So, I was envious of my girls going to college, and decided I would take some classes for myself! They shouldn’t have all the fun….

I sent myself back to school this spring for a deeply humbling jewelry class (verdict: I need stronger readers!) and a wildly fun doll-making class at Montgomery College. With engineering help from teacher Wendy Daniels, crucial yarn and emotional support from Beth Clawson, and custom face-and-ear sculpting from my daughters, I built a mini-me marionette out of paper clay, aluminum foil, and an Ajax bottle—complete with a chain running from my yin/yang gut to my heart to symbolize my girls. [See photos of the final puppet hanging in my living room!]