10th Avenue Boardwalk

In Portland's Pearl District, a wooden boardwalk runs on 10th Avenue from Johnson to Northrup linking three city parks, Jamison Square, Tanner Springs, and The Fields.  Trees canopy the boardwalk adjacent to Jamison Square.  Several cafes in the area provide outdoor seating.  Although surrounded by busy city streets, it is peaceful and pleasant. 

The boardwalk runs next to our building, so we use it often.  Never has it looked more lovely than a recent September day.  The late summer sun was shining through the thinning leaves.  Yellow leaves on the boardwalk and still clinging to the trees seemed to glow.  Here is my thread sketch version of the photograph we took.

10th Avenue Boardwalk
Finished size 8"x11"

Toys in the Attic

Cool temperatures and turning leaves are reminders that it is time to start thinking about Christmas crafts.  It may seem early, but if you are a crafter making gifts for craft fairs and loved ones, you have probably already started.  Finding new items each year can be a challenge. Over the next couple of weeks I will be looking for ideas.  In that effort, I looked back at some of the toys made in previous years.  These favorites were fun to make and fun to give.  If you are a family follower, you may recognize some of the items.  If you are a crafter, perhaps you will find a spark that generates an idea for your Christmas craft. 

Runo Dolls

I made four of these dolls over the years.  They are about 30” tall.  Their heads are stuffed tightly, while the body and limbs are soft.  Shoes and clothes, including long bloomers, are removable.  The pattern can be found online at Doll Making by Runo.  The instructions are a bit difficult to follow, but the patterns are free and the results are rewarding.  

Nola Hart Dolls

I first saw these dolls when a dear friend and gifted crafter made them to sell in her Etsy store.  The pattern by Nola Hart was published in the November/December 2009 issue of Cloth-Paper-Scissors.  I made five dolls, about 12" tall.  They were labor-intensive, but fun to make, and our young girls loved them.