Doll Can Create

100 Mile Life/Grandma Core

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Day 1 – 100 Mile Life Challenge — September 1, 2025

Day 1 – 100 Mile Life Challenge

/Barbara (Doll) Creelman/Leave a comment

30-Day Challenge 🌿

Today marks the beginning of my 100 Mile Life 30-Day Challenge. This month, I’ll be focusing on living more intentionally. I plan to source as much food, fiber, and everyday essentials as possible. These will come from within 100 miles of home.

Why 100 miles? Because living locally connects me to the seasons, to my community, and to the land that sustains us. It’s also about slowing down, appreciating what’s nearby, and letting go of the constant pull of convenience.

On this first day, I’m reminding myself that this challenge isn’t about perfection. It’s about curiosity, discovery, and small steps toward a simpler, more sustainable lifestyle.

I’d love for you to follow along. You might be joining the challenge or perhaps you’re just curious about what local living looks like day by day. Together, we can explore how to live closer to home and closer to our values.

✨ Here’s to Day 1 — one step toward a gentler, more rooted way of life.

What step will you take today to start your journey?

Download the check list here: 100 Mile Life

#100MileLife #GrandmaCore #SlowLiving

What GrandmaCore Teaches Us About Slow Fashion — August 21, 2025

What GrandmaCore Teaches Us About Slow Fashion

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What GrandmaCore Teaches Us About Slow Fashion

Fashion trends seem to change overnight. In this fast-paced world, GrandmaCore and slow fashion invite us to pause and breathe. They encourage us to look backward as much as ahead. Both are about cherishing what lasts, valuing what is handmade, and seeing beauty in the slower rhythms of life. When we bring the two together, they remind us that fashion isn’t just about what we wear. It’s about how we live.

Cherishing What Lasts

GrandmaCore celebrates the sweaters, aprons, and quilts that seem to carry whole generations within their stitches. Slow fashion shares this heart: it asks us to move away from disposable clothing and toward garments built to endure. A hand-knit cardigan or a linen dress isn’t just an outfit—it’s a companion through the seasons.

Making and Mending

At the heart of GrandmaCore are the old skills—knitting, crocheting, sewing, patching, and darning. These aren’t just quaint hobbies; they are tools of sustainability. Slow fashion echoes this call. Instead of tossing a shirt with a loose button or worn elbow, we mend it. We repurpose it or reimagine it. In making and mending, we keep fashion alive instead of letting it fade.

Sentiment Over Trend

A quilt passed down from a grandmother carries more meaning than any trend. A shawl made by a beloved aunt is also deeply meaningful. GrandmaCore teaches us that clothes can hold stories. Slow fashion teaches us to choose pieces for their memory, craftsmanship, and durability rather than chasing what’s new. Together, they show us that fashion is most beautiful when it’s personal.

Natural Fibers, Local Roots

Our grandparents often reached for wool, cotton, and linen because that’s what was available—and it worked. These natural fibers were warm, breathable, and repairable. Today, slow fashion calls us back to the same wisdom. It involves choosing natural fibers and supporting local makers. It also reminds us that where our clothes come from matters.

The Joy of Slowness

Knitting a sweater or piecing together a quilt takes time, and that time is part of the beauty. GrandmaCore honors the slow processes of creating. Slow fashion teaches us to savor the same pace in choosing what we wear. Each stitch, each seam, becomes a meditation on patience and care.

Fashion as Community

GrandmaCore paints a picture of sewing circles, knitting groups, and kitchens where conversation flowed as easily as tea. Slow fashion thrives on this same sense of community—sharing patterns, swapping clothes, and passing down knowledge. Fashion doesn’t have to be a solitary, consumerist pursuit. It can be a collective story woven together.

A Closing Thought

GrandmaCore and slow fashion are not just aesthetics or movements. They are invitations—to live gently, to honor memory, and to find joy in what lasts. Each hand-stitched hem or mended patch becomes an act of love. This love extends not only to our clothes but also to the planet. It also encompasses the generations to come.

Maybe the best lesson is this: fashion isn’t fast when it’s filled with meaning. And sometimes, the slowest stitches tell the strongest stories.

💬 Now it’s your turn…
What’s one piece in your wardrobe that carries a story? Maybe it’s a hand-knit sweater, a quilt passed down, or even something you’ve lovingly mended. Share your story in the comments below—I’d love to hear how your fashion choices connect to memory, care, and meaning.

And if this reflection spoke to you, consider subscribing to my newsletter at Dollcancreate.com where I share more slow fashion ideas, handmade projects, and gentle living inspiration. 🌿✨

Grannie and slow fashion meet — August 19, 2025

Grannie and slow fashion meet

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As a Grandma, I’ve learned that less really is more. I don’t need to fill my closet or overflow my yarn stash to feel content. Instead, I embrace slow fashion—cherishing what I already own, repairing when I can, and creating with love.

May I can sew something like this.

When something new is needed, I’ll thrift, swap, or repurpose. It’s not about chasing trends but about choosing wisely, wearing with joy, and passing on pieces that tell a story.

Slow fashion feels like wisdom: steady, thoughtful, and deeply connected to both the past and the future.

How do you work your slow fashion?

“What I Did on My Summer Holidays (and Where I Found God)” — August 3, 2025

“What I Did on My Summer Holidays (and Where I Found God)”

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By Rev. Barbara Creelman

Linden Park United Worship Video – scroll to bottom

What did you do on your summer holidays?

It’s the classic back-to-school question. And this week, as I prepared for Sunday and reflected on the past month, I found myself answering it. I answered not as a student, but as a soul that needed rest.

Here’s what I did:

I rested.
I played games.
I worked on a jigsaw puzzle.
I walked.
I beached.
I picked blueberries.
I swam.
I visited with family.
I ate ice cream.
I went to a museum.

Nothing groundbreaking. No exotic travel plans. No massive achievements.
But in every one of those simple things… I met God.

🌿 Jesus Said, “Come Away and Rest”

One of the verses I’ve been holding onto lately is from Mark 6:31, where Jesus says to his disciples:

“Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”

That invitation comes after the disciples had been out in the world doing ministry, helping others, and working hard. Jesus didn’t say, “Well done—now do more.” He said, come away. Rest. Be still.

And that’s what this summer gave me: stillness. Not always silence—but soul-quiet.
I wasn’t lazy. I was living gently.

The jigsaw puzzle helped me slow my thoughts.
The walk brought fresh air to tired bones.
The beach invited me to float, breathe, release.
The blueberries—well, they reminded me that the earth still gives.

🌞 There Is a Season for Everything

Ecclesiastes 3 tells us that:

“There is a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance…
That everyone may eat and drink and find satisfaction in their work—this is the gift of God.”

I’ve read that many times, but this year it felt personal.
This summer, there was laughter around family tables.
There was dancing—of the everyday kind: in the kitchen, on the trail, through conversation.
There was joy in each small moment.
And yes—there was satisfaction in the gift of doing nothing urgent.

🧩 Life, Like a Puzzle

One of the images that has stayed with me is the puzzle I worked on.

Thousands of tiny pieces, all jumbled and confusing.
Sometimes I’d sit for an hour and not find a match.
Other times, it would come together effortlessly.

Isn’t that life?

There are days when the pieces don’t fit.
Seasons when things go missing.
But slowly, steadily, God is putting something beautiful together—even if I can’t yet see the whole picture.

🍦 Grace Tastes Like Ice Cream

And then there are moments of pure, holy joy.

A scoop of chocolate chip mint shared with someone you love.
A lake that welcomes you like a baptism.
A museum exhibit that makes you gasp with wonder.
The sound of family laughing over a silly board game.

These aren’t distractions from the spiritual life.
They are the spiritual life.

God isn’t only found in pews and prayer books.
God is also in sunshine and conversation and dessert and discovery.

✨ A Summer Blessing

So, what did I do on my summer holidays?

I lived. I laughed. I rested. I remembered who I am.
And I remembered Whose I am.

And now I’m carrying that rest into the season ahead.

Let me leave you with this blessing. Maybe it’s for you too:

May the God of rest restore your soul.
May the God of play awaken your joy.
May the God of beauty open your eyes to wonder.
And may your summer story become a chapter of gratitude.

🧶July Newsletter — August 1, 2025

🧶July Newsletter

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Dear Creative Friends,

As July draws to a close, I’m looking back with a full heart and yarn-covered hands. Whether you’ve been spinning alongside me for Tour de Fleece 2025 or merely enjoying the long days of summer with a cool drink. You might also be enjoying a quiet stitch. I hope you’ve found your own rhythm. I hope you’ve found your own rhythm. Enjoy this beautiful season.

🌀 Tour de Fleece Reflections: What I Learned

This year’s Tour de Fleece was about consistency and grace. I committed to spinning every day. Some days were spent at full whirl on my wheel. Other days were spent quietly on my spindle in the shade. There were moments of fatigue and others of elation (especially when I measured that surprise 125-meter skein!).

Key takeaways:

  • Small steps add up. Even a few minutes each day built up to sweater-worthy yardage. (or a vest)
  • Rest days matter. I embraced the official Tour rest days — and a few bonus ones too!
  • Joy in the process. Watching fibre transform in my hands still feels like a small miracle.

🧳 Summer Vacation: Rest and Play

July wasn’t just about production — it was also about pause. I walked, beached, puzzled, swam, and sat in my favourite chair with yarn in my lap. I visited museums, picked blueberries, and yes — ate ice cream with loved ones. This is the life I want to keep spinning toward: slow, full of joy, and rooted in beauty.

📸 On the Blog & YouTube

Check out this month’s uploads:

🗓️ What’s Coming in August

  • A new 30-Day Fibre Reset Challenge — clean, card, spin, and organize.
  • Blanket-building month: working with handspun and memory squares.
  • New video: “What’s In My Fibre Basket?”
  • Studio reorganizing VLOG (with my new thrifted wool shelf!). (still searching for this)

🎉 Community Corner

This month, I was inspired by all of you — the photos, messages, and stories shared. Keep tagging me at #DollCan so I can cheer you on!

Let’s Stay Connected:
🌐 DollCanCreate.com
📺 YouTube: Doll Can Create
📸 Instagram: @dollcan
📬 Got a story or finished object to share? Hit reply and let’s feature it!

Until next time,
Stay curious. Stay gentle. Keep spinning.

💗
– Doll
http://www.DollCanCreate.com
Handmade. Slow Made. Joy Made.

125 METERS & COUNTING! My Tour de Fleece Recap — July 30, 2025
It’s time.Spindles, Suitcases, and Sweet Escape: A Spinner’s Vacation BeginsIt’s time. — July 17, 2025

It’s time.Spindles, Suitcases, and Sweet Escape: A Spinner’s Vacation BeginsIt’s time.

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I could be doing 20 other things right now.
The dishes are calling, the laundry’s lurking, and I know I should double-check the packing list… but here I am—writing. Not because I have to, but because this moment deserves to be marked.

It’s time.
Time to pack the car.
Time for vacation.
Time for spindle spinning.

There’s something sacred about these threshold moments—when we move from the everyday into the extraordinary. The hum of routine fades away. It is replaced by the rustle of maps. You can hear the buzz of zippers and the clink of water bottles being tucked into side doors. And nestled between sunscreen and snacks? My spindle.

Because no matter where I go, the rhythm of spinning grounds me. Whether I’m sitting by a lake, I feel at home. I feel at home perched on a cabin porch. Or I feel at home stealing a few quiet moments before everyone else wakes up—spindle in hand.

So yes, there are 20 other things I could be doing. But I choose this:
The gentle weight of wool, the whisper of twist, the promise of rest.

Vacation begins now.
Let the spinning continue.

Preparing for the Sabbath: A Pause in the Quiet — July 5, 2025

Preparing for the Sabbath: A Pause in the Quiet

/Barbara (Doll) Creelman/Leave a comment

In the hush before the dawn,
A pause is gently drawn,
Not from haste, nor from demand,
But from the stillness of the land.

Today, we set aside the race,
To carve a moment, find our place,
In quiet steps, we prepare the way,
For tomorrow’s calm, the gift of day.

A cup of tea, a whispered prayer,
A mindful breath, a moment’s care,
The clutter fades, the peace takes hold,
In simple acts, the Sabbath unfolds.

Not tomorrow, but today we sow,
The seeds of rest we long to know,
In silence deep, in quiet grace,
We find our hearts a sacred space.

So as the sun begins to set,
The Sabbath pause, we’ve gently met,
And though tomorrow’s peace may come,
The rest begins when we’re undone.

Blessings as you rest this evening.

Finding Rest in God’s Presence: — July 2, 2025

Finding Rest in God’s Presence:

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Embracing the Sabbath in the Summer Season

We are now entering the heart of summer. The days stretch longer. The world seems to slow down just a bit. For many of us, this season offers the perfect opportunity to step back from our busy lives. It allows us to reflect on the rhythms of rest that God has designed for us. It’s a time when we can honor the Sabbath, not just as a day off. More than that, it is a spiritual discipline that helps us reconnect with our Creator.

In Exodus 20:8-10, God commands us to “Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy.” But what does that really mean for us today? How can we incorporate Sabbath into our lives? Our time is often consumed by responsibilities. We also have many tasks and distractions.

The Call to Rest

The concept of Sabbath rest isn’t just about taking a break from work. It’s about pausing to recognize God’s presence. It also allows ourselves to be renewed by Him. God established the rhythm of work and rest from the very beginning of creation. After six days of creating the world, He rested on the seventh day, setting an example for us. The Sabbath is a sacred time to step away from our labors. It is a moment to focus on what God has done in our lives. We also consider what God is doing now.

In the midst of a busy summer, it can be easy to forget the importance of this spiritual practice. The hustle of our everyday routines can prevent us from slowing down enough to truly rest in God’s presence. But the Sabbath reminds us to stop, reflect, and breathe in His goodness.

Rest as a Gift

In Matthew 11:28-30, Jesus invites us. He says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” This invitation isn’t just for those who are physically tired. It’s for anyone feeling the weight of the world. It’s also for those carrying emotional or spiritual burdens. Jesus promises to give us rest—a rest that refreshes our souls and brings us peace.

Summer can be a time to experience this rest in new ways. We can spend time in nature. We can enjoy a slower pace of life. Or we can simply sit in quiet reflection. In these ways, we allow God to renew us. The Sabbath calls us to embrace this gift of rest. It allows our minds and bodies to be restored. This way, we can fully experience the peace that only God can give.

Embracing God’s Presence

As we pause to rest, we also pause to recognize God’s presence in our lives. Summer is a wonderful time to slow down. It is a perfect time to take in the beauty of creation. We appreciate the flowers in bloom, the sun shining brightly, and the stillness of a quiet evening. These moments invite us to remember that God is in all things, and in His presence, we find true rest.

But true rest isn’t just about being physically still. It’s about spiritually resting in God’s arms. It’s about surrendering our worries, releasing our anxieties, and allowing His peace to wash over us. In these sacred moments of stillness, we hear His voice. We feel His comfort. We experience His love in a deeper way.

How to Practice Sabbath in the Summer

  1. Create Space for Silence – Take a walk in nature or enjoy a quiet moment with a cup of tea. Sit in your favorite chair with a Bible in hand. Carve out moments of silence to reflect on God’s goodness.
  2. Disconnect from Distractions – The summer heat can often lead to a slower pace. Use this time to disconnect from screens. Step away from emails and social media. Embrace the freedom of being present in the moment.
  3. Enjoy the Outdoors – Spend time outside, taking in the beauty of creation. Go for a walk in the park, sit by the lake, or simply enjoy a sunset. These moments remind us of the Creator’s handiwork.
  4. Worship and Reflect – Take time to worship, either in a community setting or privately. Singing hymns, reflecting on scripture, or simply praying can help us reconnect with God’s presence.

Hymn for the Day: Take Time to be Holy

Closing Thought:
In this busy world, it’s easy to feel like there’s always something more to do. But the Sabbath is a gentle invitation to slow down, rest in God’s presence, and embrace His peace. This summer, let’s commit to honoring the Sabbath as a sacred space to be renewed and restored. Remember that the rest we find in God is not just a pause from work. It is a deep and lasting peace that fills our souls.

May this mid-week pause encourage you to take a step back, breathe deeply, and find rest in God’s loving arms.

Blessings to all

The Hand of Grace: — June 29, 2025

The Hand of Grace:

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✋ A Five-Finger Prayer for a Faithful Life

(shared during worship at Linden Park Community United Church)

Have you ever looked at your own hand and seen a prayer?

I recently started praying with my fingers. No fancy words—just five simple requests that come from the heart. Each one is anchored in scripture and rooted in my deep longing to walk closer with God. I call it the Five-Finger Prayer, and it’s become a daily rhythm, a spiritual check-in, and a beautiful reminder of how God shapes us, one step (or finger) at a time.

Let me walk you through it.

👍 Take Me

Romans 12:1 – “Offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.”

It all begins here: surrender. I offer myself to God. All of me—my plans, my fears, my gifts, and even my broken pieces. I hold nothing back. This isn’t about having it all figured out. It’s about saying, “Here I am, Lord. Take me.”

☝️ Love Me

Jeremiah 31:3 – “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.”

After surrender comes the hard part: receiving. Sometimes it’s easier to believe that God loves others than to believe He truly loves me. But He does—with a love that never lets go. Every day, I pray, “Love me, Lord.” Not because I doubt Him—but because I need to be reminded.

🖕 Wash Me

Psalm 51:2 – “Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.”

This is the tallest finger. For me, it represents my need for God’s grace. We all carry things we wish we didn’t. Guilt. Shame. Regret. But the good news? God doesn’t just cover over our sin—He cleanses it. “Wash me, Lord,” I pray. “Make me new again.”

💍 Fill Me

Ephesians 5:18 – “Be filled with the Spirit.”

The ring finger symbolizes union, covenant, and connection. It reminds me that I can’t do this alone. I need the Spirit to fill me—again and again. I ask for strength, wisdom, peace, and joy. “Fill me, Lord. Pour into me what I can’t find on my own.”

🤏 Use Me

Isaiah 6:8 – “Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?’ And I said, ‘Here am I. Send me!’”

This is the pinky. It is the smallest finger, but it reminds me God can use even the smallest act. Even the simplest “yes.” I don’t need to be famous, perfect, or powerful. I just need to be willing. “Use me, Lord,” I whisper. “Wherever. However. I’m yours.”

👐 A Daily Practice

Sometimes when I don’t know what to pray, I just hold out my hand and go finger by finger:

  • Take me
  • Love me
  • Wash me
  • Fill me
  • Use me

Simple. Honest. Transformative.

🙏 Want to try it?

Take a moment. Look at your hand. And pray this with me:

“Take me, Lord. I surrender all that I am.
Love me. Let me receive the fullness of Your grace.
Wash me clean of anything that holds me back.
Fill me with Your Spirit and Your strength.
Use me to bring hope, peace, and love to the world.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

Let this prayer shape your day. Let your hand remind you that you’re held, loved, and sent.

📌 If this blessed you, you are welcome to print the Five-Finger Prayer Card. You can also share it with someone who might need it.

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