I lost my groove there for a few days, and I was beginning to wonder if I was going to get it back.
Thank God for friends in need.
Last night my friend, Helen Weels, was here.
We got started on something which I hope to show you soon.
She was telling me that she is about to wrap up another Bible study session (she leads them) and has been pondering what to give to the women when they finish.
She likes to make something for them as a visual reminder of the study.
When she started on this topic last night, I just grabbed her arm and said, "Let's go dig around in the studio and talk about this."
The women are finishing a study of (queen) Esther.
My first thought was a queen paper doll.
I pulled the file I've kept from the class I used to teach at the rubber-stamp art shop.
It's gotten lot's of use because I love to make paper dolls.
When I taught the classes, we started with a plain cardstock pattern.
And, because it was an art rubber stamp store, I used rubber stamps and ink to decorate them, plus a few little doodads and ribbon for accessories.
Each of the dolls had a theme, and I tried to make the hair for them using a rubber stamp.
I never could decide if I had more fun making them or naming them.
The first one I ever made was "Emily Post".
"Espressa Latte" came next, and was my favorite for quite awhile.
Maybe it was the coffee bean hair.
"Miss Layta Ghen" was quite a bit of work, with all her little jump-ring skirt jingles and shrink art jewelry.
She had watch hands for hair.
Talk about unmanageable.
There were dolls for different seasons and holidays, too.
"Autumn Faerie" has lost some wing parts over the years.
"Julie Fourth" was scantily clad to begin with, so she's held up okay.
She even managed to hang on to her ankle bracelet.
"Holly Berry"...
...and her friend, "Eva Green", required a lot of colored pencil work, but they are some of my favorites.
"Bertha Day" is...well...
...she's a lot like "Candy Korn"...
.
...and "Val N. Tyne".
Not the most modest girls around.
But their aunts are praying for them.
"Aunt Bee" ...
And "Ant Noni".
(Which is what Naomi's neices and nephews call her.)
The girls think the Aunts are old-fashioned.
And their hair really bugs them.
Their younger cousin is right behind them.
She just lives for cheerleading.
She likes the spell-out cheers.
"Give me an A thru Z!"
Even her facial features are letters.
But what do you expect from someone named "Alfa Betty"?
Well, I'll say this for her; she was cheering us on last night when we started dragging out red and purple papers and gold glitter glue and other bits of majestic looking supplies, and began to create Queen Esther.
She wants to be Queen Esther's friend.
And Queen Esther would understand that.
Because she, of all people, knows...
...it is good to have friends in high places.