And now let us welcome the new year...

...full of things that have never been.

                                                              - Rainer Maria Rilke

Should Old Acquaintance be forgot,
and never thought upon;
The flames of Love extinguished,
and fully past and gone:
Is thy sweet Heart now grown so cold,
that loving Breast of thine;
That thou canst never once reflect
On old long syne.

- Robert Burns, 1788

In traditions old and new, come, let us venture forth into a new year and see where the road goes, whom we meet along it's path and walk until a new year dawns.

In the tradition of Dollectable, FREE giveaways will happen tomorrow, Sunday, January 1, 2017 beginning at 9:00 AM (EST). Come, let us be together to welcome the New Year.

Scarlet Elfcup will be giving away a surprise package...filled with some of my favorite things...wool, cotton, alpaca, butterflies, and lovely Liberty of London. Contents of the package will be revealed to the winner of the drawing on Monday, January 2, 2017 and shipped on Tuesday, January 3, 2017.

Thank you to all who enter. Good luck to you! I am grateful for your continuing support of handmade natural fiber arts, Dollectable and Scarlet Elfcup. Sending you and your families the best of all things in 2017. 

Bram and Pickle

When you are lost and there are storms to brave alone in the deep dark shadows of the woods, it's nice to know that someone will be out looking for you and soon you will have a warm hug and a safe place to be.

Such was the case of Mr. Pickle. Little Pickle gets himself into many quandaries by which Bram must rescue him. The latest tale and adventure of these two involved curiosity almost killing a bird...until Bram brought him back. Pickle, who is the littlest of them all, being the enthusiast of fun and never wanting to be left behind followed his fellow play mates into the big back woods as they played hide and find. While all the others...chicken, rabbit, cat, fox, deer, heron and squirrel...found their way home, little Pickle found nothing except the fact that he couldn't find his way back home to Bram.

After an unbearable amount of hours during which Bram searched and searched but could not find his best friend, he came to me for help. I've been occupied with so many things lately that I told Bram he must get on without me. I'll be along with him in a while. Well, after several more hours of going on without help, he came back and made my heart swell with sadness, for he asked "if I had forgotten about him?" I immediately laid all urgent matters aside to lend him my full attention because truth is I never forget any of my little ones. That is where you found us when we last left you hanging in one of our earlier Instagram posts. Bram led me back into the woods so that we could go fetch Mr. Pickle. 

So, now, you and I both know why Bram came out of the woods to fetch me. What I haven't explained is why Bram was trotting around stark naked last time. Well, turned out, in a desperate search for Pickle, he thought it wise to take off all of his articles of clothing to leave behind as a trail for Pickle to follow in case Pickle should chance upon the trail of clothing then he can find his way back to Bram. Now, that's what I call the true meaning of "giving the shirt off one's back for a friend."

Now that the whole ordeal is over and Pickle is at last home and safe with Bram, the two have decided they need not rest too long from adventures and have schemed to leave Fall behind and move on to newer pastures...whiter pastures.

Off they go, bundled in just enough to keep warm but not too much to restrict play...two little boys and a sled...off to seek new adventures.

BRAM

Bram is a Wee-Bee Mini Elfcup doll. He stands less than 6" (15 cm) tall. He is made with all natural materials. His doll skin is made with premium quality cotton interlock imported from the Netherlands. He is firmly stuffed with bio-wool made in the USA.  His seams are sewn twice for reinforcement.  His hair is made from the softest suri alpaca locks, trimmed with stylish long straight layers. He has beautiful blue embroidered eyes and a lightly sculpted face. His cheeks, nose and various body parts are blushed with red beeswax.  He is a sitting doll with sewn joints that are made flexible for easy movement and changing of clothes.  But, with some posing, he can use those sturdy legs for standing. He also has a belly button and a bum.

Bram comes wearing a simple mustard cotton shirt and striped cotton pants.

Bram comes with a collection of hand knits worthy of coveting. His warm, luxurious, soft cap is hand knit with a 100% baby alpaca yarn. His colorful houndstooth patterned scarf and elf boots were hand knit with 100% fine alpaca yarn. The colors chosen were very intentionally selected for the little daddy whom these boys are going home to. Small daddy loves the bright colors of yellow, red, blue, and green. And I think he's got some great taste.

Bram comes with a wooden sled, hand-painted with a scarlet acrylic paint. The sled handle is made from hemp twine. It is perfect play for such a wee-boy or for hanging on your Christmas tree to celebrate the season of red and green. 

PICKLE

Mr. Pickle is a little house finch who stands at a mere 3 inches (7.5 cm) tall. He is densely and entirely needle-felted from 100% wool roving and clean carded wool. His eyes are made from glass beads stitched very securely to his head.

He, of course, also comes wearing some winter gear. His itty-bitty red hat is made from clean, re-purposed, pre-washed 100% cashmere. His scarf was hand knit with 100% wool yarn. As usual, all hand knits are done with the greatest of pleasure by me. 

Bram and Pickle...a duo, custom made for a small boy who lives amongst one special little house finch and many other animals that he loves.

To: Mr. E! May Bram and Pickle take you on many adventures and may you be dubbed The Three Musketeers! Onward you go!

Bram and Pickle are recommended for ages 5+ due to the delicate nature of their design and the small parts that may pose as choking hazards for very young children.