Doll Can Create

100 Mile Life/Grandma Core

Life Is Like a Library — August 17, 2025

Life Is Like a Library

/Barbara (Doll) Creelman/Leave a comment

Have you ever walked into a library and just stopped to take it all in?

Shelf upon shelf, filled with books of every kind. Some are worn and well-loved, others are crisp and new. There are stories of adventure, heartbreak, joy, mystery, and wisdom.

Life, I believe, is very much like that library. Each of us is a living book — and together we make up God’s great library of people.

Every Life Is a Story

The Psalmist reminds us. “All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be” (Psalm 139:16). That means your life — every chapter, every paragraph — is known by God.

Some chapters are filled with laughter and celebration. Others may hold sorrow or pain. Some we’d rather skip over, while others we’d love to reread again and again. But together, they form your unique story. And here’s the best part: God is the Author, and He hasn’t finished writing yet.

Our Stories Are for Sharing

Libraries aren’t built to keep books locked away; they exist so stories can be shared. In the same way, our lives are not meant to stay closed off. Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 3:3. He says we are “letters from Christ… written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God.”

Your life may be the only “Bible” some people ever read. (Read that again) Every act of kindness is a page. Every word of encouragement is a page. Every choice to forgive or love is a page. These are pages others can “read” and be inspired by.

Learning From Other Books

In a library, you won’t love every book on the shelf. Some are difficult, some are strange, some just aren’t your taste. But each has value, each carries a lesson.

The same is true in God’s kingdom. We are surrounded by people whose stories are different from ours. When we take the time to listen, we discover wisdom, compassion, and insight that enrich our own story.

Adding Good Pages

Every day we live is like writing a new page. We can choose to fill our pages with bitterness or with grace, with anger or with kindness. Near the end of his life, Paul can say: “I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race. I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:7). That’s the closing chapter we all want.

It’s never too late to start writing new pages filled with love, hope, and faith.

The Final Chapter Belongs to God

At the end of the Bible, in Revelation, we hear of the Book of Life. Through Jesus Christ, our names can be written there forever. Some of our chapters are messy. I know some of mine are. Yet, through God’s grace, our stories are redeemed. They are then bound into God’s eternal library.

Closing Thought

So yes, life is like a library. Each of us is a book, full of stories that matter. Together, we make up God’s collection — diverse, beautiful, and alive with wisdom.

The question is: what story are you writing today? And how will others read the pages of your life? Comment with your story ideas.

Blessings to all,

Rev. Barbara Creelman, Linden Park Community United Church, Hamilton, ON

Turner Park Branch, Hamilton Public Library

The Puzzle of Life — August 11, 2025
🧩 When Life Doesn’t Make Sense, You Are Still Known — August 10, 2025

🧩 When Life Doesn’t Make Sense, You Are Still Known

/Barbara (Doll) Creelman/Leave a comment

By Rev. Barbara Creelman | August Reflections

The puzzle on my table is still half-finished.

A bright splash of color here. A confusing blur of shapes there. Some pieces fit quickly, almost like they wanted to find each other. Others—well, they’ve been turned over a dozen times and still don’t belong anywhere I can see.

And I’ve come to realize: this puzzle is teaching me about life.

Because life doesn’t always make sense, does it?

Some seasons click into place with surprising ease. You fall into rhythms that nourish you. You know where you belong.
And other seasons? They feel scattered. Confusing. You can’t see how this piece—the pain, the waiting, the wondering—will ever fit.

Here’s the comfort for me. It feels like a prayer:
Even when life feels chaotic, it can feel like a mess of disconnected pieces. Yet, God still knows the picture. God knows the picture even when life is chaotic.

✨ You Are Fully Known

“O Lord, you have searched me and known me…”
(Psalm 139:1)

Before the world told you who to be, before life handed you the jagged pieces of grief or change or uncertainty—
God knew you.
God knows you.

Not just your best self, the one you show to others.
But the quiet parts. The scattered, tired, overwhelmed pieces.
The ones you’re still trying to figure out.

🧵 You Are Wonderfully Made

“You knit me together in my mother’s womb…”
(Psalm 139:13)

There’s such beauty in that word—knit. It means slow, careful, loving attention.
Not a rush. Not assembly-line.
You were made by a God who takes time with every stitch.

When you feel like you’re coming undone,
When you can’t see how your story will hold together,
Remember: You are still knit. You are still held. You stay part of a masterpiece.

🌈 When You Can’t See the Whole Picture

Sometimes I wish I could see what’s ahead. The whole puzzle. The finished image.
But then I remember this promise:

“Even before a word is on my tongue, O Lord, you know it completely.” (Psalm 139:4)

God is not surprised by your story.
Nothing is missing. Nothing is wasted.
Even this piece—this strange, uncertain, in-between piece—is part of the picture God is creating in you.

🕊 A Gentle Prayer

If you’re in a scattered season, may this be your prayer:

Holy One,
I’m holding the pieces of my life, unsure of where they fit.
But I trust You.
You see the whole. You hold the frame.
Knit me again with grace.
Place this day—this piece—where it belongs.
And help me rest in the beauty I can’t yet see.
Amen.

💬 Let’s Talk

Have you had a season when life didn’t make sense—but God surprised you with clarity later?
I’d love to hear your story. Share in the comments.

Rocking Chair Chat: Spinning, Stitching, and Living Local — August 6, 2025

Rocking Chair Chat: Spinning, Stitching, and Living Local

/Barbara (Doll) Creelman/2 Comments


By DollCanCreate

There’s something about August that invites a slower pace. Maybe it’s the heat, or the way the golden light lingers just a little longer in the evenings. Or maybe it’s the feeling that summer is quietly slipping through our fingers. Whatever the reason, I find myself drawn to the rocking chair more often these days. I sit with a spindle and knitting needles in hand. My heart is full of reflection.

Wrapping Up Tour de Fleece

As Tour de Fleece came to a close, I finished my final skeins. I felt both a sense of satisfaction and a tinge of sadness. There’s such rhythm in spinning daily — a meditative motion that anchors the day. I loved watching my handspun pile grow, knowing that each yard was crafted with intention.

My last skeins came off the spindle with a deep sense of pride. Some are destined for a vest, others for future projects I haven’t dreamed up yet. But more than the yarn itself, I’m grateful for what the tour gave me: routine, resilience, and connection.

Sock Knitting & Small Joys

Now that the spinning has eased, my knitting projects are taking center stage. The socks on my needles are growing steadily — a simple pattern, yet rich with purpose. Socks are such a humble knitting. They go where I go, stitch by stitch becoming something warm and useful.

Alongside the socks, I’m knitting a cozy hat and a lacy scarf. These feel like comfort knitting — pieces that ask little of me beyond time and attention. And that’s what I need most right now.

What’s Next?

That’s the big question, isn’t it? As I rock and stitch, I’m letting ideas bubble up. Maybe a sweater from my Tour de Fleece yarn. Maybe a mini spin-along. Maybe just more rocking and dreaming. August feels like a bridge between the seasons — the perfect time to listen for what’s next.

Living the 100 Mile Life

Lately, I’ve also been leaning into my 100 Mile Life journey — choosing local wherever I can. It’s food from a nearby farm. It’s wool from a local flock. It’s supporting a maker just down the road. I’m reminded how rich and full life can be when we look close to home.

It’s not always easy, and it’s definitely not perfect. But it feels right. It feels rooted.

So tell me — what’s on your needles or spindle right now? What small joys are anchoring your days?
Pull up a chair and let’s chat. 💬🧶

Dollcancreate

Handmade. Slow Made. Joy Made.

“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)”

/Barbara (Doll) Creelman/Leave a comment


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

/Barbara (Doll) Creelman/Leave a comment

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
What did I learn? — July 29, 2025

What did I learn?

/Barbara (Doll) Creelman/Leave a comment

Reflections on Daily Spinning: Lessons from Tour de Fleece

By Doll – July Wrap-Up

🧶 1. Consistency Counts More Than Speed

Spinning even a little each day adds up. Whether on the spindle or the wheel, showing up regularly built real momentum—and yarn!

🧵 2. Different Tools Serve Different Energy Levels

The spindle offered a peaceful pace for tired days, while the wheel let you make quick progress when you had more energy. Learning when to use which helped keep the joy in the process.

🪷 3. Grace Makes the Journey Sustainable

Read below for more:

Some days you were tired, and that was okay. You learned to listen to your body and spin gently, reminding yourself that rest and rhythm go hand in hand.

Tour de Fleece has just come to a close, and I’m pausing to reflect on what daily spinning taught me—about yarn, yes, but also about persistence, pacing, and grace.

I joined this year’s Tour with a clear intention: to spin enough yarn for a vest or sweater. A lofty but exciting goal. And while I didn’t set strict daily targets or try to hit big spinning milestones, I did commit to showing up—every single day—with spindle or wheel in hand.

The Process

Most of my spinning was done on my trusty spindles. They’re portable, calming, and surprisingly productive when used daily. But for larger quantities—and on days when I had more time and energy—I turned to my wheel. The result was a nice rhythm between the two, and a growing understanding of how each tool fits into my creative life.

On both spindle and wheel, I used a short forward draw, spinning worsted-style with the aim of achieving a DK to sock-weight yarn. It’s the weight I enjoy knitting with the most—and it’s also versatile enough for the layering pieces I want to make.

The Only Real Challenge: Energy

There weren’t many obstacles, really—no tangled messes, no broken bobbins, no spindle disasters. What I did notice was how my own energy levels played a role. Some days, especially those hot, midsummer afternoons or late evenings after long walks, I just didn’t have much to give. And that’s okay.

I learned to respect that tiredness, to spin just a few minutes if that’s all I had, and to remind myself that every meter counts.

A Memorable Moment

One of the most exciting moments came when I skeined off a large bobbin from the wheel and measured out 125 meters of yarn. That’s a big number for me—larger than usual. It felt like a real celebration. Not just for the yardage, but for the consistency, the colour, the sense of completion. A visual and tactile reminder that spinning adds up.

What I Learned

Small sessions add up – Whether five minutes or fifty, the act of returning to the spindle daily built momentum. Tools work together – The spindle and wheel don’t compete in my world. They complement each other. Each brings a different rhythm to the work. Energy is part of the equation – Spinning isn’t just physical; it requires presence. Giving myself grace on tired days made the whole journey more sustainable. Every skein tells a story – That 125-meter skein? It’s a symbol of patience, persistence, and purpose. And it’s going into something I’ll wear with pride.

What’s Next?

Now that Tour de Fleece is over, I’m planning to swatch with some of the yarn and start sketching ideas for that vest or sweater. I may even keep the daily spinning going, even if it’s just a little each morning—because it grounds me.

To those who spun alongside me this month: congratulations. Whether you spun 10 meters or 1,000, whether you spun daily or sporadically, you moved fibre through your fingers and created beauty. That’s something worth celebrating.

What did you learn from Tour de Fleece? Drop a comment below or tag me on Instagram @DollCan – I’d love to see what’s on your bobbin.

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.

/Barbara (Doll) Creelman/Leave a comment

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.

✨ It’s Not Too Late: — July 16, 2025

✨ It’s Not Too Late:

/Barbara (Doll) Creelman/Leave a comment

✨ It’s Not Too Late: How to Join Tour de Fleece Anytime

Have you been watching Tour de Fleece unfold online and thinking,
“I wish I’d joined… but I missed the start”?

Here’s the good news: Tour de Fleece isn’t a race. It’s a rhythm. And yes—you can start anytime.

Why Join Late?

Tour de Fleece is about celebrating spinning, building community, and connecting with the joy of fibre. Whether you’re seven days in or seven days out, your spinning still matters. The “rules” are more like suggestions, and the most important one is: just spin.

5 Reasons It’s Not Too Late

  1. There Are No Spinning Police.
    No one is tracking your start date or yardage.
  2. Your Journey, Your Pace.
    Maybe this week is when you can spin—life happens.
  3. More Inspiration Now.
    With Week 1 done, you’ve got loads of spinning posts to draw ideas from.
  4. Mini Goals Are Magic.
    A single spindle full, a bobbin cleared, or one new technique—that’s plenty.
  5. You Belong.
    Late or early, you’re part of the community the moment you show up.

Quick Start Checklist ✅

Download this printable: Tour de Fleece Late Start Checklist
Or just use this list to focus your energy:

  • ☐ Set one small goal for the rest of the Tour
  • ☐ Spin 10–15 minutes a day
  • ☐ Choose a fibre that brings you joy
  • ☐ Let go of perfection—progress is the win
  • ☐ Share your spin with the community (if you want to!)

Join the Spin Now

Even if today’s your first spin of the Tour, that counts. It matters. And it’s worth celebrating. So whether you’re picking up your spindle after a break or just discovering the event—you’re in. Welcome!

Let me know what you’re spinning this week in the comments. You can also tag me on Instagram at @dollcan. I want to cheer you on!

Check out the video here:

Doll Can Create

100 Mile Life/Grandma Core

Skip to content ↓