I’m excited to join Hip Mountain Mama’s One Small Change project (and it’s very inspiring to see how many other folks are joining, too!).  For January, my change is to complete the weatherizing projects I started this winter, at last!  I already finished two of these draft snakes for our leaky windows, using some of my favorite scraps from that wonderful vintage fabric care package Janis sent me.

And I finished one of the six insulated curtains I hope to make.  The first one is the hardest (I hope) – I got really frustrated after sewing this together the wrong way the first time (grrr), but now it’s done, it’s up, and the house is just a bit warmer and consuming a little less energy to heat.  Onward!

In crafting news that doesn’t have to do with insulation, I finally wanted to post photos of our completed “Special Project Number 27″, as my dad called it when he was here visiting.  The week before Christmas, in the midst of total grain processing and scaling insanity, we came home at night, ate dinner, and then worked on this doll together after Ella went to sleep.  On the one hand, it was “work,” but on the other hand, it was relaxing, tactile, loving work for the pleasure of giving something handmade to our daughter.  It was truly special to get to work on this together with Ben (I cut and sewed the fabric, Ben did the wool stuffing and the embroidery on the fingers and fingernails, I embroidered the face and sewed on the hair).  My dad couldn’t resist working on some of the stuffing, too.  So here she is – not perfectly symmetrical (or perfect in any way), but full of our love.  Meet dolly.

I also want to remind you to join the voices calling for help in Haiti.  If you can, take just a few moments to write to your representative (find them here – it seriously takes seconds).  Don’t know what to say?  You can even copy my letter below.  I also hope to list a handmade skirt with Craft Hope Haiti over the next few days, and I recommend Paul Farmer’s charity for donations – they’ve already been helping Haitians for over 20 years.  (You may know his name from the incredible book Mountains Beyond Mountains.)

Dear Congressman Olver,
I’m joining mothers and fathers across our country to ask that you join the effort to expedite the passports, visas, and adoptions of Haitian orphans.  I understand that the paperwork and bureaucracy is in place for a good reason, but if ever there was a time to move quickly, it is now.  Let us save lives and open our arms, as we have done since the creation of this country, to help those in desperate need.  Thank you.