The Velvetine Rabbit

It is a timeless and enchanting childhood tale—a true fairy tale and quite endearing. Just about anyone can relate to this tale. We can all recall a favorite toy that comforted us as a child. (Perhaps you are a child and receive great comfort from that doll or bear that you have hugged 'till the seems begin to pop!) There are those very special toys that we have grown attached to (and perhaps they have grown attached to us as well). The theme of love, friendship, and holding on to them when adversity comes, rings throughout this tale. Nevertheless, we all need to learn to let go as well. Sometimes it is deeply hard; yet, “to everything there is a season.” The boy in this tale had to let go of that dear Christmas gift he had received—that doll that had comforted him through a long illness. But letting go is at times necessary for the benefit of our own good and the good of others. The boy in this story needed to let go for the saving of his life. This theme appears in a number of other stories. I cannot help but think of other animal stories where a boy or girl needed to “let go” by releasing an animal back into the wild. Our earthly goods and treasures need from us a “letting go” as well. They will all pass from us eventually. By letting the velveteen rabbit go, magic was able to be performed for the transformation and release of that precious bunny.

Later, the fairy comes and the rabbit becomes “real”; but that rabbit and boy never forgot each other. Just because we must let go doesn't mean we will forget that object of affection. This is true when we face the death of a loved one. We must let them go, but we must never forget them.

The stitch horse is an interesting character in this tale. I had a child once say to me, “The stitch horse seemed to be so wise and know how a toy becomes real as if he had experienced it; yet, he still looked just looked like an old tattered toy (at least he did in the illustrations). I have pondered this much since then. I have come to the conclusion that not all toys become real. Only special ones are transformed and become real. It is real love that does this. It happens to a toy that is used a lot and enters the deeper affections of the toy's owner. Perhaps the horse, who had obviously been in the possession of the boy a long time, never entered that level of affection that a child sometimes places upon a particular toy. Perhaps the stitch horse had had more than one owner, and perhaps he had been passed along to several owners. Perhaps he had seen a number of older toys who did indeed enter into that place of endearment between a child and a toy. Yes, perhaps he did see these transformations of others and was a witness of the fact, though he wasn't ever chosen to receive that magical moment himself.

It might make us sad to contemplate these thoughts regarding the stitch horse, but alas, be not saddened. The stitch horse has a very special job in helping other toys along the way. Each of us have a purpose in this life too. We are not all chosen to do those seemingly noble and venerable deeds; but we all have a job to do in this life, doing our best in whatever our job in life happens to be. We can be a blessing to others whether we be a royal monarch or simply cleaning someone's boots. We are all special to someone. We all have value, not because we be esteemed of others, but rather, because we are loved.

A Word from Ollie

Whooo! Whooo! I really like that story, don't you? Very dear, heart-warming, and good for us to hear. How hard it is for us to let things go! But that is when miracles can happing. Christmas is upon us,and many will soon receive gifts—just as the boy received that rabbit in his stocking. Do not grow too attached to things though. They are temporary, fleeting, evanescent. Evanescent is a nice word for fleeting or transient. The life we possess can be described that way. Give of yourself while you can, and remember the greatest gift ever given: that sacrificial gift of love.

A Christmas to Remember

Years ago as a child I remember some precious Christmas gifts. I received a bear and a Smurf train that moved around and around the Christmas tree. My sister received a velvetine rabbit—so much like the one in the story. For years now, that old velveteen rabbit has been up in the attic. I recently brought it down and displayed this cute and festive hugable in the rocker in our living room. I think he looks rather nice there. The rabbit is still as cute as it ever was, but sad to say, he still has yet to become “real.” Perhaps it will happen this Christmas.

The Crafty Corner

This Christmas and holiday time, perhaps you will consider making a simple Christmas craft that is very functional. A Christmas mini stocking! I have made several of these. Use various fabrics to give variety to the stockings. Sew two different fabrics together. That gives a whole new look to it. I got some metallic gold fabric. That really sparks it up. Sew on buttons, jingle bells, or embroider a design or pattern. These stockings I have made are available on Etsy.com. See them at https://www.etsy.com/listing/542550846/small-christmas-stockings-felt-plaid?ref=shop_home_active_6

https://www.etsy.com/shop/StorybookCraftsShop

The Elves and the Shoemaker

There once was a shoemaker who had become quite poor and had nothing much left except for a bit of leather—enough to make one more pair of shoes. That evening he cut out the leather in hopes of making the pair of shoes the following day. The next morning, he early prepared for work on making the shoes, but when coming to the workroom, he noticed the shoes lying on the table fully complete. The shoemaker was astonished! He examined them closely and found them exquisitely and masterfully made. Soon after, a customer entered the shop, saw the shoes, was quite impressed with them, and therefore, paid much more than the asking price. With that money the shoemaker was able to purchase enough leather for two more shoes.

That evening he cut them out, and the next morning he found the leather made into two beautiful pairs of shoes. Just as before, the shoemaker sold the shoes with the money and purchased enough leather to make 4 pairs of shoes. He cut them out as he had done in the past. The next morning, he found the four pairs made. This continued day after day: whatever the shoemaker cut out in the evening was mysteriously made into shoes during the night. And so, over time, the shoemaker became a wealthy man. Now it happened that not long before Christmas that the shoemaker said to his wife, “I am quite curious as to who or what is making these shoes so elegantly and doing us such a service. Perhaps we should stay up in the night to see who it is. What think ye of that dear wife?” The woman liked the idea. Therefore, they hid themselves until midnight when they saw little naked men taking the leather and crafting, sewing, hammering, and stitching it into shoes. They did it so cleverly and swiftly, and quick as a wink, they vanished away.

The next morning the woman suggested to her husband, “Those poor little men have worked so hard for us and have even made us rich—yet, they have not even as much as their own clothes to wear. Perhaps today I will make some clothes for them. I will sew and knit shirts, trousers, vests, and stockings for them. You can make them little shoes to wear. Then, when they come tonight, they will have something of their own to wear.”

“That is a grand idea,” said the shoemaker.

During the day the shoemaker and his wife made the gifts for the elves. That night they left the gifts on the worktable and hid themselves. About midnight, the elves appeared as before. They were simply delighted with the gifts that were left for them. The elves then dressed themselves with the apparel and began singing,

“Now we are boys so fine to see,

Why should we longer cobblers be?”

Then they danced and sang some more until finally they danced themselves away and never returned again. But for the remainder of their days, the gracious shoemaker and his wife fared well and prospered in all they did.

A Word from Ollie

Whooo, Whooo! What do you think of this tale? Let us reflect: There is a lesson here for all of us. There almost always is. This is a Grimm's fairy tale. They have been passed down for centuries now, and they were told for a reason. Yes, it was entertainment; but it was also for the creative expression of the lessons of life.

He was a poor shoemaker at the beginning of the tale, but for some reason, the elves pitied him. The shoemaker, after being blessed by the workmanship of the elves, did not squander the money he made. He invested it back into his business in hopes of gaining a bit more . . . and then a bit more . . . and a bit more. His little bit grew into a lot. Here is a lesson about the importance of saving and investing in order to provide and prosper. But he wasn't selfish: he continued plying along, cutting out leather and selling the following day what the elves created.

I like to also think of this tale as a lesson demonstrating the adage “One good deed deserves another” or “Give, and it shall be given unto you.” The elves gave of their time to help a poor destitute man and his wife who were quite poor. In return for their kindness, the couple gave to the elves a gift: clothes and shoes.

The Crafty Corner

Christmas is just around the corner, and here is craft to help create a festive holiday ambiance for your space. The gingerbread boy is still on the loose. Can you catch him?

This project is very easy to do and will enable you to make a 10” beanbag gingerbread doll. Just take brown felt and cut out the doll body. Sew the 2 pieces together leaving an opening to stuff the body. Use an overcast stitch for sewing. I used white embroidery thread for sewing. This creates the illusion of frosting along the outer edge. Glue or sew black felt circles on white circles (white circles a bit larger) to make the eyes. Fill the body with beads or sand about half way. Use some fiberfill stuffing to fill the rest of the body. Embroider a smile onto the face. Sew white felt circles onto the gingerbread tummy. Use the overcast stitch again to sew up the opening used for stuffing. I then used red felt to make a bow tie. Just cut out a rectangle about 2 '' or so. Pinch it in the middle and sew, creating the bow tie. Then attach at neck of doll. And there you have it: a gingerbread doll!

Book of the Month

I recently read the book King Arthur and His Knights. I loved it! It tells the story of young King Arthur and how he grows as a person, acquiring knights for his famous Round Table. Intriguing tales about himself and “meanwhile” stories about his knights and their travels will thrill you. The book is cleverly and beautifully written and crafted. The author, Howard Pyle, is quite gifted with writing in an almost archaic middle English; yet, it's mixed with enough modern English so that it is easily understood by even a child. Merlin, Lady of the Lake, evil women who desire magical powers, Excalibur, mysterious knights—all this and more is contained within this truly entertaining book. 

So find a nook, take a look, Read this thrilling, captivating book!

The Ant and the Grasshopper

Most of us have heard of the famous Aesop fable, The Ant and the Grasshopper. It is one that comes to mind this time of year: that time of year when the farmer is harvesting his bountiful crop and the weather is cooling off a bit. Oh, the pumpkins, the apples, the fall garden!

The farmer has to be diligent and vigilant. There is much work to do bringing in that harvest and a multitude of hours planting, watering, and tending before he can reap that harvest. Sometimes he loses, sometimes he wins; but he plods along, planning and preparing for the long winter to come. He cannot afford to be lazy or procrastinate; and he cannot begin and then slack off, or he may lose a good portion of his investment, if not it's entirety.

The ant was quite hardworking in this fable, as ants tend to be. Ants work together as a community, each helping each other as a group. They must all pitch in or the tasks will not get done. So they plod along. It may be hot, but that is no deterrent. Each one must endure, even in hardness—and never, Never, NEVER give up.

The grasshopper on the other hand was neither industrious nor foresighted. He was merry and happy to play, but had not ambition to work. He wanted to have fun, to live the easy life. He reminds me of the pig brothers who built their houses of sticks and straw. They wanted only to do that which was easy, avoiding hard work. So here is a grasshopper, as well as lazy pigs, playing on their fiddles and avoiding the toiling tasks.

Now, he may have been willing to work a bit, but not too much; or he may have been willing to work but procrastinated until it was too late. He was distracted from what is important because of his fiddle. Remember, growing food for the winter requires foresightedness, planning, and steadfastness. We live in a world full of many distractions. Technologies and devices abound; entertainment lurks around every corner; lights and noises dazzle us, the simple things shrouded from view. Where aught the eyes to land and remain? When distracted by such a multiplicity of dazzling goods, tools, entertainments, delights, etc. it is difficult to keep one's eyes on the goal and “harvest the winter's store.”

The ants turn the grasshopper away, out into the cold when the winter's cold begins.

“What were you doing all summer,” the ants tell him.

“I was playing on my fiddle, singing and dancing,” replied the grasshopper.

Oh the vice of too much play and entertaining distractions! He wasted his time in frivolities and improvidence! Some versions of the story, though, have the ants pitying the rueful grasshopper, teaching a lesson about mercy in spite of one's failings –a truth which has it's place. Are we harsh toward others who are not as hardworking as we? Or perhaps there is another area of character in which we ourselves are strong, another weaker. Again, the concept of community with the ants. They all work together. Some do some jobs, others doing another. We all have strengths and weaknesses: they are just in different things in varying amounts.

The Biblical proverbs record, “Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways and be wise.” (Prov. 6:6) We can all walk away from this tale with a number of life lessons:

1. The importance of hard work, industry, and diligence
2. The importance of compassion and charity
3. The importance of living a life free from distractions—may they not rule us.

“Idleness brings want,” so goes the adage. Simultaneously, though, let us not forget the importance of “stopping to smell the roses” along the road of life. Let us not be too busy for the simple things and to take the time to help and give to others.

A Word from Ollie

Whooo, Whooo! Helloo there. Wow! What a lesson this old tale has for us! When we hear old tales, it is easy for us just to hear an entertaining story; but I have some advice for us all: I think it would be good to really ponder afterwards what the point of the stories are. Ask yourself, “Why was this story written? Is there some truth the author is trying to convey?”  Adopting this practice, we may learn a lot more in life.

Here is a word to think about: sedulous. This word (sedulous) is an adjective meaning “showing dedication and diligence.” The grasshopper was not sedulous. The ants were sedulous. Let us all be sedulous and assiduous (a similar word) as we ply the tasks before us this harvest.

Bye for now my fine feathered friends—or furry friend . . . or human friend.

The Crafty Corner

Here is a great set of dolls I made that tell the story of the Three Little Pigs. Two of the brothers were lazy and improvident like the grasshopper in this month's story. They were not foresighted, but rather, thought only of the here and now.

They are made almost entirely of felt—even their clothes. You may have noticed the pockets in their clothes. Notice that one pig has a brick in his pocket; the second pig some straw in his, and in the third, a stick. I used a French knot for each of the eyes. The clothes were quite simple compared to many patterns. Because they are made of felt and felt doesn't fray like most other fabrics do, I didn't need to hem the edges. These little dolls are great for parents or teachers who would like to use them when telling the story to others. Check out my Etsy shop where these dolls and others are listed for sale.

https://www.etsy.com/shop/StorybookCraftsShop

For more thought about the Three Little Pigs, take a look at the June 20017 post (The Brother Pigs Three) in the archives section of this blog.

Book of the Month

So, what book are you reading at this time? I just finished reading a biography about William Penn entitled William Penn: Liberty and Justice for All by Janet and Geoff Benge. What an enduring life he lived! What hardships and treachery he endured! But he had a cause and was faithful to what he believed. I had no idea the extent to which he endured such hardships in his truly tempestuous life. Really a good book I highly recommend. So read, read, read! Find a nook, read a book, learn a lesson, get a new look. Perhaps you'll be placid as a brook. Happy reading!