfordnetwork.com/rockford-mi-180-J.T.-Stitchery-and-Frame-Shop.htm

I was hoping to get into the rug hooking spot, but it looks like they are closing and moving to another location, so we didn't get in there. But oh well, sounds like a good reason for going back to Rockford! 

Well, the EVOO and BV in the pantry is calling my name, so off I go to the kitchen - have some fun today (even if it isn't doll fun).
Bon Appitit! - Julie

Third Generation Doll maker

Hello Dollmakers!  Here's what happens when you can't find some one to mind the little one while you make dolls: you give the next generation doll maker a start!

My middle daughter Hazel is entering a Hitty doll in a work sponsored art contest.  Here she is painting the skin color on a Hitty head and limbs. Of course her little one Kristin wants in on the painting fun and did a pretty good job considering she is only two.

Hitty is a fun doll to make. She is only 6.5 inches tall, but has a big personality!  We made her a room box and some medical office items like a miniature stethoscope and knee banger (ok, go ahead a laugh! I don't know the medical term for that knee banger thingie).  We found some very small bottles with cork stoppers and made some tiny cotton balls, cotton swabs, and tongue depressors for them.  Hitty also has a table and chair, a coat rack, a file box with patient files, and she even has a framed medical degree! 

She is now residing at Hazel's work and the company employees voted on Friday. I hear we have some pretty good competition at the art show.  We will hear on Monday how she fared.  If she wins the competition, she will have another adventure to a medical convention.
Good luck Hitty!   

Have some doll fun today - we sure did!  Here are a few of the fun places we visitied in cyber space while making Hitty and her room box:
www.gailwilsondesigns.com   for the Hitty parts
http://www.printmini.com/printables/   mini printables
http://www.hittyprintmini.julieoldcrow.com/  more mini printables
and thanks to them for sharing their Hitty treasures!