Willow is emerging from the felt, much like a sculpture emerges from the stone. I think she is lovely.
All that’s left is to make her dress, jacket, knitted wrist bands and satchel. Oh, and the parsnip she carries around. Then we shall see what part she has to play in Fig Newton’s story.
I still haven’t chosen a button for the satchel, so if you have a strong opinion (you can see the three candidates in the photo), bring it on. A weak opinion is also acceptable.
You may have recognized that the title for this post is a reworking of the phrase “will o’ the wisp.” I’ve never really known what that was, so I had one of my many minions look it up for me. Oh, don’t be so scandalized – you use the same minions that I do; it’s called “browsing the internet.” It turns out that will o’ the wisp doesn’t have so much of a definition as it does a story. Gather ‘round.
The first known use of the phrase will-o’-the-wisp was way back in 1661, arising from the swamps. Yes, that’s true! It’s a flame-like phosphorescence that’s caused by gases from decaying plants in swamps and marshes (and who can tell the difference between a swamp and a marsh? Is there one? Have they ever been seen in the same room? I rest my case.). Anyway, these eerie lights from the marsh were personified as “Will (short for William) with the wisp,” little sprites who carried these wisps to lead travelers astray into the murky depths. Very creepy, which just goes to show you just how dangerous the imagination can be. If somebody uses the phrase nowadays, though, it means an impractical or unattainable goal, like trying to follow a flickering light in the darkness. Watch out for that swamp!
I’ll probably drop this in the blog swamp in the morning…
Lynniebeemuseoday 
Hi Lynnie! “Lovely” is definitely the right word for Willow…even though at this point she is buck-naked! I will look forward to meeting her face to face – when she is properly outfitted, of course. BTW my vote goes to the largest button.
Thanks for your research on “Will O the Wisp”…. That would make for a great ghost-story-told-around-ye-old-
campfire!
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I’m sure Willow will be relieved to have some clothing, even though she’s dressed as all rabbits are right now. 😄. Thanks for the button vote! ❤️
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In the Lord of the Rings, the Dead Marshes were marked by lights (will-o’-the-wisps?) that danced about and which Gollum called “candles of corpses”; it is likely that those who became entranced by the lights and attempted to touch the bodies drowned in the water and went down to join the dead!
In order of nicest to least nice (in my opinion): bogs (floating if you’re lucky), marshes (unless full of dead things), and swamps.
P.S. Willow wears her Dignity with great serenity.
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I thought about the dead marshes, too, when I was writing that. Tolkien knew his stuff.
I’m still chuckling over your comment about Willow wearing her Dignity well. 😄
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I like the boldness of the largest button and I think the color compliments the fabric well.
To remind you, Maria was called the names of “A Flibbertijibbet*, A Will-o-the wisp, A Clown.”!
*Spelling according to Google, and not Spellcheck!
I would say that Willow is “cuter than a bugs ear.” I can’t see bugs ears very well,
unless it is Bugs Bunny’s ears we are speaking of, and Willow is DEFINATLY cuter than Bugs! 🙂
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Thanks for the button vote. It’s unanimous so far! I’d forgotten about the connection with the Sound of Music song that you referenced. That phrase doesn’t get used very much anymore! I have to admit that I really liked working on Willow’s ears and her cute little tail. ❤️
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