Coming along wonderfully. I'm looking forward to her head.

Hi, Judi! It's soooo fun to find out what a delicious sense of humor you have. Your Crash Test Dummy is a hoot, and a very wonderful way to relieve the tension of your daughter's accident. You know, finding your website has really inspired me. I look you up daily to see what you're working on and how it's progressing. I've been putting aside my 'dollies' (as friends call my crafting) for awhile, telling myself I had to do all the (choose one) housework, editing (that's my profession) homemade birthday/holiday gifts, etc. Malarky! I realized after reading your entries that I just needed a push into inspiration-land. THANKS! Yesterday I removed my serious ol' Virgo-Ultra-Responsible face, and replaced it with my Craft-with-Complete-Abandon face. Started a birthday gift for a friend from Ethiopia who is missing his country while schooling here. It's a figure made from clay, pieces of tree limbs/twigs I tend to collect when I go walking, material, and any number of other items. He represents the roots my friend has in Ethiopia and all that entails. The top of the 'tree' protrudes from his head and one of his eyes is its natural brown while the other is the middle light blue section of his flag, complete with a yellow star. His clothing is traditional Ethiopian attire, with the sash being the flag's three colors. His 'hands', which rest on the base, are roots, the base itself is representative of a globe which highlights Africa and pinpoints Ethiopia, and I've detailed several things in rather bizarre ways. For instance, his lips are etched with the words 'injera' and 'doro wat', two traditional foods he often mentions. Pieces of his hair are beginning to wind around the upper tree branches because he says even his hair is pulling toward Ethiopia. And from one ear, spilling out over his shoulder, are a stream of words representing music and other sounds of his homeland. I hope I can carry off this ambitious project without making it look cartoonish. At any rate, I'm at least DOING it thanks to your inspiration. Kudos to you for your website, Judi! Your long-winded fellow crafter, Kai.

She is coming along great Judy, can't wait to see her finished.

Kai - Your Ethiopian doll sounds fantastic! Is there somewhere that I can see a photo of him? I'm really glad that I am inspiring you to work on your dolls - it's always a pleasure to read what others are doing.

The wine cork idea is brillant. I'm going to use it myself.