Purple Kappa: The Story of Holly and Ivy

The Kappa In Japanese Folklore

Kappas are legendary creatures that inhabit the rivers and waterways of Japan. They have beaked noses, shells on their back and a depression on their heads that holds water. Kappa are mischievous troublemakers. Their pranks range from the relatively innocent, such as loudly passing gas or looking up women's kimonos, to the more troublesome such as drowning swimmers and eating children. They feed on their victims by sucking their liver though their anus. They love cucumbers and if you write your name on a cucumber and throw it in the river, the kappa may be appeased by your gift and allow you to swim in peace.

December 23, 2008

The Story of Holly and Ivy

I've mentioned before that one of Ivy's favorite books is The Story of Holly and Ivy. Ivy is an orphan who wants a doll for Christmas and Holly is doll who wants a little girl. It's really a charming, magical story.

Holly in the book looks like this:

and this is the doll I made

I used Runo's pattern again, it's such a great pattern.

I'm not entirely happy with the face, Holly in the book looks like a sweet, friendly doll and this one looks a little fussy. And I think the mouth is too close to the nose, which seems to be a mistake I often make with dolls. But it's entirely possible I am getting just a little too obsessed with making this doll perfect.

Ivy, the little girl in the book, wears a green coat and red knit gloves.

I made this coat from ISBN 9784579111473

And oh, just look at those crooked pockets. I didn't even notice until I took this picture. I think I am just not going to worry about it, and I'll fix it after Christmas. She already has a winter coat, so if this one ends up being a sort of costume so she can be the Ivy in the book, that's fine