Jeni Hankins

  Recently, an internet friend of mine,   Sharon Everest , went to visit her sister in Australia for a month. Sharon makes beautiful dolls and bears under the name   Modflowers . I have one of her bears. His name is Dudley and he lives in the Modern Dollhouse which sits on my work table in London. I love having my dollhouse right on my table where I can think up stories for Dudley Bear and his pals. Here, Dudley and friends are celebrating finding a “Dudley” pencil. Like musicians with their instruments or artists with their pencils and paints, Sharon wanted a sewing machine that she could use as soon as she arrived in Australia. After a few false starts, she found one to borrow and started sewing. This reminded me of my life on tour and my visits to friends and family. I always feel a bit funny if I don’t have an instrument on my travels or a way to sew or knit. Of course, I could do without, but I do feel a bit unsettled. So, when I travel, I take my needle and thread or knitting wit