GardenMama

.: Corn Husk Dolls ~ Tutorial :.

.: Corn Husk Dolls that were created while a summer meal of farm-fresh corn was boiling :.

Each year in late summer we look forward to farm fresh corn! It's such a treat to travel the country roads around home and stop at the handmade sign that announces this sweet golden treat!                                                                                                                                                                                                   
 

.: Each year we enjoy shucking corn in celebration of summer :.

The corn stand is the drive-up of choice to make our meal of on these summer evenings. Just a bit of butter and salt paired with a side dish of ripe tomatoes and fresh garden Basil makes our bellies very happy!

While the corn boils we take some time to create corn husk dolls.  

Step One: Gathering Corn Husk

First gather a pile of corn husks.  This will be what forms the base of the corn husk doll.

Step Two: Making The Doll's Head & Dress

Fold the pile of corn husk that you gathered completely in half, matching up both ends.                       

The bottom is now frilled--this is the doll's dress.

Wrap a thin piece of floral wire at the top of the corn husk to create the head of the doll.  

Step Three: Shaping The Doll's Head

With scissors, define the doll's head by rounding the two upper corners. 

Step Four: Creating The Doll's Waist

Tightly wrap a piece of floral wire around where you think the doll's waist should be.

Step Five: Creating The Doll's arms

For this step you will set the 'doll' to the side and gather up another small pile of loose corn husk.  This will be used for the doll's arms.

Step Six: Securing The Doll's arms

Fold one end of the husk over, making the tips meet the center.  

Next fold the other end of the husk over to make the tips meet the center.  (Now both ends are meeting up in the middle.)

Secure this in the center with floral wire and now you have what looks like a 'bow-tie'  Make sure to leave long ends of the wire 'loose' this is what you will be securing the arms to the body with.                                                                           

Step Seven: Creating The Doll's Hands

On either side of this bow-tie, wrap a small section with wire to form the doll's hands.

Step Eight: Securing the doll's arms to the body

With the 'leftover' wire that is loose in the back, secure this 'bow-tie' looking piece (the arms) to the back of the doll's body by sliding the long wire behind the already secured wire of the waist.

Step Nine: Creating a Dress

Use scissors to snip the dress portion. Make a frayed edge as short or as long as you wish.  If you 'fluff' the frayed edge with your hands it will curl slightly when it dries making for a fuller dress.

Steps ten and eleven: Creating Pants and Feet

By making one long snip up the center of the bottom half of the doll you are creating legs or pants.

Now divide the corn husk and wrap a piece of wire around the bottom. One side will create a left foot and the other a right foot.

 

.: My daughter also made herself a corn-husk bracelet! :.

  .: We appreciate making each piece of this vegetable purposeful as a way of showing gratitude for the garden and to the farmers who grow this good seasonal food. :.

.: Welcome To Wandering Wednesday! :.

"Here I stand in the garden, my tender sprout and I. We say "hello" to the pretty penstemon flowers. We sniff bits of thyme & rosemary (destined for the soup pot tonight...)I show him the tomato plants, the zucchini, the pumpkins and cucumbers. I point out the strawberries, the sprouting nasturtiums, the climbing bean vines and twining morning glory."~ Peggy

 

"Here I sit in the gardens of a stately home, waiting for the rest of the family. I am patient, but our dog can hardly bear that her pack  is separated in a strange place. I soak in the history surrounding us, hoping she doesn’t slip her collar and dash into the house to round them up."~ Cheryl

"Here I stand at the beautiful beach in Wells, ME."~Teena

"Here I stand - okay, recline while I travel to the distant lands of Australia and England while I am surrounded by afternoon light and cheerful quilts." ~Lynnette

"Here I prepare to drive home.  I dislike driving.  But I like going places.  Especially home." ~ Wabi Sabi Wanderings

"Here I stand at home, freed feet poised on colourful carpeting.  A carpet that has an opinion.  These are happy feet." ~Wabi Sabi Wanderings

"i haven't been wandering too much these days since i am feeling a wee bit tired and full of baby but i have managed to harvest our peaches." ~Pennie

"Here I stand in 105 degree weather with Keene's on my feet. After leaving my little feline friend for three weeks, it has taken almost as long to forgive me. Each time he sees my feet he declares his unhappiness upon them. Now ,.....it is clear that I am finally forgiven." ~Valarie

" The gift of friendship is an amazing gift.  This last week I was able to wander around antique shops, eat a delicious meal, and visit a quaint little bookshop with a great friend." ~Erin

 "This week, mine wandered their way up to the deck rail so I could enjoy the sunset with my cup of cocoa chai." ~Joy

"Here we stand in the cold crunchy snow on our recent trip to Dinner Plain." ~Maekellen

   
"Here I sat, breathing in salty air and enjoying having the whole beach to my self.  Feeling thankful for my solo journeys that I'm able to take on days off work, when most of the world is at work or at school or doing what they 'should' be doing, practical tasks.  This is when my spirit truly feels free, I can go wherever I like, feel the wind in my hair, adventure, explore." ~ Karen

"Crawling along at a snail's pace..." ~Wintry

Here I stand among my happily growing herb garden.  With spearmint growing up all around, my children and I enjoy having an 'after dinner mint' a tradition we have continued for many years... ~ Gardenmama

Where did you wander today? I would love to know! With a link back to this post please share your 'Wandering Wednesday' photo on your blog too!

Please share your link in the comments so that we can all visit with you too!

.:And The Winner Of The Crochet-Covered Stone Is...:.

Thank you to both known and new friends alike who have joined together in this space in celebration and mindfulness of the ocean!

.: I had to smile when the random number generator presented me with Cindy--who lives her life on the ocean on a boat with her family! :.

Thank you Maribeth for sharing your wise words and intentional creating. It has been an honor to host this interview and giveaway!

Congratulations to Cindy, the winner of this artful and inspiring giveaway!         

(Cindy who is eight months pregnant, has her second wild mama duck of this summer sitting on a nest full of eggs in a bucket that her tomatoes are growing in on the dock! You can read all about it on her blog!)

.: I will see all of you this Wednesday for Wandering Wednesday! :.