Maelewano

means Harmony in Kiswahili.

Her name makes you wonder if she was born in Africa. Her eyes, deep dark blue, makes you ask if she has Scandinavian genes. Her hair, black and silky, makes you think that she is of Hispanic, Asian or Latino descent. The answer reveals that she is all this and more. In her, we can each identify our heritage. And no matter whether North or South of the equator, East or West in longitude, we are one....a world in Harmony...a world encapsulated in Maelewano.

She is a wish for the world...a world in conflict, a sea of humanity struggling to find it's identity as it goes to war with itself and the supporting life system surrounding it. This is a wish in magnitude ill proportionate to a small soul who stands a mere 6 inches tall and with feet no larger than half a grown thumb. Though the weight of the world is on her itty-bitty shoulders, she seems not to notice at all the burden. Look into her joyful eyes and notice her round chubby cheeks and you shall see nothing but playfulness and delight....an indication of innocence.

Today, as I frolicked around the house fretting over the state of the world, she followed at my feet asking only of things that are big and important, "can she swing on an ornament? will I push her higher and higher please?"

"do I think she can roll this ball all over the house using just her belly, no hands or feet?"

"can I help her roll the big ball around? it's too big for her to push herself."

And when she got tired of playing, she stretched up her arms and asked "if I can pick YOU up."

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And when I had to disappoint her and say "no, I have a lot of things to make happen since it's Christmas time and all and can she just go play or find something else to do by herself?" she just sprawled on the floor and paid me no further mind.

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Later, I came back and found her standing at the window, looking out into the world, musing at the rain and a cold, gray sky. To her, the world is in harmony when there is rain and the winds move through to unsettle the leaves that dangle by a last thread as winter sets its course and makes the seasons go round as it should.

Maelewano is a Wee-Bee Mini Elfcup. She stands less than 6" (15 cm) tall. She is made with all natural materials. Her doll skin is made with premium quality cotton jersey imported from Europe. She is firmly stuffed with bio-wool made in Oregon.  Her seams are sewn twice for reinforcement.  Her dark mane is made of wefted Suri alpaca, a luxurious, ultra-soft and silky fiber.  Suri alpaca has natural crimps and waves in the fiber, hence giving Maelewano a full bodied, yet wispy and silky hair. Her hair can can be tied and styled lightly. She has embroidered facial features and a happy go-lucky expression. Her facial structure is slightly sculpted.  Her cheeks, nose and various body parts are blushed with red beeswax.  She is a sitting doll with sewn joints that are made flexible for easy movement and changing of clothes.  She has a sweet belly button and a bum.

Maelewano comes wearing a cotton black and white striped dress with lace trim. Her dress opens fully on the back with nickel-free hand-sewn snaps. Her scarlet bonnet and Mary Janes are hand knit using Isager 100% alpaca yarn.

Maelewano comes with her favorite toy...a felted wool, black and white spiral ball, made into a Christmas tree ornament with a ribbon securely attached. The ornament ball measures 13 inches (33 cm) in circumference and 4 inches (10 cm) tall. Her ball will keep her entertained for hours as she swings on it, lays on it, rolls on it, under it, round and about.

Maelewano is recommended for ages 4+ due to the nature of her delicate design and the small parts on her that may pose as choking hazards for children who still enjoy exploring with their mouths. If you are interested in bringing Maelewano home, she is now available in the Etsy shop.

Tom Frost

On the 3rd day of Christmas my true love gave to me Tooommm Frost!

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Meet Tom Frost. There are a few reasons why this little boy came about:

1. There's a Jack Frost, why not Tom Frost too?

2. The man nearest and dearest to my heart is named Tom.

3. Tom Frost happens to be one of my modern day climbing heroes. Tom is a rock climber from California and one of the first pioneers of the sport. His achievements included ascents of the magnificent monoliths in Yosemite, including the famous Salathe Wall on El Capitan, and ascents in the Himalayas alongside an impressive league of brilliant climbers such as Warren Harding, Royal Robbins, Yvon Chouinard, and Edmund Hillary. Not only is Tom a stellar climber and photographer, he is also an advocate of environmental ethics in climbing and worked hard to help preserve, respect and protect the natural environment that gave him so much enjoyment in life. Tom is now in his 70s. He is still climbing. And he is still one of my heroes.

Tom Frost is a very personal creation. I suppose that there has been a rather strong inner voice tugging at me...a voice that says the mountain is calling and I yearn (at times too desperately) to be back up there. The mountain is a place like no other on earth, for me. It is where I feel most in my element and always happiest. I am an amateur climber, but an avid one. Lately, I've been feeling an immense urge to get back on the rocks and the mountains. But, everything has its time and place and now appears not to be the time or place for me. So, I created Tom.

Tom is one of "the most kind, gentle and generous little boys you will meet, with never an ill word to say of anyone. He is also a boy filled with courage and leadership and possesses the true spirit of climbing." Winter is here in his part of the world and he is set and ready to get out for adventurous days in the cold, stark air.

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Tom 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 jersey imported from Europe. He is firmly stuffed with bio-wool made in Oregon.  His seams are sewn twice for reinforcement.  His hair is made of a mohair-silk blended yarn and was hand sewn strand by strand directly onto his head to achieve a buzz-cut look.  He has an embroidered and simple facial expression but also an easy going and pleasant demeanor.  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.  He has a little belly button and even a bum.

Tom comes wearing a blue striped hand-knit beanie made of Isager 100% alpaca yarn. He wears a simple long sleeve cotton shirt and grey cotton-polyester pants. His mountain boots are hand knit using a 100% wool yarn. His rope is hand knit with Isager 100% alpaca yarn and measures about 24" (61 cm) long. His ice axe is needle felted with 100% wool. 

Tom is recommended for ages 4+. If you are interested in bringing Tom home to surprise a little girl or little boy who is aspiring to be a climber and would like a companion to follow in their pocket as they scurry up the rock wall, Tom is now available in the Etsy shop.